UNITED A
NATIONS
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/RES/48/158
26 January 1994
Forty-eighth session
Agenda item 35
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/48/L.41 and Add.1,
A/48/L.42 and Add.1, A/48/L.43 and Add.1 and A/48/L.44 and Add.1)]
48/158. Question of Palestine
A
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX)
of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976, 32/40 A of 2 December 1977,
33/28 A and B of 7 December 1978, 34/65 A of 29 November 1979 and 34/65 C of
12 December 1979, ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980, 35/169 A and C of 15 December 1980,
36/120 A and C of 10 December 1981, ES-7/4 of 28 April 1982, 37/86 A of
10 December 1982, 38/58 A of 13 December 1983, 39/49 A of 11 December 1984,
40/96 A of 12 December 1985, 41/43 A of 2 December 1986, 42/66 A of
2 December 1987, 43/175 A of 15 December 1988, 44/41 A of 6 December 1989,
45/67 A of 6 December 1990, 46/74 A of 11 December 1991 and 47/64 A of
11 December 1992,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 1/
____________
1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/48/35).
/...
A/RES/48/158
Page 2
Welcoming the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-
Government Arrangements, including its Annexes and Agreed Minutes, by the
Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization on
13 September 1993 in Washington, D.C., 2/
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility with
respect to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its
aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the
tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly;
2. Considers that the Committee can make a valuable and positive
contribution to international efforts to promote the effective implementation
of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements and
to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people
during the transitional period;
3. Endorses the recommendations of the Committee contained in
paragraphs 85 to 96 of its report; 1/
4. Requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make
suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate;
5. Authorizes the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to
promote the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to
make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider
appropriate and necessary in light of developments, to give special emphasis
to the need to mobilize support for and assistance to the Palestinian people
and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session and
thereafter;
6. Also requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation
to non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening
international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and
promoting support and assistance to meet the needs of the Palestinian people,
and to take the necessary steps to involve additional non-governmental
organizations in its work;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), as well as other
United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine, to continue
to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its
request, the relevant information and documentation which they have at their
disposal;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the
Committee to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to
take the necessary action, as appropriate;
____________
2/ A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
/...
A/RES/48/158
Page 3
9. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
85th plenary meeting
20 December 1993
B
Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat
The General Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 1/
Taking note, in particular, of the relevant information contained in
paragraphs 46 to 68 of that report,
Recalling its resolutions 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, 33/28 C of
7 December 1978, 34/65 D of 12 December 1979, 35/169 D of 15 December 1980,
36/120 B of 10 December 1981, 37/86 B of 10 December 1982, 38/58 B of
13 December 1983, 39/49 B of 11 December 1984, 40/96 B of 12 December 1985,
41/43 B of 2 December 1986, 42/66 B of 2 December 1987, 43/175 B of
15 December 1988, 44/41 B of 6 December 1989, 45/67 B of 6 December 1990,
46/74 B of 11 December 1991 and 47/64 B of 11 December 1992,
1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Secretary-General
in compliance with its resolution 47/64 B;
2. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the resources it requires,
including the continuing development of the computer-based information system
on the question of Palestine, and to ensure that it continues to discharge the
tasks detailed in paragraph 1 of resolution 32/40 B, paragraph 2 (b) of
resolution 34/65 D, paragraph 3 of resolution 40/96 B, paragraph 2 of
resolution 42/66 B, paragraph 2 of resolution 44/41 B and paragraph 2 of
resolution 46/74 B, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance;
3. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continued
cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other units of the
Secretariat in enabling the Division to perform its tasks and in covering
adequately the various aspects of the question of Palestine;
4. Invites all Governments and organizations to lend their
cooperation to the Committee and the Division in the performance of their
tasks;
5. Notes with appreciation the action taken by Member States to
observe annually on 29 November the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People and requests them to continue to give the widest possible
publicity to the observance, and requests the Committee to continue to
organize, as part of the observance of the Day of Solidarity, an annual
/...
A/RES/48/158
Page 4
exhibit on Palestinian rights in cooperation with the Office of the Permanent
Observer for Palestine to the United Nations.
85th plenary meeting
20 December 1993
C
Department of Public Information of the Secretariat
The General Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 1/
Taking note, in particular, of the information contained in
paragraphs 71 to 84 of that report,
Recalling its resolution 47/64 C of 11 December 1992,
Convinced that the world-wide dissemination of accurate and
comprehensive information and the role of non-governmental organizations and
institutions remain of vital importance in heightening awareness of and
support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
Aware of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements, signed in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993 by the
Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization 2/
and of its positive implications,
1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Department of
Public Information of the Secretariat in compliance with General Assembly
resolution 47/64 C;
2. Requests the Department of Public Information, in full cooperation
and coordination with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may
be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special
information programme on the question of Palestine for the biennium 1994-1995,
with particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and North America, and in
particular:
(a) To disseminate information on all the activities of the United
Nations system relating to the question of Palestine, including reports of the
work carried out by the relevant United Nations organizations;
(b) To continue to issue and update publications on the various
aspects of the question of Palestine in all fields, including all information
relating to the recent events concerning this question;
(c) To expand its audiovisual material on the question of Palestine,
including the production of such material;
(d) To organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists
to the area, including the occupied territories;
A/RES/48/158
Page 5
(e) To organize international, regional and national encounters for
journalists;
(f) To provide, in cooperation with specialized agencies of the United
Nations system, particularly the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization, assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of
media development.
85th plenary meeting
20 December 1993
D
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, the most recent of which was
resolution 47/64 D of 11 December 1992,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of
19 November 1993, 3/
Stressing that achieving a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East
conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine, will constitute a
significant contribution to international peace and security,
Noting the convening at Madrid, on 30 October 1991, of the Peace
Conference on the Middle East and the subsequent bilateral negotiations, as
well as meetings of the multilateral working groups,
Noting also that the United Nations has participated as a full,
extraregional participant in the work of the multilateral working groups,
Aware of the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, as the representative of the
Palestinian people, and the signing between the two parties of the Declaration
of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements 2/ in Washington, D.C.,
on 13 September 1993, as well as their subsequent negotiations,
Welcoming the convening of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace
in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993,
1. Reaffirms the need to achieve a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its
aspects;
____________
3/ A/48/607-S/26769.
/...
A/RES/48/158
Page 6
2. Expresses its support for the ongoing peace process, which began
in Madrid, and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements, and expresses the hope that the process will lead to the
establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East;
3. Stresses the need for the United Nations to play a more active and
expanded role in the current peace process and in the implementation of the
Declaration of Principles;
4. Urges Member States to provide economic and technical assistance
to the Palestinian people;
5. Also stresses the upcoming negotiations on the final settlement,
and reaffirms the following principles for the achievement of a final
settlement and comprehensive peace:
(a) The realization of the legitimate national rights of the
Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination;
(b) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied
since 1967, including Jerusalem, and from the other occupied Arab territories;
(c) Guaranteeing arrangements for peace and security of all States in
the region, including those named in resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947,
within secure and internationally recognized boundaries;
(d) Resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with
General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, and subsequent
relevant resolutions;
(e) Resolving the problem of the Israeli settlements, which are
illegal and an obstacle to peace, in conformity with relevant United Nations
resolutions;
(f) Guaranteeing freedom of access to Holy Places and religious
buildings and sites;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the
parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for the
promotion of peace in the region and to submit progress reports on
developments in this matter.
85th plenary meeting
20 December 1993
UNITED A
NATIONS
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/RES/49/62
3 February 1995
Forty-ninth session
Agenda item 40
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/49/L.53 and Add.1,
A/49/L.54 and Add.1, A/49/L.55/Rev.1, A/49/L.56 and Add.1)]
49/62. Question of Palestine
A
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX)
of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976, 32/40 A of 2 December 1977,
33/28 A and B of 7 December 1978, 34/65 A of 29 November 1979 and 34/65 C of
12 December 1979, ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980, 35/169 A and C of 15 December 1980,
36/120 A and C of 10 December 1981, ES-7/4 of 28 April 1982, 37/86 A of
10 December 1982, 38/58 A of 13 December 1983, 39/49 A of 11 December 1984,
40/96 A of 12 December 1985, 41/43 A of 2 December 1986, 42/66 A of
2 December 1987, 43/175 A of 15 December 1988, 44/41 A of 6 December 1989,
45/67 A of 6 December 1990, 46/74 A of 11 December 1991, 47/64 A of
11 December 1992 and 48/158 A of 20 December 1993,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 1/
____________
1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/49/35).
95-76303
/...
A/RES/49/62
Page 2
Welcoming the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-
Government Arrangements, including its Annexes and Agreed Minutes, by the
Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization on
13 September 1993 in Washington, 2/ as well as the subsequent implementation
agreements, including the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area,
signed on 4 May 1994 at Cairo, 3/
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility with
respect to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its
aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the
tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly;
2. Considers that the Committee can continue to make a valuable and
positive contribution to international efforts to promote the effective
implementation of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people during the transitional period;
3. Endorses the recommendations of the Committee contained in section
VII its report;
4. Requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make
suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate;
5. Authorizes the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to
promote the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to
make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider
appropriate and necessary in the light of developments, to give special
emphasis to the need to mobilize support and assistance for the Palestinian
people, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session
and thereafter;
6. Also requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation
to non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening
international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and
promoting support and assistance to meet the needs of the Palestinian people,
and to take the necessary steps to involve additional non-governmental
organizations in its work;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies
associated with the question of Palestine, to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant
information and documentation which they have at their disposal;
____________
2/ A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
3/ A/49/180-S/1994/727, annex.
/...
A/RES/49/62
Page 3
8. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the
Committee to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to
take the necessary action, as appropriate;
9. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
88th plenary meeting
14 December 1994
B
Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat
The General Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 1/
Taking note, in particular, of the relevant information contained in
Section V.B of that report,
Recalling its resolutions 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, 33/28 C of
7 December 1978, 34/65 D of 12 December 1979, 35/169 D of 15 December 1980,
36/120 B of 10 December 1981, 37/86 B of 10 December 1982, 38/58 B of
13 December 1983, 39/49 B of 11 December 1984, 40/96 B of 12 December 1985,
41/43 B of 2 December 1986, 42/66 B of 2 December 1987, 43/175 B of
15 December 1988, 44/41 B of 6 December 1989, 45/67 B of 6 December 1990,
46/74 B of 11 December 1991, 47/64 B of 11 December 1992 and 48/158 B of
20 December 1993,
1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Secretary-General
in compliance with its resolution 48/158 B;
2. Considers that the Division for Palestinian Rights of the
Secretariat continues to make a useful and constructive contribution through
the organization of seminars and meetings of non-governmental organizations,
as well as through its research and monitoring activities, the preparation of
studies and publications, and the collection and dissemination of information
in printed and electronic form on all issues pertaining to the question of
Palestine;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division
with the necessary resources, including the further development of the United
Nations information system on the question of Palestine, 4/ and to ensure that
it continues to discharge the tasks detailed in paragraph 1 of resolution
32/40 B, paragraph 2 (b) of resolution 34/65 D, paragraph 3 of resolution
36/120 B, paragraph 3 of resolution 38/58 B, paragraph 3 of resolution
40/96 B, paragraph 2 of resolution 42/66 B, paragraph 2 of resolution 44/41 B,
__________
4/ See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/49/35), para. 67.
/...
A/RES/49/62
Page 4
paragraph 2 of resolution 46/74 B and paragraph 2 of resolution 48/158 B, in
consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People and under its guidance;
4. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continuing
cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other units of the
Secretariat in enabling the Division to perform its tasks and in covering
adequately the various aspects of the question of Palestine;
5. Invites all Governments and organizations to lend their
cooperation to the Committee and the Division in the performance of their
tasks;
6. Notes with appreciation the action taken by Member States to
observe annually on 29 November the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People and requests them to continue to give the widest possible
publicity to the observance, and requests the Committee to continue to
organize, as part of the observance of the Day of Solidarity, an annual
exhibit on Palestinian rights in cooperation with the Permanent Observer
Mission of Palestine to the United Nations.
88th plenary meeting
14 December 1994
C
Department of Public Information of the Secretariat
The General Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 1/
Taking note, in particular, of the information contained in section VI
of that report,
Recalling its resolution 48/158 C of 20 December 1993,
Convinced that the world-wide dissemination of accurate and
comprehensive information and the role of non-governmental organizations and
institutions remain of vital importance in heightening awareness of and
support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
Aware of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements signed by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization on 13 September 1993 in Washington, 2/ and of the
subsequent implementation agreements, including the Agreement on the Gaza
Strip and the Jericho Area, signed on 4 May 1994 at Cairo, 3/ and their
positive implications,
1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Department of
Public Information of the Secretariat in compliance with resolution 48/158 C;
2. Considers that the special information programme on the question
of Palestine of the Department of Public Information helps to raise the
/...
A/RES/49/62
Page 5
awareness of the international community on the question and the situation in
the Middle East in general, including the achievements of the peace process,
and should continue to contribute effectively to an atmosphere conducive to
dialogue and supportive of the peace process;
3. Requests the Department, in full cooperation and coordination with
the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may be required by
developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special information
programme on the question of Palestine for the biennium 1994-1995, with
particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and North America, and, in
particular:
(a) To disseminate information on all the activities of the United
Nations system relating to the question of Palestine, including reports of the
work carried out by the relevant United Nations organizations;
(b) To continue to issue and update publications on the various
aspects of the question of Palestine in all fields, including materials
concerning the recent developments in that regard and, in particular, the
achievements of the peace process;
(c) To expand its audiovisual material on the question of Palestine,
including the production of such material;
(d) To organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists
to the area, including the occupied territories;
(e) To organize international, regional and national encounters for
journalists;
(f) To provide, in cooperation with specialized agencies of the United
Nations system, particularly the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization, assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of
media development.
88th plenary meeting
14 December 1994
D
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions,
Recalling also relevant Security Council resolutions, including
resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973,
/...
A/RES/49/62
Page 6
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 3 November
1994, submitted pursuant to the request made in its resolution 48/158 D of
20 December 1993, 5/
Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East,
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of
peoples is among the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by war,
Affirming also the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the
territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the
status of Jerusalem,
Affirming once more the right of all States in the region to live in
peace within secure and internationally recognized borders,
Aware of the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, and the signing by the two parties of the Declaration of
Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements 2/ on 13 September 1993 in
Washington, as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, including the
Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, 3/ signed on 4 May 1994 at
Cairo,
Noting with satisfaction the withdrawal of the Israeli army, which took
place in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area in accordance with the agreements
reached by the parties, and the initiation of the Palestinian Authority in
those areas,
Also aware that the United Nations has participated as a full,
extraregional participant in the work of the multilateral working groups of
the Middle East peace process,
Noting the appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations
Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories,
Welcoming the convening of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace
in Washington on 1 October 1993,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its
aspects;
____________
5/ A/49/636-S/1994/1240.
/...
A/RES/49/62
Page 7
2. Expresses its full support for the ongoing peace process, which
began in Madrid, and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements, as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, and
expresses the hope that the process will lead to the establishment of a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East;
3. Calls for the timely and scrupulous implementation of the
agreements reached between the parties towards the negotiation of the final
settlement;
4. Stresses the need for:
(a) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, primarily the right to self-determination;
(b) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied
since 1967;
5. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine
refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
6. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic and
technical assistance to the Palestinian people during this critical period;
7. Emphasizes the importance for the United Nations to play a more
active and expanded role in the current peace process and in the
implementation of the Declaration of Principles;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the
parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for the
promotion of peace in the region and to submit progress reports on
developments in this matter.
88th plenary meeting
14 December 1994
/...
UNITED A
NATIONS
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/RES/50/84
7 March 1996
Fiftieth session
Agenda item 42
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/50/L.47 and Add.1, A/50/L.48
and Add.1, A/50/L.49 and Add.1 and A/50/L.50 and Add.1)]
50/84. Question of Palestine
A
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX)
of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976, 32/40 A of 2 December 1977,
33/28 A and B of 7 December 1978, 34/65 A of 29 November 1979 and 34/65 C of
12 December 1979, ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980, 35/169 A and C of 15 December 1980,
36/120 A and C of 10 December 1981, ES-7/4 of 28 April 1982, 37/86 A of
10 December 1982, 38/58 A of 13 December 1983, 39/49 A of 11 December 1984,
40/96 A of 12 December 1985, 41/43 A of 2 December 1986, 42/66 A of
2 December 1987, 43/175 A of 15 December 1988, 44/41 A of 6 December 1989,
45/67 A of 6 December 1990, 46/74 A of 11 December 1991, 47/64 A of
11 December 1992, 48/158 A of 20 December 1993 and 49/62 A of 14 December
1994,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 1/
1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Fiftieth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/50/35).
96-76285 /...
A/RES/50/84
Page 2
Welcoming the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-
Government Arrangements, including its Annexes and Agreed Minutes, by the
Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in
Washington on 13 September 1993, 2/ as well as the subsequent implementation
agreements, in particular the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho
Area, signed at Cairo on 4 May 1994, 3/ and the Interim Agreement on the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington on 28 September 1995,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility with
respect to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its
aspects in a satisfactory manner, in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the
tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly;
2. Considers that the Committee can continue to make a valuable and
positive contribution to international efforts to promote the effective
implementation of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people during the transitional period;
3. Endorses the recommendations of the Committee contained in
chapter VII of its report;
4. Requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make
suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate;
5. Authorizes the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to
promote the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to
make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider
appropriate and necessary in the light of developments, to give special
emphasis to the need to mobilize support and assistance for the Palestinian
people, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-first
session and thereafter;
6. Also requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation
to non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening
international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and
promoting support and assistance to meet the needs of the Palestinian people,
and to take the necessary steps to involve additional non-governmental
organizations in its work;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies
associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant
information and documentation which they have at their disposal;
2/ A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
3/ A/49/180-S/1994/727, annex.
/...
A/RES/50/84
Page 3
8. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the
Committee to all the competent bodies of the United Nations and urges them to
take the necessary action, as appropriate;
9. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
93rd plenary meeting
15 December 1995
B
Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat
The General Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 1/
Taking note, in particular, of the relevant information contained in
chapter V.B of that report,
Recalling its resolutions 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, 33/28 C of
7 December 1978, 34/65 D of 12 December 1979, 35/169 D of 15 December 1980,
36/120 B of 10 December 1981, 37/86 B of 10 December 1982, 38/58 B of
13 December 1983, 39/49 B of 11 December 1984, 40/96 B of 12 December 1985,
41/43 B of 2 December 1986, 42/66 B of 2 December 1987, 43/175 B of
15 December 1988, 44/41 B of 6 December 1989, 45/67 B of 6 December 1990,
46/74 B of 11 December 1991, 47/64 B of 11 December 1992, 48/158 B of
20 December 1993 and 49/62 B of 14 December 1994,
1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Secretary-General
in compliance with its resolution 49/62 B;
2. Considers that the Division for Palestinian Rights of the
Secretariat continues to make a useful and constructive contribution through
the organization of seminars and meetings of non-governmental organizations,
as well as through its research and monitoring activities, the preparation of
studies and publications and the collection and dissemination of information
in printed and electronic form on all issues pertaining to the question of
Palestine;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division
with the necessary resources, including for the further development of the
United Nations information system on the question of Palestine, 4/ and to
ensure that it continues to discharge the tasks detailed in paragraph 1 of
resolution 32/40 B, paragraph 2 (b) of resolution 34/65 D, paragraph 3 of
resolution 36/120 B, paragraph 3 of resolution 38/58 B, paragraph 3 of
resolution 40/96 B, paragraph 2 of resolution 42/66 B, paragraph 2 of
resolution 44/41 B, paragraph 2 of resolution 46/74 B and paragraph 2 of
4/ See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fiftieth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/50/35), para. 99.
/...
A/RES/50/84
Page 4
resolution 48/158 B, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance;
4. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continued
cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other units of the
Secretariat in enabling the Division to perform its tasks and in covering
adequately the various aspects of the question of Palestine;
5. Invites all Governments and organizations to lend their
cooperation to the Committee and the Division in the performance of their
tasks;
6. Notes with appreciation the action taken by Member States to
observe annually on 29 November the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People and requests them to continue to give the widest possible
publicity to the observance, and requests the Committee to continue to
organize, as part of the observance of the Day of Solidarity, an annual
exhibit on Palestinian rights in cooperation with the Permanent Observer
Mission of Palestine to the United Nations.
93rd plenary meeting
15 December 1995
C
Department of Public Information of the Secretariat
The General Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 1/
Taking note, in particular, of the information contained in chapter VI
of that report,
Recalling its resolution 49/62 C of 14 December 1994,
Convinced that the worldwide dissemination of accurate and comprehensive
information and the role of non-governmental organizations and institutions
remain of vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
Aware of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements signed by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization in Washington on 13 September 1993, 2/ and of the
subsequent implementation agreements, in particular the Interim Agreement on
the West Bank and the Gaza Strip signed in Washington on 28 September 1995,
and their positive implications,
1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Department of
Public Information of the Secretariat in compliance with resolution 49/62 C;
2. Considers that the special information programme on the question
of Palestine of the Department of Public Information is very useful in raising
the awareness of the international community concerning the complexities of
/...
A/RES/50/84
Page 5
the question and the situation in the Middle East in general, including the
achievements of the peace process, and that the programme is contributing
effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace
process;
3. Requests the Department, in full cooperation and coordination with
the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may be required by
developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special information
programme on the question of Palestine for the biennium 1996-1997, with
particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and North America and, in
particular:
(a) To disseminate information on all the activities of the United
Nations system relating to the question of Palestine, including reports on the
work carried out by the relevant United Nations organizations;
(b) To continue to issue and update publications on the various
aspects of the question of Palestine in all fields, including materials
concerning the recent developments in that regard and, in particular, the
achievements of the peace process;
(c) To expand its audiovisual material on the question of Palestine,
including the production of such material;
(d) To organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists
to the area, including the territories under the jurisdiction of the
Palestinian Authority and the occupied territories;
(e) To organize international, regional and national encounters for
journalists;
(f) To provide, in cooperation with specialized agencies of the United
Nations system, particularly the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization, assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of
media development.
93rd plenary meeting
15 December 1995
D
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions,
Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, including
resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973,
/...
A/RES/50/84
Page 6
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of
7 November 1995, submitted pursuant to the request made in its resolution
49/62 D of 14 December 1994, 5/
Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East,
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of
peoples is among the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by war,
Affirming also the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the
territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the
status of Jerusalem,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in
peace within secure and internationally recognized borders,
Aware of the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, and the signing by the two parties of the Declaration of
Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements 2/ in Washington on
13 September 1993, as well as the subsequent implementation agreements,
including the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip signed in
Washington on 28 September 1995,
Noting with satisfaction the withdrawal of the Israeli army, which took
place in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area in accordance with the agreements
reached by the parties, and the initiation of the Palestinian Authority in
those areas, as well as the beginning of the redeployment of the Israeli army
in the rest of the West Bank,
Aware also that the United Nations has participated as a full,
extraregional participant in the work of the multilateral working groups of
the Middle East peace process,
Noting the appointment of the United Nations Special Coordinator in the
Occupied Territories by the Secretary-General, and the positive contribution
in this regard,
Welcoming the convening of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace
in Washington on 1 October 1993 and all follow-up meetings,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its
aspects;
2. Expresses its full support of the ongoing peace process which
began in Madrid and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
5/ A/50/725-S/1995/930.
/...
A/RES/50/84
Page 7
Arrangements, as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, and
expresses the hope that the process will lead to the establishment of a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East;
3. Calls for the timely and scrupulous implementation of the
agreements reached between the parties towards the negotiation of the final
settlement;
4. Stresses the need for:
(a) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, primarily the right to self-determination;
(b) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied
since 1967;
5. Stresses also the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine
refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
6. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic and
technical assistance to the Palestinian people during this critical period;
7. Emphasizes the importance for the United Nations to play a more
active and expanded role in the current peace process and in the
implementation of the Declaration of Principles, including the monitoring of
the forthcoming Palestinian elections;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the
parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for the
promotion of peace in the region and to submit progress reports on
developments in this matter.
93rd plenary meeting
15 December 1995
United Nations A/RES/58/292
General Assembly Distr.: General
17 May 2004
Fifty-eighth session
Agenda item 38
03 51204
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 6 May 2004
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/58/L.61/Rev.1)]
58/292. Status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 3237 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 43/177 of
15 December 1988 and 52/250 of 7 July 1998,
Recalling also Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967,
338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002 and 1515 (2003) of
19 November 2003,
Recalling further the relevant provisions of international law, as well as
relevant United Nations resolutions, with regard to Israeli settlements and to
Occupied East Jerusalem,
Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory
by force,
Noting that Palestine, in its capacity as observer and pending its attainment of
full membership in the United Nations, does not present credentials to the General
Assembly,
Affirming the need to enable the Palestinian people to exercise sovereignty and
to achieve independence in their State, Palestine,
1. Affirms that the status of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967,
including East Jerusalem, remains one of military occupation, and affirms, in
accordance with the rules and principles of international law and relevant
resolutions of the United Nations, including Security Council resolutions, that the
Palestinian people have the right to self-determination and to sovereignty over their
territory and that Israel, the occupying Power, has only the duties and obligations of
an occupying Power under the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 19491 and the Regulations annexed to
the Hague Convention respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land, of 1907;2
_______________
1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
2 See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and
1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915).
A/RES/58/292
2
2. Expresses its determination to contribute to the achievement of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the attainment of a just and
comprehensive negotiated peace settlement in the Middle East resulting in two
viable, sovereign and independent States, Israel and Palestine, based on the
pre-1967 borders and living side by side in peace and security.
87th plenary meeting
6 May 2004
UNITED A
NATIONS
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/RES/51/23
12 December 1996
Fifty-first session
Agenda item 35
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/51/L.33 and Add.1)]
51/23. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX)
of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976, 32/40 A of 2 December 1977,
33/28 A and B of 7 December 1978, 34/65 A of 29 November 1979 and 34/65 C of
12 December 1979, ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980, 35/169 A and C of 15 December 1980,
36/120 A and C of 10 December 1981, ES-7/4 of 28 April 1982, 37/86 A of
10 December 1982, 38/58 A of 13 December 1983, 39/49 A of 11 December 1984,
40/96 A of 12 December 1985, 41/43 A of 2 December 1986, 42/66 A of
2 December 1987, 43/175 A of 15 December 1988, 44/41 A of 6 December 1989,
45/67 A of 6 December 1990, 46/74 A of 11 December 1991, 47/64 A of
11 December 1992, 48/158 A of 20 December 1993, 49/62 A of 14 December 1994
and 50/84 A of 15 December 1995,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1
Welcoming the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-
Government Arrangements, including its Annexes and Agreed Minutes, by the
Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in
Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993,2 as well as the subsequent
implementation agreements, in particular the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and
1 A/51/35.
2 A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
96-77551 /...
A/RES/51/23
Page 2
the Jericho Area, signed at Cairo on 4 May 1994,3 and the Israeli-Palestinian
Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington,
D.C., on 28 September 1995,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility with
respect to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its
aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the
tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly;
2. Considers that the Committee can continue to make a valuable and
positive contribution to international efforts to promote the effective
implementation of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people during the transitional period;
3. Endorses the recommendations of the Committee contained in chapter
VII of its report;
4. Requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make
suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate;
5. Authorizes the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to
promote the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to
make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider
appropriate and necessary in the light of developments, to give special
emphasis to the need to mobilize support and assistance for the Palestinian
people, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-second
session and thereafter;
6. Requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation to
non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening
international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and
promoting support and assistance to meet the needs of the Palestinian people,
and to take the necessary steps to involve additional non-governmental
organizations in its work;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United
Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to
cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its
request, the relevant information and documentation which they have at their
disposal;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the
Committee to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to
take the necessary action, as appropriate;
3 A/49/180-S/1994/727, annex.
/...
A/RES/51/23
Page 3
9. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
72nd plenary meeting
4 December 1996
UNITED A
NATIONS
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/RES/52/49
28 January 1998
Fifty-second session
Agenda item 36
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/52/L.49 and Add.1)]
52/49. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX)
of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976,
32/40 A of 2 December 1977, 33/28 A and B of 7 December 1978, 34/65 A of 29 November 1979 and
34/65 C of 12 December 1979, ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980, 35/169 A and C of 15 December 1980, 36/120 A
and C of 10 December 1981, ES-7/4 of 28 April 1982, 37/86 A of 10 December 1982, 38/58 A of
13 December 1983, 39/49 A of 11 December 1984, 40/96 A of 12 December 1985, 41/43 A of 2 December
1986, 42/66 A of 2 December 1987, 43/175 A of 15 December 1988, 44/41 A of 6 December 1989, 45/67 A
of 6 December 1990, 46/74 A of 11 December 1991, 47/64 A of 11 December 1992, 48/158 A of
20 December 1993, 49/62 A of 14 December 1994, 50/84 A of 15 December 1995 and 51/23 of 4 December
1996,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People,1
Recalling the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements,
including its Annexes and Agreed Minutes, by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993,2 as well as the subsequent
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/52/35).
2 A/48/486-S/26560, annex. For the final text, see Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-eighth Year,
Supplement for October, November and December 1993, document S/26560.
98-76195 /...
A/RES/52/49
Page 2
implementation agreements, in particular the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,3
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility with respect to the question of
Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with
international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly;
2. Considers that the Committee can continue to make a valuable and positive contribution to
international efforts to promote the effective implementation of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-
Government Arrangements and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people
during the transitional period;
3. Endorses the recommendations of the Committee contained in chapter VII of its report;
4. Requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of
Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as
appropriate;
5. Authorizes the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the exercise of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people, to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may
consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments, to give special emphasis to the need to
mobilize support and assistance for the Palestinian people and to report thereon to the General Assembly at
its fifty-third session and thereafter;
6. Requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation to non-governmental organizations
in their contribution towards heightening international awareness of the facts relating to the question of
Palestine and promoting support and assistance to meet the needs of the Palestinian people and to take the
necessary steps to involve additional non-governmental organizations in its work;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General
Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine to
continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant
information and documentation which they have at their disposal;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to all the competent bodies
of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate;
9. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all the necessary
facilities for the performance of its tasks.
68th plenary meeting
9 December 1997
3 A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. For the final text, see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-second
Year, Supplement for April, May and June 1997, document S/1997/357.
UNITED A
NATIONS
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/RES/53/39
15 January 1999
Fifty-third session
Agenda item 39
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/53/L.48 and Add.1)]
53/39. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX)
of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976,
32/40 A of 2 December 1977, 33/28 A and B of 7 December 1978, 34/65 A of 29 November 1979 and
34/65 C of 12 December 1979, ES–7/2 of 29 July 1980, 35/169 A and C of 15 December 1980, 36/120
A and C of 10 December 1981, ES–7/4 of 28 April 1982, 37/86 A of10 December 1982, 38/58 A of 13
December 1983, 39/49 A of 11 December 1984, 40/96 A of 12 December 1985, 41/43 A of 2 December
1986, 42/66 A of 2 December 1987, 43/175 A of 15 December 1988, 44/41 A of 6 December 1989,
45/67 A of 6 December 1990, 46/74 A of 11 December 1991, 47/64 A of 11 December 1992, 48/158 A
of 20 December 1993, 49/62 A of 14 December 1994, 50/84 A of 15 December 1995, 51/23 of 4
December 1996 and 52/49 of 9 December 1997,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People,1
Recalling the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements,
including its Annexes and Agreed Minutes, by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/53/35).
99-76159 /...
A/RES/53/39
Page 2
Liberation Organization in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993,2 as well as the subsequent
implementation agreements, in particular the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and
the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,3
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility with respect to the question of
Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with
international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly;
2. Considers that the Committee can continue to make a valuable and positive contribution to
international efforts to promote the effective implementation of the Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements2 and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian
people during the transitional period;
3. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee contained in chapter VII of
its report;1
4. Requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question
of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as
appropriate;
5. Authorizes the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the exercise of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work
as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments, to give special emphasis to the
need to mobilize support and assistance for the Palestinian people and to report thereon to the General
Assembly at its fifty-fourth session and thereafter;
6. Requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and
other non-governmental organizations in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the
achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, and to involve additional non-governmental organizations in its work;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General
Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine
to continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant
information and documentation which they have at their disposal;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to all the competent
bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate;
2 A/48/486–S/26560, annex; see Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-eighth Year, Supplement
for October, November and December 1993, document S/26560.
3 A/51/889–S/1997/357, annex; see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-second Year,
Supplement for April, May and June 1997, document S/1997/357.
/...
A/RES/53/39
Page 3
9. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all the necessary
facilities for the performance of its tasks.
76th plenary meeting
2 December 1998
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/54/35).
00 23610 /...
UNITED A
NATIONS
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/RES/54/39
20 January 2000
Fifty-fourth session
Agenda item 44
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/54/L.42 and Add.1)]
54/39. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX)
of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976,
32/40 A of 2 December 1977, 33/28 A and B of 7 December 1978, 34/65 A of 29 November 1979 and
34/65 C of 12 December 1979, ES–7/2 of 29 July 1980, 35/169 A and C of 15 December 1980, 36/120 A and
C of 10 December 1981, ES–7/4 of 28 April 1982, 37/86 A of 10 December 1982, 38/58 A of 13 December
1983, 39/49 A of 11 December 1984, 40/96 A of 12 December 1985, 41/43 A of 2 December 1986, 42/66 A
of 2 December 1987, 43/175 A of 15 December 1988, 44/41 A of 6 December 1989, 45/67 A of 6 December
1990, 46/74 A of 11 December 1991, 47/64 A of 11 December 1992, 48/158 A of 20 December 1993,
49/62 A of 14 December 1994, 50/84 A of 15 December 1995, 51/23 of 4 December 1996, 52/49 of
9 December 1997 and 53/39 of 2 December 1998,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People,1
A/RES/54/39
Page 2
2 A/48/486–S/26560, annex; see Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-eighth Year, Supplement
for October, November and December 1993, document S/26560.
3 A/51/889–S/1997/357, annex; see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-second Year,
Supplement for April, May and June 1997, document S/1997/357.
/...
Recalling the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements,
including its Annexes and Agreed Minutes, by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, in Washington, D.C., on 13 September
1993,2 as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, in particular the Israeli-Palestinian Interim
Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,3 and
the Memorandum signed at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 4 September 1999,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility with respect to the question of
Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with
international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly;
2. Considers that the Committee can continue to make a valuable and positive contribution to
international efforts to promote the Middle East peace process and the full implementation of the agreements
reached and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people during the transitional
period;
3. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee contained in chapter VII of its
report;1
4. Requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of
Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate;
5. Authorizes the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the exercise of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people, to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may
consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments, to give special emphasis to the need to
mobilize support and assistance for the Palestinian people and to report thereon to the General Assembly at
its fifty-fifth session and thereafter;
6. Requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other
non-governmental organizations in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the achievement
by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
and to involve additional non-governmental organizations in its work;
A/RES/54/39
Page 3
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General
Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine to
continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant
information and documentation which they have at their disposal;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to all the competent bodies
of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate;
9. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all the necessary
facilities for the performance of its tasks.
68th plenary meeting
1 December 1999
United Nations A/RES/55/52
General Assembly Distr.: General
25 January 2001
Fifty-fifth session
Agenda item 41
00 56251
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/55/L.45 and Add.1)]
55/52. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376
(XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976, 32/40 A of 2 December
1977, 33/28 A and B of 7 December 1978, 34/65 A of 29 November 1979 and
34/65 C of 12 December 1979, ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980, 35/169 A and C of
15 December 1980, 36/120 A and C of 10 December 1981, ES-7/4 of 28 April 1982,
37/86 A of 10 December 1982, 38/58 A of 13 December 1983, 39/49 A of
11 December 1984, 40/96 A of 12 December 1985, 41/43 A of 2 December 1986,
42/66 A of 2 December 1987, 43/175 A of 15 December 1988, 44/41 A of
6 December 1989, 45/67 A of 6 December 1990, 46/74 A of 11 December 1991,
47/64 A of 11 December 1992, 48/158 A of 20 December 1993, 49/62 A of
14 December 1994, 50/84 A of 15 December 1995, 51/23 of 4 December 1996,
52/49 of 9 December 1997, 53/39 of 2 December 1998 and 54/39 of 1 December
1999,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1
Recalling the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-
Government Arrangements, including its Annexes and Agreed Minutes, by the
Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
representative of the Palestinian people, in Washington, D.C., on 13 September
1993,2 as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, in particular the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed
in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,3 and the Memorandum signed at Sharm
el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 4 September 1999,
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/55/35).
2 A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
3 A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex.
A/RES/55/52
2
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility with
respect to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly;
2. Considers that the Committee can continue to make a valuable and
positive contribution to international efforts to promote the Middle East peace
process and the full implementation of the agreements reached and to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people during the
transitional period;
3. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
contained in chapter VII of its report;1
4. Requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation
relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the
General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate;
5. Authorizes the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to make such adjustments
in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in
the light of developments, to give special emphasis to the need to mobilize support
and assistance for the Palestinian people and to report thereon to the General
Assembly at its fifty-sixth session and thereafter;
6. Requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support
to Palestinian and other non-governmental organizations in order to mobilize
international solidarity and support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of
its inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and
to involve additional non-governmental organizations in its work;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee, and expresses appreciation for the cooperation between the
Commission and the Committee with regard to the modernization and preservation
of the records of the Commission;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
9. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee
with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
78th plenary meeting
1 December 2000
United Nations A/RES/56/33
General Assembly Distr.: General
18 December 2001
Fifty-sixth session
Agenda item 41
01 47845
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/56/L.19 and Add.1)]
56/33. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976, 32/40 A of
2 December 1977, 33/28 A and B of 7 December 1978, 34/65 A of 29 November
1979 and 34/65 C of 12 December 1979, ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980, 35/169 A and C of
15 December 1980, 36/120 A and C of 10 December 1981, ES-7/4 of 28 April 1982,
37/86 A of 10 December 1982, 38/58 A of 13 December 1983, 39/49 A of
11 December 1984, 40/96 A of 12 December 1985, 41/43 A of 2 December 1986,
42/66 A of 2 December 1987, 43/175 A of 15 December 1988, 44/41 A of
6 December 1989, 45/67 A of 6 December 1990, 46/74 A of 11 December 1991,
47/64 A of 11 December 1992, 48/158 A of 20 December 1993, 49/62 A of
14 December 1994, 50/84 A of 15 December 1995, 51/23 of 4 December 1996,
52/49 of 9 December 1997, 53/39 of 2 December 1998, 54/39 of 1 December 1999
and 55/52 of 1 December 2000,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1
Recalling the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-
Government Arrangements, including its Annexes and Agreed Minutes, by the
Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
representative of the Palestinian people, in Washington, D.C., on 13 September
1993,2 as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, in particular the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed
in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,3
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/56/35).
2 A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
3 A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex.
A/RES/56/33
2
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility with
respect to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly;
2. Considers that the Committee can continue to make a valuable and
positive contribution to international efforts to promote the Middle East peace
process and the full implementation of the agreements reached and to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people during the
transitional period;
3. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
contained in chapter VII of its report;1
4. Requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation
relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the
General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate;
5. Authorizes the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to make such adjustments
in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in
the light of developments, to give special emphasis to the need to mobilize support
and assistance for the Palestinian people and to report thereon to the General
Assembly at its fifty-seventh session and thereafter;
6. Requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support
to Palestinian and other civil society organizations in order to mobilize international
solidarity and support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of its
inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and to
involve additional civil society organizations in its work;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation which they have at their disposal;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
9. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee
with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
72nd plenary meeting
3 December 2001
United Nations A/RES/57/107
General Assembly Distr.: General
14 February 2003
Fifty-seventh session
Agenda item 35
02 54492
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/57/L.34 and Add.1)]
57/107. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all subsequent
relevant resolutions, including those adopted by the General Assembly at its
emergency special sessions and resolution 56/33 of 3 December 2001,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1
Recalling the commencement of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the
mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, and the
existing agreements between the two sides, beginning with the Declaration of
Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993,2 and the subsequent
implementation agreements,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to support the Middle
East peace process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people, and authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its
approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/57/35).
2 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
A/RES/57/107
2
light of developments and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fiftyeighth
session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to
the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as
appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations in order to mobilize
international solidarity and support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of
its inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and
to involve additional civil society organizations in its work;
5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation which they have at their disposal;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary
action, as appropriate;
7. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
66th plenary meeting
3 December 2002
United Nations A/RES/58/18
General Assembly Distr.: General
26 January 2004
Fifty-eighth session
Agenda item 38
03 45399
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 3 December 2003
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/58/L.23 and Add.1)]
58/18. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all subsequent
relevant resolutions, including those adopted by the General Assembly at its
emergency special sessions and resolution 57/107 of 3 December 2002,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Welcoming the official presentation by the Quartet of the performance-based
road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,2
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to support the Middle
East peace process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people, and authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its
approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/58/35).
2 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/58/18
2
light of developments and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fiftyninth
session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to
the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as
appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations in order to mobilize
international solidarity and support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of
its inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and
to involve additional civil society organizations in its work;
5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies and entities working on various aspects of the question of Palestine to
continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its
request, the relevant information and documentation which they have at their
disposal;
6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to
the Committee in the performance of its tasks;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary
action, as appropriate;
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
68th plenary meeting
3 December 2003
United Nations A/RES/59/28
General Assembly Distr.: General
31 January 2005
Fifty-ninth session
Agenda item 37
04-47788
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 1 December 2004
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/59/L.34 and Add.1)]
59/28. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all subsequent
relevant resolutions, including those adopted by the General Assembly at its
emergency special sessions and resolution 58/18 of 3 December 2003,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict,2
Recalling further the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the
International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a
Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 3 and recalling also its resolution
ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/59/35).
2 S/2003/529, annex.
3 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
A/RES/59/28
2
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to support the Middle
East peace process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people, and authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its
approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the
light of developments and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth
session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to
the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations in order to mobilize
international solidarity and support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of
its inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and
to involve additional civil society organizations in its work;
5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation which they have at their disposal;
6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to
the Committee in the performance of its tasks;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
64th plenary meeting
1 December 2004
United Nations A/RES/60/36
General Assembly Distr.: General
10 February 2006
Sixtieth session
Agenda item 15
05-48976
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 1 December 2005
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/60/L.28 and Add.1)]
60/36. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all subsequent
relevant resolutions, including those adopted by the General Assembly at its
emergency special sessions and resolution 59/28 of 1 December 2004,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict,2
Recalling further the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the
International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a
Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 3 and recalling also its resolution
ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/60/35).
2 S/2003/529, annex.
3 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
A/RES/60/36
2
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to support the Middle
East peace process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people, and authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its
approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the
light of developments and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first
session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to
the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as
appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations in order to mobilize
international solidarity and support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of
its inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and
to involve additional civil society organizations in its work;
5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation which they have at their disposal;
6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to
the Committee in the performance of its tasks;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
60th plenary meeting
1 December 2005
United Nations A/RES/61/22
General Assembly Distr.: General
24 January 2007
Sixty-first session
Agenda item 14
06-49575
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 1 December 2006
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/61/L.31 and Add.1)]
61/22. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all subsequent
relevant resolutions, including those adopted by the General Assembly at its
emergency special sessions and resolution 60/36 of 1 December 2005,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict,2
Recalling further the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the
International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a
Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 3 and recalling also its resolution
ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/61/35).
2 S/2003/529, annex.
3 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1
A/RES/61/22
2
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII
thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to support the Middle
East peace process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people, and authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its
approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the
light of developments and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtysecond
session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to
the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as
appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations in order to mobilize
international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people, particularly during
this critical period of humanitarian hardship and financial crisis, with the overall
aim of promoting the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights
and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and to continue to involve
additional civil society organizations in its work;
5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation which they have at their disposal;
6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to
the Committee in the performance of its tasks;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
63rd plenary meeting
1 December 2006
United Nations A/RES/62/80
General Assembly Distr.: General
21 January 2008
Sixty-second session
Agenda item 18
07-46857
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 10 December 2007
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/62/L.18 and Add.1)]
62/80. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all subsequent
relevant resolutions, including those adopted by the General Assembly at its
emergency special sessions and resolution 61/22 of 1 December 2006,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,0F
1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict,1F
2 endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution
1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,
Recalling further the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the
League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March
2002,2F
3
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory,3F
4 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/62/35).
2 S/2003/529, annex.
3 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
4 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
A/RES/62/80
2
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII
thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the Middle East peace process and to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and authorizes the
Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may
consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and to report
thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to
the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to
involve additional civil society organizations in its work in order to mobilize
international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people, particularly during
this critical period of humanitarian hardship and financial crisis, with the overall
aim of promoting the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights
and a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine;
5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation which they have at their disposal;
6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to
the Committee in the performance of its tasks;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
65th plenary meeting
10 December 2007
United Nations A/RES/63/26
General Assembly Distr.: General
22 January 2009
Sixty-third session
Agenda item 16
08-47235
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 26 November 2008
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/63/L.32 and Add.1)]
63/26. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December
1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all subsequent relevant
resolutions, including those adopted by the General Assembly at its emergency
special sessions and resolution 62/80 of 10 December 2007,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,0F
1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict,1F
2 endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution
1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,
Recalling further the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the
League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March
2002,2F
3
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory,3F
4 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/63/35).
2 S/2003/529, annex.
3 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
4 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.
A/RES/63/26
2
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII
thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the Middle East peace process and to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and authorizes the
Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may
consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and to report
thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to
the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as
appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to
involve additional civil society organizations in its work in order to mobilize
international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people, particularly during
this critical period of humanitarian hardship and financial crisis, with the overall
aim of promoting the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights
and a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine;
5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation which they have at their disposal;
6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to
the Committee in the performance of its tasks;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
60th plenary meeting
26 November 2008
United Nations A/RES/64/16
General Assembly Distr.: General
21 January 2010
Sixty-fourth session
Agenda item 16
09-46279
*0946279* Please rec cle ♲
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2009
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/64/L.20 and Add.1)]
64/16. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its
subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special
sessions and its resolution 63/26 of 26 November 2008,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,0F
1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, endorsed by the Security Council in resolution
1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,1F
2
Recalling further the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the
League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March
2002,2F
3
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/64/35).
2 S/2003/529, annex.
3 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
A/RES/64/16
2
Occupied Palestinian Territory,3F
4 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII
thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the Middle East peace process and to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and authorizes the
Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may
consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and to report
thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation
relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General
Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to
involve additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in
order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people,
particularly during this critical period of humanitarian hardship and financial crisis,
with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the Palestinian people of its
inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the relevant United
Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the
principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative3 and the Quartet road map;2
5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation which they have at their disposal;
6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to
the Committee in the performance of its tasks;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
54th plenary meeting
2 December 2009
_______________
4 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.
United Nations A/RES/65/13
General Assembly Distr.: General
25 January 2011
Sixty-fifth session
Agenda item 37
10-51332
*1051332* Please rec cle ♲
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 November 2010
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/65/L.14 and Add.1)]
65/13. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its
subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special
sessions and its resolution 64/16 of 2 December 2009,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,0F
1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Affirming its support for the Middle East peace process on the basis of the
relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative
adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session1F
2 and
the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 1515 (2003) of
19 November 2003,2F
3
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/65/35).
2 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
3 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/65/13
2
Occupied Palestinian Territory,
3F
4 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII
thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the Middle East peace process and to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and authorizes the
Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may
consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and to report
thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to
the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as
appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to
involve additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in
order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people,
particularly during this critical period of political instability, humanitarian hardship
and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the
relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative2 and
the Quartet road map;3
5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation which they have at their disposal;
6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to
the Committee in the performance of its tasks;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
_______________
4 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.
A/RES/65/13
3
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
55th plenary meeting
30 November 2010
United Nations A/RES/66/14
General Assembly Distr.: General
25 January 2012
Sixty-sixth session
Agenda item 37
11-45966
*1145966* Please rec cle ♲
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 November 2011
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/66/L.15 and Add.1)]
66/14. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its
subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special
sessions and its resolution 65/13 of 30 November 2010,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Affirming its support for the Middle East peace process on the basis of the
relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative
adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session2 and
the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 1515 (2003) of
19 November 2003,3
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/66/35).
2 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
3 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/66/14
2
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 4 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,5
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII
thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the Middle East peace process for the achievement of
the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders and the just resolution of
all final status issues and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people, and in this regard authorizes the Committee to make such
adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and
necessary in the light of developments and to report thereon to the General
Assembly at its sixty-seventh session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to
the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to
involve additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in
order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people,
particularly during this critical period of political instability, humanitarian hardship
and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the
relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative2 and
the Quartet road map;3
5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation which they have at their disposal;
6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to
the Committee in the performance of its tasks;
_______________
4 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.
5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
A/RES/66/14
3
7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
69th plenary meeting
30 November 2011
United Nations A/RES/67/20
General Assembly Distr.: General
28 February 2013
Sixty-seventh session
Agenda item 37
12-47980
*1247980* Please recycle
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 November 2012
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/67/L.17 and Add.1)]
67/20. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its
subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special
sessions and its resolution 66/14 of 30 November 2011,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Affirming its support for the Middle East peace process on the basis of the
relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative
adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session2 and
the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 1515 (2003) of
19 November 2003,3
Expressing grave concern about the impasse in the peace process and the
serious deterioration of the situation on the ground, and calling for an urgent
resumption of the peace process,
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/67/35).
2 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
3 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/67/20 Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
2/3
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 4 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,5
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII
thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the Middle East peace process for the achievement of
the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders and the just resolution of
all final status issues and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people, and in this regard authorizes the Committee to make such
adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and
necessary in the light of developments and to report thereon to the General
Assembly at its sixty-eighth session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to
the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as
appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to
involve additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in
order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people,
particularly during this critical period of political instability, humanitarian hardship
and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the
relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative2 and
the Quartet road map;3
5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation which they have at their disposal;
_______________
4 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People A/RES/67/20
3/3
6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to
the Committee in the performance of its tasks;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
47th plenary meeting
30 November 2012
United Nations A/RES/68/12
General Assembly Distr.: General
9 January 2014
Sixty-eighth session
Agenda item 36
13-44017
*1344017* Please recycle
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 26 November 2013
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/68/L.12 and Add.1)]
68/12. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its
subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special
sessions and its resolution 67/20 of 30 November 2012,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Affirming its support for the Middle East peace process on the basis of the
relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative
adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session2 and
the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 1515 (2003) of
19 November 2003,3
Welcoming the resumption, on 29 July 2013, of Israeli-Palestinian peace
negotiations aimed at resolving all core final status issues and concluding a final
peace agreement within the agreed time frame of nine months, and expressing
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/68/35).
2 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
3 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/68/12 Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
2/3
appreciation for the efforts and support of the United States of America, the
European Union, the Russian Federation and the United Nations, as the members of
the Quartet, and of the League of Arab States and all other concerned States,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 4 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,5
Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter alia,
Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations, and
taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,6
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII
thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the Middle East peace process for the achievement of
the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders and the just resolution of
all final status issues and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people, and in this regard authorizes the Committee to make such
adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and
necessary in the light of developments and to report thereon to the General
Assembly at its sixty-ninth session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation
relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the
General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to
involve additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in
order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people,
particularly during this critical period of political instability, humanitarian hardship
and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the
relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative2 and
the Quartet road map;3
_______________
4 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
6 A/67/738.
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People A/RES/68/12
3/3
5. Welcomes, in this regard, the reactivation of the Working Group of the
Committee, the mandate of which is to coordinate the efforts of international and
regional civil society organizations regarding the question of Palestine;
6. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation that they have at their disposal;
7. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation
to the Committee in the performance of its tasks, recalling its repeated call for
all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations
system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early
realization of their right to self-determination, including the right to their
independent State of Palestine;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
9. Decides to proclaim 2014 the International Year of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People, and requests the Committee to organize activities to be held
during the year, in cooperation with Governments, relevant organizations of the
United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil society
organizations;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee
with all the facilities necessary for the performance of its tasks.
58th plenary meeting
26 November 2013
United Nations A/RES/69/20
General Assembly Distr.: General
10 December 2014
Sixty-ninth session
Agenda item 36
14-65711 (E)
*1465711* Please recycle
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 November 2014
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/69/L.21 and Add.1)]
69/20. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its
subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special
sessions and its resolution 68/12 of 26 November 2013,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Affirming its support for a comprehensive, just, lasting and peaceful settlement
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle
of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session2 and the Quartet road map to a permanent
two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, endorsed by the Security
Council in resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,3
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 4 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/69/35).
2 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
3 S/2003/529, annex.
4 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
A/RES/69/20 Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
2/3
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,5
Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter alia,
Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations, and
taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,6
Taking note of the accession by Palestine, on 1 April 2014, to several human
rights treaties and the core humanitarian law conventions,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII
thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the achievement without delay of an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967 and of the two-State solution on the basis of the
pre-1967 borders and the just resolution of all final status issues and to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and in this regard
authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of
work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and
to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventieth session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to
the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as
appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to
involve additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in
order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people,
particularly during this critical period of political instability, humanitarian hardship
and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the
relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative2 and
the Quartet road map;3
5. Commends the efforts and activities of the Committee in commemoration
of the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in 2014, in
cooperation with Governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system,
intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations;
_______________
5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
6 A/67/738.
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People A/RES/69/20
3/3
6. Also commends the efforts of the Working Group of the Committee in
coordinating the efforts of international and regional civil society organizations
regarding the question of Palestine;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation that they have at their disposal;
8. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to
the Committee in the performance of its tasks, recalling its repeated call for all
States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system
to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of
their right to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of
Palestine;
9. Requests, as called for by the Committee, the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development to report to the General Assembly on the economic costs
of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
11. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the facilities necessary for the performance of its tasks.
61st plenary meeting
25 November 2014
United Nations A/RES/70/12
General Assembly Distr.: General
2 December 2015
Seventieth session
Agenda item 38
15-16766 (E)
*1516766* Please recycle
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 24 November 2015
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/70/L.10 and Add.1)]
70/12. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its
subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special
sessions and its resolution 69/20 of 25 November 2014,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Affirming its support for a comprehensive, just, lasting and peaceful settlement
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle
of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session 2 and the Quartet road map to a permanent
two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, endorsed by the Security
Council in resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,3
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 4 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/70/35).
2 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
3 S/2003/529, annex.
4 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
A/RES/70/12 Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
2/3
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,5
Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter alia,
Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations, and
taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,6
Taking note of the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and
the core humanitarian law conventions, as well as other international treaties,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII
thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the achievement without delay of an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967 and of the two-State solution on the basis of the
pre-1967 borders and the just resolution of all final status issues and to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and in this regard
authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of
work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and
to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to
the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as
appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to
involve additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in
order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people,
particularly during this critical period of political instability, humanitarian hardship
and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the
relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative2 and
the Quartet road map;3
5. Commends the efforts and activities of the Committee in upholding its
mandate, including through cooperative initiatives with Governments, relevant
organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and
civil society organizations;
_______________
5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
6 A/67/738.
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People A/RES/70/12
3/3
6. Also commends the efforts of the Working Group of the Committee in
coordinating the efforts of international and regional civil society organizations
regarding the question of Palestine;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation that they have at their disposal;
8. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to
the Committee in the performance of its tasks, recalling its repeated call for all
States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system
to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of
their right to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of
Palestine;
9. Notes with appreciation the efforts of the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development to compile a report to the General Assembly, pursuant to
resolution 69/20, on the economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian
people, and, while drawing attention to the alarming findings, as reflected in the
recent report on United Nations Conference on Trade and Development assistance to
the Palestinian people: developments in the economy of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, 7 calls for the exertion of all efforts for the provision of necessary
resources to expedite completion of the report;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
11. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Committee with all the facilities necessary for the performance of its tasks.
64th plenary meeting
24 November 2015
_______________
7 TD/B/62/3.
United Nations A/RES/71/20
General Assembly Distr.: General
14 December 2016
Seventy-first session
Agenda item 35
16-20708 (E)
*1620708*
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 November 2016
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/71/L.18 and Add.1)]
71/20. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its
subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special
sessions and its resolution 70/12 of 24 November 2015,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Affirming its support for a comprehensive, just, lasting and peaceful settlement
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the pr inciple
of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session 2 and the Quartet road map to a permanent
two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, endorsed by the Security
Council in resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,3
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall i n the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 4 and recalling also its resolutions ES -10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
_______________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/71/35).
2 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
3 S/2003/529, annex.
4 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
A/RES/71/20 Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
2/4
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,5
Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter alia,
Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations, and
taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,6
Taking note of the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and
the core humanitarian law conventions, as well as other international treaties,
Noting with deep regret the onset of the fiftieth year of the Israeli occupat ion,
and stressing the urgent need for efforts to reverse the negative trends on the ground
and to restore a political horizon for advancing and accelerating meaningful
negotiations aimed at the achievement of a peace agreement that will bring a
complete end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the resolution of all
core final status issues, without exception, leading to a peaceful, just, lasting and
comprehensive solution of the question of Palestine,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report, 1
including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII
thereof;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the achievement without delay of an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967 and of the two-State solution on the basis of the
pre-1967 borders and the just resolution of all final status issues and to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and in this regard
authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of
work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and
to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy -second session and
thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to
the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary -General, as
appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to
involve additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in
order to mobilize international soli darity and support for the Palestinian people,
particularly during this critical period of political instability, humanitarian hardship
and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rig hts and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab -Israeli conflict, on the basis of the
_______________
5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
6 A/67/738.
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People A/RES/71/20
3/4
relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land f or peace, the Arab Peace Initiative2 and
the Quartet road map;3
5. Commends the efforts and activities of the Committee in upholding its
mandate, including through cooperative initiatives with Governments, relevant
organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and
civil society organizations;
6. Also commends the efforts of the Working Group of the Committee in
coordinating the efforts of international and regional civil society organizations
regarding the question of Palestine;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation that they have at their disposal;
8. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation
and support to the Committee in the performance of its tasks, recalling its repeated
call for all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United
Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early
realization of their right to self-determination, including the right to their
independent State of Palestine;
9. Notes with appreciation the efforts of the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development to compile a report to the General Assembly, pursuant to
resolution 69/20 of 25 November 2014, on the economic costs of the Israeli
occupation for the Palestinian people, and, while drawing attention to the alarmi ng
findings, as reflected in the recent report on United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development assistance to the Palestinian people: developments in the economy
of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 7 calls for the exertion of all efforts for the
provision of necessary resources to expedite completion of the report, including the
facilitation and coordination of pertinent inputs from the relevant organs, bodies and
agencies of the United Nations system;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
11. Requests the Committee, in the light of the onset of the fiftieth year of
the Israeli occupation, to focus its activities throughout 2017 on efforts and
initiatives to end the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and to organize activities
in this regard, within existing resources and in cooperation with Governments,
relevant organizations of the United Nations s ystem, intergovernmental
organizations and civil society organizations, aimed at raising international
awareness and mobilizing efforts as a contribution towards the achievement of a
just, lasting, comprehensive and peaceful solution to the question of Pal estine in all
its aspects;
_______________
7 TD/B/63/3 and Corr.1.
A/RES/71/20 Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
4/4
12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee
with all the facilities necessary for the performance of its tasks.
50th plenary meeting
30 November 2016
United Nations A/RES/72/13
General Assembly
Distr.: General
6 December 2017
17-21318 (E) 081217
*1721318*
Seventy-second session
Agenda item 38
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
on 30 November 2017
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/72/L.15 and A/72/L.15/Add.1)]
72/13. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its
subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special
sessions and its resolution 71/20 of 30 November 2016,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Affirming its support for a comprehensive, just, lasting and peaceful settlement
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle
of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session 2 and the Quartet road map to a permanent
two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, endorsed by the Security
Council in resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,3
Recalling the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution
2334 (2016) of 23 December 2016, and underscoring in this reg ard, inter alia, the
__________________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy -second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/72/35).
2 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
3 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/72/13 Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
2/4 17-21318
call upon all parties to continue, in the interest of the promotion of peace and
security, to exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations on all final status
issues in the Middle East peace process and within the time fram e specified by the
Quartet in its statement of 21 September 2010,
Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the
International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a
wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territ ory,4 and recalling further its resolutions
ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,5
Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter alia,
Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations, and
taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,6
Taking note of the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and
the core humanitarian law conventions, as well as other international treaties,
Noting with deep regret the passage of 50 years since the onset of the Israeli
occupation and 70 years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) on 29 November
1947 and the Nakba without tangible progress towards a peaceful solution, and
stressing the urgent need for efforts to reverse the negative trends on the ground and
to restore a political horizon for advancing and accelerating meaningful negotiations
aimed at the achievement of a peace agreement that will bring a complete end to the
Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the resolution of all core final status
issues, without exception, leading to a peaceful, just, lasting and comprehensive
solution of the question of Palestine,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,1
including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII
thereof, inter alia the recommendatio ns for the redoubling of international efforts
aimed at achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, for an
expanded multilateral framework for the revitalization of peace efforts, and for
efforts to ensure fullest accountability and imple mentation of the long-standing
parameters for peace in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the achievement without delay of an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967 and of the two -State solution on the basis of the
pre-1967 borders and the just resolution of all final status issues and to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and in this regard
authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of
work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and
to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy -third session and thereafter;
__________________
4 See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.
5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
6 A/67/738.
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People A/RES/72/13
17-21318 3/4
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to
the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary -General, as appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to
involve additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in
order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people,
particularly during this critical period of political instability, humanitarian hardship
and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab -Israeli conflict, on the basis of the
relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peac e Initiative2 and
the Quartet road map;3
5. Commends the efforts and activities of the Committee in upholding its
mandate, including through cooperative initiatives with Governments, relevant
organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and
civil society organizations;
6. Also commends the efforts of the Working Group of the Committee in
coordinating the efforts of international and regional civil society organizations
regarding the question of Palestine;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commissio n for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information
and documentation that they have at their disposal;
8. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation
and support to the Committee in the performance of its tasks, recalling its repeated
call for all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United
Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early
realization of their right to self-determination, including the right to their
independent State of Palestine;
9. Notes with appreciation the efforts of the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development to compile a report to the General Assembly, pursuant to
resolution 69/20 of 25 November 2014, on the economic costs of t he Israeli
occupation for the Palestinian people, and, while drawing attention to the alarming
findings, as reflected in the recent report on United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development assistance to the Palestinian people: developments in the econo my
of the Occupied Palestinian Territory,7 calls for the exertion of all efforts for the
provision of necessary resources to expedite completion and publication of the
report, including the facilitation and coordination of pertinent inputs from the
relevant organs, bodies and agencies of the United Nations system;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee
to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the
necessary action, as appropriate;
11. Requests the Committee, bearing in mind the solemn anniversaries being
observed in 2017 and the absence of tangible progress towards a peaceful solution,
to continue to focus its activities throughout 2018 on efforts and initiatives to end
the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and to organize activities in this regard,
__________________
7 TD/B/63/3 and TD/B/63/3/Corr.1.
A/RES/72/13 Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
4/4 17-21318
within existing resources and in cooperation with Governments, relevant
organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and
civil society organizations, aimed at raising international awareness and mobilizing
diplomatic efforts to launch credible negotiations aimed at achieving without delay
a just, lasting, comprehensive and peaceful solution to the question of Palestine in
all its aspects;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee
with all the facilities necessary for the performance of its tasks.
60th plenary meeting
30 November 2017
United Nations A/RES/73/18
General Assembly
Distr.: General
4 December 2018
18-20703 (E) 061218
*1820703*
Seventy-third session
Agenda item 39
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
on 30 November 2018
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/73/L.31 and A/73/L.31/Add.1)]
73/18. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its
subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency spec ial
sessions and its resolution 72/13 of 30 November 2017,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel
and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palesti nian
people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full
compliance with those agreements,
Affirming its support for a comprehensive, just, lasting and peaceful settlement
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle
of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session2 and the Quartet road map to a permanent two -
State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,3 endorsed by the Security Council in
resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,
Recalling the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution
2334 (2016) of 23 December 2016, and underscoring in this regard, inter alia, the call
__________________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy -third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/73/35).
2 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
3 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/73/18 Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
2/4 18-20703
upon all parties to continue, in the interest of the promotion of peace and secur ity, to
exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations on all final status issues in the
Middle East peace process and within the time frame specified by the Quartet in its
statement of 21 September 2010,
Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 4 and recalling further its resolutions E S-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 2 3 September 2011,5
Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter alia,
Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations, and
taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,6
Taking note of the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and
the core humanitarian law conventions, as well as other international treaties,
Noting with deep regret the passage of 51 years since the onset of the Israeli
occupation and over 70 years since the adoption of resolution 18 1 (II) on
29 November 1947 and the Nakba without tangible progress towards a peaceful
solution, and stressing the urgent need for efforts to reverse the negative trends on the
ground and to restore a political horizon for advancing and accelerating meaningful
negotiations aimed at the achievement of a peace agreement that will bring a complete
end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the resolution of all core final
status issues, without exception, leading to a peaceful, just, lasting and
comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report, 1 including
the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof, inter
alia, the recommendations for the redoubling of international efforts aimed at
achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, for an expanded
multilateral framework for the revitalization of peace efforts and for efforts to ensure
fullest accountability and implementation of the long -standing parameters for peace
in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the achievement wit hout delay of an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967 and of the two -State solution on the basis of the
pre-1967 borders and the just resolution of all final status issues and to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestin ian people, and in this regard
authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of
work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and
to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy -fourth session and thereafter;
__________________
4 See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.
5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
6 A/67/738.
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People A/RES/73/18
18-20703 3/4
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation
relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General
Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to involve
additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in order to
mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people, particularly
during this critical period of political instability, humanitarian hardship and financial
crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the Palestinia n people
of their inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab -Israeli conflict, on the basis of the relevant United
Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the
principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative 2 and the Quartet road map;3
5. Commends the Committee on its efforts and activities in upholding its
mandate, including through cooperative initiatives with Governments, relevant
organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil
society organizations;
6. Commends the Working Group of the Committee on its efforts in
coordinating the efforts of international and regional civil society organizations
regarding the question of Palestine;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 19 4 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its req uest, the relevant information and
documentation that they have at their disposal;
8. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation and
support to the Committee in the performance of its tasks, recalling its repeated call
for all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations
system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization
of their right to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of
Palestine;
9. Requests the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to
continue to report to the General Assembly on the economic costs of the Israeli
occupation for the Palestinian people, and, while drawing attention to the alarming
findings, as reflected in the recent reports 7 in this regard, calls for the exertion of all
efforts for the provision of the resources necessary to expedite the completion and
publication of the report, including the facilitation and coordination of pertinent
inputs from the relevant organs, bodies and agencies of the United Nations system;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to
all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary
action, as appropriate;
11. Requests the Committee, bearing in mind the regrettable absence of
tangible progress towards a peaceful solution, to continue to focus its activities
throughout 2019 on efforts and initiatives to end the Israeli occupation that began in
1967 and to organize activities in this regard, within existing resources and in
cooperation with Governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system,
intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations, aimed at raising
international awareness and mobilizing diplomatic efforts to launch credible
__________________
7 A/71/174 and A/73/201.
A/RES/73/18 Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
4/4 18-20703
negotiations aimed at achieving without delay a just, lasting, comprehensive and
peaceful solution to the question of Palestine in all its aspects;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with
all the facilities necessary for the performance of its tasks .
43rd plenary meeting
30 November 2018
United Nations A/RES/74/10
General Assembly
Distr.: General
9 December 2019
19-20903 (E) 111219
*1920903*
Seventy-fourth session
Agenda item 35
Question of Palestine
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
on 3 December 2019
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/74/L.14 and A/74/L.14/Add.1)]
74/10. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December
1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its subsequent relevant
resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special sessions and its
resolution 73/18 of 30 November 2018,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel
and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian
people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full
compliance with those agreements,
Affirming its support for a comprehensive, just, lasting and peaceful settl ement
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle
of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session2 and the Quartet road map to a permanent two -
State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,3 endorsed by the Security Council in
resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,
__________________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy -fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/74/35).
2 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
3 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/74/10
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
2/4 19-20903
Recalling the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution
2334 (2016) of 23 December 2016, and underscoring in this regard, inter alia, the call
upon all parties to continue, in the interest of the promotion of peace and security, to
exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations on all final status issues in the
Middle East peace process and within the time frame specified by the Quartet in its
statement of 21 September 2010,
Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 4 and recalling further its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011, 5
Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter alia,
Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations, and
taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,6
Taking note of the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and
the core humanitarian law conventions, as well as other international treaties,
Noting with deep regret the passage of 52 years since the onset of the Israeli
occupation and over 72 years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) on 29 November
1947 and the Nakba without tangible progress towards a peaceful solution, and
stressing the urgent need for efforts to reverse the negative tr ends on the ground and
to restore a political horizon for advancing and accelerating meaningful negotiations
aimed at the achievement of a peace agreement that will bring a complete end to the
Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the resolution of all core final status issues,
without exception, leading to a peaceful, just, lasting and comprehensive solution to
the question of Palestine,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the que stion is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing th e tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report, 1 including
the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VI I thereof, inter
alia, the recommendations for the redoubling of international efforts aimed at
achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, for an expanded
multilateral framework for the revitalization of peace efforts and for efforts to ensure
fullest accountability and implementation of the long -standing parameters for peace
in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the achievement without delay of an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967 and of the two -State solution on the basis of the
pre-1967 borders and the just resolution of all final status issues and to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and in this regard
authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of
__________________
4 See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.
5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
6 A/67/738.
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People A/RES/74/10
19-20903 3/4
work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and
to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy -fifth session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation
relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General
Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to involve
additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in order to
mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people, particularly
during this critical period of political instability, humanitarian hardship and financial
crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the Palestinian people
of their inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab -Israeli conflict, on the basis of the relevant United
Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the
principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative 2 and the Quartet road map;3
5. Commends the Committee on its efforts and activities in upholding its
mandate, including through cooperative initiatives with Governments, relevant
organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil
society organizations;
6. Commends the Working Group of the Committee on its efforts in
coordinating the efforts of international and regional civil society organizations
regarding the question of Palestine;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commissio n for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information and
documentation that they have at their disposal;
8. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation and
support to the Committee in the performance of its tasks, recalling its repeated call for
all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system
to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their
right to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine;
9. Requests the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to
continue to report to the General Assembly on the economic costs of the Israeli
occupation for the Palestinian people, and, while drawing a ttention to the alarming
findings, as reflected in the recent reports 7 in this regard, calls for the exertion of all
efforts for the provision of the resources necessary to expedite the completion and
publication of the report, including the facilitation a nd coordination of pertinent
inputs from the relevant organs, bodies and agencies of the United Nations system;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to
all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary
action, as appropriate;
11. Requests the Committee, bearing in mind the regrettable absence of
tangible progress towards a peaceful solution, to continue to focus its activities
throughout 2020 on efforts and initiatives to end the Israeli occupation that began in
1967 and to organize activities in this regard, within existing resources and in
cooperation with Governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system,
intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizat ions, aimed at raising
__________________
7 A/73/201 and A/74/272.
A/RES/74/10
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
4/4 19-20903
international awareness and mobilizing diplomatic efforts to launch credible
negotiations aimed at achieving without delay a just, lasting, comprehensive and
peaceful solution to the question of Palestine in all its aspects;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with
all the facilities necessary for the performance of its tasks.
38th plenary meeting
3 December 2019
United Nations A/RES/75/20
General Assembly
Distr.: General
8 December 2020
20-16396 (E) 111220
*2016396*
Seventy-fifth session
Agenda item 38
Question of Palestine
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
on 2 December 2020
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/75/L.32 and A/75/L.32/Add.1)]
75/20. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its subsequent
relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special sessions and its
resolution 74/10 of 3 December 2019,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel
and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian
people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full
compliance with those agreements,
Affirming its support for a comprehensive, just, lasting and peaceful settlement
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the p rinciple
of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session 2 and the Quartet road map to a permanent two -
State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,3 endorsed by the Security Council in
resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,
__________________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy -fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/75/35).
2 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
3 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/75/20
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
2/4 20-16396
Recalling the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution
2334 (2016) of 23 December 2016, and underscoring in this regard, inter alia, the call
upon all parties to continue, in the interest of the promotion of peace and security, to
exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations on all final status issues in the
Middle East peace process and within the time frame specified by the Quartet in its
statement of 21 September 2010,
Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the constructi on of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 4 and recalling further its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011, 5
Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter alia ,
Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations, and
taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,6
Taking note of the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and
the core humanitarian law conventions, as well as other international treaties,
Noting with deep regret the passage of 53 years since the onset of the Israeli
occupation and over 73 years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) on
29 November 1947 and the Nakba without tangible progress towards a peaceful
solution, and stressing the urgent need for efforts to reverse the negative trends on the
ground and to restore a political horizon for advancing and accelerating meaningful
negotiations aimed at the achievement of a peace agreement that will bring a complete
end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the resolution of all core final
status issues, without exception, leading to a peaceful, just, lasting and
comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report, including
the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof, inter
alia, the recommendations for the redoubling of international efforts aimed at
achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, for an expanded
multilateral framework for the revitalization of peace efforts and for e fforts to ensure
fullest accountability and implementation of the long -standing parameters for peace
in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the achievement without delay of an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967 and of the two -State solution on the basis of the
pre-1967 borders and the just resolution of all final status issues and to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and in this regard
authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of
work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and
__________________
4 See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.
5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
6 A/67/738.
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People A/RES/75/20
20-16396 3/4
to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy -sixth and seventy-seventh
sessions and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation
relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General
Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary -General, as appropriate;
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to involve
additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in order to
mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people, particularly
during this critical period of political instability, humanitarian hardship and financial
crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the Palestinian people
of their inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the relevant United
Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the
principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet road map;
5. Commends the Committee on its efforts and activities in upholding its
mandate, including through cooperative initiatives with Governments, relevant
organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil
society organizations;
6. Commends the Working Group of the Committee on its efforts in
coordinating the efforts of international and regional civil society organizations
regarding the question of Palestine;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information and
documentation that they have at their disposal;
8. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation and
support to the Committee in the performance of its tasks, recalling its repeated call
for all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations
system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization
of their right to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of
Palestine;
9. Requests the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to
continue to report to the General Assembly on the economic costs of the Israeli
occupation for the Palestinian people, and, while drawing attention to the alarming
findings, as reflected in the recent reports 7 in this regard, calls for the exertion of all
efforts for the provision of the resources necessary to expedite the completion and
publication of the report, including the facilitation and coordination of pertinent
inputs from the relevant organs, bodies and agencies of the United Nations system;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to
all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary
action, as appropriate;
11. Requests the Committee, bearing in mind the regrettable absence of
tangible progress towards a peaceful solution, to continue to focus its activities
throughout 2021 and 2022 on efforts and initiatives to end the Israeli occupation that
began in 1967 and to organize activities in this regard, within existing resources and
in cooperation with Governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations
__________________
7 A/73/201, A/74/272 and A/75/310.
A/RES/75/20
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
4/4 20-16396
system, intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations, aimed at
raising international awareness and mobilizing diplomatic efforts to launch credible
negotiations aimed at achieving without delay a just, lasting, comprehensive and
peaceful solution to the question of Palestine in all its aspects;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with
all the facilities necessary for the performance of its tasks.
35th plenary meeting
2 December 2020
United Nations A/RES/77/22
General Assembly
Distr.: General
5 December 2022
22-27257 (E) 081222
*2227257*
Seventy-seventh session
Agenda item 33
Question of Palestine
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
on 30 November 2022
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/77/L.23)]
77/22. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376
(XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all its subsequent
relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special sessions and its
resolution 75/20 of 2 December 2020,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 1
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel
and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian
people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full
compliance with those agreements,
Affirming its support for a comprehensive, just, lasting and peaceful settlement
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle
of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session 2 and the Quartet road map to a permanent two -
State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,3 endorsed by the Security Council in
resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,
__________________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy -seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/77/35).
2 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
3 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/77/22
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
2/4 22-27257
Recalling the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2334
(2016) of 23 December 2016, and underscoring in this regard, inter alia, the call upon
all parties to continue, in the interest of the promotion of peace and security, to exert
collective efforts to launch credible negotiations on all final status issues in the
Middle East peace process and within the time frame specified by the Quartet in its
statement of 21 September 2010,
Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 4 and recalling further its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011, 5
Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter alia,
Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations, and
taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,6
Taking note of the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and
the core humanitarian law conventions, as well as other international treaties,
Noting with deep regret the passage of 55 years since the onset of the Israeli
occupation and 75 years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) on 29 November
1947 and the Nakba without tangible progress towards a peaceful solution, and
stressing the urgent need for efforts to reverse the negative trends on t he ground and
to restore a political horizon for advancing and accelerating meaningful negotiations
aimed at the achievement of a peace agreement that will bring a complete end to the
Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the resolution of all core fin al status issues,
without exception, leading to a peaceful, just, lasting and comprehensive solution to
the question of Palestine,
Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until the question is r esolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory
manner in accordance with international legitimacy,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks
assigned to it by the General Assembly aimed at achieving a peaceful settlement of
the question of Palestine, an expanded multilateral framework for the revitalization
of peace efforts and ensuring fullest accountability and implementation of the long -
standing parameters for peace in accordance with the relevant United Nations
resolutions;
2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to
self-determination, to support the achievement without delay of an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967 and of the two -State solution on the basis of the
pre-1967 borders and the just resolution of all final status issues and to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and to report
thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy -eighth session and thereafter;
3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation
relating to the question of Palestine and make suggestions to the General Assembly,
the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate;
__________________
4 See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.
5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
6 A/67/738.
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People A/RES/77/22
22-27257 3/4
4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations an d to continue to involve
additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in order to
mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people and for
restoring a political horizon and advancing just, lasting and comp rehensive peace,
particularly during this critical period of political instability, further reduction of civic
space in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, humanitarian
hardship and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promot ing the achievement by
the Palestinian people of their inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab -Israeli conflict, on the
basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and
the Quartet road map;
5. Commends the Committee on its efforts and activities in upholding its
mandate, including through cooperative initiatives with Governments, relevant
organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil
society organizations;
6. Commends the Working Group of the Committee on its efforts in
coordinating the efforts of international and regiona l civil society organizations
regarding the question of Palestine;
7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,
established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations
bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with
the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information and
documentation that they have at their disposal;
8. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation and
support to the Committee in the performance of its tasks, recalling its repeated call
for all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations
system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization
of their right to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of
Palestine, and to support the development and strengthening of Palestinian
institutions and Palestinian State-building efforts in preparation for independence;
9. Requests the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to
continue to report to the General Assembly on economic development in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the economic costs of the Israeli
occupation for the Palestinian people, and, while drawing attention to the alarming
findings, as reflected in the recent reports 7 in this regard, calls for the exertion of all
efforts for the provision of the resour ces necessary to expedite the completion and
publication of the report, including the facilitation and coordination of pertinent
inputs from the relevant organs, bodies and agencies of the United Nations system;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to
all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary
action, as appropriate;
11. Requests the Committee, bearing in mind the regrettable absence of
tangible progress towards a peaceful so lution, to continue to focus its activities on
efforts and initiatives to end the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and to organize
activities in this regard, within existing resources and in cooperation with Governments,
relevant organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations
and civil society organizations, aimed at raising international awareness and
__________________
7 A/73/201, A/74/272, A/75/310, A/76/309 and A/77/295.
A/RES/77/22
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
4/4 22-27257
mobilizing diplomatic efforts to launch credible negotiations aimed at achieving
without delay a just, lasting, comprehensive and peaceful solution to the question of
Palestine in all its aspects;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with
all the facilities necessary for the performance of its tasks.
42nd plenary meeting
30 November 2022
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: THl RTY - FI RST SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/31/35)
UNITED NATIONS
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: THIRTY - FIRST SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/31/35)
UNITED NATIONS
New York, 1976
NOTE
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
{Original: English/French!
CONTENTS
Paragraphs
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ... .. .. • .. • • .. .. .. .. • • • • • .. .. • • .. .. • • .. v
C. Agenda. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • " • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Unique nature of the question of Palestine •
Role of the Committee .
Participation in the work of the Committee
1 3 1
4 6 1
7 12 2
7 2
8 2
9 2
10 12 3
13 58 3
13 3
14 17 4
18 32 4
33 35 7
36 39 8
• •
• •
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.. .
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• • •
• • •
• •
• •
• •
• • • •
• • • •
.. ..
.. .
.. . ..
. .
. ..
• • •
.. . .
. .
• • • • •
• •
• • • • • • • • •
• • • • •
.. .
.. .. ..
national
• • • •
• •
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• • •
• • • • • • • • •
.. . . • •
.. . .
.. .. .
· .. .
· ..
.. ..
· ..
· .
• • •
.. .
• • • • •
Meetings • • • • •
Status of Jerusalem
Election of officers • •
Right of return • • • • • • • • •
Right to self-determination and to
independence and sovereignty • • •
ORGANIZATION OF WORK
B.
A.
C.
E.
B.
MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
INTRODUCTION •
SUMMARY OF THE DELIBERATIONS • •
D.
D.
I.
n.
IV.
III.
PART ONE. PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
F. Essential elements
of the inalienable
people • • .. • .. •
of a programme of implementation
rights of the Palestinian
• • • • • • oil • • • • • • • • • • 40 - 47 8
G. Proposals concerning steps to ensure implementation
of the programme • • • • • • • .. • • • • • • • • • • 48 - 50 10
H. Interrelationship between the question of Palestine
and the Middle East problem • • • • • • • • • • • • 51 - 58 10
PART TWO. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
r. BASIC CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES
11. THE RIGHT OF RETURN
. . .. . .. . . . .
. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . " . .
59 - 65
66 - 69
13
13
Ill. THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION, NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE
AND SOVEREIGNTY ... • .. .. • .. • .. • • .. .. • • • • • • • 70 - 72
-iii-
CONTENTS (continued)
ANNEXES
I. LIST OF DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN REPORT
II. LETTER OF 28 MAY 1976 FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE
TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . •
Ill. LETTER OF 12 JULY 1976 FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL TO THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IV. DRAFT RESOLUTION PRESENTED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON
29 JUNE 1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
-iv-
16
17
18
20
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
21 July 1976
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 12 July 1976
informing me, in accordance with paragraph 9 of General Assembly resolution
3376 (XXX), of the action taken by the Security Council on the report of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Ri~hts of the Palestinian People,
transmitted to it by you, as requested by para£,:~aph 8 of resolution 3376 (XXX).
At a meeting on 21 July, the Committee considered the action taken by the
Security Council and was of the opinion that the observations on the Committeefs
recommendations, particularly those voiced by members of the Council who had
voted against the draft resolution before the Council, or abstained on it, had
been based on considerations beyond the scope of the Committee's mandate. The
observations have, however, been noted and will be brought to the attention of
the General Assembly in an appropriate manner.
The Committee decided unanimously, therefore, to reaffirm the recommendations
which had been transmitted to the Security Council and to authorize me to resubmit
the report to you for transmittal to the General Assembly for its consideration, in
accordance with paragraph 10 of resolution 3376 (XXX). MY letter to you dated
28 May 1976, your letter to me of 12 July 1976 informing me of the action taken by
the Security Council and the draft resolution tabled in the Council have been
appended to the report (annexes II to IV).
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Medoune FALL
Chairman
of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Kurt Waldheim
Secretary-General of the United Nations
-vPART
ONE. PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The question of Palestine, both in its political and human rights aspects, has
been before the United Nations since 1947. In the period 1947-1975, the General
Assembly and the Security Council between them adopted 188 resolutions, each
dealing directly or indirectly with various aspects of this question. All these
resolutions, many of which have not been implemented, appear in chronological
order in document A/AC.183/L.2. An historical background of the question of
Palestine in the United Nations is outlined in document A/AC.183/L.3.
2. During its thirtieth session, the General Assembly, at its 2399th plenary
meeting on 10 November 1975, adopted by 93 votes to 18, with 27 abstentions,
resolution 3376 (XXX) establishing the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
3. The following States were appointed members of the Committee by the General
Assembly at its 2443rd meeting on 17 December 1975: Afghanistan, Cuba, Cyprus,
German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People's
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal,
Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and Yugoslavia.
11. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
4. Paragraph 4 of resolution 3376 (XXX) requested the Committee to consider and
recommend to the General Assembly a programme of implementation designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise the rights recognized in paragraphs 1 and 2 of
resolution 3236 (XXIX), taking into account in the formulation of its
recommendations all the powers conferred by the Charter upon the principal organs
of the United Nations.
5. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of General Assembly resolution 3236 (XXIX) read as follows:
"The General Assembly,
"
"1. Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in
Palestine including:
(a) The right to self-determination without external interference;
(b) The right to national independence and sovereignty;
"2. Reaffirms also the inalienable right of the Palestinians to return to
their homes and property from which they have been displaced and uprooted, and
calls for their return."
-1-
6. Resolution 3376 (XXX) requested the Committee to submit its report and
recommendations to the Secretary-General no later than 1 June 1976. The SecretaryGeneral
in his turn, was requested to transmit the report to the Security Council,
which w~s to consider, as soon as possible after 1 June 1976, the question of the
exercise by the Palestinian people of the inalienable rights recognized in
paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 3236 (XXIX). The Secretary-General was also
requested to inform the Committee of the action taken on that matter by the
Security Council, and the Committee was authorized. taking into consideration the
action taken by the Security Council, to submit to the General Assembly at its
thirty-first session a report containing its observations and recommendations.
HI. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A. Meetings
7. The Committee held 16 formal and 20 informal meetings at United Nations
Headquarters during the period from 26 February to 19 May 1976.
B. Election of officers
8. The Committee elected the following officers at its first and second meetings
held on 26 and 27 February respectively:
Chairman:
Vice-Chairmen:
Rapporteur:
Mr. Medoune Fall (Senegal)
Mr. Ricardo Alarcon Quesada (Cuba)
Mr. Mir Abdul Wallab Siddiq (Afghanistan)
Mr. Victor J. Gauci (Malta)
C. Agenda
9. The Committee adopted the following agenda at its second meeting on
27 February 1976 (A/AC.183/l):
1. Opening of the session
2. Election of officers
3. Adoption of the agenda
4. Organization of work
5. Preparation of the first report of the Committee and formulation of
recommendations in implementation of General Assembly resolution
3376 (XXX)
6. Adoption of the first report
-2-
D. Participation in the work of the Committee
10. The Committee decided at its second meeting to invite the Palestine Liberation
Organization to participate in the work of the Committee as an observer, to attend
all its meetings, and to make suggestions and proposals for the consideration of
the Committee. Furthermore, the Committee authorized the Chairman to request the
Secretary-General to invite all States Members of the United Nations, permanent
observers to the United Nations and intergovernmental regional organizations, to
participate in the work of the Commdttee as observers; they were also to be
informed that the Committee was ready to receive and to study their suggestions
and proposals, made either orally or in writing. This invitation to participate in
the work of the Committee was to be brought to the notice particularly of all those
States directly interested in the Middle East crisis, the representative of the
League of Arab States, the Organization of African Unity and members of the
Security Council, especially its permanent members.
11. The following States responded affirmatively to the invitation and
participated in the work of the Committee as observers: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, the
Libyan Arab Republic. Mauritania ar d the Syrian Arab Republic. The Palestine
Liberation Organization and the League of Arab States also participated in the
work of the Committee as observers. In response to the invitation, the
representative of Greece made a statement before the Committee. Written
communications were received from several States and are contained in documents
A/AC.183/L.21 and Add.l and 2.
12. In the absence of summary records, it was decided that all major statements
made in the Committee would be produced as official documents of the Committee.
These statements are contained in documents A/AC.183/2; A/AC.l83/L.4-20;
A/AC.183/L.22-30. At the request of the Committee, the Commissioner-General of
the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)
addressed on 15 March 1976 a letter to the Chairman of the Committee, providing
information on the Palestinian refugees registered with UNRWA (A/AC.183!3). A
summary of the work of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine
from 1948 to date is contained in document A/AC.183/4.
IV. SUMMARY OF THE DELIBERATIONS
A. Unique nature of the guestion of Palestine
13. The members of the Committee emphasized the fact that the people of Palestine,
inreritors of an ancient civilization, had commenced their struggle for independence
early in the twentieth century and, as far back as the end of the Second World War~
had been ready for independence. Nevertheless, and in spite of the anti-colonialist
age that had dawned since the Second World War, the Palestinians~ owing to a
combination of circumstances, had suffered~ instead, dispersal from their homes
and deprivation of their inalien~ble rights and property. For 30 years, hundreds
of thousands had been forced to live in destitution, many being cast in the role
of refugee not once, but twice or even three times in their lifetime. This tragedy
had been recognized by the international community as one that should no longer be
tolerated.
-3-
B. Role of the Committee
14. The Committee noted that the inalienable rights of the Palestinians to selfdetermination,
national independence and sovereignty ~ as well as. their
inalienable right to return to their homes ~ had already been aff1.rmed and clearly
defined by the General Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX). It noted also that
the Assembly, while defining those rights~ had recognized the link between them.
15. Consequently, the basic task of the Committee was to formulate a programme of
implementation designed to enable the Palestinian people to exercise the rights
already affirmed and defined by the General Assembly.
16. Another important responsibility of the Committee was to maintain
international concern for progress towards a just solution of the question of
Palestine and thereby help promote a lasting peace in the Middle East. To this
end , it was suggested that the United Nations should utilize its available
resources to focus world attention on, and to strengthen international solidarity
with, the plight of the Palestini an people.
17. It was suggested that the Committee should follow the practi ce of other
United Nations bodies which dealt with questions relating to the exercise of
the national rights of peoples, by giving precedence to and taking as a basis for
discussion, opinions and proposals submitted by the representatives of the people
whose national rights were at stake. In this connexion, the Committee's attention
was drawn especially to the statement by Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Commander-in-Chief
of the Palestine Revolution, before the General Assembly at its 2282nd meeting on
13 November 1974 (A!PV.2282 and Corr.l), and to that of Mr. Farouq Qaddoumi,
member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organi zation, at the
1870th meeting of the Security Council on 12 January 1976 (s!pv.1870).
C. Right of return
18. It was emphasized that the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to
self-determination could be exercised only in Palestine. Consequently, the
exercise of the individual right of the Palestinian to return to his homeland was
a conditio sine gua non for the exercise by this people of its rights to selfdetermination,
national independence and sovereignty.
19. In this respect , it was pointed out that Israel was under binding obligation
to permit the return of all the Palestinian refugees displaced as a result of the
hostilities of 1948 and 1967. This obligation flowed from the unreserved agreement
by Israel to honour its commitments under the Charter of the United Nations, and
from its specific undertaking, when applying for membership of the United Nations,
to implement General Assembly resolutions 181 (11) of 29 November 1947, safeguardin
the rights of the Palestinian Arabs inside Israel, and 194 (Ill) of
11 December 1948, concerning the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their
homes or to choose compensation for their property. This undertaking was also
clearly reflected in General Assembly resolution 273 (Ill). The Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, as well as the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to
the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, also
~ontained relevant provisions concerning these rights. The States directly
lnvolved were parties to this Convention.
-4-
20. The opinion was expressed that whatever modalities or procedure were envisaged
for the implementation of the right of return of the Palestinians - whether such
return would be carried out by phases or by ~uotas according to a definite timetable
- that right should be absolute for every Palestinian and must have priority
over any other form Of substitute arrangements, such as compensation. The
Palestinians should be afforded the widest practical opportunities to exercise
their right of return, in regard both to the time element and to procedural
conditions. Only those Palestinians who would choose not to avail themselves of
those opportunities after a pre-determined period of time should be considered as
opting for compensation instead of actual repatriation. In this regard, it was
recalled that an assessment of the value of the property left be'rfnd by displaced
Palestinians had been made by the United Nations Conciliation CCnmUssion for
Palestine and was available on microfilm in the archives of the United Nations.
21. To implement the right of return, a two-phase programme was proposed. In
the first phase, the Palestinians displaced in 1967 should be allowed to return to
the territories which have been under Israeli military occupation since 1967. In
accordance with Security Council resolution 237 (1967), the return of these
Palestinians should be immediate and not related to any other condition.
22. During this first phase, certain preparations should be undertaken for the
second phase of such a programme, namely~ the phase relating to the Palestinians
displaced in 1948 from territories occupied by Israel before 1967. These
preparations could involve the following elements:
(a) Designation or creation of a competent agency to be entrusted with the
organizational and logistical aspects of the mass return of displaced Palestinians;
(b) Creation and financing of a fund for that purpose;
(c) Registration of displaced Palestinians other than those already
registered with UNRWA;
(d) ReQuest by either the Security Council or the General Assembly for an
advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice~ in accordance with
Article 96 of the Charter of the United Nations, on certain legal aspects of the
right of the Palestinians to return to their homes.
23. The problems related to the second phase - of Palestinians displaced between
1948 and 1967 - would be solved on the basis of the relevant resolutions of the
General Assembly and the Security Council and by agreement between the parties
involved.
24. The suggestion concerning the unconditional return to their homes, in a first
phase 9 of Palestinians displaced in 1967 was unanimously supported by the
Committee as a judicious approach in the search for a solution to the question of
Palestine. As for its practical implementation, several delegates expressed
doubts as to whether those Palestinians would be able to exercise fully their right
to return as long as the territories in question remained under foreign occupation.
They felt that the presence of Israeli occupying forces might inhibit and adversely
influence the free exercise of the right of return of the Palestinian people. In
the view of those delegations, it would be more realistic to expect the
-5-
Palestinians displaced in 1967 to exercise their right of return after Israel had
vacated the occupied areas according to an established time-table.
25. It was emphasized that pending its withdrawal from the areas occupied in
June 1967, Israel should release all political prisoners, dismantle its settlements
and maintain intact all Arab property.
26. In the process of the withdrawal of the Israeli forces and of the return of
the Palestinians displaced in 1967, the United Nations, acting as an intermediary,
might be called upon to perform several functions. The United Nations might, for
example be entrusted with taking over from Israel the vacated areas, together with
all essential services, which would thereafter be handed over to the Palestinian
authorities. UNRWA could be requested by the Committee to have ready the details
of the names, addresses and properties of the persons who had fled the country
since 5 June 1967 and who wished to return. The United Nations might assist the
Palestinian administration in establishing itself in the initial days following
Israeli withdrawal. The United Nations might also play a role in establishing
communications between the West Bank and Gaza and in arranging access to Jerusalem.
To undertake all these responsibilities, including arrangerrents for the return of
the refugees, some special United Nations authority might need to be established.
27. The view was expressed by some delegations that in the performance of such
interim functions, the United Nations might seek the co-operation of the League of
Arab States, which was ready to contribute to the implementation of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people.
28. It was suggested that, if necessary, the Security Council could establish a
temporary United Nations peace-keeping force in the region and provide formal
assurances of security so as to facilitate withdrawal by Israel from the occupied
areas.
29. It was suggested that certain legal questions could be clarified through an
advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice; more specifically, the
Court could be requested to pronounce itself on the following legal questions:
(a) Whether the recognition by the General Assembly of the inalienable right
to return of the displaced Palestinians and the demand by the General Assembly
that they be permitted to return were. in fact, an infringement of Israel Ys
sovereignty, particularly in the light of the provisions of General Assembly
resolution 181 (II) recommending the Plan of Partition, vdth its built-in safeguards
for the rights of the Palestinian Arab inhabitants of the then proposed Jewish
State, and General Assembly resolution 273 (lIT). which admitted Israel to
membership in the United Nations after recalling both resolutions 181 (11) and
194 (Ill);
(b) Whether or not certain laws enacted by Israel since 1948 - such as the
\ Law of. Return, the Nationality Law, the Absentees I Property Law, the Development
Authonty Law and others - are compatible with the provisions of the Plan of
Partition c~ntained in General Assembly resolution 181 (II), by which Israel is
bound, and In accordance with which the United Nations itself is the guarantor of
the rights of the Palestinian Arabs in the territories occupied by Israel in 1948
and 1949.
30. It vas felt that an adviso~ opinion on the first question might be considered
-6-
necessary if Israel invoked the principle of sovereignty in order to
obstruct the exercise by Palestinians of their inalienable right to return to their
homes. An advisory opinion on the second question was prompted by the fact that
the above-mentioned laws had a direct bearing on the status and rights of the
displaced Palestinians after their return, inasmuch as they may be considered to
infringe upon the rights guaranteed to them in section C of part I of the Plan of
Partition.
31. Some delegations expressed reservations in principle as to the advisability
of requesting the opinion of the International Court of Justice.
32. The attention of the Committee was drawn to the consequences which continued
denial of the Palestinians' right of return to their homes could have for peace
in the Middle East. The view was expressed that if Israel opposed the peaceful
and orderly return of Palestinians, the result could well be an increased
determination on the part of Palestinians and other Arabs to restore the rights of
Palestinians by means other than peaceful. The growing opposition of the
Palestinian population to occupation, as well as the outcome of the municipal
elections recently held in the West Bank and other occupied areas, had more than
a symbolic significance in this respect.
D. Right to self-determination aDd to national
independence and sovereiRUty
33. It was maintained that the right of the Palestinian people to selfdetermination
could be implemented only if Israel evacuated the Palestinian
territory it had occupied by force contrary to the Charter of the United Nations
and its resolutions and if Israel permitted the refugees and the displaced
Palestinians who had been uprooted or expelled or had fled during and after the
hostilities of 1948 and 1967 to return to their homes and property.
34. It was stressed that the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, in
accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, was a
prerequisite for peace in the Middle East. Upon the Israeli vacation of the
occupied areas and the establishment of an independent Palestinian administration,
the Palestinian people would be able to exercise its right to self-determination end
to decide its form of government through democratic means. The role of the
United Nations in that regard could only be advisory. Once the Palestinian State
was established, it could participate, on a basis of equality, in the negotiations
for a peace settlement in the Middle East, which would cover the question of
secure and recognized boundaries for all States in the region.
35. The opinion was shared that it was up to the Palestinian people, in the
exercise of its right to self-determination, to decide when and how its national
independence should be expressed within an independent entity of its own and in
its territory, Palestine. No other party had the right to dictate to the
Palestinian people the form, status or system of its entity or claim the authority
to permit or to prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian entity. The
Palestinian people had the right freely to choose its own representatives and form
of government. The Palestine Liberation Organization, which had been recognized
by the Palestinian people, the United Nations, the League of Arab States, the
Organization of African Unity and the overWhelming majority of world nations as the
-7-
ole representative of the Palestinian people, was a guardian of the inalienable
:ights of this peo~le. The Pal:st~ne Liberat~on Or-gani zat.Lon , consequently, was
entitled to particlpate as a prdno.i.pa'L party an all peace efforts to resolve the
Middle East problem.
E. Status of Jerusalem
36. The members of the Committee stressed the special significance of the city of
Jerusalem and its holy shrines to three major religions of the world - Islam.,
Judaism and Christianity. The international status of the city of Jerusalem, as
provided for in General Assembly resolution 181 (11), was recalled.
37. A suggestion was made that the administration of the city of Jerusalem should
consist of two main organs: (a) a 45-member legislative body in which the three
main religious communities of the city would be equally represented; (b) an
executive organ led by a United Nations commissioner appointed by the SecretaryGeneral
with the consent of the Security Council.
38. Several delegations were of the view that the question of the city of
Jerusalem was beyond the mandate of the Committee. According to one view, during
the first phase of the proposed programme of implementation of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people, Jerusalem should be restored to the situation
which had prevailed before the war of June 1967. Its future status could be
considered after the establishment of an independent Palestinian entity.
39. It was felt in the Committee that any solution of the delicate problem of
Jerusalem should be sought within the framework of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people and the religious characteristics of the city and that Israel
should be called upon to desist from any actions or policies designed to change
the legal status of Jerusalem. In this respect, Security Council resolution
298 (1971), in particular was recalled.
F. Essential elements of a programme of implementation
of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people
40. It was suggested that the Committee should recommend in its report that the
first phase of the implementation of the right of return shoul.d consist of the
return to their homes of the Palestinians displaced from territories occupied
since 1967.
41. The Committee might recommend that the Security Council demand that the
Palestinians displaced in 1967 should be permitted immediately to return to the
territories occupied since 1967. Their return should not be related to any other
conditions. On the basis of such a decision of the Security Council, the Committee,
with the co-operation of appropriate international agencies and participation of
parties concerned, could prepare a programme for the implementation of that
decision.
42. The Committee could also recommend that the International Committee of the
Red Cross (rCRC), which played a role in the return of some of the displaced
persons in the summer of 1961, or UNRWA, which has had a long association with
the problem oe asked to help organize the envisaged return of the persons concerned.
-8-
-
If UNRWA were to undertake this programme, its mandate would have to be adjusted
accordingly, and its budget and staff commensurately expanded. However, whether
the questions of organization and logistics were entrusted to the ICRC or to UNRWA,
the agency in charge would have to perform its duties in cor.stant consultation over
the mechanics of the programme with the competent authorities in the host
countries, with the Palestine Liberation Organization, and ~-Tith the occupying Power.
43. It was further proposed that the Committee might strongly recommend th~t, in
conjunction with the immediate return of the Palestinians displaced in 1967 to
the territories occupied by Israel since that date, the Security Council should
demand, in accordance with the powers conferred upon it by the Charter of the
United Nations. that:
(a) Israel desist from the establishment of new settlements in the occupied
territories and effectively prevent its citizens from creating any new settlements;
(b) Israel withdraw its citizens from the settlements already established
since 1967 in the occupied territories contrary to the provisions of article 49
of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 and contrary to resolutions of
several bodies of the United Nations.
44. In addition, the Committee might urge that the Security Council demand,
pending the early termination of the occupation, that Israel abide scrupulously
by the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention and declare its recognition of
the applicability of that Convention. Effective supervision by ICRC of the
application of all the provisions of that Convention - both to the existing
popUlation and to the returnees - should be requested by the Council, on the
recommendation of the Committee; the Committee should recommend altern~tive
methods and instruments of supervision in case ICRC declined to undertake this
responsibility. It was suggested that in formulating its recommendations on this
matter, the Committee should take into account the deliberations which the
Security Council held on the situation in the occupied Arab territories.
45. It was further proposed that the Security Council, in accordance with its
pertinent resolutions, should demand the urgent withdrawal of Israel from the
Palestinian territories occupied since June 1967. The Security Council could
provide international guarantees for the peace and security of all States and
peoples in the Middle East, thereby hastening the withdrawal of Israel. After
Israel's withdrawal, the Palestinian people would be able to decide its own future,
in accordance with its right to self-determination.
46. The suggestion was endorsed that the United Nations, which had a historical
responsibility towards the Palestinian people, should render to the Palestinian
authorities the necessary economic and technical assistance in order to contribute
to the economic and social development of the new Palestinian State.
47. It was suggested that the Committee, in formulating its recommendations,
might wish to seek widest possible support among Members of the United Nations. To
this end informal contacts should be established and maintained with the
representatives of States not members of the Committee, who could play a positive
role in the question of Palestine in the Security Council and, subsequently, in
the General Assembly. The purpose of such an approach would be to formulate the
recommendations in such a way as to obtain general support for them both in the
Security Council and in the General Assembly.
-9-
G. Proposals concerning steps to ensure
implementation of the programme
48 Attention was frequently drawn to the Committee's mandate under resolution
33'76 (XXX), by which the Cornmittee, in formulating its programme of implementation
of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, was required to take into
account all the powers conferred by the Charter upon the principal organs of the
United Nations. The powers defined in Articles 5, 6, 41, 42 and 96 were
particularly mentioned.
49. It was suggested that the Committee recommend, in whatever programme it
devised for the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, that
the Security Council consider what steps and measures should be taken, in
accordanceyith its competence under the Charter, if Israel refused to co-operate
in the implementation of the proposed programme.
50. If the Security Council was unable to act because of a veto, the Committee
should, in its subsequent report. recommend to the General Assembly that it carry
out its own responsibilities in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations
and in the light of precedents. It was also suggested that if Israel persisted in
its refusal to implement General Assembly resolutions 194 (HI) and 181 (II), this
would constitute a violation of the conditions of its admission to the United
Nations, which would then have to reconsider the matter.
H. Interrelationship between the question of
Palestine and the Middle East problem
51. It was widely emphasized that the question of Palestine. whose essence was
the restoration and exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
was of central importance to the solution of the Middle East crisis. A just
solution of this question was a conditio sine gua non for the settlement of the
Middle East problem as a whole and for the creation of the necessary conditions
for a just and lasting peace in the area. On the other hand, Palestinian rights
could not be achieved outside a comprehensive. just settlement that would include
Isr~el's withdrawal from all the Arab territories occupied in June 1967 and the
establishment of a just and lasting peace.
52. The view was accordingly expressed that a just and durable settlement in the
Middle East must be based on the following fundamental principles:
(a) Israel should withdraw from all the Arab territories occupied since
1967, in accordance with the principle of the inadmissibility of any acquisition of
territories by the use of military force and the relevant resolutions of the
Security Council;
(b) The Palestinian people should be enabled to exercise its inalienable
rirrht to national self-r:c:termir.ation, including the rip;ht to establish an
independent State in Palestine. in acc or-dance v~ith thepriBciples of the Charter of
tl:e U~ited Nations; Palestinian refup;ees wishing to return to their homes and to
Live ~n peace vi th their neip:hbours shoulJ. have the rip;ht to do so, and those
Choosln~ not to return should receive compensation for their properties;
-10-
(c) Appropriate arrangements should be made to guarantee, in accordance with
the Charter of the United Nations, the sovereignty, territorial integrity and
political independence of all the States in the area and their right to live in
peace within secure and recognized boundaries.
It was suggested that these principles should be fully taken into account in all
international efforts and conferences organized within the framework of the
United Nations for the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
53. It was emphasized that the United Nations should play a greater role in all
efforts to solve the Palestinian question and to establish a just and lasting
peace in the Middle East - a role, particularly by the Security Council, the
General Assembly and the Secretary-General, which would cover the entire process,
up to and including a final settlement of the problems in the area.
54. On the question of guarantees, reference was made to a statement setting out
the position of the USSR, in which was expressed its readiness to participate,
together with the United States, the United Kingdom and France, in international
guarantees of the security and inviolability of the frontiers of all Middle East
countries, either within the United Nations fran:€work or on some other basis. The
attention of the Committee was also drawn to the statement of the Government of
the USSR on the Middle East, dated 28 April 1976.
55. The opinion was shared that the prevailing situation in the Middle East
should not be allowed to stagnate. There was a need to reconvene the Geneva Peace
Conference on the Middle East, with the participation of all parties concerned,
including the Palestine Liberation Organization, on an equal footing with other
participants, according to General Assembly resolution 3375 (XXX), in order to deal
with the problem in all its aspects. In this regard many delegations underlined
the particular importance of the invitation extended to the Palestine Liberation
Organization by the Security Council to take part in its deliberations on an
equal footing with the other participants and called for equal participation of
the Palestine Liberation Organization in all efforts, deliberations and conferences
on the Middle East under the auspices of the United Nations.
56. The suggestion was made that since the Security Council remained the only
forum in which all parties to the conflict had been able to meet, this unique
circumstance might be more actively utilized for constructive moves towards a
settlement. The Committee could also play a role in ascertaining what constructive
steps might be taken by the Security Council to overcome the existing impasse and
to move towards a general settlement; the members of the Council, assisted by the
Secretary-General, either in closed session or through informal consultations,
could search for those constructive moves which would contribute to an over-all
settlement. The hope was expressed that all the parties concerned would show
statesmanship and genuine willingness to negotiate - necessary prerequisites for
achieving a comprehensive political settlement of the Middle East problem.
57. Several delegations underlined the importance of the debate in January 1976
in the Security Council on the Middle East problem including the Palestinian
question in implementation of Security Council resolution 381 (1975) o~
30 November 1975. It was noted that that debate had indicated a constructive
change in the approach of the Security Council to the question of the -inalienable
rights of the Palestinians. The draft resolution (S/11940), proposed by six members
of the Security Council but not adopted because of a veto, clearly affirmed the
-11-
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people t as well as the basic elements for
the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. This draft
resolution remained t in spite of its obstructiont the most supported basis for a
peaceful and just settlement in the Middle East. It was suggested that the
Committee should take into full account the provisions of this draft resolution,
as well as the ideas emerging from the Security Council deliberations on this
question.
58. Against the background of the reported difficulties in the search for a
peaceful solution to the Middle East question, the members of the Committee 3
within their more limited terms of reference, considered that the recommendations
which follaw would, in their implementation, constitute a contribution within the
framework of the United Nations and would complement efforts towards the
establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region.
-12-
---
PART TWO. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
I. BASIC CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES
59. The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and,
consequently, the Committee stresses its belief that no solution in the Middle
East can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate
aspirations of the Palestinian people.
60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to
their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence
and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the full
implementation of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and
final settlement of the Middle East crisis.
61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative
of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties, on the basis of
General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is indispensable in all
efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which are held under the
auspices of the United Nations.
62. The Committee recalls the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of
the acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligation for
complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so occupied.
63. The Committee considers that it is the duty and the responsibility of all
concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights.
64. The Committee recommends an expanded and more influential role by the United
Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine
and in the implementation of such a solution. The Security Council, in particular,
should take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of
their right to return to their homes, lands and property. The Committee,
furthermore, urges the Security Council to promote action towards a just solution,
taking into account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter of the United
Nations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numerous
resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideration of all the facts,
proposals and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that the
Committee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation of
the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
11. THE RIGHT OF RETURN
66. The natural and inalienable right of Palestinians to return to their homes is
recognized by resolution 194 (111), which the General Assembly has reaffirmed
almost every year since its adoption. This right was also unanimously recognized
-13-
by the Security Council in its resolution 237 (1967); the time for the urgent
implementation of these resolutions is long ovez-due ,
67. Without prejudice to the right of all Palestinians to return to their homes,
lands and property, the Committee considers that the programme of implementation,
of the exercise of this right may be carried out in two phases:
Phase one
68. The first phase involves the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) The Security Council should request the immediate implementation of its
resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementation should not be
related to any other condition;
(ii) The resources of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be
employed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved
in the resettlement of those returning to their homes. These agencies
could also assist, in co-operation with the host countries and the
Palestine Liberation Organization, in the identification of the
displaced Palestinians;
Phase two
69. The second phase deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) While the first phase is being implemented, the United Nations in
co-operation with the States directly involved, and the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the interim represen~ative of the
Palestinian entity, should proceed to make the necessary arr£n~ements
to enable Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967 to exerdse t.hea.r
right to return to their homes and property, in accordance with the
relevant United Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly
resolution 194 (Ill);
(ii) Palestinians not choosing to return to their homes should be paid just
and equitable compensation as provided for in resolution In: (Ill).
Ill. THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION, NATIONAL
INDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY
70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to self-determination, national
independence and sovereignty in Palestine. The Committee considers that the
evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in violation of the principles
of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the United Nations is a conditio sine
gua non for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights in
Palestine. The Committee considers, furthermore, that upon the return of the
Palestinians to their homes and property and with the establishment of an independent
-14-
Palestinian entity, the Palestinian people will be able to exercise its rights to
self-determination and to decide its form of government without external
interference.
71. The Committee also feels that the United Nations has an historical duty and
responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the economic
development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
72. To these ends, the Committee recommends that:
(a) A time-table should be established by the Security Council for the
complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in 1967;
such withdrawal should be completed no later than 1 June 1977;
(b) The Security Council may need to provide temporary peace-keeping forces
in order to facilitate the process of withdrawal;
(c) Israel should be requested by the Security Council to desist from the
establishment of new settlements and to withdraw during this period from
settlements established since 1967 in the occupied territories. Arab property and
all essential services in these areas should be maintained intact;
(d) Israel should also be requested to abide scrupulously by the provlsl0ns
of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949, and to declare, pending its speedy withdrawal from these
territories, its recognition of the applicability of that Convention;
(e) The evacuated territories, with all property and services intact, should
be taken over by the United Nations, which with the co-operation of the League of
Arab States, will subsequently hand over these evacuated areas to the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people;
(f) The United Nations should, if necessary, assist in establishing
communications between Gaza and the West Bank;
(g) As soon as the independent Palestinian entity has been established, the
United Nations, in co-operation with the States directly involved and the
Palestinian entity, should, taking into account General Assembly resolution
3375 (XXX), make further arrangements for the full implementation of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding problems and the
establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region, in accordance with all
relevant United Nations resolutions;
(h) The United Nations should provide the economic and technical assistance
necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity.
-15-
ANNEX I
List of documents referred to in report
L A/AC.183/1
2. A/AC .183/2
3. A/AC.183/3
4. A/AC.183/4
5· A/PV.2282 and Corr.l
of 13 November 1974
Agenda of the first session
Statement of the Permanent Observer of the Palestine
Liberation Organization in the Committee
Letter dated 15 March 1976 from the Commissioner
General of UNRWA to the Chairman of the Committee
Summary of the work of the United Nations Conciliation
Commission for Palestine
Statement to the General Assembly, of
Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee
of the Palestine Liberation Organization and
Commander-in-Chief of the Palestine Revolution
6. s/pv.1870
of 12 January 1976
7. A/AC.183/L.2
8. A/AC.183/L.3
9. A/AC.183/L.4-20 and
A/AC.183/L.22-30
10. A/AC.183/L.21 and
Add.l and 2
Statement of Mr. Farouq Qaddoumi, member of the
Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organization, in the Security Council
General Assembly and Security Council resolutions
relating to the question of Palestine, 1947-1975
Brief historical background of the question of
Palestine before the United Nations, 1947-1975
Major statements made in the Committee
Communications from States, observers and
intergovernmental regional organizations
-16-
ANNEX 11
Letter dated 28 May 1976 from the Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inai-{ena~~Ri~htsof the Palestinian People to
. the 'Secretary-General
I have the honour to present herewith, on behalf of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, its report requested
by General Assembly resolution 3376 (xxx).
The recommendations of the Committee, which appear in part two of the report,
represent, as required by paragraph 4 of resolution 3376 (XXX), a programme of
implementation designed to enable the Palestinian people to exercise the rights
recognized in paragraphs 1 and 2 of General Assembly resolution 3236 (XXIX).
As required by paragraph 7 of resolution 3376 (XXX), the Committee submits
this report to you for transmittal to the Security Council, which under the
provisions of paragraph 8 of that resolution is requested to consider, as soon as
possible after 1 June 1976, the question of the exercise by the Palestinian people
of its inalienable rights recognized in paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 3236 (XXIX).
(Signed,! Hedoune FALL
Chairman of the
Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
-11-
ANNEX III
Letter dated 12 July 1976 from the Secretary-General to
the ChairI'lan of the Comr:littee OD the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian PeoEle
I have the honour to refer to your letter dated 28 May 1976 a/ by which,
as re~uested by paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 3376 (XXX), you
submitted ~o n~, for transmittal to the Security Council, the report of the
Comnrit.t ae on the F.xercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
On 29 May, I communicated the text of your letter and of the Committee's
report (S/12090) to the Security Council which was re~uested by paragraph 8 of
resolution 3376 (XXX) to "consi der- as soon as possible after 1 June 197€1, the
ques~ion of the exercise by the Palestinian people of the inalienable rights
recognized in paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 3236 (XXIX) 11.
In accordance with the General Assembly's re~uest in paragraph 9 of
resolution 3376 (XXX) I set out below, for the information of the Committee,
the action taken by the Security Council.
At its 1924th meeting, held on 9 June, the Security Council included in
its agenda without objection the item entitled "Question of the exercise by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights: report of the Committee
established under General Assembly resolution 3376 (XXX) (8/12090)°.
The Security Council considered the item in the course of eight meetings
held between 9 and 29 June.
In the course of these meetings the representa.tives of the followinp;
29 Member States were invited. at their re~uest, to participate in the discussion
without the right to vote~ in accordance with rule 37 of the provisional rules
of procedure of the Security Council: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bulgaria,
Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, Egypt, German Democratic Republic,
Guinea, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Lao People's Democratic Republic,
Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syrian Arab
Republic, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yugoslavia.
In accordance with rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure, the
Security Council also decided to extend invitations to the Chairman, the Rapporteu
and other members of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People, pursuant to the re~uest contained in a letter from the
Chairman of that Committee, and to Mr. Alliin Helmy 11, Permanent Observer of the
League o~ Arab States to the United Nations. pursuant to the re~uest contained in
a letter from the representative of the Libyan Arab Republic.
a/ See annex 11.
-18-
The Security Council also decided by a vote of 11 in favour to one against
(United States of America) with three abstentions (France, Italy and
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) to invite, as on previous
occasions, the representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization to
participate in the debate, as requested in a letter from the representatives
of the Libyan Arab Republic and PakistaD.
The texts of the statements made during consideration of the question by the
Security Council are reproduced in the verbatim records of the 1924th, 1928th and
1933rd to 1938th meetings of the Council (S/PV .1924, 1928 and 1933 to 1938), which
are transmitted herewith for the information of the Committee on t'he Exercise (J~
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
At the 1938th meeting, 0:1 29 June, the representative of the United Republic
of' Tanzania introduced a draft resolution (S/12119) sponsored by Guyana, Pakistan,
Panama and the United Republic of Tanzania, the text of which is annexed to this
letter. bl
At the same meeting, the Security Council proceeded to vote on that draft
resolution. It received 10 votes in favour, 1 against (United States of America)
and 4 abstentions (France, Italy, Sweden and United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland), and was not adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent
member of the Security Council.
(Signed) Kurt Hi'"LDHEIM
Secretary-General
b I See annex IV.
-19-
ANNEX IV
Draft resolution submitted by Guyana, Pakistan, Panama
and the United Republic of Tbnz~nia ~
The Security Council,
Having considered the item entitled "I'he question of the exercise by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rigbts l1
, in accordance with the request
contained in paragraph 8 of General Assembly resolution 3376 (xxx) of
10 November 1975,
Having heard the representatives of the parties concerned, includinf, the
Palestine Liberation Organization, representative of the Palestinian people,
Having considered the report of the Committee'onthe Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (document 8/12090), transmitted to
the Security Council in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 7 of General
Assembly resolution 3376 (XXX),
Deeply concerned that no just solution to the problem of Palestine has been
achieved, and that this problem therefore continues to aggravate the Arab-Israeli
conflict, of which it is the co~e, and to endanger international peace and
security,
Recognizing that a just and lasting peace in the Middle East cannot be
established .rithout the achievement, inter alia, of a just solution of the problem
of Palestine on the basis of the recognition of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people,
1. Takes note of th~ report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the IPalestinian People (document 8/12090);
1I
2. Affirms the inalienable ri~hts of the Palestinian people to selfdetermination,
including the right of return and the right to national independence
and sovereignty in Palestine, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. §! Previously issued under the symbol 8/12119.
-20-
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REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE" OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: THIRTY-SECOND SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/32/35)
UNITED NATIONS
-
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: THIRTY-SECOND SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/32/35)
UNITED NATIONS
New York, 1977
NOTE
Symbols ''If 'United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
/Original: English/French/
/23 September 1977/
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL • . . . . . . . . v
I. INTRODUCTION . . . . 1 - 3 1
11. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE · · · · 4 1
Ill. ORGANIZATION OF WORK . . . . 5 - 9 1
A. Election of officers . . . · · · · 5 1
B. Participation in the work of the Committee 6 - 8 2
C. Establishment of a Task Force . · · · · 9 2
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE • . . · · · · 10 - 37 2
A. Efforts to promote the implementation of its
recommendations in accordance with paragraph 5 of
General Assembly resolution 31/20 . . . . . • .. 10 - 31
B. Dissemination of information in accordance with
paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 31/20 32 ~ 37
2
7
V. APPRAISAL OF ACTION TAKEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH
PARAGRAPH 7 OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 31/20
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE . . . . . . . .
38 - 42
43 - 45
9
10
I.
ANNEXES
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ENDORSED BY THE GIDfERAL
ASSEMBLY AT ITS THIRTY-FIRST SESSION • • 0 • • • • • • • . . . . . 11
11. A.
B.
LETTER DATED 18 APRIL 1977 FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE TO THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF CANADA
TO THE UNITED NATIONS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .
LETTER DATED 18 APRIL 1977 FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE TO THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF FRANCE
TO THE UNITED NATIONS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
-iii-
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
14
15
CONTENTS (continued)
C. !,ETTER DATED 18 APRIL 1977 FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE TO THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY TO THE UNITED NATIONS
D. LETTER DATED 18 APRIL 1977 FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE TO THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
TO THE UNITED NATIONS ••• • . • • • • • . • • . •
E. LETTER DATED 18 APRIL 1977 FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
CO~1ITTEE Tq THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF TlIE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS • • •
F. LETTER DATED 18 APRIL 1977 FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
CO~1ITTEE TO THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF ISRAEL
TO THE UNITED NATIONS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
19 September 1977
Sir~
I have the honour to transmit to you herewith the report of the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to
the General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 5 of resolution 31/20.
Accept~ Sir~ the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Medoune FALL
Chairman~ Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Kurt Waldheim
Secretary-General of the United Nations
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A. Election of officers
Mr. Medoune Fall (Senegal)
Mr. Ricardo Alarcon Quesada (Cuba)
Mr. Mir Abdul Wahab Siddiq (Afghani{:ltan)
Mr. Victor J. Gauci (Malta)
Chairman:
Vice-Chairmen:
Rapporteur:
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
I. INTRODUCTION
2. In its resolution 31/20 of 24 November 1976, adopted by 90 votes to 16, with
30 abstentions, the General Assembly took note of the report of the Committee and
endorsed the recommendations contained therein, as a basis for the solution of the
question of Palestine. Those recommendations are reproduced in annex I to the
present report. SUbsequently, by. its decision 31/318 of 22 December 1976, the
General Assembly enlarged the membership of the Committee by the addition of
Guyana, Mali and Nigeria.
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People, established by the General Assembly in resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, submitted its first report to the Assembly at its thirty-first
session. 1/
3. The following States were members of the Committee in 1977: Afghanistan, Cuba,
Cyprus, German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia,
Lao People1s Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet
Socialist Republic and Yugoslavia.
1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
5. At its 19th meeting, on 26 January 1977, the Committee unanimously re-elected
the following officers:
4. The present mandate of the Committee was specified in paragraphs 5 and 6 of
resolution 31/20. In paragraph 5, the General Assembly authorized the Committee to
exert all efforts to promote the implementation of its recommendations and to
report thereon to the Assembly at its thirty-second session. In paragraph 6, the
Assembly requested the Committee to promote the greatest possible dissemination of
information on its programme of implementation through non-governmental
organizations and other appropriate n:.::.ans.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
6. The Committee decided that those states Members of the United Nations and
permanent observers to the United Nations which had participated in the work of the
Committee as observers in 1976 could, if they so wished, continue to participate in
that capacity in 1977. These were: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,
Mauritania, Syrian Arab Republic, the League of Arab States and the Palestine
Liberation Organization, which continued in 1977 to participate in the work of the
Committee as observers.
7. In order to encourage the contribution of all sectors of opinion to its work,
the Committee authorized the Chairman to request the Secretary-General again to
invite all States Members of the United Nations and the permanent observers to the
United Nations which were not already participating in the work of the Committee to
do so, if they so wished, as cbservers; they were also to be informed that the
Committee was ready to receive and to study their suggestions and proposals made
either orally or in writing. This invitation was to be brought to the particular
notice of all those States directly interested in the Middle East situation and the
members of the Security Council, especially its permanent members.
8. The Secretary-General's letter conveying this invitation and the replies
received are contained in documents A/AC.183/L.31 and Add.1-4.
C. Establishment of a Task Force
9. To facilitate its work, the Committee appointed a Task Force composed of nine
memb~rs, It was entrusted with the task of: (1) keeping up to date with events
which affected the work of the Committee and suggesting to the Committee action
which it could usefully undertake, and (2) assisting the Committee in any other
specific assig~~ent related to its work. The following were appointed members of
the Task Force: Malta (Chairman), Afghanistan, Cuba, Guinea, Guyana, India,
Senegal, Tunisia and Palestine Liberation Organization.
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
1.
A. Efforts to promote the implementation of its
recommendations in accordance with paragraph 5
of General Assembly resolution 31/20
Review of the discussion in the General Assembly at its thirty-first session
10. The Committee studied and analysed the views expressed in the discussion of its
report and recommendation& at the thirty-first session of the General Assembly. It
noted the concurrence of opinion that the question of Palestine was a central element
of the Middle East conflict and that, therefore, a just and lasting peace in the area
could be achieved only if the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Palestinian
people were taken into account. It noted also the emphasis made that a satisfactory
and equitable solution to the question of Palestine could only be achieved within
the framework of a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East, in accordance with
the relevant resolutions of the United Nations. The Committee noted that these major
trends of opinion emerging from the debate confirmed the basic considerations
presented by the Committee in its report • •-----~~~~~~~~~!:!!!!~~~'!!1.~>,." U;!~:A~I@I'IT")"'L~"'~.'!;I.~I'?t'!;-.LiI:l'J!f.41li'!.. !P!L~.~t."'~ltl!l'~"')'I!",q"lti;o"J,*"<4f"':.:t.l"'!'iLJ!Ci",",~",:.>.,~0l'lI'~"'\1!F~"'~"!l"'~:u.,'.~:.:s.:"':~-:'~.,;....,.....?"..":_::,:_.,,..~"'
11. On the other hand, a noticeable trend of opinion had also held that the
Committee had given detailed consideration only t~ one aspect - though an import~~t
one - of the Middle East problem, and that, in consequence, the report and
recommendations lacked a sufficient balance. However, the Committee maintained
that this was a question of the mandate assigned to it; the Committee could not go
beyond its mandate, while recognizing that other aspects of the wider problem were
dealt with elsewhere within the United Nations system.
12. The Committee noted that under the terms of General Assembly resolution 31/62,
the Secretary-General had had contacts with all parties to the conflict and the
Co-Chairmen of the Peace Conference on the Middle East. Taking into account its
mandate, the Committee felt that a fuller report on those contacts might have been
made available to it, and expressed the hope that it would be kept fully informed
should such contacts take place in the future.
2. Contacts with the Security Council and consideration of possible action
13. The Committee noted with appreciation the information conveyed by the
Permanent Observer of the Palestine Liberation Organization on 28 March 1977 that
the Palestine National Council, at its meeting in Cairo, in March 1977, had
decided (a) to consider the recommendations contained in the report submitted by
the Committee to the General Assembly at its thirty-first session as a positive
and progressive step towards the achievement of the aspirations and rights of the
Palestinian people, including the right of return and the right to
~elf-determination, independence and national sovereignty; (b) to declare that any
settlement or agreement affecting the rights of the Palestinian people concluded
in its absence would be null and void.
.
14. As an expression of the views of the people directly concerned, the Committee
decided to bring this information to the attention of the Security Council; a
letter was accordingly addressed to the President of the Security Council on
28 March 1977. 2/ The Committee wishes to stress the importance of this matter,
and also desires to bring it to the attention of the General Assembly.
15. At the invitation of Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee
of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Chairman of the Committee visited
Lebanon in August 1977 and met with Mr. Arafat and other leaders of the Palestine
Liberation Organization. Reporting to the Committee on these meetings, the
Chairman stated that Mr. Arafat had expressed his appreciation of the work of the
Committee and had stated that, despite certain reservations, the Palestine
Liberation Organization considered the Committee's recommendations, especially if
adopted by the Security Council, as an equitable basis for the solution of the
question of Palestine.
16. The Chail'ID.an also visited some of the refugee camps, where he was able to see
for himself the unacceptable plight of the refugees. He was impressed by their
wish for a better future and for a peaceful and just solution to their problem as
well as by their determination to continue the struggle if a peaceful solution was
not forthcoming. .
2/ Official Records of the Security Council, Thirty-second Year, Supplement
for January, February and March 1977, document 8/12308.
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20. It was felt that there was a wider recognition by certain members of the
Security Council of the aspirations of the Palestinian people, and of the crucial
relevance of this aspect within the Middle East situation. THe urgency of'
reconvening the Geneva Conference had been acknowledged; one of the main points at
issue was still whether the Palestine Liberation Organization should be allowed to
participate in that Conference on an equal footing with the other parties. On
both these points the position of the Committee was very firm; it had repeatedly
stressed the urgency of construc~ive efforts towards a just solution guaranteeing
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and insisted on the participation
of the Palestine Liberation Organization, as the representatives of the Palestinian
people, on an equal footing in any such efforts. It was considered useful,
therefore, for an active dialogue to be established between the Committee and the
participants in the Geneva Conference with a view to promoting a negotiated
solution, since it was felt that the Committee, having already demonstrated its
impartiality, was well placed to promote its recommendations on implementation of
the rights of the Palestinian people.
19. The attention of the Committee was drawn to the fact that the political
communique issued after the Ministerial Meeting of the Bureau of Non-Aligned
Countries, held at New Delhi from 7 to 11 April 1977, had noted with satisfaction
that the General Assembly had adopted the Committee's report and had also called
upon the Security Council to take measures for the immediate implementation of the
Committee's recommendations. That communique had also referred to the decisic~
taken at the Fifth Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned
Countries on the need to bring pressure on Israel, especially in the Security
Council, with a view to securing Israel's compliance with United Nations
resolutions. Communiques on the question of Palestine issued at other international
meetings of countries, political parties and organizations were also noted with
satisfaction.
17. Consideration was given by the Committee throughout its deliberations as to
the moet propitious time for the Security Council to take up the item entitled
"Question of Palestine", as it was requested to do in paragraph 4 of General
Assembly resolution 31/20, which urged the Security Council to consider again as
soon as possible the recommendations contained in the Committee's report, taking
fully into account the observations made thereon during the debate in the General
Assemb~-. It was evident that the question of timing of such consideration could
not be looked at in isolation, and that the situation in the region itself had to
be taken into account. It was clear too, that there was need for continuing
consultations so that a meeting of the Security Council could be called for under
favourable conditions.
18. The Committee attached particular importance to this matter, first, because
implementation of the Committee's recommendations required the _.etive involvement
of the Security Council and, secondlylO because the discussion in the General
Assembly had revealed that there was virtual unanimity of opinion that the
Palestinian issue was a fundamental element in the search for a settlement of the
Middle East conflict. The Committee therefore felt that, to the extent possible
within its own mandate, it should strive to facilitate the work of the Security
Council in taking positive action when the latter was next called upon to
reconsider the problems of the area.
1
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21. The Committee decided that it would be useful'if those members of the Security
Council which had been unable to support the report and recommendations of the
Committee would indicate their latest thinking on the question of the rights of the
Palestinian people; the Committee accordingly authorized the Chairman to address
letters to the Permanent Representatives of Canada, France, Federal Republic of
Ger.many, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United
States of America seeking this infor.mation. At the same time, the Chair.man was
authorized to address a similar letter to the Permanent Representative of Israel,
as a principal party to the issue. Copies of these letters are reproduced in
annex II to the present report.
22. Since no replies had been received to these letters the Committee decided that
its Chairman should meet the rer.manent representatives of those countries which
were members of the Security Council and seek to obtain oral replies from them.
23. The Chair.man reported on his contacts at the 22nd meeting of the Committee on
7 June 1977. In those meetings the Chairman had emphasized that the Committee's
sole objective, within its terms of reference, was to make a constructive
contribution to the heart of the problem in the Middle East, and that it had
invariably sought the views of all Member States in carrying out its mandate as
deter.mined by the General Assembly; further.more, as a body duly constituted by
the General Assembly, its recommendations carried the authority of a United Nations
resolution. The Permanent Representatives of the five States had all adduced the
f.act that they had not voted for General Assembly resolutions 3376 (XXX) and
31/20 as their main reason for not replying to the Chair.man's letter. In the
Chair.man's view, this argument involved a dangerous contradiction. It not only
r~sked paralysing the Organization but could also under.mine the de jure status of
Israel which had been established by General Assembly resolution 273 (Ill) of
11 May 1949, for which certain countries had not voted.
24. Summarizing the outcome of his contacts with the five Powers concerned, the
Chair.man stated that they had evidently appreciated the fact that the Committee's
report would figure largely in the deliberations of the Security Council when it
considered the question of Palestine, but had felt that in view of the efforts
being made at the time it would be better if such consideration by the Council
were deferred to a more appropriate moment.
25. The Committee was convinced that its aim should be to seek to consolidate the
positive trend that was apparently developing in the views of certain countries and
to contribute towards the creation of a climate which would favour the achievement
of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. To this end, it felt that it
was important that the work of the Committee should be the subject of a thorough
exchange of views in the light of .the evolution of the situation and. the contacts
which were taking place.
26. In view of the urgency of the matter, and in order to highlight the releyance
of the Committee's recommendations, the Chair.man was authorized, with the full
backing of the Committee, to address a letter to the President of the Security
Council.
27. Accordingly, on 8 June 1977 the Chair.man addressed a letter to the President
of the Security Council, which though not suggesting a definite date for a Security
Council meeting, drew attention to paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 31/20,
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and conveyed the Committee's strong belief that delay in action by the Council
would be prejudicial to progress, and that the requirements of the present
situation demanded that at its next meeting on the question of Palestine the
Security Council should endeavour urgently to promote a positive approach which
would lead tangibly towards a solution of the Palestinian problem (S/12345).
28. On 12 September 1977, the Committee decided to authorize the Chairman to
address another letter to the President of the Security Council which would again
recall paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 31/20 and stress that the
recommendations contained in the Committee's report in 1976 had been endorsed by
the General Assembly and were therefore recommendations of the General Assembly.
While no specific date was suggested for a Security Council meeting on the question
of Palestine, the Presid~nt of the Council was requested to ensure that this item
was discuss~1 by the Council before being taken up by the General Assembly at its
thirty-second session. The letter also contained a request that it be pUblished as
a document of the Security Council (S/12399), while a copy was sent to the
Secretary-General with the request that it be published as a document of the
General Assembly (A/32/217).
3. Reaction to developments in the occupied territories
29. The Committee viewed with extreme concern the actions taken·by the Government
of Israel in the occupied territories, especially the administrative measures it
had announced and which seemed to imply a continuation of the policy aimed at
permanent annexa'" _a -n of those territories. Strong condemnation was expressed
against these a lons of the Government of Israel which could only encourage the
establishment 0: even more such settlements and create greater tension in the area,
against the wishes of the international community.
30. Accordingly, on 28 July 1977, the Chairman again addressed a letter to the
President of the Security Council expressing his deep concern at the action taken
by the Government of Israel to approve three settlements at Camp Kadum, Ofra and
Maale Adumin, situated in the territories illegally occupied since June 1967. In
this letter, the Chairman also pointed out that this decision of the Government of
Israel was incompatible with the recommendations contained fn the Committee's
report, which were endorsed by the General Assembly at its thirty-first session;
the decision furthermore constituted a violation of the Geneva Convention ,Relative
to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 3/ of
General Assembly resolutions 3525 (XXX) of 15 December 1975 and 31/106 of
16 December 1976, of Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and
252 (1968) of 21 May 1968, and of statements made on behalf of the Security Council
by its President at the 1922nd meeting, on 26 May 1976, and the 1969th meeting, on
11 November 1976. The Chairman also expressed the view that such a decision merely
aggravated the tensions in,the region, artificially erected an additional obstacle
to the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and
undermined efforts to promote a just and lasting settlement of the Middle East
problem (S/12377).
3/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973, p. 287.
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4. Other action taken by the Committee
31. with respect to paragraph 3 of General Assembly resolution 31/20 which urged
all competent bodies of the United Nations to take necessary action, as appropriate,
in accordance with its programme of implementation, the Committee was of the opinion
that those bodies should stand ready to implement the recommendations of the
Committee, and should take whatever intermediate steps were necessary at this stage
to avoid delays in implementation of those recommendations. At the request of the
Committee, this view was brought by the Secretary-General to the attention
particularly of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and the United Nations
Conciliation Commission on Palestine, which were likely to have specific
responsibilities in the implementation of the programme.
B. Dissemination of information in accordance with paragraph 6
of General Assembly resolution 31/20
32. As requested in paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 31/20, the Committee
attached the greatest importance to dissemination of information on its work, and
on the various aspects of the problem of the implementation of its recommendations
concerning the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. It was felt important
that the public should realize that the Committee's function was not to support any
one country against another but to deal fairly and objectively with a problem
affecting international peace and security. The view was expressed that no
opportunity should be missed to bring to the attention of the world public all the
facts of the Palestinian problem which had long been ignored.
33. -With this end in view, the Chairman of the Committee addressed the Economic
and Social Council at its sixty-second session, held in New York, and the Committee
was represented by a delegation of two members at the World Conference on Action
Against Apartheid, held at Lagos from 22 to 26 August 1977. In addition, the
report and recommendations of the Committee were brought to the attention of the
World Health Assembly when it met at Geneva in May 1977. The Committee also
decided that the resolution on the question of Palestine adopted by the Council of
Ministers and approved by the Summit Conference of Heads of State and Government of
the Organization of African Unity at Libreville in July 1977 should be published as
a document of the General Assembly (A/32/160).
34. At its 23rd meeting, on 9 August 1977, the Committee decided that the issue by
the United Nations of a series of commemorative stamps relating to the question of
Palestinian rights would be an appropriate method of highlighting those rights,
and accordingly authorized the Chairman to request the Secretary-General to initiate
steps to issue such a series of stamps.
35. The Committee considered a suggestion that an international day of solidarity
with the Palestinian people be designated and observed, and decided that this
proposal could be included in a resolution at the thirty-second session of the
General Assembly.
36. In considering ways and means of obtaining the widest possible radio and
television coverage of the Palestinian question, the Committee recalled that, at
the Fifth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries held
at Colombo in August 1976, a resolution adopted by that Conference referred to the
need to strive in all fields, at the widest international level, to realize the
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objective of recognition of and respect for the rights of the Palestinian people
(see A/31/197, p. 121). It was decided therefore that the Committee should
approach the Co-ordination Council of the Pool of Press Agencies of Non-Aligned
Countries with the request that maximum coverage be given by national and
international media to the various aspects of this question.
37. The Chairman accordingly addressed the Chairman of the Co-ordinating Bureau
of the Non-Aligned Countries in New York requesting him to bring the Committee's
decision to the notice of the Co-ordination Council of the Pool of Press Agencies
of the Non-Aligned Countries so that it might take steps to improve coverage of
the question of Palestine ~y national and international mass media.
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V. APPRAISAL OF ACTION TAKEU IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7
OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 31/20
38. In its consideration o~ action taken by the O~~ice o~ Public In~ormation o~ the
Secretariat to disseminate information on the work o~ 'the Committee, as required by
paragraph 7 o~ General Assembly resolution 31/20, the Committee agreed that the
O~~ice o~ Public In~ormation could, through its network o~ in~ormation centres
throughout the world, play an in~luential role by making available to the public an
objective presentation o~ the Palestinian question. The opinion was expressed
that the O~~ice o~ Public In~ormation in particular was in the best position to
state the truth about decisions on this question in the United Nations, and about
the history o~ the United Nations involvement with the Palestinian question - ~acts
which would otherwise be buried in the archives o~ the United Nations and utilized
only by specialists or by Governments in pursuit o~ their own interests.
39. It was ~elt that there was genuine public interest in the question o~ the
JYliddle East and in the legitimate rights o~ the Palestinian people, although many
seemed unable to distinguish between a resolution dealing with re~ugees and a
resolution dealing with a people's right to independence. PUblications on the
question shouid be strictly documentary in nature, simple and accurate in their
coverage of signi~icant and historical events.
40. The Committee noted that the O~~ice o~ Public In~ormation had recorded
interviews with members and observers o~ the Committee which were broadcast in
English, French, Spanish and Arabic and that the United Nations Monthly Chronicle
had carried articles on the proceedings o~ the Committee.
41. The Committee was agreed that this campaign should be intensi~ied in the coming
months through the publication o~ pamphlets dealing with individual aspects o~ the
problem, and through more television and radio broadcasts in several languages
aimed at reaching the widest possible aUdience throughout the world. The United
Nations Nonthly Chronicle could also extend coverage to articles on events beyond
the work o~ the Committee and take in events and developments in the Middle East
region.
42. It was also ~elt that the publication o~ pamphlets on tht.~ various aspects o~
the problem would be particularly use~ul in making the ~acts concerning the rights
o~ the Palestinian people more widely disseminated and better u..TJ.derstood.
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VI. RECO~~ENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
43. Having taken into account the various observations made on its report and
recommendations and in the light of current events in the region, the Committee
unanimously decided to reaffirm the validity of its recommendations, endorsed by
the General Assembly, which are reproduced as annex I of this report. It agreed
that the date suggested for the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from
territories occupied in 1967, although now passed, should be retained for its
symbolic significance and a~ a timely reminder of the urgency of a peaceful
solution under the auspices of the United Nations, and particularly on the basis of
resolutions unanimously adopted but not yet implemented.
44. It was also agreed that an intensificatiqn of efforts was necessary to
implement those recommendations with the minimum delay, and that the various
sectors of the United Nations system should act in concert to promote their
implementation by peaceful means.
45. In the course of the discussion in the Committee, suggestions were made as to
ways and means by which the objectives of the Conmittee could be further advanced.
It was felt, however, that a decision on these suggestions should· be deferred until
such t~e as the Security C0uncil had considered the question of Palestine•
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ANNEX I*
Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the
General Assembly at its thi~ty-first session
1. BASIC CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES
59. The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and,
consequently, the Committee stresses its belief that no solution in the Middle East
can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate aspirations
of the Palestinian people.
60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to
their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence
and sov-ereignty are e:ndorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the full
implementation of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive ~md
final settlement of the Middle East crisis.
61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative
of; the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties, on the basis of
General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is indispensable in all
efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which are held under the
auspices of the United Nations.
62. The Committee recalls the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligation for
complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so occupied.
63. The Committee considers that it is the duty and the responsibility of all
concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights.
64. The Committee recommends an expanded and more influential role by the United
Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine
and in the implementation of such a solution. The Security Council, in particular,
should take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of
their right to return to their homes, lands and property. The Committee,
furthermore, urges the Security Council to promote action towards a just solution,
taking into account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter of the United
Nations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numerous
resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideration of all the facts,
proposals and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that the
Committee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation of
the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
* Previously issued as part two of Official Records of the General Assembly,
Thirty-first Session. Supplement No. 35 (A/3l/35).
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11. THE RIGHT OF RETURN
66. The natural and inalienable right of Palestinians to return to their homes is
recognized by res~lution 194 (Ill), which the General Assembly has reaffirmed almost
every year since its adoption. This right was also unanimously recognized by the
Security Council in its resolution 237 (1967); the time for the urgent
implementation of these resolutions is long overdue.
67. Without prejudice to the right of all Palestinians to return to their homes,
lands and property, the Committee considers that the programme of implementation,
of the exercise of this ri~ht may be carried out in two phases:
?hase one
68. The first phase involves the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) The Security Council should request the immediate implementation of its
resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementation should not be relatedto
any other condition;
(ii) The resources of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees ill the Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be
employed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved
in the resettlement of those returning to their homes. These agencies
could also assist, in co-operation with the host countries and the
Palestine Liberation Organization, in the identification of the
displaced Palestinians.
Phase two
69. The second phase deal.s with the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) While the first phase is being implemented, the United Nations in
co-operation with the states directly involved, and the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the interim representative of the Palestinian
entity, should proceed to make the necessary arrangements to enable
Pal.estinians displaced between 1948 and 1967 to exercise their right to
return to their homes and property, in accordance with the relevant
United Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly resolution
194 (Ill);
(ii) Palestinians not choosing to return to their homes should be paid just
and equitable compensation as provided for in resolution 194 (Ill).
Ill. THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION, NATIONAL
INDEPENDENCE Jh~ SOVEREIGNTY
70. The Palestinian people has the inhere:nt right to self-determination, national.
independence ~Ld sovereignty in Palestine. The Committee considers that the
evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in violation of the principles
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of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the United Nations is a conditio sine
qua non for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights in
Palestinians to their homes and property and with the establishment of an
independent Palestinian entity, the Palestinian people will be able to exercise its
rights to self-determination and to decide its form of government 'tdtho'U.t external
interference.
71. The Committee also feels that the United Nations has an historical duty and
responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the economic
development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
72. To these ends, the Committee recommends that:
(a) A time-table should be established by the Security Council for the
complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in 1967;
such withdrawal should be completed no later than 1 June 1977;
(b) The Security Council may need to provide temporary peace-keeping forces
in order to facilitate the process of withdrawal;
(c) Israel should be requested by the Security Council to desist from the
establisbment of new settlements and to withdraw c:.uing this period from
settlements established since 1967 in the occupied territories. Arab property and
all essential services in these areas should be maintained intact;
(d) Israel should also be requested to abide scrupulously by the prov~s~ons
of the Geneva Convention rela.tive to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
v]ar, of 12 August 1949, and to declare, pending its speedy withdrawal from these
territories, its recognition of the applicability of that Convention;
(e) The evacuated territories, with all property and services intact, should
be taken over by the United Nations, which with the co-operation of the League of
Arab States, will SUbsequently hand over these evacuated areas to the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people;
(f) The United Nations should, if necessary, assist in establishing
communications between Gaza and the West Bank;
(g) As. soon as the independent Palestinian entity has been established, the
United Nations, in co-operation with the States directly involved and the
Palestinian entity, should, taking into account General Assembly resolution
3375 (XXX), make further arrangements for the full implementation of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding problems and the
establisbment of a just and lasting peace in the region, in accordance with all
relevant United Nations resolutions;
(h) The United Nations should provide the economic and technical assistance
necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity.
-13-
ANNEX II
A, ~etter dated 18 April 1977 frcm the Chairman of the Committee to
the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations
I have the honour to inform you that on 15 April 1977 the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People held a meeting in the
course of which its members noted certain statements concerning your Government's
official position on the q~estion of Palestine and the establishment of a just and
lasting peace in the Middle East.
In this connexion,reference was made to the statement delivered by the
representative of Canada on 24 November 1976 in the plenary of the United Nations
General Assembly and, in particular, to the observation contained therein to the
effect that the agreed framework for IJiddle East negotiations laid down in Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) "has in recent years been supplemented
by a universal recognition of the political dimension of the Palestinian issue".
In my capacity as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People, I have been asked to request you to transmit to
me any add!tional information which may be available to you concerning the current
official position of the Government of Canada on the question of Palestine.
(Signed) Medoune FALL
Chairman of the Committee on the.
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
-14-
B. Letter dated 18 April 1977 from the Ch~rman of the Committe~_1~..o_
the Permanent Representative of France to the United ~ations
.,1 have the honour to inform you that on 15 April 1977 the Committee on the
EKercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People held a meeting in the
course of which its members noted certain statements concerning your Government's
official position on the question of Palestine and the establishment of a just and
lasting peace in the Middle East. In this connexion, reference was made, in
particular, to the press conference given by the President of France, ,
His Excellency ~~. Valery Giscard d'Estaing, at Cairo on 14 December 1975, in the
course of which he said:
"I should like to tell you what our position is on the nature of the
Palestinian homeland. It is not for us to take decisions in the stead of
those personally concerned, and when we speak of an 'independent State', we
mean 'a State which will determine its own destiny'. If it emerges that, in
view of the outlook for the future in this area, it wishes to establish any
particular special relationship or any particular special institutional
arrangement with a State 'in the area, we have no objection."
The attention of the Committee members was also drawn to the statement made by
the Minister for Foreign Affairs of France, His Elccellency Mr. Louis de Guiringaud,
on 29 September 1976 in the plenary of the United Nations General Assembly and, in
p.articular, to the follmdng observations contained therein:
11 ••• we reaffirm both the necessity to implement Security Council resolutions
242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and the basic nature of the three principles upon
which any lasting settlement must necessarily rely: withdrawal from the
territories occupied by Israel in June 1967, recognition of the Palestinians'
right to a homeland, and the right of all States in the area, including Israel,
to live in peace within secure, recognized and guaranteed boundaries.
"The basis of any just and lasting settlement can be found in the
application of those principles, especially as regards the Palestinians. That
people, raised in hardship and made strong by suffering, has now taken its
place as a necessary partner in any negotiation. It has become quite obvious
that no solution to the conflict is possible unless the legitimate rights of
the Palestinian people to express its national identity becomes a reality.
But how can that right be exercised without a territorial base which, at the
proper time, could be given the structures of statehood?"
In my capacity as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People, I have been asked to request you to transmit to
me any additional information which may be available to you concerning the current
official position of the Government of France on the question of Palestine.
(Signed) Medoune FALL
Chairman of the Committee on the
Elcercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
-15-
C. Letter dated 18 April 1977 from the Chairman of the Committee to
the Permanent Representative of the Federal Re-public of Germany
to the United Nations
I have the honour to inform you that on 15 April 1977 the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People held a meeting in the
course of which its members noted certain statements concerning your Government's
official position on the question of Palestine and the establishment of a just and
lasting peace in the Middle East. In this connexion, reference was made to the
statement delivered by the 1unister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands,
His Excellency lvIr. van der Stoel, on 28 Sept ember 1976, on behalf of the nine
members of the European Economic Community, in the plenary of the United Nations
General Assembly and, in particular, to the folloldng observations contained
therein:
"With regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the members of the European
Community are convinced that negotiations based on a minimum of consensus
among all the parties concerned are essential for the achievement of a just
and lasting peace in the Middle East. In this respect they reiterate their
continuing firm attachment to resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) of the
Security Council and to the principles which are the basis of their position"
and which I repeat: first, the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by force; secondly, the need for Israel to end the territorial
occupation which it has maintained since the conflict of 1967; thirdly,
respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of every
State in the area and its right to live in peace within secure and recognized
boundaries; and fourthly, recognition that in the establishment of a just and
lasting peace account must be tween of the legitimate rights of the
Palestinians.
"I should like to emphasize that a solution of the conflict in the
Middle East will be possible only if the legitimate right of the Palestinian
people to give effective expression to its national identity is translated
int0 fact. iI
The attention of the Committee members was also drawn to the press conference
given by the Chancellor of the Federal RepUblic of Germany,
His Excellency Mr. Helmut Schmidt, on 1 April 1977, in the course of which he
stated that the Geneva Peace Conference should be resumed before the end of. the
year with the participation of the Palestinians.
In my capacity as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercis~ of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People, I have been asked to request you to transmit to
me any additional information which may be available to you concerning the current
official position of the Government of the Federal RepUblic of Germany on the
question of Palestine.
(Signed) Medoune FALL
Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
-16-
,,-''''-~-~~-~~~
D. Letter dated 10 April 1977 from the Chairruan of the Committee to the
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland to the United Nations
I have the honour to inform you that on 15 April 1977 the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People held a meeting in the
course of which its members noted certain statements concerning your Government's
official position on the question of Palestine and the establishment of a just and
lasting peace in the Middle East. In this connexion, reference was made to the
statement delivered by the t·1inister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands ~
his Excellency Mr. van der Stoel, on 28 September 1976, on behalf of the nine
members of the European Economic Community~ in the plenary of the United Nations
General Assembly and, in particular, to the following observations contained
therein:
"With regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the members of the European
Community are convinced that negotiations based on a minimum of consensus
among all the parties concerned are essential for the achievement of a just
and lasting peace in the Middle East. In this respect they reiterate their
continuing firm attachment to resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) of the
Security Council and to the principles which are the basis of their position
and which I repeat: first, the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by force; secondly, the need for Israel to end the territorial
occupation which it has maintained since the conflict of 1967; thirdly,
respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of every
State in the area and its right to live in peace within secure and recognized
boundaries; and fourthly, recognition that in the establishment of a just and
lasting peace account must be taken of the legitimate right~ of the
Palestinians.
"I should like to emphasize that a solution of the conflict in the
Middle East will be possible only if the legitimate right of the Palestinian
people to give effective expression to its national identity is translated
into fact. il
In my capacity as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People, I have been asked to request you to transmit to
me any additional information which may be available to you concerning the current
official position of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland on the question of Palestine.
(SiRned) Medoune FALL
Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
-17-
E. Letter dated 18 April 1977 from the Chairman of the
Committee to the Permanent Representative of the
United States of America to the United Nations
I have the honour to inform you that on 15 April 1977 the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People held a meeting in the
course of which its members noted certain statements concerning your Government's
official position on the question of Palestine and the establishment of a just and
lasting peace in the Middle East. In this connexion, reference was made, in
particular, to the statement delivered by the President of the United States of
America, His Excellency Hr. Jimmy Carter, at Clinton on 16 March 1977, in which he
said, inter alia:
"There has to be a homeland provided for the Palestinian refugees who have
suffered for many, many years. li
The attention of the Committee members was also drawn to the statement made on
23 November 1976, on behalf of the United States of America, in the plenary of the
United Nations General Assembly and, in particular, to the following observations
contained therein:
IITl:e.t the legitimate aspirations nnd interests of the Palestinian people must
be taken into account in working out a settlement in the Middle East is an
elementary truth. Without doubt, this is one of the central issues that must
be 'resolved in the negotiations to have a just and lasting peace, which is
what we all seek for the Middle East."
In my capacity as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People, I have been asked to request you to transmit to
me any additional information which mS¥ be available to you concerning the current
official position of the Government of the United States of America on the question
of Palestine.
(Signed) Medoune FALL
Chairman of -the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian,People
-18-
F. Letter dated 18 April 1977 from'the Chairmem. of the
Committee to the Permanent Representative of Israel
to the United Ne.tions
I have the honour to infor.m you that on 15 April 1977 the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People held a meeting in the
course of which its members noted certain statements concerning your Government I s
official position on the Palestinian problem and the establishment of a just and
lasting peace in the Middle East. In this connexion, reference was made to the
speech delivered by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of
Israel, His Excellency Mr. Yigal Allon, on 16 February 1977 on the occasion of the
dinner in honour of the Secretary of State of the United States of America and, in
particular, to the statement contained therein to the effect that:
"For Israel, peace in the Near East is through a solution to the Palestinian
problem which must be approved by the Jordanians and the Palestinian's, on
the one hand, and by Israel, on the other."
In my capa,city as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People, I have been asked to request you to transmit to·
me any additional information which may be available to you concerning the current
official position of the Government of Israel on the Palestinian question.
(Signed) Medoune FALL
Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
-19-
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REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE ·PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: THIRTY - THIRD SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/33/3S)
....~•. ' '~.~.
. ~ .~
'.iD ,...-p~
UNITED NATIONS
.'
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: THIRTY - THIRD SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/33/35)
UNITED NATIONS
New York, 1978
NOTE
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
/Original: English/Frenc~
{6 October 191§}
CONTENTS
LETTER OF TlAANSMITTAL:; .•. .• ••:" ..•_,.
1. INTRODUCTION
II . ~-1ANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
III. ORGANIZATION OF '\VORK
A. Election of officers
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
C. Establishment of a Task Force
IV. ACTION T.~N BY THE CO~~rrTTEE ..
Para@jra"phs Page
. . . . . iv
1 4 1
5 - 1 1
8 -11 2
8 2
9 - 10 2
11 2
12 - 54 3
A. Efforts to promote implementation of its
recommendations in accordance with paragraph 1
of General Assembly resolution 32/40 A 12 - 46 3
B. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 1 (a)
of General Assembly resolution 32/40 B 47 - 51 10
C. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 1 (c)
of General Assembly resolution 32/40 B 52 - 54 11
V. RECOW1ENDATIONS OF THE CmOOTTEE . " 55 - 58 11
ANNEX
RECO~®1ENDATIONS OF THE CO~1MITTEE ENDORSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AT ITS THIRTY-FIRST SESSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . .. 13
-iii-
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
22 September 1977
Sir,
I have the honour to transmit to you herewith the report of the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission
to the General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution 32/40 A.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Medoune FALL
Chairman of the Committee on th~ Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Kurt Waldheim
Secretary-General of the United Nations
-iv-
1
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the ~e~cise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People, originally composed of 20 members, was established by the General Assembly
in resolution 3376 (xxx) of la November 1975. The first report of the Committee
was submitted to the General Assembly at its thirty-first session. !I
2. In its resolution 31/20 of 24 November 1976, the General Assembly took note
of the report of the Committee and endorsed t~e recommendations contained therein
as a basis for the solution of the question of Palestine. Subsequently, by its
decision 31/318 of 22 December 1976, the General AsseIIil:>ly enlarged the membership
of the Committee by the addition of three new members.
3. In its report to the General Assembly at its thirty-second session, gj after
having thoroughly analysed the comments made on the recommendations, and takiug
into account current events in the region, the Committee unanimously reaffirmed the
validity of its recommendations endorsed by the General Assembly. It agreed that
the date suggested for the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from territories
occupied in 1967, although now passed, should be retained for its s:rmbolic
significance and as a timely reminder of the urgency of a peaceful Bolution under
the auspices of the United Nations. It stressed also that an intensification of
efforts was necessary to implement those recommendations with the minimum delay,
and that the various sectors of the United Nations system should act in concert to
promote their implemen.tation by peaceful means.
4. In its resolution 32/40 A of 2 December 1977, adopted by 100 votes to 12 with
29 abstentions, the General Assembly took note of the report of the Committee and
endorsed its recommendations as contained in paragraphs 43 and 44 of its report.
The General Assembly also gave the Committee a new mandate.
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
5. The mandate was specified in paragraph 'r of resolution 32/40 A and paragraphs
1 (a) and 1 (c) of resolution 32/40 B" In paragraph 7 of resolution 32/40 A, the
General Assembly authorized the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote
the implementation of its recommendations, to send delegations or representatives
to international conferences where it considered such representation to be
appropriate, and to report to the Assembly at its thirty-third session.
6. In paragraph 1 (a) of resolution 32/40 B the General Assembly authorized the
Committee to provide the necessary guidelines to the Special Unit on Palestinian
Rights, established in accordance with the terms of that resolution, in ~he
1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/3l/35).
gj Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35).
-1-
preparation of studies and publications relating to: (i) the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people; (ii) relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and
other organs of the United Nations; (iii) the activities of the Committee ~nd
other United Nations organs, in order to promote the att:=dllI'lent of those rifhts.
A. Election of officers
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
Chairman: Mr. Medoune Fall (Senegal)
Rapporteur: Mr. Victor J. Gauci (I'alta)
At the 31st meeting, on 14 June 1978, Mr. RaUl Roa Kouri (Cuba) was unanimously
elected Vice-Chairman in place of Mr. Ricardo Alarc6n Quesada (Cuba) who had left
New York on another assignment for his country.
Vice-Chairman: Mr. Ricardo Alarc6n Quesada (Cuba)
Mr. Mir Abdul vlahab Siddiq (Afghanistan)
7. In paragraph 1 (c) of resolution 32/40 B, the General Assembly requested that
the Special Unit should organize, in consultation with the Committee, commencing
in 1978, annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity
with the Palestinieq People.
8. At its 26th meeting, on 10 January 19713, the Committee unanimously re·-elected
the follcwinB officers:
10. At its request, Viet Nam also participated in the work of the COEmittee as an
observer.
9. The Committee reconfirmed that those States Members of the United Nations
and Permanent Observers to the United Nations which wished to participate i~ the
work of the Committee as observers could do so, and it welcomed in that capacity
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, the Syrian Arab
Republic, the League of Arab States and the Palestine Liberatior.. Orranization, wbich
continued in 1978 to participate in the work of the Committee.
c. Establishment of a Task Force
11. The Committee unanimously decided that the Task Force established by it in
1977 should continue to function in order to facilitate the work of the Committee
by: (a) keeping up to date with events which affect the work of the Corrmittee and
suggesting to the Committee action which it could usefully undertake, and (b)
assisting the Committee in any other specific assignment related to its work. The
following were reappointed members of the Task Force: Malta (Chairman),
Afghanistan, Cuba, Guinea, Guyana, India, Senegal, Tunisia and, as representatives
of the people directly concerned, the Palestine Liberation Organization.
-2-
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMIvIITTEE
A. "Efforts to -promote the implementation of its recommendations
~!' accordance with paragraph 7 of General Assembly
resolution 32/40 A
1. Contacts with the Security Council and consideration
of -possible action
12. In September 1977, after it had submitted its report to the General Assembly,
the Committee authorized its Chairman to undertake the necessary consultations
with the President of the Security Council with a view· to convening at a suitable
date a meeting of the Council on the question of Palestine. The Committee felt
that this meeting should take place before the question of Palestine was taken up
by the General Assembly at the thirty-second session. Accordingly, on
13 September 1977, the Chairman of the Committee addressed a letter ]I to the
President of the Security Council and commenced the necessary consultations.
13. The Security Council considered the question of Palestine at its 2041st meeting,
on 27 October 1977. Those representatives who participated in the discussion
supported the recommendations made by the Committee and endorsed by the General
Assembly. At the conclusion of the discu~sion, the President of the Council announced that after prior consultation with members of the Council it had been
agreed that the debate on this item should be adjotrrned for the present and that
the next meeting would be fixed after consultations among members.
14. In paragraph 3 of its resolution 32/40 A, the General Assembly noted with
satisfaction that, during the consideration of the report of the Committee by the
Security Council on 27 October 1977, all members of the Council who participated
in the discussion had reaffirmed that a just and lasting peace in the Middle East
could not be established without the achievement, in particular, of a just solution
of the problem of Pa~estine on the basis of the attainment of the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people. In paragraph 4 of that resolution, the General Assembly
urged the Security Council to take as soon as possible a decision on the
recommendations endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 31/20. The
Sectrrity Council is accordingly still seized of the question of Palestine and the
Committee's recommendations.
15. It was strongly felt that there was a need for the Corrnittee to restate its
support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and to bring to the
attention of the President of the Security Council, the President of the General
Assembly, the Secretary-General, the two Co-Chairmen of the Geneva Conference and
all States directly concerned with the Palestinian question those points within
its m&~date which the Committee considered essential for a Middle East Settlement.
JI Official Records of the Security Council, Thirty-sec0nd year, Su-pplement
for July. August and September 1977. document S/12399.
-3-
16. On 18 January the Chairman accordingly addressed letters to the President of
the Security Council (A/33/55, annex Ill), 4/ the President of the thirty-second
session of the General Assembly (A!33/55, annex 11), the Secretary-General (A/33/54),
the Co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference - the Permanent Representative af the
United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - and to the Permanent
Representatives of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syrian Arab Republic
(A/33/55, annexes IV and V) recalling the following important principles:
(a) The question of Palestine is at the heart of the problem of the Middle
East and no solution to that problem can be envisaged without taking into account
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people;
(b) The implementation of the inalienable rights of the Pa~estinian people
of returning to their homes and property, of exercising their right of
self-determination and independence and national sovereignty will contribute to a
final solution of the Middle East' crisis;
(c) The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with-all other
parties on the basis of General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is
indispensable to all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East
which take place under the auspices of the United Nations;
(d) The inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and the
consequent obligation for Israel to withdraw completely and quickly from all
territory so occupied.
17. At the same time the Chairman recalled the fact that the Palestine National
Council, at its meeting in Cairo in March 1977, had decided to consider the
re,;ommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly at its thirty-first
session as a positive step towards the realization of the aspirations of the
Palestinian people and their rights of return, self-determination and to
independence and national sovereignty. The Palestine National Council had also
declared that any agreement affecting the rights of the Palestinian people and
concluded in its absence would be regarded as null and void. The Chairman added
that the Permanent Observer of the Palestine Liberation Organization to the United
Nations had, on instructions from the Executive Chairman of the Organization,
reaffirmed that decision in the Committee.
18. In the light of tragic events which tock place SUbsequently in Lebanon and
the adoption of resolution 425 (1978) by the Security Council on 19 March 1978, the
Committee authorized its Chairman to address the President of the Security Council
unanimously associating itself with those provisions of Security Council
resolution 425 (1978) which called upon Israel to cease immediately its military
action against the territorial integrity of Lebanon and to withdraw forthwith all
its forces from Lebanese territory. It felt also that it was imperative that the
Security Council should take more energetic action to bring about the urgent
establishment of peace in the Middle East through a positive response to the
~ For the printed text, see Official Records of the Security Council,
Thirty-third year, SupPlement for January, February and March 1978, document S/12531.
-4-
T
General Assembly's recommendations on the question of Palestine. In his letter
dated 20 March 1978, 21 the Chairman also expressed his certainty that many innocent
lives could have been spared if the Security Council had exercised its
responsibili~ies and had made a positive contribution to the efforts aimed at
advancing a settlement of the question of Palestine.
2. Review of events relating to the Middle East guesti%
19. In reviewing events which had taken place on the Middle East question,
initiated du:;:-ing the later months of 1977 and on which details of results have now
been made public, the Committee felt that it should recall the detailed and phased
recommendations which it had made on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, which the General Assembly had already endorsed, as a basis for the solution
of the question of Palestine, in two successive sessions. These recommendations
are contained as an annex to the report and are summarized in paragraphs 16 and 58.
20. The Committee deems it necessary to stress once again, in particular, that the
participation of the Palestine Liberation.Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, is indispensable to a just and lasting settlement of the
question of Palestine, which is at the heart of the Middle East conflict.
3. Action relating to recommendations of the Committee
taken by other organizations
21. The Committee noted that the Ninth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers,
held at Dakar in April 1978, the Council of Ministers of the Organization of
African Unity, meeting at Khartoum in July 1978 and the Conference of Foreign
Ministers of the Non-Aligned Countries, meeting at Belgrade in July 1978, had all
strongly reaffirmed their support for the struggle to restore the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people and had called upon the Security Council to act on
the Committee's recommendations. The Committee noted also that the World Conference
to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination meeting at Geneva from 14 to 25 August 1978
had in its Declaration expressed its grave concern over the continuing situation in
the Middle East and had deplored Israel's refusal to comply with the relevant
resolutions of the United Nations. That Conference had proclaimed its solidarity
with the Palestinian people in its struggle for liberation and against racial
discrimination and had voiced the hope that the Palestinian people would soon have
the opportunity to exercise its inalienable right to self-determination.
4. Reaction to developments in the occupied territories
Z~. Referring to the reported reply of the Government of Israel to the Government
of the United States of America in June 1978 concerning the future of the occupied
territories, and to the clarification given by Mr. Moshe Dayan, Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Israel quoted in the New York Times of 20 JUT.l.e 1978, the Chairman of the
Committee addressed a letter (A/33/154) to the Secretary-General expressing the view
2/ Ibid., document S/12614.
-5-
that the Israeli Foreign Minister's clarification that '~he plan for autonomy in
the occupied territories would be permanent and not a transitional phase to a
separate Palestinian homeland" confirmed that Israel had no intention of honouring
the resolutions of the United Nations which opposed the occupation of territories by
force and recognized the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people affirmed by
the General Assembly. He pointed out also that the clarification constituted a
violation of the principle of self-determination and that it was clear that all
the assurances given by the Israeli Government concerning the territories occupied
in 1967 had been aimed at enabling Israel to evade its responsibilities and its
obligations with respect to the United Nations and its Charter.
23. In March 1978. the Secretary-General drew the attention of the Committee to
some petitions addressed to him by prominent Palestinians in the occupied
territories. The Committee was convinced on the basis of the signatures appended
to these documents that they represented the true sentiments and aspirations of
the Palestinian people, irrespective of their place of residence. The Committee
addressed a letter to the Secretary-General emphasizing the main elements put
forth in those documents and requested that the letter be circulated as an official
document of the General Assembly (A/33/165). The main elements were:
(e.) '[he Pnlcestine Liberation Orgnnization is the: soh' legitimate
representative of the Palestinian people and as such not only had the full
right but was duty bound to express the views and attitudes of the Palestinian
people;
(b) The rights of the Palestinian people as affirmed by various United
Nations resolutions were not subject to bargaining;
(c) Palestinians in the occupied territories rejected any solution.
regardless of its origin. which did not contain a clear recognition of the
right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to establish their
own independent national state.
24. On 17 August 1978 on the instruction of the Executive Committee of the
Palestine Liberation Organization. its Permanent Observer brought to the attention
of the Chairman of the Committee that, on 15 August 1978, Palestinian prisoners
and detainees in the occupied territories had begun a hunger strike to protest
against their harsh and inhuman treatment by the occupation authorities. Quoting
several examples of such ill treatment, the Permanent Observer urged the Chairman
to take immediate and appropriate action to support the den~nds put forward by the
prisoners, namely, ~hat they be treated as prisoners of war and be given adequate
medical care.
25. The Chairman of the Committee accordingly addressed a letter to the SecretarrGeneral
(A/33-218-s/12820) on 22 August 1978 requesting that appropriate action be
taken by him to ensure that the demands put forward by the prisoners are accorded
due attention. Similar letters were addressed also to the President of the
Security Council and to the President of the Commission on Human Rights.
5. Attendance at conferences
26. In accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution 32/40 A which, inter alia,
authorized the Committee to send delegations or representatives to international
-6-
~...
conferences where such representation would be considered by it to be appropriate,
the Committee decided to accept invitations and to send representatives to several
important conferences during 1978.
27. The Committee was represented at the World Conference for the Eradication of
Racism organized by the World Peace Council in Basel from 18 to 21 May; the
workshop organized by the Palestine Human Rights Campaign in Washington, D.C.,
on 21 May; the Week of Solidarity with the Anti-Imperialist Forces in the Middle
East in Their Struggle for Peace and Social Progress, organized by the Solidarity
Committee of the German Democratic Republic at Berlin from 5 to 11 June 1978 and
the United Nations Conference to Combat Racism, held at Geneva from 14 to
25 August 1978.
28. The Committee was of the view that such attendance was of extreme importance
in furthering the aims and objectives of the Committee and in fulfilling its
mandate.
29. The opportunity Ivas invariably taken of addressing these conferences and
making knmm the work and recommendations of the Committee. Those who represented
the Commi~tee at these conferences reported that they were also able to establish
contact with several international non-governmental organizations which also
participated in these conferences. They found that there was evidently a
considerable amount of understanding of and sympathy for the problem of the
Palestinian people.
30. The Chairman also informed the Committee that he had had the opportunity to
describe the Committee's work at a meeting in Jeddah of the Committee on Jerusalem
of the Islamic Conference. Following his statement, it had been decided that a
letter would be sent to the Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People thanking its members and commending them on their work.
6. Other action taken by the Committee
31. At the first meeting of the Committee in 1978, the Permanent Observer of the
Palestine Liberation Organization conveyed to the Committee the greetings of the
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization,
Chairman Yasser Arafat, reaffirming his support for the recommendations contained
in the Committee's report and endorsed by the General Assembly. The Chairman of
the Committee accordingly sent a message (A/33/55, annex I) to Chairman Yasser Arafat
thanking him for his message of good wishes and assuring him once more of the
Committee's solidarity with the just cause of the Palestinian people and of its
inalienable rights.
32. A message of greetings and good wishes was also sent by the Chairman of the
Committee to the President of the Commission on Human Rights at the commencement
of the thirty~fourth session of the Commission. In that message the Chairman
expressed the Committee's interest in the deliberations on the question of the
violation of human rights in the occupied territories, including Palestine, and the
certainty that such discussions would draw once more the attention of all States
and world public opinion to the General Assembly's recommendations concerning the
implementation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
-7-
33. The Committee noted that the Commission on Human Rights had adopted four
important resolutions dealing with the violations of human rights in the occupied
Arab territories, including Palestine, and the right of peoples to self-determinaticn
and its applic··.tion to peoples under colonial or alien dcmination or foreign
occupation. It noted also that the Economic and Social Council subsequently
adopted resolution 1978/24 by which, having considered the report of the Commission
on Human Rights on its thirty-fourth session, it took note of the decisions of
the Commission concerning the violation by Israel of human rights in the occupied
territories; commended the Commission for its vigilance and its decisions on the
protection of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine;
and requested the Commission to pursue its efforts for the protection of human
rights in the occupied territories, including Palestine, and to continue to take
appropriate measures in this respect.
34. On 22 April 1978, the Chairman of the Committee addressed (see A/s-8/PV.3)
the eighth special session of the General Assembly convened to consider the
financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. In that statement he
declared that the aim of Israelis invasion of Lebanon was the physical and moral
destruction of the Palestinian people and breaking the will of a whole people.
He declared that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People believecl that the presence of United Nations forces should not
be misused to solidify injustices and pursue a policy of oppression and occupation.
On the contrary, it should impel the United Nations and particularly the Security
Council to seek a lasting solution to the problem of Southern Lebanon; that problem
could be solved only in the context of an over-all settlement making it possible
for the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights which had been
recognized by the United Nations since 1947.
35. He recalled that the Committee had prepared recommendations that could not
only enable the Palestinian people to exercise their rights but also assist in
finding a solution to the Middle East conflict. Those recommendations had been
endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly. The National Council of Palestine,
the supreme body of the Palestinian people, had also approved them. Unfortunately,
it had not been possible to implement them because of the immobility of the Security
Council which had not yet taken a position on the question. He asserted the
Committee's belief that the present situation allowed for no further delay, that
it was imperative for the Security Council to act in a more decisive way to bring
about a just and lasting settlement to the Middle East question. Otherwise a new
cycle of violations and destruction could not only endanger international peace and
security but also jeopardize any chances for a peaceful settlement. In the
Committee's opinion a positive response to those recommendations would be an
important· step towards eliminating the danger of conflict in the Middle East,
promoting a just and lasting peace and finally devoting large United Nations funds
to profitable tasks, tasks more useful to the international community as a whole.
36. The Rapporteur of the Committee. addressing the special session of the General
Assembly on the same day (see A/s-8/PV .2), maintained that the real issue before
the Assembly was th8 fate of a disposses~ed people who from time immemorial
had worked hard, peaceably and with warm attachment to the land where they were
born and in which they had toiled. It was high time that all members of the
organization lived up to their responsibilities in accordance with the Charter.
A just and lasting solution of the crisis in the Middle East was inconceivable
except on the basis of Israelis unconditional and complete withdrawal from all the
-8-
Palestinian and Arab territories occupied since 1967 and recognition of the
legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to a
State of their own, as well as the right of all the countries of the region to
independence and security. Referring to the recommendations of the Committee, he
reminded the Assembly that a prescription for peace had been drawn up and had won
the endorsement of the international community and that endorsement had been
reaffirmed a second time after more concentrated consideration by the General
Assembly at its thirty-second session.
37. The Committee decided that it might follow up on the initiative it had taken
in 1977 by inquiring of the competent bodies of the United Nations what action
they had taken in pursuance of paragraph 5 of resolution 32/40 A which urged them
to take necessary action, as appropriate, in accordance .nth the Committee's
recommended programme of implementation.
38. In accordance with this decision the Chairman addressed a letter to the
Secretary-General inquiring what the United Nations Conciliation Commission for
Palestine and the United rTations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) might be able
to do as preparatory work to implement the Committee's recommendations.
39. In his reply the Commissioner General of UNRWA indicated that, given the fundsi
and the mandate, UNRWA would be competent to assume responsibility for the short- term logistical aspects of the return of any or all of the 311,000 (including
natural increase since 1967) registered Palestinian refugees displaced as a result
of the 1967 hostilities and now in east Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic. Given
both a proper mandate and adequate funds UNRWA could also handle the movement of
an estimated 210,000 (including natural increase) other Palestinians displaced
.as a result of the 1967 hostilities and now in east Jordan. .
40. With the co-operation of the Governments concerned, UNRWA was capable at
short notice of providing, within its operational area, transport, a temporary
staging centre or centres with feeding arrangements, clinics, a potable water
supply and environmental sanitation, and control of identification of registered
Palestine refugees. The Agency could not provide permanent housing or the kind of
institutionalized education and health care it now provided the Palestine refugees,
even if funds were available, unless adequate land for housing and installations
were made available and 18 months' to two years' advance notice of resettlement
were given to permit the necessary construction.
41. As for the second phase of the Committee's programme which deals with llthe
return to their homes of the Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967", the
1.7 million Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA were all in this category,
assuming that those refugees displaced in 1967 would return, in the first phase,
to the places outside Israel from which they were displaced.
42. Appropriately provided with authority and funds, UNRWA was capable of playing
a role in this also, with regard to:
(a) The identification of registered refugees;
(b) Transport;
(c~ Overnight shelter, if required;
-9-
(d) Emergency feeding;
(e) Emergency illed~cal care.
43. Most of the services could be provided for non-registered refugees if"UNRWA
were authorized to do so.
44. Hhile UURUA could render substantial short-term b.'3sistance to facilitate the
return of refugees, in the event of a mass movement back to Palestine, the
impcrtant considerations for the refugees were less likely to be what they vill
need in the short term but rather such fundamental concerns as jobs, permanent
housing, education, and other social services of a continuing nature. Presumably
these would be the responsibility of whatever governmental authority would then
have control of the territory to which the refugees return.
45. In summary, given the authority, the funds and the co-operation of the
Governments concerned UNRWA could be capable of providing the assistance referred
to by the Committee, promptly, efficiently and economically.
46. The Conciliation Commission for Palestine in its reply referred the Committee
to its reports to the thirty-first and thirty-second sessions of the General
Assembly.
B. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 1 (a)
of General Assembly resolution 32/40 B
47. The Committee noted that in compliance with paragraph 1 of General Assembly
resolution 32/40 B the Secretary-General had established within the Secretariat
a Special Unit on Palestinian Rights which would prepare, under the guidance of
the Committee, studies and publications relating to the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and other organs
of the United Nations and the activities of the Committee and other United Nations
organs in order to promote the attainment of those rights. The Special Unit was
also to promote for such studies and publications maximum publicity through all
appropriate means. Paragraph 2 of that resolution requested the Secretary-General
to ensure the full co-operation of the Office of Public Information and other
units of the Secretariat in enabling the Special Unit on Palestinian Rights to
perform its tasks.
48. In carrying out its mandate in accordance with this resolution the Committee
suggested to the Special Unit several themes on which it might prepare studies
during 1978. These were the right of return and how it should be applied and
implemented in the case of the rights of the Palestinian people; t~e right of
self-determination referred to in resolution 3236 (XXIX); the evolution and origins
of tl:;' Palestinian problem, in particular how it had originally come before the
United Nations and a critical and analytical study of all relevant resolutions on
the question of Palestine which would be intended for specialists on the Palestinian
question.
49. On the question of Bulletins which were to be issued by the Special Unit on
Palestinian Rights, the Committee suggested that they should deal with relevant
current events including those involving violations of rights in the occupied
territories and should cover important statements and events in the region.
-10-
50. It noted that the Office of Public Information of the Secretariat had issued
a pamphlet entitled "the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian PeopleH which covered the work of the Committee from its inception
in 1976 to June 1978.
51. The Committee participated also in drawing up the scenario for the film being
produced by the Office of Public Information and made its suggestions and comments
on what the perspectives, accuracy and obj~ctivity of the film should be. It is
expected that the film will be ready for screening on 29 November 1978, when the
United Nations commemorates the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People.
C. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 1 (c)
of Geperal Assembly resolution 32/40 B
52. The Special Unit on Palestinian Rights was requested by paragraph 1 (c) of
resolution 32/40 B to organize, in consultation with the Committee, commencing in
1978, annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with
the Palestinian People.
53. In laying down the guidelines for the observance of that Day the Committee
recommended that Solidarity Day should be observed in New York by the holding of
a special meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People to which all Member States should be invited and at which
statements may be made by those whom the Committee considered should be invited to
do so. Selected international non-governmental organizations were to be invited
as well. Messages received from Heads of States or Governments would be read out
at the meeting. The film produced by the Office of Public Information would have
its premiere on that occasion and literature produced by the Special Unit,
including a special issue of the Bulletin, would be distributed at the meeting.
In addition, an exhibition of photographs and posters were to be arranged in the
Visitor's Lounge of the United Nations Secretariat building during the week
commencing Monday, 27 November 1978.
54. The Committee also requested the Secretary-General to draw the attention of
all Member States, specialized agencies and other United Nations organs to the
International Day of Solidarity and to inquire in what manner they intend to
commemorate the Day. The Secretar:r-General was also requested to instruct the
Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva to organize a special
meeting in Geneva to commemorate the Day, to screen the film and to arrange an·
exhibition of photographs and posters. It is expected that many Governments, with
the assistance of United Nations information centres, will observe the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in an appropriate manner.
v. RECm1::lENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
55. In the light of actual developments in the Middle East, the Committee
unanimously decided to reiterate the validity of the recommendations it had made
to the thirty-first session of the Gener~u Assembly, which the Assembly has already
endorsed. These reco~~endations are annexed to the present report, their validity
undiminished by the passage of time. The Committee agreed that, now more than
-11-
ever, the symbolic significance of the date suggested for the withdrawal of
Israeli occupation forces from territories occupied in 1967 required that it be
retained as a reminder of the urgency of a peaceful solution under the a~spices
of the United Nations particularly on the basis of resolutions unanimously adopted
but not yet implemented. The Committee stresses that events over the past year
have again indicated the urgency of a sOlution. Indeed, the Committer: feels that,
had a start been made on the implementation of the recommendations, conflict in
the area might have been avoided.
56. The Committee considered that a continuation of its eflorts would contribute
to a wider understanding of the just causes of the Palestinifu" people and hence
to the implementation of its recommendations, especially if the rarious sectors
of the United Nations system continued to act in concert to promote their
implementation by peaceful means.
57. The Committee was of the opinion that positive action by the Security Council
on the recommendations endorsed by the General Assembly could create the necessary
~onditions for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
58. The Committee recommends that the General Assembly should urge the Security
Council to be guided constantly by the basic principles relating to the problem
of Palestine within the Middle East situation. These principles are:
(a) The question of Palestine is at the heart of the problem of the Middle
East and consequently no solution to the Middle East problem could be
envisaged without taking into account the rights of the Palestinian people;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to
return to their homes and to self-determination, independence and national
sovereignty would contribute to a solution of the crisis in the Middle East;
(c) The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with all other
parties on the basis of General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX)
is indispensable in all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle
East undertaken ~der the auspices of the United Nations.
(d) The inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and the
o~ligation which devolved on Israel to withdraw completely and quickly from
all territory so occupied.
-12-
ANNEX*
Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the
General Assembly at its thirty-first session
I. BASIC CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES
59. The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and,
consequently, the Committee stresses its belief that no solution in the Middle East
can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate aspirations
of the Palestinian people.
60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to
their hOInes and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence
and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the full
implementation of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and
final settlement of the Middle East crisis •
61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties,
on the basis of Genera] Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is
indispensable in all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East
which are held under the auspices of the United Nations.
62. The Committee recalls the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligation for
complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so oc~upied.
63. The Committee considers that it is the duty and the responsibility of all
concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights.
64. The Committee recommends an expanded and more influential role by the United
Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine
and in the implementation of such a solut ion. The Security Council ~ in part icular ,
should take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of
their right to return to their homes, landE\ and propf;:ri;y. The Committ ee •
furthermore, urges the Security Council to promote action towards a. just solution,
taking into account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter of the United
Nations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numerous
resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideration of all the facts,
proposals and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations~ that the
Committee submits its ~ecommendations on the modalities for the implementation of
the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
* Previously issued as annex I of Official Records of the General Assembly~
Thirty-second Session.~SupplementNo. 35 (A/32/35).
II
-13- """~~~~~~~~__IiiiliiiiliIiI iiliW.. - .•,,"!-,,,;f:~...,.c;'S~ 7 mWXWd mE 17W
II. THE RIGHT OF RETURN
66. The natural and inalier.able right 'of Palestinians to return to their,homes is
recognized by resoluti0n 194 tIll), which the General Assembly has reaffirmed
almost every year since its adoption. This right was also unanimously recognized
by the Security Council in its resolution 237 (1967); the time for the urgent
implementation of these resolu~ions is long overdue.
67. Without prejudice to the right of all Palestinians to return to their homes,
lands and property, the Committee considers that the programme of implementation,
of the exercise.of this right may be car~ied out in two phases:
PhasE: Qne
68. The first phase involves the .return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) The Security COlillcil should request the immediate implementation of its
resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementation should not be related
to any other condition;
(ii) The resources of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East, suitably financed and ma.ndated, may be
~~ployed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved
in the resettlement of those returning to their homes. These agencies
could also assist, in co-operation with the host countries and the
Palestine Liberation Organization, in the identification of the
displaced Palestinians.
Phase tl-1O
69. The second phase deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced betwee~ 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) Hhile the first phase is being implemented, the United Nations in
co-operation with the States directly involved, and the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the interim representative of the Palestinian
entity, should proceed to make che necessary arrangements to enable
Palestinians displaced between 1948 ·and 1967 to exercise their right to
return to their homes and property, in accordance with '~he relevant
United Nations resolutions, particu~arly General Assembly resolution
194 (III);
(ii) Palestinians not choosing to return to their homes should be paid just
and equitable compensation as provided for in resolution 194 (Ill).
III. THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION, NATIONAL
11IDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY
70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to self-determination, national
independence and sovereignty in Palestine. The Committee considers that the
evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in violation of the principles
-14-
of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the United Natiops is a conditio sine
qua non for the exercise by the, Palestinian people of its inalienable rights of >
Palestinians to their homes and property and ,vith the establishment of an
inctependent Palestinian entity, the Palestinian 'P~ople will be able to exercise its
rights to self-determination and to decide its form of government without e..xternal
interference.
71. The Committee also feels that the United Nations has an historical duty and
responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the economic
development and prosp~rity of the Palestinian entity.
72. To these ends, the Committee recommends that:
(a) A time-table should be established by the Security Council for the
complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in 1967;
such withdrawal should be completed no later t:ran 1 June 1977; .
(b). The Security Council may need to provide temporary peace-keeping forces
in orde~ to facilitate the process of withdrawal;
(c) Israel should be requested by the Security Council ~D desist from the
establishment of new settlements and to withdraw during this period from
settlements established since 1967 in the occupied territories. Arab property and
all essential services in these areas should be. maintained intact;
(d) Israel should also be request ed to abide scrupulously by the provJ.sJ.ons
of the Geneva Convention reiative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949, and to declare, pending its speedy withdrawal from these
territories, its recognition of the applicability of that Convention;
(e) The evacuated territories, with all property and services intact, should
be taken over by the United Nations, which with the co-operation of the. League of
Arab States, will subsequently hand over these evacuated areas to the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people;
(f) The Un5ted Nations should, if necessary, assist in establishing
communications between Gaza and the West Bank;
(g) As soon as the independent Palestinian entity has been established, the
United Nations, in co-operation with the States directly involved and the
Palestinian entity, should, taking into account General Assembly resolution
3375 (XXX), make further arrangements for the full implementation of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding
problems and the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region, in
accordance with a+l relevant United Nations resolutions;
(h) The United Nations should provide the economic and technical assistance
necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian e~tity.
-15-
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Litho in United Nations, New York
Corrigendum
1. Page iv, line 2
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE
INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
NEW YORK
CORRIGENDUM
Supplement No. 35
(A/33/35)
• 18 October 1978
United Nations
GENER.AL
ASSEMBLY
Thirtjr-third Session
Official Records ------------------------ For 22 September 1977 read 22 September 1978
2. Page 5, paragraph 19, line 2
E2!: 1977 ~ 1918
Litho in V.N.
78-22756
A/33/35/Corr.l
Arabic, English,
French, Russian
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United Nations c o r r i g e n d u m
GENERAL ^
Supplement No. 35
ASSEMBLY „ (А/зз/35)
Thirty-third Session ^ November 1978
Official Records N E W Y O R K
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE
INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
Corrigendum
Page iv, line 2
For 22 September 1977 read 22 September 1978
A/33/35/Corr .1/Rev. 1
78-27870 English only
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: THIRTY - FOURTH SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/34/35)
UNITED NATIONS
New York, 1979
NOTE
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
{Original: English/Frenc~
{19 October 1972/
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL iv
I. INTRODUCTION 1 - 4 1
H. ~ffiNDATE OP THE CO~~ITTEE 5 - 6 1
HI. ORGANIZATION OF WORK 7 - 10 3
A. Election of officers 7 3
B. Participation in the work of the Committee 8 - 9 3
C. Establishment of a Task Force 10 3
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE Cm,1HITTEE . . 11- 51 3
A. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 9 of
General Assembly resolution 33/28 A . . · 11- 17 3
B. Action taken in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3
of General Assembly resolution 33/28 B · . . . . 18 - 44 5
C. Action taken in accordance,with paragraphs 1 (a)
and 1 (c) of Genf'ral Assembly resolution 32/40 B J.~5 - 51 10
V. BECOm1EJ!TDATIONS OF THE C0I1HITTEE . . · . . 52 - 55 11
ANNEX
REcm~1ENDATIONS OF THE COiVlHITTEE EJlTDORSED BY THE GENERAL ASSBJ!1BLY
AT ITS THIRTY-FIRST SESSION . . • • . . • . . . • . . . . • . . .
-iii-
12
LETTER OF TRAllmlITTAL
[Original: l"renc!iT
L17 October 19727
Sir)
I have the honour to transmit to you herewith the report of' the Committee on
the ~xercise of' the Inalienable Rights of' the Palestinian People f'or submission to
the General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 3 of' resolution 33/28 B.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Medoune FALL
Chairman of' the Committee on the
Exercise of' the Inalienable Rights
of' the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. Kurt 1;.Taldheim
Secretary-General of the United Nations
-iv-
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Con~ittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rif,hts of the Palestinian
People, originally composed of 20 members and later enlarged to 23, !I was
established by the General Assembly in resolution 3376 (XXX) on 10 November 1975.
Its first report, 2/ submitted to the General Assembly at its thirty-first session,
contained the recommendations of the Committee designed to enable the Palestinian
people to exercise its inalienable rights as recognized and defined by the
Genpral Assembly.
2. The Committee's recommendations were first endorsed by the General Assembly
at its thirty-first session as a basis for the solution of the question of
Palestine.
3. In its subsequent reports to the General Assem-.:lly at its thirty-second 11 and
thirty-third ~ sessions, the Committee retained its recommendations unchanged, and
on each occasion they were aga~n endorsed by the General Assembly which reviewed
and renewed the mandate of the Committee.
4. The recommendations, however, have not yet been acted upon by the Security
Council, and neither have they been implemented.
II. .HMIDATE OF THE CmlJ'UTTEE
5. The present Mandate of the Committee was specified in paragraph 9 of General
Assembly resolution 33/28 A, paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 33/28 B, paragraph 2
of resolution 33/28 C, and parap,rap~s 1 (a) and 1 (c) of resolution 32/40 B.
6. These stated respectively that the General Assembly (a) authorized and
reques·:;ed the Committee, in the event that the Security Council failed to consider
or to take a decision on the Committee's recommendations by 1 June 1979, to consider
that situation and to make the suggestions it deemed appropriate; (b) requested the
Committee to keep the situation relating to the question of Palestine und.er review
and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or to the Security
Council as may be appropriate: (c) authorized the Committee to continue to exert
all efforts to promote the implementation of its recommendations, to send
delepations or representatives to international conferences where such
representation would be considered by it to be appropriate and to report thereon
1/ The Committee is composed of the following members: Afghanistan, Cuba,
Cyprus, German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Laos,
Hadagascar, Halaysia, Nali, Halta, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Sene&;al, Sierra
Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, illcrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and Yugoslavia.
gj Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/3l/35).
i/ Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35).
~/ Ibid., Thirty-third Session. Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35 and Corr.l).
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to the General Assembly at its thirty-fourth session and thereafterj (d) authorized
the Committee to provide the necessary ~uidelines to the Special Unit on
Palestinian Rirhts in preparinr, studies and publications:, (e) the General Assembly
requested that the Special Unit should orranize, in consultation with the Committee,
commencin~ in 1~78, the annual observance of 29 rTovember as the International Day
of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
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In. ORGANIZATION OF' WORK
A. Election of officers
7. At its 36th meeting, on 16 February 1979, the Committee unanimously re-elected
the following officers:
Chairman:
Vice-Chairman:
F.apporteur:
Mr. Medoune Fall (Senegal)
Mr. Raul Roa Kouri (Cuba)
Mr. Hir Abdul \Iahab Siddiq (Afghanistan)
Hr. Victor J. Gauci (Halta)
At its 42nd meeting, the Committee unanimously elected ~IT. Abdul Hadim Tabibi
(Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairman in place of rIT. Hir Abdul Hahab Siddiq (Afghanistan)
whose term of duty in New York had expired.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
8. The Committee reconfirmed that those States Members of the United Nations and
Permanent Observers to the United Nations which wished to participate in the work
of the Committee as observers could do so, and it again welcomed in that capacity
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, the Syrian Arab
Republic, Viet Nam, the League of Arab States and the Palestile Liberation
Organization, which continued ~n 1979 to participate in the work of the Committee.
9. At its request, Algaria also participated in the work of the Committee as an
observer from 10 May 1979.
C. Re-establishment of the Task Force
10. The Committee once again unanimously decided that the Task Force which it had
established in 1977 should continue to function in order to facilitate the work of
the Committee by: (a) keeping up to date with events which affect the work of the
Committee and suggesting action which the Committee could usefully undertake, and
(b) assisting the Committee in any other specific assignment related to its work.
The following were reappointed members of the Task Force: Malta (Chairman),
Afghanistan, Cuba, Guinea, Guyana, India, Senegal, Tunisia and, as represent~tives
of the people directly concerned, the Palestine Liberatiun Organization.
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
A. Efforts to promote the implementation of its recommendations in accordance
with para~ra~h ~ of General Assembly resolution 33/28 A
11. The General Assembly, in paragraph 8 of its resolution 33/28 A, urged the
Security Council once again to consider and to take as soon as possible a decision
on the recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly. In
paragraph 9 of the same resolution the General Assembly authorized and requested
the Committee, in the event that the Security Council failed to consider or to
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take a decision on those recommendations by 1 June 1979, to consider that
situation and to make the suggestions it deemed appropriate.
12. In accordance with this mandate, on 13 March 1979 the Chairman of the
Conwittee addressed a letter (S/13164) to the President of the Security Council
drawing his attention to paragraph 8 of General Assembly resolution 33/28 A. He
also reiterated the fundamental principles which had guided the members of the
Committee in formulating its recommendations. Those principles were:
(a) The question of Palestine is at the heart of the problem of the Middle
East and no solution to that p~oblem can be envisaged without taking into account
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people;
(b) The implementation of the inalienable rights of the.Palestinian people of
returning to their homes and property, of exercising their right of selfdetermination
and independence and national sovereisnty - will contribute to a
final solution of the Middle East crisis~
(c) The participation o~ the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with all other
parties on the basis of General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is
indispensable to all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East
which take place under the auspices of the United Nations;
(d) The inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and the
consequent oblisation for Israel to withdraw completely and quickly from all
territory so occupied.
13. The Chairman also conveyed the Committee's conviction that concrete action
by the Security Council on the basis of the implementation of the Committee's
recommendations would undoubtedly lead to the achievement of taneible progress
towards the solution of the question of Palestine; the Chairman stressed that the
need for such action had become increasingly urgent in view of the illegal measures
recently taken by the Israeli Government for the establishment of additional
settlements in the Occupied Arab Territories, whereby Israel continued its
violation of United Nations resolutions and the Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949
relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. 2/
lL~. Subsequently, since no action had been taken by the Security Council and the
deadline of 1 June 1979 mentioned in the resolution was approaching, following a
decision of the Committee in May 1979, its Acting Chairman initiated consultations
with the President of the Security Council in order to urge early action by the
CounciL
15. As a result of these consultations, the President of the Security Council addressed a letter dated 24 ~1ay 1979 to the Chairman of the Committee advising him
that 1i1embers of the Security Council were following the matter with great attention
and agreed to holding a meeting of the Council at an early date.
~/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973, p. 287.
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16. 7he Security Council considered the questiori of Pales~ine at its meetings on
29 June" 27 July, 23 and 24 August 1979. In the course of ~he discussion,
statements were made, inter alia, by the Chairman, the Rapporteur and seven members
of the Committee. At the end of the meeting of 24 August, the President announced
that the Council would continue consideration of the item at a later date to be
agreed on after consultations amone;st the members of the Council. A draft
resolution drawn up by the Committee as a preliminary step by the Security Council
on the question of Palestine was presented in the Council by Senegal on behalf of
the Committee and will be qonsidered when the Council next meets on this item.
It was considered appropriate not to press the resolution to a vote and to take the
matter for consideration at the Sixth 90nference of Heads of State or Government of
Non-Aligned Countries in Havana, Cuba, in September 1979.
17. In the light of the decision by that Conference at Havana that an emergency
special session of the United Nations General Assembly should be convened in the
event that the Security Council failed to act because of lack of unanimity among
the permanent members of the Council, and the fact that the Co-ordinating Bureau
of the Non-Aligned Countries in New York had been entrusted with the task of
acting in co-ordination with the Committee to call for such an emergency special
session at the appropriate time, the Committee is of the view that) while keeping
the situation in the I·~iddle East as it relates to the question of Palestine under
constant observation, it should await further developments on the question of
Palestine in the Security Council and take note of views expressed at the thirty,.
fourth session of the General Assembly before making its suggestions for action to
be taken~nder the terms of paragraph 9 of General Assembly resolution 33/28 A.
B. Action taken in accordance with the terms of ~aragraphs 2 and 3
of General Assembly resolution 33/28 B
1. Reaction to developments in the Occu~ied Territories
18. Referring to several press reports based on official documents of the United
States Department of State which confirlli~d that cases of torture and inhuman
treatment had occurred in the Occupied Territories, the Chairman of the Committee
addressed a letter (A/34/83) on 9 February 1979 to the Secretary-General expressing
concern over the recurrence of systematic repressive measures by the Israeli
authorities against the Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories.
19. In the same letter the Chairman also expressed concern that the Government
of Israel was continuing to establish new settlements in the Occupied Territories,
and to enlarge existing settlements, in violation of United Nations resolutions,
thereby aggravating an explosive situation and further complicating any prospects
for settlement of the Middle East situation. -
20. The Committee continued to keep the situation in the Occupied Territories
under constant review and on three other occasions through its Chairman or
Acting Chairman expressed (S/13291, A/34/238, S/13322 and A/34/258-s/13384) to
the President of the Security Council and the Secretary-General its concern over
the establishment by Israel of new settlements in the territories occupied in 1967,
over the repressive measures taken against the Palestinian people in those
territories, and over Israel's refusal to withdraw from those territories in
violation of basic principles of international law, the United Nations Charter and
General Asse..mbly and Security Council resolutions.
-5-
21. In addition, on 2 Harch 1979 the Acting Chairman of the Committee addressed a
letter (8/13132) to the President of the Security Council expressing the Committee's
concern over reports of the Government of Israel's poli9Y of systematic repression
of Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories. He suggested that these
practices be considered when the Security Council met, in response to the official
request from Jordan, to consider the erosion of Lhe status of Jerusalem due to the
policies of the Israeli Occup&tion authorities in the occupied Palestinian and
other territories.
22. The Vice-Chairman of the Committee and several members participated in the
discussion in the Security Council when this question was considered. The Committee
noted with satisfaction that, at the end of the discussion, the Security Council
adopted resolution 446 (1979) whereby it established a Commission of three members
of the Security Council to examine the situation relating to settlements in the
Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem.
23. 1{hen that Commission was established, the Committee assured it of its fullest
co-operation and assistance and on 30 April 1979 the Bureau of the Committee
attended a meeting of the Commission at which the Chairman made knoWn the
Committee's views on action that might be taken by the Commission.
24. Among the Commission's findings was evidence that the Government of Israel was
engaged in a wilful, systematic and large-scale process of establishing settlements
in the Occupied Territories and that, in the implementation o~ this policy, it had
shown disregard for basic human rights, including in particular the right of the
refugees to return to their homeland.
25. The Commission also considered that the pattern of that policy was causing
profound and irreversible changes of a geographical and demographic nature in those
territories, including Jerusalem, and that those changes were of such a nature as
to constitute a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 and of
the relevant decisions adopted by the United Nations.
26. The Committee welcomed the report of the Commission (S/13450) when it was
issued in July 1979. The Committee noted that the Commission had sought the
co-operation of Israel in carrying out its mandate but, like the Committee, had met
with the same attitude of non-co-coperation.
27. The Committee also noted that, within the Commission's more limited terms of
reference, its conclusions and recommendations bore out those of the Committee,
and, in particular, confirmed the inalienable right of the Palestinians to return
to their homeland.
28. The Committee further noted that - as it had always maintained, and as the
Security Council had determined in resolution 446 (1979) - the Commis~ion
reaffirmed that I'the policy and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in
the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal
validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just
and lasting peace in the Middle EastIJ
•
29. Participating in the Security Council's consideration of the report, the
Acting Chairman of the Committee expressed the Committee's appreciation of the fact
that the Commission created by the Security Council had obtained an understanding
of the question which was identical to that of the Committee which had been created
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by the General Assembly, and that the Commission" s conclusions and recommendations within
the limits of its mandate - were fully in accord with the conclusions and
recommendations of the Committee. He expressed the Committee's hope that the
recommendations of the Commission would be endorsed by the Security Council as a
first step towards the endorsement of the Committee's recommendations when those
were later considered by the Council. He also stressed the fact that the Committee
had in previous years often drawn the attention of the Secllrity Council to Israel's
continuous settlement policies, and that those policies were obstacles to peace
which called for urgent action by the Security Council.
30. The Committee noted that the Security Council adopted resolution 452 (1979) by
~ote of 14 in favour, none against and 1 abstention, thereby endorsing the
recommendations of the Commission. On 1 August 1979, the Chairman of the Cowmittee
addressed letters (A/34/395-S/13482) to the President of the Security Council and
to the Secretary-General expressing his deep concern at the fact that, in
explaining the United States abstention in the vote on resolution 452 (1979) the
representative of the United States of America had, at the 2159th meeting,
declared that his delegation had abstained because "the resolution, like the
recommendations of the Commission which this resolution accepts and incorporates
goes beyond the question of settlements to deal with such matters as Jerusalem';.
The Chairman 1vent on to express the Committee's concern that that statement could
carry implications of Jerusalem and its environs being treated as distinct from
Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, which would appear to constitute a
divergence from the long-standing position of the United States of America. The
Chairman stated also that such a development would have far-reaching repercussions
and would be a matter of serious concern to the Committee.
31. In reviewing the situation in Jerusalem the Committee considered the steps
being taken by the Government of Israel to have Jerusalem recognized as its
capital. In this connexion, the Committee endorsed the decision taken by the Group
of Arab States to oppose these Israeli moves. The Committee also noted that the
Islamic Conference had set up a Special Committee to deal with the matter. The
Committee also noted that the sixth Non-Aligned Summit meeting at Havana had
appealed to members of the non-aligned movement to take firm measures, including
severance of economic and diplomatic relations, against countries which, formally
or by implication, recognized the City of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
32. On 19 September 1979, the Committee authorized its Chairman to address letters
to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council and to issue a
statement condemning Israel's most recent violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention
of 1949 when the Government of Israel rescinded a law which had hitherto prohibited
Israeli citizens and organizations from purchasing land in the illegally occupied
Arab territories. In his letters (A/34/492-S/13544) and in his statement issued
as a press release, the Chairman expressed the Committee's serious concern over
this latest evidence of Israel's determination to strengthen its illegal presence
in the occupied Arab territories in flagrant violation of international law, world
public opinion, the United Nations Charter and General Assembly and Security Council
resolutions and the Fourth G~neva Convention of 1949. He conveyed also the
Committee's strong feeling that urgent action should be taken to arrest these
developments and to secure Israel's early withdrawal from the occupied territories,
since the continuation of these Israeli policies could only exacerbate tension in
the area and endanger international peace and security.
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33. In reviewinG events which had taken place on the ~Iiddle East question~ the
Committee felt that it shoulQ recall once Dore the detailed and phased
recomrQenuations which it had made on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, l~lich the General Assembly had endorsed at its last three sessions as a
basis for "the solution of the question of Palestine.
34. The Cowmittee deeus it necessary to stress once again in particular that the
participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, is indispensable to a just and lasting settlement of the
question of Palestine, which is at the heart of the 1\1iddle East conflict. In this
connexion, the Committee noted that one of the important developments in the area~
the sicninr- of a Peace Treaty betw-een Egypt and Israel, had been concluded and
outside the fradeworl, of the United Nations, but that the Committee's mandate
included the riGht to pin-point those eleme~ts which should form the basis for the
~xercise of the inalienable ri~hts of the Palestinian people. Accordingly, on
29 i-larch 1979 the COmli1.ittee authorized its Chairman to convey to the SecretaryGeneral
and the President of the Security Council its views on recent developments
pertaininc; to the i:liddle East.
35. In his letters (A/34/155-S/13210) the Chairman recalled the principles on
which the Committee's recol7llilendations were based, and conveyed the Committeels
rerrets that these principles which had been endorsed by the General Assembly, had
not been taken into account in recent negotiations. He conveyed also the
Cowuittee's concern at recent moves, the consequences of which were hardly
favourable for the implslentation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, or addressed themselves in a SUfficiently concrete way to the Palestinian
problem which" is acknowledBed by the united Nations as the core of the ~liddle East
conflict.
3. Action taken by otl~e...!-.-9rganizations
36. The Committee was informed that its Chairman had participated in the Islamic
Conference held in Fez) ~~orocco, fror. 8 to 12 May 1979 and that sev~ral resolutions
adopted by that conference were relevant to the Committeeis work. It was observed
that the OrGanization of African Unity, at its Sumnit l'Ieeting in lIonrovia, Liberia~
fron 17 to 20 July 1979, had reviewed its stand on the Palestinian question. It
had condewned all partial agreements and separate treaties which constituted a
flagrant viOlation of the rights of the Palestinian people and the principles
enshrined in the Charter of the United :Tations and of the Organization of African
Unity.
37. It was observed further that the Heads of Government of Commonwealth countries
at their meetinc held at Lusaka from 1 to 7 Aueust 1979, had emphasized that a
just and permanent peace in the fuiddle East could only be achieved on the basis of
a fully comprehensive solution which upheld the legitimate rights of the Palestinian
people, including their right to a homeland. At that meetine, the Commonwealth
members of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People had drawn particular attention to the Committee's
recommendations, and most Heads of Government had recognized that the Palestine
Liberation Or~anization was the only legitimate representative of the Palestinian
people strugglinb justifiably for an independent Palestinian State.
-8-
38. The Committee also took note of the fact that the Commission on Human Rights
had, as one of its first acts at its thirty-fifth session in February 1979, sent
a telegram to the Government of Israel expressinB its deep concern about the
systematic torture practised by Israel against Palestinian detainees and about the
policies of repression and collective punishment pursued by the Israeli Occupation
Forces against the Palestinian people in Palestine and in the Occupied Arab
Territories. It further called u~on the Government of Israel to cease forthwith
these practices which were in vioiation of the Geneva Convention of 1949. The
Committee noted also that the Commission had adopted resolutions condemning these
Israeli policies and practices and that the Economic ~~d Social Council had
subsequently, on 10 Nay 1979, adopted a resolution commending the Commission on
IIuman Rights for its vi~ilance in this regard and requesting it to pursue its
efforts and to continue to take appropriate measures.
39. The Committee welcomed the fact that the Conference of Heads of State or
Government of Non-Aligned Countries held at Havana from 3 to 7 September 1979 had
expressed its appreciation of the Committee's work as a positive contribution to
the search for a just solution to the Palestinian problem, and had reaffirmed its
support for the decisions and proposals of the Committee.
40. That Conference had also expressed its regret that the SecuritJT Council had
not yet taken any decision on the Committee's recommendations endorsed by the
General Assembly and had reiterated its request to the Security Council to study
the recommendations and adopt them. As stated in paragraph 17 above, the Conference
had entrusted its Co-ordinating Bureau in New York, acting in co-ordination with the
Committee, to call for an emergency special session of the General Assembly at the
appropriate time if the Security Council failed to act on the implementation of
the Palestinian people's inalienable national rights because of a lack of unanimity
among the permanent members of the Council.
4. Attendance at Conferences
41. In accordance with paragraph 3 of resolution 33/28 B which. inter alia,
authorized the Committee to seat delegations or representatives to international
conferences where such representation would be considered appropriate, the
Committee decided to accept invitations and to send representatives to several
important conferences durinr, 1979.
42. The Committee was represented at a seminar convened by the Finnish-Arab
Friendship Society in Helsinki on 30 January 1979; at a conference organized by
the World Peace Councilis Presidential Committee to celebrate the 30th Anniversary
of the International Peace Movement and the fOQ~dation of the World Peace Council,
from 25 to 27 April 1979 in Prague; at an international conference of Solidarity
with the Palestinian People organized by the lfurld Peace Council in Basel,
Switzerland. from 4 to 6 May 1979; at a conference sponsored by the Palestine Human
Rights Campaign in Chicago, United States of America, from 18 to 20 May 1979; at a
symposium on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in the Arab Horld organized by
the Union of Arab Jurists in Baghdad from 18 to 21 May 1979; at the Ministerial
Meeting of the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Countries held in Colombo
from 4 to 9 June 1979; at the meeting of Heads 0f State of the Non-Aligned Countries
held at Havana from 29 August to 7 September 1979; at the Conference on Palestine
Human Rights and Peace organized by the Palestine Human Rights Campaign in
Washington, D.C., from 21 to 25 September 1979, and at the Conference on National
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44. Every opportunity was also taken by members of the Committee, particularly the
members of its Bureau to make kno1~ the worK of the Committee and its
recommendations at other international conferences in which they participated.
r----------------------------iiliiii-.....--""'-_~".,.,,~ 551111",,"'"------ilI..Rights of the Palestinian People in the Middle East organized by the Colloquio
Internationale d.i Roma from 24 to 26 September 1979 in Rome. ) , ~3. The Committee was of the view that such attendance was of extreme importance
in furthering the aims and objectives of the Committee'and fulfilling its mandate. On every occasion the Committee's representatives found evidence of a considerable
understanding of and sympathy for the problem of the Palestinian people as well as
an interest in the work of the Committee and in the United Nations action on the
question. At each meeting copies of the studies prepared 'by the Special Unit on
Palestinian Rights were widely distributed.
C. Action taken in accordance with ~aragra~hs 1 (a) and 1 (c)
of General Assembly resolution 32740 B
45. In paragraph 1 (a) of resolution 32/40 B, the General Assembly authorized the
Committee to provide the necessary guidelines to the Special Unit on Palestinian
Rights in preparing its pUblications. In paragraph 2 of resolution 33/28 C, the
General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Unit
continued to discharge its tasks in consultation with and under the guidance of the
Committee.
46. In carrying out this mandate the Committee suggested to the Special Unit
several themes on which it might prepare pamphlets during 1979.
47. The Committee reviewed the bulletins issued periodically by the Special Unit
on Palestinian Rights and suggested that these could contain an element of editorial
comment introducing the events reported on in those bulletins.
48. The Committee also noted that the studies and bulletins prepared by the
Special Unit were receiving the widest possible dissemination.
49. The COI!llilittee expected that the film, vThich the Department of P1.).blic
Information had commenced preparing in 1978, would be ready for screening on
29 November 1979, 1?hen the United Nations commemorated ·the International "Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
50. The Committee observed that last year there had been an enthusiastic response
from a large number of countries to the invitation to observe the International
Day of Solidarity. Consequently it recommended the+ the observance of Solidarity
Day should follow the same pa~tern as it did in 1978 and that the main feature in
NevT York 1vould be a special meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to which all Member States should be
invited and at 1.hich statements would be made. Messages received from Heads of
State or Governments would be read out at the meeting.
51. The Committee also requested the Secretary-General to draw the attention of
all Member States, specialized agencies and other United Nations organs to the
International Day of Solidarity, and to inquire in what manner they intended to
commemorate the Day. The Secretary-General was requested further to instruct the
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Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva once more to observe the
commemoration of the Day. It is expected that many Governments, with the
assistance of United Nations Information Centres, will observe the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in an appropriate manner.
V. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COHJYIITTEE
52. Keeping in mind the actual developments in the Middle East, the Committee
unanimously decided once more to reiterate the validity of the recommendations it
had made to the thirty-first session of the General Assembly, which the Assembly
had repeatedly endorsed at its thirty-first, thirty-second and thirty-third
sessions. These recommendations are again annexed to the present report, their
validity undiminished by the passage of time, their urgency highlighted by events.
53. The Committee draws the attention of the General Assembly to its considered
opinion that the Camp David Accords, to the extent that they did not take into
account the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and were negotiated
without the participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
representative of the Palestinian people, contravened paragraph 4 of General
Assembly resolution 33/28 A of 7 December 1978.
54. The Committee considered that a continuation of its efforts would contribute
to a wider understanding of the just cause of the Palestinian people, and hence to
the implementation of its recommendations, especially if the various sectors of
the United Nations system continued to act in concert to promote their
implementation by peaceful means.
55. It also maintained its view that positive action by the Security Council on
the recommendations endorsed by the General Assembly could create the necessary
conditions for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, especially since the
recommendations contained are the basic principles relating to the problem of
Palestine within the Middle East situation. As indicated in section IV.A of the
present report, the recommendations and the urgency of their implementation had
repeatedly been brought to the attention of the Security Council.
-11- . _
ANNEX*
Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the
General Assembly at its thirty-first session
I. BASIC CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES
59. The question of Palestine is at the heart of the f~ddle East problem, and,
eonsequently, the Committee stressed its belief that no solution in the f~ddle East
can be envisaged which does not fully t~ce into account the legitimate aspirations
of the Palestinian people.
60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to
their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence
and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the full
implementation of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and
final settlement of the ~tiddle East crisis.
Gl. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization. the representative
of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties, on the basis
of General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is indispensacle in all
efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which are held under the
auspices of the United Nations.
62. The Committee recalls the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligation for
complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so occupied.
63. The Committee considers that it is the duty and the responsibility of all
concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights.
G4. The Committee recommends an expanded and more influential role by the United
Hations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine
and in the implementation of such a solution. The Sec~rity Council, in particular,
should t~ce appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of
their right to return to their homes, lands and property. The Committee,
furtnermore, urges the Security Council to promote action towards a just solution,
taking into account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter of the United
Nations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numerous
resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideration of all the facts,
proposals and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that the
Committee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation of
the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
* Previously issued as annex I of Official Records of the General Assembly,
Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35).
-12-
II. THE RIGHT OF RETURN
66. The natural and inalienable right of Palestinians to return to their homes is
recognized by resolution 194 (Ill), which the General Assembly has reaffirmed
almost every· year since its adoption. This right was also unanimously recognized
by the Security Council in its resolution 237 (1967); the time for the urgent
implementation of these resolutions is long overdue.
67. Without prejudice to the right of all Palestinians to return to their homes,
lands and property, the Committee considers that the programme of implementation,
of the exercise of this right may be carried out in two phases:
Phase one
68. The first phase involves the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) The Security Council should request the immediate implementation of its
resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementation should not be related
to any other condition;
(ii) 1he resources of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be
employed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved
in the resettlement .of those returning to their homes. These agencies
could also assist, in co-operation with the host countries and the
Palestine Liberation Organization, in the identification of the
displaced Palestinians.
Phase two
69. The second phase deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) While the first phase is being implemented, the United Nations in
co-operation with the States directly involved, and the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the interim representative of the Palestinian
entity, should proceed to make the necessary arrangements to enable
Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967 to exercise their right to
return to their homes and property, in accordance ,nth the relevant
United Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly resolution
194 (III);
(ii) Palestinians not choosing to return to their homes should be paid just
and equitable compensation as provided for in resolution 194 (Ill).
III. THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION, NATIONAL
INDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY
70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to self-determination, national
independence and sovereignty in Palestine. The Committee considers that the
evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in violation of the principles
-13-
72. To these ends, the Committee recommends that:
-14-
(a) A time-table should be established by the Security Council for the
complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in 1967;
such withdraw'al should be completed no later than 1 June 1977;
(b) The Security Council may need to provide temporary peace-keeping forces
in order to facilitate the process of with~rawal;
(e) TIle evacuated territories, with all property and services intact, should
be taken over by the United Nations, which with the co-operation of the League of
Arab States, will subsequently hand over these evacuated areas to the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinian pe?ple;
(h) The United Nations should provide the Economic and technical assistance
necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity.
of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the United ITations is a conditio 3ine
qua non for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights'~
Palestinians to their homes and property and with the es-£ablishment of an
independent Palestinian entity, tl> Palestinian :;.:eople "i:l ce I:..lle tu Exercise its
rignts to self-determination and to decide its form of government without external
interference.
(c) Israel should be requested by the Security Council to desist from the
establishment of new settlements and to withdraw' during this period from
settlements established since 1967 in the occupied' territories" 'Arab property and
all essential services in these areas should be maintained intact;
(f) The United Nations should, if necessary, assist in establishing
communications between Gaza and the West Bank;
71. The Committee also feels that the United Nations has an historical duty and
responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the economic
development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
(g) As soon as the inde]?endent Palestinian entity has been established, the
United Nations, in co-operation with the States directly involved and the
Palestinian entity, should, taking into account General Assembly resolution
3375 (XXX). make further arrangements for the full implementation of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding
problems and the etablishment of a just and lasting peace in the regi9n, in
accordance with all relevant United Nations resolutions:
(d) Israel should also be re~uested to abide scrupulously by the prov~s~ons
of the Geneva. Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
liar, of 12 August 1949, and to declare, pending its speedy withdrawal from these
territories, its recognition of the applicability of that Convention;
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REPORT UN/SA UJLLb..liON
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBlY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: THIRTY-FIFTH SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/35/35)
UNITED NATIONS
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE E'XERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
1 _
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: THIRTY-FIFTH SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/35/35)
UNiTED NATIONS
New York, 1980
1
NOTE
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capitalletters combined with
figures. Mention ofsuch a symbol indicates a reference ta a United Nations document.
/Original: Fhglish/French/
/1 October 1980ï
CONTENTS
LETTER OF TillLWSMITTAL iv
1. INTRODUCTION
II. r~ATE OF THE co~rrTTEE
III. ORGAHIZATION OF lJORK
A. El~ction of officers
B. Participation in the work of th~ Committee
C. Re-establishment of tr"' Horking Group (Task Force).
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COJV1MI'ITEE • . .
1 - 4
5 - 6
7' 11
7 - 8
9 - 10
11
12 - 44
1
2
3
3
3
3
4
A. Action t.aken in accordance with paragraph 8 of
General Assemb1y resolution 34/65 A . . . 12 - 19 4
B. Action taken in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3
of General Assemb1y rêsolut~on 3h/65 C . . . . . . . 20 - 37 6
C. Action taken in accordance with "Çnr.agraphs 2 ann 7
of Gene-r-a.l Assembly resolution 34/65 D 38 - 44 la
V. RECOl@,~"IJDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE 45 - 48 12
ArJNl~X
RECOM1OEIJDATIONS OF THE CGMMITTEE ENDORSED BY TEE GEJCP.AL ASSEHBLY AT
ITS THIRTY-·FIRST SESSIOE . . . . . . . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . . 13
-iii-
----.IL-~_"~.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
22 September 1980
Sir,
l have the honour to transmit to YO:l herewith the report of the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to
the General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 3 of resolution 34/65 C,
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration,
(Signed) Falilou I~
Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr, Kurt \'Taldheim
Secretary-General of the United Nations
-iv·-
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People, originally composed of 20 members and later enlarged to 23, 1/ was
established by the General Assembly in resolution 3376 (XXX) on 10 November 1975.
Its first report, 2/ submitted to the General Assembly at its thirty-first
session, contained-the recommendations of the Committee designed to enable the
Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights as recognized and defined
by the General Assembly.
2. The Committee's recommendations were first endorsed by the General Assembly
at its thirty-first session as a basis for the solution of the question of
Palestine.
3. In its subsequent reports to the General Assembly at its thirty-second 3/
thirty-third '!±I and thÏl·ty-fourth sessions, 2.1 the Committee retained its
recommendations unchanged, and on each occasion they were again endorsed by the
General Assembly which reviewed and renewed the mandate of the Committee.
4. Despite frequent urgings by the Committee, its recommendations have not yet
been acted upon by the Security Council, and neither have they been implemented.
The Committee consequently recommended, in tenus of its mandate, the convening of
an emergency special session of the General Assembly to consider the matter. This
was held from 22 to 29 July 1980. By a vote of 112 to 7, with 24 abstentions, the
General Assembly, at its seventh emergency special session, requested and
authorized the Secretary-General, in consultation, as appropriate, with the
Committee, to take the necessary mensures to'wards the implementation of the
recommendations as a basis for the solution of the question of Palestine
(resolution ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980).
1/ The Committee is compoaed of thE' following members: Afghanistan, Cuba,
Cypru;, German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia,
Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Romania , Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey" Ukrainian Soviet
Socialist Republic and Yugoslavia.
2/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/3l/35).
3/ Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32!35).
4/ Ibid., Thirty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35 and Corr.l).
21 Ibid., Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35 and Corr.l).
-1-
2!;;"'~"']"j"".!"""""_~'!!:Ë"~',~"!m1~~~,.~,'.,!(\'§ ..,~·",~ltjl:!i!.,~o~':~.~'~·'f~<:~,~;:
1
II. 1i4NDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
5. The present mandate of the Comraitt.ee tras specifiec1 in paragz-aph 8 of
Gen0.raJ. Assembly resolution 34/65 A~ para~ra:phs 2 and 3 of resolution 34/65 C
par-agraphs 2 and 7 of resolution 34/65 D. By those pc:rc.c;ro.phs the General Assembly:
(a) Authorized and requesteQ the Committee) in the event that the Security
COlliècil failed ta consider or to take a decision on the Committee's recow~endations
by 31 ],:larch 1930 s ta consider that situation and ta make the suc;gestions i t deemecl
appropr-i.at e ;
(b)
Po.lestine
or ta the
Requested the Committee to keep the situation relating ta the question of
under review and ta report anQ make su~gestions ta the General Assembly
Sec~rity Council as ~ay be appropri~te
(c) Authorized the Cornmittee ta continue to exert aIl efforts ta promote the
implementation of its recommendations) ta send delegations or representatives ta
international conferences where such representation would be considered by it t~
be appropriate and ta report thereon ta the General Assernbly at its thirty-fifth
session and thereafter,
(cl) Requested that the Special Unit should~ in consD~tation with the
Committee o discharge the tasks detailed in ~aragraph l of General Assembly
resolution 32/40 13 and. undertaloe an expanded progr-amme of work LncLud.i.ng,
inter alia~ the orc;anization of seminars and the monitoring of political and other
relevant developments affecting the inalienable richts of the Palestinian people.
6. At the seventh eme.rgency special s es s i on , in its resolution ES-·7/3~ the
General Assembly further r-eques'ted the Commi.tt.ee te study t.hor-ough.Ly the reasons
for the refusaI of Israel ta comp.Iy loJith the relevant United Nations resolutions 0
particularly resolution 31/20 of 2L~ November 1976; in which the General Assembly
endorsed the recommendations of the COITilllittee and the n~ITilerOUS resolutions
demand.ing the withd:r:'mval of Israel from the occupied Palestinian and other Arab
territories? including Jerusalen~ and ta submit the stucly ta the Assernbly.
-2-
III. ORGAc'\fIZATION OF ï10RK
A. -E-l-é-c-t-i-o-n_..o--f-- -o.f-f-ic-e-rs-
7. In tb,~ months of .Ian ua'ry and February 1980 the Comnri.t t ee rptain,,-d its bur-eau
from 1979 on a provisional basis until the npw orficers wpre el~cted.
8. At. its 49th mtetine, on 12 Harch 1980, thê Committee unarrîmousIy pl~cted th:'
following officers:
Chairman: Hr. Falilou Kane (Sf'negal)
Vice-Chairman: Mr. Raul Roa Kouri (Cuba)
ftt. Farid Zarif (Afehan~stan)
Mr. Victo~ J. Gquci (Malta)
B. Partic:'pation in thE work of__the Commi_Uee
9. The CommitteE' reconfirmed that thosé States 11embers of the Unit~d Nations and
Permanent; Obae-rvez-s to the Urrit.e-d Nations which wished to participatE in tht, work
of the Committee as observers could do so, and ft again welcowpd in that capacity
Ale;eria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, the Libyan Arab Jarrrahiriya, I.1auritania, thE' Syrian
Arab Republic, Viet Nam, the League of Arab Stat2s, cnd the Palestin~ Liberation
Organization. which continued in 1980 to participqte in th~ work of thE' Cow~nittee .
10. At its requ~st, the Organization of th. Islamic Conference also participated
in thE vor'k of tlw Comnrit t ee as an observer from 12 March 1980.
Il. 'I'h> Committee once again unanimously decided that the vTorkinr:; Group (Task
Force ) which it had established in 1977 should continue to function in or-der- to
facilitatE the work of the Commit t ee by : (a) kecpinC' up to date vlith events which
affect the work of th~ Committee and sugGE'stin~ action which the Comwittee could
usefully undertake, and (b) assistin~ th~ Committ~e in any other specific assignment.
relat~d to its wo~k" The following were reappointed members of the Working Group:
Malta (Chairman), Afghanistan, Cuba, Guinea, Guyana, Indis, Senpgal, Tunisia and,
as répresentatives of the people directly concerned, the Palestine Liberation
Organization. In addition, t.h.' Ge~man Democratic Republic was co-opted to serve
on thli' Horkinf, Group dLlrins the p-,riod of its terrn of membership of the Security
Council.
-3-
IV. ACTIOIT TAKEl\T BY Tlill Cm1I'lI'I'TEE
A. Action tak€n in accordanc€ with paragraph 8
of General Assembly resolution 34/65 A
12. The General Assembly. in paragraph 7 of its resolution 34/65 A. urged the
Security Council once again to consider and to take as soon as possible a decision
on the recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly. In
paragraph 8 of the same resolution. the General Assembly authorized and requested
the Committee. in the event that the Security Council failed ta consider or to
take a decision on those recommendations by 31 March 1980, to consider that
situation and to make the suggestions it deemed appropriate.
13. In accordance with this mandate, on 6 March 1980 the Acting Chairman of the
Committee addressed a letter (S/13832) to the President of the Security Council
drawing his attention to paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 34/65 A. He
also reiterated the fundamental principles which had guided the members of the
Committee in formulating its recommendations. Those principles were:
(a) The question of Palestine is at the heart of the problem of the
~üddle East and no solution to that nroblem can be envisaged without taking into
account the inalienable rights of the Palestininn people;
(b) The implementation of the inalienable rights of the Palestirian people of
returning to their homes and property. of exercising their right of selfdetermination
and independence and national sovereignty - will contribute to a
final solution of the Middle East crisis;
(c) The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
representative of the Palestinian pèople. on an equal footing with all other parties
on the basis of General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXXIX) of 22 November 1974 and
3375 (XXX) of 10 November 1975 is indispensable to all efforts, deliberations and
conferences on the Middle East which take place under the auspices of the
United Nations;
(d) The inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and the
consequent obligation for Israel to withdraw completely and speedily from all
territory so occupied.
14. The Acting Chairman also conveyed the Committee's conviction that appropriate
action by the Security Council on the basis of the implementation of the Committeeis
recommendations would undoubtedly lead to the achievement of tanGible progress
towards the solution of the question of Palestine. He pointed out that specifie
action by the Security Council should not be delayed further. especially on account
of the increased intransigence by Israel in establishing and strengthening its
settlements in the illegally occupied Arab territories. The Acting Chairman also
stressed that in the past year Israel had blatantly defied Security Council
resolutions 446 (1979) and 452 (1979) and had only a few days previously openly
made it evident that it had no intention of paying any heed to resolution 465 (1980)
which had just been passed unanimously by the Security Council.
-4-
.~~~~~~~..~.
15. The Acting Chairman also recalled th~t the Security Council had discussed the
Committee' s recommendations durhg June and August 1979 and that although a draft
resolution (S/13514) had been pre5ented~ it had not been voted upon; in effect~
thel'e:!"ore ~ the Security Council l'las still seized of the question and the Committee
considered it important that the Security Council should take practical measures
with a view to implementing the Committee's recommendations which were intended to
restore to the Palestinian people their inalienable rights, the denial of which was
the root of the Middle East problem.
16. On 24 March 1980~ the Chairman of the Committee addressed another letter
(S/13855) to ti:0 President of the Security Council, in which he pointed out that
~evelopments evolving in the occupied Palestinian and other occupi~d Arab
territor~es, i~cluding Jerusalem~ constituted continuing violations by Israel of the
inalienable rights or the Falestinian people, and requested that since the date
envisased in pnrnGraph 8 of General Assembly resolution 34/65 A was imminent, the
Security Council should convene urgently to consider the recommendations of the
Committee.
17. In response to these represcLtaticns the 8ecurity Council considered the
question of Palestine on 31 March and 3, 8, 9, 29 and 30 April. After a discussion
in which) inter alia, the Chairman, the Rapporteur and seven members of the
Committee participated, a draft resolution was presented to the Security Council by
the repr:csEntat~ve of Tunisia, but was not adopted because of the negative vote of
a permanent member.
18. Consequently~ in accordance with the terms of paragraph 8 of resolution
34/65 A, the Committee considered the situation once more and recommended that the
question of Palestine should be discussed by the General Assembly at an emergency
specia.l session.
19. Accordingly~ at the request of Senegal, the seventh emergency special session
of the General Assembly met from 22 to 29 July 1980 to consider the question of
Palestine. The high level of attendance underlined the importance that most Member
States attached to the session. The Committee noted that over 100 Member States
had participated in the debate, a.nd that the overwhelming majority had supported
the Committee's position regarding the inplementation of its recommendations and
insisted on the restoration of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
The General Assembly adopted a draft resolution prepared by the Committee. By that
resolution the General Assembly once more endorsed the Committee's recommendations
and fixed the date of 15 November 1980 as a dead.line for witharawal by Israel from
the occupi~d Arab territories, Of special satisfaction to the Committee was the
fact that ~n this occasion severaJ. Western European member States had in their
interventions censured Israel's settlement policy and its attempts to mak~ Jerusalem
its permanent capital; and they had also pointed out that the Palestine Liberation
Organization should participate in any negotiations concerning the West Bank and
Gaza if such negotiations were to be of any practical use. The Committee regarded
as noteworthy the fact that many of these countrieG which had previously voted
against the endorsement of the Committee's recommendations had now not done so but
abstained in the vote. The Committee expresses its satisfaction with the results
of the emergency special session of,the General Assembly and considers it to have
been most useful in highlighting ~he isolation of Israel in its defiant attitude
towards world public opinion and the application of international law.
-5-
B. Action taken in accordance ,vith parap-r8phs 2 and 3
-of--Ge-n-er--a.L Assë;1blY r;solution 34/65- -è--- -..:..-;~~
1. Reaction to developments in the occunied territories
20. The Coumittee closely foll017ed developnlents in the occupied territories and,
on several occasions, authorized its Cllairman to communicate its concern to the
Secretary-Genp.ral and to the President of the Security Council at the Israeli
Government's practices and policies in those territories.
21. Accordingly, on every occasion on which the Government of Israel took any
action which, in the opinion of the Committee, was in violation of international
law and General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, these were invariably
brought to the attention of the Secretary-General and the President of the Security
Council by the Chairman. These letters dealt with illegal Israeli settlements
in the occupied territories, the expropriation by the Israeli authorities of
vast areas of Arab ovmed land, restrictions on educational establishments, the
harsh and inhuman treatment of Arab prisoners by the Israeli authorities,
the expulsion of the rlayors of Halhoul and Al Khalil (Hebron) and the Sharia
Judge of Al Khalil (Hebron), and the assassination attempts on the lives of the
~layors o~ Nablus, Ramallah and Al Bireh, three cities in the West Bank.
22. The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, repeatedly conveyed the Committee's
grave concern at these steps by Israel which ivere undoubtedly aimed at strenrthening
its annexation of the occupied Arab territories in flagrant violation of
international law, world public opinion and General Assembly and Security Council
resolutions; he pointed out that Israel's protestations of being a peace lovinf
member of the United Nations, dedicated to findin~ a comprehensive solution to
the problem of the f'Iidd1e East had no basis in goocJ faith. He also stressed that
effective action needed to be taken by the Security Council to convince Israel
of the danger of its ~olicies and the necessity for its immediate and complete
withdra'ial from the illegally occupied territories since its continued presence
there and its series of defiant acts were a serious obstruction to a~hieving a
comprehensive, just and lastinc peace in the Middle East.
23. In addition the COID~ittee, through its Chairman, participated in the meetings
of the Security Council to examine the situation relatinG to settlements
in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including
Jerusal~~. The Committee also intervened in ~he Council's meetings concerning
other developments in the area and particularly on Jerusalem.
24. On the unanLmous adopti~n by the Council of resolution 465 (1980) accepting
the conclusions and recommendations contained in the second report of the
Commission of the Security Council established under resolution 446 (1979),
the Chairman conveyed to the President of the Security Council the Committee's
satisfaction at the adoption of that resolution; he advised that the Committee
considered it particularly auspicious that the Couneil was unanimous in
determining that aIl measures taken by Israel to change the physical character,
demographic composition, institutional structure or status of the Palestinian and
other Arab territories occupied sinee 1967 3 including Jerusalem, had no legal
validity, and that the Committee took special note of the Council's reference
to the specifie status of Jerusalem.
-6-
25. Fe also conveyed t he Commi.t.tee ' s n;ratificatioll thilt the CounciL T_p.S unanimous
in strongly deplorinc th~~ 1sraeli Govermnent' s policy of est::>.hlishin:~~ set.tLonent s
in the occupied territories , including .Ierusa.Lem , as a po Li.cv vThich constituteo.
a f'Lagr-ant, violation of the Fourt li Geneva Converrt i on of 1949 anô a.l.so as 11. serious
obstruction to a cO'o11:9rehensive, just and lastin[' peace in the Tfiddle la.::;t.
The Corum.ittee noted 1-rith anpr-ec i.at i.on the call on the 1sraeli Gover-nnerrt to
dismantle the ezi s t i nr- settlements and te: cee.se on an urr.ent basis the es't ab.li shmerrt
of such settlements.
26. In a separate letter to the President of the Security Counc i L on the same 0.0.7,
the Chairman conveyed the Coamittee's deep concern at the possible L~plicatior.s
of the st.at craerrt made by the President of the United States of JI~erica regardin~
Security Council resolution 465 (1980). Uhile emphasizing that" the Committee had
no intention of questionin~ the ri~ht of any Governulent to forNulate its forei~n
policy, the Chairman drew the attention of the Security Council to one particular
stat.emerrt which touched on a very imnortant aspect of the Commi t t ee ' s mandate.
The sentence in question read as foliows: liAsto Jerusaler, Fe strongly believe
that Jerusalem should be undivided, Fith free access to the Loly Places for all
faiths and that its status s hou.ld be det.ermi ner, in the negot i at i.ons for a
cO!'1prehensive peace settlement. 1l
27. He pointed out that the Commi.tt.ee "Tas concerned at the fact that this
formulation could be interpreted as supportin~ 18rael'8 insistence that the City
of Jerusalem vas indivisible only as long as it remained under Israeli domination
and that the Committee believed that t h i s proposition was in direct contradiction
to resolution 242 (1967) ivhich 6ùphasized the inaàLlissibility of the acquisition
of territories by war and called for the vithdravral of Israeli 'rm.ed forces f'r oru
the territories occupied in June 1967. The Co~@ittee, he stated, sincerely hoped
that the United States s t.at enent, wac Ln no vay desii~ned to 3UP:90rt the Israeli
position.
28. He conveyed also the Committee' s concern at the reference made in that
statement to the status of Jerusalen: as a natter of negotiation, In the Cormrit t ee ' s
view the Ibly City of Jerusalem already had a very special and unique status
for the three monotheistic religions. The only international definition of
the status of Jerusalem "TaS to be found in General Assembly resolution 181 (II) of
29 Novemher 1947, i~lich specified that the City of Jerusalem should be established
as a corpus separatum under a special international regime aQministered by the
United Nations. The Committee believed that it vras on.Ly lw means of an
internationalized status of corpus separatum that free access to the HoIy PLaces
could be guaranteed to the f'o.Ll.ower s of all religions, and hor.ed that the United
States statement was not intended to prejudge that delicate issue. The COF~ittee
expressed its appreciation to those Governments which had decided to r emove their
embassies from Jerusalem as a reflection of their res~ect for international lavA
29. Following exprcpriation by the Israeli authorities of vast areas of Arab
oiVl1ed land within a few days of the unanimous adoption by the SecuLity Council
of resolution 465 (1980), the Cha i.rman conveyed the Committee i s deep concern at
t.heae outrages comm.itted by the Government of Israel vrhich clearly proved that
Israel had little intention of he.Lpi.ng progress t.ovards FI. peaccf'u.L settlement
of the ~liddle East problem; he once af,ain called for concrete and practical cction
by the Security Council.
'-7-
2. Review of events relating to the Middle East
30. In reviewing events which have taken place on the Middle East question, the
Committee recalled once more the detailed and phased recommendations which it had
made on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people which the General Assembly
had repeatedly endorsed, most recently at its seventh emergency special session.
31. The Committee deems it necessary to stress once more that the participation
of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian
people, is indispensable to a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the
question of Palestine which is at the heart of the Middle East conflict. The
Committee recalled that in resolution 34/65 B the General Assembly had noted
with concern that the Camp David Accords had been concluded outside the framework
of the United Nations and without the pa~ticipation of the Palestine Liberation
Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people; that the resolution
had rejected those provisions of the Accords which ignored, infringed upon,
violated or denied the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the
right of return, the right of self-determination and the right to national
independence and sovereignty in Palestine, in accordance with the Charter of
the United Nations, and which envisaged and condoned continued Israeli occupation
of the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967; that it strongly
condemned all partial agreements and separate treaties which constitute a flagrant
violation of the rights of the Palestinian people, the principle of the Charter
and the resolutions adopted in the various international forums on the Palestinian
issue, and declared that the Camp David Accords and other agreements had no
validity in so far as they purport to determine the future of the Palestinian
people and of the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967.
32. The Committee noted also that the General Assembly in its resolution ES-7/2,
adopted at its seventh emergency special session, had reaffirmed the principle~
which had guided the Committee in formulating its recommendations•
3~ Action taken by other organization~
33. The Committee followed with the greatest interest action taken during the
year by other organizations on questions relevfmt to the work of the Committee.
Among these were:
(a) The Commission on Ruman Rights which, at its thirty-sixth session held
from 4 Februar3T to 14 March 1980, had adopted resolutions condemning Israeli
policies and practices in the occupied Arab tcrritoriEs as well as
administrative and legislative measures by the Israeli authorities to
encourage, promote and expand the establishment of settlers' colonies in the
occupied territories, which further demonstrate Israel's determination to
annex those territories. The Commission also expressed its deep concern
at the consequences of Israel's refusal to apply fully and effectively the
Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War 6/ in all its provisions to all the Arab territories
occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem.
6/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973, p. 287.
(b) The Political Consultative Committee of the States Parties to the Warsaw
Treaty which, in a declaration adopted on its meeting in Warsaw on
14 and 15 May 19JO, stressed and reaffirmed the positive position of the
countries concerned and which stated, inter alia, that a lasting peace in the
Middle East could have been established long ago on the basis of an allembracing
Middle Eastern political settlement with the direct participation
of aIl the parties concerned, including the Palestinian Arab people as
embodied by its representative, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and of
respect for the legitimate interests of all states and peoples of the Middle
East, including Israel; such a settlement required the withdrawal of Israeli
forces from all Arab territories occupied in 1967, the restoration of the
right of the Arab people of Palestine to self-determination, including the
establishment of its own independent State, the granting of the sovereignty
and security of aIl States of the region; it requires also that no action
should be taken which could make the attainment of those goals more difficult.
The full text of the declaration is reproduced in document A/35/237-S/13948.
(c) The Islamic Conference, at an extraordinary session of its Foreign
Ministers held at Islamabad, Pakistan, from 27 to 29 January 1980, at its
eleventh Conference of Foreign Ministers held at Islamabad from
17 to 22 May, and at an extraordinary session of its Al Quds Committee held
at Casablanca, Morocco, from 16 to 18 August, reaffirmed its stand on the
question of Palestine in the final declarations and resolutions adopted.
These declarations and resolutions are reproduced in
documents A/35/109-S/13810, A/35/419-S/14129 andS/14169 respectively. It
had also held a se~ond extraordinary session of the Islamic Conference of
Ministers of Foreign Affairs at Amman, Jordan, on Il and 12 July, which was
devoted exclusively to the question of Palestine. A resolution was adopted
which, inter alia, considered the Camp David Accords and the Egyptian-Israeli
Peace Treaty a conspiracy against the future of Jerusalem and of the other
occupied Arab territories~ which should be categorically rejected, and their
repercussions and consequences withstood; the resolution refused to recognize
separate and partial solutions of the Palestinian question. The Conference
also called upon the General Assembly to consider, at its emergency speci~l
session devoted to Palestine, ways and means whereby to secure the
implementation of its resolutions on the Palestinian question, including the
imposition of sanctions, in accordance with Chapter VII of the United Nations
Charter. These resolutions are reproduced in document A/35/384-sI14097.·
(d) The meeting of Heads of States and Governments and the Ministers for
Foreign Affairs of the European Council in Venice, Italy, which, in its
declaration of 13 June 1980, had detailed its position on the Middle East.
The Committee regarded as specially significant that the Nine had taken
a firm position on the question of Palestine and on the fact that the
Palestinian people must be placed in a position to exercise fully their
right to self-determination; that the Palestine Liberation Organization should
be associated with the negotiations to that end; that Israel should put an
end to the occupation of the territories which it has maintained since 1967;
that Israeli settlements constituted a serious obstacle to peace in the
Middle East and were illegal under international law and that the Nine would
not accept any unilateral initiative designed to change the status of
Jerusalem. The Committee considered this declaration to be an important
advance on the part of the Nine towards an understanding of the question of
Palestine as weIl as a major step towards a resolution of the problem.
-9-
(e) The Counci L of lIinisters of ti'.::: OrQ;anîzation of African Unity at its
thirtY-fii'th ordinary session held at Freet.own , Sierra Leone, from
1[\ ta 2Ü June, adopt ed a resolution on 'tiie question of Palestine, in trh i ch
it reaffir'11f'lL its s t and on this question and its strong suppor-t to the
Palestinian peonl.e led lly its sole le,c;itimate representative the Falestine
ï,iber2.tion OrGan-' z at i on , The Mirri s't er-s also condemned Israel 7 s expans Loni s't
~olicies and all ~8rti~1 agreements and sepayate treaties which constitute
:'fJ_R0Tant violation of the r irlrts of the Pa.Lest i ni an peoule nnd of
res~lutions a~orted in various international fora ou the Palestlne issue,
and IIldch preverrt the realization of the Palestini:m peoples Î aspirations
to return to their homeLand , to self-deterr:1Ïnation and to exercise full
sovereignty on their territories.
4. Attendance at conferences
31~. In accordance vith paraGraph 3 of General Assembly resolution 34/65 C, which,
~n~er alia, authorized the COE~littee to send delegations or re~resentatives to
international conferences trhere such representation wou.Ld be considered appropriate,
the COlmnittee accepted several invitations in 1980.
35. The Committee was represented at the Islamic Conference in Islamabad,
Pakistan, from 17 to 22 May 1980, at the Week of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People orGanizeo. by the Solidarity Committee of the German Democratie Republic
in Berlin, from 2 to 8 June; and at a conference on !ivlorld Parliament. of Peop.Les for
Peac e'", o.rgani aed by the Forld Peace Council, in Sofia, Bulp:aria, from
23 to 27 September.
3G. ~le Co~mittee has also accepted an invitation by the International Progress
Orcanizô.tion to attend 0. conference on "The Lega.L aspect s of the Palestine
prohlem including, eSDecially, the question of Jerusalem", at Vienna, from
5 ta "( Iloverabor 1980.
37. On eaeil of these occasions represente..tives of the Committee took the
cppor-turrity to make known the wor-k of the ComrJ.ittee and its recommendations and
to discuss ways an~ means of promoting the implementation of those recommendations.
There was conclusive evidence of considerable understandin~ of, and sympathy for,
the problems of the Palestinian people qS weIl as of interest in the work of the
Committee and United N~tions action on the question.
C. Action tal,en in accordance rHh uara~ra-phs 2 and 7 of Gener1Ü
Assenbly r~solution 34/65 D
38. The Comcri.tt ee wishes to stress the importance it attaches to the vor-k being
done hJr the Special Unit on Palestinian Rights and to the need to provide it vith
ade0uate resources to discharGe its duties.
39. In ~ara~raph l of resolution 34/65 D, the General Assembly requested the ~. - .
f!ecret.ar:r-General to redesignate the Special Unit as the Division for Palestinian
Ri~hts and ta ~rovide it with the resources necessary to dis charge the incre~sed
responsibi1ities assi~ned to it by the Assembly. In paragraph 2 of that
resolution, t he Jeneral Assembly requested the Secretary-General to ensure that
the Division for Pe..lest.inian Rights woul.d continue to discharge its tasks in
consultation with and under the guidance of the Co~mittee.
-10-
40. The Committee notec1 that, pendi.ng Vlf~ r ecommendat.Lons of an interdepartnental
"lwrkinr: 8!'ouP established by the Secretary-General, there wou.Ld be no change in
the designation of the Special Unit on Palestiniml RiGhts. However~ it noted
wit~ appreciation that immediate action had been taken to strenr;then the Special
Unit and that this had enabled the Unit to expand the scope of its work , Hhile
considerinr; it too earLy to judr;e TThether t.he Special Unit needed further
strent::theninp; in order to discharr;e the expanded programme of "I·TOrk thathad b eeu
entrusted to it, and was likely to be entrusted to it in the future, the Comnittee
decided that it sholild kee:9 the matter under constant revievr.
41. In accordance vrith paragraph 2 of resolution 34/65 D, t,TO seminars on
Palestinian rights were organized by the Special Unit, the firpt in Arusha,
United Republic of Tanzania from 14 to 18 July 1980 and the second at Viennu ,
fron 25 to 29 Au~ust 1~80. The Committee, which was represented at the3e
seminars, considers them to have been most useful in bringing to[ether
academi c i.ans and ot.her s interested in the quest i.on of Palestine and e:ng,blinc: an
exchange of v i ews whi ch would constitute a valuable contribution t.ovar-ds Lnf'ornri.ng
t~e international cOD~~unity of the various facets of the question. The papers
presented 2t these seminars will be issued in due course.
42. The Com~ittee also noted with satisfaction that the publications prepexed
by the Special Unit were, through the co-operation of the Department of Public
InfoI'!!lation, receiving the videst possible clissemination and that the film
prepured in 1979 ty the Department of Public Information in consultation vrit.h t he '
Committee had been awarded a prize at the 22nd Annual Amer-i can Film. Festival
sponsored by the Educat i.onal, Film Librar;r Association in New York in l'.1ay 19130.
43. TIle COMnittee observed, once more, that there had been an enthusiastic
response from a 1ar~e number of countries to the invitation to observe the
International Day of Solidarity in 1979. ConseCluent1y, it recommended that the
observance ofSolidarity Day should f'o.l.Low the same patrt ern in 1980 and that a
special meeting cf the Committee lTould be held ta which all Member States vTould
be invited and at ·:rhich s t.at ement;s woul.d be made and messeges received f'r'om head.s
of State and Government read out. It i3 e1:pected that many Gover~~ents, witb
the assistance of the United !Jations Information Centres, will once more observe
the Intern~tional Day of Solidarity with the Palestinien People in an appropriête
manner ,
44. The Co:m:mittee "IoTaS informed that, in accordance with the r-eque st s contained
in paragraphs 5 and 7 of General ASSelI\b1y reso1ution 34/65 D, action vas being
taken to issue a series of United Nations cOmL1emorative postage stamps in
January 1981. A phot08raphic display in the public areas of United Nations
Headquar-t er-s , designed to keep visitors .in t'orrncd of the grave situation in
Palestine, and of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, will also be
exhibited as from November 1980.
-11-
V. RECOMMENDATION8 OF THE COMMITTEE
45. The repeated endorsement of the recommendations of the Committee by the General
Assembly at its thirty-first, thirty-second, thirty-third and thirty-fourth
sessions and its seventh emergency special session, strengthens the Committee's
conviction that positive action by the Security Council could create the necessary
conditions for a just and lasting peace, since the recommendations contain the basic
principles relating to the problem of Palestine within the Middle East situation.
~he Committee, consequently, unanimously decided once more to reiterate the
validity of those recommendations which are again annexed to the present report.
46. The Committee once more urges the Security Council to take positive action
on those recommendations which, with emphasis on the urgency of their
implementation, have repeatedly been brought to the attention of the Security
Council.
47. The Committee once more draws the attention of the General Assembly to its
considered opinion that the Camp David Accords and the attendant negotiations
which continue to t~ce place contravene paragraph 4 of General Assembly
resolution 33/28 A of 7 December 1978 and paragraphs land 2 of General Assembly
resolution 34/65 B of 29 November 1979, to the extent that they did not take into
account the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and were negotiated
without the participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
representative of the Palestinian people.
48. The Committee considers that a wider understanding of the just cause of the
Palestinian people would be a najor contribution towards a just solution of the
question of Palestine and that it should continue in its efforts to achieve such a
wider understanding so as to promote the implementation of its recommendations.
-12-
ANNEX*
Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the
General Assembly at its thirty-first session
l. BASIC CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES
59. The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and,
consequently, the Commi~tee stressed its belief that no solution in the Middle East
can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate aspirations
of the Palestiniaû people.
60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return ta
their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence
and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the full
huplementation of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and
final settlement of the Middle East crisis.
61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative
of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties, on the basis
of General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is indispensable in aIl
efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which are held under the
auspices of the United Nations.
62. The Committee recalls the fundamental ?rinciple of the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligation for
complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so occupied.
63. The Committee considers that it is the dutY and the responsibility of aIl
concerned to enable the Palestinians ta exercise their inalienable rights.
64. The Committee recommends an expanded and more influential role by the United
Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine
and in the implementation of such a solution. The Security Council, in particular,
should take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of
their right ta return to their homes, lands and property. The Committee,
furthermore, urges the Security Council to promote action towards a just solution,
taking into account aIl the powers conferred on it by the Charter of the United
Nations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numerous
resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideration of aIl the facts,
proposaIs and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that the
Committee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation of
the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
* Previously issued as annex l of Official Records of the General Assembly,
Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35).
~~
II. TH~ RIGHT OF BETURN
66. The natural and inalienable right of Pa.Lest i ni an s to return to their homes
is r-ecoscn.i.z ed bv resolution 194 (III), whi ch the General Ass emb.Ly has reaffirmed
21~:1ost eVel"Y 2-"2ar sinee its adoption. This ri:};ht 'TA.S also unanimously reeognized
b~r the Seeurity Couneil in its resolution 237 (1967); tlL~ time for the urgent
impleGentation of these resolutions is long overdue •
67. IIithout prejudice to the right of all Palestinians to return to their homes)
lands and prooer-ty , the CommLt.tee eonsiders that t.he pr'ogr'amme of implementation,
of the exercise of this right may be carried out in two phases:
l'hase one
6(3. The first »hase involves the return to their homes of the Palestinians
disr..l,"-ced as a result of the '°retr of June 1967. The Commi t t ee r ecommends t.hat :
(i) The Security COlIDCil should request the inLmediate implalentation of its
resolution 237 (1967) and t.hat; such implementation should not be related
to any other condition;
(ii) The :"esources of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
an(jor of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
R2fu~ees in the Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be
enployed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved
in the resettlement of those returning to their homes. These agencies
coulc1 also assist, in co-operation ,·rith the host countries and the
Palestine Liberation Organization, in the identification of the
displaced Palestinians.
Phase hm
69. The second nhe.se deals tri.t.h the return to their homes of the Palestinians
d.ispLaced betwee; 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) vnlile the first phase is beinc implemented, the United Nations in
co-operation ï-rith the fJtates directly involved, and the Palestine
:Giberation Organization as the interim representative of the Palestinian
entity, should proceed to make the necessary arrangements to enable
Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967 to exercise their right
to return to their homes and property, in accordance with the relevant
United Hations resolutions, particularly General Assembly
resolution 194. (rr 1;
(ii) Palestinians not choosinc to return ta their homes should be paid just
and equitable compensation as provided for in resolution 194 (rrr).
-14-
III. THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION, NATIONAL
INDEPENDENCE .A1\fD SOVEREIGNTY
70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to self-determination, national
independence and sovereignty in Palestine. The Committee considers that the
evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in violation of the principles
of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the United Nations is a conditio sine
qua non for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights of
Palestinians to their homes and property and with the establishment of ao.
independent Palestinian entity, the Palestinian people will be able to exercise
its rights to self-determination and to decide its form of government without
external interference.
71. The Committee also feels that the United Nations has an historical duty and
responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the economic
development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
72. Ta these ends, the Committee recommends that:
(a) A time-table should be established by the Security Council for the
complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in
1967; such withdrawal should be completed no later than l June 1977;
(b) The Security Council may need to provide temporary peace-keeping forces
in order to facilitate the process of withdrawal;
(c) Israel should be requested by the Security Council to desist from the
establishment of new settlements and to withdraw during this period from
settlements established since 1967 in the occupied territories. Arab property
and aIl essential services in these areas should be maintained intact;
(d) Israel should also be requested to abide scrupulously by the provlslons
of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949, and to declare, pending its speedy withdrawal from these
territories, its recognition of the applicability of that Convention;
(e) TI1e evacuated territories, with aIl property and services intact, should
be taken over by the United Nations, which with the co-operation of the League of
Arab States, will subsequently hand over these evacuated areas to the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people;
(f) The United Nations should, if necessary, assist in establishing
communications between Gaza and the West Bank;
(g) As soon as the independent Palestinian entity has 'beeu established, the
United Nations," in co-operation with the States directly involved and the
Palestinian entity, should, taking into account General Assembly
resolution 3375 (XXX), make further arrangements for the full implementation of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of out standing
problems and the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region, in
accordance with aIl relevant United Nations resolutions;
(h) The United Nations should"provide the economic and technical assistance
necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity.
-15-
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Lithu in United Nations_New t'ort
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: THIRTY- SIXTH SESSION
SUPP.LEMENT No. 35 (A/36/35)
UNITED NATIONS
-New York, 19l:S1 . .
NOTE
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document
[Original: English/French]
[16 OCtober 1981]
CONTENTS
Letter of transmittal •
Paragraphs
iv
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE •••
IIl. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A. Election of officers
I I. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
3
2
3
3
5
3
5
1 - 4 1
5
6 ~ 10
6 - 7
8 - 9
10
11 - 48
11 - 36
• • • • • • .- • • e _ •
B. Participation in the work of the COmmittee
A. Action taken in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of
General Assembly resolution 35/169 C • • • •
C. Re'-establishment of the Working Group (Task Force)
I. INTRODUCTION
B. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 2 of
General Assembly resolution ES-7/3 37 - 38 12
C. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 2 of
General Assembly resolution 35/169 D 39 - 48 12
V. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE 49 - 53 15
ANNEXES
1. Recommendations of the COmmittee endorsed by the General Assembly at
its thirty-first session • • • • • • • • • ••• " • • • •• 17
~~""'"",""""#:'~'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''~l\",..~.",,.-!'.t\''=.'i.~JMi!!!B£i:&E!!'J:!ib!mlllllll'M III::U.~I~. 1
II.
Ill.
Report of the Third United Nations Seminar on the Question of
Palestine, held at Colombo from 10 to 14 August 1981 • • • • •
Report of the Fourth United Nations Seminar on the Question of
Palestine, held at Havana from 31 August to 4 September 1981
-iii-
20
26
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
15 September 1981
Sir,
I have the honour to· enclose herewith the report of the Oommlttee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian PeoPle for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 3 of resolution 35/169 C.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
,
(Signed) Massamba SARRE
Chairman of the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Kurt Waldheim
Secretar~-General of the United Nations
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I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People, originally composed of 20 members and l.ater enlarged to 23, !I was
established by the General Assembly in resolution 3376 .(XXX) on 10 November 1975.
Its first report, £I submitted to the General Assembly at its thirty-first session,
contained the recommendations of the Committee designed to enable the Palestinian
people to exercise its inalienable rights as· recognized and defined by the General
Assembly.
2. The Committee's recommendations were first endorsed by the General Assembly at
its thirty-first session as a basis for the solution of the question of Palestine.
3. In its subsequent reports to the General Assembly at its thirty-second, ~
thirty-third, Y thirty-fourth if and thirty-fifth §/ sessions, the Committee
retained its recommendations unchanged, and on each occasion they were again
endorsed by the General Assembly which reviewed and renewed the mandate of the
Committee after thorough consideraFion of its report.
4. Despite repeated urgings by tAe Co~ittee, its recommendations have not yet
been acted upon by the Security Council, nor have they been implemented. The
situation in the occupied territories arising from Israeli practices. remains
extremely tense with frequent eruptions of violence and armed conflict. The
Committee consequently recommended, in terms of its mandate, the convening of an
emergency special session of the General Assembly to consider the matter. This was
held from 22 to 29 July 1980. By 112 votes to 7, with 24 abstentions, the General
Assembly, at its' seventh emergency special session, requested and authorized the
Secretaqr-General, in consultation, as appropriate, with the Committee, to take the
necessary measures towards the implementation of the recommendations as a basis for
the solution of the question of Palestine (resolution ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980).
Y The Committee is composed of the following members: Afghanistan, Cuba,
Cyprus, German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia,
Lao People's Democratic RepUblic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet
SOcialist Republic and Yugoslavia.
1I Official Records of the General Assembly, ThirtY-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/3l/35).
~ !2!!!., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35).
Y ~., Thirty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35 and Corr.l).
§! ~., Thirty-fourth Session, SUpplement No. 35 (A/34/3S and Corr.l).
§.! ~., Thirty-fifth Session, SUpplement No. 35 (A/35/35).
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I I • MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
5. The present mandate of the Committee was specified in paragraphs 2 and 3 of
General Assembly resolution 35/169 C, paragraph 2 of resolution 35/169 D and
paragraph 2 of resolution ES-7/3. By those paragraphs the General Assembly:
(a) Requested the Committee to keep the situation relating to the question of
Palestine under review and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly
or to the Security COuqcil as may be appropriate,
(b) Authorized the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
implementation of its recommendations, to send delegations or representatives to
international conferences where such representation would be considered by it to be
appropriate and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its thirty-sixth
session and thereafter,
(0) Requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Unit would, in
consultation with the COmmittee, continue to discharge the tasks detailed in
paragraph 1 of General Assembly resolution 32/40 B and paragraph 2 (b) of
resolqtion 34/65 D,
(d) Requested the COmmittee to study thoroughly the reasons for the refusal
of Israel to comply with the relevant United Nations resolutions, particularly
resolution 31/20 of 24 November 1976, in which the General Assembly endorsed the
recommendations of the COmmittee and the numerous resolutions demanding the
withdrawal of Israel from the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories,
including Jerusalem, and to submit the study to the "Assembly.
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III • ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A. Election of officers
6. From January to April 1981 the COmmittee retained ~ts bureau from 1980 on
a provisional basis until the new officers were elected.
7. At its 65th meeting, on 4 May 1981, the committee elected the following
officers:
Chairman:
Vice-Chairmen:
Rapporteur:
,
Mr. Massamba SARRE (Senegal)
Mr. Raul ROA-KOURI (Cuba)
Mr. Farid ZARIF (Afghanistan)
Mr. Victor J. GAOCI (Malta)
B. participatiol~ in the work of the Committee
8. The Committee reconfirmed that those States Members of the :'Jnited Nations and
Permanent Observers to the United Nations which wished to participate in the work
of the COmmittee as observers could do so, and it again welcomed in that' capacity
Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, the syrian
Arab Republic, Viet Nam, the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic
Conference and the Palestine Liberation ~rganization, which continued in 1981
to participate in the work of the COmmittee.
9. In order to encourage the contribution of all sectors of opinion to its work,
the Committee authorized the Chairman, as it had done in 1976 and 1977, to request
the SecretarY-General again to invite all States Members of the United Nations,
members of the specialized agencies and regional intergovernmental organizations
which were not already participating in the work of the Committee, to do SQ if they
so wished, either as observers or by oral or written communication of any
suggestions and proposals which they considered useful to b~~ work of the
Committee. This invitation was to be brought to the particular attention of all
those States directly interested id the Middle East situation and ~e members of
the Security Council, especially its permanent members. At their ,request, Morocco
and the United Arab Emirates also participated in the work of the:Committee as
observers from 10 July 1981. I
C. Re-establishment of the working Group (Task Force)
10. The Committee once again unanimously decided that the working Group (Task
Force) which it had established in 1977 should continue to function in order to
facilitate the work of the Committee by: (a) keeping up to date with events which
affect the work of the COmmittee and suggesting action which the Committee could
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usefully undertake, and (b) assisting the Committee in any other specific
assignment related to its wor.k. The following were reappointed members of
the WOrking Group: Malta (Chairman), Afghanistan, Cuba, Guinea, Guyana, India,
senegal, TUnisia and, as representatives of the people directly concerned, the
Palestine Liberation Organization. In addition, the German Democratic Republic
continued to serve on the Working Group during the period of its term of membership
of the Security Council.
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IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
A. Action taken in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3
of General Assembly reiolution 35/169 C
1. Reaction to developments in the occupied territories
11. The committee closely followed developments in the occupied territories and 00
several occasions authorized its Chairman to communicate to the Secretary-General
and to the President of the Security Council its concern at the Israeli
Government's practices and policies in those territories.
12. on every occasion in which the Government of Israel" took any action which, in
the opinion of the Committee, was in violation of international law and General
Assembly and security Council resolutions, such actions were invariably brought to
the attention of the Secretary-General and the" President of the Security COuncil.
These letters dealt with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied territories,
the expropriation by the Israeli authorities of vast areas of Arab-owned land, and
other violations of the rights of the Palestinian people.
13. The COmmittee regretted that the COmmission established by the Security
Council under resolution 446 (1979) to examine the situation relating to
settlements in the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, had
not been active during the year and expressed the hope that it would be duly
reconstituted in order to enable it to continue the important work it had done in
the past two years, always with the fullest co-operation of the Committee.
14. The Chairman drew the attention of the secretary-General and the President of
the Security Council to the latest developments in the case of the Mayors of Hebron
and Halhoul and the Sharia Judge of Hebron who were arbitrarily expelled by the
Israeli military authorities from their respective cities, and requested that these
eminent, elected leaders be permitted to return to their cities and to participate
in the appeal of their cases. This letter, dated 29 September 1980, was circulated
as document A/35/513-S/l4209.
15. On behalf of the COmmittee, the Chairman subsequently again expressed his
gravest concern at the further defiance by Israel of international opinion and of
resolutions 468 (1980) and 469 (1980) of the Security Council concerning the case
of the Mayors of Hebron and Halhoul. He noted that it behoved th~" international
community to protest strongly against these illegal actions by the Israeli
authorities and to insist that the Mayors should be permitted to return to their
homes and families. The Chairman reiterated the Committee's position on this case
in the strongest terms on 9 December 1980. The first letter dated 24 OCtober 1980
was circulated as document A/35/565-S/l4235, the second was circulated as document
A/35/740-S/14292.
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I~?'!I'I""¥~~~"""''''''''"'''''''''''''"''-
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16. The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, conveyed the Committee's grave
concern at those steps by Israel which were undoubtedly aimed at strengthening its
annexation of the occupied Palestinian territories in flagrant violation of
international law, world public opinion and General Assembly and Security Council
resolutions. The Chairman also stressed that further urgent action needed to be
taken by the united Nations, and in particular by the Security Council, to call the
attention of Israel to the danger inherent in such policies of annexation and the
overdue necessity, for its immediate and complete withdrawal from the illegally
occupied territories. This letter dated 27 February 1981 was circulated as
document A!36/ll4-S/l4389.
17. The Chairman also conveyed to the Secretary-General and the President of the
Security Council, a.copy of a document by Mattityahu Drobles, of the World zionist
Organization, dated September 1980 and entitled "Settlement in Judea and Samaria Strategy,
policy and plans". He pointed out that according to reliable
information, ~~e report had been adopted by the Government of Israel in
January 1981. Perusal of the document, he added, left no doubt of Israel's
intention to annex the Arab territories it had illegally occupied, and that the
"autonomy" that Israel envisages for those occupied territories would not apply to
the territories but only to the "Arab population thereof". The Chairman stressed
that the report spoke of lands being seized right away for the purpose of
establishing settlements and cutting off the Arab population in order to make it
difficult for it to form a territorial and political continuity. He also noted
that plans appeared to be in hand to establish 12 to 15 additional settlements per
annum over the next five years, with an intended increase of the Jewish population
by 120,000 to 150,000. This letter dated 19 June 1981 was circulated as document
A/36/34l-S/l4566.
18. The report on the Israeli Government's announced intention of building a canal
across the Gaza strip linking the Dead sea to the Mediterranean was of particular
concern to the Committee. The Chairman, on behaif of the Committee, stressed that
the project, fraught with consequences for the future and the status of the Gaza
strip, constituted a violation of United Nations resolutions and a challenge to
world public opinion. He also added that, on this occasion, Israel did not even
claim the pf~text as it had often done in the past, that it was undertaking the
project for reasons of security. This letter dated 7 April 1981 was circulated as
document A/36/177-S/14430. .
19. By letter dated 8 May 1981, the Chairman also conveyed the serious concern of
the Committee at the situation created by the act~of aggression co~itted by
Israel in Lebanon. The attacks perpetrated on several occassions by Israel against
Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon had caused the death of several Palestinian
civilians. He added that it was vital to draw the attention of Israel to the
dangers involved in the acts committed against the Palestinian people in Lebanon.
This letter was circulated as document A/36/237-S/l4477. SUbsequent events led to
the sending of a delegation to Beirut by·,the Committee whic;:h determined the extent
of the damage and loss of life in the Lebanon. This is reflected in the
delegation's report.
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20. The Israeli ban on the channeling of Arab funds directed for assistance to
Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories through the Joint Committee
for the OCcupied Territories in Amman was of particular concern to the Committee.
The Acting Chairman consequently conveyed the Committee's serious concern and
strong protest. This letter dated 24 August 1981 was circulated as document
A/36/449-S/14641.
21. On 17 September 1981, at the request of the Committee, the Chairman conveyed
to the Secretary-General and to the President of the Security Council the
Committee's gravest concern at Israel's continuing excavation of a tunnel under the
AI-Haram Al-Sharif which endangered historic Islamic buildings and had been the
cause of clashes between Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem. He also conveyed the
Committee's strong feeling that urgent action should be taken to impress on Israel
the dangers inherent in the cause it was following without due regard for Arab
religious sensitivities. The letter was circulated as document A/36/519-S/14695.
22. In, response to the invitation of Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, a delegation of the Committee
visited Lebanon from 24 to 26 August 1981 to see at first hand the extent of the
damange done by the Israeli air and sea attacks in the month of July 1981. The
delegation noted that the damage caused was, as far as could be seen, confined to
civilian targets and appeared to be aimed at terrorizing the civilian population
and destroying its morale with little heed paid by Israel to the high cost in human
lives in attemptimg to achieve this aim.
23. The delegation was received by Mr. Yasser Arafat who stressed that the
Palestine Liberation Organization had the fullest confidence in the United Nations
and wished to achieve its objectives within its framework. He also expressed
appreciation for the work of the Committee and stressed the need for the
Committee's assistance in finding a peaceful solution within the United Nations
framework. The report of the delegation was circulated as document
A/36/521-S/14698.
24. The Committee noted that a delegation of non-aligned Member States had also
visited Lebanon at the invitation of Mr. Yasser Arafat and had arrived at
conclusions similar to those of the Committee's delegation.
25. At the invitation of the SOviet Committee of Solidarity with the Countries of
Asia and Africa, a delegation of the Committee visited the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics from 3 to 7 August 1981. The opportunity was taken to discuss
with the SOviet Committee of Solidarity ways and means of increasing co-operation
in the field of dissemination of information on the Question of Palestine.
2. Review of events relating to the Middle East
26. In reviewing events which have taken place on the Middle East question, the
Committee deems it necessary to stress again that the participation of the
Pa~estine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, is
indispensible to a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Question of
Palestine which is at the heart of the Middle East conflict. The Committee
recalled that in General Assembly resolution 34/65 B the General Assembly had noted
wit~ concern that the Camp David Accords had been concluded outside the framework
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of the United Nations and without the participation of the Palestine Liberation
Organization. Both that resolution and General Assembly resolution 35/169 B had
rejected and declared invalid those provisions of the Accords which ignored,
infringed, violated or denied the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
including the right of return, the right of self-determination and the right of
national independence and sovereignty in accordance with the Charter of the United
Nations, and which envisaged and condoned continued Israeli occupation of the
Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967.
27. The Committee noted that in spite of .this strong opposition, attempts we,re
still being made to proceed with negotiations which disregard, infringe, violate or
deny the inalienable rights of the Palestinians and hence go against the provisions
safeguarding the ri9ht~ of the Palestinian people.
28. The Committee continues to entertain the gravest concern at the action of the
Israeli authorities in the occupied Arab territories in violation of the Fourth
Geneva Convention of 1949, international law and practice, and General Assembly and
Security Council resolutions. Among these act~ons were Israel's legislation
affecting the status of Jerusalem, the establishment of new settlements, the
enlargement of previously established settlements, the Mediterranean-Dead Sea Canal
project passing through the occupied Gaza strip and the exc~vations of tunnels in
Jerusalem which endanger historic Islamic buildings. The Committee recommends that
effective steps should now be taken to put an end to these aggressive acts by
Israel which give rise to an escalation of tensions in the region.
29. The Committee recalls that, particularly on the status of Jerusalem and on the
establishment of' settlements in the occupied territories, the views of the
international community have been quasi-unanimous, and that the ne~ action taken by
Israel represent a provocative escalation of tension.
30. Similarly, the Committee regards as another provocative violation of the
decision of the Security Council, the expulsion of the mayors of Halhoul and
Al-Khalil from the occupied Arab territories and the continued refusal by Israel to
permit them to return to their homes and families to carry out the functions to
which they had been duly elected.
31. The Committee noted with appreciation and was encouraged by the ren~wed
interest being taken by the countries of the Buropean Economic Community in their
search for a just solution for the situation in the Middle East and for the
restoracion of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people.
32. The Committee also noted with satisfaction the declaration by L. I. Brezhnev,
Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet and General Secretary of the
Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, which contained a
proposal to go back to honest collective search of an all-embracing just and
realistic settlement in the Middle East. This could be done in the framework of a
specially convened international conference with the participation of all
interested parties, naturally including the Palestine Liberation Organiz~tion.
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"~
3. Attendance at conferences
33. In accordance with paragraph 3 of General Assembly resolution 35/169 C, which,
inter alia, authorized the COmmittee to send del~gations or representatives to
international conferences where such represent~tion would be considered
appropriate, the COmmittee accepted several invitations in 1981.
34. The COmmittee was represented at thel Third Islamic Summit COnference in
Mecca-Taif, Saudi Arabia from 25 to 28 ~~nuary 1981, at the COnference of Ministers
for Fbreign Affairs of the Non-Aligned C,untries in New Delhi from 9 to
13 February 1981, at the meeting of the Pale~tine National COuncil in Damascus· from
11 to 15 April 1981, at the International COnference on Sanctions against South
Africa in Paris from 20 to 27 May 1981, at the Twelfth Islamic COnference of
Ministers for Fbreign Affairs, held in Baghdad from 1 to 6 June 1981, and at the
thirty-sixth session of the COuncil of Ministers and eighteenth summit COnference
of the Organization of African Unity, held in Nairobi from 15 to 28 June 1981.
35. on each of those occasions representatives of the COmmittee took the
opportunity to make known the work of the COmmittee and its recommendations and to
discuss ways and means of promoting the implementation of those recommendations.
There was conclusive evidence of considerable understanding of, and sympathy for,
the problems of the Palestinian people as well as of interest in the work of the
COmmittee and United Nations action on the question.
4. Action taken by other organizations
36. The Committee followed with the greatest interest action taken during the year
by other organizations on questions relevant to the work of the COmmittee. Such
action included,
(a) The Eleventh Arab Summit COnference held at Amman, Jordan, from 25 to
27 November 1980, which reiterated its stand on the Palestinian question and
reaffirmed its support of PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people for the purpose of the restitution of all its rights inclUding
the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state on
its own territoy. The Conference reasserted the right of the Palestinian Arab
people, as represented by PLO, to return to its land and to determine its own
destiny and pointed out that it was PLO which alone had the right to take upon
itself the responsibility for the future of the Palestinian people. The COnference
emphasized that Security Council resolution 242 (1967) did not constitute an
appropriate basis for a solution·to the Middle East crisis and particularly the
Palestine question. It also reaffirmed its rejection of the camp David Accords.
The COnference emphasized that the liberation of Arab Jerusalem was a national duty
and a national obligation, proclaimed the rejection of all measures taken by
Israel q requested all nations of the world to adopt clear and defined positions in
opposition to the Israeli measures and resolved to break off all relations with any
country recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel or transferring its embassy
there. The Final Declaration of the Eleventh Arab Summit was circulated as
document A!35/719-S/14289.
(b) The Third Islamic COnference Summit held at Mecca-Taif, Saudi Arabia,
from 25 to 28 January 1981, which adopted a resolution entitled -The Islamic
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programme of action against the zionist enemy" and another entitled "The cause of
Palestine and the Middle East". In those resolutions the Islamic Conference
reaffirmed its stand on the question and its strong s~pport of the Palestinian
people led by the Palestine Liberation Organization, its sole legitimate
representative. The resolutions rejected any situation that would prejudice Arab
sovereignty over Jerusalem, categorically rejected the Camp David Accords and
refused to recognize separate and partial solutions to the Palestinian question.
The resolutions also invited the General Assembly of the united Nations to reject
the credentials of the Israeli delegation to the United Nations, as representative
of a Government that declares Jerusalem its capital, and invited the General
Assembly to freeze the membership of Israel in view of its failure to implement
relevant United Nations reSOlutions. These resolutions are reproduced in document
A/36/l38.
(c) The Conference of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Non-Aligned
countries held in New Delhi from 9 to 13 February 1981, which reaffirmed its stand
on the question of Palestine in the New Delhi Declaration, adopted a resolution
which is reproduced in document A/36/l16.
-------//
(d) The Commission on Human Rights which, at its thirty-seventh session held
from 2 February to 13 March 1981, adopted resolutions condemning (i) Israeli
policies and practices in Palestine and other Arab occupied territories intended to
annex parts of the occupied territories, (ii) the establishment of Israeli
settlements therein and the transfer of an alien population thereto, (ili) the
arming of settlers in the occupied territories to commit acts of violence against
Arab civilians, and (iv) the evacuation, deportation, expulsion, displacement and
transfer of Arab inhabitants of the occupied territories, and the d~nial of their
right to return.
The Commission also condemned the destruction and demolition of Arab houses,
mass arrests, collective punishment, administrative 'detention and ill-treatment of
the Arab population, the pillaging of archaeologiqal and cultural property, the
interference with religious freedom and practices, the systematic Israeli campaign
of repression,against universities in the occupied Palestinian territories and the
illegal exploitation of the natural wealth, resources an~ population of the
occupied territories.
The Commission furthermore expressed its· deep, concern at the consequences of
Israel's systematic refusal to apply to Palestinian and other Arab territories
occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem the Geneva Conventio~ of
12 August 1949 relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons -in Time of War 1/ in
all its provisions. These resolutions are reproduced in document A/36/344-S/14567.
(e) The Afro-Asian PeOple's Soli~arity Organization, which at its Thirteenth
Council Session in Aden, Democratic Yemen, from 20 to 26 March 1981, reiterated its
condemnation of the Camp Dav,id Accords, and its strong support. of the Palestine
Libetation Organization and requested Qnce more the full and unconditional
withdrawal of Israel from all occupied Palenstinian and Arab lands, including
y United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. p. 2070.
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Jerusalem. It also called on the European States to recognize the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the only representative of the Palestinian people.
(f) The Fifth Session of the Al-Quds (Jerusalem) COmmittee of the
Organization of the Islamic COnference held at Fez, Morocco, on 23 and
24 April 1981, recommended that contacts should be made with European head of
States and with the Japanese, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand head of States
with a view to convincing those countries of the need to recognize the right of the
Palestinian people to return to self-determination and to the establishment of
their own inaependent State and of the need to recognize PLO as the sole legitimate
representative of the Palestinian people. It also recommended that contacts be
made with the new United States Administration and to convey to it the Islamic
countries indignation at the policy it has been following of supporting Israel at
all levels. It further recommended that contacts be continued with the Vatican in
order to convince it to recognize PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people. The meeting confirmed the need to make the necessary contacts
with the friendly member parties of the Socialist International in order to work
for the exclusion of the Israeli Labour Party from the International. It also
recommended that relations should be strengthened between the Islamic states and
Latin American States in order to counter and end the spread of Zionist influence
in those countries. The meeting recommended that an information campaign be
launched throughout Europe and the United States with a view to securing further
official and public support for the cause of Al-Quds and palestine, and that the
third international symposium on Al-Quds be organized in washington, D.C. These
recommendations are reproduced in document A/36/379--S/l4590.
(g) The Twelfth Islamic Conference of ForeigJn llfinisters held at Baghdad, from
1 to 5 June 1981, firmly reiterated its stand on the Question of Palestine. It
decided to endeavour to secure the adoption of a new resolution by the Security
Council that explicitly provides for the inalienable national rights of the
Palestinian people, to suspend the membership of Israel in the United Nations and
its specialized agencies for its refusal to comply with relevant resolutions of the
Organization, to apply the sanctions provided for in Chapter VII of the Charter of
the United Nations to Israel, in view of its overt intransigehae and violations of
the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and Universal Declarati9n of
Human Rights, to accept the representation of' PLO in tile remaining capitals of
Islamic States as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
It also adopted a resolution 'expressing its serious concern over Israel's
project to dig a canal in occupied Palestine linking the Mediterranean to the Dead·
Sea. It strongly condemned the new Israeli aggression against the natural
resources and national inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, it called upon
States and Governments throughout the world to refrain from contributing financial,
manpower or technical assistance to the implementation of this project, and warned
institutions, companies and individuals throughout the world against participation
in the implementation of this project, which shall render them liable to the.
impositj.on of economic sanctions against them. It also adopted resolutions on
Israelf violations in Hebro'n (Al Khalil), on Israeli violations of mosques and
Islamic Holy Places in occupied Palestine, on continued settlements in and
jUdaization of the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories, on the expulsion of
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QU.W.
Paleatinian citizens from occupied Palestinian territories, on Israeli acts of
aggression against the Palestinian camps in Lebanon, on the issuance of a
Palestinian stamp, and reaffirmed the observance in all Islamic countries of
Islamic Solidarity Day with the Palestinian People (21 August every year). These
resolutions are reproduced in document A/36/42l-S/14626.
(h) i'he thirty-seventh session of the COuncil of Ministers of the
Organisation of African Unity, held at Nairobi from 15 to 28 June 1981, devoted
particular attention to the problem of Palestine and the Middle East. It adopted
one resolution on the subject by which it-condemned any separate treaty which
violated the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, it also stressed that no
peaceful solution could be found without the participation of PLO and the
recognition of the in~ienable rights of the Palestinian people, and. it commended
the work of the COmmittee on the Exercise of the ~alienable Rights of. the
Palestinian PeOple. i
B. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 2
of General Assembly resolution ES-7/3
37. In paragraph. 20f resolution ES-7/3, the General Assembly requested the
COmmittee to study thoroughly the reasons for the refusal of Israel to comply with
the relevant United Nations resolutions, particularly resolution 31/20 of
24 November 1976, in which the General Assembly endorsed the recommendation of the
Colllllittee, and with the numerous resolutions demanding the withdrawal of Israel
from the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, including Jerusalem, and
to submit the study to the Assembly.
38. In that connexion, the COmmittee recommended that a panel of three experts be
appointed to undertake the study requested by the General Assembly.
c. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 2
of General Assembly resolution 35/169 D
39. In paragraph 2 of resolution 35/169 D the General Assembly requested the
Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Unit on Palestinian Rights, in
consultation with the COmmittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People and under its guidance, continue to discharge the task detailed
in paragraph 1 of General Assembly resolution 32/40 B and paragraph 2 (b) of
resolution 34/65 D.
40. i'he Committee wishes to stress once more the importance it attaches to the
work done by the Special Unit on Palestinian Rights. It feels that the experience
of the last four years in which the Special Unit has been in existence jusitfies an
extension of its work prograllllle and its responsibilities.
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41. The Committee is convinced that the studies and pamphlets prepared and
pUblished by the Special unit are a positive contribution to a better understanding
of the question of Palestine. It feels that particular attention should be paid to
this aspect of the Special Unit's work and that every effort should be made both to
increase the number of p~phlets published annually and to reach an even wider
reading pUblic. In this connexion, the Committee suggests 'that arrangements should
be made for these pamphlets to be translated into languages other than the official
languages of the United Nations so as to facilitate their reading by those whose
languages are not among the official languages of the United Nations.
42. In accordance with paragraph 2 of resolution 34/65 D, two seminars on
Palestinian Rights were organized during 1981· by the Special Unit, the first at
Colombo from 10 to 14 August 1981 and the second at Havana from 29 August to
4 September 1981. The Co~ittee was represented at both those seminars and wishes
once more to confirm its belief that the seminars, by bringing together
academicians and other influential persons interested in the question of Palestine,
constitute ~ valuable contribution towards informing the international community of
the various facets of the question. The Committee also regards as most useful the
pUblication by the United Nations of the papers presented at these seminars, and
feels that more semiars of this nature should be held in the forthcoming biennium.
The report of these two seminars are annexed to the present report of the Committee
(annex II and III).
43. The Committee recalled that in paragraph 1 of resolution 34/65 D ·the General
Assembly had requested the Secretary-General to redesignate the Special Unit as the
Division for Palestinian Rights and to provide it with the resources necessary to
discharge the increased responsibilities assigned to it by the Assembly. It
recalled also that in paragraph 3 of resolution 35/169 D the General Assembly had
requested the Secretary-General to keep under constant review the question of the
strengthening of the Special Unit on Palestinian Rights. The Committee hoped that
the Special Unit would be further strengthened in order to discharge any expanded
programme of work that the General Assembly might entrust to it.
44. The Committee observed that th~ response to the invitation to observe the
International Day of SOlidarity continued to be enthusiastic and, consequently,
recommended that the observance of SOlidarity Day should follow the same pattern in
1981. It is expected that many Governments will once more observe the
International Day of SOlidarity with the Palestinian People in an appropriate
manner.
45. The Committee also noted with satisfaction that the requests contained in
paragraphs 5 and 7 of General Assembly resolution 34/65 D had been complied with,
that a series of United Nations commemorative postage stamps on Palestinian Rights
had been issued in January19al and that a photograPhic display has been set up at
United Nations Headquarters gesigned to keep visitors informed of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people.
46. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Department of Public
Information had produced a poster emphasizi~g the right of the Palestinian people
to return to their homes.
-13-
47. It is the intention of the Committee to make wider use of these and other
display materials on suitable occasions, particularly during the seminars and away
from Headquarters.
48. The Committee was most appreciative of the action of the SOlidarity Committee
of the German Democratic Republic which, with the co-operation of the Committee
generously produced a calendar for 1982 which had as its theme the rights of the
Palestinian people.
-14-
V. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
49. The Committee remains convinced that positive action by the Security Council
on the Committee1s recommendations would create the necessary conditions for a just
and lasting peace sinc~ these recommendations contain the basic principles relating
to the problem of Palestine within the Middle East situation. These
recommendations have been repeatedly endorsed by the General Assembly at its
thirty-first session and all subsequent sessions. The Committee, therefore,
unanimously decided once more to reiterate the validity of the recommendations,
which are annexed to the present report (~nex I).
50. The Committee recommends that the General Assembly should, with stronger
emphasis, again urge the Security Council to take positive and urgent action on
those recommendations which have repeatedly been brought to its attention. In
doing so the Committee recommends that the Security Council should be guided
constantly by the following basic principles relating to the problem of Palestine
within the Middle East situation:
(a) The question of Pal~stine is at the heart of the problem of the Middle
East and consequently no solution to the Middle East problem can be envisaged
without taking into account the rights of the Palestinian peopleJ
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to
return to their homes, and to self-determination, independence and national
sovereignty would contribute to a solution of the crisis in the Middle EastJ
(c) The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with all other
parties on the basis of General Assembly resolution 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX), is
indispensable in all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East
undertaken under the auspices of the United NationsJ
(d) The inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and the
obligation which devolves on Israel to withdraw completely and quickly from all
territory so occupied.
51. The Committee wishes to stress in particular that, at the seventh emergency
special session, held at Headquarters, New York from 22 to 29 July 1980, the
General Assembly by an overwhelming majority had strongly endorsed the right of the
Palestinian people to establish its own independent sovereign State.
52. The Committee once more draws the attention of the General Assembly to its
considered opinion that all agreements and treaties that could affect the future of
the Palestinian people, its inalienable rights and the status of the occupied
Palestinian territories, which ignore, infringe on, violate or deny the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people or are negotiated without the participation of the
Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,
contravene General Assembly resolutions and have no validity.
-15-
53. 'J'he Committee lays great stress on the importance of a wider understanding of
the just cause of the Palestinian people as a major contribution towards an
equitable, lasting solution of the question of Palestine. ~1e Committee
consequently feels ~~at it should continue its efforts to enhance this
understanding so as to encourage the implementation of its rec01l\1llendations whose
objective is to enable the Palestinian people to attain its inalienable rights and
to achieve peace in the Middle East, with due consideration of the concerns of all
the parties.
"
-lIG-
ANNEX I
Recommendations of the COmmittee endorsed by the
General Assembly at its thirty-first session!!·
I. BASIC CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDE~INF.S
59. The question of palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and,
consequently, the COmmittee stressed its belief that no solution in the Middle Fast
can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate aspirations
of the Palestinian people.
60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to
their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence
and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the full
implementation of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and
final settlement of the Middle East crisis.
61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative
of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties, on the basis of
General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is indispensable in all
efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which are held under the
auspices of the united Nations.
62. The Committee recalls the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligation for
complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so occupied.
63. The COmmittee considers that it. is the duty and the responsibility of all
concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights.
64. The COmmittee recomends an expanded and more influential role by the united
Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine
and in the implementation of sU~h a solution. The Security COuncil, in particul'ar,
should take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of
their right to return to their homes, lands and property. The committee,
furthermore, urges the Security council to promote action towards a just solution,
taking into account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter of the united
Nations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis. of the numerous
resolutions of the united Nations, after due consideration of all the facts,
proposals and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that the
Committee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation of
the exercise of the inalienable rights of· the Palestinian people.
!I See Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-second Session,
Supplement NO. 35 (A/32/35), Annex I.
-17-
..--------------..--------:-~..------------_-....II. THE RIGHT OF JmTURN
The security Council should request the itlmediate implementation of its
resolution 237 (1967) and that such imple~entation should not be related
to any other condition;
The resources of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
and/or of the O'1ited Nations 'Relief and Works 1lJgency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be
employed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved in
the resettlement of those returning to their homes. These agencies could
also assist, in co-operation with the host countries and the Palestine
Liberation Organization, in the id~ntification of the d~splaced
Palestinians.
(i)
(H)
(i) While the first phase is being implemented, the United Nations in
co-operation wLth the states directly involved, and the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the interim representative of the Palestinian
entity, should proceed to make the necessary arrangements to enable
Palestinians displaced between 19~8 and 1967 to exercise their right to
return to their homes and property, in accordance ~ith the relevant
united Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly resolution
194 (IU);
(ii) Palestinians not choosing to return to their homes should be paid just
and equitable compensation as p~ovided for in resolution 194 (111).
-18-
phase one
Phase two
68. The first phase involves the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommends that:
66. The natural and inalienable right of Palestinians to return to their homes is
recognized by resolution 194 (111), which the General Assembly ~as reaffirmed
almost every year since its adoption. This right was also unanimously recognized
by the Security Council in its resolution 237 (1967); the time for the urgent
implementation of these resolutions is long overdue.
67. Without prejudice to the right of all Palestinians to return to their homes,
lands and property, the Committee consider~ that the programme of implementation,
of the exercise of this right may be carried out in two phases:
69. The second phase deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends that:
III. THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION, NATIONAL
INDEPENDEI«:E AND SOVEREIGNTY
70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to self-determination, national
independence and sovereignty in palestine. The Committee considers that the
evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in violation of the principles
of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the united Nations is a
conditio sine qua non for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
rights of Palestinians to their homes and property and with the establishment of an
independent Palestinian entity, the Palestinian people will be able to exercise its
rights to self-determination and to decide its form of government without external
interference.
71. The Committee'also feels that the united Nations has an historical duty and
responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the economic
developmen~ and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
72. TO these ends, the Committee recommends that:
(a) A time-table should be established by the Security Council for the
complete withdrawel b¥ Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in 1967~
such withdrawal should be completed no later than 1 June 1977~
(b) The security Council may need to provide temporary peace-keeping forces
in order to facilitate the process of withdrawal~
(c) Israel should be requested by the security Council to desist from the
establishment of new settlements and to withdraw during this period from
settlements established since 1967 in the occupied territories. Arab property and
all essential services in these areas should be maintained intact;
(d) Israel should also be requested to abide scrupulously by the prov1s10ns
of the Geneva Convention relative t~ the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949, and to declare, pending its speedy withdrawal from these
territories, its recognition of the applicability of that Convention;
(e) The evacuated territo~ies, with all property and services intact, should
be taken over by the united Nations, which with the co-operation of the League of
Arab States, will subsequently hand over these evacuated areas to the Palestine
Liberation organization as the representative of the Palestinian people;
(f; The united Nations shQuld, if necessary, assist in establishing
communications between Gaza and the West Bank;
(g) AS soon as the independent Palestinian entity has been established, the
united Nations, in co-operation with the States directly involved arid the
Palestinian entity, should, taking into account General ASsembly resolution
3375 (XXX), make furtheJ: arrangements for the full implementation of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding
problems and the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region, in
accordance with all relevant .united Nations resolutions;
(h) The united Nations should provide the economic and technical assistance
necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity~
-19-
ANNEX II
Feport of the third united Nations Seminar on the Question of
Palestine held at Colombo from 10 to 14 August 1981
1. In accordance with the terms of General ASsembly resolution 34/65 D, the third
united Nations Seminar on the question of Palestine, with its central theme, nthe
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People n, took place at the Bandaranaike
Memorial International Conference Hall, Colombo from 10 to 14 August 1981. Seven
sessio~s were held at which 11 panelists presented papers on various aspects of the
question of Palestine.
2. The united Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was represented by a delegation consisting of
Mr. Massamba Sarr~ (senegal); Chairman, Mr. Gerhard Schroter (German Democratic
RepUblic); Mr. Vijay l~mbiar (India); Mr. Henri Rasolondraibe (Madagascar);
Qazi Shaukat Fareed (pakistan) and Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi (palestine Liberation
Organization). Mr. V. Nambiar acted as Rapporteur.of the seminar.
3. The opening session of the Seminar, on 10 August 1981, was addressed by
Mr. Tyronne ~rnando, kting Minister for 'R>reign Affairs of Sri Lanka who, in
welcoming the participants, noted the useful role played by these seminars in
acquainting the public uith the facts surrounding the question of Palestine, and
suggested that the Committee on the Exercise.of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People should examine how th~ papers presented at the Seminar could be
given the widest possible dissemination through the information system of the
united Nations. He also drew at~antion to the GOvernment of Sri Lanka's
recognition.of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and its full
support to the Palestinian cause at all international forums where Sri Lanka had,
along with other States, worked hard for the participation of the Palestine
Liberation organization in the processes for the settlement of the question of
Palestine. At the same .session, Mr. Massamba Sarr~, Chairman of the Committee,
gave a brief account of~the Committee and its work and stressed the impOrtance
which was placed on publicity for the question of Palestine and on the" necessity to
ensure that all facts surrounding the issue reached the public. Mr. Eaisal Aweida,
the Special Representative of Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Palestine Liberation organization, thanked the COmmittee on the
Exercise of the Inalienaple Rights of the Palestinian People for the interest it
has been taking in promoting the just cause of the Palestinian people and asked
the committee to impress upon the international community the need to find ways
and means of implementing united Nation~ re~olutions on the QUestion of Palestine.
At the sixth session, Mr. Aweida conveyed to ~he Seminar a message from Chairman
Yasser Arafaton behalf of the Executive Comm~ttee of the palestine Liberation
Organization. At the closing session Mr. M. H. Mohamed, Minister of Transport,
made a statement on behalf of the GOvernment of Sri Lanka.
-20-
4. Five panels were established to consider different aspects of the central
theme, "The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people". These panels, the
panelists and titles of the papers presented were as follows:
A. Panel 1. FUndamental Rights of the Palestinian People
Dr. M. S. Agwani (India») Dr. Stanislaw Matosek (Poland); Dr. FOuard Moughrabi
(United States of ~erica) presented the following papers entitled "The FUndamental
Rights of the Palestinian people", "Certain Aspects of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People" and "The Palestinian Right to Self Determination",
respectively.
B. Panel 2. Legal Issues in the Palestine Question
Dr. TUrkkaya Ataov (TUrkey) and Dr. Mohammed Akbar Kherad (Afghanistan) presented
papers entitled "The use of Palestinian waters and International Law", and "The
National identity and the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people"
respectively.
C. panel 3. Human Rights and Palestine
Mrs. Salwa Abu Khadra (palestinian); Dr. Hassan Haddad (United States); and
Dr. Sardar Mohammad (Pakistan) presented papers entitled "The Palestinian QUestion
and the Human Rights of the Palestinian Child"; "FUndamental Rights of the
Palestinians: the Primal Crime and the ~biguities of Chosenness" and "Restoration
of Human Rights of the Palestinian People: the Role of the united Nations and the
Super-Powers" respectively.
D. ~~. The Palestine Issue and Asian Public Opinion
Dr. Abdel Malik All Abmed Auda (Egypt) and Mr. Mervyn de Silva (Sri Lanka)
presented papers entitled "The Question of Palestin~-and Asian Public opinion" and
"Old Images, New perceptions - Opin~on Trends in Sri-Lanka" respectively.
E. PanelS. The Nature of the Palestine Liberation Organization
Mr. Afif Safiyeh (palestinian) presented a paper entitled "The PLO: the Challenge
and the Response".
An introductory statement on Israeli settlement policies in the OCcupied Arab
Territories was also presented by Professor Ebuad Moughrabi (united states) as a
basis for discussion.
5. The exchange of views with which each meeting was concluded indicated that .
there was general agreement amo~gst the participants over a wide range of issues
relating to the restoration' of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
The discussions covered all aspects of the rights of the Palestinian people and the
manner in which they were. systematically and continuously violated by Israel. It
was agreed that the question of Palestine was at the core of the Middle East
problem and was the result of an accumulation of illegalities. This was a concern
not merely of the Palestinian people, but of all the Arab people as well as the
people of all countries of the world in terms of the moral, political and human
issues arising therefrom.
-21-
6. In view of the depth of analysis contained in the papers presented at the
Seminar, and in accordance with established practice, they will be published by the
united Nations along with the report of the Seminar as a contribution to a wider
understanding of the question of Palestine.
7. In discussing the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people the Seminar
felt that a near-universal consensus had been achieved in the community of nations
concerning fundamental aspects of the question of Palestine. Attention was drawn
particularly to General Assembly resolution 3210 (XXIX) which considered the
Palestinian Peiople to be the principal p~rty to the question of Palestine and the
palestine Liberation organization as its representative. This resolution, which
duly recognized the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, had been adopted
by a large majority'o; the Member States of the united Nations. Realization of an
international consensus· was a matter of time since the historical process had
already been set in motion and the moral and diplomatic balance of forces had
shifted in favour of the Palestinian people. It was further pointed out that mere
rhetorical support of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination was
no longer an adequate response to the situation. What was required was concrete
action by countries to strongly urge the supporters of Israel, especially the
united States, to compel Israel to conform to the w~ll of the international
community.
8. The failure of successive American administrations to accept the international
consensus had encouraged Israel to pursue further its expansionist policies, but
enlightened liberal opinion in the united States was now beginning to raise serious
questions about the nature of Americals relationship with the State of Israel.
Israelis colonial practices in the occupied Palestinian and other. Arab territories
as well as its wanton aggression against other Arab countries such as Lebanon,
Iraq, Syrian Arab Republic, etc., are contributing to its isolation in the
international community and to the erosion of its support in the united States.
9. The Seminar focused on the sad plight of the Palestinian children who were
among the most seriously affected by the Israeli policies in the occupied
palestinian territories. Specific instances of maltreatment of children by the
occupation forces were highlighted along with an account of the manner in which the
Israeli authorities interfered with the system of education. The Seminar agreed
that the united Nations had a special responsibility to ensure that Palestinian
children were not deprived of their most elementary human rights and dignity.
10. The participants in the seminar agreed that th~ institutionalisation and
practice of discrimination on the basis of race and religio~ conducted by the State
of Israel against the people of Palestine is contrary to the Charter of the united
Nations and to the norms of the international community.
11. The Seminar agreed that there should be no abridgement of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people as defin~d in relevant united Nations resolutions
and as accepted by the vast majority of the international community nor any
deviation from the fundamental principles which the international community had
-22-
reaffirmed as the basis of a just and lasting settlement of the question of
Palestine. These inalienable rights and fundamental principles are:
(a) The right of the Palestinians to return to their homes and property from
which they had been displaced and uprooted~
(b) The right to selfoodetermination without external interference and the
right to national independence and sovereignty~
(c) The right to establish an independent State-in Palestine.
(d) The question of Palestine is at the heart of the problem of the Middle
East and no solution to that problem can be envisaged without taking into account
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people~
(e), The implementation of these inalienable rights of the Palestinian people
will contribute to a final solution of the Middle East crisis;
(f) The participation of the Palestine Liberation organization, the
representative of the palestinian people, on -an equal footing with all other
parties on the basis of General Assembly resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 NOvember 1974
and 3375 (XXX) of 10 November 1975 is indispensable to all efforts, deliberations
and conferences on the Middle East which takes place under the auspices of the
united Nations;
(g) The inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and the
consequent obligation for Israel to withdraw completely and speedily from all
territory so occupied.
12. The Seminar noted that Israel's arrogant defiance of united Nations
resolutions, international law and world public opinion had assumed intolerable
proportions. Its decision to annex Jerusalem and to move its capital to that City,
its unprovoked 'attack on Iraq and its indiscriminate bombing of Lebanon which had
resulted in a large scale loss of life were condemned QY the international
community inclUding most of the countries who are regaided as Israel's closest
friends and supporters. The people of Lebanon as well as the inhabitants of the
Palestinian camps in southern Lebanon have long suffered from the continued
aggression and barbarous attack~ launched by Israel. TO put an end to Israel's
intransigence, the Security Council was strongly urged to consider recourse action
under Chapter VII of the united Nations Charter. Such action was required in view
of Israel's persistence in ignoring the appeals to reasons that have been addressed
to it from all quarters. Israel's action was not only a serious pbstacle to a
peaceful settlement in the Middle East but a most serious threat{to international
peace and security. one reason for Israel's intransigence was ~he moral, material
and political support it received from countries such as the untted States. The'
efforts by the united states to achieve a partial settlement outside the united
Nations framework and without the participation of the Palestine Liberation
organization as well as the denial of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people have further aggravated Israel's intransigent attitude.
-23-
I
13. The opinion was expressed that, by furnishing sophisticated weapons and
equipment to Israel, the united States of America was responsible for Israelis
aggressive policies which had been internationally condemned. Israelis obvious
motivation for its action was the consolidation of the expansion of occupation
tolarge portions of the area, in violation of internationally established
principles and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. TO accede to such
a situation would be to accept a change in the norms of international r~lations and
to jeopardize international peace and security.
14. The seminar was convinced that the process of changing the demographic
composition of the occupied territories through the establishment of
settlements/colonies, the construction of the Mediterranean - Dead sea canal, the
exploitation of scarc~ water resources for the benefit of the Israeli settlers at
the cost of untold hardship to the Palestinian inhabitants, were all clearly
intended to achieve complete annexation of the occupied territories in violation of
the Pburth Geneva COnvention of 1949, a/ and of united Nations resolutions.
Contrary to Israelis contention, these-actions could not create a right.
15. The Seminar considered specific instances of the hardships resulting from the
establishment of settlements/colonies in the illegally occupied Arab territories or
confiscated lands owned by Arabs. Attention was drawn, particularly, to the grave
situation that had arisen through the exploitation, by Israel, of Palestinian water
resources for the benefit of Israel and of the populations of the newly established
settlements at the expense of the Arab inhabitants. The use of Palestinian waters
was linked with Israelis escalated designs'for complete annexation of the occupied
territories, and was categorized as a clear and gross violation of the FOurth
Geneva Oonvention of 1949.
16. Several participants observed that the Camp David Accords represented a denial
of the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people and the breakdown of
this framework represented the failure of attempts to determine by unilateral or
partial agreements the future of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
territories ~ccupied since 1967 by Israel. NO state had the right to undertake any
actions, measures or negotiations that could affect the future of the Palestinian
people, its inalienable rights and the occupied Palestinian territories without the
participation of the Palestine r~beration Organization on an equal footing.
17. Great stress was placed by the Semina~ particularly on the importance attached
to presenting to the international public all the facts relevant to the question of
Palestine in order that the issues would be viewed-from a correct·perspective.
18. It was recognized that considerable diffiCUlty existed in overcoming the
obstacles placed by vested interests in the dissemination of accurate information.
These obstacles were mainly the result of a distinct bias against the Palestinian
people and open sympathy for Israel shown by the major international news and media
networks controlled by Western countries ',upon which many of the countries of the
Third World had to rely for the international news circulated through their own
press•
!I United Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. 75, NO. 973, p. 287.
-24-
19. The Seminar was convinced that in order to counter the political and
historical untruths and distortions which have so far misled world public opinion
and accounted for misunderstandings on the situation in Palestine, every effort
should be made to step up the widespread dissemination of information and to ensure
reliable reporting and balanced cove~,age as a major contribution to the achievement
of a just solution of the problem of 'Palestine.
20. The participants agreed that Asian public opinion is a valuable pillar of
support for the palestinian cause which forms part of the political ideals and
objectives which Asian public opinion believes.
21. OVer the years there have been important developments which have resulted in
the strengthening of relations between the Arab and other Asian states, and a
positive evolution of the attitudes towards the question of Palestine. There has
also been a gradual growth in bilateral relations between the Palestinian people
represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the people and
GOvernments of Asian states. The growing effectiveness of information
dissemination on the Palestine question through the adoption of scientific mass
communication methods was a positive step which was evident in the response and the
support emanating from all sectors and shadea of Asian public opinion for the
Palestinian cause. The participants hoped that the media in Asian countries would
give more attention to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in order to
enable the people of those countries to better understand and appreciate the basic
elements of the question of Palestine.
22. It was emphasized that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People and the united Nations Special unit on Palestinian
Rights, and the Department of Public Information of the secretariat, had an
important role to play in the widest possible dissemination of information and in
moulding public opinion through the presentation of all the facts pertaining to the
question of Palestine.
23. The Seminar was provided with details of the origins and growth as well as the
organizational structure of the Palestine Liberation Organization and its responses
to the vicissitudes of political development in the Middle East. The Seminar noted
that the Palestine Liberation Organization had unified a geographically and
demographically dispersed Palestinian people and was channeling their struggles
toward .a common goal, the right of return, self-determination and independent
statehood. The Seminar noted that an increasing number of countries had recognized
the Palestine Liberation Organization and that besides enjoying observer status in
the united Nations and its specialized agencies and being a full member in the
League of Arab States, in the COnference of Islamic States and th~Movement of the
NOn-Aligned countries, all socialist countries and a majority of·~he Third World
countries as well as a member of West European countries had officially recognized
the Palestine Liberation Organization. Sucessive Presidents of/the European .
COuncil of Ministers, had met with the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation
Orgnization as a party directly concerned in.any endeavour for the solution of the
Middle Fast crisis. It was noted also that a vast majority of States had allowed
the Palestine Liberation organization to o~en information and political offices in
their capitals. !
24. The Seminar concluded its work with an expression of appreciation by the
participants to the GOvernment of Sri Lanka for its assistance and co-operation in
permitting the Seminar to be held at Colombo and for the hospitality and courteous
services extended to them.
-25-
ANNEX III
Report of the !burth united Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine,
held at Havana from 31 August to 4 september 1981
1. In accordance with the terms of General Assembly resolution 34/65 D, the
Pburth united Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, with its central theme
"The Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People" took place at the Palacio de las
Convenciones, Havana, from 31 August to 4 september 1981. Eight meetings were held
at which fifteen panerists presented papers on various aspects of the Question of
pa}estine.
2. The united Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was represented by a delegation consisting of
Mr. Massamba Sarr~, (senegal), Chairman: Mr. parid zarif (Afghanistan),
Vice Olairman: Mr. Andreas V. Mavrommatis (Cyprus), and Mr. zehdi L. Terzi
(palestine Liberation Organization). Mr. Mavrommatis acted as Rapporteur of the
seminar.
3. The opening session was attended by Mr. Jesus Montan~ oropesa, alternate
member of the POlitical Bureau and Chief of the Department of International Affairs
of the Communist party of Cuba who represented President Fidel Castro Rus.
4. 'The opening session of the seminar, on 31 August 1981, was addressed by
Mr. Jos~ Raul Viera Linares, Acting Minister for ,R)reign Affairs of Cuba, who, on
behalf of his Government, welcomed the holding of the Seminar in CUba since it was
devoted to one of the most noble causes of contemporary history because of the long
suffering of the Palestinian people. He added that the promotion of this type of
Seminar reaffirmed the priority accorded by the united Nations General Assembly and
the movement of NOn-Aligned COuntries to the realization of the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people. He, stressed also the importance of increasing the
solidarity of the international community with Palestine and of bringing to
international pUblic opinion full knowledge of the facts of the tragedy, of the
Palestinian people.
5. At the same session, Mr. Massamba Sarr~, Chairman of the Committee, gave a
brief account of the COmmittee and its work and stressed tQe importance of ensuring
that all facts surrounding the question of Palestine reached the pUblic so that a
p~oper understanding of the issues would be achieved. A.message from
Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organization, was conveyed to the seminar. by Mr. Abdullah Abdullah, his special
representative to the Seminar.
6. At the opening session of the Seminar, a minute of silence was observed in
memory of tWO distinguished Latin American leaders recently killed in air
accidents: the president of Ecuador, Jaime Rold6s ~uilera, and the Commander of
the National Guard and former Head of State of Panama, General anar TOrrijos. The
Seminar commenced-its next session with the observance of one minute of silence in
memory of the late Mohammad Ali Rajai and Mohammad Javad Bohanar, president and
-26-
Prime Minister of Iran, respectively, news of whose tragic deaths had been ~eceived
officially that afternoon. "
7. The closing session was addressed by Mr. Vecino Alegret, Minister of Higher
Education of Cuba.
8. Six panels were established to consider different aspects of the central tneme
"the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people". These panels, the panelists
and titles of the papers presented were as follows:
A. Panel 1: Israeli Settlement Policies in the OCcupied Arab Territories
Dr. JanetAbu-LUghod (united states) and Mr. Raja Shihadeh (palestinian) presented
papers entitled "Israeli settlements in OCcupied Arab Land: conquest to COlony"
and "Analysis of the Legal Structure of Israeli Settlements in the OCcupied West
Bank of Jordan" respectively.
B. panel 2: Human Rights and Palestine
!
Dr. Muhammad HaUaj (palestinian), Dr. Julio.prado Valleju ~Ec:uador) and
Dr. John Quigley (united states) presented papers entitled "Political Aborticide:
Israel's Palestinian Policy", "Human Rights and Palestine" and "HUman Rights and
palestine: Recent Developments" respectively.
C. Panel 3: The Nature of the palestine Liberation Organization
Dr. Bayan NUwaihed al Hout (palestinian) presented a paper entitled "The Nature of
the Palestine Liberation organization: The Identity".
D. panel 4: Legal Issues in the Palestine Question
Dr. Ibrahim Abu-LUghod (palestinian) and Dr. HoracioSevilla Borja (Ecuador)
presented papers entitled "Retrieving Palestinian National Rights" and "SOme
Considerations on the Establishment of a Palestinian State" respectiv~ly.
E. Panel 5: The Palestine Issue and Latin American rublie opinion
F. panel 6: FUndamental Rights of the Palestinian People
Or ~ Humberto Diaz-casanueva (Chile), Mr. David Gilmour (united Kingdom) and
Lic. Jose·"Antonio GarciaLara (Cuba) presC'lnted papers entitled "Impli,cations of the
Process of Implementing the FUndamental Rights of the Palestinian people", "The
FUndamental Rights of the Palestinian People" and "The Rights of the Palestinian
people" respectively.
-21-
10. In view of the depth of analysis contained in the papers presented at the
Seminar, and in accordance with established practice, they will be published by the
united Mations along with the report of the Seminar as a contribution to a wider
understanding of the Palestine Question.
9. It was clear from the exchange (Jf views that there was consensus among the
participants on the main points raised by the panelists as well as over a wide
range of issues relating to the restoration of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people. The discussions covered all aspects of the rights of the
Palestinian people and the manner in which they were consistently violated by
Israel. It was agreed that the situation in Palestine was not merely the concern
of the Palestinian people and the Arab nation but involved the entire international
community, insofar as it constitutes a threat to international peace and security,
and is a violation of internationally accepted principles.
11. The Seminar noted that the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people had
been defined and reaffirmed by the united Nations and other organizations. It has
been Israel's intransigent policy, recently intensified, and the support it
receives from other States, particularly the united States, which placed obstacles
in the way of full attainment of those rights. It was suggested that the
international community should take action in accordance with chapter VII of the
Charter of the united Nations in view of Israel's violations of international law
including persistent violations of Article 25 of the Charter.
13. The Seminar was convinced that any partial agreement arrived at outside the
framework of the united Nations which sought to find a solution which affected .the
rights of the Palestinian people or the occupied Palestinian territories had no
validity unless full recognition was given to the inalienable rights of thePalestinian
people and the palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate
representative of the Palestinian people. In this connexion, there was consensus
among the panelists that the Camp David Accords represented a violation of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as defined in united Nations
resolutions and that, to that extent, they were invalid.
12. The Seminar stressed the importance of the role played by the united Nations
in finding a just solution to the problem of Palestine. It was recognized that
although much had been done by the international community to support the
Palestinian people in its struggle to attain and freely exercise its inalienable
rights, yet the united Nations should continue and intensify support to the
Palestinian people and ensure that the principles of the Charter and the
resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council were not violated. It
should also assist in the preservation of the rights of the Palestinian people and
take timely measures to forestall violation of those rights and to prevent Israel's
genocidal aggression which interferes with the implementation of Palestinian rights
and thus affects international peace and security. This was the transcendent
respOnsibility of the united Nations and of Member States.
14. The seminar was in complete agreement on the fundamental issues concerning the
rights of the Palestinian people as defined in united Nations resolutions and was
of the opinion that no deviation should be permitted from these rights. Among
these rights were:
-28-
(a) The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination without
external interference and the rights to national independence and sovereignty in
Palestine~
(b) The right to territorial integrity and national unity;
(c) The right of the Palestinians to attain their legitimate aspirations;
(d) The right of the palestinian people to establish their own independent
and sovereign state in Palestine;
(e) The right of the Palestinians to 'return to their ancestral homes and
property from which they have been forcibly displaced and uprooted;
(f) The right of the Palestinians in the ,occupied Palestinian territories to
permanent sovereignty over, their natural resources;
(g) The right of the Palestinian people to free development.
15. It was suggested that to enhance its ef~ectiveness in safeguarding these
rights, the international community should be unswerving in its commitment to the
attainment of those rights by the Palestinian people, should give moral and
material assistance to the Palestinian people in their struggle, including armed
struggle, for national liberation, and should call for mandatory sanctions to be
applied against Israel as an aggressor state.
16. The Seminar agreed that Israeli violations of the human rights of the
palestinian people living in the occupied Palestinian territories had been
persistent, gross, systematic and indiscrimin~te. There was no evidence to suggest
that they were temporary or sporadic aberrations likely to diminish or cease. On
the contrary, there were sufficient grounds to believe that Israel's disregard for
Palestinian human rights was a manifestation of its ultimate intentions and a
strategic commitment in its oppressive relation'ship to 'the- Palestinian people. The
Seminar heard a detailed analysis of Israeli aims and motivations. It also heard a
report on the recent (July 1981) attacks by Israel on ~eirut and Palestinian
refugee camps and Lebanese civilians in southern Lebanon, the conclusion drawn from
which was that there was a methodical genocidal onslaught.
17. The participants in the Seminar were of the opinion that in occupied Palestine
denial of human rights formed part of a broader denial, that of the Palestinian
people's very existence as a natio~. Violations of individual human rights,
therefore, had to be viewed within the larger context of the denial of national
existence. i
18. A persistent ~eature had been an effort on the part of the,fGovernment of
Israel to eradicate almost all manifestations of Palestinian national existence.
Israel's ability to employ highly developed technology in its efforts to displace
and subjugate the Palestinians had facilitated economic domination over them - a
domination that had significantly increased the seriousness of the more traditional
forms of human rights deprivations. These deprivations had been amply documented
by international agencies and non-governmental organizations. NOt only in the
tarritories occupied in 1967 have 'these violations of human rights been taking
place at an accelerated rate, but recently there have been mounting violations of
-29-
rights of Palestinians within the areas Israel has' occupied since 1948. Many
specific examples of these violations were referred to in the discussion. The
seminar was particularly concerned at the information that a 1980 survey of Israeli
Jewish high school students had found that 64 per cent believed that Palestinians
in Israel did not deserve equal rights which was indicative of racist
indoctrination.
19. The participants in the Seminar expressed their op1n10n that the similarity
between the Israeli and SOuth African regimes should analysed and be SUbject to
special study concerning the violation of human rights, racism, and colonialism,
and the threat that both regimes constitute to international peace and security.
20. The participants at the Seminar considered it ironic that at a time when the
Government of Israel was negotiating with Egypt purportedly to accord autonomy to
palestinians in the west Bank and Gaza, additional measures had been taken to
reinforce the Zionist takeover of the West Bank and Gaza through the establishment
of new settlements/colonies and to ~uppress opposition to the occupation.
21. It was critical at such a time that international pressure should be more
effectively mobilized to protect the human and national rights of the Palestinian
people and to put an end to the existing pattern of violations daily perpetrated.
22. The participants also considered that Palestinian freedom fighters should be
accorded the status of prisoners of war. ~hey further considered that they could
not be extradited for anything done in the~r capacity as combatants.
23. Reference was made to the special relation that exists between Israel and
sever,al Latin American countries as well as to the active presence in the region of
economic, financial and military interest of international Zionism.
24. The view was expressed that sections of the ~atin American and Caribbean press
depended too much on pro-Israeli news agencies and tended to reproduce their
dispatches as received. This is prejudicial to the Palestinians since the majority
of the principal agencies are sympathetic towards Israel. Zionist strategy
depended on the manipulation of facts, men and language - by ensuring a unilateral
flow of information concerning all Middle Eastern affairs, by the hiring of
well-placed journalists ~o write anti-Palestinian items and by conveying adverse
images of the Palestinian3 as terrorists. The long term strategy baseg :on this
idea had had a definitive influence on Latin ,American public opinion. In order
that more positive results could be achieved in the efforts for the better
enlightenment of pUblic opinion in Latin America a~d the Caribbean o~ the question
of palestine, concrete measures should be taken, particularly the following:
(a) The intensification of the dissemination of information on Palestine by
the Department of Public Information of the SecretariatJ
(b) The establishment of centres for Palestinian stuqies in Latin America and
the caribbean in the countries where they do not existJ
(c) The sponsorship of seminars on the question of Palestine under the
auspices of the united Nations especially in those countries of r.atin America which
are committed to the Palestine cause or do not oppose itJ
-30-
(d) special studies to be undertaken regarding the relations between Israel
and several Latin American armed forces;
(e) The establishment of offices of the Palestine Liberation organization in
the Latin American countries where they do not exist at present;
(f) Political, technical and material support to all organizations and
regional publications which disseminate objective information on the ordeal of the
Palestinian people and its legitimate rights;
(g) A census of Palestinians and cther Arabs living in Latin American
countries.
25. A suggestion was made that a seminar on the question of Palestine especially
organized for the benefit of the United States would prove~ost be~eficial as North
American public opinion should be made aware in the clearest terms that the
international consensus on the attainment of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people and the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state in the
occupied territories would not constitute a thr~at to the existence of Israel.
26. The Seminar noted that in the 14 years that elapsed since its ille~al
occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, Israel, in defiance of the world community,
had systematically passed a large number of military orders and practised poli~ies
to facilitate the absorption of the occupied territories while at the same time
preventing the development of the Palestinian community, expelling its leaders and
attempting to subjugate it completely. Within the over-all objective, the
establishment of settlements/colonies on expropriated land and land improperly
declared state land has resulted in consolidating the occupation and in the
de facto annexation of the occupied territories. The Seminar stressed that the
occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza belong to the Palestinian people and
to nobody else. I,srael's prime motive in continuing the occupation was not
strategic but expansionist and colonialist.
27. The means used to put these po~icies into effect range from brute force and
primitive might to resource deprivation and economic sanctions. ~ough these had
been used from the beginning of the occupation in 1967 an intensification was
expected in the next few years. Already for instance, agricultural strangulation
through rigorous control of water, a scarce resource in palestine, was evident.
New Israeli settlements/colonies were given priority in access to water at the
expense of the Arab inhabitants who, when consequently deprived of their present
sources of water, were denied permission to drill new wells to replace what they
had lost. The strategy was obviously intended to compel the Arab population to
emigrate as were the tactics of confiscation of lands, the imposition of collective
punishment, and the pract~ce of torture. '
28. Specific examples were given of the manner in which Israel executed its
settlements,policy and the Seminar heard a detailed analysis of the legal structure
of the settlements based on ordinances passed at the time of the British mandate,
Jordanian laws, Israeli laws and Israeli ~ilitary orders (of which there are about
1,000 at this time) passed by the military commander of the West Bank. The Seminar
was unanimous in its view that Israel's colonial settlement policy, the demographic
changes and the changes effected in existing laws were in clear violation of
international law particularly the FOurth Geneva Convention of 1949 and were part
-31-
of Israel's designs to consolidate its illegal annexation of the occupied
territories.
30. When the Seminar considered the recent history of the Palestinian people,
reference was made by the panelists to the tremendous support which all the Arab
States rendered to the Palestinian people in order to sustain its struggle for
national liberation.
-32-
31. The Seminar concluded with the expression by the participants of their
appreciation to the Government of Cuba for its assistance and co-operation in
permitting the Seminar to be: held at Havana and for the warm hospitality, excellent
facilities and cQurteous services extended to them.
29. In considering the evolution of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
Seminar noted that it had developed from an organization which had to strive for
the recognition of its own people into an organization recognized by the Arab
States and the vast majority of the international community as the sole legitimate
representative of its people. The Seminar noted also the supreme importance of the
Palestine Liberation Organization as a unifying factor among the Palestinians and
the role it played in consolidating their sense of identity, a significant
development towards the attainment of the inalienable rights of the palestinian
people. This sense of identity accounted for the continued military steadfastness
of the Palestinians, the pragmatic relation between them and the other Arab States,
the credibility of the Palestine Liberation Organization, its recognition as the
sole legitimate representative of the Palestini~ people by the Palestinian people
itself and the international community and the steady growth of its democratic
traditions.
81-26567 0033n (E)
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I
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: THIRTY-SEVENTH SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/37/35)
UNITED NATIONS
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: THIRTY·SEVENTH SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/37/35)
UNITED NATIONS
New York, 1982
NOTE
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capitalletten combined with
fipnlL Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations documen!.
----~s;:-----.!IIfi-~"cC"'."c.·c'L"':t'?~,.._~Jl!j"""'iiii""·""'_"'1·ii!!~"'iiJll"'" "'3£&E;_.pE.·::1i_iii<.oo;_~_@.,"~~. ~~~~~iIIII!eP.ng~--~1!"lir-;s~h/~P~.~.::nc~h~)~~-
"!.... ,!.lIi..~iMi&ii & •
[12 October 1982)
CONTENTS
Paragraphs
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ••••••••••••••••••••• !I ••••••••• O •••••••••••• ., •••••••••• y
11. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Ill. ORGANIZATION OF WORK ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
I. INTRODUCTION ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group •••••••••••••••
2
3
3
5
3
3
1 - 4 1
5 - 7
8 - 18
8 - 9
10 - 13
14 - 18
19 - 114 •••••••••••••••••••••• It ••• ,
A. Election of officers . .
ACTION TAKEN BY '!'HE COMMIT'rEE
B. Participation in the work of the Committee ••••••••••
IV.
A. Action in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of
General Assembly resolution 36/120 A ••••••••••• ¥ •••• 19 - 102 5
1. Review of the situation relating to the question
of Palestine and efforts to implement the
recommendations of the Committee •••••••"•••••••••
2. Reaction to' developments in the occupied
territories •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
3. Attendance at conferences •••••••••••••••••••••••
4. Action taken by other organizations •••••••••••••
B. Action taken in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of
General Assembly resolution 36/120 B ••••••••••••••••
c. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 2 of
General Assembly resolution 36/120 C ••••••••••••••••
V. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ••••••••••••••••••••••••
19 - 23 5
24 - 97 5
98 - 100 15
101 - 102 15
103 - 111 18
112 - 114 19
115 - 119 20
ANNEXES
I. Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly at
its thirty-first session •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 21
11. Report of the Fifth United Nations Seminar on the Question of
Palestine held at United Nations Headquarters, New York
from 15 to 19 March 1982 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 24
-ii.i~
CONTENTS (continued)
Ill. Report of the Sixth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine
held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, Malta,
from 12 to 16 Ap~il 1982 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 31
IV. Report of the seventh United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine
held at the centre International d'Echanges, Dakar, Senegal,
from 9-13 Au/gust 1982 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 42
,---
I
:-ivLETTER
OF TRANSMITTAL
22 September 1982
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 3 of resolution 36/120 A.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Massamba SARRE
Chairman of the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar
Secretary-General of the United Nations
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People, originally composed of 20 members and later enlarged to 23, 11 was
established by the General Assembly in resolution 3376 (XXX) on 10 November 1975.
Its first report ~ was submitted to the General Assembly at its thirty-first
session and contained specific recommendations proposed by the Committee to enabl~
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as previously recognized
and defined by the General Assembly.
2. The Committee's recommendations were first endorsed by the General Assembly at
its thirty-first session as a basis for the solution of the question of Palestine.
3. In its reports to the General As~~mbly at each of its subsequent se~'\:>ns, y
the Committee retained its recommendations unchanged. On each occasion '~:'~':.~y were
again endorsed by the General Assembly with renewed emphasis. After a thorough
discussion of the Committee's report and an appraisal of the situation in
Palestine, the General Assembly also reviewed and renewed the mandate of the
Committee.
4. However, despite repeated urgings by the Committee, its recommendations have
not yet been acted upon by the Security Council; neither have they been
implemented. The situation in the occupied territories arising from Israeli
practices remains extremely tense with frequent eruptions of violence and armed
conflict. The latest Israeli i"vasion into Lebanon caused enormous loss of life
and property.
-1-
... !ilr1i!!ll!!i!i!!ILi.. ¥L j '" ,. ..·-· ---·-=,;;::;O ..:..E:.'~.. ..'
!I. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
JS. In specific terms the present mandate of the Committee was defined in
~para9raphs 2 and 3 of General Assembly resolution 36/120 A, paragraphs 2 and 3 of
~! resolution 36/120 B and paragraph 2 of resolution 36/120 C•
.~ I 6. By those paragraphs the General Assembly requested and alJthorized the
~ Committee:
'I!
.~
~ (a) To keep the situation relating to the question of Palestine under review
~ and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or to the Security
~! Council, as appropriate,
\!
(b) To continue to exert all efforts to promote the implementation of its
recommendations, to send delegations or representatives to international
conferen~es where such representation was considered appropriate and to report
thereon to the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session and thereafter,
(c) To act as Preparatory Committee for the International Conference on the
Question of Palestine, to hold sessions particularly for this purpc)se and to make
recommendations regarding, inter alia, the site, scheduling of and participation in
the Conference, and its provisional agenda.
7. By virtue of paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 36/120 B, the Secretary-General
was requested:
(a) To ensure that the Special Unit on Palestinian Rights continued to
discharge the tasks detailed in paragraph 1 of General Assembly resolution 32/40 B
and paragraph 2 (b) of resolution 34/65 D in consultation with the Committee and
under its guidance,
(b) To provide the Special Unit with the necessary additional resources to
accomplish its tasks and to expand its work programme, inter alia, through:
(i) The organization of seminars in North America in addition to the regional
seminars,
(ii) More widespread dissemination of its publications in all the United
Nations official languages,
(iii) Translation of those publications into languages other than the official
languages of the Unit.ed Nations,'
-2-
r Ill. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A. Election of officers
8. During January and early February 1982, the Committee retained unchanged its
bureau from 1981, pending consideration of election of officers at its first
meeting for 1982.
9. At its 76th meeting, on 11 February 1982, which was opened by the
Secretary-General, the Committee decided to re-elect the following officers:
Chairman:
Vice-Chairmen:
Rapporteur:
Mr. Massamba Sarre (Senegal)
Mr. Raul Roa~Kouri (Cuba)
Mr. Mohammed Farid Zarif (Afghanistan)
Mr. Victor J. Gauci (Malta)
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
10. The Committee reconfirmed that those States Members of the United Nations and
Permanent Observers to the United Nations which wished to participate in the work
of the Committee as observers could do so, and it again welcomed in that capacity
Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, the
Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, the League of Arab
States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Palestine Liberation
Organization, which continued in 1982 to participate in the work of the Committee.
11. In its consistent effort to encourage the contribution of all sectors of
opinion to its work, the Committee once more authorized the Chairman - as it had
done in 1976, 1977 and 1981 - again to request the Secretary-General to invite all
States Members of the United Nations, members of the specialized agencies and
regional intergovernmental organizations not already participating in the work of
the Committee to do so if they so wished, either as observers or through
transmission of oral or written suggestions and proposals which they considered
useful to the work of the Committee.
12. As in the past, this invitation was to be brought to the particular attention
of all States directly interested in the Middle East situation and to the members
of the Security Council, especially its permanent members.
13. As a result, and at thei.r request, Ecuador and Czechoslovakia also
participated in the work of the Committee as observers from 31 March 1982 and
24 May 1982, respectively.
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group
14. The Committee once again unanimously decided that the Working Group which it
had established in 1977 should continue to function in order to facilitate the work
of the Committee by: (a) keeping up to date with events which affect the work of
the Committee and suggesting action which the Committee could usefully undertake,
and (b) assisting the Committee in any other specific assignment related to its
work.
-3-
1~-- --.-.-.------- - -___ "~""""<;;;;,~~~:c;;,._;;;:,,~----!lJ§T.--15. The Committee decided. to reconfirm the present membership of the Working
Group: Malta (Chairman), Afghanistan, Cuba, German Democratic Republic, Guinea,
'Guyanai India, Senegal, Tunisia, and, as representative of the people directly
concerned, the Palestine Liberation Organization. The Committee also accepted the
principle of enlargement of the Working Group. In consequence, and at their
request, Pakistan, Turkey and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic also
participated from 21 January 1982, 30 March 1982 and 8 December 1981, respectively.
i.I_I
[
16. The Committee also decided that, in addition to the enlargement of the Working
Group, three sub-groups should be established. The first of these sub-groups,
together with the Special Unit, would monitor daily events in the occupied
territories and, as appropriate, draft letters for signature and transmittal by the
Chairman to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council.
17. The second sub-group would assist the Special Unit in the detailed work of
organizing seminars.
18. The third sub-group would have the task of:
(a) Periodically reviewing, with the assistance of the Special Unit, progress
made in the studies which had already been planned, and arrangements for
reproducing those published in languages other than the official languages of the
United Nationsl
(b) Updating studies and the film produced by the Special Unitl
(c) Improving the organization of the Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
people.
-4-
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
A. Action in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of General Assembly
resolution 36/120 A
1. Review of situation relating to the question of Palestine and
efforts to implement the recommendations of the Committee
19. In compliance with the request of the General Assembly in paragraphs 2 and 3
resolution 36/120 A, the Co~mittee continued to keep the situation relating to the
question of Palestine constantly under review and to exert all efforts to promote
the implementation of its recommendations.
20. In consequence of a series of events, its Chairman was authorized on several
occasions to express the grave concern of the Committee regarding practices and
policies of the Israeli Government which, in the opinion of the Committee, were in
direct contravention of international law, contrary to the spirit of General
Assembly and Security Council resolutions, and contradictory to the Committee's
recommendations.
21. These communications, in the main, dealt with illegal Israeli settlements in
the occupied territories, the annexation of vast areas of Arab-owned land, other
violation of the rights of the Palestinian people, and the Israeli invasion of
Lebanon.
22. These practices, policies and violations by Israel led the Committee, in
addition to its letters of protest, to express strong belief that the Conmlission
established by the Security Council under its resolution 446 (1979) to examine the
situation relating to Israeli settlements in the Arab and Palestinian territories
occupied since 1967 should be reactivated as a matter of priority.
23. It was recalled that the Commission had unanimously adopted its latest report
on 25 November 1980, which had not yet been considered by the Security Council.
The Committee consequently urged the Council to give immediate consideration to the
report, and that its recommendations be acted upon with the utmost urgency
(A/37/240-S/l5l20).
2. Reaction to developments in the occupied territories
(a) Emergency special session of the General Assembly
24. On account of the aggravated tension in the area, the Committee, in terms of
its mandate, had recommended in 1980 the convening of an emergency apecial session
of the General Assembly to consider the matter. This wa's held f~cm 22 to
29 July 1980.
25. On that occasion, by 112 votes to 7, with 24 abstentions, the General Assembly
requested and authorized the Secretary-General, in consultation, as appropriate,
with the Committee, to take necessary measures towards i~~lementation of the
Committee's recommendations as a basis for the solution of the question of
Palestine (resolution ES-7/2 ~f 29 July 1980).
-5-
session of the Assembly to
26. Under the same resolutlon, t e ~n':le~r~afr~~r.m~r:!;!mm!r"!e.,,,,en!'ft~m~~mml-~L!"~~
temporarily, and authorized the President of
resume its meetings upon request from Member
27. In consideration of further rapid and grave deterioration of conditions in the
occupied territories, the seventh emergency special session was reconvened from
20 to 28 April 1982, following on a decision taken by Ministers of the Non-Aligned
Countries at a meeting of the Co-ordinating Bureau, held in Kuwait from 5 to
8 April 1982.
28. At that resumed session, by a roll-call vote of 86 to 20, with 36 abstentions,
the General Assembly, amongst other provisions, once more urged the Security
Council to recognize the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as defined in
General Assembly resolution ES-7/2 and to endorse the recommendations of the
Committee as had been done by the Assembly in its resolution 31/20 and in
subsequent resolutions. The President of the regular session of the General
Assembly was, furthermore, again authorized to resume meetings of the seventh
emergency special session upon request from Member States (resolution ES-7/4 of
28 April 1982).
29. In his statement before the resumed emergency' special session, the Chairman of
the Committee regretted that the serious worsening of the situation in the region
had not yet led the Security Council to take necessary steps. He recalled that,
since the first adjournment of the emergency special session Israel had not only
made claims to the occupied Arab and Palestinian territories but had proceeded to
speed up the process of steady annexation of the occupied territories of the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip.
"'''''31. The Committee expressed appreciation for the high level of attendance and
participation in debate at the resumed session, and the wide-spread support
extended for the attainment of the inalienable rights of the Palestini~~ people.
32. It was also gratifying that several Western European States had joined the
overwhelming majority of the international community in censuring Israel regarding
its settlements policy, violation of basic human rights and attempts to make
Jerusalem its capital. Many of those Member States had also underlined the
necessity of associating the Palestine Liberation Organization in any negotiations
concerning the West Bank and Gaza.
30. The Chairman stressed that the recommendat~General
Assembly still formed the only fram~'
Middle East, and more particularly the question ~
global solution.
previously endorsed by the
--- -n which the question of the
~Q~estine, could find a just and
33. The Committee recalled with appreciation the call of socialist countries to
proceed with honest collective efforts aiming at an all-embracing, just and durable
settlement in the Middle East, achieved within the framework of a specially
convened international conference, under the aegis of the United Nations, and with
the participation of all interested parties, inclUding the Palestine Liberation
Organization.
34. The Committee expressed satisfaction that the resumed emergency special
session had gone far in alerting the attention of the international community to
-6-
Israeli contravention of General Assembly and Security Council resolutions and of
generally accepted principles of international law.
35. In consequence of large-scale hostilities resulting from the illegal Israeli
invasion and continued occupation of a large part of Lebanon in June 1982, the
General Assembly was again requested to resume, for the second time in 1982, its
seventh emergency special session from 25 to 26 June 1982.
36. At that session, by a recorded vote of 127 to 2, the General Assembly
reaffirmed once again its conviction that the question of Palestine was the core of
the Arab-Israeli conflict and that no comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the
region would be achieved without the full exercise by the Palestinian people of its
inalienable rights (resolution ES-7/s of 26 June 1982).
37. In his statement before the resumed seventh emergency special session on
25 June, the Chairman of the Committee said that the regrettable situation which
prevailed in Lebanon was but one of the aspects of the Middle East crisis, and its
core problem, the question of Palestine. Failure to settle the latter question
posed a serious threat to international peace and security.
38. The Chairman added that, if in the course of the session it should be possible
to settle the situation which prevailed in Lebanon, two objectives would then have
been achieved. Lebanon would have been saved from destruction and talks would have
been initiated which might provide serious encouragement for still further
discussion likely to lead to a definitive settlement of the Middle East question.
39. In that context, the Chairman reiterated that the following should be
recalled: the recommendations made by the Committee regarding the withdrawal of
Israel from all occupied Arab territories; the right of the Palestinian people to
self-determination, independence and sovereignty without foreign interference; the
return of all refugees to Palestine; the implementation by Israel of the Fourth
Geneva Convention of 1949; and, finally the most important, the participation of
the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole representative of the Palestinian
people in any discussion, negotiation or approach which might lead to determining
the future of the Palestinian people.
40. On account of the ominous further deterioration of the situation and the
inability of the Council to act, the seventh emergency special session was
reconvened for the third time in 1982, from 16 to 19 August. During this re:3umed
session the General Assembly adopted three resolutions.
41. By a recorded vote of 120 to 2, with 20 abstentions, the General Assembly
called for the full exercise in Palestine of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people to self-determination without external interference, and to
national independence. The resolution also once again urged the Security Council,
in the event of continued failure by Israel to comply with the demands contained in
its resolutions 465 (1980), 508 (1982), 509 (1982), 515 (1982) and 518 (1982), to
meet in order to consider practical ways and means in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the Charter.
42. By the same resolution, the General Assembly once again called upon the
Secretary-General to initiate contacts with all the parties to the Arab-Israeli
conflict in the Middle East, including the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
representative of the Palestinian people, with a view to convening an international
-7-
(b) . Communications with the Secretary-General and the President of the
Security Council
44. The General Assembly also decided, by the third resolution adopted by a
recorded vote of 102 to 2, with 34 abstentions, to commemorate 4 June of each year
as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.
43. By the second resolution, adopted by a recorded vote of 123 to 2, with
18 abstentions, the Gen~ral Assembly decided to convene the International
Conference on the Question of Palestine at the headquarters of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in Paris, from 16 to
27 August 1983 (resolution ES-7/7 of 19 August 1982).
49. In further pursuance of its mandate, in a letter dated 22 January 1982
(A/37/75-S/l4844), the acting Chairman of the Committee drew the attention of the
Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council to Israeli plans to
evacuate all Palestinian Bedouins from a great swath of the Negev Desert.
""~""''''''''''~''-''JiiL""""",",'~,conference, under the ausp~, ces of the United Nations, to find concrete ways and means of achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting,solution, conducive to peace
in conformity with the principles of the Charter and relevant resolutions
, (resolution ES-7/6 of 19 August 1982).
47. The Chairman recalled that the Organization itself had been considering the
real context in which this tragedy could and should have to end, that is, the
withdrawal of Israel from all the occupied Arab and Palestinian territories,
including Jerusalem, and the restoration of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, including the creation of an independent State of its own I homeland. In this context, the Chairman cited the recommendations of the Committee
which had been adopted by the General Assembly in 1976 and repeatedly reconfirmed
since then.
148. The Committee played a constructive role in arafting resolutions for
consideration by the General Assembly.
45. In his statement before the resumed seventh emergency special session, on
16 August, the Chairman of the Committee, referring to the Israeli i;~7asion of
Lebanon, stressed that this operation, which had already resulted in thousands of
Lebanese and Palestinian civilian victims, had been planned well in advance,
designed to bring about a final solution to the Palestinian problem through the use
of force. Thus the military operations conducted by Israel in Lebanon were another
manifestation of the political war against the Palestine Liberation Organization.
46. The Chairman added that Israel continued to flout the fundamental principles
. contained in the Charter of the United Nations and to violate numerous resolutions
of the same organization which had created the State of Israel. To fail to put an
end to the tragedy in Lebanon would be tantamount to undermining once and for all
the moral authority of the United Nations, in which mankind's collective hopes were
vested for a world of peace and justice.
50. It was pointed out that of approximately 40,000 Bedouins in the area, some
l5,00n had been resettled in two lazge tracts of land near Beersheba. Another
6,000 were to be removed from an area where a new Israeli air base was planned and
-8-
44#4 g4.~...__~~~."'v
an additional 19,000 throughout the rest of the desert were to be resettled under
the Israeli Government's plans.
51. The Acting Chairman expressed the view of the Committee that it was vital to
draw the attention of Israel to the dangers involved in these acts which could only
further exacerbate the tensions in the area.
52. By letter dated 18 February 1982 (A/37/94-S/14879), the Committee Chairman
expressed his concern at the latest developments regarding the closing of the
Bir Zeit University, a matter previously brought to the attention of the SecretaryGeneral
and the President of the Security Council on 13 November 1981
{A/36/688-S/l4754).
53. He cited reports that the Israeli Government had again ordered the closing of
the University for a period of two months and recalled that this was the second
occasion on which similar action had been taken over a four-month period. It was
also reported that 50 students and teachers at the University had been arrested.
54. The Chairman reiterated the Committee's conviction that it was of the greatest
importance that energetic action should be taken, particularly by the Security
Council, to put an end to such repressive acts and policies which endangered
international peace and security.
55. By letter dated 8 March 1982 (A/37/l09-S/l4897), the Committee Chairman
appealed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council to
request decisive steps to protect the rights of the Palestinian people living in
the occupied territories. This letter related to violations of human rights ~n the
occupied Arab territories of the west Bank and Gaza; it related particularly to
recently reported action by the Israeli authorities in the Jalazum Refugee Camp
where youths were arrested without charge and held for interrogation for prolonged
periods of time.
56. In a letter dated 24 May 1982 {A/37/240-S/l5120), the Chairman again expressed
the concern of the Committee regarding the repressive activities of Israeli
authorities. He drew attention to Israeli action taken against Palestinian
demonstrators exercising their right to protest against policies imposed upon them
in the illegally occupied territories. He referred to reports which indicated that
there had been an attack by Israeli soldiers against a girls· school and that new
shooting incidents had taken place at the Dome of the Rock.
57. The Committee expressed its concern at th~ continuation of Israeli policy of
establishing illegal settlements in the occupied territories in violation of the
Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 and United Nations resolutions.
58. In a subsequent letter dated 18 June 1982, circulated as document
A/37/30l-S/l5244, the Chairman expressed the grave concern of the Committee
regarding the decision of the Israel~ authorities to dissolve the elected city
council of two West Bank towns, Dura and Nablus. He again urged that the strictest
respect for the resolutions of the United Nations should be ensured, in this case
those aimed at enabling the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights.
59. In a letter dated 9 July 1982 (A/37/339-S/l5290), the Chairman again took up
the matter of Bir Zeit University, stating that reports indicated that the Israeli
Government once more had ordered its closure, this time because of students'
-9-
protests against the inva~ion of Lebanon. In the same communication, the Chairman
pointed out that, according to reliable press reports, the lawfully elected Mayor
of Djenin had been removed from office for refusing'to meet the Israeli civilian
governor of the occupied Palestinian territories.
60. By letter dated 14 September 1982 (A/37/449-S/15393), the Chairman referred to
reports that the Israeli Government had allocated $18.5 milli.on to establish three
new settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank and had announced its approval
to establish still seven more. The letter pointed out that these 10 new
settlements would bring the total number to 109, all of which were in violation of
the Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 and various related resolutions of
the General Assembly and the Security Council, especially Council resolution
465 (1980). - 61. In addition, the letter quoted reports concerning the shooting and killing of
Arab youths by Israeli border police in the West Bank city of Nablus and near the
town of Telkarim on 3 and 6 September, respectively. On behalf of the Committee,
he reasserted once more the need for appropriate energetic measures without delay
to protect the rights of the Palestinian inhabitants in the occupied territories.
62. On receipt of reports of the massacre of Palestinians committed in the Shatila
and Sabra camps, the Chairman, in a letter dated 20 September 1982
(A/37/462-S/15410), expressed the extreme concern of the Committee at this
atrocious action which was a direct consequence of Israel's invasion of Lebanon.
He drew attention once again to the conviction of the Committee that such tragedies
could have been avoided had the Security Council taken positive action on the
recommendations of the Committee which have been repea~edly endorsed by the General
Assembly.
63. The Chairman therefore urged in the strongest terms that appropriate action be
taken by the Security Council without further delay to implement the Committee's
recommendations~
(c) Action within the Security-Council-in relation to:
(i) The situation in-the occupied territories
64. In addition to transmitting letters of protests and taking a leading role
throughout the seventh special emergency session of the General Assembly, the
Committee through its Chairman, participated in meetings of the Security Council
called to consider the greatly deteriorating situation ~n the occupied Arab and
Palestinian territories, and closely followed the proceedings.
65. The Council devoted five meetings between 24 March and 2 April 1982 to
consideration of current Israeli activities and policies.
66. In his statement to the Security Council on 24 March 1982, the Chairman
reiterated the recommendations of the Committee as presented to and adopted
repeatedly by the General Assembly since its thirty-first session. He stressed
that it was time for the Council to put these recommendations into effect. Any
delay in carrying them out would only serve to increase tension in the area, as
borne out by~he cycles of violence which had been triggered off. Meanwhile the
Security Counc~l should also take all necessary measures to contain the events in
El-Bireh where the elected Municipal Council had been disbanded.
-10-
67. On 2 April 1982, the Council proceeded to vote on a draft resolution under
which the Security Council would have denounced Israeli measures imposed on the
Palestinian population, such as dismiss~l of elected mayors by Israeli authorities,
as well as violation of the liberties and rights of inhabitants of the occupied
West Bank and the Gaza Strip; these actions followed the measures taken by Israel
on the Golan Heights, which had been declared to be without legal validity by the
Council.
68. The Council would have called upon Israel, the occupying power, to rescind its
decision disbanding the elected Municipal Council of EI-Bireh and its decision to
remove the mayors of Nablus and Ramallah from their posts. It would also have
reaffirmed that all the provisions of the Geneva Convention of 1949 relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War continued to apply in full. The
resolution was not adopted, owing to the negative vote of a permanent member.
69. The Coun(~il met again on 13 April 1982 at the request of His Majesty
King Hassan 11 of Morocco, in his capacity as Chairman of the Jerusalem Committee
of the Islamic Conference, and Iraq, in its capacity as current Chairman of the
Islamic Conference, to consider the very grave situation which had arisen from the
attack against the holy sanctuary of the sacred AI-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the
Rock in Jerusalem. Six meetings were held on this question. On 20 April, the
Council proceeded to vote on a draft resolution which would have condemned the acts
of sacrilege perpetrated within the precincts of AI-Haram AI-Shareef.
70. The resolution would have deplored any act or encouragement of destruction or
profanation of the Holy Places, religious buildings and sites in Jerusalem. It
would have called upon Israel, the occupying power, to observe and apply
scrupulously the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the principles of
international law governing military occupation and to refrain from causing any
hindrance to the discharge of the estab!ished functions of the High Islamic Council
in Jerusalem. The draft resolution again was not adopted owing to the negative
vote of a permanent member of the Council.
(ii) The Israeli invasion of Lebanon
71. In reaction to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in early June 1982, steps were
taken by the Security Council and by the General Assembly to alleviate the
deterioration of conditions and loss of human life. In the face of continuing
SUffering among Lebanese and Palestinian populations in southern Lebanon and west
Beirut, the Committee, through its Chairman, availed itself of every opportunity to
help bring an end to conflict and closely followed the debate in the Security
Council.
72. At its 1st meeting, on 5 June, the Council unanimously adopted resolutioq
508 (1982) calling upon all parties to cease immediately and simultaneously all.
military activities within L,ebanon and across the Lebanese-Israeli border. On .
6 June, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 509 (1982) demanding that Israel
withdraw its military forces forthwith and unconditionally to the internationally
recognized boundaries of Lebanon and that all parties observe the terms of
resolution 508.
73. The Government of Lebanon and the Executive Committee of the Palestine
Liberation Organization indicated their readiness to comply. The Government of
Israel declined.
-11-
74. On 8 June, the Coun~il, through the negative vote of a permanent member,
failed to adopt a draft resolution by which it would have condemned Israel for not
complying with the two previous Council resolutions' 508 (1982) and 509 (1982).
75. On the same day, in a letter circulated as document A/37/274-S/l5l88, the
Chairman of the Committee stated that if Israeli forces were not immediately and
unconditionally withdrawn there was a great risk of the conflict spreading to the
whole region. He appealed to the Secretary-General to request that decisive steps
be taken forthwith by the Security Council to ensure that this explosive situation
be brought to an immediate end.
76. In a subsequent letter dated 15 June, the Chairman referred to Israel's
continued occupation of the greater part of Lebanon, the loss of human life,
intense suffering and endless destruction. In the face of such Israeli action, it
was essential that decisive steps be taken by the Security Council to put an end to
the bloodshed and the threat to international peace and security. He expressed the
Committee's strong belief that Israel should withdraw its forces immediately and
unconditionally in accordance with Security Council resolutions 508 (1982) and
509 (1982). This letter was circulated as document A/37/288-S/15222.
77. After further consultation, the Council, on 19 June and 4 July, unanimously
adopted resolutions 512 (1982) and 513 (1982) respectively. These called upon all
parties to respect the rights of the civilian populations, to refrain from all acts
of violence against these populations and to take all appropriate measures to
alleviate human suffering. All parties were called upon to facilitate the dispatch
and distribution of aid. Normal supplies of vital facilities were to be restored.
78. The Council, however, through the negative vote of a permanent member, failed
to adopt a further draft resolution on 26 June, in which it would have requested
all parties to observe an immediate cessation of hostilities throughout Lebanon.
The same draft would also have demanded an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces
engaged around Beirut to a distance of 10 kilometres from the periphery of that
city as a first step towards the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from
Lebanon, and the simultaneous withdrawal of the Palestinian armed forces from
Beirut to the existing camps.
79. The armed conflict continued and intensified despite occasional agreements on
a cease-fire. The Council consequently met on several occasions during the months
of July and August. Resolutions 515 (1982) and 516 (1982) were unanimously adopted
on 29 July and 1 August calling for cessation of military action and removal of
restraints on the distribution of humanitarian aid. Other draft resolutions
presented were not adopted, for lack of unanimity in the Council.
80. When the Council met again on 3 August, it had before it the report of the
Secretary-General pursuant to its resolu~ion 516 (1982) which recalled the
assurances of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Lebanese Government
regarding their full co-operation in the deployment of united Nations observers in
and around Beirut. The report also indicated that the Israeli Cabinet would
discuss this matter on 5 August.
81. In a statement on behalf of Members of the Security Council, the President of
the Council expressed serious concern regarding the prevailing high state of
tension and the reports of military movements and continued outbreaks of firing
-12-
and ~helling in and around Beirut. He stated that the Council considered it vital
that the provisions of resolution 516 (1982) be fully implemented.
82. On 4 August, the Council, by 14 votes to none, with 1 abstention, adopted
resolution 517 (1982) which called for the prompt ret~rn of Israeli troops around
Beirut to their position held prior to the adoption of resolution 516 (1982), the
Council decided to meet again to consider the report of th~ Secretary-General on
the implementation of that resolution.
83. The Council further indicated that, in the event of the failure of any parties
to the conflict to comply with the provisions of the resolution, the Council would
then consider adopting effective ways and means in accordance with the provisions
of the Charter. The Council also authorized the Secretary-General, as an immediate
step, to increase the number of United Nations observers in and around Beirut.
84. At its meeting on 6 August, because of the negative vote of a permanent
member p the Council failed to adopt a draft resolution calling upon States Members
of the United Nations to refrain from supplying Israel with any weapons and f~om
providing it with military aid until full withdrawal of Israel forces from all
Lebanese territory has been accomplished.
85. The lastest resolution on the question, 518 (1982), was unanimously adopted by
the Council on 12 August. By that resolution it was demanded that Israel and all
parties to the conflict observe strictly the terms of Security Council resolutions
relevant to the immediate cessation of all military activities within Lebanon and,
particularly, in and around Beirut.
86. The Council further demanded the immediate lifting of all restrictions on the
city of Beirut in order to permit the full entry of supplies to meet the urgent
needs of the civilian population. In addition, the Council requested United
Nations observers in and around Beirut to report on the situation, and demanded
that Israel co-operate fully in the effort to secure effective deployment of the
observers. The Secretary-General was requested to report to the Council as soc~ as
possible on the implementation of the resolution.
87. One additional draft resolution was also presented by Egypt and France to the
Council on 29 July and given preliminary consideration at that time without being
put to the vote. Its main provisions demanded an immediate and lasting cease-fire
throughout Lebanon, departure of all non-Lebanese forces except those which would
be authorized by the legitimate and representative authorities of Lebanon, and
simultaneous withdrawal of Israeli and Palestinian forces from West Beirut. The
draft resolution reaffirmed the right of all States in the region to existence and
security, as well as the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people,
inclucing the right to self-determination with all its implications (see 5/15317
and S/PV. 2384) •
88. In introducing the draft resolution, the representative of Egypt stated,
inter alia, that Egypt and France had embarked on this new initiative to help
achieve a just, lasting anq comprehensive, peaceful settlement not only for the
extremely pressing crisis of Lebanon but also for the ever-chronic Middle East
problem, a settlement fulfilling the rights of all States and peoples of the region
to existence and security, to territorial integrity and sovereignty, and
particularly the national legitimate rights of the Pal~stinian people to selfdetermination
and to statehood in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
-13-
I~:
I~!
I.~ ~.
'~
~
i
89. The representative 6f Egypt also drew attention to that part of the draft
resolution calling for restoration of durable peac~ and security in the region
within the framework of negotiations, on the understanding that the Palestinian
people shall be represented in the negotiations and consequently that the Palestine
Liberation Organization shall participate therein.
90. The Permanent Observer of the Palestine Liberation Organization, in a
subsequent statement, observed that these and other elements mentioned by the
representative of Egypt were constructive, and he expressed the hope that they
would eventually be included in the draft resolution.
(d) Other action relating to the question of Palestine
91. Throughout the period of the conflict and independently of the action taken by
the Council, the united states of America dispatched a special envoy to Lebanon,
who conducted direct negotiations with the Governments of Israel and Lebanon. A
negotiated cease-fire was finally secured on 20 August 1982, guaranteeing all the
necessary safeguards for the Palestinians in Lebanon. The provisions of this
agreement were precariously maintained for several days.
92. Subsequently, Israel violated both the cease-fire agreements and Security
Council resolutions by its actions of 15 September which consolidated its position
and extended its advance into Beirut, thus further endangering the safety of the
Palestinians as evidenced by the massacre on 17 September 1982 of several hundred
Palestinians in the refugee camps of Shatila and Sabra.
93. Subsequently, on 1 September, the President of the United States of America
made detailed proposals, summarizing the position of his country regarding a
comprehensive Middle East settlement which, in the view of the Government of the
United States, would take into account the preoccupation of all parties and would
respond to the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
94. On 9 September, the twelfth Arab Summit Conference, held at Fez (Morocco),
concluded its second part by adopting an eight-point peace plan for t?e Middle East
which reaffirmed the rights of the Palestinian people and called for the
establishment of an independent Palestinian State, with Jerusalem as its capital.
The Plan demanded the withdrawal of Israel from the territories captured during the
1967 war, including Arab Jerusalem, and the dismantling of all settlements
established on those territories. The United Nations was called upon to oversee a
transition period for the West Bank and Gaza for a few months with the Security
Council guaranteeing peace among all States of the region, including the
independent Palestinian State, and respect of these principles.
95. The Chairman, who had attended the Fez Summit Conference on behalf of the
Committee reported on the results. The ~ommittee noted with satisfaction the high
degree of convergence between the proposals of the Fez Summit and the long-standing
recoIDnlendations of the Co~~ittee.
96. The Committee took note of the six-point plan for a Middle East settlement
presented on 15 September 1982 by L. I. Brezhnev, Chairman of the Presidium of the
Supreme Soviet and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party of the Soviet Union. The Committee noted with satisfaction that the plan
agreed on major points with the recommendations of the Committee which had been
repeatedly endorsed by the General Assembly.
-14-
-
97.' The condition in the territories illegally occupied by Israel in the course of
its aggressively expansionist policies remained. This is the situation which the
Committee asks the General Assembly to consider thoroughly in the light of
experience gained so far.
3. Attendance at conferences
98. In accordance with paragraph 3 of resolution 36/120 A, in which the General
Assembly, inter alia, authorized the Committee to send delegations or
representatives to international conferences where such representation would be
considered appropriate, the Committee accepted several invitations in 1982.
99. In 1982 the Committee was represented at the Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting
of the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Countries on the Question of
Palestine in Kuwait from 5 to 8 April; the sixth session of the Jerusalem Committee
of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, at Ifrane, Morocco, from 6 to 9 May;
Conference on Palestine organized by the League of Arab States, at Paris, from 11
to 15 May; the Ministerial Meeting of the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned
Countries, at Hauana, from 30 May to 4 June; the International Council for
Solidarity with the Palestinian People, at Basle, from 26 to 27 June; the
Extraordinary Meeting of the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Countries on
the Question of Palestine, at Cyprus, from 15 to 17 July; the thirteenth
Ministerial Meeting of the Islamic Conference, at Niamey, from 20 to 26 August; and
the twelfth Summit Conference of the Arab League held at Fez, Morocco, from 6 to
9 September.
100. On each of these occasions, representatives of the Committee took the
opportunity to make known the work of the Committee and its recommendations and to
discuss ways and means of promoting the implementation of those recommendations.
Conclusive evidence of considerable understanding of, and sympathy ior, the
problems of the Paiestinian people as well as of interest in the work of the
Committee and United Nations action on the question was again noted ~lith
appreciation and encouragement.
4. Action taken by other organizations
101. The Committee continued to follow with great interest action taken by other
organizations on matters relevant to its work. Such action taken in 1981 after the
Committee had submitted its report to the thirty-sixth session of the General
Assembly, was duly noted and appreciated. This included: the resolution adopted
at the 68th Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union held at Havana, from 15 to
23 September 1981; the communique of the meeting of the Ministers for Foreign
Affairs of the States Members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, held
at United Nations Headquarters on 3 OCtober 1981.
102. In 1982, action relevant to the work of the Committee undertaken by other
organizations included that of the Commission on Human Rights, the Co-ordinating
Bureau of the Non-Aligned Countries, the Islamic Conference, and the Committee
Al-Qods (Jerusalem), as follows:
-15-
(a) Commission on Human Rights
At its thirty-eighth session held from 1 February to 12 March 1982 the
Commission adopted resolutions in which it strongly condemned:
(i) The annexation of parts of the occupied territories, including Jerusalem,
(ii) The establishment of new Israeli settlements and expansion of the
existing settlements on private and public Arab lands, and the transfer
of an alien population thereto;
(iii) The arming of settlers in the ~~cupied territories to commit acts of
violence against Arab civilians, the perpetuation of acts of violence by
these armed settlers against individuals, causing injury and death and
wide scale damage to Arab property;
(iv) The evacuation, deportation, expulsion, displacement and transfer of Arab
inhabitants of the occupied territories, and the denial of their right of
return;
(v) The confiscation and expropriation of Arab property in the occupied
territories and all other transactions for the acquisition of land
involving Israeli authorities, institutions or nationals on the one hand,
and inhabitants or institutions of the occupied territories on the other;
(vi) The destruction and demolition of Arab houses;
(vii) Mass arrests, collective punishments, administrative detention and
ill-treatment of the Arab population, the torture of persons under
detention, and the inhuman conditions in prisons;
(viii) The pillaging of archeological and cultural property;
(ix) The interference with religious freedoms and practices as well as with
family rights and customs;
(x) The systematic Israeli repression against universities in the occupied
territories, restricting and impeding academic activities of Palestinian
universities by SUbjecting selections of courses, text-books and
educational programmes, admission of students and appointment of faculty
members to the control and supervision of the military occupation
authorities;
(xi) The illegal exploitation of the natural wealth, resources and population
of the occupied territories.
The Commission also condemned the failure of Israel to acknowledge the
applicability of the Geneva Convention of 12 'August 1949 relative to the Protection
of Civilian Persons in Time of War, in Palestine and other Arab territories
occupied since 1967.
The Commission furthermore determined that the persistent defiance by Israel
of the resolutions and authority of the United Nations and the systematic
violations of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including palestine,
constitutes a continuing threat to international peace and security.
-16-
In addition, the Commission reaffirmed the basic principle that the future of
the Palestinian people can only be decided with its full participation in all
efforts, through its represertative, the Palestine Liberation Organization. The
Commission also expressed strong opposition to all partial agreements and separate
treaties and declared that they had no validity in so far as they purported to
determine the future of the Palestinian people ann of the Palestinian territories
occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem (E/1982/l2-E/CN.4/l982/30).
On 8 September the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and
protaction of Minorities of the Commission on Human Rights adopted a draft
resolution condemning Israel for its indiscriminate bombardment and destruction of
Lebanese cities and Palestinian refugee camps.
(b) The Co-ordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Countries
(i) The Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting of the Co-ordinating Bureau of the
Non-Aligned Countries, held at Kuwait from 5 to 8 April 1982, reaffirmed
its position on the question of Palestine and the Middle East and adopted
a plan of action for consideration by the resumed emergency special
session. Its comprehensive recommendations are contained in document
A/37/20S-S/l4990;
(ii) The Ministerial Meeting of the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned
Countries, held at Havana from 30 May to 4 June 1982, expressed
recognition and commendation of the work of the Committee and decided
once again to urge the Security Council to adopt effective measures to
implement the Committee's recommendations. The Ministers agreed to
support fully the work of the Preparatory Committee for the International
Conference on the Question of Palestine to be convened in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 36/120 C (A/37/333-S/l5278).
(iii) The Extraordinary Meeting of the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned
Countries on the Question of Palestine, held in Cyprus from 15 to 17 July
1982, adopted a communique and programme of action relating to the events
in Lebanon. The Ministers, at that meeting, decided to request the
President of the General Assembly to resume once more the seventh
emergency special session not later than the end of August 1982. In
addition, the Ministers called upon States Members of the united Nations
to review the decision contained in resolution 36/120 C regarding the
convening of an International Conference on the Question of Palestine.
The Ministers proposed that the date of the Conference be advanced to
1983 (A/37/366-S/l5327).
(c) The Thirteenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers
The thirteenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held at Niamey from
22 to 26 August 1982, reaffirmed its stand regarding the Palestinian question and
the Middle East by adopting nine resolutions on the subject that extended
solidarity with the just cause of Palestinian aspirations.
-17-
(d) The sixth session of the AI-Quds (Jerusalem) Committee
The sixth session of the AI-Quds {Jerusalem) Committee was held at Ifrane,
Morocco, from 6 to 9 May 1982. The Committee reviewed the situation currently
prevailing in Al-Quds and in Palestine and stressed the crime committed by the
Zionist authorities, which deliberately murdered two Muslim believers in the
precinct of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, seeking thereby to wipe out the Islamic heritage in
AI-Quds and in occupied Palestine.
"The Committee," states the declaration, "then stressed the study of the
reactions registered following that abominable crime, adding that some
countries had taken up the Zionist allegations attributing those crimes to a
single individual and not considering them as forming part of the policy of
aggression adopted by Israel against the Holy Places.
The Committee renews its determination to continue its support and to
mobilize all potentials for the restoration of the inalienable rights of the
militant Palestinian people.
"The AI-Quds Committee," states the declaration, "adopted resolutions on
support for the resistance of the Palestinian people inside the occupied
territories and support for the PLO in its struggle for the restoration of
their rights. It also adopted resolutions stressing the need to carry out
political and information campaigns and took practical measures for the
implementation of those resolutions. In additicn, it adopted the resolutions
of the Governing Board of the AI-Quds Fund."
B. Action taken in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3
of General Assembly resolution 36/120 B
103. In paragraph 2 of resolution 36/120 B, the General Assembly requested the
Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Unit on Palestinian Rights continued
to discharge the tasks entrusted to it in consultation with the Committee on the
Exe~cise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people and under its guidance.
104. In paragraph 4 of resolution 36/120 B, the General Assembly requested the
Secretary-General to take necessary action on the redesignation of the Special Unit
on Palestinian Rights as the Division for Palestinian Rights in keeping with the
political importance of its work and its expanded work programme. The Committee
noted with appreciation that the Secretary-General had taken action accordingly.
105. The Committee expressed its strong conviction that the Special Unit had
contributed extensively towards broadening general awareness and knowledge of the
facts relating to the question of Palestine. The Committee noted with appreciation
that action had been taken to provide the Special Unit with additional resources
and to redesignate it as a Division in accordance with the request made by the
General Assembly in paragraph 3 of resolution 36/120 B.
106. In accordance with paragraph 3 of resolution 36/120 B, three seminars on
Palestinian Rights were organized in 1982. For the first time a North American
Regional Seminar was organized in New York from 15-19 March 1982 in addition to
regional seminars in Valletta, Malta, from 12 to 16 April and in Dakar, Senegal
from 9 to 13 August.
-18-
107. It was the considered 0p1n10n of Committee members who attended these events
that the collective contribution of the academicians, parliamentarians and other
leading opinion makers participating in the seminars would serve to further
understanding among the international community of the intricate and many-faceted
issues that make up the Palestinian question.
108. The reports of the seminars held at New York, Valletta and Dakar, together
with the programme for action and appeal for a Western European initiative in the
Near East issued in Valletta are annexed to the present report. The Committee
stresses the importance of these seminars and recommends that the Division for
Palestinian Rights should continue to expand its efforts on the basis of the
experience hitherto gained.
109. The Committee urges the Division on Palestinian Rights to devote increased
attention to regions where impartial information on the question of Palestine is
lacking so as to reform public opinion on this issue. These efforts should go
beyond distribution of information material and include establishment of contacts
with the media.
110. The Committee noted that, with the co-operation of the Department of Public
Information and other units of the Secretariat, steps were being taken to produce a
film on Palestinian rights and to provide copies of the photographic exhibit of
Palestinian Rights installed at United Nations Headquarters for wider use by united
Nations information centres. The Committee requested the Department of Public
Information to expand its activities and coverage concerning the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people.
111. The Committee observed with appreciation that the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People had been commemorated in many capitals in
1981 and recommended that observance of the Day in 1982 and subsequent years should
follow the same pattern. It is expected that many Governments will once again
observe the Day in an appropriate manner.
c. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 2 of General Assembly
resolution-36/120'C
112. By paragraph 2 of General Assembly resolution 36/120 C, the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was authorized to act
as Preparatory Committee for the International Conference on the Question of
Palestine scheduled to be held no later than 1984 in accordance with paragraph 1 of
the same resolution. The date was later changed to 16 to 27 August 1983.
113. A detailed report of activities concerning preparations for the Conference has
been issued separately.
114. It is the hope of the Committee that the proceedings of the Working Group of
the Preparatory Committee which are open to all States Members of the United
Nations and Permanent Observers to the United Nations would be widely followed
since it is the wish of the Committee to encourage universal participation in the
International Conference on the Question of Palestine, the importance of which is
eVid~nced daily by the alarming deterioration of conditions in the region.
-19-
I
v. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
115. The Committee remains firm in its conviction that positive action by the
Security Council on the Committee's recommendations would advance prospects for a
just and lasting peace in the Middle East since the recommendations constitute the
basic principles relating to the problem of Palestine, the core of the conflict.
The Committee therefore unanimously decided once again to reiterate the validity of
the recommendations as annexed to the present report (annex I).
116. The Committee regrets having to point out th~t in spite of repeated
endorsement of these recommendations by the General Assembly, action has not been
taken by the Secretary-General to implement thoee recommendations. The Committee
is convinced that the repression of Palestinians in the occupied territories as
well as the tragic events which occurred in Lebanon could have been avoided if the
Security Council had taken timely and positive action on the Committee's
recommendations. The Committee remains conviced that the situation in the entire
Middle East region would benefit from the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian
issue.
117. The Committee derives satisfaction in that the General Assembly, at its
resumed seventh emergency srecial session, reaffirmed by a near unanimous vote, on
25 June 1982, its conviction that the question of Palestine is at the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict and that no comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the
region will be achieved without the participation on an equal footing of all the
parties to the conflict, including the Palestine Liberation Organization as the
representative of the Palestinian people, and without the full exercise by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights.
118. The Committee also f~els that every effort should continue to be made to
achieve a wider understanding of the just cause of the Palestinian people as a
major contribution towards an equitable, lasting solution of the question of
Palestine. In this connexion, the Committee lays great stress on the importance of
universal participation in the International Conference on the Question of
Palestine which is to take place in 1983.
119. The Committee stresses that this Conference will provide an'overdue but unique
opportunity for the international community to guide positive developments in the
area and to ensure that it will be utilized to promote ways and means for effective
exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
-20-
ANNEX f
Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly
at·its thirty-first session ~/
I. BASIC CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES
59. The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and,
consequently, the Committee stressed its belief that no solution in the Middle East
can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate aspirations
of the Palestinian people.
60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to
their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence
and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the full
implementation of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and
final settlement of the Middle East crisis.
61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative
of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties, on the basis of
General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is indispensable in all
efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which are held under the
auspices of the United Nations.
62. The Committee recalls the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligation for
complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so occupied.
63. The Committee considers that it is the duty and the responsibility of all
concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights.
64. The Committee recommends an expanded and more influential role by the United
Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine
and in the implementation of such a solution. The Security Council, in particular,
should take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of
their right to return to their homes, lands and property. The Committee,
furthermore, urges the Security Council to promote action towards a just solution,
taking into account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter of the United
Nations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numerous
resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideration of all the facts,
proposals and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that the
Committee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation of
the exerci~e of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
11. THE RIGHT OF RETURN
66. The natural and inalienable right of Palestinians to return to their homes is
recognized by resolution 194 (Ill), which the General Assembly has reaffirmed
almost every year since its adoption. This right was also unanimously recognized
by the Security Council in its resolution 237 (1967), the time for the urgent
implementation of these resolutions is long overdue.
-21-
! 67. without prejudice to the right of all Palestinians to return to their homes,
lands and property, the Committee considers the programme of implementation of the
exercise of this right may be carried out in two phases:
Phase one
68. The first phase involves the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) The Security Council should request the immediate implementation of its
resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementation should not be related
to any other condition;
(ii) The resources of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be
employed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved in
the resettlement of those returning to their homes. These agencies could
also assist, in co-operation with the host countries and the Palestine
Liberation Organization, in the identification of the displaced
Palestinians.
Phase two
69. The second phase deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) While the first phase is being implemented, the United Nations in
co-operation with the States directly involved, and the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the interim representative of the Palestinian
entity, should proceed to make the necessary arrangements to enable
Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967 to exercise their right to
return to their homes and property, in accordance with the relevant
United Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly resolution
194 (Ill);
(ii) Palestinians not choosing to return to their homes should be paid just
and equitable compensation as provided for in resolution 194 (Ill).
Ill. THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION, NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE
AND SOVEREIGNTY
70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to self-determination, national
independence and sovereignty in Palestine: The Committee considers that the
evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in violation of the principles
of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the .United Nations is a conditio sine
qua non for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights of
Palestinians to their homes and property and with the establishment of an
independent Palestinian entity, the Palestinian people will be able to exercise its
rights to self-determination and to decide its form of government without external
interference.
-22-
71., The Committee also feels that the United Nations has an historical duty and
responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the economic
development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
72. To these ends, the Committee recommends that:
(a) A time-table should be established by the Security Council for the
complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in 1967,
such withdrawal should be completed no later than 1 June 1977,
(b) The Security Council may need to provide temporary peace-keeping forces
in order to facilitate the process of withdrawal;
(c) Israel should be requested by the Security Council to desist from the
establishment of new settlements and to withdraw during this period from
settlements established since 1967 in the occupied territories. Arab property and
all essential services in these areas should be maintained intact,
(d) Israel should also be requested to abide scrupulously by the provisions
of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949, and to declare, pending its speedy withdrawal from these
territories, its recognition of the applicability of that Convention;
(e) The evacuated territories, with all property and services intact, should
be taken over by the United Nations, which with the co-operation of the League of
Arab States, will subsequently hand over these evacuated areas to the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people;
(f) The United Nations should, if necessary, assist in establishing
communications between Gaza and the West Bank;
(g) As soon as the independent Palestinian entity has been established, the
United Nations, in co-operation with the States directly involved and the
Palestinian entity, should, taking into account General Assembly resolution
3375 (XXX), make further arrangements for the full implementation of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding
problems and the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region, in
accordance with all relevant United Nations resolutions;
(h) The United Nations should provide the economic and technical assistance
necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity;
-23-
.1
\ ANNli:X II
RepOrt of the Fifth United Nations Seminar on the Question
of Palestine held at United Nations Headquarters, New York
from 15 to 19 March 1982
1. The Fifth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, with its
central theme "The Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People ll
, took place at
United Nations Headquarters in New York from 15 to 19 March 1982, in accordance
with the terms of General Assembly resolution 36/120 B. Nine meetings were held,
at which 20 panelists presented papers on various aspects of the Question of
Palestine.
2. THe United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was represented by a delegation consisting of Mr. Massamba Sarre
(Senegal), Chairman of the Committee; Mr. Raul Roa-Kouri (Cuba), Vice Chairman;
Mr. Victor J. Gauci (Malta), Rapporteur; Mr. H. Ott (German Democratic Republic);
Mr. Natarajan Krishnan (India); and Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi, Permanent Observer of the
Palestine Liberation Organization to the United Nations. Mr. Victor J. Gauci acted
as Rapporteur of the Seminar.
3. The opening session of the Seminar, on 15 March 1982, was addressed by
Mr. William B. Buffum, Under-Secretary-General for Political and General Assembly
Affairs of the United Nations. In welcoming the participants on behalf of the
Secretary-General, Mr. Buffum observed that efforts to find a just solution to the
question of Palestine remained one of the main preoccupations of the United
Nations; these efforts should be maintained since as long as the problem persisted
it posed a threat to international peace and security. He expressed the hope that
the Seminar would be a major contribution to future consideration of the question
in the United Nations which was widely accepted as the framework within which a
comprehensive solution had to be found.
4. At the same session, Mr. Massamba Sarre, Chairman of the Committee, gave a
brief account of the Committee's work and stressed the importance of ensuring that
all facts surrounding the question of Palestine reach the pUblic so that a proper
understanding of the issues would be achieved.
5. The opening session of the Seminar was also addressed by
Mr. Natarajan Krishnan, Acting President of the United Nations Council for Namibia,
Mr. Gervais Charles. Rapporteur of the United Nations Special Committee against
Apartheid and Mr. Frank OWen Abdullah, Chairman of the Special Committee on the
Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of
Indep~ndence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
6. A message from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Ctiairman of the Executive Committee of the
Palestine Liberation Organization was conveyed to the Seminar by-
Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi, Permanent Observer of the ~alestine Liberation Organization.
7. The Seminar was attended by Mrs. Lucille Mair, Secretary-General designate of
the International Conference on the Question of Palestine.
8. Seven panels were established to consider different aspects of the central
theme liThe inalienable rights of the Palestinian peoplell
• These panels and their
panelists were as follows:
-24-
~,..: -.., .-- ... . ,.... . ..
Et .,
. A. Panel I: The Nature and the Role of the Palestine Liberation
Organization:
Mr. Khaled Abu Hudayb.
B.
C.
Panel 11: The Palestine Issue and North American Public Opinion:
Professor Thomas Naylor, Rev. Donald Waguer,
Dr. Philip Rivera.
Panel Ill: The Palestine Question in the Context of Military Occupation:
Prof. Harold McDougal, Dr. Khali~ Nakhleh, Dr. Eqbal Ahmed.
D. Panel IV:
E. Panel V:
F. Panel VI:
G. Panel VII:
Domestic and Strategic Influences ir. the Formation of
American and Canadian Policies:
Dr. Mordecai Briemberg, Prof. Mark Solomon, Mr. Jack OIDell,
Miss Gail Pressberg.
The Fundamental Rights of the Palestinian People:
Prof. Jarnal Nassar, Rev. Joseph L. Ryan, S.J.,
The Honourable Senator Heath Macquarrie.
The Evolution of American and Canadian Policies on the
Question of Palestine:
Prof. Frank Epp, Prof. Paul Noble, Prof. John Quigley.
The Role of the United Nations in Seeking Effective Measures
to Enable the Palestinian People to Attain and Exercise its
Rights:
Prof. Charlotte Teuber, His Excellency, Mr. Victor J. Gauci.
9. In view of the well-researched and in-depth analysis contained in the papers
presented at the Seminar, and in accordance with established practice, the papers
will be published in full by the United Nations, with the report of the Seminar, as
a contribution to a wider understanding of the question of Palestine.
10. The presentation of papers at each meeting was followed by a lively,
spontaneous and stimulating excha~ge of views. Discussion covered all aspects of
the question of Palestine, particularly the rights of the people which, it was
agreed, were being systematically and continuously violated by Israel.
11. It was consistently maintained that failure to resolve the Palestinian issue
in accordance with various United Nations resolutions would only exacerbate the
crisis and present an ever-increasing threat to international peace and secerity.
The stability of the region, the attainment of an environment in which all
inhabitants can live as a community and the achievement of peace depended directly
upon the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and its
aspirations.
12. The Seminar was provided with a detailed account of the institutions of the
Palestine Liberation Organization. It was noted that the Palestine Liberation
Organization had wide-ranging and increasing responsibiliti~s in the political,
economic, social, educational and cultural fields.
-25-
~~::JRQtA@ii£!ii3!~iJ~~~. ~·":;S:tilll ~;~i.._-Q£L£_....&.i?_S'!.E?J!£&ig_iiZ:;;:.,.i,:t;\\~~~H;t ...... '.J3'NLc-...............~~~ .-4.c' ....&~~:;::.t:~:'4$'.E;'~,.,.i:"';._··_3:•'.-;""".·."'I;r
18. The Seminar was of the opinion that no deviation should be permitted from the
rights recognized by these General Assembly resolutions, the most i~portant being:
..\' "13. It was observed that Israel was waging a total war to obliterate continuous
ipalestinian efforts to assert their rights, and among the most sinister aspects of !.i its policy was the deliberate suppression of Palestinian institutio~s by Israel.
,.J
, '14. The Palestinian struggle for survival was also total and not limited to
, ,military activities. This fact had been underplayed in the media.
(a) General Assembly resolution 3236 (XXIX) which elaborated these
inalienable rights; and
Both these resolutions were emphasized in resolution ES-7/2 adopted by the General
Assembly at its seventh emergency special session.
17. In discussing the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, the Seminar
noted with appreciation that these rights had not only been defined by the United
Nations but also regularly reaffirmed. Attention was drawn particularly to:
(b) General Assembly resolution 3210 (XXIX) which considered the Palestinian
people to be a principal party to the question of Palestine and invited the
Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, to
participate in the deliberations of the General Assembly on the question of
Palestine.
15. In order to propagate' a more comprehensive and fair understanding of the real
nature of the Palestine Liberation Organization, new links should be established
which would make up for the failure of the mass media to report all the facts
I surrounding the issue as well as its tendency to present them with a bias against
the Palestine Liberation Organization. Renewed efforts should be made to counter
:.....i'.~, negative and unbalanced attitudes in North America. Diverse and strengthened
• efforts should be made to dispel the erroneous impression propagated by the media
that the Palestine Liberation Organization was only a military organization bent on
terrorism. Its activities in the economic, social, educational, cultural and
welfare fields, if better known, would lead to a clearer understanding in North
America and to the realization that the Palestine Liberation Organization provides
a political platform as well as infrastructure for socio-economic progress of its
people which constitutes the very essence of a State.
i 16. In briefv as its objective, the Palestinian Liberation Organization does not
] seek confrontation, but rather the co-operation of all peace-loving peoples.
J,j
'i!1.~ I
,I
~:~,
(a) The right of the Palestinians to return to their homes and property in
Palestine, from which they have been forcibly displaced and uprooted,
(b) Ti~e right of the Palestinian people to self-determination without
external inte~ference,
(c) The right of the Palestinian people to establish their own independent
ar~ sovereign State in Palestine;
(d) The right to territorial integrity and national unity,
-26-
20. In this context, many elements in the Camp David Accords were pointed out,
which, through the refusal to accept the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
representative of the Palestinian people, as an equal partner in the negotiations,
by attempting to determine the destiny of the Palestinian people in their absence,
and b¥ denying them their fundamental rights, violated United Nations resolutions.
This aspect is particularly evident in the interpretation and implementation of the
Accords by Israel.
22. There were additional violations of international law by Israel which featured
in the discussions, particularly its bombings of Lebanon, its attack on the Iraqi
nuclear reactor, subject though it was to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
safeguards, and the annexation of the Syrian Golan Heights. In the course of the
Seminar, it was noted with extreme concern that once again Israel had resorted to
repressive measures by forcibly dismantling the elected municipal council of
AI-Bireh, a town in the occupied territory lying to the north of Jerusalem. This
arbitrary action had led to widespread unrest leading to casualties inflicted by
the Israeli occupying forces.
21. In discussing the Palest;.nian issue and North American public oplnlon, after a
detailed analysis of the more important factors involved, it was cOncluded that
while there was gradual awareness building in the United States as to the
Palestinian cause and their fundamental human rights, there was still major
barriers which stood in opposition to Americans accepting the Palestinian cause as
just and human.
19. It was agreed that the heart of the Middle East problem, the question of
Palestine, inevitably will remain the central issue which must be resolved if peace
was to be based on reason.
,(e) The right of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of
the Palestinian people, to participate on an equal footing in all efforts,
deliberations and conferences on the question of Palestine and the situation in the
Middle East within the framework of the United Nations.
23. Since only an elementary stage of awareness on the Palestinian question has
been reached in the North American continent, there was a need for striking a
positive responsive chord in order to gain a hearing. It was suggested that an
increased and better organized campaign should be made on behalf of the Palestinian
aspect on a variety of levels from churches to Arab-American groups to grass-roots
organizing efforts. The role ef the non-governmental organizations was considered
as particularly relevant in this regard. This level of activity should consider
both political and non-political initiatives.
24. The Seminar had the benefit of hearing, from a resident of the occupied West
Bank, a first-hand account of the harsh living conditions imposed by Israel under
its military occupation. The Seminar also greatly appreciated the impressions and
conclusions drawn by impartial observers who had visited the West Bank and Gaza in
recent times and seen for themselves the oppressive measures applied in the context
of military occupation.
25. Particular mention was made of the occupation authority's military order
No. 854 which placed cripplfng restrictions on higher education in the occupied
territories through extensive censorship of teaching materials and restrictions on
extracurricular programmes and events and on the freedom of movement of individual
students and faculty members.
-27-
26. The conclusion was drawn that military order No. 854 was part and parcel of
Israel's so-called "iron-fist" policy adopted in the wake of the Camp David accords
and that it violated international law and The Hague Conventions. It was pointed
out however that, far from submission, this military order had resulted in a
renewal of Palestinian consciousness and resistance.
27. Nevertheless, an analysis of the statements made and plans announced by
Israeli leaders m~de it clear that there was a very real danger that the West Bank
and Gaza would be annexed by Israel and that the Arab inhabitants would either be
exiled or reduced to living in reservations. It was contended that the world was
at present starkly witnessing the final phases of Israeli attempts at the
liquidation of Palestine.
28. Parallels were drawn between Israeli policies in Galilee occupied in 1948, and
the West Bank which was occupied in 1967. It was shown that in both regions, good
agricultural land - militarY occupation had been used to achi~ve the twin targets
of land and people - on the one hand, the jUdaization through settlements, and on
the other hand, depopulation by dispersal of the existing Arab inhabitants. The
same considerations as applied to the West Bank, applied equally to the Gaza Strip.
29. In evaluating United States policy in the Middle East, in a detailed
documented analysis, it was argued that, regionally and globally, the immediate
consequences of the American-Israeli alliance was United States support for
Israel's persistent assault upon Palestinian rights. A repeated tolerance for
Israelis truculent activities in the region had been demonstrated over a period of
time.
30. At the core of the policy was a military response to rising regional
aspirations for self-determination and nationalization of resources. As part of
that core was a continuing hostility to the Palestine Liberation Organization which
is perceived by United States policy makers as the cornerstone of regional and
external radicalization. In contrast, Western Europe showed growing signs of
pressing for its own independent approach to the regional crisis, including a clear
commitment to Palestinian self-determination.
31. It was maintained that there was a strong factual basis for attributing to the
united States responsibility for violations by Israel of the rights of the
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza since continued financial assistance to
Israel had permitted persistence in those violations, of which the United States
was fUlly aware and which the administration had frequently criticized.
32. Among the examples given were the United States reaction to the acquisition of
the West Bank and Gaza and Israel's refusal to withdraw from those territories, as
well as Israel's policy of illegal settl~ments in the occupied territories which,
though condemned, could be continued because of the high level of funding by the
United States that was indirectly used to finance the settlements. It was held
that by pursuing this policy the United States was in breach of its internationallegal
obligations towalds the Palestinian people.
33. There had been a long-term tendency in United States policy to make Palestine
an exception from the traditional commitment to the universal principle of
self-determination. This inconsistency could be traced to Israel's standing in
American thought and politics and the consequent essentially irreconcileable
commitment of succeeding administrations to that country.
-28-
34 •. The evaluation of Canadian policy on the question of Palestine was also
traced, Canada's independent role in foreign policy was stressed, backed by well
documented analysis. It was stated that Canada's interests in the Middle East
stemmed basically from various considerations but that it was only in times of
crisis that the situation attracted concentrated Canadian attention. The view was
expressed that there was a distinct pro-Israeli leaning in Canada's attitude and
policies, mainly due to conceptions of legitimacy held by the political elite, the
structure of interests of the Government and the views of allies, all of which
basically pointed in the same direction and led Cana~ians to lose sight of the
Palestinians as a people with an identity and national consciousness.
35. &, important ingredient in the development of Canadian popular and government
opinion was the strength and efficiency of a number of pro-Israel lobbies and
pressure groups. It was noted, however, that there was in Canada a slow awakening
sense of co-responsibility for the current situation in the area and a broadening
recognition of its inequities and iniquities. There had been a growing perception
of the aims of Israel. Much of this awareness was the result of the intransigence
of Israel, no less than an increased sensitivity to the fate and state of the
Palestinians. Slight though the improvement had been there were discernibly some
prospects for even-handedness in Canada's approach to the problem of the Middle
East. The West Bank and Gaza had been identified as clearly defined territory in
which the Palestinians had a right to a homeland.
36. It was noted that a possible means of alerting the North American public to
Israel's denial of Palestinian self-determination would be to draw parallels
between the status of Namibia and the status of Palestine. Both Palestine and
Namibia are former League of Nations Mandates, and are at present occupied by
racist regimes. The alertness of the North American public to the problem of South
Africa's illegal occupation of Namibia could facilitate their understanding of
Israel's illegal occupation.
37. The Seminar traced and emphasized the important role of the United Nations as
the framework within which a settlement of the question of Palestine could be
found. The Organization had a responsibility to seek effective measures to put an
end to Israel's illegal occupation and policies and practices, and to provide a
solution which respected the resolutions of the United Nations. The longer an
equitable solution was delayed, the more complex and intractable became the problem.
38. The question of Palestine fell squarely within the ambit of the United
Nations, which inherited the problem at the very beginning of its existence. The
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People had
been given the mandate to draw up a programme of implementation to enable the
Palestinians to exerci~e their inalienable rights. This the Committee had done
after thorough analysis of the problem, after soliciting opinions from all
concerned, and after having reviewed opinions previously expressed on the question.
39. The Committee's recommendations have been repeatedly endorsed by the General
Assembly but not yet implemented because of the negative vote of one of the
permanent members in the Security Council.
40. The Committee's recommendations advocated a just and peaceful solution based
on United Nations resolutions and international law, which would guarantee the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Progress was still awaited. The
-29-
--------------------------llI<ilIl-..-....---- -...""""=;;.;S;i:1':""~1'+"."..;;""'-_.'.......=. ~~_-"""'"Committee has, therefore, been authorized to promote implementation of its
recommendations through dissemination of information and energetic insistence on
keeping the cause of the Palestinians at the forefront of attention of the
international community within and outside the United Nations.
41. The task had proved to be a difficult one because the adverse campaign of
media misinformation relentlessly continued. The Committee has striven to redress
the distortions and misinterpretations on the issue of Palestine.
42. The international character of the Holy City of Jerusalem attracted frequent
reference. It was ~tressed that Israel's decision to annex Jerusalem and to move
its capital to that City had been condemned and declared null and void by the
international community. It was emphasized that Israel's legislation and its
actions on Jerusalem should never be accepted by the international community.
43. In view of the ongoing repression by Israel in the occupied territories, the
Committee also has to monitor events and report violations as they occur.
44. The Committee had already gathered overwhelming support within the United
Nations behind its recommendations. Action by the Security Council was still
awaited. The Committee appreciated that there were still some obstacles to be
overcome, but there was a noticeable shift even in the ranks of those influential
countries which at the present time stood on the sidelines.
45. The Committee intended to solidify the support already gained and to encourage
positive moves which would strengthen the momentum for an equitable solution. Many
encouraging statements had been noted, and the principl~ of self-determination of
peoples had received a boost in the Helsinki Final Act. The spirit of Helsinki was
universal in its scope and application.
46. Reference was made to the International Conference on the Question of
Palestine which was expected to take place not later than 1984. It was hoped that
that conference would bring concrete results by climaxing the search for effective
measures which would enable the Palestinian people peacefully to attain and
exercise its inalienable rights. The United Nations should continue to make every
effort and engage all related ~gencies to help in that effort - the achievement of
an equitable, lasting solution to the plight of the Palestinian people.
47. The Seminar concluded its work with an expression by the Chairman of
appreciation to the participants, especially the panelists who had, by their
dedication and care in preparing their papers, contributed greatly to the success
of the Seminar.
-30-
Report of the Sixth United Nations Seminar on the Question
of Palestine held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre,
Valletta, Malta, from 12 to 16 April 1982
3. The Seminar was attended by Mrs. Lucille Mair, Secretary-General Designate of
the International Conference on the Question of Palestine.
1. The Sixth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine with the title
"The Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People" as its central theme, was held
at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, Malta, from 12 to 16 April 1982,
in accordance with the terms of General Assembly resolution 36/120 B. Eight
meetings were held and 16 panelists presented papers on various aspects of the
question of Palestine.
ANNEX HI
4. The opening session of the Seminar on 12 April 1982 was convened in the
distinguished presence of the Acting-President of the Republic of Malta,
The Honourable Dr. Daniel Micallef and was addressed by The Honourable
Dr. Alex Sceberras Trigona, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Culture of the
Republic of Malta.
2. The United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was represented by a delegation consisting of Mr. Massamba Sarre
(Senegal), Chairman of the Committee; Mr. Victor J. Gauci (Malta), Rapporteur;
Mr. Abdullah Ramil (Indonesia); Dr. Ferenc Somogyi (Hungary); Mr. Bechir Chebaane
(Tunisia) 1 and Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi, Permanent Observer of the Palestine Liberation
Organization to the United Nations. His Excellency Mr. Victor J. Gauci acted as
Rapporteur of the Seminar.
5. The Minister outlined the justified struggle of the Palestinian people for
self-determination and stressed the recognition and support, including diplomatic
accreditation to the Palestine Liberation Organization, given by Malta to their
cause. Over many years the Palestinian people, despite many disappointments,
continue to place their faith in the United Nations. This faith deserves to be
rewarded with an equitable and peaceful outcome for the legitimate rights of the
Palestinian people.
6. The role of the United Nations in disseminating objective information on the
Palestine issue was also outlined; the Seminar in Valletta was considered an
important forerunner to active European involvement in the search for an equitable
solution. It was necessary to investigate the constraints that so far have
prevented western Europe from making its effective contribution to a constructive
Middle East policy.
7. The Venice Declaration, which spoke forthrightly of the rights of the
Palestinian people and its representation, was an important element in European
involvement, but the hopes raised in that Declaration have not yet been fulfilled.
The Valletta Seminar could serve to consolidate progress and to identify new
avenues to pursue, so that progress will no longer be delayed.
8. At the same opening session. Mr. Massamba Sarre, Chairman of the Committee,
gave a brief account of the Committee's work. He also highlighted Europe's role in
the shaping of history, as well as in the formation of world opinion. In this
-31-
cont~xt, he emphasized th~ importance of the Seminar as one approach in helping to
ensure that the rights of the Palestinians would be implemented.
9. The tragic violence perpetrated in Jerusalem by Israeli soldiers reported on
that same day was a grim reminder of the constant deterioration of the situation
and the consequent need for a new momentum in the search for a solution. The
Seminar immediately decided to send a telegram to the President of the Security
Council and another to the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization,
Mr. Arafat, d~~loring the Israeli action.
10. A message from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the
Palestine Liberation Organization was conveyed to the Seminar by
Mr. Mourad Essa Bahloul, Representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization in
Malta.
11. A message from the Secr~tary-Generalof the League of Arab States,
Mr. Chedli Klibi, was conveyed to the Seminar by his personal representative to the
Seminar, Mr. Youssef AI-Fayoumi.
12. The Seminar was graced by the presence of His Eminence Msgr. Hilarion Capucci,
Archbishop of Jerusalem who addressed an inspiring message to the Seminar. He
emphasized the essentially humanitarian nature of the problem of the Palestinians
which should call for a universally positive response. The Palestinians wanted
recognition as a people, entitled to their own nation and to their flag, thus
attaining their inherent dignity, and liberty as any human person.
13. Six panels were established so as to consider different aspects of the central
theme "The Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People". These panels and their
panelists were as follows:
(a) The Fundamental rights of the Palestinian people
The Hon. Mr. Andrew Faulds, M. P. (United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland)
Senator Luigi Granelli, M.P. (Italy)
Mr. Vladimir Ivanovich Kesselyov (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
Dr. Vladimir S. Koshelev (Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic)
Dr. Jerzy Piotrowski (Poland)
(b) The Nature and the role of the Palestine Liberation Organization
Dr. Sami Musallam (Palestinian)
(c) Israeli settlements policies in the occupied Arab territories
Dr. Becir Meholjic (Yugoslavia)
Mr. Bela Szilagyi (Hungary)
-32-
(d) The Palestine issue and European public opinion
Mr. Charles Saint-Prot (France)
The Hon. Mr. Ernest Ross, M. P. (United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland)
(e) The evolution of European attitudes and policies on the question of
Palestine
Mr. Tijl de Clerq (Belgium)
Mr. Jean Le Drian (France)
Mr. Leonidas Kyrkos (Greece)
Dr. George Vella (Malta)
(f) The role of the United Nations and the search for effective measures to
enable the Palestinian people to attain and exercise its rights
Mr. Marcel Dinu (Romaniaj
The Hon. Mr. Giancarlo Pajetta, M. P. (Italy)
Dr. Ingo Schoenfelder (German Democratic Republic)
14. In accordance with established practice, the opening statements and the papers
presented by the panelists will be published in full by the United Nations,
together with the report of the Seminar, as a further contribution towards
objective appraisal of the question of Palestine.
15. The vigorous discussions which followed the presentation of papers at each
meeting covered several aspects of the question of Palestine and helped further to
elaborate on some of the points made by the panelists.
16. The Seminar agreed that a lasting and stable peace in the Middle East required
the attainment by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights. The continued
occupation of Arab lands and the arrogant disregard of the rights of the Arab
people of Palestine had made the Palestinian issue one of the most acute problems
of our time requiring a political settlement on the basis of internationally
recognized principles.
17. The United Nations has consistently reiterated and reaffirmed the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people, but these continued to be violated and their
realization frustrated by Israel, in defiance of international public opinion and
in violation of international law.
18. The Seminar noted that in addition to the non-aligned countries of Europe the
Union of Soviet Sociqlist Republics and other Socialist European countries had
consistently supported the inalienable rights of the Palestinians and had made
constructive suggestions in attempts to enable the Palestinian people to exercise
those rights.
-33-
19. Among these suggestions was the effort to renew the Geneva-Middle East
'.,",,: Conferences, with the participation on an equal footing of the representatives of
the Palestine Liberation Organization, the joint UnIted States-Soviet Statement of
October 1977, and the proposal by L. I. Brezhnev, Chairman of the Presidium of the
Supreme Soviet and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party of the Soviet Union for an honest, collective search for an all-embracing,
just and realistic settlement in the Middle East. This coulrl be done in the
framework of a specially-convened international conference with the participation
of all interested parties, including the Palestine Liberation Organization.
20. The European Economic Community more recently had adopted a constructive
attitude on this issue and had endorsed the principle that recognition of the
legitimate rights of the Palestinian people was one of the basic conditions for a
lasting peace in the region, together with the need to provide international
guarantees for the security of all the States in the region and the need to
associate the Palestine Lib~ration Organization in the comprehensive peace
negotiations.
21. It was felt that urgent and concerted action was required from the United
States of America and members of the European Economic Community to be fully behind
all international efforts to stop the Israeli process of acquisition of territory
by force, which in itself was contrary to international law and presented a serious
impediment to a peaceful solution of the problem.
22. Reference was also made to the proposals by Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia which
were considered as a possibility for initiating a dialogue among the interested
parties.
23. The Seminar was of the view that there was a clear linkage between the right
of Palestinians to self-determination and their right to return to Palestine. It
felt that too often plans for recognition of the Palestinian people's right to
self-determination were restricted in application to those Palestinians who had
remained in Palestine under Israeli occupation, and no account was made for the
return of Palestinian refugees. This omission did not apply to the recommendation
by the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People.
24. The nature and representative role of the Palestine Liberation Organization
was discussed in detail. It was pointed out that more States had recognized the
PalGstine Liberation Organization and have established relations with it than with
Israel. It was incontestable that the Organization was more than a political party
or liberation front - it was an institution which has the functions of a State and
provides a national framework for different Palestinian mass organizations and
individuals.
25. The question of Jerusalem and its importance was emphasized~ Israel's
decision to enact legislation proclaiming Jerusalem as its capital was rega~ded as
one of the most serious indications of its insincerity in placing insurmountable
obstacles against a comprehensive peace settlement. The attempt unilaterally to
impose a juridical status of the Holy City, which is unique in its religious and
universalist character, was in direct contradiction to international law and has
implications well beyond the issue of Palestinian rights.
-34-
26. The Seminar was given a detailed account of the aggressively expansionist
settlements policy continuously pursued by Israel, in violation of accepted
international norms. In spite of the strong demonstration of world public opinion
against this policy, it had gained added momentum since 1977. It was evident that
the Israeli leadership had a double aim: to change the demographic structure of
the area and reduce the proportion of the Arab population in Jerusalem.
27. Recent repressive measures, such as the dismissal of legally-elected mayors
and the brutal repression of the spontaneous demonstrations of the inhabitants,
increased tension and constituted a threat to international peace and, in
particular, to the security of the Mediterranean region. It was clear that these
policies were a further step in the preparations for a planned Israeli annexation
of the occupied Palestinian Arab territories.
28. The host country notified the Seminar that in response to the appeal of His
Majesty King Khalid of Saudi Arabia, it had temporarily closed its airports as a
gesture of support and solidarity with the Arab and Moslem people, over the Israeli
attack on the holy AI-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and against unarmed Palestinian
people.
29. In discussing European public op~n~on on the question of Palestine, it was
stated that the media in western Europe, though giving coverage to events in the
Middle East, generally tended to convey a bias in their re~ortage on the Middle
East conflict from the question of Palestine. When the Palestinian cause was
referred to their legitimate armed struggle was often distorted as terrorism.
30. It was noted that there was evidence of manipulation of major sections of
public opinion in Western Europe. This was made possible, on the one hand, by the
existence of a powerful and influential group hostile to the Palestinian cause in
particular and to the Arab people in general and, on the other hand, because of
certain shortcomings in the field of information among the Arab information
services.
31. A change was, however, noticeable over the past few years. The Palestinian
cause was a just one, and, once heard, its conviction was iLrefutable. The
misinformation, or even ·conspiracy of silence" was now being challenged in many
western European countries, within the influential ranks of church organizations,
trade unions, academic and parliamentary institutions. In addition, the European
disenchantment with the Israeli policies under the Likud Government was growing
with each additional act of re~ression and intransigence.
32. The principal role of the media in projecting an image favourable to Israel
was traced and its origins discussed. The Zionists are most influential in the
domain of the media, which they mobilize to transforni the fundamental nature of the
problem, to subordinate the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians to Zionist
designs and to the Jewish historical experience, and to disassociate the
Palestinian cause from other national liberation movements. To counteract this; it
was felt that attempts should be made to prove that any hostility towards Israeli
policies had no relation to anti-semitism and that European security was in no way
directly tied to Israeli politics.
33. In tracing the evolution of Western European policies and attitudes on the
question of Palestine, the influence of the united States of America on these
attitudes was stressed. It was suspected that even those Western European nations
-35-
37. The United Nations role in the search for a solution to the pr~~lem of
Palestine was reviewed and carefully analysed. It was maintained that the United
Nations had a great responsibility to give effect to a solution stemming directly
from the provisions of the United Nations Charter and from General Assembly
resolution 181 (11) of 29 November 1947 and other relevant resolutions of the
United Nations.
36. It was suggested that there should be a sophisticated information campaign for
a better understanding of the true Palestinian cause, at all levels of influence
such as the media, trade unions, youth organizations, non-governmental
organizations and religious institutions. This could include the production of a .
film which dramatizes the question of Palestine. The infrastructure and the means
already exist and it was only a question of co-ordination and organization.
-36-
35. The new awakening on the issue dates back to 1973. The first solid
counter-reaction took the form of the oil embargo, and this gave rise to a
significant shift in attitudes. There has been a gradual shift noticeable in the
official policy followed by western European governments, and an even more
pronounced change in public 'opinion, as evidenced by the many pro-Palestinian
demonstrations and the formation of pro-Palestinian groups. This movement at the
grass-roots level is gaining momentum; it needs to be fed with new information and
encouraged to become more vocal.
which were more s~thetiC t~th:'J:li9ht~'Of the Pa1estinians and were aorma:::"~~'~'prepared to support them nevertheless felt reluctant to isqlate the position of the United States and were awaiting the outcome of the policy review by the present United States administration. 34. It was noted that Israel relied heavily on United States aid and in particular on military aid, so as to ma.1nta1n.a qu.ant1tative and qua1.1tat1.ve superiority over its Arab neighbours. This policy is also backed by some western European
countries, not only in economic aid but also in military assistance, in addition to
the immigration of Jewish.manpower into Israel from all over Europe and North
America.
380 In reviewing th~ history of United Nations involvement in the question, it was
noted that considerable progress had been made in the recognition of the political
aspects of the legitimate Palestinian demands aID] in defining the basic principles
for a settlement of the Middle East conflict and the Palestine issue through
peaceful means.
39. While recognizing the limitations within which the United Nations worked, it
was agreed that it was possible for the United Nations to make further progress on
this issue through the continued efforts of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian Pe~ple, the International Conference
scheduled to taKe place no later than 1984, and further action in the General
Assembly and the decurity Council and other United Nations bodies.
40. Such action could include, within the Security Council, the positive
examination of the recommendations of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the adoption of a comprehensive
resolution which would give recognition to the Palestinian peoples' inalienable
rights and the right of all States in the region to exist in peace and within
secure boundaries.
42. In this connection it was recalled that the Co-ordinating Bureau of the
Non-Aligned Movement had at its meeting in Kuwait in April 1982 called upon the
Secretary-General to undertake at the earliest possible time, contacts with all
parties to the Arab-Isra~li conflict with a view to finding concrete ways and meal>~
to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting solution. That meeting had also
called upon the President of the General Assembly to resume the meeting of the
seventh emergency special session on the question of Palestine no later than
20 April 1982.
~~~=~~~'~thin~::::::~::was suggested that decisions should he adopted
:hiCh would ensure that the International Conference on the Question of Palestine
would find effective ways and means of qchieving a comprehensive, just and lasting
settlement of the problem.
43. The United Nations remained the only appropriate international framework
capable of solving the problems of the Middle East and Palestine. Other partial
agreements, such as the Camp David Accords negotiated outside the framework of the
United Nations and without the participation of representatives of the Palestine
Liberation Organization, made no effective provision for the exercise of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, thus complicating and retarding the
prospects of a comprehensive solution.
44. The moral and political authority of the United Nations should be used to
bring about an objective approach to the question of Palestine.
45. Gratitude was expressed to the panelists for the high quality and depth which
characterized the studies they had submitted and which had generated so much
stimulating debates.
!
46. A Programme of Action was adopted by the Seminar (appendix I) which also
addressed an Appeal to western European Governments for justice in Palestine
(appendix 11). A further Appeal for a Western European initiative in the Near East
was addressed by the Western European participants in the Sen.inar (appendix Ill).
47. The Seminar concluded with the adoption of its report and with an expression
of gratitude by the participants to the Government of Malta for permitting the
Seminar to be held' in Valletta, for the co-operation and generous assistance it had
extended in the organization of the Seminar, for the interest it had taken in its
p,~oceedings and for the friendly atmosphere in which it was held.
-37-
II
The Secretary-General pf the United Nations is urged to ensure that the
Special Unit on Palestine Rights concentrate its effo~ts on increasing its contacts
throughout Euope by establishing loser liaison with non-governmental
organizations, the media and the other 9rr,lups intt:J:tE:sted in the question of
Palestine, so a~ to organize one or more regional meetings on the question of
Pa'testine, at an appropriate time to be agreed upon, which w(,'lld give maximum
publicity to the just c&use of the Palestinian people and promote effective
gcvernmental action to achieve an equitable sOlution.
lOitri"""""""''''_'lOCU&L £""""",,,2&_,""--~"""""""""L_"""_'_i"" Appendix I PrOgrammeIOf Action
A sophisticated campaign should b~ launched in Western Europe to promote the Palestinian cause, and to do it at all levels - the me~ia, trade unions, youth and women's organizations, non-governmental organizations and religious institutions.
This could include the production of an information film which dramatizes the
Palestinian question. Existing means and resources may be utilized to pursue this
"..'.l'm•
I-38-
lie
Appendix II
The Valletta Appeal to Western Europe for Justice in Palestine
Malta, 16 Apr;l 1982
We, the participants in the Sixth United Nations Seminar on the Question of
Palestine,
Concerned at the situation in illegally-occupied Palestine,
Concerned also at the acts of repression frequently and currently perpetuated
by Israel on the Arab inhabitants of these territ~ries,
f2ncerned at the threat to peace in the area as a result of these acts,
Deploring Israelis continued refusal to abide by United Nations resolutions,
its violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations and its
defiance of "'orld public opinion,
Anxious to promote a just and peaceful solution,
Conscious of the potentially constructive role that Western Europe can, and
has a-:~oral responsibility to, play in promoting a resolution of the problem,
Convinced that an impartial consideration of the question of Palestine by all
Governments would undoubtedly lead to the restoration of the legitimate righ~s of
the Palestinian people and to a just solution of the question~ thus remove existing
tensions which constitute a threat to international peace and security,
Appeal to the Governmental organizations and people of Western Europe to urge
their Governments urgently to adopt an impartial approach to the question of
Palestine and to assume their proper role in restoring the legitimate rights of the
Palestinian people on the basis of the recommendations of the United Nations
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
thereby promoting a peaceful solution to a problem which has endangered
international peace and security for an entire generation.
-39-
Appendix III
Appeal for a western European initiative in the Near East
_.~~""'_"~~c .•''''.".£.. jtiL...... -.......,;;-'--:For 35 years the situation of the Palestinian peopl~ has been constantly
deteriorating: half of these people have been deprived of their lands and are
living in the unacceptable condition of refugees, the other half are living under
occupation and are the vidtims of repression, as is shown by the recent incidents
in the west Bank area.
A defenceless people has been subjected to a veritable martyrdom, in violation
of all the rules of international law and all the resolutions of the United Nations
since 1947.
We, Europeans of all political and intellectual tendencies, who are
participating in the Sixth united Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine
behind held in Malta, have .the duty to declare that the situation imposed on the
Palestinian people is intolerable and that it is time for a just solution to this
problem to be found.
Europe should demand that the State of Israel put an end to its aggressive and
expansionist policy and withdraw from all the occupied Arab and Palestinian
territories. The exercise by the Palestinian refugees of their right to return
should be guaranteed. Like all other peoples, the Palestinian people should have
the right of exercising ~heir inalienable right to self-determination within a
sovereign State on the territory of their fatherland and on the soil of their
ancestors.
In addition, talks towards the achievement of a just and lasting peace in the
Near East should be opened with the participation of all the parties concerned,
including the Palestine Liberation Organization, which is the sole and legitimate
representative of the Palestinian people.
From Malta, we address an appeal to the parliamentarians, political parties t
trade unions, organizations for solidarity and intellectuals of the European
Community to give their support to an initiative which will express the desire of the European peoples to see the Palestinian people at last living in their own
homeland in peace, freedom and dignity.
This initiative, which will include official recognition of the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the sole representative of the Palestinian people,
suould be based on the United Nations resolutions in favour of recognition of the
inalienable national rights of the Palestinians as constituting the basis for a
just and lasting peace in the Near East. Only this global peace will guarantee the
security of all the peoples and States of the region, and it remains the essential
condition for security throughout the Mediterranean area.
-40-
Accordingly, the signatories invite all those forces that are concerned for
justice and peace to organize a European Conference to be held in Athens in
November 1982.
tits!:,...' ....+'! '¥35J6ET7@
Malta, 15 April 1982
Signatories:
Tyl DECLERCQ, Christian-Democrat Senator from Belgium
Andrew FAULDS, Labour Member of Parliament from the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
Luigi GRANELLI, Christian-Democrat Senator from Italy
Leonidas KYRKOS, Communist Deputy from the European Assembly (Greece)
Jean-Yves LE DRIAN, Socialist Deputy from France
Giancarlo PAJETTA, Communist Deputy from Italy
Ernie ROSS, Labour Member of Parliament from the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
Charles SAINT-PROT, Chairman of the Committee for Peace in the Near East (France)
George VELLA, Labour Member of Parliament from Malta
-41-
ANNEX IV
Report of the Seventh United Nations Seminar on the Question of
Palestine held at the Centre International d'Echanges, Dakar,
Senegal, from 9-13 August 1982
1. The Seventh United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine with the title
"The Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People" as its central theme was held at
the Centre International d'Exchanges, Dakar, Senegal, from 9 to 13 August 1982.
Seven meetings were held and 14 panelists presented papers on various aspects of
the question of Palestine.
2. The United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was represented by a delegation consisting of Mr. Massamba Sarre
(Senegal), Chairman of the Committe~, Mr. John Aje (Nigeria), Mr. Cheick Cisse
(Mali), Mr. Andre Tahindro (Madagascar), and Mr. Alexandros Vikis (Cyprus) who
served as Rapporteur of the Seminar.
3. The Seminar was opened on 9 August 1982 by His Excellency Mr. Habib Thiam,
Prime Minister of the Republic of Senegal on behalf of His Excellency
Mr. Abdou Diouf, the Head of State of the Republic of Senegal. The Prime Minister
expressed the great concern felt by the Government and people of Senegal regarding
developments on the question of Palestine. For this reason, he declared, the
President of the Republic of Senegal had welcomed the opportunity to provide the
venue for the seminar. He reaffirmed Senegal's consistent support for the
Palestinian people in its efforts to attain and exercise its rights. The failure
to find a just, comprehensive and lasting solution for the problem of Palestine
endangered international peace and security. In this context, Senegal once again
called for Israel's withdrawal from all the territories it has illegally occupied,
includng the Holy City of Al Quds. He strongly condemned Israel's aggression in
Lebanon. In the opinion of Senegal, the aspirations of a people or nation could
not be destroyed by aggression. Senegal's participation in the United Nations
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reflected its active interest and concern in the
Middle Ease problem, in general, and in the question of Palestine, in particular.
4. At that session Mr. Massamba Sarre, Chairman of the Committee, gave an account
of the Committee's work and ref.erred to the tragic events in Lebanon in the months
of June and July this year. H~ referred also to the repressive measures taken in
the West Bank and Gaza by Israel which seemed to be the forerunner of annexation.
He stressed that the slaughter in Lebanon could have been avoided if the
Palestinians had been able to exercise their rigdts in their own land.
5. At the same session, a statement was made by Mrs. Lucille Mair, SecretaryGeneral
of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine, who stressed
the need for the active participation af all countries in the Conference and in the
preparatory activities connected with it.
6. Mr. Moncef el May, Political Counsellor of the Secretary-General of the League
of Arab States conveyed to the Seminar a message from Mr. Chedli Klibi, its
Secretary-General, who extended his greetings to the Seminar and drew attention to
the severe loss of life in Lebanon of unarmed Lebanese and Palestinians, - caused
by Israel's aggression. To remain silent in the face of such aggression would be
tantamount to complicity in these acts. He appealed to all nations to unite in
opposition to this aggression.
-42-
7. A message from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the
Palestine Liberation Organization was conveyed by Dr. Adnan Abdel Rahim, his
Special Representative to the Seminar. In this message, Chairman Arafat expressed
his appreciation of the work of the Seminar which represented solidarity with the
people of Palestine. He stated that Israel continues its destruction of
Palestinian institutions established by both the Palestine Liberation Organization
and the United Nations, and is responsible for over 30,000 deaths. He hoped that
the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
would help to reveal Israel's real aims. Peace could only be achieved w~en
Palestinians could exercise their right to self-determination. He wished lo assure
the Seminar that the struggle continues and that the Palestinian people would never
surrender.
8. His Excellency Abdel Haq Tazzi, Representative of His Majesty King Hassan of
Morocco, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee addressed the Seminar on behalf of His
Majesty and appealed to the world body to do everything necessary to compel Israel
to withdraw from the Holy City and to preserve its status in accordance with the
relevant United Nations resolutions.
9. The meetings of the Seminar were presided over by His Excellency
Mr. Moustapha Niasse, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency
Mr. Falilou Kane, Minister of State for Commerce and former Chairman of the
Cowmittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of he Palestinian People and by
Mr. Massamba Sarre, the present Chairman of the Committee. The closing session of
the Seminar was addressed by Mr. Moustapha Niasse, Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs who reaffirmed the position of Senegal on the situation in the Middle East
and the question of Palestine.
10. During this Seminar, four panels of experts were established to consider
different aspects of the central theme, the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People. These panels and their panelists were as follows:
(a) The fundamental rights of the Palestinian people
Ms. Gay McDougall (United States of America), Dr. Alfred Moleah (South
African)J Mrs. Saturnin Soglo (Benin) and Dr. Seydou Madani Sy (Senegal)
(b) Israeli policies in the occupied Arab territories
Ms. Rita Giacaman (Palestinian), Mr. 11an Halevi (Palestinian), and
Mr. Maki N'Diaye (Mali)
(c) Africa and Palestine: Measures to promote solidarity and mutual support
in the search for peace
Mr. Luis de Almeida (Angola), Mr. Aaron Shihepo (Namibian),
Prof. Harold McDougall (United States of America), Dr. Alice Palmer
(United States of America) and Mr. Bahacar Sine (Senegal)
Cd) The role of the Palestine Liberation Organization in the social,
cUltural, economic and political development of the Palestinian people
Mr. Mohammed Akbar Kherad (Afghanistan), and Or. Adnan Abdel Rahim
(Palestinian).
• -43-
11. In accordance with established practicer the'opening statements and the papers
presented by the panelists will be pUblished in full by the United Nations together
with the report of the Seminar as a contribution to its objective appraisal of the
question of Palestine and a wider understanding of the issues relating to it. The
recommendations of the seminar are attached to the report.
12. The discussions which followed the presentation of paper~ at each meeting
covered many aspects of the question of Palestine and elaborated on some of the
points made by the panelists. The main points made in the papers and in the
discussions demonstrated broad agreement amongst the participants over a wide range
of issues relating to the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people which were systematically and continually violated by Israel. There was
unanimity on the universal condemnation of these violations and of the moral,
political and human issues arising therefrom.
13. The Israeli genocidal attack against the Palestinian people in Lebanon and the
wanton massacre of Lebanese civilian populations since the month of June of this
year gave ample proof of Israel's criminal intentions as well as of its
determination to resort to genocide in order to achieve its expansionist aims. By
its defiance of United Nations resolutions and violations of the Geneva Conventions
of 1945, Israel had set itself above the law. The seminar was of the view that
these developments demonstrate that there could be no resolution of the Middle East
conflict until a just, comprehensive and lasting solution was found for the
question of Palestine based on the exercise by the Palestinian people of its
inalienable rights. It was further noted that the mere rhetorical support of the
right of the Palestinian people to self-determination was no longer an adequate
response to the situation. What was required was concrete action by States to urge
the supporters of Israel, especially the United States of America, to compel Israel
to conform to the will of the international community.
14. The Seminar was partic~larly concerned that Israel could exploit the events in
Lebanon to annex the west Bank and Gaza. The Seminar felt it to be its duty to
focus international attention on this possibility and the need to ensure that
Israel did not further violate international law with impunity. Israel's acts of
repression, which occurred with increasing fx'equency in the occupied Palestinian
and Arab territories should be stopped.
15. In light of the recent Israeli aggression against the Palestinian and Lebanese
people in Lebanon there was general agr~ement on the following:
Ca) The refusal of suocessive United States administrations to accept
the international consensus of condemnation of Israeli aggression and
expansionism has encouraged Israel. to pursue further its expansionist policies
and to launch its genocidal military operation in Lebanon against the
Palestinian and the Lebanese people; .
(b) Serious questions were raised concerning the nature of the special
relationshi of the United States of America with the State of Israel and the
responsibility and complicity of the United States administration in the
sitnation created in Lebanon by the recent and continuing Israeli aggression;
(c) Israeli intransigence and aggressiveness was encouraged by the
material, political and moral support it received from the United States. It
was thus emphasized that all such support should immedia~ely cease as it only
encourages Israel;
-44-
l
(d) For the purpose of putting an end to IsraelIs genocidal operation in
Lebanon, the Security Council was strongly urged to consider the imposition of
sanctions against Israel;
(e) The participants in the seminar expressed their admiration at the
bravery of the Palestinian and Lebanese defenders of Lebanon and extended
their wholehearted support to the Palestine Liberation Organization and all
the Lebanese patriotic forces;
16. When the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people were discussed, it was
noted that there is a growing international consensus on the fundamental rights of
the Palestinian people in spite of opposition by the State of Israel. The
inalienable rights and fundamental principles which are a requisite for a just,
comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestine question are the following:
(a) The right of the Palestinians to return to their homes and property
from which they had been displaced and uprooted;
(b) T~e right to self-determinati~nwithout external interference and
the right to national independence and sovereignty;
(c) The right to establish an independent State in Palestine;
(d) The question of Palestine is at the heart of the problem of the
Middle East and no solution to that problem can be envisaged without taking
into account the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people;
il
\\iI
b
iII
,
(e) The implementation of these inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people will contribute to a just solution of the Middle East crisis;
(f) The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with all other
parties on the basis of the General Assembly resolutions 3231 (XXIX) of
22 November 1974 and 3375 (XXX) of 10 November 1975 is indispensable to all
efforts, deliberations, and conferences on the Middle East which take place
under the auspices of the United Nations;
(g) The inadmissability of the acquisition of territory by force and the
consequent obligation for Israel to withdraw completely and speedily from all
territories so occupied.
17. There is international consensus that the restitution of these rights is a
sine qua non for establishing a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle
East. Until these rights are attained, the Palestinian people will strive to
regain them by all means at their disposal.
18. The participants at the seminar emphasized that the problem of Palestine could
only be solved with the participation of the Palestinian people headed by the
Palestine Liberation Organization, its sole and legitimate representative in any
negotiations. It was stated that the Camp David Accords, by refusing to accept the
Palestine Liberation Organization as an equal partner in the negotiations, by
attempting to determine the destiny of the Palestinian people in their absence, and
by denying them their fundamental rights, violated United Nations resolutions. The
Israeli invasion of Lebanon is further evidence of the real intentions of Israel
-45-
and of the real content of the so-called "autonomy" offered to the Palestinians by
the Camp David Accords.
19. In the discussion on Israel's policies in the occupied Arab territories, the
participants noted that Israel was alone in holding that the Fourth Geneva
Conventions of 1949 did not apply to the West Bank and Gaza, and the Syrian Golan
Heights, the Arab territories it illegally occupies, and that constant and repeated
violations of these Conventions continued daily. Israel's policy of settlements,
collective punishments, administrative detention, expulsions and confiscation of
land and water resources and the dismissal of duly elected mayors were clear
examples of these violations.
20. The reports of Israel's treatment of Lebanese, Palestinian and others captured
in the invasion of Lebanon and its refusal to grant them prisoner of war status are
cause for deepest concern. The four Geneva Conventions of 1949 apply in their
entirety to the conduct of hostilities by Israel in Lebanon. Captured combattants
of the Palestine Liberation Organization must be treated as prisoners of war within
the meaning of the Geneva Convention~ At the very minimum, captured members of the
Palestine Liberation Organization and other individuals affiliated with them,
together with all Lebanese and Palestinian civilians detained, are entitled to the
full panoply of protections set forth in the Fourth Geneva Convention for the
protection of civilians and the customary international law of belligerent
occupation.
21. Israel's policy in the occupied Arab territories was seen clearly as aimed at
dispossessing the non-Jewish inhabitants of Palestine as a prelude to the
annexation of the territories, in ~he path of the illegal annexation of the Syrian
Golan Heights and of the city of Jerusalem. The dismissal of Palestinian elected
municipal councils and the imposition of 'an Israeli so-called "civilian
administration", as well as the so-called "village leagues" at its service clearly
constitutes steps towards such an annexation.
22. The Seminar heard a detailed account of the role of women in the occupied
territories. It was noted that, in spite of having to adjust to the effects of
military occupation, women played a major part in inhibiting the destruction of the
social and cultural infrastructure, in preserving the Palestinian identity and in
preparing the way for the reconstruction of a Palestinian society. Furthermore,
women's organizations worked not merely for the improvement of the status of women,
but were mob.ilized for the struggle for national J:'ights and to resist the
occupation.
23. Along with the physical dispossession of their land and water resources, the
Palestinian Arab inhabitants, both in the occupied territories and in Israel
itself, ~ace the unhappy prospect of having even their culture eroded by the
imposition of discriminatory laws and practices, particularly the repeated and
arbitrary closures of educational institutions. It was suggested that the United
Nations and specialized agencies should take action to stop these practices. It
was underlined that the Palestinian Arab citizens of the State of Israel have been
SUbjected, since 1948, to systematic dispossession and discrimination, in violation
of Israel's formal commitments.
24. The seminar was informed of the recent military order 973, introduced with the
evident aim of exerting economic pressure on the Palestinian people. This order,
promulgated on 9 July 1982, places yet further restrictions on the t,ansfer of
-46-
funds int~ -he occupied territories. This order is aimed at imposing further
control on Palestinian political, economic, cultural and social life, thus
compounding Palestinian dependency on a~d domination by the Israeli State.
25. Attention was drawn to the close parallels between the policies of Israel in
its treatment of the Palestinians and the apartheid policies of South Africa. The
denial of the right to self-determination, with its attendant subjection to alien
and discriminatory rule was unfortunately the lot of Africans in South Africa and
Namibia and of the Palestinians both within Israel and in the illegally occupied
Arab territories.
26. In examining the contribution of Africa to the Palestinian cause, the seminar
stressed that Africa's support for the cause was based on the sympathetic
identification of a common struggle against imperialism, and colonialism as well as
on solidarity with the Arabs for their support in the struggle of African nations
against imperialism•
27. It was emphasized that for some time African-Americans have felt a sense of
solidarity with ~he just struggle of the Palestinian people because of their common
struggle against all forms of racism, including zionism. In view of the recognized
bias of the western mass media, especially that of the United States, the seminar
recommended that serious efforts should be made to present to the international
puhlic all the facts relevant to the question of Palestine in order that the issues
would be viewed from a correct perspective. The seminar was heartened by a new
awareness of the situation among the American people growing out of the Israeli
invasion of Lebanon.
28. The seminar noted that the United Nations had repeatedly reaffirmed the
fundamental rights of the Palestinian people and that it had for over 35 years
attempted to find a solution for the problem of Palestine. The recommendations of
the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian people formed a firm basis for such a sol~tion but had unfortunately
not been implemented so far, since the Security Council had been unable to take
positive action owing to the negative vote of a permanent member.
29. It was recommended that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienab~.e
Rights of the Palestinian People should take measures in order to ensure the
continuation and intensification of United Nations support for the Palestinian
people and ensure that the violations of the principles of the United Nations
Charter and the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council do not
continue.
30. The participants consider that the present Israeli aggression and invasion of
the sovereign State of Lebanon demands a response by the Security Council acting
under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The failure of the United Nations
to take such measures would create a crisis of credibility similar to that faced by
the League of Nations in the wake of fascist Italy's invasion of Ethiopia.
31. The seminar expressed its concern at the alarming financial situation of the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA) which threatened the closure of schools and, in fact, its entire mission
owing to a lack of funds. It was recommended that the international community
should assume the responsibility of aiding the Palestinian refugees and should
ensure that UNRWA should have a special fixed budget to which Member States should
-47-
contribute on the same basis as their contributions to the bUdget of the United
Nations and to which voluntary contributions should be possible.
32. The role of the Palestine Liberation Organization in the struggle of the
Palestinian people was examined. It was noted that the organization had wide
ranging responsibilities in the political, economic, social and cultural fields,
and provided a political platform as well as infrastructure for socio-economic
progress of its people. The United Nations agencies are urged to increase their
aid to the Palestine Liberation Organization in its cultural and educational
activities and enable the PLO to intervene actively in defining national goals
within the curricula of UNRWA schools.
33. The success of the Palestine Liberation Organization in this area, and the
fact that it constituted the foundation of a viable State had led Israel to wage a
total war against it ever since it was formed. The massive military action in
Lebanon was the latest manifestation of this attempt to obliterate the Palestine
Liberation Organization.
34. Confidence was expressed in the Palestine Liberation Organization's ability to
continue to be the focal point of the Palestinian people's struggle to exercise its
inalienable rights, and to establish the Palestinian State as a factor for peace
and stability in the region.
35. In concluding their work, the participants in the seminar expressed their
gratitude to the Head of State of Senegal, His Excellency Mr. Abdou Diouf, for his
directives which contributed to the seminar's success and reflected Senegal's
commitment to the just cause of the Palestinian people. They warmly thanked the
Government and people of Senegal for their assistance in holding the seminar.
-48-
APPENDIX
Recommendations
1. The Seminar recommends that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People should establish a working group composed of its
mambers and experts to consider the utility and the viability of convening a War
Crimels Tribunal to assess Israelis conduct of hostilities vis-a-vis the
international laws and customs of war.
2. The Seminar urges the Committee to request the Secretary-General of the United
Nations to demand that:
(a) Israel produce immediately a comprehensive list of all persons detained
as a result of the invasion of Lebanon;
4. The members of the Seminar request the Committee to:
(b) The International Committee of the Red Cross be given full access to all
facilities in which these detainees are being held;
The members of the Seminar request the Committee to:
(c) Those combattants and civilians be accorded the full panoply of
protections of the Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions of 1949,
respectively.
(a) Support efforts for sending delegations to investigate and assess the
extent of damage brought by the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in both
infrastructural and human terms;
(b) Recommend the co-ordination of activities, both in terms of investigation
and programme implementation, between United Nations ~gencies and other
agencies (governmental or voluntary) that are operating in the area;
(c) Recommend the intensification of efforts to channel adequate amounts of
material resources and manpower so that families and the general
population affected may be relieved as quickly as possible. Aid should
include: rebuilding and fixing of settled areas, particularly
west Beirut, Tyre, Sidon and all refugee camps; blood donations, food
distribution, medical aid and rehabilitation for the injured.
(b) Support educational institutions in the occupied territories through the
allocation of funds, appropriate training of manpower, and most
importantly, at present, join international educational institutions in
(a) Support national institutions in the occupied territories in their
economic, social and cultural development efforts, including research
grants for Palestinians, allocation of funds to support productive
projects and scholarships to train Palestinian manpower appropriately;
3.
All the above should be implemented in close association and co-ordination with the
Palestine Liberation Organization.
-49-
protesting the repeated closure of schools and universities, which
constitute a form of collective punishment;
82-27064 355ge (E) -50-
(c) Recommend the initiation of a programme of investigative .visits to the
occupied territories by United Nations officials (formal and/or informal)
so as to gain a better understanding of the depth and intensity of the
problem of occupation as well as for co-ordination purposes.
5. The Seminar r~ccmmends that the ties, similarities, and even identity between
zionism and apartheid be widely publicized, especially in ~frica, the Caribbean,
and African-American communities in the United States of America, that a special
fund be established for such purpose and th~t non-governmental organizations be
enlisted.
All the above should be undertaken in close association and in co-operation
with Palestinian national institutions, bodies or organizations.
6. The Seminar recommends that the Committee undertake the necessary measures to
establish a special fund for the dissemination of information on Palestinian rights
and to invite contributions to be made to it by States Members of the united
Nations. The special fund should be administered by a sub-committee of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, and
should be authorized to launch a programme of direct action so as to disseminate
relevant information and make disbursements to the non-governmental organizations
so that this information may reach specific constituencies.
') 7. The participants propose that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian people recommend to the General Assembly that it invest
the Committee with the powers, pursuant to General Assembly resolution, to issue
travel documents to Palestinians which could $erve in lieu of passports with States
Members of the United Nations recognizing the resolution, and also to declare
products extracted from land and water resources expropriated from Palestinians on
the West Bank and Gaza Strip as contraband, to be seized in international commerce
by any observing Member State, such products to be held in tr~st for the
Palestinian people.
RAR nOllY1fHTL H3JJ;AHHH oprAHH3AnHHOB':bEJJ;HHEHHbIX HAnHJI
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REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: THIRTY-EIGHTH SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/38/35)
UNITED NATIONS
New York, 1983
NOTE
Symbols of United Nations documen ts are composed of capital letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
[Original, Eng11sh)
[12 OCtober 1983]
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ;••• ,a;,_ ••••••••' ••••••••••••• v
2
1
6
1 - 5
CONTENTS
•.••...•..•..•..•. ~ , ,.~ .
I H'1'RODU::TION ..............................................'.
MANDATE OF THE CatMITTEE
I.
11.
LETTER OF TRANSMZTTAL
Ill. OR;ANIZA'l'ION OF WORK ....................................... 7 - 15 3
A. Election of officers ..................•..•............• 7 3
B. participation in the work of the Conunittee ••••••••••••• 8 3
c. Re-establishment of the Working Group •••••••••••••••••• 9 - 15 3
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 5
A. Action taken in accordance with paragral,11s 3 and 4 of
General Assembly resolution 37/86 A •••••••••••••••••••• 16 - 85 5
1. Review of the situation relating to the question of
Palestine and efforts to implement the
recommendations of the Committee •••••••••••••••••••
2. Reaction to developments in the occupied terd tories
(a) Emergency special session of the General
Assembly •••••••••••••••••.••••••••••••••••••••
(b) COmmunications to the secretary-General and the
President of the Security Council •••••••.•••••
(c) Action taken within the security Council ••••••
3. Attendance at Conferences ••••••••••••••••••••••••••
4. ~t10n taken by other organizations ••••••••••••••••
(a) session of the Political Consultative Committee
of the states parties to the Warsaw Treaty ••••
16 - 30 5
31 - 54 7
31 - 34 7
35 - 41 8
42 - 5.4 9
55 - 58 11
59 - 85 12
61 - 64 13
(b) seventh session of the AI-Quds (Jerusalem)
Committee of the Organization of the Islamic
Conferenee . 65 - 67 13
(c) Thirty-ninth session of the COmmission on Human
Rights .••...••..•••••••..•...•.••••..•.•..••.. 68 - 70 14
-iii-
CONTENTS (continued)
paragraphs Page
(d) seventh Conference of Heads of State or
Government of Non-Aligned Countries •••••••••••
(e) Meeting of Heads of State and Government of the
Members of the European Community, convening as
the European COunci 1 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••
(f) European parliament •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
B. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 2 of
resolution 31/86 B ••.••...•••...••••••.••••.••••.••
c. Action taken 1n accordance with paragraph 2 of
resolution 36/120 C ••••••••••.•••••.•••••••••••••••
~. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
ANNEXES
71 - 78
79 - 83
84 - 85
86 - 91
92 - 93
94 - 98
15
16
17
17
18
18
:I. Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly at its
thirty-first session................................................... 20
x :r. Report of the Eighth united Nations Seminar on the Question of
Palestine, held at Jakarta from 9 to 13 May 1983 ••••••••••••••••••••••• 23
-ivLETTER
OF TRANSMITTAL
28 september 1983
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 4 of resolution 37/86 A.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Massamba SARRE
Chairman of the o>mmittee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian ~ople
Hi s Excellency
Mr. Javier perez de Cuellar
Secretary-General of the United Nations
-vI.
INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
Peoples y was established by General Assembly resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975. Its first report, 11 submitted to the Assembly at its thirtyfirst
session, contained specific recommendations proposed by the Oommittee to
enable the palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as previously
recognized and defined by the Assembly.
2. The Committee's recommendations were first endorsed by the General Assembly at
its thirty-first session - seven sanguinary years ago - as a basis for the solution
of the question of palestine.
3. In its reports to the General Assembly at each subsequent session, 11 the
COmmittee retained its recommendations unchanged. on each occasion they were again
endorsed by the Assembly with renewed emphasis. After a thorough discussion of the
COmmittee's report and an appraisal of the situation in Palestine, the Assembly
also reviewed and renewed the mandate of the Committee.
4. Despite repeated urgings by the COmmittee, however, its recommendations have
not yet been acted upon by the Security COuncil, neither have they been
implemented. Meanwhile, the situa tion in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab
territories arising from Israeli practices remains extremely tense and last year
erupted into massive violence and armed conflict, which caused tremendous loss of
life and raised a storm of protest and resentment throughout the world.
s. 'lbroughout this difficult period, the Palestinian people remain ...,1 th their
rights arrogantly trampled upon, their legitimate aspirations unfulfilled, yet they
maintain their hope in resolute international action to inspire a peaceful
political solution. This year, after intensive ?reparations, an International
COnference on the ~estion of palestine was held at Geneva from 29 August to
7 September 1983 to assess the present situation, and made recommendations
accordingly.
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II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
6. The latest mandate of the Committee was specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of
General Assembly resolution 37/86 A of 10 December 1982, paragraph 2 of resolution
37/86 B of 10 December 1982 and paragraPi 2 of resolution 36/120 C of
10 December 1981. By those paragraPls the Assemblya
(a) Requested the Committee to keep the situation relating to the question of
Palestine under review and to report and make suggestions to the Assembly or the
Security council, as ap~o~iate,
(b) Authorized the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to prolllOte the
implementation of its recommendations, to send delegations or representatives to
international conferences where such repcesentation would be considered by it to be
appropriate, and to report tbereon to the Assembly at its thirty-eighth session and
.thereafter,
(c) Requested the SecretarY-General to ensure that the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continued to discharge the tasks detailed in
paragraPl 1 of Assembly resolution 32/40 B, paragraph 2 (b) of resolution 34/65 D
and paragraph 3 of resolution 36/120 B, in consultation wi th the Cbmmittee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people and under its
guidance,
(d) Authorized the Committee to act as the Preparatory COmmittee for the
International COnference on the QUestion of palestine, to hold sessions
particularly for this purpose and to make recommendations regarding, inter alia,
the site, scheduling of and participation in the COnference, and the provisional
agenda of the conference.
-2-
Ill. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A. Election of officers
7. At its 87th meeting, on 6 January 1983, which was opened by the
secretarY-General, the COmmittee decided to re-elect the following officers:
Chairman: Mr. Massamba Sarre (senegal)
Vice-Chairmen: Mr. Raul Fba-80uri (Cuba)
Mr. Mohammed Farid Zarif (Afghanistan)
Rapporteur: Mr. Victor J. Gauci (Malta)
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
8. The Committee reconfirmed that those states Members of the United Nations ana
Permanent Observers to the united Nations that wished to participate in the work of
the Committee as observers could do so, and during 1983 it again welcomed in that
capacity Algeria, Czechoslovakia, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, the Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab
Emirates, Viet Nam, the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic
Conference and the Palestine Liberation Organization. These States and
organizations continued throughout 1983 to participate in the work of the
Committee. In answer to previous invitations, and at their request, Niger and
Nicaragua also participated as observers from 22 OCtober 1982 and from
22 April 1983, respectively.
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group
9. The Committee once again unanimously decided that the Working Group that it
had established in 1971 should continue to function in order to facilitate the work
of the Committee by: (a) keeping up to date with events that affected the work of
the Committee and suggesting action that the Committee could usefully undertake and
(b) assisting the Committee in any other specific assignment related to its work.
10. The Committee decided to reconfirm the present membership of the Working
Group, Malta (Chairman), Afghanistan, Cuba, German Democratic Republic, Guinea,'
Guyana, India, Pakistan, senegal, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian SOviet SOCialist
Republic and, as representative of the people directly concerned, the Palestine
Liberation Organization. In view of its added responsibilities, the committee
accepted the principle of enlargement of the Working Group, which became open to
all members and observers.
11. At its 88th meeting, on 26 January, the Committee also decided that the
representative of India should act as deputy for the Chairman of the Working Group
during any unavoidable absence connected with other pressing and simultaneous
engagements.
12. It was further decided that the three subgroups of the Working Group
preViously established should be continued.
-3-
13. The first of these subgroups, together with the Division for Palestinian
Rights, monitors daily events in the occupied territories and, as appropriate,
drafts letters for signature and transmittal by the Chairman to the secretaryGeneral,
the President of the Security Council or the President of the General
Assembly.
14. The second subgroup assists the Division in the detailed work of organizing
seminars.
15. The third subgroup has the task ofl (a) periodically reviewing, with the
assistance of the Division, progress made in the studies that already had been
planned, and arrangements for reproducing those already published in languages
other than the official languages of the united Nations, (b) updating studies and
films produced by the Division, and (c) implementing the organization of the Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian people.
-4-
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
A. Action taken in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4 of
General Assembly resolution 37/86 A
1. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine and
efforts to implement the recommendations of the committee
16. 'll1e conunittee continued to follow closely developments in the occupied
Palestinian and other Arab territories and, on several occasions, in response to
events on the spot, authorized its Chairman to conanunicate to the Secretary-General
and to the President of the Security COuncil its concern at the Israeli
Government's practices and policies in those territories.
17. 'll1ese communications dealt mainly with illegal Israeli settlements in the
occupied territories, the annexation of vast areas of AI'ab-owned land, and other
widespread violation by Israel of the rights of the Palestinian people.
18. Those practices, policies and violations by Israel led the Committee, in
addition to its letters of protest, to urge that the commission established by the
Security Council in its resolution 446 (1979) to examine the situation relating to
Israeli settlements in the Arab and Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 should
be re-activated as a matter of priority. It was recalled, in particular,
that the Commission had unanimously adoptee its latest report as far back as
25 November 1980, but the report had not yet been considered by the Security
Council, despite specific and persistent urging by the Cbmmittee that the report be
considered immediately and its recommendations urgently acted upon
(A/37/240-S/l5l20) •
19. The COnunittee draws the attention of the international community to the fact
that, in the course of 1983, the GOvernment of Israel has pursued its relentless
policy of establishing and enlarging settlements in the occupied territories
despite the illegality of those actions, the censure of international opinion, the
decisions of the United Nations, and even against pUblic and parliamentary
questioning of that policy within Israel itself.
20. Those policies constitute a network of settlement programmes and several other
administrative and economic procedures designed to force individual and mass
transfers of the indigenous Arab population from the West Bank and Gaza in order to
accomplish Israel's objective of evacuating the Arab inhabitants from those
territories.
21. rt is the declared policy of Israel to place up to 400,000 non-indigenous,
colonial settlers in the West Bank within the next five years and 1.4 million Jews
over the next 30 years (see A/37/604-S/l5482). As a result, the total number of
such settlers in the West Bank and East Jersusal~m has already increased from
91,000 in April 1979 to some 140,000 in 1982 (see A/38/282, para. 39 (d».
22. Approximately 153 illegal Israeli settlements are estimated to have been
established in the West Bank and East Jerusalem by the end of 1982. This
represents an area of some 2,453 km2 , which is equivalent to 44 per cent of the
total west Bank territory, including East Jerusalem (see A/38/282, para. 39 (a)
and (b»). In still further violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, !I and in
-5-
defiance of General Assembly and security COuncil resolutions, the Government of
Israel approved, on 16 January 1983, the establishment of four more new settlements
in the West Bank (see A/38/78-S/l5572) •
23. A close look at these Israeli settlement activities reveals that Israel's
intention is to fragmentize the demographic, geographic, economic and social unity
of the occupied Arab territories.
24. ~ucation has also been seriously affected by Israeli policy in the occupied
territories. As a result of the application of military order number 854 of
8 July 1982, 28 professors of palestinian origin were expelled for refusing, as a
matter of principle, to sign a -pledge- not to support any -territorist
organization". Seven professors of foreign nationality were debarred for the same
reason (see A/38/278, para. 116).
25. Frequent closing of universities and schools has seriously disrupted academic
life. FOr example, between February 1982 and February 1983, 14 such institutions
were closed temporarily.
26. Frequent eruption of violence and armed conflict has also had devastating
effect on civilian life. It has been estimated that between 1967 and 1981 a total
of 1,291 houses were demolished, often as a result of punitive action (see
A/38/278, appendix I). OUring the period 1 september 1981 to 25 July 1982, no less
than 453 violent incidents occurred, involving the civilian population and
resulting in arrest, injury and even death (see A/37/485, para. 154). The violence
subsequently assumed even graver dimensions.
27. It is clear that Israel intends to pursue a policy of colonization based on
outmoded concepts and in violation of international law and United Nations
resolutions. Democratically elected mayors and city councils have been summarily
dismissed and replaced by Israeli administrators, the latest such incident having
taken place at Hebron. The Israeli occupying authorities in that city have not
only pursued a policy of establishing illegal settlements on the outskirts of the
city, but have now started a new phase by placing settlements within the central
city itself, surrounded by old, well established Arab neighbourhoods, causing
widespread resentment and friction.
28. FUrthermore, Israeli settlement is draining the West Bank's own underground
water resources and Palestinian farmers are kept short of essential water supplies.
29. It is no less disturbing that, since 1981, elections cannot be held in the
West Bank, undoubtedly because the results would be unfavourable to Israel (see
A/36/l77-S/l4430) •
30. In addition, widespread reports indicated that the Islamic and Christian
religious sites had been subjected to several acts of desecration and sacrilegious
acts by Israeli settlers. It was established that these acts had been carried out
with the knowledge of the Israeli occupation authorities.
-6-
1,!
12. Reaction to developments in the occupied territories
(a) Emergency special session of the General Assembly
31. As a result of the aggravated tension in the area, the Committee, in terms of
its mandate, recommended in 1980 the convening of an emergency special session of
the General Assembly. The first meetings were held from 22 to 29 July 1980.
Because of the subsequent grave developments in the region, it was found necessary
to reconvene the seventh emergency special session in 1982 during the periods 20 to
28 April, 25 to 26 June and from 16 to 19 August. if
32. As a result of still further deterioration of the situation by the tragic
events in Lebanon, and owing to the inability of the Security Council to take
action, the seventh emergency special session was reconvened for the fourth time on
24 September 1982.
33. At that session, the General Assembly adopted, by a recorded vote of 147 to 2,
with no abstentions, resolution ES-7/9 of 24 September 1982 in which it condemned
the criminal massacre of Palestinian and other civilians in Beirut on
17 September 1982, urged the Security OOuncil to investigate, through the means
available to it, the circumstances and extent of the massacre and to make pUblic
the report on its findings as soon as possible [no such investigation has yet been
reported], decided to support fully the provisions of COuncil resolutions
508 (1982) and 509 (1982), in which the Q)uncil,. inter alia, had demanded that
(a) Israel withdraw all its military forces forthwith and unconditionally to the
internationally recognized boundaries of Lebanon and (b) all parties to the
conflict cease immedi~tely and simultaneously all military activities within
Lebanon and acrosS the Lebanese-Israeli border, demanded that all Member states and
other parties observe strict respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity,
unity and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized
boundaries, reaffirmed the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force, resolved that, in conformity with its resolution
194 (111) and subsequent resolutions, the Palestinian refugees should be enabled to
return to their homes and property, and demanded that Israel comply unconditionally
and immediately with the resolution, urged the Council, in the event of continued
failure by Israel to comply with the demands contained in resolutions 508 (1982)
and 509 (1982) and resolution ES-7/9, to meet in order to consider practical ways
and means in accordance with the Charter of the united Nations, called upon all
States and international agencies and organizations to continue to provide the moat
extensive humanitarian aid possible to the victims of the Israeli invasion of
Lebanon, and decided to adjourn the seventh emergency special session temporarily
and to authorize the President of the latest regular session of the Assembly to
resume its meetings upon request from Member States.
34. As at the three previous resumed sessions, the CDmmittee continued to play its
customary role, including the drafting of resolution ES-7/9 for consideration by
the General Assembly. '!be Committee nevertheless feels bound to observe that none
of these resolutions has been implemented.
-7-
Cb) Communications to the Secretary-General and the President
of the Security Council
35. In the course of the period under review, and in response to events on the
spot, several letters wer~ sent to the President of the Council and to the
Secretary-General as follows.
36. II1<6i's letter dated 29 october 1982 (A/37/587-S/l5476), the Chairman drew the
attention of the Secretary-General and the president of the Security Council to
press reports confirming the death of a Palestinian youth from the Balata refugee
camp as a result of action taken by Israeli settlers. Following that incident,
protest demonstrations had been organized in most of the towns and refugee camps in
the occupied Palestinian territories. It had been reported that Israeli troops
opened fire on the demonstrators and that the Israeli occupation authorities had
threatened to close down all schools in the West Bank in order to prevent pupils
from taking part in such demonstrations. In the light of those developments, the
Chairman, expressing the view of the o:>mmittee, urged the Secretary-General to use
his good offices in order that measures might be taken to protect the rights of
Palestinians in the occupied territories.
37. an 8 November 1982 CA/37/604-S/l5482), the Chairman expressed the deep concern
of the Committee regarding the persistence of the Israeli policy of establishing
settlements in the occupied palestinian territories. He cited reports that the
Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Minister of Israel had announced, on
3 November 1982, that another five settlements would be established in the West
Bank..'Itle Chairman stressed that the continuation of that policy of changing the
demograplic character of the occupied territories in violation of the Fourth Geneva
COnvention of 12 August 1949 and in defiance of General Assembly and Security
Council resolutions, could only aggravate the tense and explosive situation which
already existed in the occupied Palestinian territories.
38. an 21 January 1983 (A/38/78-S/l5572), the Chairman again took up the matter of
the Israeli policy of establishing non-indigenous colonial settlements in the
occupied -Palestinian territory of the West Bank. He said it had been reliably
reported that the Q:>vernment of Israel had approved, on 16 January 1983, the
establishment of four new settlements in the occupied West Bank. Further referring
to the repressive measures being taken against Palestinians in the occupied
territories, he noted that the Committee had learned that the occupying authorities
had adopted a policy of mass arrests, assembling trade-unionists, students,
teachers, writers and journalists who were summoned for interrogation and, in many
cases, imprisonment. Also, it had been reliably reported that persons who had been
termed ·palestinians detained for security reasons" had started a hunger strike in
protest against the inhumane conditions of detention in the prisons of Al-Khalil
and Jenin.
39. In a letter dated 22 March 1983 (A/38/l22-S/l5653), the Chairman expressed the
COmmittee's deep concern at further evidence of violation of legal and human rights
on the part of the occupying Israeli authorities against the Palestinians on the
West Bank. He referred to an occasion on 10 March 1983, when Israeli soldiers were
discovered and prevented from detonating explosives intended for destruction of the
Al-Aqsa Mosque. On a previous occasion, on 4 March, a time bomb had been
discovered at that Mosque. In the same letter, the Chairman reported still further
anti-Palestinian activities perpetrated by the occupying authorities. These
included the wounding of a young Palestinian at Jerusalem on 12 March, and the
SUbsequent beating of a Palestinian woman and her children who had come to
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Ihis aid. On the same day, Israeli troops had broken into the local school at the
Shufat refugee camp, attacked students and beat them severely. Meanwhile, at
Hebron, occupying authorities had ordered the closing of the Polytechnic Institute
in retaliation for previous student participation in anti-occupation
demonstrations. Al-KhaIil University and schools at Halhoul, Yatta, Deit Sahour
and NabIus had also been ordered closed. At Yatta, on 16 March, it had been
reported that Israeli settlers were continuing to terrorize the occupied
population. Booby traps had been discovered at the gate of the Haifa High School
in the town of Jenin, which were fortunately discovered and detonated. On
17 March, it had been reported that Israeli occupation troops had opened fire on
Palestinian anti-occupation demonstrators at Beft Sahour. One school had been
ordered closed until further notice, bringing to five the number of schools so
closed in the Bethlehem area. At the same time, curfews remained on Palestinian
refugee camps and particularly brutal measures had been taken against the Dheiseh
Camp.
40. on 30 March 1983 (~38/l28-5/l5667), the Chairman drew attention to a
particularly distressing event in the occupied territories of the West Bank
concerning widely reported illness among Arab schoolgirls. Local residents had
believed the illness to have been induced by some kind of poison, perhaps even gas
poisoning, in the girls' classrooms. It had been variously reported that from
250 to some 1,000 young people had been so affected. The Chairman said he was
aware that investigators from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the
United Nations had been called upon and, pendinq results of their investigations,
he urged the Secretary-General to exert the full authority of his office to
ascertain the extent, cause and perpetrators of that abhorrent event. This matter
was subsequently taken up by the security Council in informal consultations on
4 April 1983 and a report on the subject (S/15756) was transmitted to the Council
by the Secretary-General on 10 May.
41. On 18 July 1983 (A/38/306-S/l5880), the Chairman referred to reports that the
Israeli Government intended to carry out its decision to ,restore an old quarter of
Hebron and establish non-indigenous colonial settlers there, despite the local Arab
resistance. He emphasized that this policy was exceptional in that the planned
settlements would be situated in the very centre of the town of Hebron, not on the
outskirts, and would be surrounded by long-established Arab quarters. The Chairman
went on to point out that that policy had. exacerbated tensions and had given rise
to numerous manifestations of violence and other related acts in the town. He
referred to the burning of some 90 per cent of the Arab stalls in the town market
and the dismissal of the acting mayor of the town, the latter action having been
approved by the Israeli cabinet on 10 July 1983. In that connection, the Chairman
quoted an official statement by the Israeli labour opposition party, which said
that any attempt to create a mixed city in Hebron against the wishes of the Arab
population would cause generations of grief.
(c) Action taken within the Security Council
42. In addition to transmitting letters on matters of urgency to the SecretaryGeneral
and the President of the security Council, the Committee, through its
Chairman, participated in meetings of the Security Council called to consider the
accelerating tension in the occupied Arab and Palestinian territories. Between
12 November 1982 and 2 August 1983, the Council devoted 10 meetings to
consideration of current Israeli activities and policies.
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43. On 12 November 1982, the Security Council met at the request of the Arab Group
and of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to consider the question of
Israel's perseverance in its poli<¥ of establishing settlements in the occupied
Arab and Palestinian territories.
44. In his statement to the Council on that occasion, the Chairman of the
COmmittee expressed the fear that, under the cover of the tragic events in Lebanon,
and profiting from the fact that the troubles it had created in that country were
monopolizing world attention, Israel might be emboldened to put into effect its
plans for the illegal annexation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to satisfy its
ambitions based on alleged political security considerations.
45. In defiance of international public opinion and international law, Israel had
not only continued to strengthen its existing settlements, but had indicated that
several new settlements would be established by means of illegal confiscation of
land at the expense of the Arab inhabitants. He stressed that the settlements were
not mere agricultural co-operatives but rather urban centres, often at commuting
distance from Israeli metropolitan zones, thus hindering a future solution.
46. Nearly every day there had been reports of repressive measures taken against
the civilian population of the West Bank and Gaza. News representatives had spoken
of demonstrations suppressed by force with, inevitably, loss of human life.
Schools had been closed for reasons that were hardly convincing. FOreign teachers
had been forced to sign political declarations under threat of deportation. Mayors
and other elected officials had been relieved of their duties.
47. In response to further requests from the Arab Group, the Security Council
resumed consideration of the situation in the occupied Arab territories on 11, 14
and 16 February and 20 May 1983. It was decided that the Council would meet again
to consider the item at a future date.
48. ~e Security OOuncil also met in informal consultations on 4 April 1983, in
order to consider the alleged poisoning of young girls in the occupied territories
of the West Bank. In a statement made by the President of the Council on 4 April
following the consultations (S/15680), the SecretarY-General was requested to
conduct independent inquiries concerning the causes and effects of the serious
problem of the reported cases of poisoning, and urgently to report On the findings.
49. Immediately upon receipt of that statement, the SecretarY-General, who had
already been in touch with the Director-General of the World Health Organization
(WHO), requested that an independent inquiry be conducted by WHO in pursuance of
the wishes of the Security COuncil.
50. On 10 May 1983, a report on this sUbject (S/15756) was accordingly transmitted
to the security COuncil. The report concluded that the WHO inquiry had not been
able to identify any specific cause or causes of the emergency. However, the
initial medical records and interviews with cases in the first outbreak and with
local health and other authorities suggested that an environmental agent could have
provoked at least some cases in the first outbreak.
51. It was the reconunendation of the Director-General of WHO that, in view of the
anxiety under which the population lived in the occupied territories, and given the
susceptibility of girls during the stressful transitional period of adolescence,
everything possible should be done to protect the local population from unnecessary
-10-
alarm. POr that purpose, the presence of WHO should be made available in the event
of any suspected recrudescence of this ill-defined health emergency. Although it
was considered unlikely that patients would suffer any significant sequelae, there
should be pcovision for clinical follow-up by WHO, should any of the young people
or their families so request.
I 52. In response to further requests from the Arab Group, in the light of recent
attacks perpetrated against Arab civilians in the occupied Arab territories, and
especially the killing and wounding of students at the Islamic COllege of the Arab
city of Al-Rhalil on 26 JUly 1983, the Security Council met on 28 and 29 JUly and
on 1 and 2 August 1983 in a series of five meetings. The Council had before it a
draft resolution that would have condemned these attacks and would have reaffirmed
its determination, in the event of non-compliance by Israel, to examine practical
ways and means in accordance with the relevant pcovisions with the C2'1arter of the
United Nations in order to secure full implementation of the resolution.
53. The security COuncil would also have determined that the policies and
practices of Israel in establishing settlements in Palestine and other Arab
territories occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem, had no legal validity,
constituted a major and serious obstacle to achieving a comprehensive, just and
lasting peace in the Middle East, and were in contravention of paragraph 49 (6) of
the Geneva Convention Relative to the protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War
of 12 August 1949.
54. OWing to the negative vote of one permanent member, the Security Council
failed to adopt the resolution.
3. Attendance at conferences
55. In accordance with paragraph 4 of resolution 37/86 A of 10 December 1982, in
which the General Assembly author ized the o:>mmittee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to send delegations or representatives
to international conferences where such representation would be considered
appropciate, the Conunittee accordingly accepted several such invitations in late
1982 and in 1983.
56. In late 1982, the Committee was represented at the Sixty-ninth InterParliamentary
COnference on the QJestion of Palestine held in IDme from 12 to
23 September 1982. the Meeting of the Ministers for ~reign Affairs and Hea~s of
Delegation of the Non-Aligned Cbunu ies, held in New York from 4 to 9 OCtober 1982,
the Conference of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers on Palestine
and Peace in the Middle East, held at Brussels from 23 to 24 OCtober 1982. the
Thirty-ninth Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers and the Nineteenth
Session of the Assembly of Heads of States and GOvernments of the Organization of
African Unity, which were scheduled to be held at Tripoli from 15 to 21 November
and 23 to 26 November 1982, respectively.
57. In 1983, the Committee was represented at the sixteenth session of the
Palestine National COuncil, held at Algiers from 14 to 18 February, the seventh
Summit COnference of the Non-Aligned Countries, held at New Delhi from 7 to
11 March 1983 J the meeting of the Parliamentary Association for FAJro-Arab
Co-operation, held at The Hague from 25 to 26 March 1983. the COnference on Namibia
held at Paris from 25 to 29 April 1983, the International COnference on the
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Alliance between SOuth Africa and Israel, held at vienna from 11 to 13 July 1983,
and the Second World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, held at
Geneva from 1 to 12 August 1983.
58. On each of those occasions, re~esentatives of the Committee took the
opportunity to make known the work of the committee and its recommendations and to
discuss ways and means of promoting their implementation. The Committee noted,
vith appceciation and encouragement, conclusive evidence of considerable
understanding of, and sympathy for, the problems of the Palestinian people as vell
as interest in the work of the o:munittee.
4. Action taken by other organizations
59. The Committee continued to follow with great interest action taken by other
organizations on matters relevant to its work. SUch action taken in 1982, after
the Committee had submitted its report y to the thirty-seventh session of the
General Assembly, was duly noted and appreciated. 'ltlis included the final
conaauniqu4 of the Meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of
Delegation of the Non-Aligned (»untr ies, held in New Yor k from 4 to 9 OCtober 1982
(A/37/540-S/l5454, annex), and the resolution on the question of Palestine adopted
at the sixty-ninth Inter-parliamentary COnference, held at lURe from 12 to
23 September 1982.
60. In 1983, action relevant to the work of the Committee undertaken by other
organizations included that of the Political Consultative Committee of the States
Parties to the Warsaw Treaty, the Al.-QUds (Jerusal em) committee, the Comission on
HUman Rights, the Seventh Conference of Heads of State or GOvernment of the
Non-Aligned countries, the Heads of State and GOvernment of the Members of the
European Community convening as the European COuncil, and the European Parliament
(see paras, 62 to 85) •
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(a)
-
session of the Political COnsultative Committee
of the States Parties to the Warsaw TreatI
61. The session of the Political Consultative Committee of the States Parties to
the Warsaw Treaty was held a t Prague on 4 and 5 January 1983.
62. At that session, the Committee adopted a political declaration
(A/38/67-S/l5556, annex) which, inter alia, attached particular importance to the
solution of the conflict in the Middle East. The participants in the session
sharply denounced Israel's invasion of Lebanon, the Israeli aggression against the
Palestinian and Lebanese peoples, and the bestial extermination of the civilian
population of West Beirut. '!!'Iey held that, in its aggressive acts, Israel had been
encouraged by those who granted it aid and support from outside. They demanded the
immediate and complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, and safeguards
for the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of that country,
63. 'Lbe participants were favourably disposed towards the principles for solving
the problem of a Middle East settlement put forward at the Twelfth Arab Summit
Conference, held at Fez, Morocco, from 6 to 9 September 1982, and voiced the
conviction that a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East must provide for,
complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from all Arab territories occupied
since 1967, including the eastern part of Jerusal. em, recognition of the legitimate
rights of the Arab people of Palestine, including the right to create its own
independent State, safeguarding the right of all States in the area to secure and
independent existence and development, termination of the state of war and
installation of peace between the Arab States and Israel, and elaboration and
adoption of international guarantees of a peaceful settlement.
64. It was declared that the solution of these tasks necessitated the convening of
an international conference with the participation of all interested parties,
including the Palestine Liberation Organization, as the sole legitimate
representative of the Arab people of Palestine. An important role could and must
be played by the United Nations.
(b) Seventh session of the Ai-QUds (Jerusal em) Committee
of the Organization of the Islamic COnference
65. The seventh session of the AI-Quds (Jerusal. ern) Committee of the Organization
of the Islamic COnference was held at Marrakech, Morocco, on 21 and 22 January 1983.
66. Having considered the results of the Arab Summit Meeting, held at Fez from
6 to 9 september 1982, the COmmittee decided to subscribe to the peace plan adopted
at that meeting as a new basis for achieving a just and lasting settlement of the
Middle Eastern question.
67. In its final declaration, the Al-QUds Committee called urgently for the
setting up of a strategy to face the danger created by the continued Israeli
settlements poliq{ at AI-Quds and its surroundings as well as in other parts of
occupied Palestinian territories. FUrther, the Committee appealed to Islamic
countries to implement its resolutions without delay, by creating national
organizations entrusted with collecting donations to face Israel's continued
settlement poliqr. The Coromi ttee also called for the promotion of contacts with
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the vatican as well as with the World Council of Churches and other Christian
institutions in order. to secure support for the Arab peace plan.
(c) 'lhirty-ninth session of the Commission on Human Rights
68. At its thirty-ninth session, held from 31 January to 11 March 1983, the
COmmission on Human Rights adopted four resolutions dealing with the situation in
the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine (1983/1 A and B, 1983/2 and
1983/3). In resolution 1983/1 A, the Commission strongly condemned Israeli
policies and practices, administrative and legislative measures to promote and
expand the establishment of settler colonies as well as the following practices in
the occupied Arab territories, including Jerusalem,
R(a) The annexation of parts of the occupied territories including Jerusalem,
"(b) The continuing establishment of new Israeli settlements and expansion of
the existing settlements on private and public Arab lands, and the transfer of an
alien population thereto)
"(c) The arming of settlers in the occupied territories to commit acts of
violence against Arab civilians, and the perpetration of acts of violence by these
armed settlers against individuals, causing injury and death and wide-scale damage
of Arab property,
"(d) The evacuation, deportation, expulsion, displacement and transfer of
Arab inhabitants of the occupied territories, and the denial of their right to
return,
"(e) The confiscation and expropr iation of Arab property in the occupied
territories and all other transactions for the acquisition of land involving
Israeli authorities, institutions or nationals on the one hand, and inhabitants or
institutions of the occupied territories on the other,
"(f) The destruction and demolition of Arab houses,
"(g) Mass arrests, collective punishments, administrative detention and
ill-treatment of the Arab population and the torture of persons under detention,
and the inhuman conditions in prisons,
"(h) The pillaging of archaeological and cultural property,
"(i) The interference with religious freedoms and practices as well as with
family rights and customsl
"(j) The systematic Israeli repression against cultural and educational
institutions, especially universities, in the occupied Palestinian territories,
closing them or restricting and impeding their academic activities by SUbjecting
selection of courses, textbooks and educational programmes, admission of students
and appointment of faculty members to the control and supervision of the military
occupation authorities and by the expulsion of numerous faculty members of several
universities for refusing to sign statements containing political positions, in
flagrant defiance and disregard of their right to academic freedom,
-14-
j
"(k) The illegal exploitation of the natural wealth, water and other
resources and the population of the occupied territories,
"(1) The dismantlement of the municipal services by dismissing the elected
mayors as well as the municipal councils and forbidding Arab aid funds.-
69. In resolution 1983/1 B, the COmmission reaffirmed that the Geneva Convention
relative to the protection of Civilian Persons 1n Time of War of 12 August 1949 was
applicable to all the Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including
Jerusalem, and condemned the failure of Israel to acknowledge the applicability of
that Convention to the territories it had occupied since 1967.
70. In resolution 1983/2, the Commission declared that Israel's decision of
14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the
occupied syrian Galan Heights constituted an act of aggression under the provisions
of Article 39 of the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolution
3314 (XXIX), and called upon Israel to rescind its decision, and firmly emphasized
the overriding necessity of total and unconditional withdrawal by Israel from all
Palestinian and syr i an terr i tor ies occupied since 1967, including Jerusal em, which
was an essential ~erequisite for the establishment of a comprehensive and just
peace in the Middle East. In resolution 1983/3, the Commission condemned in the
strongest terms the large-scale massacre of Palestinian civilians in the Sabra and
Shatila refugee camps for which the responsibility of the Israeli Government had
been established, and reaffirmed the inalienable right of the Palestinians to
return to their homes and property, from which they had been displaced and uprooted
by Israel, and called for their return in the exercise of their right to
self-determination.
(d) Seventh Conference of Heads of State or Government
of Non-Aligned Countries
71. The Seventh Conference of Heads of state or Government of Non-Aligned
Countries, which was held at New Delhi from 7 to 12 March 1983, considered,
inter alia, the questions of Palestine and Lebanon, as well as the situation in the
Middle East, and adopted several paragraphs on these matters in a political
declaration (see A/38/l32-S/l5675 and Corr.l).
72. On the question of Palestine, the Conference decided to set up a Committee, at
the level of Heads of State, to co-operate with the seven-member Arab Committee to
support the rights of the Arab palestinian people in accordance wi th international
law and the will of non-aligned countries and their peoples (A/38/132-S/l5675,
annex, para. 98).
73. The Conference strongly condemned Israel for its continued occupation of
Palestinian and other Arab territories and for its persistent acts of repression
against the Palestinian people, and demanded the united Nations security Council to
invoke the powers vested in it with a view to imposing on Israel the relevant
sanctions prescribed in the united Nations Charter until Israel complied fully with
the relevant decisions of the COuncil concerning Palestine and the Middle East as
well as those relating to Lebanon in council resolutions 508 (1982) and 509 (1982)
(ibid., para. 87).
-15-
74. The COnference considered it necessary, especially since Israel's aggression
of 1967. to reaffirm all the principles and resolutions previously adopted by the
Non-Aligned Movement in regard to the question of Palestine and the Middle East
situation (ibid., para. 101).
75. The Conference expressed its support for and adopted the Arab Peace Plan
proclaimed at the Twelfth Arab SUmmit COnference, held at Fez, Morocco, and
emphasized that this Plan constituted a framework for establishing a just and
durable peace in the Middle East (ibid., para. 102 Ca».
76. The Conference reaffirmed the principles on which it extended its solid
support to the legitimate cause of the Palestinian people and rejected all plans,
arrangements and agreements which did not conform to those principles (see ibid.,
para. 84). -
77. The Heads of State or GOvernment welcomed the resolutions of the sixteenth
session of the Palestinian National Council, held in Algeria from 12 to
22 February 1983, and affirmed their full solidarity with the Palestine Liberation
Organization (ibid., para. 85).
78. The conference stressed the urgent need to undertake concrete action to
achieve a jus t and comprehensive peace on the basis of the principles enunciated in
its declaration (ibid, para. 86).
(e) Meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Members of
the European Community, convening as the European COuncil
79. At its meeting at Brussels on 22 March 1983, the European Council adopted
several conclusions on the situation in the Middle East (A/38/l24-S/lS657).
80. The Council was convinced that all parties should work towards the achievement
of withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon and a resumption of negotiations
aimed at a comprehensive peace settlement, and expressed support for the efforts of
the United states of America to achieve this objective.
81. It was stressed that a lasting peace could only be built on the right to a
secure existence for all states in the region, including Israel, and justice for
all the peoples, including the right of the Palestinian people to
self-determination. These rights must be mutually recognized by the parties
themselves. Negotiations will have to embrace all the parties concerned, including
the Palestinian people, and the Palestine Liberation Organization will have to be
associated with them.
82. The Council concluded that the initiative of the President of the United
states of 1 september 1982 indicated a way to peace and the Arab summit meeting at
Fez demonstrated a readiness for it. They added that the conclusions of the
sixteenth session of the Palestine National COuncil could and should contribute to
the peace process.
83. The Council stressed that the time had come for Israel to show that it stood
ready for genuine negotiations on the basis of Security OOuncil resolutions
242 (1967) and 338 (1973), in the first place by refraining from enlarging existing
settlements or creating new ones. These settlements were contrary to international
law and a major and growing obstacle to peace efforts.
-16-
i!
ef) European Parliament
84. At its meeting on 19 May 1983, the European Parliament adopted a resolution
regarding the situation in the Middle East. The resolution called on the Fbreign
Ministers of the European Community meeting in Luxembcurg 1n late May 1983 to take
a decision reaffirming the Community's vital role in finding a solution to the
political problems of the Middle East. The ~reign Ministers were called upon to
use every available means in the context of their common foreign and external
economic poliqj to urge Israel to call an immediate halt to its settlement policy
in the West Bank and Gaza.
85. In addition, the Parliament urged the Community to take part in the
International Conference on the Question of Palestine.
B. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 2 of
resolution 37/86 B
86. In paragraph 2 of resolution 37/86 B of 10 December 1982, the General. Assembly
requested the secretary-General to ensure that the Division of Palestinian Rights
of the Secretariat continued to discharge the tasks entrusted to it, in
consultation wi th the Commi ttee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People and under its guidance.
81. In accordance with that resolution, it had originally been intended that
three seminars should be held in the course of 1983. However, in view of the
rescheduling of the International COnference on the Question of Palestine and
consequently of its preparatory meetings, it was decided that only one seminar
could be held in 1983, on account of the heavier concentration of work. 'Ibe eighth
seminar on palestinian rights accordingly took place at Jakarta from 9 to
13 May 1983. 'Ibe report of that seminar is annexed to the present document (see
annex II) •
88. The Commi ttee continued to s tress the importance of semi nars and reconunended
that the Division for Palestinian Rights should continue to expand its efforts in
this regard on the basis of experience hitherto gained. Committee members
attending those events again confirmed that the collective contributions of
academicians, parliamentarians and other participating opinion makers had served to
promote wider and more objective understanding of the Palestinlan question.
89. '!he Committee noted that, with the co-operation of the Department of Public
Information and other offices of the Secretariat, the film on Palestinian rights
had been updated, as had the photographic exhibit on Palestinian rights installed
at United Nations Headquarters, which was available to United Nations information
centres for wide distribution.
90. In addition, the Committee noted that the Division continued to pursue its
obligation to prepare and distribute studies on matters relating to the Palestinian
question and to have some of them translated into languages other than the official
languages of the United Nations.
91. Regarding the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, the
Committee observed with appreciation that this had been duly commemorated in many
capitals in 1982. It was hoped that more and more Governments would not only
continue to observe the Day in their customary manner but even to do so in a more
meaningful and effective manner.
-11-
c. Action taken in accordance with paragraeh 2 of
resolution 36/120 C
92. By paragraph 2 of General Assembly resolution 36/120 C of 10 December 1981,
the Committee on the EXercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
was authorized to act as the Preparatory Commi ttee for the International Conference
on the Question of palestine, scheduled to be held not later than 1984, in
accordance with paragraph 1 of the same resolution. The date was subsequently
advanced to 16 to 27 August 1983 and later changed to 29 August to 7 September 1983.
Members of the Committee attended all the regional meetings held in connection with
conference preparations.
93. A detailed report of activities concerning preparations for the Conference has
been issued separately, so has the report of the COnference itself (A/ODNF.114/42).
v. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
94. The committee, after the intensive activities of the year under review, has
abundant evidence that its original recommendations have now been clearly
understood by nations and peoples in all geographic regions in the world and that
those recommendations are seen to be fair, legally founded, and peaceful, and
should therefore be lasting when implemented.
95. The Committee is also greatly encouraged by the positive outcome of the
International COnference on the Question of Palestine and feels that a new impetus
has now been given to modalities for the attainment of the rights of the
Palestinian people as the prerequisite for an overall settlement of the
Arab-Israeli conflict. The recommendations of the Cornndttee are duly reflected in
the Geneva Declaration on Palestine and the Programme of Action (see A/CONF.114/42)
adequately covers the steps needed for implementation.
96. The COmmittee considers the final documents of the International Conference on
the Question of Palestine to be of great value for a comprehensive, just and
lasting political settlement of the q~estion of Palestine. While unanimously
supporting the Geneva Declaration and the Programme of Action, the Cornrrnttee
appeals to the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session and to the Security
Council to endorse those documents and to give full support for their
implementation.
97. The Committee therefore recommends resolute action by all nations,
particularly those in the region, through the Security Council, so that the present
destructive momentum will be revised, conflict will cease and a steady course of
action in the search for durable and comprehensive peace will be set in motion.
98. The Committee also recommends that concrete actions be undertaken in order to
convene an international peace conference on the Middle East as it was proposed at
the International Conference on the Question of Palestine and appeals to all
parties concerned, as well as the united States of America and the union of soviet
Socialist Republics to co-operate fully on this matter.
Notes
1I The Committee is composed of the following members: Afghanistan, Cuba,
Cyprus, German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao
People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian SOviet Socialist
Republic and Yugoslavia.
1I Official Records of the Genetal Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
SUpplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
11 ~., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 <A/32/35)J ~.,
Thirty-third Session, SUpplement No. 35 (A/33/35 and Corr.l), ~., Thirty-fourth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35 and oorr.l)J ibid., Thirty-fifth session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/35/35 and Corr.l) ~ ~., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/36/35)1 and ~., Thirty-seventh session, SUpplement No. 35 (A/37/3S and
Cor r.1.
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, p. 287.
~ An account of the seventh emergency special session, and its three
subsequent resumed sessions, is contained 1n the Official Records of the General
Assembly, Thirty-seventh session, Supplement No. 35 (A/37/35), paras. 24 to 48.
21 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-seventh Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/37/35).
-19-
ANNEX I
Becommendations of the committee endorsed by the General Assembly
at its thirty-first session !I
I. BASIC OONSIDEAAT IONS AND GUIDELINES
59. The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and,
consequently, the Cbmrnittee stressed its belief that no solution in the Middle East
can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate aspirations
of the Palestinian people.
60. The legitimate and ina!. ie nab1e rights of the Palestinian people to return to
their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence
and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the full
implementation of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and
final settlement of the Middle East crisis.
61. The participation of the palestine Liberation Organization, the representative
of the palestinian people, on an eq~l footing with other parties, on the basis of
General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is indispensable in all
efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which are held under the
auspices of the united Nations.
62. '.Ibe Committee recall s the fundamental pr inciple 0 f the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligation for
complete and speedy evacw.tion of any territory so occupied.
63. The Committee considers that it is the duty and the responsibility of all
concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their ina ienable rights.
64. The Cbmmittee recommends an expanded and more influential role by the united
Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine
and in the implementation of such a solution. The Security COuncil, in particular,
shculd take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of
their right to return to their homes, lands and property. The Committee,
furthermore, urges the security Council to promote action towards a just solution,
taking into account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter of the United
Nations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numerous
resolutions of the united Nations, after due consideration of all the facts,
proposal s and suggestions advanced in the course 0 fits deliberations, that the
committee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation of
the exercise of the ina!. ie nable right.s of the Palestinian people.
11. THE RIGHT OF RETURN
66. The natural. and inal. !enable right of Palestinians to return to their homes is
recognized by resolution 194 (Ill), which the General Assembly has reaffirmed
almost every year since its adoption. This right was also unanimously recognized
by the Security Oouncil in its resolution 237 (1967), the time for the urgent
implementation of these resolutions is long overdue.
-20-
67. without prejudice to the right of all Palestinians to return to their homes,
lands and property, the COmmittee considers the programme of implementation of the
exercise of this right may be carried out in two phases:
Phase one
68. The first phase involves the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) The Security Council shculo request the immediate implementation of its
resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementation should not be related
to any other condition,
(ii) The resQ.1 rces of the International Comni. ttee 0 f the Red Cross (ICRC)
and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works 1\gency for palestine
Refugees in the Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be
employed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved in
the resettlement of those returning to their homes. These agencie s c001d
also assist, in co-operation with the host countries and the Palestine
Liberation organization, in the identification of the displaced
Palestinians.
Phase two
69. The second phase deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced between 1948 and 1967. The COmmittee recommends that\
(i) While the first phase ia being implemented, the United Nations in
co-operation with the States directly involved, and the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the interim representative of the palestinian
entity, should proceed to make the necessary arranqements to enable
Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967 to exercise their right to
return to their homes and property, in accordance with the relevant
united Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly
resolution 194 (III),
(ii) Palestinians not choosing to return to their homes shQlld be paid just
and equitable compensation as provided for in resolution 194 (III).
Ill. THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION, NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE
AND SOVEREIGNTY
70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to self-determination, nationaL
independence and sovereignty in Palestine. The Committee considers that the
evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in violation of the principles
of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the united Nations is a conditio sine
qlEl non for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its ina.. ienable rights of
Palestinians to their homes ana property and with the establishment of an
independent Palestinian entity, the Palestinian people will be able to exercise its
rights to sel f-determination and to decide its form of government without external
interference.
-21-
71. The Committee also feels that the United Nations has an historical duty and
responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the economic
development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
72. To these ends, the COmmittee recommends that:
(a) A timetable should be established by the Security Council for the
complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in 1967,
such withdrawal should be completed no later than 1 June 1977J
(b) The security COuncil may need to provide temporary peace-keeping forces
in order to facilitate the process of withdrawalJ
(c) Israel should be requested by the security COuncil to desist from the
establishment of new settlements and to withdraw during this period from
settlements established since 1967 in the occupied territories. Arab property and
all essential services in these areas should be maintained intact,
(d) Israel should also be requested to abide scrupulously by the provisions
of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949, and to declare, pending its speedy withdrawal from these
territories, its recognition of the applicability of that ConventionJ
(e) The evacuated territories, with all property and services intact, shoul.d
be taken over by the united Nations, which with the co-operation of the League C)f
Arab States, will subsequently hand over these evacuated areas to the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinian peopleJ
(f) The United Nations should, if necessary, assist in establishing
communications between Gaza and the West Bank,
(g) As soon as the independent Palestinian entity has been established, t~e
United Nations, in co-operation with the States directly involved and the
Palestinian entity, shOUld, taking into account General Assembly resolution
3375 (XXX), make further arrangements for the full implementation of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding
problems and the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region, in
accordance with all relevant united Nations resolutions,
(h) The United Nations should provide the economic and technical assistanc:e
necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity.
Notes
!I Official Documents of the General Assembly, Thirty-second session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35).
-22-
ANNEX 11
ReEort of the Eighth United Nations Seminar.on the Question of
Palestine, held at Jakarta from 9 to 13 May 1983
1. The Eighth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine with "The
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people" as its central theme, was held in the
Hotel Indonesia, Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia, from 9 to 13 May 1983, in
accordance with the terms of General Assembly resolution 36/120 B. Seven meetings
were held and 16 panelists presented papers on various aspects of the question of
Palestine.
2. The united Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was represented by a delegation consisting of Mr. Massamba Sarre
(Senegal), Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Farid Zarif (Afghanistan), Vice-Chairman
of the Committee, Mr. T. P. Sreenivasan (India), Mr. Boer Mauna (Indonesia),
Mr. Khalid Mahmood (Pakistan), Mr. Darko Silovi6 (Yugoslavia) and Mr. Z. L. Terzi
(Palestine Liberation Organization). Mr. Sarre was Chairman and Mr. Boer Mauna
Rapporteur of the Seminar.
3. The opening session of the Seminar on 9 May 1983 was address&d by
Mr. Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the RepUblic of
Indonesia, who stated that the Government and people of Indonesia had maintained a
long-standing policy of unswerving support for all efforts by the international
community to achieve the effective exercise by the Palestinian people of their
inalienable rights. Indonesia's position had always been based on the firm
conviction that lasting peace could only be established in the Middle East when the
question of Palestine had been settled on an eqUitable and just baSis.
4. The Seminar was being convened during a time when the Palestinians were being
SUbjected to ever greater brutal oppression and killings. All of these heinous
acts that had brought untold tragedy to the Palestinian people and to Lebanon, had
sharply increased the danger of world-wide conflagration and had brought neither
peace nor security to Israel.
5. While the terrorization of the Palestinian inhabitants of Lebanon continued,
the population of the occupied territories had also experienced intensified
repression, intimidation and a reign of terror.
6. A comprehensive, just and lasting solution must be achieved through the
restoration to the Palestinian people of their inalienable rights to
self-determination and independence and to the establishment of their own sovereign
state. No solution could be comprehensive and just unless the Palestine Liberation
Organization fully participated in the negotiations of that solution and its
implementation. Peace and security in the region could only be based on Israel's
total and unconditional withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories, inclUding
Jerusalem.
7. The Foreign Minister expressed the hope that on the basis of the deliberations
at the Seminar, both the participants and the large international press corps at
Jakarta would do their part in heightening awareness and strengthening solidarity
with the Palestinian people. He appealed particularly to the Indonesian press to
give maximum coverage to the Seminar.
-23-
8. At the same opening session, Mr. Massamba Sarre, Chairman of the Committee,
gave a brief account of the Committee's work. He emphasized the importance of the
Seminar as a step towards ensuring that the rights of the Palestinians would be
implemented. The Seminar itself was part of a programme to ensure that the facts
relating to the question of Palestine reached not only those who were willing to
listen but also those who had hitherto consistently refused to do so or had been
denied access to the facts. For a long time, biased reporting had had the
unfortunate effect of always presenting the Palestinian people and their hopes and
ambitions in an unfavourable light or of completely ignoring them. If all the
facts were known, the resultant understanding of the question would convince the
international community of the just cause of the Palestinians. The International
Conference on the Ouestion of Palestine later in the year was a further step in the
search for a solution to the problem. It was absolutely essential that every
Government should participate in that Conference and play an active role in it.
9. A message from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the
Palestine Liberation Organization, was conveyed to the Seminar by
Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi, Permanent Observer of the Palestine Liberation Organization to
the United Nations. Mr. Arafat's message referred to the heroic Palestinian people
who had confronted and frustrated the military assault in Lebanon. The Zionists
had then resorted to the act of genocide of unarmed defenceless civilians whose
only protection was an assurance by the United States that adequate safeguards
would be guaranteed. No such safeguards were in sight. The Palestine Liberation
Organization had affirmed its adherence to all relevant united Nations resolutions
on the question of Palestine. The Palestinian people would persist in carrying the
olive branch on the road to peace but would carry, as well, the gun to secure and
ensure the peace process and to secure their safety and survival and the attainment
and exercise of their inalienable rights.
10. ~s. Rasil Basu, principal officer of the International Conference on the
Question of Palestine, made a statement on behalf of the Secretary-General of the
International Conference at the opening session. She outlined the objectives of
the Conference and reviewed the work done by the four regional preparatory
meetings, held in Africa, Latin America, Asia and West Asia, in preparation for the
Conference. Those reqional meetings were designed to build a firm political,
juridical and socio-economic foundation for the International Conference. Each
focused on a specific aspect of the larger Palestinian question. All four meetings
underscored that the United Nations must be challenged to sharpen its focus and
undertake more concrete steps regarding the question of Palestine.
11. Mr. H. Z. A. Oesman, Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference, made a statement at the opening session. He said that, despite
numerous United Nations resolutions on the recognition of the historical rights of
the Palestinian people, and the approval of the Fez Peace Plan by the Non-Aligned
Movement, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the League of Arab states,
including the Palestine Liberation Organization, the state of Israel was becoming
more and more obstinate and oppressive without the least consideration for the
official and popular international public opinion that stood by the Palestinian
people in their legitimate struggle. The international community must put pressure
not only on Israel but also on the country which was behind that entity in order to
compel it to abide by United Nations resolutions and particularly by those relating
to the problem of Palestine and its people. The big Powers in the world, with the
s~pport of other states, should impose peace by cutting the Zionist, racist entity
to its proper size, by depriving it of supplies and assistance and by imposing
necessary sanctions against it, he concluded.
-24-
12. Dr. Muhammad H. E1-Farra, Assistant SecretarY-General of the League of Arab
States, addressed the second meeting of the Seminar. In reviewing the historical
transformation in the status of Palestine since the time of the Ottoman Empire up
to the present, he cited the 1917 BaIfour Declaration as Br itain I s "worst breach of
faith-. The League of Arab States wanted to see a just and lasting peace in
Palestine which took Palestinian rights into account. It was against the basic
concept of zionism, which created an exclusively Jewish State on land purloined by
forceJ a -master raceR based on a religion, and a mili,tant,expansionist policy,
which was implemented in total disregard of the national rights of the Palestinian
people. There could be no peace as long as Israeli leaders continued to gloss over
the realities of the Palestinian people. The United States must realize that, in
dealing with the future of a people, the people must be consulted. Their future,
must be discussed with their representatives. The Palestine Liberation
Organization was the sole legitimate representative of the people of Palestine and
without its active participation there could be no peace.
13. The closing meeting was addressed by Mr. Munawir Siadza1i, Minister for
Religious Affairs of the aepublic of Indonesia.
14. Five panels were established to consider different aspects of the central
theme "The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people". These panels and their
pane1ists were as follows:
(a) Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian and Arab
territories in the light of the recent events in the region
Panelists: Mr. Ignatius Benedict Fonseka (Sri Lanka») Mr. Raja Shehadeh
(Palestinian), Dr. Muharnmad Aziz Shukri (Syrian Arab Republic»)
(b) Asia and Palestinez measures to promote solidarity and mutual support in
the search for peace
Panelists: Mr. Hardi (Indonesia); Mr. Nobuo Asai (Japan);
Professor K. P. Saksena (India») Mr. Yu Mengjia (China),
~. Saeeduddin Ahmed Oar (pakistan),
(c) The status of the Holy City of Jerusalem
Panelists: Dr. Abdelwahah Bouhdiba (Tunisia); Mr. August Marpaung
(Indonesia)J Dr. Raouf Nazmi (Egypt») Dr. Kemal Oke (Turkeyl,
H.E. Mr. Kacem Zhiri (Morocco»)
(d) The role of the Palestine Liberation Organization in the social,
cultural, economic and political development of the Palestinian people
Panelist: Mr. Janusz zebrowski (Poland»)
(e) The role of the United Nations in the search for effective measures to
enable the Palestinian people to attain and to exercise its inalienable
rights with special emphasis on the importance of the International
Conference on the Question of Palestine
Panelists: Dr. Oleg V. Kovtunovich (USSR») Dr. Amin Rais (Indonesia).
-25-
15. The Seminar decided that in accordance with previous practice, the papers
presented by the panelists should be published in full by the united Nations
together with the report of the Seminar. It was felt that that would be a valuable
contribution towards an objective appraisal of the question of Palestine.
16. The discussions that followed the presentation of papers covered several
aspects of the question of Palestine and demonstrated a general consensus on the
issues relating to the problem.
17. The Seminar agreed that the attainment by the Palestinian people of its
inalienable rights was a sine qua non for a just and durable peace in the Middle
East. The attainment of those rights as well as international law and the
provisions of the relevant Uhited Nations resolutions required that Israel should
withdraw immediately from the Arab lands it had illegally occupied since 1967. The
continued occupation merely served to exacerbate tensions in the area and posed a
threat to international peace and security.
18. In spite of the fact that the United Nations had consistently reaffirmed the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Israel had continued to violate them
and prevent their realization in defiance of international public opinion and in
violation of international law.
19. The Seminar noted that the vast majority of the international community waS
already convinced of the justice of the cause of the Palestinian people and that
many constructive suggestions had been made in attempts to enable the Palestinian
people to exercise its rights.
20. Asia's interest in and commitment to the cause of the Palestinian people was
highliqhted by many participants. It was pointed out that, while diplomatic
relations had existed between some Asian states and Israel, Israel's policy of
aggression and expansion had resulted in changing the attitudes of several of those
states. It was only natural that those who had emerged from the status of colonies
should be sympathetic to the struggle of the Palestinian people, who were now being
subjected to similar oppression. The conflict in the Middle East, at the core of
which was the question of Palestine, was of immediate concern to all Asian states
since the struggle of the Palestinian people was inseparable from peace in Asia and
the world as a whole.
21. Attention was drawn to the fact that Asian support for the rights of the
Palestinian people could be traced to the very beginnings of the problem and that
Asian nations had supported the just cause of the Palestinians when the question
was first discussed in the United Nations in 1947. That support had continued
throughout the years.
22. It was recalled that special attention had been paid to the problem at the
Asian African Conference at Bandung in April 1955. The final communique of that
Conference had contained the following paragraph:
"In view of the existing tension in the Middle East, caused by the
situation in Palestine and of the danger of that tension to world peace, the
Asian African Conference declared its support of the rights of the Arab people
of Palestine and called for the implementation of the united Nations
resolutions on Palestine and the achievement of the peaceful settlement of the
Palestine question."
-26-
23. That support was based on the fundamental and universal principles of peace,
freedom, independence, justice and human rights that the Bandung Conference upheld.
24. In order to strengthen the support for the Palestinian cause that already
existed in Asia, it was suggested that special United Nations information centres
should be established in various cities in Asia in order to establish closer
liaison with the media and to ensure that factual information on the question of
Palestine was disseminated. The media, particularly the more influential sections
of the press, had a special responsibility in this regard.
25. In order to promote solidarity with the Palestinian people, it was suggested
that Asian States which had not already done so should sever diplomatic relations
with Israel and declare contraband all produce extracted from land and water
resources expropriated from Arab lands. Further, Governments should build up
pressure on the United States to act in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
26. Israel's policies and practices in the West Bank and Gaza and other occupied
Arab territories were condemned as violations of the human rights of the
inhabitants of those territories. Those policies and practices were seen as clear
precursors of annexation in violation of international law and opinion. They were
seen as aimed at creating "facts" which would make any negotiation on the future of
the occupied territories a negotiation on the future of the Arab inhabitants rather
than on the sovereignty of the Palestinian people.
27. The Seminar held that military occupation did not and could not displace or
transfer sovereignty and that annexation of occupied territory was a violation of
the Charter of the united Nations and the tenets of international law. The Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of
12 August 1949, of which Israel was one of the signatories, applied to the occupied
Palestinian and other Arab territories. Any step towards annexation, therefore,
would be illegal just as the annexation of Jerusalem and the Golan Heights were
declared null and void and without legal effect by resolutions of the United
Nations.
28. Israel's illegal policies of land acquisition, settlements and repression in
the west Bank and Gaza were also clear violations of international law and
practice. Those Israeli policies and practices had been extensively documented by
the United Nations Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices affecting the
Human Rights of the population of the Occupied Territories, which was established
in 1968. The repeated renewal of that Special Committee's mandate, in spite of
Israel's refusal to co-operate with it, reflected the international community's
concern over the situation in the occupied territories. However, in spite of all
the efforts of that Committee and the General Assembly, the human rights situation
in those territories had continued to deteriorate.
29. The Special Committee, after objective consideration of the evidence, both
oral and written, presented to it, had come to the conclusion that the fundamental
right to self-determination in the occupied territories had been disregarded. A
policy had been elaborated and was being implemented which was designed to extend
Israeli sovereignty over the occupied territories.
30. In violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, Israel had established
over 130 settlements in the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights and was
proceeding with plans to establish several more. Those settlements were now
-27-
inhabited by Israeli citizens transferred by the Government of Israel. The
progression of settlements and encroachment which commenced in 1967 still continued
and was facilitated by illegal acquisition of land which belonged to the Arab
inhabitants. The establishment of settlements and all that it was giving rise to
by way of changes in the legal and administrative institutions in the occupied
territories as well as in the way it affected the human rights situation there were
increasingly becoming the backbone of Israel's policy of annexation.
31. In addition, there were other measures such as Military Order 854, which was
clearly aimed at preventing the evolution of the higher educational institutions
and at suppressing every manifestation of Palestinian patriotism. Military
Order 854 and its implications, the Seminar noted, had been widely condemned not
only by Governments, but also by leading academics.
32. The reality reflected in the reports of the Special Committee showed that the
Government of Israel was in the process of annihilating, if not eliminating, a
people by illegally creating a situation designed to drive them out of their
homeland or to remain in a state of perpetual subjugation.
33. Concern was expressed by the Seminar at the speed with which those policies
were being implemented in spite of the international outcry against them. The
Seminar felt that a halt and reversal of those policies was urgently required.
Recent developments had greatly increased the importance of the time factor. Each
day's delay permitted Israel to tighten further its grip on the illegally occupied
Arab and Palestinian territories and to carry out its policy of annexation, which
was increasingly acknowledged as a major obstacle to peace.
34. The policies and practices pursued by Israel in the occupied territories were
illegal because in the final analysis, the occupation itself was illegal.
35. The status of the Holy City of Jerusalem was the subject of considerable
discussion. Its history was traced and the conclusion reached that the final
status of Jerusalem would be among the most difficult of the issues to solve. The
Seminar confirmed that the occupation and Judaizat10n of Jerusalem posed a
challenge to the universal conscience and that Israel's unilateral acts to annex
the city should continue to be condemned and declared null and void and without
legal effect in accordance with relevant resolutions of the united Nations. The
Security Council should adopt measures to enforce its decisions.
36. It was not its sacred or religious aspects which gave rise to problems.
Israel had annexed Jerusalem by force and was attempting to Judaize it. The
annexation of Jerusalem and its gradual Judaization by Israel were calculated to
obliterate the unique character of the Holy City. The Israeli practices in
Jerusalem had caused am impediment to the decolonization of Jerusalem, which was
inseparable from the emergence of Palestine as a State.
37. It was stated that the right of self-determination, an inalienable right of
the Palestinian people, extended to the population of Jerusalem itself and the
Palestinians, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, were justified
in insisting on Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine when it was
established. Ultimately it was within the framework of respect for the fundamental
principles of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination that the
status of Jerusalem would find its solution. The status of Jerusalem as envisaged
in United Nations resolutions remained the basis of a solution.
-28-
38. The Seminar heard an analysis of the socio-economic contribution of the
Palestinian people in the countries throughout which they were dispersed. As a
result of the loss of their land, they had turned from agriculture, which had been
their main occupation, to urban employment such as light industry, building and the
commercial and social service sectors. Some had entered the legal, medical and
other professions and a few had attained high positions in the lands of their
aooption.
39. Economic activity at present constituted a very modest part of palestinian
potential, since the majority of the Palestinians were still employed by
non-Palestinian employers and only political independence and the end of the
Palestinian diaspora would enable Palestinians to build up their own economy.
40. The Palestine Liberation Organization's success in organizing the Palestinian
people, not only on the political level but also on the social, economic, cultural
and administrative levels had created a structural framework for the Palestinian
national identity and would be available when a Palestinian State was established.
41. The Seminar urged all States which had not as yet done so to recognize the
Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole, legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people, and to extend full diplomatic recognition to it.
42. The Seminar noted that the United Nations had given its constant attention to
the question of Palestine and that apart from the General Assembly and the Security
Council where various aspects of the problem were continually discussed, several
other united Nations bodies also dealt with the problem. However, a solution was
no nearer now than it had been in 1947.
43. The inability of the united Nations to resolve the problem was traced to the
gross violations of its resolutions and of international law and conventions by
Israel even though Israel had acceded to those conventions. It was stated that
Israel was able to persist in this defiance because it enjoyed the support of the
United states which, by the use of the veto in the Security Council/ was able to
block any action to implement the recommendations of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the palestinian People.
44. A proposal was made that certain issues could be referred to the International
Court of Justice for an advisory opinion. Among these, special emphasis was given
to the value of obtaining an advisory opinion on what the legal consequences are
for other States, of the continued presence of Israel in the palestinian and other
occupied Arab territories in violation of Security Council resolutions and
international law and conventions. Some participants, however, questioned the
advisability of adopting that course of action.
45. The path to peace lay in the attainment by the Palestinian people of its
inalienable rights and required that the right of all States in the area to
security should be guaranteed and that all parties to the conflict/ including
Israel and the Palestinian State, when it was created, must assume obligations to
respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of each other and
to settle any disputes that might arise by peacefuL means.
46. such a settlement required international guarantees. The role of guarantor
could be assumed by the Security Council.
-29-
47. The Seminar was reminded that proposals for a peaceful solution based on
United Nations decisions and resolutions such as those of the non-aligned states,
the Fez Arab peace plan and the Soviet proposal, should and could contribute to a
just settlement of the problem.
48. The Seminar agreed that the implementation of the relevant United Nations
resolutions would lead to a just, durable and comprehensive solution of the problem
of Palestine.
49. The International Conference on the Question of Palestine scheduled for
August 1983 could make a valuable contribution to a peaceful solution by drawing
the attention of world public opinion to the tragedy of the Palestine people and by
fostering activities in the search for a just solution. That Conference should
stress the responsibilty of all States Members of the United Nations for the
attainment of a lasting peace in the Middle East. It was urged that participation
at the conference should be at the highest possible level.
50. A suggestion was made that the United Nations, particularly the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, should arrange a new system to
gather and pool information on all the world-wide activities relating to Palestine.
51. It was suggested that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People should send missions to capitals of Governments which had
not so far extended their full support to the just cause of the Palestinian people,
in order to endeavour to persuade them to adopt a more positive attitude in
promoting the attainment of Palestinian rights.
52. The Seminar expressed its appreciation to the Government of the Republic of
Indonesia for its kind co-operation in providing a venue for the Seminar and for
all the courtesy and assistance it had extended to the participants to ensure that
the Seminar was a success. The interest in the Seminar shown by the Government was
a reflection of its deep commitment to the just cause of the Palestinian people.
83-26034 3977e (E) -30-
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REPORT
OF THE
COMMITfEE ONTHEEXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLERIGHTS
OF THE Pj~ESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL. RECORpS: THIRTY-NINTH SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/39/35)
., . ",
~,
REPORT
OF THE
•
COMMI'ITEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: THIRTY-NINTH SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/39/35)
UNITED NATIONS
New York,1984
NOTE
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letterscombined with
fiSUre5· Mention of sueh a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
[Original: English]
[5 OCtober 1984]
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
LE'1"I'ER OF TRANSMI'1"I'AL ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• v
1. INTRODUCTION •••••••••••••••••••••• e .
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
IV. ACTI0~ TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group •••••••••••••••••
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
1 - 9 1
10
11- 17
11 - 12
13 - 16
17
18 - 132
18 - 124
Election of officers . .
A. Action taken in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 5
of General Aseembly resolution 38/58 A ••••••••••••••••
B. Participation in the work of the Committee ••••••••••••
A.
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK •••••••••.• , .••••••••••.•••••••••.••••
1. Review of the situation relating to the question
of Palestine and efforts to implement the
recommendations of the Comnittee •••••••••••••••••• 18 - 38 4
2. Reaction to developments affecting the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people •••••••••••••••••• 39 - 89 7
(a) Communications to the Secretary-General and
the President of the Security Council ••••••••• 39 - 64 7
(b) Action taken within the Security Council 65 - 85 10
(c) Other action relating to the question of
Palestine •••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••.•••••• 86 - 89 12
3. Attendance at conferences ••••••••••••••••••••••••• 90 13
4. Action taken by the Movement of Non-Aligned
Countries, United Nations bodies, regional and
other organizations ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 91 - 124 14
(a) The Fourth Islamic Summit Conference ••••••••• 94 - 98 14
(b) Conference of Ministers of Information of
Non-Aligned Countries •••••••••••••••••••••••• 99 - 100 15
(c) Fortieth session of the Commission on Human
Rights ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 101 - 107 1S
-iiiCONTENTS
(continued)
Paragraphs Page
(d) Declaration by the Ministers for Foreign
Affairs of the States members of the European
Economie Community ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 108 - 113 17
(e) The seventy-first Inter-Parliamentary
Oonferen~e ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 114 - 117 18
(f) The Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Committee of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference ••••••• 118 - 122 18
(g) Second regular session of the Economie and
Social Council ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 123 - 124 19
B. Action taken in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3
of General Assembly resolution 38/58 B................ 125 - 132 19
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 38/58 E ••••••• 133 - 142 21
VI. ACTION TAKEN BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH
PARAGRAPHS 5, 6, 7 AND 8 OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY
RESOLUTION 38/58 C •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 143 - 154 23
VII. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 155 - 160 25
Annexes
1. Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly
at its thirty-first session ~ •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ~.... 27
II. Geneva Declaration on Palestine ana Programme of Action for the
Achievement of Palestinian Rights •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 30
III. Report of the ninth United Nations Seminar on the Question of
Palestine •••••••••••.••••••••••••••• c................................. 40
IV. North American NDn-governmental Organization SymPOsium on the
Question of Palestine: the North American Declaration ••••••••••••••• 51
V. International Meeting of Non-governmental Organizations 011 the
Question of Palestine: resolution of non-governmental organizations. 55
-ivLETTER
OF TRANSMITTl'L
18 September 1984
Sir,
l have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rignts of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly, in accordance with paragraph 5 of resolution 38/58 A.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Sig~) Massamba SARRE
Chairman of the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Javier pérez de Cuéllar
Secretary-General of the united Nations
-vI.
INTROôUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People, established by General Assembly resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10 Novernber 1975,
is currently composed of 23 Member States. 11
2. The first report of the Committee ~ contained specifie recommendations
designed to enable the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as
previously recognized and defined by the General Assembly. Those recommendations
were first endorsed by the As~embly at its thirty-fir.st s~ssion, as a basis for the
solution of thé question of Palestine.
3. In its subsequent reports to the General Assembly, 11 the Committee retained
its original recommendations unchanged. On each occasion they were again endorsed
by the Assembly with renewed emphasis.
4. After a thorough discussion of the COlnmittee's reports and an appraisal of the
situation in Palestine, the General Assembly each year has renewed an~, as
necessary, reviewed the mandate of the Committee.
5. Despite repeated urgings by the Committee, however, the Security Council has
not yet been able to act on the recommendations of the Committee, nor have they yet
been implemented in the area.
6. Meanwhi1e, arising from Israe1i practices, tension and violence persist in the
illegally occupied P~lestinian and other Arab terri tories, including Jerusa1em. In
particular, widespread conflict resu1ted from the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in
1982.
7. In consequence, as authorized by the Gène~al Assemb1y, the original date
proposed for the International Conference on the Question of Palestine was
advanced, and the Conference was he Id from 29 August to 7 September 1983 at
Geneva. The Cornmittee made a1l the necessary preparations for the widely attended
Conference, which assessed the situation and made appropriate recommendations,
contained in the Geneva Declaration on Palestine il and the Programme of Action for
the Achievement of Palestinian Rights (see annex Ir to the present report), 21
endorsed by acclamation by the participants.
8. The ina1ien~ble rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people remain
unattained. Tension and violence in the area prevail. It therefore remains the
hope and expectation of the Cornmittee that resolute and concerted international
action will 1ead to a peaceful politica1 s~lution to their plight.
9. For this purpose, the Committee attaches importance to the early convening of
the propased international peace conference on the Middle East and appreciates the
contacts already initiated in that regard. The momenturn for a peaceful solution
must be maintained through practical action.
-1-
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
10. The 1atest mandate of the COmmittee was specified in paragraphs 3 and 5 of
General Assemb1y reso1ution 38/58 A and paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 38/58 B,
of 13 December 1983. By those paragraphs the Assemb1y:
(a) Requested the Committee (i) to keep under review the situation relating
to the question of Palestine and the implementation of the Programme of Action for
the Achievement of Pa1estinian Rights 2/ adopted by the International Conference on
the Question of Palestine and (ii) te report and make suggestions to the General
Assemb1y or the Security Council, as appropriate,
(b) Authorized the COmmittee (1) to continue to exert aIl efforts to promote
the implementation of its recommendations, (ii) to send delegations or·
representatives to international conferences and (iii) to report thereon to the
General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session and thereafter.
The General Assemb1y a1so:
(a) Requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the Division for
Palest~nian Rights of the Secretariat continued to discharge the tasks alssigned to
it, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People and under its guidance,
(b) Requested the Secretary-General to provide the Division for Palestinian
Rights with the necessary resources to accomplish its tasks and to expand its work
programme througha (i) closer contacts with the media and wider dissemination of
the Division's information material, particularly where information on the question
of Palestine is inadequate, and (ii) increased contacts with non-governmental
organizations and the convening of symposia and meetings for non-governmental
organizations in different regions in order to·heighten awareness of the facts
relating to the question of Palestine.
-2-
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A. Election of officers
11. The Committee, at its 98th meeting, on 9 January 1984, decided to re-elect the
following officers:
Chairman: Mr. Massamba Sarré (Senegal)
vice-Chairmen: Mr. Raul Roa-Kouri (Cuba)
Mr. Mohammed Farid Zarif (Afghanistan) Rapporteur: Mr. Victor J. Gauci (Malta)
12. The Committee, at its l05th meeting, on 18 September 1984, elected by acclamation Mr. Oscar Oramas Oliva (Cuba) as Vice-Chairman in place of Mr. Raul Roa-Kouri (Cuba) who had departed from New York on another assignment for
his country.
B. Participation in the work oi the Committee
13. As in previous years, the Committee, at its first meeting of the year,
reconfirmed that all States Members of the United Nations and Permanent Observers
to the United Nations desiring to participate in the work of the Committee as
observers could do so.
14. During 1984 the Committee again welcomed in that capacity all the States and
organizations that had participated in the preceding year.!I The Committee also
welcomed the participation of Lebanon in the work of the Committee as an observer
from 18 September 1984. As in previous years, the Committee decided to invite the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to participate in the work of the Comm1ttee
as an observer, to attend all its meetings, and to make observations and proposals
for the consideration of the Committee.
15. In view of the critical situation of Palestinians in the occupied territories,
especially after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Committee also authorized its
Chairman, at its 99th meeting, on 22 February 1984, to address a letter to the
Secretary-General requesting him to invite all States Members of the United Nations
to participate more actively in the work of the Committee. The Secretary-General
was also asked to direct the attention of all Member States to the call for the
convening of an international peace conference on the Middle East.
16. Because of the importance attached by the Committee to the proposed
conference, a letter to that effect was sent on 22 February 1984 to the
Secretary-General; it was transmitted to Member States on 12 March 1984.
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group
17. The Committee, at its 99th meeting, decided that the Working Group, originally
created in 1977, should be re-established and constituted as before, on the
understand~ft9 ~~at ~ny ~amber or observer could participate in its proceedings. 11
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IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
A. Action taken in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 5 of General
Assembly resolution 38/58 A
1. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
and efforts to implement the recommendations of the Committee
18. In terms of its mandate, the Committee kept the situation in Palestine
constantly under review and continued to exert aIl efforts to prornote the
implementation of its recommendations.
19. Accordingly, in response to a series of events which directly affected the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the Committee authorized its Chairman
and Acting Chairman, on several occasions, to communicate its grave concern to the
Secretary-General and to the president of the Security Ceuncil.
20. Those communications, for the most part, dealt with practices and policies of
the Israeli Government which, in the opinion of the Committee, were not only in
direct contravention of international law and of the fourth Geneva Convention
relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949, ~
but were also contrary to the spirit of General Assembly and Security Council
resolutions on the subject and contradictory to the recommendations of the
Committee itself.
21. The communications thus expressed concern over the continuing Israeli
occupation of the Palestinian and Arab territories and its pelicies of establishing
illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, the
confiscation of Arab-owned land and widespread and frequent violation by Israel of
the rights of the palestinian people. The communications also draw attention t0
reported plans of the Israeli Government to apply its legislation to the occupied
terri tories. They also expressed the constant concern of the Committee over
Israeli actions affecting the lives and well-being of Palestinians living as
refugees in Lebanon.
22. Those Israeli actions led the Committee, in addition to its letters of
protest, to urge as a priority matter the re-activation of the Commission
established by the Security Council under its resolution 446 (1979} to examine the
situation relating to Israeli settlements in the Arab and Palestinian territories
occupied since 1967. The Committee pointed out that the latest report of the
Commission had been adopted as far back as 25 November 1980, but had still not been
considered by the Security Council, despite persistent urging by the Committee.
23. In its previous reports, the Committee drew the attention of the international
community te the extent of the measures taken by the Government of Israel in
establishing and enlaKging settlements in the occupied territories, notwithstanding
the illegality of such action, the censure of international opinion and the
decisions of the united Nations. The Committee noted that there had been public
and parliamentary questioning of such policies within Israel itself. The Committee
recalled that both the General Assembly and the Security Council had declared such
actions to be illegal.
-4-
24. During the year under review, the Committee noted that according to a study
prepared for the Economic and Social Council which contained information supplied
by the Jordanian authorities (see A/39/233-E/1984/79, para. 8), by the end of 1983,
Israel had expropriated 47.4 per cent of the West Bank territory. Israeli sources
have asserted that Israel now controls between 50 and 60 per cent of the land in
the occupied territories. Of the expropriated land, 26 per cent has been allocated
to Israeli settlements. Estimates based on Israeli and palestinian data indicate
that, by now, almost all of the Jordan Valley's potentially cultivable land has
been expropriated for new Israeli settlements.
25. The impact of Israeli policies in the occupied territories has been
particularly evident in so far as national resour=es are concerned, especially
water (see A/39/326-E/19'34/l11, paras. 40 and 41). In effect, restrictive measures
have been imposed on the Palestinian population of the are~ requiring that usage of
water be maintained at 1967 levels. On the other hand, preferential treatment has
been reported to be practised by the occupying authorities in supplying water to
Israeli settlers (see A/39/233-E/1984/79, para. 11).
26. The Committee also noted that, in relentless pursuit of its policy, Israel
continues to establish settlements that limit or impair the expansion and growth of
Palestinian towns and villages. In a new development, Israel has initiated the
establishment of an urban settlelnent in the very centre of Bebron, as dètailed in
the letter from the Chairman of the Committee to the Secretary-General
(A/39/ll6-S/l6366). Similar action has also been taken in Jerusalem.
27. There is at the same time an overall annual decline in residential
construction in towns and villages of the occupied territories (see
A/39/233-E/1984/79, ..ras. 12-14). New construction of housing barely covers the
need resulting from the natural increase in population. For many years, no lowincome
housing has been publicly subsidized. In addition, punitive demolition of
houses continues at an accelerated rate; this is made worse by a new measure of
sealing houses or rooms with concrete. Absence of construction to replace
dilapidated and substandard housing, together with restrictive policies of the
occupying authorities concerning building permits and transfer of funds from
abroad, is expected to worsen the serious housing condition.
28. Longer-term trends are ominous. According to document A/39/233-E/1984/79,
paragraph 15, present indications are that the Israeli Government will continue to
establish settlements in the occupied territories aiming at a projected minimum of
100,000 Israelis in such settlements by 1987 and 190,000 by the year 2010. The
numbers exclude Israelis in E~st Jerusalem and other Palestinian localities
incorporated into the city immediately after the 1967 war.
29. The Committee notes and stresses in particular that the same document, in
paragraphs 19 and 2u, draws attention to the conflict and confrontation, often
leading to violence, that has resulted from this persistent Israeli settlement
policy. The settlers form a privileged class, have the support of the
administering authorities and the Government of Israel, are permitted to carry
firearms and have often resorted to the use of these firearms to harass and
terrorize Palestinian people, thus becoming a force of oppression against these
Arabs. The report points out that the system appears to be designed to attract
Israeli settlers and to compel the Palestinians to leave the territories.
-5-
30. The Committee notes from the report that, despite the fact that the settlers
are there in violation of the fourth Geneva Convention, they are enabled by the
occupying authorities to pursue their activities within the occupied territories
without hindrance. On the other hand, Palestinian people are subjected to frequent
curfews which restrain th~ir activities. In addition, Palestinians in the occupied
territories, even those in refugee camps, have been subjected to frequent
harasernent, mostly because of their justified resistance to the objective of Israel
to relocate them elsewhere, so as to undermine Palestinian defense of their just
cause.
31. The Committee also notes that security checks carried out by the Israeli
occupation authorities, including soldiers, police and settlers, at any time of day
or night against the Arab population in the occupied territories have become a
routine practice. The resulting tension is further exacerbated by the fact that
Palestinians are subject to the jurisdiction of military courts, against which
there ia no appeal. Additionally, frequent c10sing of Arab schools and
universities has severely disrupted academic life.
32. Confrontation has extended even to places of religious worshipJ more recently,
violent acts were attributed to Jewish terrorist groups intending to damage or
destroy Islamic holy places. Other desecration has taken place under the guise of
archaeological excavation.
33. Apart from social considerations, it should be added that the policies
designed to promote, protect and develop the illegal settlement~ have had a direct
ecohomic effect on the Palestinian population resulting in severe structural
changes in the economy of the occupied territories (see A/39/233-E/1984/79,
paras. 16-18).
34. These changes have diminished the importance of the agricultural sector, but
without the corresponding development of an industrial base. There has been a
relative lack of employment opportunity in the occupied territories, with
consequent daily commuting to Israel by the Palestinian labour force. Furthermore,
production of gocds has been reoriented towards those that can be sold to and
through Israel, while Palestinian consumption is met by increased imports from
Israel.
35. The net resu1t is that the economic policies of the occupying Power have
created a situation of total dependence of the economies of the West Bank and Gaza,
by controlling their production and reducing their capacity to create employment in
such a manner as to diminish their potential for independent economic development.
36. Th~ Committee wishes to bring forcefully to the notice of the General Assembly
aIl these details, which are accurately reported examples of Israeli actions which
are seriously affecting the dai1y li~es of the Palestinian people and are clearly
in violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Conventions.
37. After the increased tension occasioned by the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the
Committee deplored the action taken by the Israeli occupation forces in entering
the Ein El-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp outside Sidon on 15 May 1984.
Subsequent events resulted in violence and loss of life and, as a result, the
Security Council met on 21 May 1984 to consider the matter. The President of the
Council announced at the conclusion of that meeting that consideration of the item
would be continued at a later date.
-6-
38. The Committee also noted that the Security Council met on 29, 30 and 31 August
and on 4 and 6 September 1984 to consider aIl practices and measures taken by the
Israeli occupying authorities in southern Lebanon, the western Begaa and the
Rashaya reg ion. The Council did not adopt a draft resolution submitted by Lebanon
owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the Council.
2. Reaction to developments affecting the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people
(a) Communications to the Secretary-General and the President of the Securi~
Council
39. In further pursuit of its mandate, the Committee, through its Chairman,
transmitted, as occasion demanded, several letters on matters of urgency to the
Secretary-General and to the President of the Council.
40. On 4 November 1983, the Chairman drew attention to the decision of the Israeli
authorities to close down Bethlehem University for two whole months
(A/38/569-S/l6l26), partly because of an exhibition given at the university,
entitled "Palestinian Heritage" which, according to the occupying authorities,
contained "inflammatory" material.
41. Student council members responsible for the exhibition were arrested. On
announcing the closing of the University, the co-ordinator of Israeli activities in
the West Bank stated that Israel intended "to respond with extreme severity in the
future to any manifestat:on of breaches of erder" in the occupied territories.
42. In the light of that development, the Chairman, expressing the view of the
Committee, stresaed that such a repressive Israeli policy could only aggravate the
extremely tense situation in the occupied Palestinian Arab territories and thereby
increase the threat to international peace and security in the reg ion.
43. On 18 November 1983, the Chairman expressed the deep concern of the Committee
regarding the Israeli arrest of two Israeli Arabs on the grounds that they were "in
breach of security law" for having attended the Geneva International Conference on
the Question of Palestine and having met with representatives of the Palestine
Liberation organization in working sessions of the Conference (A/38/595-S/l6l7l).
44. Expressing concern that similar action might be taken against other
participants from Israel in the Conference, the Chairman protested against that
discriminatory action which amounted to an act of intimidation, since the
two persons arrested were merely pursuing their legitimate activities on behalf of
their non-governmental organizations at a COnference organized under the aegis of
the United Nations.
45. The Chairman urged that the Committee's eoncern be conveyed to the Israeli
authorities and that any restriction placed on the 1;wo persons arrested be lifted.
That matter was taken up later by the Chairman in his letter of 24 February 1984.
46. On 24 February 1984, in follow-up action regarding the arrest of the
two Israeli Arabs by the Israeli authorities, the Chairman pointed out that,
although both persons concerned were subsequently released from custody, their
movements had been restricted to their home towns for a period of six months. The
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Chairman again protested against that action and urged the Secretary-General to
convey the Committee's concern to the Israeli authorities (A/39/117-S/16373).
47. On 9 January 1984, the Chairman of the Committee referred to current
discussion in the Israeli Knesset on two proposed new laws that would extend
Israeli legislation into the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip
(A/39/70-S/16261).
48. The Chairman pointed out that the Committee understood :rom reliable reports
that an amendment to one of the laws had gone so far as to authorize the Israeli
occupying authorities to impose the application of Israeli legislation in a number
of cases with the purported aim of replacing Jordanian legislation in the occupied
West Bank. The Chairman also drew attention to reports that a new provision had
been approved which authorized the Israeli Minister for Justice to apply civil and
criminal laws in the occupied territories subject to approval of the constitutional
sub-committee of the Knesset, but without the approval of that body.
49. The Chairman expressed the Committee's belief that such measures were
indicative of one more step in the Israeli process of annexing the occupied
territories and discriminating against the Palestinian people, and that such
measures were to be considered in flagrant violation of the principles of
international law and the innumerable resolutions of the Security Council on the
question. The Chairman reaffirmed that appropriate and vigorous measures should be
taken without delay to protect the legitimate rights of the Palestinians living in
the occupied territories.
50. On 6 February 1984, the Acting Chairman of the Committee referred to an
attempt to desecrate the holiest Moslem shrine in Jerusalem - the Dome of the Rock
and AI-Aqsa Masque, which is considered the third most sacred place in Islam, after
Ma~kah and Al-Madinah (A/39/99-S/16327).
51. The attempted destruction occurred on 27 January 1984, but was fortunately
foiled by Arab guards. According to the accounts of bath the police and Moslem
leaders, a Moslem guard, aware of the intrusion, appealed for help. As policemen
arrived, two intruders fled, leaving behind explosives and hand grenades
purportedly issued by the Israeli Army.
52. The Acting Chairman pointed out that, over recent months, many such instances
of explosives placed at entrances to churches and mosques had been reported. He
urged that the attention of members of the General Assembly and the Security
Council be drawn to those events, which had raised the concern even of Israeli
leaders.
53. In his letter of 23 February 1984, tr!,~ Chairman of the Committee again took up
the matter of the Israeli policy of establishing Jewish settlements in the occupied
territories (A/39/116-S/16366). He pointed out that, despite representations made
in his previous letter of 18 July 1983 (A/38/306-S/15880), it had been reported
that "the Government of Israel is determined to renew the Jewish presence in Hebron
and will help rebuild its old Jewish Quarter" and that "even if the Hebron Arabs
did oppose such a presence it would not alter the Government's objectives of
renewing the Jewish Quarter in Hebron".
54. The Chairm~n added in his letter that despite a reported freeze on settlements
in what the Israeli Gove~~nt had termed "Judea" and "Samaria", the corner-stone
-8-
of yet another new settlement, to be called "Ganei Modiin", had been laid on
19 January 1984 in the "Benjamin" region, as the area between Ramallah and Nablus
is now termed by Israel. He reiterated the Committee's concern over the Israeli
settlements policy.
55. On 26 March 1984, th~ Acting Chairman of the Committee referred to still
further reports that yet another new settlement, named Eruvin, had been established 'JI'
on 4 March 1984 in the Gush Etzion region to the north of the Arab town of Hebron (A/39/157-S/16442).
56. The Acting Chairman also referred to two confidential plalAs prepared with the
object of developing what has been termed "greater Jerusalem". In effect, this
would result in three new Israeli centres being established around Jerusalem.
57. on a related matter, the Acting Chairman referred to reports of the proposed
expansion of the municipal limit of the city of Jerusalem to the north-East areas
of the West Bank, so as to provide land for the city's industrial growth.
58. In a letter dated 19 April 1984, the Acting Chairman of the Committee
reiterated the Committee's concern at the action taken by the Government of Israel
to complete its plan to make Jerusalem the capital of Israel (A/39/201-S/l6493).
He recalled Security Council resolution 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, which had
called upon those States that had transferred their diplomatic missions to
Jerusalem to withdraw such missions from the Roly City.
59. The Committee reaffirmed that withdrawal of diplomatic missions from Jerusalem
reflected the concern of Governments for the sentiment and opinion of the vast
majority of the international community, as weIl as respect for decisions of the
Security Council.
60. In this connection, the Acting Chairman drew attention to a report that the
Government of El Salvador had officially transferred its embassy in Israel from
Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In consequence, the reported move by the Government of
El Salvador was regretted by the Committee as detrimental to a satisfactory
solution of the question of the status of the Holy City and contrary to the spirit
of Security Council and General Assembly resolutions on the subject.
61. On 16 May 1984, the Acting Chairman of the Committee drew attention to news
items regarding an Israeli search operation which had taken place the day before at
the Ein El-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp outside Sidon in Lebanon, with
subsequent casualties and arrests among the Palestinian refugees and destruction of
property.
62. He expressed the belief of the membership of the Committee that it was
unconscionable that the Israeli army of occupation should have taken such action
against refugees (A/39/263-S/16568).
63. On 25 June 1984, the Chairman referred to still further action taken by Israel
of establishing three new settlements in its continuing process of annexing the
occupied territories of the West Bank. The Chairman also drew attention to a
report that the Israeli Minister for Finance had approved an additional budget of
1.5 billion shekels to be invested in new settlements in the Gaza Strip on lands
belonging to Arabs (A/39/329-S/16646).
-9-
64. In a letter addressed to the Secretary-General on 8 August 1984 (A/39/403),
the Chairman drew attention to a number of United Nations reports detailing the
effects of the Israeli occupation on the enjoyment of the political, social,
economic and cultural rights of the Palestinian people and on its opportunities for
development. To the letter were annexed the relevant reports prepared by the
International Labour Office, the World Health Organization and the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
(b) Action taken within the Security Council
65. In addition to transmitting letters on matters Df urgency to the SecretaryGeneral
and the President of the Security Council, the Committee, through its
Chairman, participated in activities of the Council when matters relating to the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, or viol~tion of those riqhts, were
considered.
66. On Il November 1983, following informaI consultations of the Security Council
in which the Chairman of the Committee was involved, the President of the Council
read out a statement (S/16l42).
67. The statement expressed the p'rofound concern of Council members at recent and
current developments in nor tharn l.ebanon, which had caused and were still causing
widespread suffering and loss of human lives. The members appealed to aIl parties
concerned to exercise the utmost restraint and freely seek to attain, and to
respect, an immediate cessation of hostilities, to settle their differences
exclusively by peaceful means and to refrain from the threat or use of force.
68. Appreciation was expressed for the work of the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the International
Committee of the Red Cross CICRC) in providing emergency humanitarian assistance to
Palestinian and Lebanese civilians around the city of Tripoli. Members of the
Security Council would continue to follow the situation in Lebanon with the
greatest attention.
69. Subsequently, on 23 November 1983, the Security Council, without debate,
unanimously adopted a resolution on the events taking place in northern Lebanon
(resolution 542 (1983».
70. In that resolution, the Security Council deplored the loss of human life
caused by those events and reiterated its calI for the strict respect for the
sover~ignty, political independence and territorial integrity of Lebanon within its
internationally recognized boundaries.
71. The parties cOncerned were requested to accept a cease-fire immediately and to
observe scrupulously the cessation of hostilities. They were also invited to
aettle their differences exclusively by peaceful means and to refrain from the
threat or use of force.
72. The parties concerned were also asked to comply with the provisions of that
resolution which requested the Secretary-General to follow the situation, to
consult with the Government of Lebanon and to report to the Council. Tribute was
again paid to UNRWA and ICRC in providing emergency humanitarian assistance to
Palestinian and Lebanese civilians.
-10- d*§"'~Gb-
73. In pursuance of that request, the 5ecretary-General submitted a report to the
5ecurity Council on 21 December 1983 (5/16228), in which he referred to a request
by the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization
(PLO) regarding the departure of the armed elements of PLO from Tripoli. The
5ecretary-General recalled that, in his statement of 3 December (5/16194), during
consultations of the 5ecurity Council, he had informed the Council of his decision
to authorize the flying of the United Nations flag alongside the national flag of
the country concerned on the ships which would evacuate the armed elements of PLO
from Tripoli. That decision was taken on purely humanitarian grounds to facilitate
the resolution of a situation which had already cost many innocent lives and caused
great destruction. The evacuation would involve sorne 4,000 men carrying personal
weapons only. After consulta~iQns with the members of the 5ecurity Council on
3 December 1983, the Pr~sident of the Council confir~ad that the 5ecretaryGeneral's
statement had the support of the members of the Council (5/16195).
74. In a letter dated 21 December 1983 (5/16230) the Permanent Representative of
Greece ihformed the Secretary-General that, in response to a request made by the
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
Hellenic Government had decided, for humanitarian reasons, to make five vessels
available to him for transporting Palestinian forces from the Lebanese port of
Tripoli to Democratic Yemen, Yemen, Tunisia and Algeria. The operation had boen
conceived and carried put in collaboration with the French Government after
consultations with the other Governments concerned. The Greek vessels flew the
united Nations flag in addition to the national flag throughout the operation. The
evacuation operation had taken place on 20 December and had been carried out
successfully.
75. On 26 January 1984, following consultations held on that date, the President
of the 5ecurity Council issued a statement (5/16293) regarding legislation then
under consideration by the Israel Knesset.
76. In his statement, the President of the Council noted a letter dated
Il January 1984 on that matter from the Permanent Represent,~~ive of Israel
(5/16269). The President recalled previous resolutions stressing the applicability
of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War of 12 August 1949, !I and urged that no steps be taken which could lead to
further aggravation of tension in the area.
77. On 21 May 1984, at the request of the Arab Group contained in a letter dated
17 May 1984 from the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations
(5/16569), the Council met to consider "the most recent act of aggression committed
by Israel against the refugee camp of Palestinians at Ein EI-Helweh in South
Lebanon".
78. The Chairman of the Committee intervened in the debate and stated that the
very fact that the 5ecurity Council and the General Assembly had met so often to
consider the question of Palestine and related events in Lebanon was confirmation
of the international community's deep concerne He added that the Israeli operation
carried out on 15 and 16 May 1983 was a flagrant violation of human rights as
defined in the Charter of the United Nations and of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.
79. The Chairman said that the Committee had noted that, taking advantage of the
tragedy in Lebanon, Israel was trying to silence the Palestinians who were
-11",
legitimate~y protesting against the occupation of their territory and was pursuing
its illegal plans to annex the West Bank and Gaza in defiance of international law
and world public opinion. He noted that that policy of annexation had even been
condemned by a certain section of Israeli public opinion which had the merit of
understanding that Israel's security lay in .dialogue with the parties concerned,
rather than in annexation of territory.
80. Stressing the importance of convening an international peace conference on the
Middle East, the Chairman said that such a Conference would have beneficial effects
on th~ whole region, and particularly on Lebanon, whose unity and territorial
integrity must be safeguarded. Faced with the constant worsening of the situation
in the region, the Security Council had the dutY and reElonsibility to take
appropriate measures to put an end to those tragic events and to bring abcut tl'.e
renewal of the policy of dialogue among aIl the parties concerned.
81. At the conclusion of the meeting, the president of the Security Council said
that further discussion of the item would take place at a later date.
82. In response to an urgent ·request by the Permanent Representative of Lebanûn
dated 24 August 1984 (S/16713), the Security Council met on 29,30 and 31 August
and on 4 and 6 September 1984 to consider aIl practices and measures taken by the
Israeli.occupying authorities in southern Lebanon, the western Begaa and the
Raf'lhaya reg ion.
83. In the course of the debate, t~e Chairman of the Cownittee stated that it was
the duty and the responsibility of th~ Security Council to take aIl appropriate
steps to save Lebanon from imminent dinintegration. He reiterated that the
framework for peace in the region had been defined by the General Assembly in its
resolution 38/58 C which called for the convening of an international peace
conference on the Middle East. He drew attention to the encouraging replies
received to that proposaI and to the fact that the international community as a
whole supported a just and comprehensive settlement of the Middle East question, as
shown by the decisions adopted by several recent intergovernmental and
non-governmental meetings.
84. The Security Council had before it a draft resolution sponsored by Lebanon
(S/16732), by which the Council would have reiterated its calI for strict respect
for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Lebanon
within its internationally recognized boundaries. The Council would al50 have
affirmed that the provisions of the four th Geneva Convention of 1949 applied to the
'territories occupied by Israel in southern Lebanon, the western Begaa and the
Rashaya district and would have called upon Israel to respect strictly the rights
of the civilian population in those areas, in compliance with that Convention.
85. Because of the negative vote by a permanent member, the Security Council did
not adopt the draft resolution.
(c) Other action relating to the question of Palestine
86. The Committee noted that on 30 July 1984 the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics, in its declared des ire to contribute to the est~blishment of peace in
the Middle East, put forward proposaIs on a Middle East settlement and ways of
reaching it, (see A/39/368-S/l6685). The principles of this settlement comprised,
inter alia:
-12-
(a) The inadmissibility of the
and, consequently, the return of aIl
to the Arabs, the dismantling of the
1 territories and the inviolability of
capture of foreign lands through aggression
the territories occupied by I~rael since 1967
settlements established by Israel in those
borders between Israel and its Arab neighbours,
(b) The guarantee in practice of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, whose sole legitimate representative is the PLO, to self-determination and
to the establishme~t of its own independent State on th~ Palestinian lands - the
West Bank of the River Jordan and' the Gaza Strip - which could be handed over by
Israel for a short transitional period, not exceeding a few mo~th8, under United
Nations control) the Palestinian 5tate would itself determine the nature of its
relations with neighbouring cljuntries, including the possibiHty of forming a
confederation) the opportunity for the Palestinian refugees to return to ,their
homes or receive appropriate compensation for the property left behind by them,
(c) East Jerusalem should be returned to the Arabs and become an inalienable
part of the Palestinian State)
(d) The right of aIl, States in the region to a secure and independent
existence and development should be effectively guaranteed, with, of course, full
rc:~iprocity,
(e) An end should be put'to the state of war, and peace should be established
~tween the Arab States and Israel;
(f) International guarantees of the settlement.
1 87.' It was stressed by the proponent of the proposaIs that the only right and
effective way of ensuring a radical solution to the Middle East problem was through
collective efforts with the participation of aIl parties concerned, in other words,
through talks within the framework of an international conference on the Middle
East specially convened for the purpose. The proposaIs a1so contained provisions
concerning the aims of such a conference, its participants and the organization of
work.
88. The Soviet Union appealed to aIl parties to the conflict to act on the basie
of a sober assessment of each other's legitimate rights and interests, and to aIl
other States not to hamper, but to 'contribute to, the q~est for such a settlement.
89. The Committee noted with satisfaction that those preposaIs conformed on major
points with its own long-standing recommendations and constituted, inter alia, a
positive response by the Soviet Union towards the appea1 contained in paragraph 98
of the Committee's report of 1ast year. 21
3. Attendance at conferences
90. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee was represented at the
Fourteenth Is1amic COnference of Foreign Ministers, held at Dhaka, Bangladesh, from
6 to Il December 1983, the fourth summit meeting of the Islamic Conference, he1d at
Casablanca from 16 to 19 January 1984) the Sixth Congress of the Afro-~sian
Peoples' Solidarity Organization, held at Algiers from 27 to 30 May 1984, the
Conference of Arab Solidarity with the Struggle for Liberation in Southern Africa,
held at Tunis from 7 to 9 August 1984, and the International Dialogue on the United
Nations a"nd the .P.e#ac-e Forces, held at Geneva from 10 to 12 September 1984. -.~ . .
-13-
4. Action taken by the Movement oi Non-Aligned Countries,
United Nations bodies, regional and other organizations
91. The Committee continued to follow with great interest action ta ken by other
organizations on matters relevant to its work. Action taken in 1983 after the
Committee had submitted its report 2/ to the thirty-eighth session of the General
Assembly was duly noted and appreciated.
92. This action included: the statement of the Al-Quds Committee at its eighth
meeting held in New York, 30 September 1983, the paragraphs on the Middle East and
Palestine in the Final Communiqué adopted at the Meeting of Ministers and Heads of
Delegations of the Non-Aligned Countries to the thirty-eighth session of the
General Assembly, held in New York from 4 to 7 October 1983 (see A/38/495-S/l6035,
annex, paras. 47-57)J the communiqué issued following the co-ordinating meeting of
the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Organization of the Islamic Conference,
held in New york on 10 OCtober 1983 (A/39/236-S/l6535, anne~), the paragraphs
adopted in the Final Communiqué of the Commonwealth Heads of G~vernment meeting on
the Middle East, held at New Delhi from 23 to 29 November 1983J the resolutions and
the paragraphs on the question of Palestine of the final declaration adopted at the
Fourteenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held at Dhaka, Bangladesh v from
6 to Il December 1983 (see A/39/l33-S/l6417, annexes land IV)J and the twelfth
session of the Presidium of the Afro-Asian peoples' Solidarity Organization, held
at Nicosia, Cyprus, from 13 to 15 December 1983.
93. Action relevant to the work of the Committee undertaken by other organizations
in 1984 included meetings held by: the Fourth Islamic Summit Conference on the
Palestine Question and the Situation in the Middle EastJ the Ministers of
Information of Non-Aligned CountriesJ the Commission on Human Rights at its
fortieth sessionJ the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of States Members of the
European Economie Community, the seventy-first Inter-Parliamenta=y ConferenceJ the
Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Co~mittee and the Economie and Social Council at its second
regular session, as indicated in paragraphs 94-124 below.
(a) The Fourth Islamic Summit Conference
94. The Fourth Islamic Summit Conference was held at Casablanca from
16 to 19 January 1984. At that time, the Conference adopted several resolutions
relating to the question of Palestine (see A/39/l31-S/l64l4 and Corr. l, annex II).
95. By its resolution 1/4-P (IS), the Conference reaffirmed that a just peace in
the region could only be achieved on the basis of complete and unconditional
withdrawal by Israel from aIl the occupied Arab territories, and on the recovery by
the Palestinian people of their Inalienable national rights.
96. Th~ Conference reaffirmed that Al-Quds al-Sharif, the capital of Palestine,
was an Integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory and that Israel must
unconditionally and totally withdraw from it and restore it to Arab sovereignty.
It was further reaffirmed that no solution could be considered as comprehensive,
just and acceptable unless the PLO participated in its formulation as an
independent party on equal footing with the other parties concerned.
97. The Conference called upon member States to work collectively for the adoption
of a new Security Counci1 reso1ution which wou1d provide exp1icit1y for the
withdrawa1 of Israel from aIl the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories,
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including the City of Al-Quds al-Sharif, and safeguard the inalienable national
rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to return to their homeland
and to achieve self-determination in accordance with United Nations resolutions,
particularly resolution 3236 (XXIX), and the recommendations of the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
98. By resolution 2/4-P (IS) on the city of Al-Quds al-Sharif, the Fourth Islamic
Summit Conference urged all countries to refrain from dealing with the occupying
authorities in Any way that could be exploited a~ a recognition and acceptance of
Al-Quds al-Sharif as the capital city of Israel.
(b) COnference of Ministers of Information of Non-Aligned Countries
99. A meeting of the Conference of Ministers of Information of Non-Aligned
COuntries was held at Jakarta from 26 to 30 January 1984. At that time, the
Ministers agreed to support the Department of Public Information of the United
Nations Secretariat, particularly in expanding publication and audio-visual
ccverage of facts and of developments pertaining to the question of Palestine and
the struggle of the Palestinian people to attain and exercise its inalienable
rights (see A/39/l39-S/l6430, annex, sect. IV, para. 21).
100. The Ministers found it necessary to contribute towards increasing awareness by
the international community of the economic and social burdens borne by the
Palestinian people as a result of the continued Israeli occupation and its negative
effect on the economic development of the West 'Asian region as a whole (~.).
(c) Fortieth session of the Commission on Human Rights
101. At its fortieth session, held from 6 February to 16 March 1984, the Commission
on Human Rights adopted five resolutions dealing with the situation in the occupied
Arab terri tories, including Palestine (1984/1 A end B, 1984/2, 1984/3, 1984/11 and
1984/20). !2/
102. In resolution 1984/1 A, the Commission strongly condemned Israeli policies and
practices, administrative and legislative measures to promete and expand the
establishment of settler colonies in the occupied territories, as well as the
following specific aSPects:
"(a) The annexation of parts of the occupied territories, including
Jerusalem,
"(b) The continuing establishment of new Israeli settlements and
expansion of the existing settlements on private and public Arab lands, and
the transfer of an alien population thereto,
"(cl The arming of settlers in the occupied territories to commit acts of
violence against Arab civilians, and the perpetration of acts of violence by
these armed settlers against individuals, causing injury and death and
wide-scale damage to Arab propertYJ
"(dl The arming of settlers in the occupied territories to strike at
Muslim and Christian religious and holy places,
-15-
"(el The evacuation,"deportation, expulsion, displacement and transfer of
Arab inhabitants of the occupied territories, and the denial of their right to
return,
"(f) The confiscation and expropriation of Arab property in the occupied
territories and aIl other transactions for the acquisition of land involving
Israeli authorities, institutions or nationals on the one hand, and
inhabitants or institutions of the occupied territories on the other;
"(g) The destruction and demolition of Arab houses;
"(hl Mass arrests, collective punishments, administrative detention and
ill-treatment of the Arab population, the torture of persons under detention
and the inhuman conditions in prisons;
"(il The pillaging ·of archaeological and cultural property;
"(j) The interference with religious freedoms and practices as weIl as
with .family rights and customsJ
"(k) The systematic Israeli repression against cultural and educational
institutions, especially universities, in the occupied Palestinian
terri tories, closing them or restricting and impeding their academic
activities by subjecting selection of courses, textbooks and educational
programmes, admission of students and appointment of faculty members to the
control and supervision of the military occupation authorities and by the
expulsion of numerous faculty members of several universities (or refusing to
sign statements containing political positions, in flagrant defiance and
disregard of their right to academic freedom;
"(1) The illegal exploitation of the natural wealth, water and other
resources and the population of the occupied territories;
-(ml The dismantling of municipal services by dismissing the elected
ma~ors as weIl as the municipal councils and forbidding Arab aid funds."
10.3. In its resolution 1984/1 B, the Commission reaffirmed that the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War was
applicable to aIl the Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including
Jerusalem, and expressed its deep concern at the consequences of Israel's
systematie refusaI to apply that Convention.
104. In its resolution 1984/2, the Commission called upon Israel to reseind
forthwith its deeision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdietion and
administration on the Syrian Golan Heights, and firmly emphasized the overriding
neeessity of the total and uneonditionàl withdrawal by Israel from aIl Palestinian
and Syrian territories oeeupied sinee 1967, ineluding Jerusalem, whieh was an
essential prerequisite for the establishment of a comprehensive and just peace in
the Middle East.
lOS. In its resolution 1984/3, the Commission condemned Israel for its persistenee
in developing the colonization of the ocdupied territories, including Jerusalem,
whieh aimed at ehanging their demographie composition, institutional structure and
status.
-16-
106. In its resolution 1984/11, the Commission strongly condemned anew Israel's
responsibility for the large-scale massacre in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps,
which constituted an act of genocide, and expresGed its grave concern that, until a
just and equitable solution to the problem of Palestine had been implemented, the
Palestinian people would be exposed to grave dangers such as the appa11ing massacre
perpetrated in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.
107. In its resolution 1984/20, the Commission urged Israel to re1ease immediately not only aIl those civilians arbitrarily detained since its invasion and continued occupation of Lebanese territories, but also those whom Israel rearrested and detained again in Ansar Camp, thereby violating the agreement on the exchange of
prisoners concluded with ICRC in November 1983.
(d) Declaration by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the
EurOpean Economie Community
108. On 27 March 1984, at Brussels, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Ten
States members of the European Economie Community adopted a declaration on the
question of the Middle East (see A/39/l6l-S/l6456, annex).
109. The Ministers recognized the need for a sett1ement guaranteeing peace among
aIl States of the region which should include the right to existence and security
of aIl these States, including Israel. The declaration also stated that aIl the
parties concerned had conceded that settlement must taka account of the legitimate
rights of the Palestinian people. In the view of the Ten, that wouId entail
aaceptance of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, with aIl
that that implied.
110. The declaration further stated that it had been universal1y acknowledged that
aIl the problems which existed between Israel and its neighbours must be resolved
in accordance with the principles recognized by the international com~unity,
including non-recourse to the use of force and non-acquisition of territory by
force. That meant that, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967)
and 338 (1973), Israel must put an end to the territorial occupation which it had
maintained since the conflict of 1967. A negotiated settlement would require the
continuing and independent expression of the will of the Palestinian people, and
the PLO must be associated with the negotiations.
111. The Ten States members of the Community expressed concern at the co1lapse of
the hopes engendered in September 1982 by certain converging and promising peace
initiatives and they declared that the absence of aIl prcg~ess towards a negotiated
solution since then had exacerbated antagonism and entrenched the positions of
those who favoured confrontation.
112. The declaration also noted that certain recent deve10pments, such as the
meeting of the Islamic Conference in Casablanca and the resumption of dialogue
between Jordan and the Palestinians, had been encouraging.
113. The Ten requested aIl parties to re-examine their positions with a view to
reducing the gap between them, taking particularly into account elements contained
in the Reagan Plan and in the Fez Declaration. They also calIed upon the
Government of Israel to put an end to its policy of establishing settlements in the
occupied territories, and undertook to support any constructive step which might be
initiated by the parties concerned.
-17-
(~) The seventy-first Inter-Parliamentary Conference
114. At its seventy-first Conference, held at Geneva from 2 to 7 April 1984, the
Inter-Parliamentary Union adopted a resolution entitled "Escalation of the dangers
threatening international peace and security in the Middle East region".
115. The ~esolution declared aIl Israeli policies and practices of, or aimed at,
annexation of the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territQries, including
Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, to be illegal and in violation of international
law and of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and the
Inter-Parliamentary Union. The resolution strongly deplored any political,
eéonomic, financial, military and technical support toIsrael that encouraged
Israel to commit acts of aggression and to consolidate and perpetuate its
occupation and annexation of Arab territories.
116. In addition, the resolution condemned Israel's aggression, policies and
practices against the Palestinian people in theoccupied Palestinian territories
and outside these territories, particularly in southern Lebanon, including the
expropriation and annexation of territory, the ~stablishment of settlements,
assassination attempts and other terrorist, aggressive and repressive measures
which were in violation of the Charter of the United Nations, the principles of
international law and the relevant international conventions.
'117. The Inter-parliamentary Union reaffirmed its full support for the Arab and
palestinian.peoples under the leadership of the PLO, and rejected aIl agreements
and arrangements which violated the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to
retucn to their homeland and to self-determination and the establishment of their
own sovereign Palestinian State in Palestine.
(f) The AI-Quds (Jerusalem) Committee of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
118. At its special session held at Fez, Moracco, on 19 and 20 April 1984, the
Al~Quds (Jerusalem) Committee adopted a final communiqué (see A/39/2$7-S/l6562,
annex) •
119. The final communiqué stated that the Committee had examined Israel's various
attempts to exert pressure on different countries to transfer their embassies from
Te! Aviv to Al-Quds. In the view of the Committee, such a transfer on the part of
Costa Rica and El Salvador impinged upon Arab rights and violated international
law. In addition, the Committee had examined the moves being made in order to
obtain a decision for the transfer of the Embassy of the United States of America
to Al-Quds.
120. In its final communiqué, the AI-Quds (Jerusalem),Committee recommended that it
be left to its Chairman to preside over a delegation and to proceed to the United
States of America, in order to undertake necessary contacts with the United States
Administration. Contacts should also be made with the permanent members of the
S~curity Council in order to gain their support.
121. The Committee also recommended that aIl relations with Costa Rica and
El Salvador should be severed, in compliance with Islamic resolutions cal1ing upon
aIl member States to break relations with any country that had decided to transfer
its emhassy to Al-Quds, or had recognized that city's annexation by Israel, or its
status as Israel's capital.
-18-
122. The communiqué also recommended the adoption of a unified Islamic stand aimed
at explaining to any count~y ~hat Islamic States would implement the resolutions of
the Third Islamic Summit, namely, resolution 1/3 C, paragraph 2, of the AI-Quds
(Jerusalem) Committee special session, he Id at Casablanca from 16 to 18 April 1980.
(g) Second regular session of the Economie and Social Council
123. At its second regular session of 1984, the Economie and Social Council
considered the provision of economic and social assistance to the Palestinian
people by the appropriate agencies and organizations of the United Nations system.
The Council, in particular, reviewed the results of an inter-agency meeting which
was held pursuant to General Assembly resolution 38/145 to develop a co-ordinated
programme of assistance and ensure its implementation, with the participation of
the PLO, the Arab host countries and relevant intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations.
124. In its resolution 1984/56 of 25 July 1984, the Council drew the attention of
the international community, the United Nations system and intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations to the need to ensure that their aid to the occupied
Palestinian territories was disbursed only for the benefit of the Palestinian
people and was not used in any manner to serve the interests of the Israeli
occupation authorities. The Council requested the competent bodies of the United
Nations system to intensify their efforts, in co-operation with the PLO, to provide
economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people and requested that such
assistance in the Arab host countries should be rendered in co-operation with the
PLO and with the consent of the Arab host Government concerned.
B. Action taken in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3
of General Assembly resolution 38/58 B
125. The Committee had intended to hoId three regional seminars on the question of
Palestine during 1984, in Europe, Africa and Latin America. The Committee decided,
however, that the European and African seminars should be combined and that the
Latin American Seminar should be postponed until early 1985.
126. Accordingly, the ninth United Nations regional Seminar on the Question of
Palestine took place in Tunis (rom 14 to 17 August 1984 at a critical time in the
efforts of the united Nations to advance the prospects of a solution. The report
of that important seminar is annexed to the present report (see annex III).
127. The Committee once more had occasion to confirm the importance of seminars and
its conviction that, given the collective contributions of academicians,
parliamentarians and other opinion-makers at such events, the seminars had
considerable influence in promoting wide-ranging and more objective understanding
of the Palestinian question and in urging governmental action for a just solution,
as for instance called for at the Tunis Seminar.
128. The Committee noted with appreciation that, in further compliance with General
Assembly resolution 38/58 B, the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat
continued to prepare, update and distribute studies on matters relating to the
question of Palestine.
-19-
129. In pursuit of the objective of fur~her increasing its contacts with
non-governmental organizations, the Division for Palestinian Rights, under the
guidance of the Committee, organized a North American non-governmental organization
symposium on the question of Palestine. This symposium was heId at united Nations
Readquarters from 25 to 27 June 1984, as the first in a series of non-governmental
symposiums and international meetings held in response to General Assembly
resolution 38/58 B.
130. More than 60 organizations and sorne 20 panelists participated in th~ North
American symposium. The Committee noted ~ith appreciation that the symposium
concluded its work by the adoption of a declaration, which is annexed tO,the
present report (see annex IV).
131. An international non-governmental organization meeting on the question of
Palestine was held at Geneva from 20 to 22 August 1984 with the participation
of 102 organizations and 26 panelists. The Committee noted with appreciation the
resolution adopted ~t the meeting, which is annexed to the pres~~nt report (see
annex V).
132. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was duly
observed by the United Nations on 29 November 1983 at its Headquarters in New York
and at the United Nations Office at Geneva. The Committee noted with appreciation
that the day had been equally commemorated in many capitals in 1983.
-20-
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 38/58 E
133. By reso1ution 38/58 E of 13 December 1983, the General Assemb1y requested the
Depa~tment of Public Information of the Secretariat, in full co-operation and
co-crdtnatIon with the Conunittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Pa1elstinian People, to: (a) disseminate a11 information on the activities of the
United Nations system re1ating to Palestine; (b) expand publications and audiovisua1
coverage of the facts and deve10pments pertaining to the question of
Palestine; (c) pub1ish news1etters and articles in its relevant publications on
Israe1i violations of the human rights of the Arab inhabitants of the occupied
territories, and organize fact-finding missions to the area for journa1ists;
(d) organize regiona1 encount~rs for journa1ists; (e) disseminate appropriate
information on the resu1ts of the International Conference on the Question of
Palestine.
134. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Department of Public
Information continued to disseminate information on the activities re1ating to
Palestine within the United Nations system through articles, press re1eases,
news1etters and pamphlets. In particu1ar, that Department had issued a news1etter
in Arabie, Eng1ish, French and Spanish covering the content and outcome of the
International Conference on the Question of Palestine.
135. Another pamphlet containing the Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by
the Conference, as wel1 as information on attendance and the texts of relevant
reso1utions adopted subsequently at the thirty-eighth session of the General
Assembly, had been issued in all the official languages of the united Nations. In
addition, the UN Chronic1e reported extensively on the consideration given to the
question of Palestine by the General Assemb1y at its thirty-eighth session.
136. Further coverage of the Palestine question was presented in radio news
programmes which were broadcast in the official languages of the Unite~ Nations and
in many other languages. The question of Palestine was a1so the subject of special
feature programmes.
137. A fact-finding news mission to the Middle East was also organized. A team of
10 prominent journa1ists and media representatives from around the wor1d visited
Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic from 23 April to 11 May 1984.
138. The purpose of the mission was to provide an opportunity for members of the
team to acquaint themse1ves with first-hand and in-depth information regarding the
various aspects of the Palestinian question. The mission received extensive media
coverage i~ al1 the countries it visited and participants published numerous
articles on their return to their home countries.
139. The Committee noted with appreciation that the first in a series of regional
journalists' encounters on the question of Palestine was held at Vienna, Austria,
from 4 te 7 June 1984. The objective of the encounter was to promote a better
understanding of the question among leaders of the media by bringing them together
with experts on the subject for brief, informal discussions.
140. According1y, 17 high-1eve1 European journa1ists from the press, radio and
television media participated in the encounter. The journalists were impressed by
-21-
the high calibre of the panelists and by the informaI and candid character of the
presentations made. It was their belief that the encounter, which they found
useful, informative and interesting, had qreatly increased their knowledge of the
subject. A simi1ar encounter for African journaliste was he1d at Arusha, United
Republic of Tanzania, fro. 28 to 31 August 1984.
141. The United Nations information centres throughout the wor1d held activities in
connection with the observance of Solidarity Day. The centres continued to make
available to the public Department of Public Information publications on the
question of Palestine as weIl a8 publications prepared for, and under the guidance
of, the Committee.
142. In addition, the Department of Public Information continued to screen the
filma entitled ·Palestinian people do have rights· and ·Palestinians of 1983· in
information centres. More than 100 copies of the films have been distributed in
four languages to aIl information centres and offices of the United Nations
Development Programme.
-22-
VI. ACTION TAIOEN BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL IN ACCORDA~
WITH PARAGRAPHS 5, 6, 7 AND 8 OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY
RESOLUTION 38/58 C
143. Paragraph 5 of the Geneva Declaration on palestine, y endorsed by the General
Assembly in its resolution 38/58 C, recommended that an International Peace
Conference on the Middle East be convened on the basis of the principles of the
Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resolutions of the united Nations,
with the aim of achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the
Arab-Israeli conflict, an essential element of which would be the establishment of
an independent palestinian State in Palestine•
144. Accordingly, the 8ecretary-General was requested, in consultation with
the securi ty Counc il, urgently to convene the Conference. General Assembly
resolution 38/58 C invited the Security COuncil to facilitate the organization of
the Conference and also requested the secretary-General to report on ru s efforts no
later than 15 March 1984. It was further decided that the report of the
SecretarY-General on the subject would be considered by the General Assembly at its
thirty-ninth session.
145. The Committee noted that, in his interim report of 13 March 1984
(A/39/130-S/l6409), the Secretary-General reviewed action taken regarding the
proposed Conference, including a letter addressed by him on 9 March 1984 to the
15 members of the Security COuncil, as weIl as to those Governments which were
directly involved in the Ara~Israeli conflict but were not members of the security
Council, and to the PLO.
146. The committee further noted that replies to the secretary-General's letter of
9 March 1984 had been received from the Governments concerned and from the PLO. 11/
147. O'l 4 May 1984, in a letter addressed to the secretary-General
(A/39/234-S/l653l), the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people conveyed the Committee's appreciation
for the contacts which the secretarY-General had initiated on the convening of an
International Peace conference on the Middle East.
148. In the course of his letter, the Chairman stressed the substantive
significance of the support given to the recommendations of the Cmnmittee. The
recommendations had been formulated free from the pressure of eveûts and, on the
basis of consensus, they not only respected aIl previous decisions of the United
Nations, but also went further by prescribing a comprehensive formula for a
peaceful and fair solution.
149. Although those recommendations had yet to be acted upon, mainly because the
protagonists themselvas had adhered to positions which made it difficult to reach
agreement on fundamental principles, they now had gained quasi-universal
acceptance, especially as recently amplified by the International COnference on the
Question of Palestine held at Geneva in August and september 1983.
150. The Chairman said that a new, resolute approach to the problem was necessary,
am such was the purpose of the proposed Conference calIed for in General .lI.ssembly
resolution 38/58 C.
-23-
151. On behalf of the COmmittee, he expressed the belief that the Conference would
represent an important and overdue step forward, and he urged co-operation by aIl
concerned so as to ensure a positive outcome in the common interest.
152. The Committee further noted that in his additional report
(A/39/13G/Add.I-S/16409/Add.I), the Secretary-General stated that, from the replies
he had receiv~d and the discussions he had held with the Governments and
authorities concerned, it was evident that the convening of the proposed Conference
would require, in the first place, the agreement in principle of the parties
directly concerned, aS weIl as the United States of America and the Union of Soviet
SOcia1ist Republics to participate in the Conference. The Secretary-General also
stated that it was clear from the replies of the Governments of Israel and the
United States that they were not prepared to participate in the proposed Conference •
153. The Cornmittee noted that the Secretary-General would continue to follow the
questions closely and to keep Member States informed of further developments.
154. The Committee nevertheless expressed regret over the negatîve ~ttitude of
Israel and the United States and decided to maintain its efforts for the earlier
convening of its proposed Conference, while urging the understanding and
co-operation of aIl concerned for the resolution of a problem fundamental to the
maintenance of international peace and security, and involving a clear case of the
application of the inalienable rights of the Pàlestinian people to selfdetermination.
-24-
VII. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
155. The Committee is increasingly convinced that positive action by the Security
Council to act on the Committee's recommendations would advance prospects for a,
just and lasting peace in the Middle EastJ it recalls that those recommendations
are solidly founded on fundamental and internationally-recognized principles
relating to the problem of Palestine, the core of the conflict.
156. The Committee, therefore, once more unanimously reiterates the validity of the
recommendations and annexes them to the present report (annex I). It also
recommends that the General Assembly should again renew its urging of the Secu~ity
Council to take positive and overdue action on those recommendations.
157. The Committee also reaffirms the vali3ity of the recommendations adopted by
the International Conference on the Question of Palestine, he Id at Geneva in August
and September 1983, which are annexed to the present report (see annex II).
158. The Committee believes that it should consolidate its efforts to increase
awareness and understanding of its recommendations, which are specifically designed
to enable the Palestinian people to attain its inalienable rights, as weIl as to
achieve peace in the Middle East, with due regard for ~he concerns of aIl the
parties to the conflict in the region. In tnis connection, it is encouraged by the
better understanding of those recommendations which is now increasingly evident in
aIl regions of the world.
159. The Committee feels that, at this critica1 juncture, a concentrated effort to
find a just solution to the question of Palestine and to end the unacceptable
plight of the Palestinian people is long overdue.
160. The Committee is convinced that the International Peace Conference on the
Middle East, recommended by the General Conference and endorsed in General Assembly
res01ution 38/58 C, will provide an opportunity for aIl parties concerned to
participate in negotiations which should lead to a just solution of the problem.
The Committee, therefore, strong1y recommends that international action should
henceforth concentrate on the preparations necessary for the convening of this
Conference and contribute to its successful and peaceful outcome.
Notes
!I The Committee is composed of the following members: Afgha~istan, Cuba,
Cyprus, German Democratie Republic, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia,
Lao People's Democratie Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet
Socialist Republic and Yugoslavia.
~ Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
11 Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 {A/32/35)J ibid.,
Thirty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 {A/33/35 and Corr.l)J ibid., Thirty-fourth
Session, Supplement No. 35 {A/34/35 and Corr.l)J ibid., Thirty-fiftb Session,
Supplement No. 35 {A/35/35 and COrr.l)J ibid., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement
No. 35 {A/36/35)J ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, SUpplement No. 35 {A/37/35 and
Corr. l)J and ibid., Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35).
-25-
NOtes (continued)
il Report of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine,
Geneva, 29 August-7 September 1983 (united Nations publication, sales
No. E.83.I.2l), chap. l, sect. A.
Y' Ibid., ehap , l, sect. B.
!I The observers of the Committee are as follows~ Algeria, Czechoslovakia,
Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco,
Nicaragua, Niger, Syrian Arab Republic, united Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, League of
Arab States, Organization of the Islamic Conference and Palestine Liberation
Organization.
y Current membership of the w:>rking Group is as fol1ows~ Malta (Chairman),
Afghanistan, Cuba, German Democrat ic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, India (alternate
Chairman), Pakistan, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey, ukrainian Soviet. Socialist Republic
and, as representative of the people directly con~erned, the Palestine Liharation
organization.
!I United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973, p. 28i
21 Official Records of the General ASsernbly, Thirty-eighth
supplement No. 35 (A/38/35).
ilion,
10/ See Official Rec<xds of the Economic and Social council, 1984, SUpplement
!2.:.....! (S/1984/l4-E/CN.4/1984/77), ehap , II.
11/ The replies received from Governments were circulated in the following
documents~ A/39/l30-S/lfi409 and Add.l~ A/39/202-S/l6494~ A/39/208-S/l6503~
A/39/2l4-S/l6507; A/39/2l6-S/l6509; A/39/2l7-S/l65l0; A/39/2l8-S/l65ll;
A/39/2l9-S/l65l2 and Corr.l~ A/3S/222~ A/39/224-S/l65l7, A/39/225-S/l65l8)
A/139/227-S/l6523; A/~9/23l-s/l6527; A/39/235-S/l6533; A/39/238-S/l6543;
A/39/255-S/16557~ A/39/259-S/l6565~ A/39/275-S/l6584; A/39/287-S/l6602~
A/39/4l6-S/l6708.
-26-
ANNEX r
Recornmendations of the Cornmittee endorsed by the General Assembly
at its thirty-first session si
I. Basic considerations and guidelines
59. The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and,
consequently, the Cornmittee stressed its belief that no solution in the Middle East
can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate aspirations
of the Palestinian people.
60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to
their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence
and sovereignty are endorsed by the Cornmittee in the conviction that the full
implementation of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and
final settlement of the Middle East crisis.
61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative
of the palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties, on the basis of
General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is indispensable in aIl
efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which are held under the
auspices of the United Nations.
62. The Cornmittee recalls the fundamental principle of the inadmissiblity of the
acquisition of tp.rritory by force and stresses the consequent obligation for
complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so occupied.
63. The Cornmittee considers that it is the dutY and the responsibility of aIl
concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights.
64. The Cornmittee recornmends an expanded and more influential role by the United
Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine
and ln the implementation of such a solution. The Security Cauncil, in particular
should take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of
their right to return to their homes, lands and property. The Cornmittee,
furthermore, urges the Security Council to promote action towards a just solution,
taking into account aIl the powers conferred on it by the Charter of the United
Nations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numerous
resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideration of aIl the facts,
proposaIs and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that the
Cornmittee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation of
the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
II. The right of return
66. The natural and inalienable right of Palestinians to return te their homes is
recognized by resclution 194 (III), which the General Assembly has reaffirmed
almost every year since its adoption. This right was also unanimously recognized
by the Security Council in its resolution 237 (1967), the time for the urgent
implementati~~ of these resolutions is long overdue.
-27-
67. Without prejudice to the right of aIl Palestinians to return to their homes,
lands and property, the Committee considers that the progra~.;e of implementation of
the exercise of this right may be carried out in two phases:
Phase one
68. The first phase involves the return to their homes of the Palestinians
disp1aced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) The Security Council should request the immediate implementation of its
reso1ution 237 (1967) and that such implementation should not be related
to any other conditionJ
(ii) The resources of the International Committee of the Red 'Cross (ICRC)
and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be
employed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved in
the resettlement of those returning to their homes. These agencies could
also assist, in co-operation with the host countries and the Palestine
Liberation Organization, in the identification of the displaced
Palestinians.
Phase two
69. The second phase deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians
disp1aced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) While the first phase is being implemented, the United Nations in
co-operation with the states directly involved, and the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the interim representative of the Palestinian
entity, ~hould proceed to make the necessary arrangements to enable
Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967 to exercise their right to
return to their homes and property, in accordance with the relevant
United Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly
resolution 194 (III);
(ii) Palestinians not choosing to return to their homes should be paid just
and equitab1e compensation as provided for in Assembly
resolution 194 (III).
III. The right to self-determination, national independence
and sovereignty
70. The Pa1estinian people has the inherent right to self-determination, national
independence and sovereignty in Palestine. The Committee considers that the
evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in violation of the principles
of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the United Nations is a
conditio sine qua non for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
rights of Palestinians to their homes and property and with the establishment of an
independent Palestinian entity, the Palestinian people will be able to exercise its
rights to self-determination and to decide its form of government without external
interference.
-28-
71. The Committee also feels that the United Nations has an historical dutY and
responsibility to render aIl assistance necessary to promote the economic
development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
72. Tc these ends, the Committee recommends that:
(a) A timetable should be established by the Security Council for the
complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in 1967,
such withdrawal should be completed no later than l June 1977,
(b) The Security Council may need to provide temporary peace-keeping forces
in order to facilitate the process of withdrawal,
(c) Israel should be requested by the Security Council to desist from the
establishment of new settlements and to withdraw during this period from
settlements established since 1967 in the occupied territories. Arab property and
aIl essential services in these areas should be maintained intact,
(d) Israel should also be requested to abide scrupulously by the provisions
of the Geneva Cono'ention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949, and to declare, pending its speedy withdrawal from these
territories, its recognition of the applicabi1ity of that Convention,
(e) The evacuated territories, with aIl property and services intact, should
be taken over by the United Nations, which with the co-op~ration of the League of
Arab States, will subsequently hand over these evacuated areas to the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people,
(f) The United Nations should, if necessary, assist in estab1ishing
communications between Gaza and the West Bank,
(g) As scon as the independent Palestinian entity has been established, the
Unitèd Nations, in co-o~ration with the States directly involved and the
Palestinian entity, should, taking into account General Assembly resolution
3375 (XXX), make further arrangements for the full implementation of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding
problems and the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region, in
accordance with aIl relevant United Nations resolutions;
(h) The United Nations should provide the economic and technical assistance
necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity.
sr Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-second Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35).
-29-
ANNEX II
A. Geneva Declaration on Palestine ~/
In pursuance of General Assembly resol~tions 36/120 C of 10 December 1981,
ES-7/7 of 19 August 1982 and 37/86 C of 10 December 1982, an International
Conference on the Question of Palestine was convened at the United Nations Office
at Geneva from 29 August to 7 September 1983 to seek effective ways and means to
enable the P~lestinian people to attain and to exercise their inalienab1e rights.
The Conference was opened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Javier P'rez de Cu'llar, and presided over by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Senegal, Houstapha Niassé.
* * *
1. The Conference, having thoroughly considered the question of Palestine in aIl
its aspects, expresses the grave concern of aIl nations and peoples regarding the
international tension that has persisted for several decades in the Middle East,
the principal cause of which is the denial by Israel, and those supporting its
expansionist po1icies, of the inalienable legitimate rights of the Palestinian
people. The Conference reaffirms and stresses that a just solution of the question
of Palestine, the core of the problem, is the crucial e1ement in a comprehensive,
just and lasting political settiement in the Middle East.
2. The Conference recognizes that, as one of the most Acute and complex problems
of'our time, the question of Palestine - inherited by the United Nations at the
time of its establishment - requires a comprehensive, just and lasting politica1
settlement. This settiement must be based on the Implementation of the relevant
United Nations resolutions concerning the question of Palestine and the attainment
of the legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the
right to self-determination and the right to the establishment of its own
independent State in Palestine and should also be based on the provision by the
Security Council of guarantees for peace and security among aIl States in the
region, including the independent Palestinian State, within secure and
internationally recognized boundaries. The Conference is convinced that the
attainment by the Palestinian people of their inalienable rights, as defined by
General Assembly reso~ution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, will contribute
substantially to the achievement of peace and stability in the Middle East.
3. The Conference considers the role of the United Nations in the achievement of
a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East to be essential and
paramount. It emphasizes the need for respect for, and application of the
provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the resolutions of the united
Nations relevant to the question of Palestine and the observance of the principles
of international law.
4. The Conference considers that the various proposaIs, consistent with the
principles of international law, which have been presented on this question, such
as the Arab peace plan adopted unanimously at the Twelfth Arab Summit Conference
(see A/37/696-S/l55l0, annex), he1d at Fez, Morocco, in September 1982, should
serve as guidelines for concerted international effort to reso1ve the question of
Palestine. These guidelines include the following:
-30-
(a) The attainment by the Palestinian people of its legitimate Inalienable
rights, including the right to return, the right to self-determination anà the
right to establish its own independent State in Palestine,
(b) The right of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of
the Palestinian people, to participate on an equal footing with other parties in
all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East,
(c) The need to put an end to Israel's occupation of the Arab territories, in
accordance with the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by force, and, consequently, the need to secure Israeli withdrawal from
the territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem,
(d) The need to oppose and reject such Israeli policies and practices in the
occupied territories, including Jerusalem, and any de facto situation created by
Israel as are contrary to international law and relevant United Nations
resolutions, particularly the establishment cf settlements, as these policies and
practices constitute major obstacles to the achievement of peace in the Middle East,
(e) The need to reaffirm as null and void aIl legislative and administrative
measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or
purported to alter the charal::ter and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem,
including the expropriation of land and property situated thereon, and in
particular the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel,
(f) The right of all States in the region to existence within secure and
internationally recognized boundaries, with justice and security for all the
people, the sine qua non of which is the recognition and attainment of the
legitimate, Inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as stated in
subparagraph (a) Aboye.
5. In order to give effect to theseguidelines, the Conference considers it
essential that an international peace conference on the Middle East be convened on
the basis of the principles of the Charter of the united Nations and the relevant
resolutions of the United Nations, with the aim of achieving a comprehensive, just
and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, an essential element of which
would be the establishment of an independent Palestinian State in Palestine. This
peace conference should be convened under the auspices of the United Nations, with
the participation of all parties to the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the
Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as the united States of America, the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and other concerned States, on an equal
footing. In this context the Security Council has a primary responsibility to
create appropriate institutional arrangements on the basis of relevant united
Nations resolutions in order to guarantee and to carry out the accords of the
international peace conference.
6. The International COnference on the Question of Palestine emphasizes the
importance of the time factor in achieving a just solution to the problem of
Palestine. The Conference is convinced that partial solutions are inadequate and
delays in seeking a comprehensive solution do not eliminate tensions in the region.
-31-
B. Programme of Action for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights
The International Conference on the Question of Palestine agreed that no
effort should be spared to seek effective ways and means to enable the Palestinian
people to attain and exercise their rights in Palestine in accordance with the
Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights BI and the
p~inciples of international law. The Conference, taking into consideration the
Geneva Declaration on Palestine (see sect. A above), recommended the following
Progranme of Action.
"1
The International Conference on the Question of Palestine recommends that aIl
States, individually or collectively, consistent with their respective
constitutions and their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and in
conformity with the principles of international law, should:
(1) Recognize the great importance of the time factor in solving the question
of PalestineJ
(2) Intensify efforts for the establishment of an independent Palestinian
State within the framework of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement to the
Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with the Charter of the united Nations, the
relevant United Nations resolutions and the guidelines of the Geneva Declaration on
PalestineJ
(3) Consider the continued presence of Israel in the occupied Palestinian and
other Arab territories, including Jerusalem, as exacerbating instability in the
region and endangering international peace and securitYJ -
(4) Oppose and reject, as a serious and continuing obstacle to peace, the
expansionist policies pursued by Israel in the Palestinian and other Arab
territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and in particular the
alteration of the geographic nature and demographic compositiont and the Israeli
attempt to alter, through domestic legislation, the legal status of those
terri tories, and aIl the measures taken in violation of the Geneva Convention
relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, ~ and the Geneva Convention
relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, ~ both of
12 August 1949, and of the Hague Regulations of 1907, ~ such as the establishment
and expansion of settlements, the transfer of Israeli civilians into those
territories and the individual and mass transfers therefrom of the Arab Palestinian
population J
(5) Refrain from providing Israel with assistance of such a nature as to
encourage it militarily, economically and financially to continue its aggression,
occupation and disregard of its obligations under the Charter and the relevant
resolutions of the United NationsJ
(6) Not encourage migration to the occupied Arab territories until Israel has
put a definitive end to the implementation of its illegal policy of establishing
settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967J
(7) Fully comply with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and its
specialized agencies on the Holy City of Jerusalem, including those which reject
Israel's annexation of Jerusalem and its declaration of that city as its capitalJ
-32-
(8) Undertake universal efforts to protect the Holy places and urge Israel to
take measures to prevent their desecration~
(9) Consider ways and means of meeting the threat that Israel poses to
regional security in Africa iu view of Israel's disregard of united Nations
resolutions, and its close collaboration with the apartheid régime in the economic,
military and nuclear fields, thereby contributing to the continued illegal
occupation of Namibia and enhancirY;! the régime's repressive and agg:-essiv., capacity)
(10) Encourage, through bilateral and multilateral contacts, aIl States,
including western European and NOrth American States which have not done so, to
welcome aIl peace initiatives based on the recognition of the inalienable rights of
the Palestinian people, which were aIse welcomed by Chairman Yasser Arafat in his
address to the International COnference on the ouestion of Palestine;
(11) Seek and develop ways and means to enable the palestinian people to
exercise sovereignty over their national resources~
(12) Express concern that Israel debars Palestinians from economic activi ty
and access to national resources on Palestinian territory, in consistent violation
of General Assembly resolutions on the right of the palestinians to permanent
sovereignty over their national resources~
(13) Declare null and void and counter such measures and practices applied by
Israel in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, inclUding Jerusalem,
as the annexation and the expropriation of land, water resources, and property and
the alteration of the demographic, geographic, historical and cultural features
thereof)
(14) Undertake measures to alleviate the economic and social burdens borne by
the Palestinian people as a Tesult of the continued Israeli occupation of their
ter:ritcxies sinee 1967;
(15) Consider contributing or inereasing special contributions to the proposed
budgets, programmes and projects of the relevant organs, funds and agencies of the
united Nations system that have been requested to provide humanitarian, economic
and social assistanc~ to the Palestinian people, with particular reference to:
(a) General Assembly resolution 33/147 of 20 December 1978 and the appeal of
the Governing COuncil of the united Nations Development Programme at its thirtieth
session for additional special contributions amounting to at least $8 million
during the third programming cycle (1982-1986) aimed at helping to meet the
economic and social needs of the palestinian people~ !!
(b) The proposed programme budget of the united Nations COnference on Trade
and Development for the biennium 1984/85 regarding the establishment within the
united Nations COnference on Trade and Development of a special economic unit, 91
as requested by that Conference at its sixth session at Belgrade~ hl
(c) Establishing a special legal aid fund to assist palestinians in securing
their rights under conditions of occupation, il in accordance with the Geneva
COnvention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War;
-33-
(16) Ensure that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East can meet the essential needs of the Palestinians without
interruption or any diminution in the effectiveness of its services,
(17) Review the situation of Palestinian women in the occupied Palestinian and
other Arab territories and, in view of their special hardships, urge the
Preparatory Committee of the World Conference to Review and Appraise the
Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women, to be held at Nairobi in 1985,
to include this item on the agenda of the Conference;
(18) Review, if they have not yet done so, in conformity with their national
legislation, their economic, cultural, technical and other relations with Israel,
and the agreements gov.erning them with the aim of ensuring that these regulations
and agreements will not be interpreted or construed as implying in any way
recognition of any modification of the legal status of Jerusalem and of the
Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, or an
acceptance of Israel's illegal presence in those territories,
(19) Recognize that the process of enabling the Palestinian people to exercise
its inalienable rights in Palestine is a significant contribution to the
restoration of the rule of law in international relations,
(20) Assure the observance of the stipulations provided in General Assembly
resolution 181 (II) guaranteeing to all persons equal and non-discriminatory rights
in civil, political, economic and religious matters and the enjoyment of human
rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion, speech,
publication, education, assembly and association,
(21) Express concern that the laws applicable in the occupied Arab territories
have been totally eclipsed by a plethora of military orders that have been designed
to establish a new "legal régime" in violation of the Hague Regulations of 1907,
and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War,
(22) Act in accordance with their obligations under existing international
law, in particular with regard to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 which require
States Parties to respect and to ensure respect for those Conventions in all
circumstances, and in particular ensure the respect by Israel for the Geneva
Conventions of 1949 in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories,
(23) Express concern that the Palestinians and other Arabs in the occupied
territories are deprived of juridical and other kinds of protection, that they are
victims of repressive legislation, involving mass arrests, acts of torture,
destruction of houses, and the expulsion of people from their homes, acts,which
constitute flagrant violations of human rights;
(24) Recognize the necessity that Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners detained
by Israel be accorded the status of prisoners of war in accordance with the Geneva
Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 1949, si if combatants,
or in accordance with the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War of 1949, SI if civilians,
(25) Strive for the adoption of international measures so that Israel will
imp1ement in the West Bank and Gaza the provisions of the Hague Regulations of 1907
-34-
and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of civili~n Persons, in the
light of Security Council resolution 465 (1980)J
(26) Recognize, if they have not yet done so, the Palestine Liberation
Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people and establish with it
appropriate relations;
. (27) Encourage, in conforrnity with their national legislations, the formation
of national committees in support of the Palestinian peopleJ
(28) Encourage the observance of 29 November as the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian people, in a most effective and meaningful way;
(29) Request the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session to designate a
Year of Palestine, to be observed at the earliest possible time, taking into
consideration the factors necessary to ensure its effective preparation for the
purpose of galvanizing world-wide public opinion and support for further
implementation Qf the Geneva Declaration on Palestine and the Programme of Action.
"II
The Internatf~nal Conference on the Question of Palestine stresses the
obligation of aIl Member States, under the Charter of the United Nations, to enable
the United Nations through an expanded and more effective role to fulfil its
responsibility for achieving a solution to the question of Palestine. To this end:
"A
States participating in the Conference invite the Security Counèil, as the
organ with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and
security:
(1) To suppress continuing and growing acts of aggression and other breaches
of the peace in the Middle East which endanger peace and security in the region and
the world as a wholeJ
(2) To take prompt, firm and effective steps and actions to establish an
independent sovereign Palestinian State in Palestine through the implementation of
the relevant United Nations resolu~ions, by facilitating the organizatlon of the
international peace conference on the Middle East, as called for in paragraph 5 of
the Geneva Declaration on Palestine (see sect. A above), and by creating in this
context the appropriate institutional a~rangements on the basis of relevant United
Nations resolutions in order to guarantee and carry out the accords of the
international peace conference, including the following:
(a) Taking measures consistent with the principle of the inadmissibility of
the acquisition ofterritory by force to ensure Israel's withdrawal from the
Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, inGluding Jerusalem,
with a specifie timetableJ
(b) Undertaking· effective measures to guarantee the safety and security and
legal and human rights of the Palestinians in the occupied territories pending the
-35-
withdraval of the Israeli forces from the Palestinian and other Arab territories
occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusaleffi,
(c) Subjecting those territories, following the withdrawal of Israel, to a
short transitional period, under the supervision of the United Nations, during
which period the Palestinian people would exercise its right to self-determination,
(d) Facilitating the Implementation of the right to return cf the
Palestinians to their homes and property,
(e) Supervising elections to the constituent assembly of the independent
Palestinian State in vhich aIl Palestinians shall participate, in exercise of their
right to self-determination,
(f) Providing, if necessary, temporary peace-keeping forces in order to
facilitate the Implementation of 8ubparagraphs (a) to (e) above.
liB
Meanvhile the Security OOuncil is also invited to:
(1) Take urgent action to bring about an Immediate and complete cessation of
such Israe~i policies in the occupied territories and, An particular, the
establishment of settlements as have been determined by the Security Council to
have no le~al validity and as a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive,
just and lasting peace in the Middle East,
(2) OOnsider urgently the reports of the Commission established under its
resolution 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, which examined the situation concerning
settlements in the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and
to reactivate the above-mentioned Commission,
(3) Initiate action to terminate Israel's exploitative p~licies which go
against the indigenous economic development of the occupied territories, and to
campel Israel to lift its restrictions on water use and well-drilling by
Palestinian farmers as weIl as its diversion of West Bank water resources into the
Israeli vater grid systems,
(4) Keep under its constant attention the actions committed by Israel against
the Palestinian people in violation of the stipulations provided for in relevant
General Assembly resolutions, in particular the stipulations of resolution 181 (II)
of 29 November 1947 guaranteeing to aIl persons equal and non-discriminatory rights
and freedoms,
(5) Consider, in the event of Israel's persistent non-compliance with the
relevant United Nations resolutions which embody the will of the international
community, appropriate measures in accordance vith the Charter of the United
Nations, to ensure Israel's compliance with these resolutions.
"C
(1) Taking into account the recommendations of the five regional preparatory
Meetings of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine il and United
-36-
Nations resolutions eoneernin. eeanomie and sOCia:a::::~e ~~-::e'pale:~ people, the Secretary-General of the United Nations i8 requested to convene a
meeting of the specialized agencies and other organizations associated with the
united Nations, as weIl as representatives of the Palestine Li~eration Organization
and of those countries which are hosts to Palestinian refugees and other potent~al
sources of assistance to develop a co-ordinated programme of economic and social
assistance to the Palestinian people and to ensure its Implementation.
(2) The meeting should also look into the most effective inter-agency
machinery to co-ordinate and sustain and intensify United Nations assistance to the
Palestinian people.
no
The dissemlnation of accurate and comprehensive information world wide and the
role of non-gov~rnmental organizations and institutions remain of vital importance
in heightening awareness of and support for the Inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent
sovereign Palestinian State. To these ends:
(1) The United Nations Department for Public Information, in full
co-operation and constant consultations with the Committee on the EKercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, should:
(a) Co-ordinate aIl information activities of the United Nations system on
Palestine through the Joint United Nations Information Committee,
(b) Expand publications and audio and visual covsrage of the facts and of
developr.o::'nts pertaining to the question of Palestine~
(c) Publish newsletters and articles in its respective publications on
Israeli violations of human rights of the Arab inhabitants in the occupied
territories and organize fact-finding missions for journalists to the area,
(d) Organize regional encounters for journalists,
(e) Disseminate appropriate information on the results of the International
Conference on the Question of Palestine1
(2) The relevant organizations of the United Nations system should organize
meetings, symposia and seminars on topics within their terms of reference and
relating to specifie problems of the Palestinian people by establishing closer
liaison with non-governmental organizations, the media and other groups interestl!d
in the question of Palestine.
"III
The International Conference on the Question of Palestine, convinced of the
important ~ole of world-wide public opinion in resolving the question of Palestine,
and in the Implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action, urges and
encourages:
-37-
(1) Intergovernmental and non-govern~=ntal organizations to increase
awareness by the international community of the economic and social burdens borne
by the Pales'l::inian people as s result of the continued Israeli occupation and its
negative effects on the economic de'iTelopment of the West ~sian region as a whole,
(2) ~~n-governmentalor9anizations and professional and popular associations
to intensify their efforts to support the rights of the Palestinian people in every
possible way,
(3) Organizations such as those of women, teachers, workers, youths and
etudents to undertake exchanges and other programmes of joint action with their
Palestinian counterparts,
(4) Women's associations, in particular, to investigate the conditions of
Palestinian women and child~an in aIl occupied territories,
(5) The media and other institutions to disseminate relevant information to
increase public awareness and understanding of the question of Palestine,
(6) Institutions of higher education to promote the study of the question of
Palestine in aIl its ~spects,
(7) Various juriste' associations to establish special investigative
commissions to determine the violations by Israel of the Palestinians' legal rights
and to disseminate their findings accordinglYJ
(8) Jurists to initiate with their Palestinian counterparts consultations,
research and investigations on the juridical aspects of problems affecting the
eouthern African and Palestinian strug9les, in particular the detention of
political prisoners and the denial of prisoner-of-war status to detained members of
the national liberation movements of southern Africa and Palestine,
(9) h.lrliamentarians, political parties, trade unions, crganizations for
solidarity and intellectuals, particularly in Weste~n Europe and North America, to
join their counterparts in other parts of the world in giving their support, where
it has no: been done, to an initiative which would express the desire of the
internatiuml1 community co Bee the Palestinian people at last living in their own
independent homeland in peace, freedom and dignity."
!I See Report of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine,
~neva, 29 August-7 September 1983 (United Nations publication, Sales
NO. E.83.I.2l), chap. 1.
~ Sge General Assembly resolution 217 A (III).
si Uni~ed Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 972, p. 135.
y ~., No. 973, p. 287.
-38-
..
~ (continued)
~ Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague COnventions and
Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University press, 1915), p. 100.
f/ See Official Records of the Economie and Social COuncil, 1983, Supplement
No. 9-(E/1983/20).
si A/C.5/38/4, para. 8 (c).
BI Recommendation 146 (VI) of 2 Ju1y 1983 of the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Deve1opment.
1/ Recommendation 19 of the Latin American Regional Preparatory Meeting,
Managua, Nicaragua, ~~-15 April 1983 (A/CONF.114/2).
il African regioni A/CONF.114/1, Latin American region, A/CONF.114/2,
Western Asian region, A/CONF.114/3, Asian region, A/CONF.114/4, European region,
A/CONF.114/5.
-39-
ANNEX III
Report of the ninth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, ,
held at Tunis from 14 to 17 August 1984
1. With the kind'consent and assistance of the Government of Tunisia and in
accordance with General Assembly resolution'38/58 B, the ninth United Nations
seminar on the Question of Palestine was held in the Palais du Congrès, Tunis,
Tunisia, from '14 to 17 August 1984.
2. The "Inalienable rights of the Palestinian people" was the Seminar's central
tb..me.
3. Eight meetings were held at which 19 panelists presented papers on various
aspects of the question of Palestine. The frank and open discussion which followed
the presentations of the papers afforded participants an opportunity to engage in a
wide-ranging examination of important aspects of the question and to focus
particular attention on means for the attainment of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people.
4• .; The large attendance at the meetings reflected both the i~portance attached to
the problem and the widespread interest in finding a just and lasting solution for
th~'uhacceptable plight of the Palestinian people.
s.- ,The United Nations COmmittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
"Pale.tinian People was represented at the Seminar by a delegation consisting of
Mr. Massamba sarré (Seneg~l), Chairman of the Committee and leader of the
del~gatlon, Mt. victor J. Gauci (Malta), RapPorteur of the CommitteeJ
Mr. Vladimir F. Skofenko (Ukranian Soviet Soeialist Republic) J' Mr. Mohamed Lessir
(Tunisia), Mr. Cheikh Sylla (Senegal) and Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi (Palestine Liberation
Organization). Mr. Victor J. Gauci acted as ~pporteur of the Seminar.
6. Mr. Massamba sarré, Chairman of the Committee, in his opening remarks,
referred to the long-stanàing importance devoted to the question of Palestine by
the Un,ited Nations and to the impressive support for the recommendations made by
the Committee which was established in 1976. He also drew attention to the
Committee's encouraging success in its persistent efforts to provide objective
information on the subject and its conviction that, when the facts were known and
understood, the way to a just solution would be facilitated.
7. Stressing the Committee's concern about the time factor, he pointed out that
events on the spot had proved tima and time again that delay only made the search
. for a solution more difficult. It was therefore all the more regrettable that
prog~ess towards the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle
East was being obstructed, since a conference could prove to be a major
breakthrough in the situation. The Secretary-General of the United Nations was to
be commended for his efforts in that direction and it behoved all states to extend
every support to him. The Seminar could be a spur to such efforts.
8. In that connection he also referred to the discernible positive evolution of
Weatern European thought on the question of Palestine and the necessity to devote
particular attention to Europe in an attempt to promote among Western European
Governments a better Appreciation of the Committee's recommendations. For that
-40-
reason, an attempt had been made to have at the Seminar as many European policy
makers and parliamentarians as possible, while maintaining an equitable geographic
distribution.
9. The Committee considers that the best forum in which to work for a solution
remains the United Nations, particularly the Security Council. Unfortunately,
Israel's attitude in rejecting United Nations resolutions and its policy towards
the Palestinians and its Arab neighbours, as well as its actions in Jerusalem and
concerning the establishment of settlements in the occupied territories, have
greatly exacerbated tensions and placed formidable obstacles t~ a peaceful solution
of the question.
10. Addressing the opening meeting, Mr. Mahmoud Mestiri, Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs of Tunisia, stated that Tunisia had always stood for international
legality and remained convinced that the United N~tions provided the natural
framework for the solution of the Palestinian question. Its decisions and
recommendations offered the elements necessary to achieve a durable solution.
11. In contrast to Israel's adamant refusal to respond positively to any proposal
for peace, the Arab States and the Palestine Liberation Organiz~tion'had amply
demonstrated their des ire for peace by their ready acceptance of any peace
initiative based on justice and law.
12. Tunisia considered that the Fez Plan, based as it was on international
l~gality as borne out by united Nations resolutions, particularly Uni~ed Nations
General Assembly resolution 181 (II) of 27 November 1947, coincided with President
Bourguiba's ideas and included the essential principles for a just and durable
solution to the problem.
13. The opening session was addressed by Mr. Adnan Omrane, Under-Secretary-~neral
of the League of Arab States, Mr. Seydou Traore, on behalf of the United Nations
Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the
Declaration of the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,
Mr. Mamadou Kante, Executive Secretary of the Organization of African unity,
Mr. Alfred Jassnowski on behalf of the United Nations Special Cornmittee against
Apartheid, Mr. yin Dexin, Chargé d'Affaires of China, Mr. Boris L. Kolokolov, Vice
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Soviet Federative S~cialist Republic
(Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), Mr. Hussein Mecharrafa, Arnbassador in charge
of Egyptian interests in Tunisia.
14. At the same meeting, Mr. Chafiq AI-Hout, member of the Central Cornmittee of
the Palestine National Council and leader of the delegation of the Palestine,
Liberation Organization, outlined the current situation of the Palestinian people
and conveyed to the United Nations and the Seminar the thanks of his organization
for the efforts being made on behalf of the Palestinian people.
15. Messages addressed to the Seminar were received from the Foreign Minister of
India and the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka.
16. The Seminar also received a message from the Chairman of the Executive "
Com~ittee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Mr. Yasser Arafat, conveyed by
Mr. Chafiq AI-Hout, leader of the delegation of the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO). The text of the message is attached to the report (see
appendix to the present annex).
-41-
17. Five panels were established to consider different aspects of the central
theme "The inalienable rights of the· Palestinian people". ~hese panels and their
panelists were as follows:
1. The role of the united Nations and other forums and organizations in the
search for peace in the Middle East:
Panelists: Dr. Jozsef BIRO (Hungary), former Minister and Member of
Parliamenti Dr. Mohammed Hassan EL-ZAYYAT (Egypt), Member of Parliament,
former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alex KOROMA (Sierra Leone),
Member of Parliamenti Mr. Albrecht KONECNY (Austria), Member of
Parliamenti Mr. Ernie ROSS (United Kingdom), Member of Parliamenti
Mr. Abdoulaye SACKO (Mali), Member of Parliamenti Dr. Ibra Mamadou WANE
(Senegal), Member of the National Assembly, former Minister of Education.
II. The International Peace Conference on the Middle East (General Assembly
resolution 38/58 Cl, the need for such a Conferencei efforts and prospects to
promote a successful outcome, and benefits thereof:
Panelists: Mr. Klaas de VRIES (Netherlands), Member of Parliamenti
Mr. Jean-Claude RAHAGA (Madagascar), Member of Parliamenti .
Mr. Azouz REBAI (Tunisia), Member of Parliamenti Dr. Ingo SCHOENFELDER
(German Democratie Republic), Lecturer, Karl Marx UniversitYi
Mr. Vasily G. SOLODOVNIKOV (Union of Soviet Social~st Republics),
Chairman of the Russian Palestinian SocietYi Mr. Red~o TERZIC
(Yugoslavia), Membcr of Parliament.
III. African and European ~o-operation in seeking effective measures to enable
the Palestinian people to attain and exercise its inalienable rights:
Panelists: Mr. Lasse BUDTZ (Denmark), Member of Parliamenti
Mr. Claude DEJARDIN (Belgium), Member of Parliament.
IV. The role of the Palestine Liberation Organization in the social,
cultural, economic and political development of the Palestinian people and in the
attainment of its political objectives;
Panelist: Mr. Khalid EL-HASSAN (Palestinian), Chairman, Foreign Affairs
Committee of the Palestine National Council.
V. The status of the Holy City of Jerusalem:
Panelists; Mr. Bulent AKARCALI (Turkey), Member of Parliamenti
Mr. Abdelwahab BOUHDIBA (Tunisia), Professor, University of Tunis;
Mr. Jerzy PIOTROWSKI (Polana), Member, Polish Institute of International
Affairs. .
18. The Seminar decided that, in view of the depth of analysis contained in the
papers presented at the Seminar and in accordance with previous practice, the
papers presented by the panelists should be published in full by the United
Nations, together with the report of the Seminar. It was felt that that would be
another valuable contribution towards a more objective apprais~l of the question of
Palestine.
-42-
19. on the day preceding the opening of the Seminar, the Chairman of the Executive
COmmittee of the PLO, Mr. Yasser Arafat, received the Committee delegation and the
panelists and engaged in a frank and cordial discussion. In the course of the
discussion, the Chairman of the PLO reaffirmed his faith in, and support of, the
efforts of the United Nations in promoting a peaceful solution, and again
reiterated his support of aIl United Nations resolutions on the question of
Palestine. He also confirmed the solidarity of the Palestinians in the occupied
territories behind the PLO in their struggle for genuine self-determination. That
had been confirmed in two successive public opinion poIls held in the occupied
territories in October and December 1983, when 93 per cent and 95 per cent of the
Palestinians polled had declared unequivocal support for the PLO.
20. The Chairman also explained in detail the repression and taxation without
repres~ntation to which the Palestinian people were being subjected in the occupied
territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as weIl as the efforts being
deployed by Israel to deny the Palestinian people financial aid channelled through
international institutions.
21. The Seminar was in full agreement that the overdue necessity of finding a just
solution to the question of Palestine was the main issue deserving priority
consideration in the actual complex situation. Indifference to that fundamental
aspect had kept the Middle East in turmoil for many decades but it had now reached
the forefront of international concerne
22. History demonstrated that controversial international problems could not be
solved by force. Israel's belligerent policy of illegal occupation of lands, its
attacks on refugee camps, its many-faceted usurpation of the rights of the
Palestinian people, its inflexible attempts to intimidate Palestinian resistance,
to suppress development of Palestinian indigenous economic and cultural resources
and its blatant attempts to consolidate and perpetuate its occupation by
establishing illegal settlements and imposing its legislation on the occupied
territories in a manner designed to change the sociological and demographic nature
of the territories were therefore doomed to prolong conflict and insecurity in a
sensitive reg ion.
23. The role of the United Nations was irreplaceable in the search for a solution
to that problem. The success of the Organization depended on its Member States.
If they did not respect their commitments and did not act in conformity with the
principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, the effectiven~s. of
the Organization would necessarily be limited.
24. The United Nations had inherited the problem of Palestine as soon as it was
established. It now provided a forum in which aIl parties to the Arab-Israeli
conflict could participate in negotiations. Over the years, the United Nations had
drawn up the basic and widely supported principles on whi'ch a comprehensive, just
and lasting solution should be based. Peace and security for a11 peoples and
States in the region could be ensured only if those basic principles were
unanimously and unreservedly observed in practice.
25. The United Nations had also established the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, which had drawn up, by consensus, a
set of recommendations solidly based on international law, United Nations
resolutions and on the principles of justice, morality and equity. Their
impartiality and objectivity could not be qUt?stioned. The fact that they provided
-43-
such an
That had
other
a solid basis for the solution of the problem was confirmed by the inclusion of the
main features of those recomm~ndations in aIl the most acceptable proposaIs put
forward in recent years.
26. Those recommendations, therefore, repeatedly endorsed by ever increasing
.ajorities in the General Assembly, undoubtedly retained their validity. It was
unfortunate that lack of unanimity still prevented the Security Council from taking
the necessary action to implement them. It was emphasized that that obstacle
should be overcome.
27. Israel's continued illegal occupation of Arab terri tories, its total disregard
for the rights of the Palestinian people, as weIl as its refusaI to recognize the
PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people, were major obstacles to a
peaceful solution to the problem.
28. At the widely attended International Conference on the Question of
Palestine, heId in August and September 1983, in which for the first time in
history over 100 non-governmental organizations had also participated, a proposaI
had been adopted that an international peace conferedce on the Middle East should
be convened, under the auspicèS of the United Nations, in which aIl parties to the
conflict, including the PLO, as well as the United States of America and the Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics, would participate. That proposaI had subsequently
been endorsed by the General Assembly and consultations had been undertaken by the
Secretary-General with a view to implementing it.
29. The majority of the international community regarded the convening of
international peace conference on the Middle East as an urgent necessity.
been reflected not only in the United Nations but in the decisions of many
intergovernmental organizations such as the League of Arab States and the
Non-Aligned Movement. However, the opposition of Israel and the United States of
America to the convening of the conference, and their consistent attempts to hold
separate talks outside the framework of the United Nations, had so far proved an
impediment to the holding of the conference. Israel preferred to seek "negotiating
partners· who would not act in the interests of the Palestinian people but would
enable Israel to maintain and to consolidate its hold on territories it had already
occupied illegally by the use of force.
30. Among the many proposaIs advanced to eliminate the stalemate, the most recent
was the new initiative of the Soviet Union which, it was pointed out, had the
support of the community of Eastern European countries. The Soviet objective in
putting forward proposaIs for a Middle East settlement was aimed at ending the
deadlock, while conforming with the views of the United Nations and taking into
account the fundamental interests of aIl the parties involved in the conflict.
31. The Seminar recognized thatthe proposed international conference, as
envisaged by the United Nations, would be an important step forward and that
Western Europe's special ties with the United States of America placed it in a
specially favourable position to exert persuasive e~forts to that end, both at the
governmental level and through the creation of public opinion everywhere and,
particularly, in the United States of America and Israel. Encouraging signs in
this direction could already be detected.
32. Sorne avenues for further action were identified. In particular, stress was
laid on the evident evolution in the attitude of Western European countries towards
-44-
positive recognition of the inalienable legitimate rights of the Palestinian
people, including the right to self-determination with aIl that it entails.
33. The importance was pointed out of noting the increasing interest and concern
shown in Western European political evolution on the question of Palestine over the
last decade, particularly as reflected in the Socialist International, the Council
of Europe, the European Assembly, the Western European Union, as weIl as in the
Inter-parliamentary Union and in the British Commonwealth of Nations.
34. That positive evolution was certainly due to a better perception in Western
European circles of the consequences of the Middle East conflict on the security of
Europa, giving rise to the necessity of a concrete development in Euro-Arab
dialogue. This dialogue remained, however, prejudiced by the absence of a policy
for a just and durable peace in the Middle East.
35. A community of interests, particularly on reciprocal security, prejudiced by
the Middle Sast conflict, demanded the practical application of planned
Euro-Afric?r co-operation, notably through inter-parliamentary efforts.
36. Mediterranean non-aligned countries were increasingly aware of the
repercussions on their security posed by the unresolved Palestine question within
the Middle East conflict. For the first time, they were due to meet at ministerial
level in order to concert views and identify common efforts to bring out a
lessening of tension and wider co-operation in attempting to resolve regional
problems, of which the Palestine question was among the most important.
37. AlI those convergent efforts required persistence, factual information and
mutual support. The United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People kept track of aIl those efforts, and was able to
provide aIl necessary information and co-ordination. It was sU9gested that the
legal, economic and political implications of the agreement between the European
Economic Community and Israel in relation to products from the occupied territories
could be investigated.
38. The overall objectives of the proposed international conference should be to
achieve a comprehensive, Just and lasting solution to the conflict: comprehensive,
in terms of recognizing the question of Palestine as the core of the Middle East
conflict, just, by ensuring respect for the rights and security of aIl parties to
the conflict as prescribed by international law, and lasting, by eliminating the
main causes of tension.
39. The view was expressed that the conference should culminate in the signing of
a treaty or number of treaties embracing the following organically interrelated
components: the withdrawal of the Israeli troops from aIl Arab territories,
including Jerusalem, occupied since 1967J implementation of a programme for the
exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, including its right
to the creation of its own State; establishing a state of peace and ensuring the
security and independent development of aIl States in the region. Simultaneously,
international guarantees for the observance of the terms of such a settlement
should be drawn up and adopted.
40. Il was logical that the conference should be held within the framework of the
United Nations, or under its auspices, since that Organization was entrusted with
ensuring collective security and promoting international co-operation, and because
its Charter provided the guidelines for the rule of law in international relations.
-45-
41. Moreover, it had a specifie responsibility vis-à-vis the Middle East conflict
and the question of Palestine, since the emergence of the State of Israel, as weIl
as the legitimacy of the Palestinian people's demands for the establishment of its
own independent State, could be traced back to General Assembly resolution 181 (II)
of 29 November 1947. In addition, the United Nations had defined and reaffirmed
the Inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and accorded the PLO observer
status.
42. In order to introduce peace and stability in the region and to resolve the
question of Palestine and thereby end the Arab-Israeli conflict, all States Members
of the United Nations and leaders of world public opinion should intensify their
efforts to promote the convening of an international peace conference on the Middle
East. The positive attitude towards peace efforts shown by the PLO was considered
by the Seminar to be a timely and encouraging signe
43. In so far as the African States were concerned, they had consistently
supported the cause of the Palestinian people and the Arab resistance to Israel's
aggression. There was a close similarity with the situation in southern Africa.
Like South Africa, Israel constituted a danger to Africa as much as to the Arab
world in view of its close economic and military ties with South Africa. An
inter-parliamentary commission could a1so be established ta investigate the
collaboration between Israel and South Africa.
44. The Seminar regarded the question of Jerusalem as an important aspect on the
agenda of the United Nations. Al-Quds al-Sharif was a unique city sacred to three
monotheistic religions, an~ its status was specifically provided for in United
Nations resolutions.
45. Since 1967, Israel had not only proceeded with the transformation of the
city's demographic composition, physical features, institutional structure and
historie character by establishing settlements, by annexation ~nd enlargement of
the municipal boundaries of the city, but also by taking other measures in
violation of the city's legal status. In addition to excavation around the
Haram al Sharif of the Al-Aqsa Masque and the Dame of the Rock, Israel had
perpetrated various acts of desecration and sacrilege against,those and other holy
places. Those unfortunate developments had provoked universal indignation.
46. Israel's adoption of the Basic Law which declared Jerusalem as its eternal
capital in July 1980 had caused great abhorrence and revulsion throughout the world
and resulted in international condemnation of Israeli policies. That was reflected
in the decision of the Security Council, which censured Israel in the strongest
terms and affirmed that the enactment of the Basic Law constituted a violation of
international law and was null and void and must be rescinded forthwith.
47. Uofortunately, in further defiance of international law and United Nations
resolutions, Israel still persisted in pursuing its policy of occupation,
a9gression, expansion and the establishment of illegal settlements in Jerusalem.
Furthermore, :.~ was a matter of concern thal., in spite of Security Council
resolution 478 (1980), two countries had transferred their embassies from Tel Aviv
to Jerusalem. Such action condoned Israel's annexation and seriously eroded the
international community's commitment to the special status of Jerusalem. It was
stressed that the matter should be considered within the general context of the
question of Palestine as an international issue in its own right.
-46-
48. The Seminar emphasized the need for objective reporting of the facts re1ating
to the question of Palestine and ea11ed upon the mass media in a1l regions of the
wor1d to play their part active1y and eontinuous1y in promoting the exercise of the
ina1ienab1e rights of the Pa1estinian people, ineluding the right to se1fdetermination
and to its own independent State, as a step towards an ear1y, just
and lasting sett1ement of the Middle East conf1iet.
49. The Seminar a1so emphasized the need for greater unity and a consistent effort
to reach consensus to promote conviction through dialogue, and for action by
individua1 countries to conform to their public dec1arations in defending
ina1ienab1e human rights and in upho1ding the princip1e of the se1f-determination
of al! peop1es, not 1east the Pa1estinian people, who had been struggling valiantly
for the attainment of their recognized rights for decades.
50. The Seminar heard a summary of the impressive organizational structure and of
the activities of the PLO, its ro1e in the economic, social and political 1ife of
the Pa1estinian people and its efforts to defend its rights.
51. The establishment of the PLO had marked the first step towards the recovery by
the Pa1estinian people of their identity through their common reso1ve to de fend
their rights. It embodied a Pa1estinian entity representing the people and
constituting a par1iament and Government in exile.
52. The PLO insti11ed in the masses of its people an awareness of their national
rights and of the need to reeover the rights with a view to the achievement of
peace based on justice. The deve10pment of demociratic modes of conduct in a11
relations within the PLO constituted a progressiv~ achievement which ensured that
an independent Pa1estinian State wou1d be a true examp1e of democracy, and wou1d
have no difficu1ty in exercising executive functions.
53. The PLO a1so had to dea1 with the economic and social prob1ems of the
Pa1estinian people in exile and under occupation. In spite of the dispersion of
its people, the restrictions imposed on their economic, social and political
activity and other limitations imposed by financial considerations, the PLO
provided comprehensive guidance and, as far as possible, the necessary
infrastructure for its people. An example of its success in that regard was the
fact that the Palestinian people enjoyed the highest educational standards in the
t,ird world and indeed rival1ed the educational 1evels of many developed countries.
54. It cou1d be said that the PLO had faced up to the complex situation arising
from its obligations towards its people by combining social, economic and political
development within the framework of its struggle to recover the national rights of
the people of Palestine.
55. The Seminar was of the opinion t.hat the rea1 role and structure of the PLO
shou1d he given the widest possible publicity, in order to dispel the
misconceptions about the PLO often erroneously propagated by the news media.
56. Having taken note of the difficulties experieneed by the PLO in the
realization of its ecoJ!omic and social objectives, the Seminar launched an appeal
to aIl the countries of the world to strengthen the bilateral and international
co-operation with the PLO so as to ameliorate the economic, social, health,
educational and other cOi,ditions of Palestinians living in the occupied territories.
-47-
57. ln addition, the Se.inar also launched an appeal to all parliamentarians
throughout the world to intenaify their national actions so as to enable people to
better underatand the realities of the question of Palestine.
58. The S••1nar took note with appreciation of the statement released to the press
by ..~ra of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Association for
Buro-Arab co-operation who participated in the Seminar as panelists. It agreed
unani.:>ualy that the text of the state_nt ehould be annexed to the report.
59. At the cloaing sesaion, Mr. Farouq Qaddoumi thanked the participants for the
concern ahawn and aolidarity expresaed for the plight of the Palestinian people and
the valuable contribution they had made to advance further the search for a
aolution of the problem.
60. The Se.inar concluded its work with the expressions of appreciation to the
Government of Tunisia for the gracious welcome and hospitality extended to the
participants and for the facilities provided, which had contributed to the success
of the Seminar.
-48-
Appendix
Closing message from Chairman Yasser Arafat
1. On the conclusion of the ninth United Nations Seminar on the Question of
Palestine, l have pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of our Palestinian Arab
people and my fellow members of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organization, my warmest revolutionary greetings as an expression of our great
appreciation for the honourable stand that you have taken and for the diligent
endeavours that you have made in preparing the papers, in examining t~e facts of
the question of Palestine and the injustice that has befal1en our peo~le, and in
the serious discussions which have characterized the meetings of this Seminar.
2. Having closely followed the work of the Seminar, it is with great appreciation
that we have observed the profundity of the studies submitted, the manifestly
earnest manner in which the meetings have been conducted, and the evident desire of
the distinguished participants to ensure the triumph of truth and to dispel the
confusion and misrepresentation surrounding the terrible injustice to which our
Palestinian Arab people have been subjected through the~r expulsion from their
homeland in 1948, the 10ss of their national identity, and the denial of their
Inalienable rights to their national territory. In this connection, we must
express our high esteem for the painstaking efforts made by the authors of the
papers submitted. We must also emphasize the important role that the European and
African parliamentarians participating in this Seminar can play within their
national parliaments in support of the established rights of the Palestinian people
to its national territory by encouraging their colleagues and Governments to
promote the Palestinian cause by explaining the justice of that cause and by
clearly advocating the right of the Palestinian people to return to its land, to
the exercise of self-determination and to the establishment of its independent
national State.
3. We also wish to reiterate in this forum the commitment of the Palestine
Liberation Organization to the resolutions of the united Nations and our sincere
hope that international legitimacy will play a more effective role in the
achievement of a solution to the question of Palestine and in the restoration of
peace in the region of the Middle East. We condemn all of the attempts that are
being made to obstruct the role of the United Nations and to detract from the
prestige and effectiveness of that organization since we are well aware of the
grave dangers that those counter-productive actions entail for peace and security
not only within our region but througho~~ the world as a whole.
4. Our struggling people are still suffering the disastrous consequences of the
successive wars that the Zionist enemy has launched against them and in which use
has been made of the most modern devices for mass slaughter and destruction
produced by the American military arsenal. Our people are also being subjected to
the most odious forms of repcession and persecution within occupied Palestine whose
Islamic and Christian holy places are being desecrated. Attempts are being made to
change the demographic and historical character of the city of Jerusalem, and the
Government of the enemy is supporting terrorist groups by providing them with funds
and weapons, thereby encouraging them to launch attacks against the Palestinian
Arab population with a view to driving the~ from their homes and expropriating
their lands and water resources in order to establish Zionist settlements.
Furthermore, our people outside occupied P&lestine are suffering from the bitter
-49-
tor..nt experienced by displaced refugees living in camps and other places of exile
and froe the anguish of being unabl~ to return to their homeland. Notwithstanding
these sufferings, however, and also a& a result thereof, our people are yearLing
for the achievement of r~ace in Palestine, the land of peace, through the
establishment of their independent Palestinian state so thAt they can contribute to
the enhancement of human civilization and use their scientific abilities and
creative human capacities to play their natural role in promoting the prosperity
and happiness of the human race on this planet.
S. TheBe n~ble aspirations of our people cannot he realized, nor can peace and
stability he achieved in our region, unless the American Administration and the
Government of Israel renounce their policy of aggression and recognize our people's
inalienable national rights, including their right of returr., their right to selfdeteraination,
and their right ta the establishment of the!r independe~t national
State. Oonsequently, we believe that the convening of an international peace
conference on the Middle East, under the auspices of the United Nations, is the
only way to secure the triumph of international legitimacy, to safeguard the
established rights of our people, and to ensure security, peace and stability in
our reg ion.
6. We ncw calI upon you, my dear friends, to use your high standing and influencQ
with the peoples and Governments of your countries to give increased momentum to
the peaceful endeavours and initiatives that are heing made in favour of the
established national rights of our people.
7. In conclusion, 1 reiterate my gratitude and appreciation for your noble
endeavours in support of the just Palestinian cause and wish you every success.
Revolution until Victory
-50-
ANNEX IV
North American Non-governmental Orgahization symposium
on the Question of Palestine
(United Nations Headquarters, New York, 25-27 June 1984)
The North American Declaration
1. We wish to thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights for making this
meeting possible.
2. As non-governmental organizations (NGOs), we are particularly grateful to the
united Nations for the creation of an NGO liaison staff function and for the
provisiûn of a.nnual NGO meetings •
3. We, the representativesof 60 NGOs represented at the North American NGO
Symposium on the Question of Palestine, heId from 25 to 27 June 1984 at the United
Nations Headquarters in New York, calI upon the peoples and Governments of the
United States and Canada to take definitive steps to secure a comprehensive, just
and lasting peace in the Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of which is the question
of Palestine.
4. We wish to voice our support for the United Nations, especially its work to
achieve a just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine through the
implementation of relevant resolutions.
5. We are of the opinion that there exists an international consensus on the
elements of such a peace which is reflected in the relevant resolutions and
documents of the United Nations and the positions of the majority of the States
Members of the United Nations as expressed in the 1983 Geneva Declaration on
Palestine (see annex II above).
6. Recent polIs have shawn that this international consensus is paralleled by an
emerging consenRUS among the peoples of Canada and the United States of America for
such a just peace. The paoples of our two nations are increasingly recognizing
that Palestinians, like Israelis, constitute a nation and ar~ endowed with an
inalienable right to national self-determination and statehood within historie
palestine. This rignt means the right to return to Palestine, the right to be
represented by their chosen representatives, the Palestine Liberation Organizatior(
PLO), and the right to live securely in peace with aIl the neighbouring States,
including Is~ael.
7. We believe that it is imperative that steps toward3 peace be taken
immediately, since the de facto annexation of the West Bank (including Jerusalem)
and Gaza by the Government of Israel is proceeding rapidly and threatens to dsstroy
the possibility of a peace based on the mutual recognition of the rights of
palestinians, as weIl as Israelis, to national self-determination. We calI upon
the Government of the united States to declare unequivocally that the 1949 Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War !I applies
to aIl ter citories occupied by Israel in and aftar 1967 and to secure Israeli
compliance with the Convention, as the United States is required to do by the terms
-51-
of the Convention. We are aware that the United states Government and,
consequently, the American taxpayer, give more United states aid to Israel than to
any other country. Much of it is in the form of grants which do not need to be
repaid. This money permits Israel illegally to build and expand existing
settlements.
8. It is our belief that all the parties to the conflict should come together in
an international peace conference on the Middle East, as called for by the
International Conference on the Question of Palestine of August 1983 and as
endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 38/58 C. It is esaential that
the conference be inclusive and be attended by representatives of Israel and the
Palestinians, the PLO, those Arab States parties to the conflict, the United States
and the SOviet Union. Just as General Assembly resolution 181 (II) of
November 1947 recognized the right of both peoples to self-determination and
statehood, so now should the States Members of the General Assembly reiterate these
principles as the basis for a negotiated peace under the auspices of the United
Nations.
9. With the intent to further this goal of a just and lasting peace, we,
representatives of non-govermental organizations, will work towards the following,
and urge our respective Governments of Canada and the United States to take similar
actiom
(a) CalI upon the Governments of Canada and the United States for the
recognition of the right and just struggle of the Palestinian people under their
sole and legitimate representative, the PLO,
(b) Promote the Palestinian rigbt of self-determination and the convening of
~n international peace conference under the auspices of the United Nations,
(c) Work towards an immediate freeze on the construction and s~pansion of
Jewish settlements in the occupied territories,
(d) Promote the reduction of militarization of this highly volatile re9ion,
by refraining from supplying weapons and other means of war. The threat of a third
world war and the possibility of a nuclear disaster cause great concern,
(e) Take concrete steps to preserve and protect the human rights of all
persons living in Israel and in aIl territories occupied by Israel,
(f) Provide protection and assistance to Palestinians who are victime of
dispossession and oppression, particularly women and childrenJ
(g) Ensure academic freedom and freedom of cultural expression in the
occupied Palestinian and other Arab terri tories, including Jerusalem, with
particular attention to the function of universities in these areasJ
(h) Urge meetings between religious groups, women1s organizations, labour
unions, peace groups, human rights groups and other NGOs with their Israeli and
Palestinian counterpartsJ
(i) Facilitate trialogue among North American Muslims, Christians and Jews
concerning the moral and theological basis for a lasting peace in the Middle EastJ
-52-
(j) Encourage meetings between Palestinians and progressive Jewish peace
forces within and outside Israel in the hopes of furthering peace and mutual
understandingJ
(k) Work towards the elimination of discriminatory restrictions on visas
fOI Palestinian leaders to visit the United States and CAnada, since such
communications among Palestinians, progressive Israelis and the public of the
United States and CAnada are ingredients in a peaceful resolution of the conflictJ
(1) Urge that all American and CAnadian NGOs working for peace with justice
in the Middle East be accorded the full protection of their rights to freed~m of
expression and association without fear of surveillance, interception of mail,
surreptitious entry, or harassment by the Governments of the united States or
Canada, in the light of the deplorable Security Bill recently passed by the Bouse
of Commons in CAnada and the various proposed "anti-terrorist" bills presently
posing serious threats to the civil liberties and rights of Canadians and Americans
working in support of various human rights strugglesJ
(m) Work to initiate, particularly among North American women's
organizationR, a co-ordinated campaign of support on behalf of Pal~stinian wornen at
present imprisoned and under town and house arrest because of their social and
political activitiesJ
(n) Urge NGOs to raise the issue of the Inalienable rights of the Palestinian
PeOple in the course of the upcoming electoral campaigns in the United States and
CanadaJ
(0) Urge that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) continue to provide its services to the
Palestiniens without any decrease or dimunition. Cognizant 9f its mandate, we urge
the United Nations to re-evaluate and update the UNRWA regulations as to which
families and women receive aide Further, we urge that Governments increase tbeir
financial support of UNRWAJ
(p) Promote the dissemination of the speech made by Chairman Yasser Arafat at
the International Conference on the Question of Palestine in September 1983.
10. We urge the United Nations tOI
(a) Include, in the mandate of the NGO liaison function of the Division for
Palestinian Rights, work on the World Conference to Review and Appraise the
Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women, to be held at Nairobi, 1985.
This should facilitate inclusion and full participation of Palestinian wornen in
thet ConferenceJ
(b) Assist the North American NGO community in the establishment of a
clearinghouse for information on the question of PalestineJ
(c) Continue the development of a bimonthly North American calendar of NGO
activities and facilitate its wide disseminationJ
(d) Produce a comprehensive directory of all NGO organizations working on
this issue, including those that have not p~rticipated in AnY United Nations
acUviUesJ
-53-
C.) CO-ordinate the development of a guide to resources, ·how to· expertise
and action-ori.nted networking, including the development of a telephone tree for
th. ~nicatlon of urgent information.
11. w. in turn will create ways for better communication among ourselves and for
di••••ination of our collective reaources, hoping that the formation of North
Aaerican public opinion can he a joint NGO/United Nations venture.
12. Me urge the pub1iC4tion of the proceedings of this symposium, including the
North Aaerican Declaration and the etatements of the panelists, by the United
Nation••
13. w. urge the Chairaan of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Right. of the Pa1e.tinian People to convey this resolution to the General Assembly
at it. thirty-ninth 8e88ion as part of the Committee's report.
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973, p. 287.
-54-
ANNEX V
International Meeting of Non-governmental Organizations
on the Question of Palestine
(Geneva, 20-22 August 1984)
Resolution of non-governmental organizations
1. We wish to thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights for making this
meeting possible and without whose invaluable assistance our success would have
been impaired.
2. As non-governmental organizations (NGOs) we are particularly grateful to the
United Nations for the creation of an NGO liaison staff function and for the
provision of annual NGO meetings and symposia on the question of Palestine.
3. We consider that the meeting of so many non-governmental organizations as a
con~equence of United Nations resolution 38/58 C of 13 December 1983 is essential
to the increase of international awareness of the question of Palestine.
4. We, the representatives of 98 NGOs represented at the International NGO
Meeting on the Question of Palestine, held from 20 to 22 August 1984 at the United
Nations Office at Geneva, calI upon aIl the peoples and aIl the Governments to take
definitive steps to secure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the
Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine.
5. We wish to voice our support for the United Nations, especially its work to
achieve a just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine through the
Implementation of aIl relevant United Nations resolutions.
6. We express our concern for the lack of protection of the Palestinian refugees
through a United Nations agency, and urge the General Assembly to extend the
mandate to the United Nations 8igh Commissioner for Refugees to include Palestinian
refugees.
7. We reaffirm our support and our commitment to work for the Implementation of
the 1983 Geneva Declaration on Palestine and the Programme of Action for the
Achievement of Palestinian Rights.
8. We decide to establish an interim Co-ordinating Committee on Palestine for
NGOs as a positive development to further liaison between NGOs and the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People through the
Division for Palestinian R1ghts. The names of the organizations on the Interim
Co-ordinating Committee are attached.!I He request the Committee to ensure that
at next year's conference a session shall be devotcd to enabling the NGOs to decide
on the future structures for their co-operation with the Committee and the Division.
9. Since the United Nations has set aside 29 November each year as the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, we calI upon aIl NGOs
te express on that day, by aIl means available to them, solidarity with the
Palestinian people in their struggle for self-àetermination and statehood.
-55-
10. We calI on the Committee through the Division to disseminate the pub1icity
material, posters and information to aIl NGOs well in advance of 29 November to
ensure that the preparation of our activities can be conc1uded by september each
year.
11. Non-governmental organizations have decided to launch a campaign to collect
signatures from the peoples of the world in support of an international peace
conference on the Middle East, as called for by the International Conference on the
Question of Palestine of August and September 1983 and as endorsed by the General
Assembly in its resolution 38/58 C. It is essential that the conference be
inclusive and be attended by the representatives of Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization, those Arab States parties to the conflict, the United
States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Just as General
Assemb1y resolutions recogni~e the right of both peoples to self-determination and
statehood, so now should the States Members of the General Assembly reiterate these
princip1es as the basis for a negotiated peace under the auspices of the United
Nations.
12. Non-governmental organizations accept responsibility to promote within their
own countries support for this international conference and Agree to raise this
with their own Governments.
13. We call upon the Committee, through the Division, to assist tâe
non-governmental organizations in this most i~portant endeavour by providing
administrative facilities and support in order to ensure the success of this
petition, which will be launched on 29 November 1984 culminating on
29 November 1985 and then will be presented to all the parties involved.
14. We call upon the Oommittee through the Division to campaign actively in order
to bring new organizations, especially from those areas of the world that were not
represented at Geneva into the trork of solidarity in support of the Palestinian
people and into the family of NGOs.
15. We call upo~ the COmmittee, through the Division, further to strengthen the
network of women working for a just, comprehensi~e and lasting peace in the Middle
East. We calI for a wide exchange of information, including with the
representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization (General Union of
Palestinian Women), with special focus on the situation of Palestinian women i~
preparation for the NGO forum in Nairobi in 1985.
16. We call upon the committee, through the Division, to facilitate co-operation
and co-ordination of NGOs on a regiona1 basis. NGOs from the EEC region have
envisaged during this conference an organization in the near future.
17. Non-governmental organizations regard as a priority the publication and early
distribution of a comprehensive report including al1 the recommendations for action
made by the panelists and the participants at the International NGO Meeting on the
Question of Pale~tine, held at Geneva from 20 to 22 August 1984, and we call upon
the Committee, through the Division, to accept this responsibility. Such a report
should he made available no 1ater than 30 October 1984.
18. We call upon the Oommittee, through the Division, to provide the international
HGO coemunity vith a clearinghouse for inf~rmation on the question of Palestine.
-56-
19. We calI upon the Committee, through the Division, to provide a comprehensive
resource guide and directory of aIl NGOs working on this issue, including thooe
that have not participated in any United Nations activities.
20. We calI upon the Committee, thrc~gh the Division, to expand the bulletin of
the United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights to include a regular section on
NGO activity and information.
21. We calI upon the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People to convey the resolution and report of the
International NGO Meeting on the Question of Palestine, helà at Geneva from 20 to
22 August 1984, to the Genergl Assembly at its thirty~üinth session as part of the
Committee's report.
Notes
~ The following organizations are members of the interim Co-ordinating
Committee: Israeli Council foc Israeli-Palestinian Peace (Israel); Democratie
Front for Peace and Equality (Israel); Law in the Service of Man ('l'lest Bank);
Palestine Human Rights Campaign (United States oi America); National Council of
Churches of Christ (United States of America); Trade Union Friends of Palestine
(United Kingdom); French NGO Committee (France); Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity
Cornrnittee in Association with SOviet Committee of Friendship and Solidarity with
the Arab People of Palestine (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics); International
Je~ish Peace Union; parliarnentary Association for Euro-Arab Co-operation; Arab
Lawyers Union; Middle East Council of Churches in Collaboration with the World
Council of Churches; World YWCA; International Commission of Jurists; World Peace
Council.
84-23434 4357e (E) -57-
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Litho iDUnited Nations, New York
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: FORTIETH SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/40/35)
UNITED NATIONS
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: FORTIETH SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/40/35)
UNITED NATIONS
New York, 1985
NOTE
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
[Original: English]
[1 October 1985]
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
LETTER OF -:RANSMITTAL ••••••••• 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 • 11 11 11 • 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 Gl 11 • 11 11 11 11 V
III INTRODUCTION 11 11 11 • 11 11 • 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 • 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
I I. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE •• " ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Ill. ORGANIZATION OF WORK •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
A. Election of officers •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
B. Participation in the work of the Committee •••••••••••
C. Re-establishment of the working Group ••••••••••••••••
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 39/49 A ••..•...••.•••••.••••.••..••.•.••••
1. Review of the situation relating to the question
of Palestine and efforts to implement the
recommendations of the Committee •••••••••••••••••
2. Reaction to developments atfecting the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian paople •••••••••••••••••
(a) Communications to the Secretary-General and
the President of the Security Council ••••••
(b) Action teken within the Security C~uncil
3. Action taken by the Committee to promote the
convening of the proposed International Peace
Conference on the Middle East ••••••••••••••••••••
4. Attendance at international conferences and
meet i nq s 11 11 11 11 11 11 • 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 • 11 11 11 11
1 - 6
7 - 8
9 - 15
9 - 10
11 - 13
14 - 15
16 - 150
16 - 134
16 - 32
33 - 66
33 - 57
58 - 66
67 - 85
86
1
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
6
6
9
11
13
5. Action taken by United Nations bodies, the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and
intergovernmental organizations ••••••••••••••••••
B. Action taken by the Committee in accordance with
General Assembly resolutions 38/58 Band 39/49 B
1. Co-operation with non-governmental organizations •
-111-
87 - 134 14
135 - 150 21 135 - 143 21
CONTENTS (continued)
2. Seminars .
3. Studies .
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 39/49 C •••••
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE . ~ .
Paragraphs Page
144 - 148 22
149 - 150 23
151 - 162 24 163 - 172 26
Annexes
I. Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly at
its thirty-first session .••.•.•..•.•....•.•••....••••••••..•.•••••.•. 28
11. Geneva Declaration on Palestine and Programme of Action for the
Achievement of Palestinian Rights •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 31
Ill. United Nations Symposium for Non-Governmental Organizations on the
Question of Palestine, Geneva, 3-4 November 1984: NGO appeal tor
an Internatio~al Peace Conference on the Middle East ••••••••••••••••• 41
IV. Report of the Tenth United Nations Seminar on the Question of
Palestine, Beijing, 22-26 April 1985 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 43
V. United Nations Asian Regional Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium
on the Question of Palestine, New Delhi, 1-3 May 1985: Declaration 48
VI. Report of the Eleventh United Nations Seminar on the Question
of Palestine, Georgetown, 17-20 June 1985 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 52
VII. Report ot the Twelfth United Nations Seminar on the Question
of Palestine, New York, 8-9 July 1985 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 63
VIII. United Nations North American Regional Non-Governmental Orqanizations
Symposium on the Question of Palestine, New York, 10-12 July 1985:
Declaration 0 ·.& ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 11........ 70
IX•. United Nations African Regional Non-Governmental Organizations
Symposium on the Question of Palestine, Dakar, 5-7 August 1985:
Declaration CI •••••• Il ••••••••••••• 0 •••••••••••••• ~ ••••• •••• 73
x. International Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations on the
Question of Palestine, Geneva, 9-12 september 1985: Declaration
-iv-
78
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
23 September 1985
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the.
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 4 ot resolution 39/49 A.
Accept, Sir, the assurances ot my highest consideration.
(Signed) Massamba SARRE
Chairman of the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian people
His Excellency
Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar
Secretary-General of the United Nations
-v3.
In its subseauent reports to the General Assembly, 1/ the Committee retained
its original recommendations unchanged. On each occasion and with stronger
emphasis, they were again endorsed by the Assembly which each year has also renewed its mandate of the Committee.
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People, established by General Assembly resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975,
is currently composed of 23 Member States. 1/
2. The first report of the Committee 11 contained specific recommendations .
designed to enable the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as
previously recognized and defined by the General Assembly. Those recommendations
were first endorsed by the Assembly at its thirty-first session as a basis for the
solution of the auestion ot Pal&~tine.
4. Despite repeated urgings by the Committee, however, the Security Council has
not yet been able to act on or implement the recommendations ot the Com~i~tee.
Meanwhile, arising from a continuation of Israeli policies and practices, tension
and violence persist in the Palestinian and other Arab territories, inchK~ing
Jerusalem, illegally occupied by Israel.
5. Israel has not yet begun to implement the Security Council resolutions
reauesting its complete and unconditional withdrawal from the OCc·,;;.;.},ed Palestinian
and other Arab territories. Lebanon has also been caught in the turmoil. Isra~l
has prevented UNIFIL from deploying along the internationally recognized boundaries
of Lebanon. The Committee has therefore continued to stress that this situation
will prevail in the area as long as the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people remain unattained. Th~ United Nations has a clear responsibility to ensure
the achievement of the rights ,.£ the Palestinian people to self-determination,
national independence and sovereignty and to return to their homes and property, as
well as to their physical protection and welfare in the refugee camps.
6. To secure United Nations objectives on the auestion of Palestine, during the
year under review, the Committee gave priority to the early convening of the
proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East, under United Nations
auspices and in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution
38/5e C, and continued to urge the understanding and co-operation of all concerned
for the resolution of a problem which is fundamental to international peace and
security. The CowRittee regrets it has not so tar sensed any change in the
negative attitude of Israel and the United States of America concerning the
convening of the Conference, and expresses the sincere hope that a positive change
will urgently be forthcoming.
-1-
7. The Committee's mandate for the year 1985 is contained in General Assembly
resolutions 39/49 A and B, the relevant parts of which are paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 ot
resolution 39/49 A and paragraph 2 of resolution 39/49 B, through which the
Committee was required:
(a) To continue to keep under review the situation relatinq to the auestion
of Palestine as well as the implementation of the Programme of Action for the
Achievement of Palestinian Rights adopted by the International Conference on the
Question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or
the Security Council, as appropriate;
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
d
(b) To continue to exert all efforts to promote the implementation of its
recommendations, to send deleqations or representatives to international
conferences where such representation would be considered by it to he appropriate
and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fortieth session and
thereafter;
(c) To continue to extend its co-operation to non-governmental organizations
in their contribution ~~ards heightening international awareness of the facts
relating to the auestion of Palestine.
8. The General Assembly also requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the
Division for Palestinian Rights continue to discharge the tasks detailed in
previous resolutions, in consultation with the Committee and under its guidance.
-2-
Ill. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A. Election of officers
9. The Committee, at its lllth meeting, on 8 January 1985, decided to re-elect
the followinq officers:
Chairman: Mr. Massamba Sarre (Seneqal)
Vice-Chairmen: Mr. Oscar Oramas-Oliva (Cuba)
Mr. Mohammed Farid Zarif (Afghanistan)
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
10. At its l12th meetinq, on 24 January 1985, the Committee adopted its programme
of work for 1985 (A/AC.183/L.39) in implementation of its mandate.
11. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed, at its very first meeting,
that all States Members of the United Nations and Permanent Observers to the United
Nations desiring to participate in the work of the Committee as observers were
welcome to do so. The Committee also decided to invite the Palestine Liberation
Orqanization (PLO) to participate in its work as an observer, to attend all its
meetings and to make observations and proposals for the consideration of the
Committee.
Rapporteur: Mr. Victor J. Gauci (Malta)
12. During 1985 the Committee again welcomed as observers all the States and
orqanizations that had participated in the preceding year. 4/ The Committee also
welcomed the additional participation of China and Sri Lank; as observers from
14 May 1985.
13. The Committee stressed its priority objective in seeking to promote the
convening of the proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East, as
endo~sed by the General Assembly in resolution 38/58 C. Accordingly, a letter to
that effect was addressed on 5 February 1985 by the Chairman to the
Secretary-General who subsequently transmitted it, on 20 February 1985, to States
Members of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies, as well as to
intergovernmental regional organizations.
C. Re-establishment of the working Group
14. The Committee, at its lllth meeting, re-established its working Group to
assist in the preparation and expedition of the work of the Committee. The working
Group was constituted as before, on the understanding that any Committee member or
observer could participate in its proceedings. 2/
15. At its first meeting, on 18 January 1985, the Working Group unanimously
re-elected Mr. Victor J. Gauci (Malta) as its Chairman and Ms. Savitri Kunadi
(India) as its Vice-Chairman.
-3-
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 39/49 A
_---------~------------L-"'-,.,-~-.~- G"?'"F-~_~~,..~~....---1. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
and efforts to implement the recommendations of the Committee
16. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee continued to keep the situation
relating to the question of Palestine under review, and to exert all efforts to
promote the implementation of its recommendations as endorsed by General Assembly
resolutions.
17. In reaction to events in the region affect:ing the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, whenever urgent action was required, the Chairman of the
Committee repeatedly drew the attention of the Secretary-General and of the
President of the Security Council to such developments, and called for appropriate
measures in accordance with United Nations resl~lutions (see below, section (2) (a».
Those communications were sent against a backdrop of continued military occupation
by Israel of the Palestinian and Arab territories, and of resulting growinq
conflict and tension in the region.
18. The Committee noted with mounting concern that the situation relating to the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people had continued to deteriorate in the
year under reView, as described in various studies and documents prepared by United
Nations and other intergovernmental bodies, and by experts, as well as in press
reports.
19. The information reViewed by the Committee made it clear that the Israeli
policies of illegally maintaining and establishing new Jewish settlements, and
confiscating Arab-owned land, in the tx:cupied Palestinian territories, had
continued. Data submitted to the International Symposium on Israeli Settlements in
the occupied Arab territories, organized by the League of Arab States, in
washington D.C., in April 1985, showed that Israel had seized 51.2 per cent of the
total area of the west Bank as of May 1984. By that date, Israel had about
179 settlements in the West Bank, of which 31 were in and around Jerusalem,
involVing an estimated total of approximately 146,000 settlers. Instances of the
creation of new settlements and confiscation of additional Arab land continued to
be reported in letters by the Chairman of the Committee and by the Permanent
Representative of Jordan addressed to the Secretary-General during 1985.
20. The Committee noted that the continuing momentum towards set~lement of the
occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories was accompanied by measures
designed to stifle all forms of political, cultural, social and economic expression
of the Palestinian people, as w~ll as violence, harassment and provocation of
Palestinians by armed Israeli settlers, in an apparent effert to drive the
Palestinians out of their land and facilitate its eventual annexation by Israel.
21. The Committee noted that according to a report published by Law in the Service
of Man, a west Bank-based affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists,
indiscriminate detention, accompanied by torture and various forms of
ill-treatment, was used for the purpose of political intimidation of Palestinians.
Further evidence of detention without charges, torture and ill-treatment of
Palestinians in Israeli prisons and detention centres, inclUding arbitrary
-4-
beatinqs, overcrowding, lack of food, of water and health care, denial of
educational materials, and discrimination, was provided by witnesses in hearings
held in the area by the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices
Affecting the Human Rights of the Population i.n the Occupied Territories (Press
Releases HR/2792-2864).
22. In their effort to repress Palestinian opposition to occupation, the Is~aeli
military authorities repeatedly broke up demonstrations, raided houses in villages
and refuqee camps, declared selected areas "military zones" and closed them, and
engaged in forms of collective punishment such as bulldozing houses, closing shops,
and imposinq curfews.
23. In response to growing resistanc~ against the occupying Power by Palestinians
in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli G07ernment in August 1985 decided to
reinstate its policies of administ~ative detention without charges for up to
six months and deportation of persons considered security risks, and it engaqed in
a massive campaiqn in implementation of those policies.
24. At the same time, the Israeli occupation authorities continued to resort to
measures designed to restrict the right to freedom of movement of the Palestinian
people. The Committee deplored in particular that two women from the West Bank,
Ms. Sameeha Khalil and Ms. Siham Barghouty, invited by the Committee to participate
in the International NGO Meeting held at Geneva from 9 to 12 September 1985, had
been refused a travel permit by the Israeli authorities. It was also brought to
the attention of the Committee that a number of members of Law in the Service of
Man were also detained on the eve of the meeting.
25. The Committee further noted that the Israeli occupation authorities had
continued to deny trade union rights to Arab workers and to engage in repressive
measures aQainst the trade union movement and its leaders, as described in the
1985 report on the situation of workers of the occupied Arab territories prepared
by the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation.
26. Academic and cultural freedom continued to be Violated in the occupied
Palestinian territories, as shown by the repeated closing of educational
institutions, the confiscation of cultural materials, the banning of cultural
exhibits and the armed repression and detention of student activists, as detailed
in the reports submitted by the Director-General of UNESCO on educational and
cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories.
27. These repressive policies and practices, aimed at stifling Palestinian
national expression and resistance to the military occupation, have been
accompanied by continuing measures to strengthen control over most aspects of life,
with the objective of obstructing self-generating development of the occupied
territories and to turn them into a dependent entity aiming at its final absorption
and annexation. Industry, trade, agriculture, water resources, health, services,
education, employment and economic life in general continue to be under strict
control to ensure that the population of the occupied territories remain dependent
on Israel for their well-being while Israel benefits from exploiting the area's
natural and human resources.
28. The Committee noted, in this connection, that, in their respective reports on
the labour, health, and educational situation in the occupied territories, ILO, the
World Health Organization and UNESCO had found little or no improvement in the
condition~ of the Palestinian and Arab population. The specialized agencies
-5-
pointed out that the continued occupation and the policies and practices of Israel
in the occupied territories conflicted with the objectives of development in their
respective fields.
29. The Committee further noted the corroborating information contained in the
reports of the Secretary-General on living conditions of the Palestinian people in
the occupied Palestinian territories (A/40/373-E/1985/99); on permanent sovereignty
over national resources in the occupied Palestinian and other territories
(A/40/38l-E/1985/105), and on the situation of women and children in the occupied
Arab territories and other occupied territories (A/CONF.116/6).
30. A report on the Israeli road plan for the West Bank, also prepared by Law in
the Service of Man and submitted to the General Assembly by the Chairman of the
Committee (A/40/1l9-S/l6943) provided further evidence of Israel's policy of
de facto annexation of the area through its economic integration as a dependent
entity.
31. The Committee wishes to express its utmost concern at these policies and
practices and to bring them forcefully to the attention of the General Assembly and
the Security Council as they clearly violate the Fourth Geneva Convention and have
serious repercussions not only on the enjoyment by the Palestinians of their
inalienable rights, but also on peace and security in the region, and on
international efforts to achieve a just and lasting solution of the auestion of
Palestine, the core of the Middle East conflict.
32. The Committee further reviewed with grave preoccupation the deteriorating
situation of Palestinian refugees in South Lebanon, which had reached increasingly
dramatic proportions in the wake of Israel's invasion. The Committee followed
closely the Security Council debates in the matter (see section 2 (b» and repeated
their warning that conflict and violence in the region would continue as long as
the Palestinian people were prevented from exercising their inalienable rights in
their own State.
2. Reaction to developments aff~ctin9 the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people
(a) Communications to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security
Council
33. In response to developments affecting the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, whenever urgent action was reauired, the Chairman of the
Committee repeatedly drew the attention of the Secretary-General and of the
Security Council to such developJ1\ents and called for appropriate measures in
accordance with United Nations resolutions.
34. In addition to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, the
Committee also had to express concern over developments in the Palestinian refugee
camps in southern Lebanon. The invasion and occupation by Israeli armed forces had
left in its wake an ever-growing spiral of violence and bloodshed aimed in
particular at the Palestinians. On that account, in a press release issued on
24 May 1985 (GA/PAL/266), the Chairman called upon the United Nations and, in
particular, the Security Council, to exercise their responsibility to ensure the
physical safety of the Palestinians and to bring about the exercise of their
inalienable rights.
-6-
35. In his letters, the Chairman detailed violations of the fundamental rights of
Palestinians by the Israeli authorities in contravention of international law and
United Nations resolutions. He pointed out that such measures aggravated tensions
in the region and posed a constant threat to international peace and security. He
reiterated the urgent necessity for a concentrated international effort to 'find a
just solution to the auestion of Palestine, and reaffirmed that the Committee
attached the utmost importance to the early conveninq of the proposed International
Peace Conference on the Middle East.
36. On 26 November 1984, the Chairman expressed by letter the Committee's grave
concern at reports of renewed acts of repression against Palestinians, including
the shooting of unarmed demonstrators, by the Israeli forces in the occupied
Palestinian territories (A/39/692-S/16841). The shootings, which had taken place
in Bir Zeit and Ramallah, had resulted in the deaths of two students and the
wounding of several others.
37. On 15 January 1985, the Chairman again drew attention to further action taken
by the Government of Israel in its continuing policy of annexing the occupied
Palestinian territories (A/40/84-S/16896). Sites for six new settlements had been
approved on 10 January 1985; in addition, the establishment of another 20 new
settlements had been reauested by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of
Israel.
38. On 5 February 1985, the Chairman sought the publication, as a document of the
General Assembly, of a study prepared by Law in the Service of Man concerning an
Israeli proposed road plan for the West Bank (A/40/ll9-S/16943). According to the
study, the project, which had recently been promulgated by the occupying
authorities, would greatly increase integration of the West Bank road system into
that of Israel, and entail the seizure of 78,000 dunums of private Palestinian land
and the destruction of refugee camps, buildings and facilities.
39 •. The study had concluded that the plan must therefore be seen as the most
significant step of recent times towards Israel's eventual annexation of the West
Bank, as well as a direct physical threat to the lands, communities and livelihood
of the Palestinian population, thus servinq the purpose of encouraging their
emigration.
40. On 12 February 1985, the Chairman drew urgent attention to the grave situation
and growing tension in and around the Palestinian refugee camps in South Lebanon
and the occupied West Bank (A/40/l28-S/l6954).
41. Acts of repression had been carried out by the Israeli troops against
reSidents of Burj Al-Shamali refugee camp in the Tyre area and Dheisheh refugee
camp near Bethlehem; several residents had been wounded and scores of others
arrested. Moreover, Israeli planes had repeatedly attacked Balestinians in south
Lebanon, with resulting loss of life among the civilian popUlation.
42. In a letter dated 19 March 1985 (A/40/l83-S/17043), the Chairman expressed the
Committee's concern at press reports regarding raids carried out by the Israeli
authorities at Bir Zeit University, the arrest of several students and other
persons and the subsequent closing of the university.
43. The Chairman further referred to the detention of residents of the Dheisheh
refugee camp and reports of their torture in an Israeli prison.
-7-
44. Grave concern was also caused by the fact that the Israeli Housing Ministry
had begun const~uction of three permanent settlements in the West Bank and Gaza,
which showed that the Israeli Government was continuing its policy of establishing
settlements in the occupied territories.
45. On 29 March 1985, the Chatrman drew attention to recent policy statements made
by Israeli government otficials concerning the occupied territories of the west
Bank and Gaza (A/40/2l5-S/l7069). Jewish settlers in the Katif region of Gaza had
reportedly been assured by the Israeli Defence Minister that the region would in
any event remain an inseparable part of the State of Israel. Similar assurances
had been given to the Jewish settlers in the Jordan Valley by the Prime Minister of
Israel.
46. The Chairman expressed the Committee's grave concern at such statements which
were yet a further confirmation of the policy ot annexation of the occupied
territories by the Government of Israel.
47. In a letter dated 2 May 1985 (A/40/28l-S/l7l46), the Acting Chairman referred
to a number of reports concerning serious incidents that had taken place in the
occupied territories. The Israeli authorities had taken repressive measures
against demonstrations and strikes in celebration of Land Day at various locations
in the West Bank and Gaza. Subsequently, the authorities had also carried out
raids at al-Ibrahimiyeh College in East Jerusalem and Bethlehem University. A
number of persons had been injured in these and other incidents, and there had been
several arrests.
48. On 23 May 1985, the Chairman once more expressed the profound concern of the
Committee at the tragic developments in and around the Palestinian refugee camps at
Sabra, Shatila and Burj al Brajneh, which were again the object of armed attack
(A/40/339-S/l72l9).
49. The Committee had repeatedly pointed out that conflict and violence in the
region would continue as long as the Palestinian people were prevented from
exercising their inalienable rights in their own State. He wished to assert once
again that the United Nations and particularly the Security Council had a clear
responsibility towards the Palestinians, and called' on the Security Council to act
positively on the recommendation~ made by the Committee and the General Assembly.
SO. In his letter of 12 July 1985 (A/40/480-S/17340), the Acting Chairman of the
Committee reported still further repressive"measures on the part of the Israeli
authorities that could not but increase tensions and aggravate threats to peace and
security in the region. He cited reports that the occupying military forces had
demolished seven villages in the area of Hebron on 18 June 1985, thereby displacing
some 200 families in order to convert their land into a military training zone.
51. In the same letter, the Acting Chairman said it had been reported that the
Israeli Defence Ministry was proposing drafting new laws that would allow for rapid
deportation of Palestinian residents of the occupied territories who take part in
"anti-Israel activity", since existing laws were considered insufficient. It was
proposed further that formerly applied methods of punishment be revived, that is to
say, imprisonment without trial or charges for an unlimited period.
52. On 18 July 1985, the Acting Chairman of the Committee reported action taken by
the Israeli authorities that would lead to the closing of the Hospice Hospital in
occupied East Jerusalem - the only government hospital in the Arab part of
-8-
Jerusalem caring for the poor (A/40/494-S/17346). It was the considered view of
the Committee that this action represented still further evidence of the way the
Government of Israel is failing to abide by international agreements regarding the
status of citizens under occupation.
53. In a letter dated 31 July 1985 (A/40/523-S/l7375), the Chairman referred t.o
newspaper reports of the delivery of armoured tanks, which may adversely affect the
rights and lives of the Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon.. In this
connection, the representative of Lebanon drew attention to a letter dated
9 August 1985 (A/40/537-S/l7389) and, concerning paragraphs 59 to 60, to the
statement before the Security Council made on 31 May 1985 (SI/PV.2582).
54. On 8 August 1985, the Acting Chairman reported that thE~ Israeli authorities
had adopted a number of decisions adversely affecting the ri,ghts of the Palestinian
people (A/40/540-S/17392). These included the reinstatement of administrative
detention without trial and deportation, the closing of newspapers and the
expansion of prisons in the occupied territories. Several repressive and
discriminatory measures against Palestinians had also been taken recently.
55. The Acting Chairman expressed the view that such policies and practices, which
had been accompanied by escalating violence, were designed to stifle all forms of
political, economic and cultural activity by the Palestinian people and thus to
pressure them into emigrating from their land, with a view to facilitating its
eventual annexation by Israel.
56. In a letter dated 11 September 1985 (A/40/628-S/l7455), the Chairman of the
Committee provided information on recent measures taken by the Israeli military
authorities in implementation of those policies. Among other repressive measures,
the authorities had engaged in a massive campaign of detention of Palestinians and
were holding upwards of 50 persons in the West Bank; curfews had been imposed in
several towns and refugee camps; at least three persons were threatened with
deportation; and four Arab youths, including a l2-year old boy, had been shot and
wounded by Israeli soldiers.
57. The Chairman further stated that the measures described were taking place in
an ,atmosphere of growing provocation by the Jewish settlers in the occupied
Palestinian territories, and reiterated the Committee's concern at those
developments and at the continuing denial by Israel of the inalienable rights of
the Palestinian people.
(b) Action taken within the Security Council
58. In addition to transmitting urgent letters to the Secretay-General and the
President of the Security Council, the Committee followed closely activities of the
Council regarding matters relating to its mandate as periodically defined by the
various General Assembly resolutions since the establishment of the Committee.
59. The Committee took note of the statement (S/17215) issued by the President of
the Security Council on 24 May 1985 expressing the serious concern of the Council
members at the heightened violence in certain parts of Lebanon, and voicing support
for the appeal of the Secretary-General dated 22 May 1985, which also referred to
the situation in and around the Palestinian refugee camps, for an end to violence
involving the civilian population.
-9-
60. The Committee noted that, at its 2582nd meeting, on 31 May 1985, the Security
Council unanimously adopted resolution 564 (1985). In the resolution, the Council
inter alia called on all concerned to end acts of violence against the civilian
population in and around Palestinian refugee camps and reatfirmed its intention to
continue to follow the situation closely.
61. On 12 and 13 September 1985, at the request of the Arab Group contained in a
letter dated 11 September 1985 from the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the
United Nations (S/17456), the Council met to consider "Israeli practices against
the civilian population in the occupied Palestinian territories". r
62. The Chairman of the Committee intervened in the debate (S/PV.2605) and stated
that the Committee had expressed its deep concern at Israel's decision to renew its
policv of "administrative detention" as well as the deportation of persons
considered a "threat to security" and the strengthening of censorship and other
measures against the Palestinian population. Such measures had been taken in an
atmosphere of growing provocation on the part of Jewish settlers living in the
occupied territories - provocation that was designed to drive the Palestinians away
from their homes.
63. He further stated that the situation of the Palestinians continued to
deteriorate. The Israeli authorities were defying international law and United
Nations resolutions. Tension and violence would only increase in the Palestinian
and other occupied territories until the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people were fully recognized. The United Nations had a responsibility to assure
the realization of those rights as well as the physical protection of the
Palestinian people in the occupied territories.
64. He said that the Palestinian Question had reached a critical stage and urged
the Council to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee and the
recommendations of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine,
particularly with regard to the convening of the International Peace Conference on
the Middle East. The Conference would offer the interested parties great
possibilities to participate in negotiations and lead to a just and lasting
settlement in the region. He appealed to the Council to take appropriate measures
to revive, on the basis of the principles and objectives of the Charter and United
Nations resolutions, the policy of dialogue among all parties interested in putting
an end to the present tragic situation.
65. ~e Security Council had before it a draft resolution sponsored by
Burkina Faso, Eqypt, India, Madagascar, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago (S/17459) by
which the Council, inter alia, would deplore the repressive measures taken by
Israel since 4 Auqust 1985 against the civilian Palestinian population in the
occupied territories; would call on Israel to immediately stop such measures,
release the detainees and retrain from further deportations; and would call on
Israel to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the Geneva Convention of
12 August 1949.
66. Because of the negative vote of the United States of America, the Security
Council did not adopt the draft resolution.
-10-
3. Action taken by the Committee to promote the convening of the
proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East
67. In resolution 39/49 0, the General Assembly inter alia reaffirmed its
endorsement of the call for convening the International Peace Conference on the
Middle East; expressed its regret at the negative response of two Governments and
called upon them to reconsider their position towards the Conference; urged all
Governments to make additional constructive efforts and to strengthen their
political will in order to convene the Conference without delay and for the
achievement of its peaceful objectives; requested the Secretary-General, in
consultation with the security Council, to continue his efforts with a view to
convening the Conference and to report thereon to the General Assembly not later
than 15 March 1985; and decided to consider the report of the Secretary-General at
its fortieth session.
68. Accordingly, in its programme of work for 1985 (A/AC.183/L.39) the Committee
decided that it would continue, as a matter of priority, to exert all efforts to
promote the early convening ot the proposed Peace Conference, in accordance with
resolutions 38/58 ~ and 39/49 D.
69. For this purpose, the Committee decided to send delegations to selected
capitals to discuss how best to promote progress on its recommendations for a
peaceful solution. In view of its bUSy schedule, the Committee this year limited
its contacts to members of the Security Council.
70. During 1985, delegations of the Committee were received by a number of
Governments, as indicated below.
71. On 25 April 1985, a delegation of the Committee composed of Mr. Massamba Sarre
(Senegal), Chairman; Mr. Victor J. Gauci (Malta), Rapporteur; Mr. Azraai Zain
(Malaysia); Mr. Mohamed Lessir (Tunisia); and Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi (Palestine
Liberation Organization) was received by Mr. Zhao Ziyang, Prime Minister of China,
as well as by Mr. Geng Piao, Vice-Chairman of the National People's Congress and
Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the National People's Congress;
Mr. Ho_Ying, Member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress;
Mr. Qian Qichen, Deputy Foreign Minister; and Mr. Zhen Jua, Assistant Foreign
Minister.
72. The delegation subsequently travelled to Bangkok where, on 29 April 1985, it
met with Mr. Siddhi Savetsila, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
73. On 3 May 1985, a Committee delegation composed of Mr. Massamba Sarre
(Chairman); Mr. Mohammed F. Zarif (Vice-Chairman); Mr. Victor J. Gauci (Rapporteur)
and Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi (Palestine Liberation Organization) was received by
Mr. Khurshid Alam Khan, Minister of State for External Affairs of India.
74. A delegation composed of Mr. Massamba Sarre (Chairman);
Mr. Alberto Velazco-San Jose (Vice-Chairm~n); and Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi (PLO)
Visited Peru and Trinidad and Tobago from 6 to 11 June 1985. In Peru, the
delegation was received by Mr. Luis Percovich Roca, Prime Minister and Minister
of Foreign Affairs, on 6 June 1985. On 10 June, the delegation met with
Mr. Rabindranath Permanand, Acting Permanent Secretary for External Affairs of
Trinidad and Tobago. Subsequently, the Chairman and the Observer of the Palestine
Liberation Organization were received by Mr. Errol Mahabir, Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, on 14 June 1985 in New York.
-11-
75. A delegation composed of Mr. Massamba Sarre (Chairman); Mr. Victor J. Gauci
(Rapporteur); Mr. Ilter Turkmen (Turkey); and Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi (PLO) visited
Egypt from 23 to 26 July 1985. The delegation was received by Mr. Kamal Hassan Ali,
Prime Minister; Mr. Ahm~d Esmat Abdel-Meguid, Foreign Minister; Mr. Boutros Ghali,
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; and it held in-depth discussions with senio~
officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The delegation also participated in
a national journalists' encounter organized by the United Nations Department of
Public Information.
76. Subsequently, a delegation composed of Mr. Victor J. Gauci (Rapporteur);
Mr. Alberto Velazco-San Jose (Cuba); and Mr. Zehdi L. T~[zi (PLO) visited Madagascar
from 28 to 30 July and Burkina Faso from 1 to 3 August 1985. In Madagascar, the
delegation was received by Mr. Jean Bemananjara, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and
by Mr. Albert Zakariasy and Mr. Amido, Vice-Presidents of the National Assembly.
It also participated in a national journalists' encounter organized by the United
Nations Department of Public Information.
77. In Burkina Faso, the delegation was received by the President,
Mr. Thomas Sankara; Mr. Basile L. Guissou, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and
Mr. Wattamou Lamien, Minister of Information and Culture.
78. A delegation composed of Mr. Mohammed F. Zarif (Vice-Chairman) and
Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi (PLO) visited the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from 11 to
14 August and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic on 15 and 16 August 1985.
79. In the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the delegation was received by
Mr. A. E. Voss, Chairman, Chamber of Nationalities, Supreme Soviet of the Un~on of
Soviet Socialist Republics and it held in-depth discussions with high-ranking
officials in the Foreign Ministry and participated in a press conference and other
activities organized by the Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee. The visit was
extensively covered by the media.
80. In the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, the delegation was received by
Mr. Vladimir A. Kravets, Minister for Foreign Affairs. It also met with
representatives of non-governmental organizations at the Ukrainian Society of
Friendship and Cultural Relations and with the media.
81. In its exchanges of views with the above-mentioned Governments, the Committee
delegation emphasized the imperative necessity of the early convening of the
proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East and stressed the
paramount role to be played by the Security Council in this respect.
82. The Committee was greatly encouraged by the positive response of the
Governments concerned and by their understanding of the need for urgent concrete
action, as well as by their determination to contribute positively to the efforts
to bring about a just and comprehensive solution of the Palestinian question under
United Nations auspices, and on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions.
83. The Committee further noted that, in pursuance of his mandate. under General
Assembly resolution 39/49 D, the Secretary-General had reported having been
informed by the President of the Security Council, following consultations, that
almost all its members were in favour of the principle of holding the proposed
conference (see A/40/l68-S/l70l4). Many of the members of the Security Council
believe that the conference should be convened as early as possible; some others
consider that the conditions that would make it possible to convene such a
conference have not as yet been met.
-12-
,;:}J.",,!'?l_~=---------------------------------------.
84. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Secretary-General intended to
pursue consultations on the subject and to intorm the General Assembly and the
Security Council of any new developments.
85. In this connection, it should be mentioned that in seminars and symposia of
non-governmental organizations on the question of Palestine held under the aegis of
the United Nations, it was strongly held that the convening of such a conference
was a priority which offered the best and most comprehensive approach to a just and
lasting solution to the Question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli
conflict.
4. Attendance at international conferences and meetings
86. In accordance with its mandate, since its preceding report to the General
Assembly, the Committee was represented at the following international conferences
and meetings:
Twentieth Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of
African Unity, Addis Ababa, 12-15 November 1984
Fifteenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, Sanaa, 18-22 December 1984
Regional Seminar on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of
Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Port Moresby, 4-7 March 1985
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, New York,
21 March 1985
Regional Seminar on Activities of Foreign Economic and Other Interests which
are Impeding the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of
~ndependence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Havana, 8-10 April 1985
Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting of the Co-ordinating Bureau of the
Non-Aligned Countries, New Delhi, 19-21 April 1985
Extraordinary session of the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to
, the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to
Colonial Countries and Peoples, Tunis, 13-17 May 1985
International Day of Solidarity with the Struggling People of South Africa Soweto
Day, New Yor~, 14 June 1985
Special meeting convened by the Special Committee against Apartheid, in
co-operation with the African National Congress of South Africa in observance
of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter, New York,
26 June 1985
The forty-second session of the Council of Ministers and the twenty-first
session of the Assembly of Heads of State of the Organization of African
Unity, Addis Ababa, 18-20 July 1985
Seminar on the Intransigence of the South African regime with regard to
Namibia: Strategies for Hastening the Independence of Namibia, Georgetown,
29 July to 2 August 1985
-13-
t it i '::me t .....~ 'twi PTE?7?Ri5i27IFne?
Solemn meeting of the United Nations Council for Namibia in commemoration of
Namibia Day, 26 August 1985
Symposium on Zionism ana the International Community, Havana,
12-13 September 1985
5. Action taken by United Nations bodies, the Movement
of Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental
organizations
Meeting of the Mediterranean members of the Non-Aligned Movement held at
ministerial level, Valletta, 10-11 September 1984
Conference of Foreign Ministers of Non-Aligned Countries, Luanda,
2-7 september 1985
( a)
.~
ir j 88. The Final Declaration adopted by the meeting (A/39/526-S/l6758 and Corr.l),
~ inter alia, endorsed the Geneva Declaration and the Programme of Action adopted at
! the International Conference on the Question of Palestine held at Geneva in 1983,
~. d including the call for the convening of an International Peace Conference on the
<f Middle East. The Ministers renewed their commitment to strive persistently towards
) a solution of the problem on the basis of the decisions and principles of the
'/ United Nations and the declarations and communiaues ot the Non-Aligned Movement.
~
International Seminar on Racist Ideologies and Organizations Hindering Efforts
for the Elimination of Aparth~~ in South Africa, Budapest, 9-11 September 1985
87. The Committee continued to follow with great interest and to note action taken
by the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, United Nations bodieG and other
intergovernmental organizations on matters relevant to its mandate since the
submission of its report to the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session.
(b) Meeting of the Non-Aligned Committee of Eight on Palestine at ministerial
level, New York, 3 October 1984
Ministers and Heads of
reaffirmed their total support
and their determination to act
Meeting of Ministers and Heads of Delegation of the Non-Aligned Countries to
the thirty-ninth session of the General Assembly, New York, 1-5 October 1984
(c)
90. In the Final Comn,unique (A/39/560-S/l6773), the
Delegation of the Non-Aligned Countries, inter alia,
for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people
for early achievement of those rights.
89. The Ministers reviewed the situation, particularly with reg~d to the
endeavours of the United Nations Secretary-General concerning the proposed
~ International Peace Conference on the Middle East, and decided to continue actively
~ their collective and individual efforts to mobilize all means available with a view
j to ensure the convening of such a Peace Conference under the auspices of the United
~~I i Nations.
~II
~
"\1
91. They reaffirmed that the question of Palestine is the core of the Middle East
problem and the root cause of the Arab-Israeli conflict. They affirmed that the
Palestine Liberation Organization is the sole legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people and that it alone has the full right to represent its people.
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-----------------------------.
92. They condemned any agreement or treaty which violates or infringes the rights
of the Arab nation and of the Palestinian people as recognized by the Non-Aligned
Movement, and in accordance with international law, the United Nations Charter and
its relevant resolutions. They reaffirmed their commitment to the resolutions of
the New Delhi Summit Conference expressing its support and adoption of the Fez
Peace Plan.
93. They supported the Final Declaration and the Geneva Programme of Action
adopted by the International Conference on the Question of Palestine in 1983 and
stressed anew the necessity for the early convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution
38/58 C, emphasizing the major responsibility shouldered by the Security Council in
this respect. They condemned the negative position of Israel and the United States
of America towards the proposed conference.
94. They further reaffirmed their opposition to occupation and rejection of the
Israeli practices and policies in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories,
including Jerusalem, and in particular the establishment of settlements. They
affirmed that such practices and policies are contrary to international law and
relevant resolutions of the United Nations. They reaffirmed their adherence to the
resolutions adopted by the New Delhi Conference calling for measures against Israel
by the Non-Aligned Countries and the United Nations.
(d) C~ordinating Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Organization of
~e Islamic Conference, New York, 4 October 1984
95. At the Co-ordinating Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference, held in New York on 4 October 1984, the
participants decided, inter alia, to refer the report of the Committee of Six on
Palestine to the Islamic Group in order to exert a greater effort to attain its
recommendations during the thirty-ninth session of the General Assembly
(A/39/585-S/16783).
(e) Twentieth ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of
the Organization of African Unity, Addis Ababa, 12-15 November 1984
96. I~a resolution on the situation in the Middle East, the Assembly inter alia
reaffirmed all its previous resolutions and its support for the Palestinian people
under the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization; recommended that
Member States renew their determination not to establish or re-establish diplomatic
ties with Israel; and called upon the Security Council to take the necessary
measures to compel Israel to put an end to its occupation of Arab and Palestinian
territories and to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their national rights
in conformity with the recommendations of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
97. In a resolution on the auestion of Palestine, the Assembly commended the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for
its efforts and called for the implementation of General Assembly resolution 38/58 C
on the holding of an International Peace Conference on the Middle East (A/40/87).
(f) Meeting of the European Council, DUblin, 3-4 December 1984
98. The Heads of State or Government of the 10 members of the European Economic
Community, in tL" conclusions adopted on the situation in the Middle East,
reaffirmed, inter alia, their desire to see urgent efforts made to establish peace
and security in the area and their willingness to assist such efforts.
99. They reiterated their call for direct negotiations among the parties
themselves, including the Palestine Liberation Organization, based on mutual
recognition of each others' existence and rights. They further called for full
implementation of the provisions of Security Council resolution 242 (1967) and
338 (1973) and for an end to the illegal policy of settlements in the occupied
territories.
(g) Fifteenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, Sanaa, 18-22 December 1984
100. The Conference adopted a Final Communique and a number of resolutions on the
auestion of Palestine and the Middle East conflict (A/40/l73-S/17033), stating
I inter alia that:
I'
I
" "the Conference reaffirmed that the cause of Palestine - the foremost cause of
the Muslim Ummah - is the crux of the Middle East problem and the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict; that just peace in the region can only be based on the
total and unconditional withdrawal of the Israeli enemy from all the occupied
Palestinian and Arab territories, the regaining, by the Palestinian people, of
their inalienable rights including their right to return to their homeland,
Palestine, their right to self-determination and their right to establish
their own national independent State on their national' soil with Al-Quds as
its capital".
101. The Conference affirmed that the Palestine Liberation Organization is the
legitimate and sole representative of the Palestinian people and has, alone, the
full right to represent these people; that resolution 242/1967 of the Security
Council is not compatible with Arab and Palestinian rights and does not constitute
a sound basis for the solution of the problem of Palestine and the Middle East; and
that no Arab party shall unilaterally seek a solution to the question of Palestine
and the Arab-Israeli conflict. It called for continued resistance against the
Camp David approach and Accords, as well as for full and etfective support to the
Palestinian people.
102. The Conference reaffirmed its support for all international initiatives for a
solution of the question in accorda~ce with the seven principles stipulated in the
resolutions of the Islamic Conference, inclUding primarily the Fez Peace Plan.
103. The Conference strongly condemned Israel for measures aimed at imposing its
legislation on the occupied territories and called for implementation of the
Islamic Programme of Action against the Zionist Enemy adopted by the Third Islamic
Summit Conference, and of the resolutions and recommendations adopted by the
AI-Quds Committee.
104. The Conference condemned the United States of America for its hostile attitude
towards the inalienable rights of· the Palestinian people and called upon the
European community to take a more positive stand in this connection. It also
called on Member States to review their relations with the United States of America
and other States in the light of their policies with regard to the inalien~ble
rights of the Palestinian people.
105. The Conference strongly condemned the crimes committed by the Israeli enemy
in 1982 in Sabra and Shatila. It also co~demned the continued criminal reprisals
carried out by the Israeli enemy against Lebanese villages and towns and
Palestinian camps in southern Lebanon.
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106. The Conference strongly condemned the strategic alliance between the United
States of America and the Zionist enemy, and also condemned all treaties concluded
under this alliance.
(h) Urgent session of the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned
Countries on the situation in the areas occupied by Israel in southern"
Lebanon, the western Bekaa and the Rashaya district, New York, 6 March 1985
107. In its communique (A/40/l63-S/17008), the Bureau expressed its grave concern
at the deteriorating situation, which threatened peace and security in the area as
a result of Israeli practices. It condemned such practices, which were in
violation of the rules and principles of international law, and demanded that
Israel desist forthwith from them.
108. Recalling the previous declarations and communiques adopted by the Non-Aligned
Movement, the Bureau called on the Security Council urgently to implement Security
Council resolutions on Lebanon, particularly resolutions 425 (1978), 508 (1982) and
509 (1982), to ensure Israel's immediate and unconditional withdrawal from the
Lebanese territories to the internationally recognized borders.
109. The Bureau e~pressed its support for the efforts of the Government of Lebanon
to extend its authority over all of its territory and for its determination to
restore peace and order in the areas to be evacuated by Israel and to ensure the
safety and security of the civilian populations in those areas, including the
Palestinian refugees in the camps.
110. The Bureau affirmed that the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention
of 1949 applied to the territories occupied by Israel in southern Lebanon, the
western Bekaa and the Rashaya district and that the occupying Power is duty bound
to respect and uphold the provisions of the said Convention and other norms of
international law." It demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, desist forthwith
from its illegal and abusive practices against the civilian population in these
areas in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and other norms of
international law and immediately lift all restrictions and obstacles to the
restoration of normal conditions in the areas under its occupation.
(i) Commission on Human Rights, forty-first session, Geneva, 4 February15
March 1985
111. The Commission considered an agenda item entitled "Question of the violation
of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine" and adopted
two resolutions.
112. In resolution 1985/1 A, the Commission inter alia denounced the continued
refusal of Israel to allow the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices
Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories access to
the occupied territories; reiterated the deep alarm expressed by the special
Committee at Israel's policies towards those territories; confirmed its declaration
"that Israel's breaches of the Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 and Additional
Protocols were war crimes and an affront'to humanity; called upon Israel to refrain
from such policies and to implement all pertinent United Nations resolutions;
reiterated its call to all States not to recognize any changes carried out by
Israel in the occupied territories, and to avoid taking any action or extending any
aid which might be used by Israel in pursuit of such policies; and requested the
General Assembly to recommend to the Security Council the adoption against Israel
of measures under ChapterVlI of the Charter of the United Nations.
-17-
113. In resolution 1985/1 B, the Commission reaffirmed that the Geneva Convention
of 12 Auqust 1949 was applicable to all the Arab territories occupied by Israel
since 1967, includinq Jerusalem; condemned Israel's failure to acknowledge such
applicability; and urged once more all States parties to the Convention to make
every effort to ensure respect for and compliance with the provisions thereof in
the occupied territories.
114. The Commission further considered the item entitled "The right of peoples to
self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien dominated
or foreign occupation" and adopted resolution 1985/4 by Which it reaffirmed the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, to the
establishment of an independent and sovereign State, to return to their homes and
property and to reqain their rights by all means in accordClnce with the purposes
and principles ot the Charter.
115. The Commission further reaffirmed its support for the Geneva Declaration on
Palestine adopted by the International Conference on the Question of Palestine and
welcomed the call to convene an International Peace Conference on the Middle East
under the auspices of the United Nations.
(jl Economic Commission tor western Asia,* Twelfth Ministerial Session,
20-25 Apr 11 1985
116. By resolution 139 (XII) entitled "Economic and social conditions of the
Palestinian Arab people under occupation", the Economic Commission for Western Asia
(ECWA) decided to include in the programme of work and priori.ties for the period
1986-1987 such studies on economic and social conditions in the occupied
Palestinian territories as might serve to strengthen the resistance of the
Palestinian people in those areas. It also requested the preparation of studies on
the population situation, Israeli settlement policies and on the industrial sector
with a view to solving the problems from which it sutfers. It also reauested that
information and data on the occupied Palestinian territories be included in all
regional studies and statistical abstracts.
117. By resolution 141 (XII), entitled "General study ot the economic and social
situation and potential of the Palestinian Arab people", ECwA called tor the
completion of the study in auestion and its adoption at a special session of the
Commission to be convened no later than the end ot October 1985.
(k) Commemorative Meeting in Observance of the Thirtieth Anniversary of the
~sian-African Conference, Bandung, 24-~5 April 1985
118. In the Declaration adopted by the Commemorative Meetinq (A/40/276-S/l7l38,
annex, appendix, para. 11), participating States expressed their full solidarity
with and support for the struggle of the Palestinian people, under the leader-ship
of the Palestine Liberation Orqanization, its sole and legitimate representative.
They condemned Israeli practices against the population of the Palestinian and Arab
occupied territories and reaffirmed their conviction that there could be no just
and lasting solution to the Middle East conflict until Israel totally and
unconditionally withdrew from all territories occupied since 1967, . including
Jerusalem.
* As of September 1985: Economic and Social Commission for western Asia
(ECSWA) •
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(1) Fifty-seventh Meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Ten States
Members of the European Economic Community, Luxembourg, 29 April 1985
119. The Ministers adopted a Declaration on the Arab-Israeli conflict
(A/40/29l-S/l7l62, annex) in which they welcomed recent moves towards a
reactivation of the process of negotiations in the search for a solution to that
conflict, notably the Jordan/Palestinian agreement reached on 11 February at the
initiative of King Hussein, which contained a commitment to negotiation for peace
in accordance with United Nations resolutions, including the resolutions of the
Security Council. In the view of tne Ten, this represented a constructive step
forward. They also welcomed the ideas put forward by the President of Egypt. They
considered that these important initiatives reflect a desire for movement towards a
peaceful solution. This deserved encouragement and a positive response.
120. The Ten reatfirmed their conviction that the achievement of a just and lasting
peace calls for the participation and active support of all the parties concerned,
and reconfirmed their willingness to contribute to such a process on the basis of
the principles stated by them on previous occasions.
(m) Economic and.Social Council, Second regular session, Geneva, 3-26 July 1985
121. The Economic and Social Council adopted three resolutions of relevance to the
qU2stion of Palestine. Resolution 1985/57, on "Assistance to the Palestinian
people", requests the Secretary-General to finalize the programme of economic and
social assistance to the Palestinian people and to convene in 1986 a meeting of the
relevant bodies of the United Nations system to consider such assistance, with the
participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Arab host countries and
relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental orqanizations. The resolution
further invites all concerned to intensify such assistance.
122. In resolution 1985/58, on "Economic development projects in the occupied
Palestinian territories", the Council called for the urgent lifting of the Israeli
restrictions imposed on the economy of the occupied territories; and called upon
all concerned to facilitate the establishment of a seaport and a citrus plant in
the occupied Gaza strip and of a cement plant in the occupied West Bank.
123. In resolution 1985/177, on "Israeli economic practices in the occupied
Palestinian and other Arab territories", the Council requested the
Secretary-General to prepare a report on the financial and trade practices of the
Israeli occupation authorities in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab
territories.
(n) TwentY-first ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government
of the Organization of African Unity, Addis Ababa, 18-21 July 1985
124. The Assembly adopted two resolutions regarding the question of Palestine and
the Middle East conflict. It reaffirmed, inter alia, all previous resolutions on
the Question and reiterated its unwavering support for the people of Palestine led
by the Palestine Liberation Organization; 'their sole legitimate representative. It
strongly condemned any initiatives, measures or agreements which dO not take into
account the aspirations of the people of Palestine and of the Palestine Liberation
Organization, and considered null and void any agreement on the Palestine question
which excludes the Palestine Liberation Organization.
-19-
I',
r
"
125. The Assembly further condemned strongly the policies and practices of Israel
in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, and called upon the
international community to increase pressure on Israel in all fields so as to
compel it to conform to the United Nations Charter and the relevant resolutions.
126. The Assembly emphasized the efforts deployed by the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and called on the Security
Council to implement the Committee's recommendations. It further called for the
convening of the proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East, and
requested Member States to ensura the application of General Assembly resolution
39/49 D to this end.
(0) world Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations
Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace, Nairobi, 15-26 July 1985
127. The Forward-Looking Strategies adopted by the Conference contain paragraph 259
relating to Palestinian women and children, in which it is stated that for more
than three decades, Palestinian women have faced difficult living conditions in
camps and outside, struggling for the survival of their families and the survival
of the Palestinian people who were deprived of their ancestral lands and denied the
inalienable rights to return to their homes and their property, their right to
self-determination, national independence and sovereignty. Palestinian women are
VUlnerable to imprisonment, torture, reprisals and other oppressive practices by
Israel in the occupied Arab territories. The confiscation of land and the creation
of further settlements has affected the lives of Palestinian women and children.
Such Israeli measures and practices are a violation of the Geneva Convention. The
Palestinian woman as part of her nation suffers from discrimination in employment,
health care and education.
128. It was recommended that the implementation of the Programme of Action for the
Achievement of Palestinian Rights should be kept under review and co-ordinated
between the United Nations units and agencies concerned, with emphasis on the role
of Palestinian women in preserving their national identity, traditions and heritage
and in the struggle for sovereignty. Palestinian people must recover their rights
to self-determination and the right to establish an independent State in accordance
with all relevant United Nations resolutions. The special and immediate needs of
Palestinian women and children should be identified and appropriate provision
made. United Nations projects $hould be initiated to help Palestinian wom~n in the
fields of health, education, and vocational training. Their living conditions
inside and outside the occupied territories should be studied by the appropriate
United Nations units and agencies assisted, as appropriate, by specialized research
institutes from various regions. The results of these studies should be given
broad pUblicity to promote actions at all levels. The international community
should exert all efforts to sto~ the establishment of new Israeli settlements in
the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Palestinian women should be allowed to enJoy
security in a liberated homeland also in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
(p) Extraordinary Summit Conference of Arab States, Casablanca, 7-9 August 1985
129. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Extraordinary Summit Conference
of Arab States reaffirmed the need for continued Arab support for the resolutions
of the Fez Summit. The Conference also reiterated its previous resolutions
regarding the Palestinian question and its support for the Palestine Liberation
Organization as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
The Conference also considered that the convening of an international conference
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under the auspices of the United Nations, with the participation of the Union of
Soviet Socialist RepUblics, the United States of America and the other permanent
members of the Security Council, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization,
along with the other concerned parties, would contribute to the promotion of peace
in the region (A/40/564).
(q) fonference of Foreign Ministers of Non-Aligned Countries, Luanda,
2-7 September 1985
130. The Ministers reaffirmed that the question of Palestine is the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, and emphasized that a comprehensive, just and durable
solution cannot be achieved without the total and unconditional withdrawal of
Israel from all Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967,
including Jerusalem, and the exercise by the Palestinian people of their
inalienable rights.
131. The Ministers reaffirmed their firm support for the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO), the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian
people, and that the PLO alone has the full right to represent the Palestinian
people. They affirmed the right of the PLO to participate on an independent and
equal footing in all endeavours, international conferences and activities aimed at
ensuring the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. They
further reaffirmed their strict adherence to the principles of non-interference and
non-intervention in the internal and external atfairs of the Palestinian people and
the right of the PLO to free and independent decision-making.
132. The Ministers stressed anew the necessity for the early convening of the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East, in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 38/58 C. They expressed the hope that the United States of
America and Israel- would reconsider their negative attitude in this respect. They
further stressed that every encouragement and support should be extended to the
United Nations Secretary-General to pursue his consultations to this end, and
expressed their appreciation of the endeavours of the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
133. Condemning Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian and
ot~er Arab territories, the Ministers reaffirmed their adherence to previous
decisions of the Non-Aligned Countries urging action against Israel by the
Non-Aligned Countries, the Security Council and the international community.
134. Finally, the Ministers reaffirmed that the Arab Peace Plan proclaimed at Fez
in 1982, and reaffirmed by participants at the Extraordinary Summit Meeting held in
Casablanca in August 1985, constitutes an important contribution to the
establishment of a comprehensive, just and durable peace in the Middle East.
B. Action taken by the Committee in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions 38/58 Band 39/49 B
1. Co-operation with non-governmental organizations
135. A number of activities were undertaken by the Committee and by the Division
for Palestinian Rights, under the Committee's gUidance, in implementation of the
objective of further increasing co-operation with non-governmental organizations
active on the question of Palestine.
-21-
136. A symposium for Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine
was held in Geneva from 3 to 4 November 1984, to discuss inter alia future
co-operation between the Committee and the NGO community, and NGO participation in
the observance of the International Day of Solidarity on 29 November.
137. The Symposium was attended by 15 experts, members of the Interim Co-ordinating
Committee of NGOs, and made a number of recommendations for future action. In
particular, it elaborated the text of an international petition in support of the
proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East, which was subseauently
launched by NGO representatives on 29 November at United Nations observances held
in New York, Geneva and Vienna (see annex 111).
138. Following the adoption of resolution 39/49 B, the Committee included in its
programme of work tor 1985, the holding of regional symposia for NGOs in North
America, Asia and Africa, and of an international NGO meeting, to be preceded by a
preparatory meeting.
139. The Committee further decided to emphasize the proposed International Peace
Conference on the Middle East in ~ll its activities relating to NGOs.
140. The preparatory meeting for the International NGO Meeting took the form of a
seminar for 15 experts, members of the Interim Co-ordinating Committee of NGOs, and
was held at Geneva on 4 and 5 March 1985. The seminar reviewed actions undertaken
by the Committee and NGOS, with special reference to the progress achieved in the
signature campaign. It also discussed plans for the international NGO meeting and
adopted its provisional agenda.
141. The United Nations Asian Reqional NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine
was held at New Delhi from 1 to 3 May 1985; the North American Regional NGO
Symposium at New York from 10 to 12 JUly 1985 and the African Regional NGO
Symposium at Dakar from 5 to 7 August 1985.
142. The Committee noted with appreciation that the symposia adopted declarations
endorsinq the global signature campaiqn in support of the proposed International
Peace Conference on the ~Iiddle East and expressing the determination of NGOs to
work for a greater understanding of, and support fo'r, the question of Palestine in
their region (see annexes V, VIII and IX).
143. ~he International NGO Meeting was held. at Geneva from 9 to 12 September 1985.
The Committ0e noted with appreciation that the Meeting concluded its work by the
adoption of a declaration which is annexed to the present report (~ee annex X) •
2. Seminars
144. In its programme of work for 1985, the Committee decided that regional
seminars would be held in Asia and Latin America. In addition, the Committee
decided to hold a regional seminar in North America in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 36/120 B, and to combine that seminar with a symposium for
North American NGOs.
145. The Committee further decided that all seminars held in 1985 would give
priority attention to the convening of the proposed International Peace Conference
on the Middle East.
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146. The Committee appreciated the decision of t.he Government of China, a permanent
member of the Security Council, to provide the venue for the Tenth United Nations
Seminar on the Question of Palestine, which was held in Beijing from 22 to
26 April 1985. The report of that Seminar is an~exed to the present report
(see annex IV).
147. The Committee also appreciated the decision of the Government of Guyana, a
member of the Committee, to provide the venue for the Eleventh United Nations
Seminar on the Question of Palestine, Which was hl~ld at Georgetown from 17 to
20 June 1985. The report of that Seminar is anne~ed to the present report
(see annex VI).
148. The Twelfth United Nations Seminar nn the Question of Palestine was held at
United Nations Headquarters in New York on 8 and 9 July 1985. The report of that
Seminar is annexed to the present report (see annex VII).
3. Studies
149. The Committee noted with appreciation that, in pursuance of the programme of
work for 1985, the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat had published
the following additional studies:
NGO activities on the question of Palestine at the United Nations;
Living conditions of the Palestinian people.
150. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was duly
observed by the United Nations on 29 November 1984 at its Headquarters in New York
and at the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna. The Committee noted with
appreciation that ·the day had been equally commemorated in many other cities
throughout the world in 1984.
-23-
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 39/49 C
151. By resolution 39/49 C of 11 December 1984, the General Assembly requested the
Department of Public Information (DPI), in full co-operation with the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people, to:
(a) continue the implementation of all part~ of General Assembly resolution
38/58 E; Cb) disseminate all information on the activities of the United Nations
system relating.to Palestine; (c) expand and update publications and aUdio-visual
material on the facts and developments pertaining to the question of palestine;
(d) publish newsletters and articles in its respective pUblications on Israeli
violations of the human rights of the Arab inhabitants of the occupied territories;
(e) organize fact-finding missions to the area for journalists; (f) organize
regional and national encounters for journalists.
152. The Committee noted with appreciation that during the past year, DPI continued
its information programme on the question of Palestine in accordance with
resolutions 38/58 E of 1983 and 39/49 C of 1984 with a view to furthering the
world-wide dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information on the
Question. The information programme included publications, aUdio-visual coverage,
a fact-finding mission for journalists and a series of national and regional
journalists' encounters.
153. In pUblication activity, the Department continued to disseminate information
on the Question of Palestine through articles, press releases and special
pUblications. In particular, it published a pamphlet entitled The Work of the
Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of
the Population of the Occupied Territories. After a brief introduction on the
Committee's establishment in 1968 and its mandate, the pamphlet focuses on the
1984 report of the Committee to the General Assembly. The provisions ot the eight
resolutions adopted by the General Assembly in 1984 on the Committee's report are
also summarized. The l2-page pamphlet is to be made available in Arabic, English,
French, German and Spanish.
154. The UN Chronicle reported on the consideration given to the Question of
Palestine by the General Assembly at its thirty-ni~th session. Its first issue of
1985 contained an article detailing the work of the United Nations Relief and works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and an accompanying
interview with the Agency's Commissioner-General. An article on United Nations
assistance to the Palestinian people appeared in the September 1984 issue of
Development Forum.
155. DPI coverage ot the question of Palestine inclUded radio news programmes
broadcast in all the otficial languages of the United Nations, as well as in many
other languages. The SUbject was also addressed by special feature programmes. In
its work of expanding and updating its audio and visual coverage of the Question ot
Palestine, DPI is making preparations for the production of a short film on the
SUbject.
156. Activities which focused on acquainting the media with the facts and
developments pertaining to the question of Palestine included a fact-finding
mission to the Middle East. A team of prominent media persons from around the
world visited Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic from 1 to
18 April 1985. The participants met leading personalities and visited refugee
camps.
-24-
157. The purpose of the mission was to provide an opportunity for members of the
team to acauaint themselves with first-hand and in-depth information regarding the
various aspects of the Palestinian auestion. Tne mission received extensive media
coverage in all the countries it visited and participants published numerous
articles on their return to their home countries.
158. In 1985, as in 1984, DPI organized two regional journalists' encounters,
bringing high-level journalists together with experts on the question of
Palestine. An encounter for the North American~Caribbean ~egion was held at
Bridgetown in February 1985, and another for Asian journalists was held in Jakarta
in May 1985.
159. The objective of these encounters was to promote a better understanding ot the
question among leaders of the media by bringing tnem together with experts on the
subject tor brief, informal discussions. Accordingly, around 15 high-level
journalists from the press, radio and television media participated in each
encounter. The journalists were impressed by the high calibre ot the panelists and
by the informal and candid character of the presentations made. It was their
belief that the encounter, which they tound usetul, informative and interesting,
had greatly increased their knowledge of the subject.
160. As requested by resolution 39/49 C, DPI in 1985 began organlzlng national
encounters in which a team of expert panelists held meetings, in the form of
in-depth press conferences, with national journalists in various countries. Three
African journalists' encounters were held between 24 July and 7 August, in Egypt,
Madagascar and Senegal. Ruropean national encounters were held in the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, France, and Czechoslovakia,
between 21 and 29 August.
161. United Nations information centres throughout the world continued to carry out
information activities in connection with the question of Palestine and made
available to the pUblic United Nations pUblications on the subject. The centres
also organized the world-wide observance of the International Day of Solidarity
with the Palestinian People on 29 November 1984.
162. At Headquarters and in the information centres, the Department continued to
scr~en the films "Palestinian People do have Rights" and "Palestinians of 1983".
More than 100 copies of the films have been distributed in four languages among the
information centres and the offices of the United Nations Development Proqramme.
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164. The Committee therefore annexes its recommendations and those of the Geneva
International Conference to the present report (see annexes I and 11).
165. The Committee stresses that its original recommendations were specifically
designed to enable the Palestinian people to attain its inalienable rights, as
affirmed in General Assembly resolution 3236 (XXIX).
163. The Committee contends that action is now required by the Security Council to
take positively into account the recommendations of the Committee, and those
adopted by consensus at the International Conference on the Question of Palestine,
held at Geneva in September 1983 and endorsed by General Assembly resolution
38/58 C. It once again recalls that those recommendations are solidly founded on
fundamental and internationally recognized principles relating to the problem of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE VI.
166. The Committee also stresses that the International Conference on the Question
of Palestine held at Geneva in 1983 contained specific guidelines for the
achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli
conflict, of which an essential element would be the establishment of an
independent Palestinian State in Palestine. Those gUidelines were endorsed by the
General Assembly in its resolution 38/58 C, and reaffirmed in resolution 39/49 0,
which, inter alia, urged all Governments to make additional constructive efforts
and to strengthen their political will in order to convene the Conference without
delay and for the achievement of its peaceful objectives.
167. The Committee strongly points out that the question of Palestine has reached a
critical phase and urges a renewed, concentrated and collective effort to find a
just solution under United Nations auspices and on the basis of relevant United
Nations resolutions to end the unacceptable plight of the Palestinian people.
168. To this end, the Committee is convinced that the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East, as endorsed in General Assembly resolution 38/58 C,
and generating quasi-unanimous support, provides a comprehensive opportunity for
all the parties concerned to participate in negotiations which should lead to a
just and lasting solution of the question.
169. The Committee expresses appreciation and is encouraged by the responses it has
received so far in the course of its offioial visits to the capitals of a number of
States members of the Security Council. The Committee intends to complete the
process of sending delegations to the capitals of the other members of the Council
in the year ahead.
170. The Committee recommends that the General Assembly should renew the mandate of
the Secretary-General, with a sense of urgency, asking him to continue his contacts
on the preparations ir consultation with the Security Council for the convening of
the proposed Conference, and appeals to all countries to exert their best efforts
for its successful and peaceful outcome.
171. The Committee also believes it should continue to consolidate its efforts to
increase awareness and understanding af the question of Palestine, and of the
Committee's recommendations, and those of the International Conference on the
Question of Palestine, specifically designed to enable the Palestinian people to
-26-
attain its inalienable rights, as well as to achieve peace in the Middle East, with
due regard for the legitimate concerns of all the parties to the conflict in the
reqion.
172. The Committee is pleased and greatly encouraged by the widespread
understanding it has already secured, and the favourable reaction of
non-qovernmental orqanizations and other organizations through which public 0plnlon
is manifested. The Committee intends to review its programme for the future in the
light of experience gained and progress achleved.
Notes
1/ The Committee is composed of the following members: Afghanistan, Cuba,
Cyprus, German Democratic RepUblic, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao
People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist
Republic and Yuqoslavia.
~/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. ~ (A/3l/35).
1/ Ibid., Tbirty-second Session, Supplement NO. 35 (A/32/35); ~.,
Thirty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35 and Corr.l); ~., Thirty-fourth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35 and Corr.l); ~., Thirty-fifth Session,
Supplement No. 3$ (A/35/35 and Corr.l); ibid., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/36/35); ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/37/35
and CorL.I); ~., Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35); and ~.,
Thirty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/39/35).
i/ The observers of the Committee are as follows: Algeria, China,
Czechoslovakia, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,
Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab
Emirates, Viet Nam, League of Arab States and Organization of the Islamic
Conference. The Palestine Liberation Organizatlon, as the representative of the
Palestinian people, the principal party to the question of Palestine, is also an
observer.
2/ Current membership of the Working Group is as follows: Afghanistan,
Cuba, German Democratic Republic, GUinea, Guyana, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal,
Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and, as representative of the
people directly concerned, the Palestine Liberation Organization.
-27-
ANNEX I
Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly
at its thirty-first session ~I
I. Basic considerations and guidelines
59. The Question of Plestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and
consequently, the Committee stressed its belief that no solution in the Middle East
can be envisaged which does not fUlly take into acc~unt the legitimate aspirations
ef the Palestinian people.
60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to
their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence
and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the full
implementation of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and
final settlement of the Middle East crisis.
61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative
of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties, on the basis of
General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is indispensable in all
efforts, deliberations and conferences in the Middle East which are held under the
auspices of the United Nations.
62. The Committee recalls the tundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligation tor
complete and speedy evacuation ot any territory so' occupied.
63. The Committee considers that it is the duty and responsibility of all
concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights.
64. The Committee recommends an expanded and more influential role by the United
Nations in its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine and
in the implementation of such a solution. The Security Council, in particular,
should take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of
their right to return to their homes, lands and property. The Committee,
furthermore, urges the Security Council to promote action towards a just solution,
taking into account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter of the United
Nations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numernus
resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideration of all "the facts,
proposals and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that the
Committee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation of
the exercise ot the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
11. The right of return
66. The natural and inalienable right of Palestinians to return to their homes is
recognized by resolution 194 (Ill), which the General Assembly has reatfirmed
almost every year since its adoption. This right was also unanimously recognized
by the Security Council in its resolution 237 (1967); the time for the urgent
implementation of these resolutions is long overdue.
-28-
67. Without preJudice to the right of all Palestinians to return to their homes,
lands and property, the Committee considers that the programme of implementation of
the exercise of this right may be carried out in two phases:
Phase one
68. The tirst phase involves the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) The Security Council should request the immediate implementation of its
resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementation should not be related
to any other condition;
(ii) The resources of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be
employed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved in
the resettlement of those returning to their homes. These agencies could
also assist, in co-operation with the host countries and the Palestine
Liberation Organization, in the identification of the displaced
Palestoinians.
Phase two
69. The second phase deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) While the first phase is being implemented, the United Nations in
co-operation with the States directJy involved, and the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the interim representative of the Palestinian
entity, should proceed to make the necessary arrangements to enable
Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967 to exercise their right to
return to their homes and property, in accordance with the relevant
United Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly
resolution 194 (Ill);
tii) Palestinians not choosing to return to their homes should be paid just
and equitable compensation as provided for in Assembly resolution
194 (UI).
Ill. The right to self-determination, national independence
and sovereignty
70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to self-determination, national
independence and sovereignty in Palestine. The Committee considers that the
evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in violation of the p~inciples
of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the United Nations is a
conditio sine qua non for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
rights of Palestinians to their homes and property and with the establishment of an
independent Palestinian entity, the Palestinian people will be able to exercise its
rights to self-determination and to decide its form of government without external
interference.
-29-
71. The Committee also feels that the United Nations has an historical duty and
responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the economic
development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
72. To these ends, the Co~~ittee recommends that:
(a) A timetable should be established by the Security Council for the
complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in 1967;
such withdrawal should be completed no later than 1 June 1977;
(b) The Security Council may need to provide temporary peace-keeping forces
in order to facilitate the process of withdrawal;
(c) Israel should be requested by the Security Council to desist from the
establishment of new settlements and to withdraw during this period from
settlements established since 1967 in the occupied territories. Arab property and
all essential services in these areas should be maintained intact;
(d) Israel should also be requested to abide scrupulously by the provlslons
of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
war, of 12 August 1949 and to declare, pending its speedy withdrawal from these
territories, its recognition of the applicability of that Convention;
(e) The evacuated territories, with all property and services intact, should
be taken over by the United Nations, which with the co-operation of the League ot
Arab States, will subsequently hand over these evacuated areas to the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people;
(f) The United Nations should, if necessary, assist in establishing
communications between Gaza and the west Bank;
(g) As soon as the independent Palestinian entity has been established, the
United Nations, in co-operation with the States directly involved and the
Palestinian entity, should, taking into account General Assembly resolution
3375 (XXX), make further arrangements for the full implementation of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding
problems and the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the reglon, in
accordance with all relevant Uni~ed Nations resolutions;
jh) The United Nations should provide. the economic and technical assistance
necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity.
Notes
!I Official Records ot the General Assembly, Thirty-second Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35).
-30-
ANNEX II
A. Geneva Declaration on Palestine ~/
In pursuance of General Assembly resolutions 36/120 C of 10 December 1981,
ES-7/7 of 19 August 1982 and 37/86 C of 10 December 1982, an International
Conference on the Question of Palestine was convened at the United Nations Office
at Geneva from 29 August to 7 September 1983 to seek effective ways and means to
enable the Palestinian people to attain and to exercise their inalienable rights.
The Conference was opened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Javier Perez de Cuellar, and presided over by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Senegal, Moustapha Niasse.
* * *
1. The Conference, having thoroughly considered the question of Palestine in all
its aspects, expresses the grave concern of all nations and peoples regarding the
international tension that has persisted for several decades in the Middle East,
the principal cause of which is the denial by Israel, and those supporting its
expansionist policies, of the inalienable legitimate rights of the Palestinian
people. The Conference reaffirms and stresses that a just solution of the question
of Palestine, the core of the problem, is the crucial element in a comprehensive,
just and lasting political settlement in the Middle East.
2. The Conference recognizes that, as one of the most acute and complex problems
of our time, the question of Palestine - inherited by the United Nations at the
time of its establishment - requires a comprehensive, just and lasting political
settlement. This settlement must be based on the implementation of the relevant
United Nations resolutions concerning the question of Palestine and the attainment
of the legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the
right 'to self-determination and the right to the establishment of its own
independent State in Palestine and should also be based on the provision by the
Security Council of guarantees for peace and security among all States in the
region, including the independent Palestinian State, within secure and
internationally recognized boundaries. The Conference is convinced that the
attainment by the Palestinian people of their inalienable rights, as defined by
General Assembly resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, will contribute
sUbstantially to the achievement of peace and stability in the Middle East.
3. The Conference considers the role of the United Nations in the achievement of
a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East to be essential and
paramount. It emphasizes the need for respect for, and application of, the
provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the resolutions of the United
Nations relevant to the question of Palestine and the observance of the principles
of international law.
4. The Conference considers that the various proposals, consistent with the
principles of international law, which have been presented on this question, such
as the Arab peace plan adopted unanimously at the Twelfth Arab Summi~ Conference
(see A/37/696-S/15510, annex), held at Fez, Morocco, in September 1982, should
serve as guidelines for concerted international effort to resolve the question of
Palestine. These guidelines include the following:
-31-
(a) The attainment by the Palestinian people of its legitimate inalienable
rigtts, including the right to return, the right to self-determination and the
right to establish its own independent State in Palestine;
(b) The right of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of
the Palestinian people, to participate on an equal footing with other parties in
all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East;
i (c) The need to put an end to Israel's occupation of the Arab territories, in
[; accordance w': th t·he principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
f territory by force, and, consequently, the need to secure Israeli withdrawal from
, the territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem;
1·'
I'
(d) The need to oppose and reject such Israeli policies and practices in the
occupied territories, including Jerusalem, and any de facto situation created by
Israel as are contrary to international law and relevant United Nations
resolutions, particularly the establishment of settlements, as these policies and
practices constitute maJor obstacles to the achievement of peace in the Middle East;
(e) The need to reatfirm as null and void all legislative and administrative
measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or
purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem,
including the expropriation of land and property situated thereon, and in
particular the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem
f: as the capital ot Israel;
I (f) The right ot all States in the region to existence within secure and
i internationally recognized boundaries, with justice and security for all the
ii' people, the sine qua non of which is the recognition and attainment of the
I~ legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as stated in
sUbparagraph (a) above.
5. In order to give effect to these guidelines, the Conference considers it
essential that an international peace conference on the Middle East be convened on
the basis of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant
resolutions of the United Nations, with the aim of achieving a comprehensive, just
~ and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, an essential element of which
~ would be the establishment of an independent Palestinian State in Pale5tine. This
~ peace conference should be convened under the auspices of the United Nations, with
t the participation of all parties to the Arab--Israeli conflict, including the
[ Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as the United States of America, the
f Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and other concerned States, on. an equal
footing. In this context the Security Council has a primary responsibility to
create appropriate institutional arrangements on the basis of relevant United
Nations resolutions in order to guarantee and to carry out the accords of the
international peace conference.
~ 6. The International Conference on the Question of Palestine emphasizes the
importance of the time factor in achieving a just solution to the problem of
Palestine. The Conference is convinced that partial solutions are inadequate and
delays in seeking a comprehensive solution do not eliminate tensions in the region.
-32-
B. Programme of Action for the Achievement of
Palestinian Rights
The International Conference on the Question of Palestine agreed that no
effort should be spared to seek effective ways and means to enable the Palestinian
people to attain and exercise their rights in Palestine in accordance with th~
Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ~I and the
principles of inte17national law. The Conference, taking into consideration the
Geneva Declaration on Palestine (see sect. A above), recommended the following
Programme of Action.
"I
The International Conference on the Question of Palestine recommends that
all States, indiVidually or collectively, consistent with their respective
constitutions and their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations
and in conformity with the principles of international law, should:
(1) Recognize the great importance of the time factor in solving the
auestion of Palestine;
(2) Intensify efforts for the establishment of an independent
Palestinian State within the framework of a comprehensive, just and lasting
settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with the Charter of the
United Nations, the relevant United Nations resolutions and the guidelines of
the Geneva Declaration on Palestine;
(3) Consider the continued presence of Israel in the occupied
Palestinian and other Arab territories, including Jerusalem, as exacerbating
instability in the region and endangering international peace and security;
(4) Oppose and reject, as a serious and continuing obstacle to peace,
the expansionist policies pursued by Israel in the Palestinian and other Arab
territories occupied since 1967, inclUding Jerusalem, and in particular the
~lteration of the geographic nature and demographic composition, and the
Israeli attempt to alter, through domestic legislation, the legal status of
those territories, and all the measures taken in violation of the Geneva
Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of war, £! and the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of war, 21
both of 12 August 1949, and of the Hague Regulations of 1907, el such as the
establishment and expansion of ,settlements, the transfer of Israeli civilians
into those territories and the individual and mass transfers therefrom of the
Arab Palestinian population;
(5) Refrain from providing Israel with assistance of such a nature as to
encourage it militarily, economically and financially to continue its
aggression, occupation and disregard of its obligations under the Charter and
the relevant resolutions of the United Nations;
\
(6) N~t encourage migration to the occupied Arab territories until
Israel has put a definitive end to the implementation of its illegal policy of
establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories
occupied since 1967;
-33-
(7) Fully comply with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and
its specialized agencies on the Holy City of Jerusalem, including those which
reject Israel's annexation of Jerusalem and its declaration of that city as
its capital;
(8) Clndertake universal efforts to protect the Holy Places and urge
Israel to take measures to prevent their desecration;
(9) Consider ways and means of meeting the threat that Israel poses to
regional security in Africa in view of Israel's disregard of United Nations
resolutions, and its close collaboration with the apartheid regime in the
economic, military and nuclear fields, thereby contributing to the continued
illegal occupation of Namibia and enhancing the regime's repressive and
aggressive capacity;
(10) Encourage, through bilateral and multilateral contacts, all States,
includinq western European and North American States which have not done so,
to welcome all peace initiatives based on the recognition of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people, which were also welcomed by Chairman
Yasser Arafat in his address to the International Conference on the Question
of Palestine;
(11) Seek and develop ways and means to enable the Palestinian people to
exercise sovereignty over their national resources;
(l2) Express concern that Israel debars Palestinians from economic
activity and access to national resources on Palestinian territory, in
consistent Violation of General Assembly resolutions on the right of the
Palestinians to permanent sovereignty over their national resources;
(13) Declare null and void and counter such measures and practices
applied by Israel in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories,
including Jerusalem, as the annexation and the expropriation of land, water
resources, and property and the alteration of the demographic, geographic,
historical and cultural features thereof;
(14) Undertake measures to alleviate the economic and social burdens
borne by the Palestinian people as a result of the continued Israeli
occupation of their territories since 1967;
(15) Consider contributing or increasing special contributions to the
proposed budgets, programmes and projects of the relevant organs, funds and
agencies of the United Nations system that have been requested to prOVide
humanitarian, economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, with
particular reference to:
(a) General Assembly resolution 33/147 of 20 December 1978 and the
appeal of the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme at
its thirtieth session for additional special contributions amounting to at
least $8 million during the third programming cycle (1982-1986) aimed at
helping to meet the economic and social needs of the Palestiniari people; !I
(b) The proposed programme budget of the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development for the biennium 1984/85 regarding the establishment
within the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development of a special
economic unit, g/ as reauested by that Conference at its sixth session at
Belgrade; ~/
-34-
(c) Establishing a special legal aid fund to assist Palestinians in
securing their rights under conditions of occupation, 1/ in accordance with
the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time
of war;
(16) Ensure that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East can meet the essential needs of the Palestinians
without interruption or any diminution in the effectiveness of its services;
(17) Review the situation of Palestinian women in the occupied
Palescinian and other Arab territories and, in view of their special
hardships, urge the Preparatory Committee of the world Conference to Review
and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women, to be
held at Nairobi in 1985, to include this item on the agenda of the Conterence;
(18) Review, if they have not yet done so, in conformity with their
national legislation, their economic, cultural, technical and other relations
with Israel, and the agreements governing them with the aim of ensuring that
these regulations and agreements will not be interpreted or construed as
implying in any way recognition of any modification of the legal status of
Jerusalem and ot the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel
since 1967, or an acceptance of Israel's illegal presence in those territories;
(19) Recognize that the process of enabling the Palestinian people to
exercise its inalienable rights in Palestine is a significant contribution to
the restoration of the rule of law in international relations;
(20) Assure the observance of the stipulations provided in General
Assembly resolution 181 (11) guaranteeing to all persons eaual and
non-discriminatory rights in civil, political, economic and religious matters
and the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom
of religion, speech, pUblication, education, assembly and association;
(21) Express concern that the laws applic~ble in the occupied Arab
territories have been totally eclipsed by a plethora of military orders that
have been designed to establish a new 'legal regime' in violation of the Hague
Reg~lations of 1907, and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War;
(22) Act in accordance with their obligations under existing
international law, in particular with regard to the Geneva Conve~tions of 1949
which require States Parties to respect and to ensure respect for those
Conventions in all circumstances, and in particular ensure the respect by
Israel for the Geneva Conventions of 1949 in the occupied Palestinian and
other Arab territories;
(23) Express concern that the Palestinians and other Arabs in the
occupied territories are deprived of juridical and other kinds of protection,
that they are victims ot repreSSive legislation, involving mass arrests, acts
of torture, destruction of houses, and, the expulsion of people from their
homes, acts which constitute flagrant violations of human rights;
(24) Recognize the necessity that Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners
detained by Israel be accorded the status of prisoners of war in accordance
with th~ Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of
1949, £/ if combatants, or in accordance with the Geneva Convention relative
to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949, ~/ it civilians;
-35-
(25) Strive tor the adoption of international meaEures so that Israel
will implement in the West Bank and Gaza the provisions of the Hague
Regulations of 1907 and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons, in the light of Security Council resolution 465 (1980);
(26) Recognize, if they have not yet done so, the Palestine Liberation
Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people and establish
with it appropriate relations;
(27) Encourage, in conformity with their national legislations, the
formation of national committees in support of the Palestinian people;
(28) Encourage the observance of 29 November as the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in a most etfective and meaningful way;
(29) Request the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session to
designate a Year of Palestine, to be observed at the earliest possible time,
taking into consideration the factors necessary to ensure its effective
preparation for the purpose of galvanizing world-wide public opinion and
support for further implementation of the Geneva Declaration on Palestine and
the Programme of Action.
"11
The International Conference on the Question of Palestine stresses the
obligation of all Member States, under the Charter of the United Nations, to
enable the United Nations through an expanded and more effective role to
fulfil its responsibility for achieving a solution to the question of
Palestine. To this end:
!lA
States participating in the Conference invite the Security Council, as
the organ with primary responsibility for the maintenance of internatibnal
peace and security:
(1) To suppress continuing and growing acts of aggression and other
breaches of the peace in the Middle East which endanger peace and security in
the region and the world as a whole;
(2) To take prompt, firm and effective steps and actions to establish an
independent sovereign Palestinian State in Palestine through the.
implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions, by facilitating the
organization of the internatio~al peace conference on the Middle East, as
called for in paragraph 5 of the Geneva Declaration on Palestine (see sect. A
above), and by creating in this context the appropriate institutional
arrangements on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions in order to
guarantee and carry out the accords of the international peace conference,
including the following:
(a) Taking measures consistent With the principle of the inadmissibility
of the acquisition of territory by force to ensure Israel's withdrawal from
the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including
Jerusalem, with a specific t',metable;
-36-
(b) Undertaking effective measures to guarantee the safety and security
and legal and human rights of the Palestinians in the occupied territories
pending the withdrawal of the Israeli forces trom the Palestinian and other
Arab territories occupied by.lsrael since 1967, including Jerusalem;
(c) SUbjecting those territories, following the withdrawal of Israel, to
a short transitional period, under the supervision of the United Nations,
during which period the Palestinian people would exercise its right to
self-determination;
(d) Facilitating the implementation of the right to return of the
Palestinians to their homes and property;
(e) Supervising elections to the constituent assembly of the independent
Palestinian State in which all Palestinians shall participate, in exercise of
their right to self-determination;
(f) Providing, if necessary, temporary peace-keeping forces in order to
facilitate the implementation of sUbparagraphs (a) to (e) above.
"B
Meanwhile the Security Council is also invited to:
(1) Take urgent action to bring about an immediate and complete
cessation of such Israeli policies in the occupied territories and, in
particular, the establishment of settlements as have been determined by the
Security Council to have no legal validity and as a serious obstruction to
achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East;
(2) Consider urgently the reports of the Commission established under
its resolution 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, which examined the situation
concerning settlements in the Arab territories occupied since 1967, inclUding
Jerusalem, and to reactivate the alX>ve-mentioned Commission;
(3) Initiate action to terminate Israel's exploitative polities which go
against the indigenous economic development of the occupied territories, and
to compel Israel to lift i.ts restrictions on water use and well-drilling by
Palestinian farmers as well as its diversion of West Bank water resources into
the Israeli water grid system;
(4) Keep under its consta~t attention the actions committed by Israel
against the Palestinian people in violation of the stipulations prOVided for
in relevant General Assembly resolutions, in particular the stipulations of
resolution 181 (11) of 29 November 1947 guaranteeing to all persons equal and
non-discriminatory rights and freedoms;
(5) Consider, in the event of Israel's persistent non-compliance with
the relevant United Nations resolutions which embody the will of the
international community, appropriate measures in accordance with the Charter
of the United Nations, to ensure Israel's compliance with these resolutions.
-37-
(a) Co-ordinate all information activities of the United Nations system
on Palestine through the Joint United Nations Information Committee;
(c) Publish newsletters and articles in its respective pUblications on
Israeli violations of human rights of the Arab inhabitants in the occupied
territories and organizE fact~finding missions for journalists to the area;
(1) The United N~'~ions Department for Public Information, in full
co-operation and constant consultations with the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, should:
(d) Organize regional encounters for journalists;
(b) Expand pUblications and audio and visual coverage of the facts and
of developments pertaining to the question of Palestine;
"0
(e) Disseminate appropriate information on the results of the
Internatio~al Conference on th~ Question of Palestine;
(2) The relevant organizations of the United Nations system shollld
organize meetings, symposia and seminars on topics within their terms of
reference and relating to specific problems of the Palestinian people by
establishing closer liaison with non-governmental organizations, the media and
othe~ groups interested in the question of Palestine.
The International Conference co the Question of Palestine, convinced of
the important role of world-wide public opinion in resolving the question of
Palestine, and in the impleme"tat.ion of the Declaration and Programme of
Action, ur.ges and encourages:
(2) The meeting should also look into the most effective inter-agency
machinery to co-ordinate and sustain and intensify United Nations assistance
to the Palestinian people.
The dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information world wide
and the role of non-governmental organizations and institutions remain of
vital importance in heightening awareness of and support fOl the inalienable
rights of the Palestin~an people to self-determination and to the
establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinia~ State. To these ends:
"Ill
nc
(1) Taking into account the recommendations of the five regional
preparatory meetings of the International Conference on the Question of
Palestine iI and United Nat10ns resolutions concerning economic and social
assistance to the Palestinian people, the Secretary-General of the United
Nati~ns is requested to convene a meeting of the specialized agencies and
other organizations associated with the United Nations, as well as
representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization and of those
countries which are hosts to Palestinian refugees and other potential sources
of assistance to develop a co-ordinated programme of economic and social
assistance to the Palestinian people and to ensure its impl~mentation;
-38-
.,
(1) Intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to increase
awareness by the international community of the economic and social burdens
borne by the Palestinian people as a result of the continued Israeli
occupation and its negative effects on the economic development of the West
Asian region as a whole;
(2) Non-governmental organizations and professional and popular
associations to intensify their etforts to support the rights of the
Palestinian people ial every possible way;
(3) Organizations such as those of women, teachers, workers, youths and
students to undertake exchanges and other programmes of joint action with
their Palestinian counterparts;
(4) women's associations, in particular, to investigate the conditions
of Palestinian women and children in all occupied territories;
(5) The media and other institutions to disseminate relevant information
to increase pUblic awareness and understanding of the question of Palestine;
(6) Instittutions ot higher education to promote the study of the
question of Palestine in all its aspects;
(7) Various jurists' associations to establish special investigative
commissions to determine the violations by Israel of the Palestinians' legal
rights and to disseminate their findings accordingly;
(8) Jurists to initiate with their Palestinian counterparts
consultations, research and investigations on the juridical aspects of
problems affecting the southern African and Palestinian struggles, in
particular the detention of political prisoners and the denial of
prisoner-of-war status to detained members of the national liberation
movements of southern Africa and Palestine;
(9) Parliamentarians, political parties, trade unions, organizations for
solidarity and intellectuals, particularly in Western Europe and North
America, to join their counterparts in other parts of the world in giving
their support, where it has not been done, to an initiative which would
express the desire of the international community to see the Palestinian
peopl~ at last living in their own independent homeland in peace, freedom and
dignity."
Notes
~/ See Report of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine,
Geneva, 29 August-7 September 1983 (United Nations pUblication, Sales
No. E.83.I.2l), chap. I.
~/ See General Assembly resolution 217 A (Ill).
£I United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 972, p. 135.
~ ~., No. 973, p. 287.
-39-
~. (continued)
!/ Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and
Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915), p. 100.
1/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1983, Supplement
No. 9 (E/1983/20).
~/ A/C.5/38/4, para. 8 (c).
~/ Recommendation 146 (VI) of 2 July 1983 of the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development.
1/ Recommendation 19 of the Latin American Regional Preparatory Meeting,
Managua, Nicaragua, 12-15 April 1983 (A/CONF.114/2).
1/ African region, A/OONF.114/1; Latin American region, A/OONF.114/2;
Western Asian region, A/CONF.114/3; Asian region, A/CONF.114/4; European region,
A/OONF.U4/5.
-40-
ANNEX III
United Nations Symposium for Non-Governmental organizations
on the Question of Palestine
(Geneva, 3-4 November 1984)
NGO Appeal for an International Peace Conference
on the Middle East
(Statement read by the representative of the Interim Co-ordinating
Committee on ?9 November 1984, International Day of Solidarity
with the Palestinian People)
1. In August 1984, representatives of 98 non-governmental organiz~tions
participating in the International NGo meeting on the Question of Palestine in
Geneva called upon all peoples and Governments to take definitive steps to secure
peace in the Arab-Israeli conflict, at the core of which is the question ot
Palestine. Since ~hat momentous meeting, these organizations have recommitted
themselves to this important quest.
2. As the representative of the Interim Co-ordinating Committee of
Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine for the
non-qovernmental organizations that attended that meeting, I am here today to offer
a global challenge. We believe that it is in the interest of all the world's
peoples to secure qenuine peace in the Middle East. All our lives have been
punctuated by war and the prospect of war emanatinq from that historic region. But
these wars have brought neither peace nor security to the antagonists in the
region. we must search for an alternative, sane path to peace with justice.
3. On this day, 29 November, the United Nations rightly calls for us to stand in
solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle for self-determination
and statehood. Today, in New York, Geneva and Vienna, and many other places in the
world, a qlobal campaign is being launched to gather the signatures of the world's
people~ in support of an International Peace Conference on the Middle East. we,
the non-governmental organizations committed to the attainment of the rights of the
Palestinian people and especially a just and lasting peace for all peoples in the
Middle East, offer the following world petition:
An Appeal for an International Peace Conference
on the Middle East
"The unresolved Arab/Israeli conflict, the core of which is the question
of Palestine, and other Middle East conflicts pose a threat to world peace.
"The Middle East is a nuclear-weapons zone.
"The Middle East is one area in the world where a chain of events could
lead to a Third World War.
"Without contact among all parties concerned there can be no
negotiation. Without negotiation, there can be no peace.
-41-
7. On 29 November 1985, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People, the results of this massive campaign will be presented to the
Secretary-General of the United Nations.
6. Over the coming 12 months, non-governmental organizations around the world
will be offering the people of their respective countries a chance to be
peace-makers, to help restore the rights of suffering peoples by asking them to
sign this petition.
8. We ate well aware of the magnitUde of our project, but we are also painfully
aware of the conseauences of not acting. We ask all of you to Join us in this
auest to make peace in the Middle East a possibility through the promotion of
genuine dialogue. That process could be set in motion by the convening of an
International Conference on Peace in the Middle East.
All the world's
the world's
"we, the undersigned, recognize the right of the Israeli and Palestinian
peoples to statehood and self-determination. We recognize the right of all
States in the region to existence within secure and internationally recognized
boundaries with justice and security for all the peoples of the region. We
call for the convening ot an international peace conference on the Middle East
attended by all parties to the conflict, including the representatives of
Israel, the Palestine Liberation Organization, those Arab States party to the
conflict, the United States of America and the Soviet Union, under the
auspices of the United Nations as called for by the United Nations General
Assembly resolution 38/58 C."
5. All the world's peoples are jeopardized by the threat of war.
peoples are affected by the plight of the Palestinian people. All
peoples concerned with peace must also be concerned with justice.
4. Through this petition we are declaring that there 1! an alternative to
successive wars in the Middle East and the continued deprivation of the Palestinian
people. We firmly believe that the process initiated by such a conference may
begin to counter the misperception and mistrust that plague the region. We do
believe that it is the first step in a sane process towards resolving them.
-42-
ANNEX IV
Report of the Tenth United Nations Seminar
on the Question of Palestine
(Beijing, 22-26 April 1985)
1. The Tenth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine with the title
liThe Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People" was held at the Fragrant Hill
Hotel, West Beijing, People's Republic of China from 22 to 26 April 1985 in
accordance with the terms of General Assembly resolution 38/58 B. Seven meetings
were held and sixteen panelists presented papers on selected aspects of the
Question of Palestine.
2. The United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was represented by a delegation consisting of Mr. Massamba Sarre
(Senegal), Chairman of the Committee; Mr. Victor J. Gauci (Malta), Rapporteur of
the Committee; Mr. Zain Azraai (Malaysia); Mr. Mohamed Lessir (Tunisia);
Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi. (Palestine Liberation Organization). Mr. Sarre was Chairman and
Mr. Gauci Rapporteur of the Seminar.
Opening statements
3. The opening session of the Tenth United Nations Seminar on the Question of
Palestine was addressed by His Excellency Mr. Gang Biao, Vice-Chairman of the
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of
China, who had earlier received the representatives of the Committee and the
Palestine Liberatio,:, Organization at a private meeting .•
4. He stated that the purpose of the Seminar was to mobilize pUblic 0plnlon in
the world, to support the just cause of the Palestinian people, and to explore ways
and means for a just settlement of the Palestine question. Recognizing that this
was an arduous task, he stressed that China remained prepared to work towards the
achievement of this objective, and appealed to all peace-loving States and peoples
to strive for positive results at an early date.
5. In tracing the course of events in the Middle East, he contrasted Israel's
policy of aggression and expansion with the heroic resistance of the Palestinian
people and the ettorts made by the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Arab
States to seek a just and reasonable solution to the question of Palestine.
6. The Fez Peace Plan, adopted in Septamberl982, had been welcomed and supported
by the international community. The Palestine Liberation Orga~ization and the Arab
countries were sincere in their efforts to seek peace in the Middle East.
Unfortunately, Israel and its supporters have so far refused to recognize the
national rights of the Palestinian people; this constituted the basic obstacle to
peace in the Middle East.
7. The Chinese Government firmly supported the just struggle of the Palestinians
and other Arab people and the basic principles affirmed by the relevant United
Nations resolutions. Any effort which was conducive to the restoration of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the recovery of the occupied Arab
territories and was in conformity with an eQuitable solution to the Middle East
Question, would receive the backing of the Chinese Government and its people.
-43-
12. Mr. Shafiq AI-Bout, member of the Palestine National Council and head of the
delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, conveyed a message from
Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organization and Commander-in-Chief of the Forces of the Palestine Revolution.
11. The Committee placed special emphasis on the development of pUblic 0plnlon on
the auestion of Palestine. The views of several influential policy-makers who
participated in the Seminar on the role of Asian public opinion, and wide
dissemination of their views would assist the Committee and the entire membership
of the United Nations in assessing what st-ill needed to be done in this field.
13•. In his message, Chairman Arafat stated that the Palestinian cause had entered
an even more dangerous phase as a result Of the intensitication of Israel's
aggressive policies, supported by successive United States Administrations. These
policies had as their sole aim the expulsion of the Palestinian people from their
lands and homes. It was a part of Israel's declared policy not to withdraw from
the occupied territories, not to return Jerusalem to Palestinian sovereignty, not
to permit the establishment of a Palestinian State and not to recognize the
Palestine Liberation Organization.
Nations,
had
It had
this
the
10. Strongly supported by the majority of the Member States of the United
the Committee fUlly endorsed the importance of such a peace conference and
decided that this should be the main focus of its work programme in 1985.
therefore decided that in all the seminars and symposia that it organized
year, there would be at least one panel which would deal exclusively with
auestion of the peace conference.
9. The widely attended International Conference on the Question of Palestine held
in 1983 in Geneva had formulated a ~umber of basic principles necessary for a
SOlution, including the right of all States in the region to existence within
secure and recognized boundaries and justice and security for all the people,
including a future Palestinian State. That Conference had also recommended the
convening of an International Peace Conference on the Middle East, under the
auspices of the United Nations, with the participation on an equal footing of all
the parties to the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the Palestine Liberation
Organization - as the representative Of the people directly concerned - together
with the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist RepUblics.
8. At the same opening session, Mr. Massamba Sarre, Chairman of the Committee,
gave a brief account of the Committee's work to date. Be stressed the particular
importance that the Committee attached to the seminars in the various regions. He
indicated the Committee's conviction that objective information on the question of
Palestine would help to ensure more comprehensive coverage of developments in the
region, and promote public support in favour of an equitable and peaceful solution.
Once all the facts surrounding the question of Palestine were known, the resultant
better understanding of the question would help to convince even those who so far
have been somewhat indifferent to the just cause of the Palestinian people.
· · 14. The economic, financial and military aid provided by the United States to
Israel's aggression hindered the observance of international law and denied the
Palestinian people the exercise of its inalienable rights.
15. Despite these enormous challenges, the Palestinian people continued their
heroic struggle and resistance to the hostile Israeli policies abetted by the
United States. The hardships they endured would not impair their resolve to
maintain their struggle which was gathering overwhelming support from all
democratic and peace-loving forces.
-44-
16. The Palestine Liberation Organization had availed itself of every opportunity
to search for peace, and continued its efforts to achieve a joint Arab political
plan aimed at the attainment of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the
Middle East conflict.
17. Chairman Arafat expressed his profound gratitude for the valuable efforts
of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People, which had contributed to the clarification of the facts surrounding
the cause of the Palestinian people. He also expressed his gratitude to
Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and to all
those who had worked for justice for the Palestinian people.
18. In conclusion, he reiterated the Palestine National Council's gratitude to the
People's Republic of China, its leadership, its Party and its people, who were the
very first nation to extend diplomatic recognition to the PLO and have unfailingly
extended full support to the Palestinian cause.
19. At the same meeting, a statement was made by Mr. Abdul G. Koroma, Chairman of
the United Nations Special Committee with regard to the Implementation of the
Declaration on the ~ranting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. He
opined that the decision of the General Assembly to hold this Seminar was not only
a measure of the international community's rteep concern for the Palestinian people,
but also a reflection of its recognition that a just solution of the Palestinian
problem was of overriding importance in the search for a lasting settlement of the
Middle East question. In this decision, the General Assembly thus had reatfirmed
its commitment to the Palestinian people for the realization of their inalienable
rights, and sought to enlighten and mobilize international pUblic opinion towards
the attainment of the objectives of the United Nations on the question of Palestine.
20. The Special Com~ittee attaches particular significance to the mobilization of
international opinion towards the attainment of self-determination for all people
under alien and colonial domir,ation. The General Assembly had repeatedly called
for the full and speedy exercise by the Palestinian people of their right to
self-determination without external interference and to national independence and
sovereignty as well as their right to return to their homes and property from which
they hav~ been displaced and uprooted.
21. It was all the more important therefore for the international community to
rededicate itself to the promotion of a genuine and lasting settlement of the
Middle East conflict. Concerted action was necessary to persuade the supporters of
Israel to induce it to respond to relevant United Nations resolutions and to the
will of the international community on the question of Palestine. Recent events in
the Middle East underline the heavy responsibility incumbent upon the international
community to do everything in its power to preserve peace and security in the
region.
22. Mr. Nihat Akyol, speaking on behalf of the United Nations Council for Namibia,
stated that the question of Palestine could be compared to the problem of Namibia
which had been controlled by South Africa in defiance of General Assembly and
Security Council resolutions. In both instances, great suffering had been caused
to many innocent people. The Palestinian people continued to be denied the
fundamental and inalienable rights to live in liberty, peace and dignity in their
own country. The international communi~y could not remain indifferent while Israel
persisted in its acts of aggression against the Palestinian people and annexed the
territories of its neiqhbouring States.
-45-
23. The United Nations Council for Namibia reaffirmed its adherence to the
resolutions of the General Assembly relating to the rights of the Palestinian
people. The Council for Namibia was also convinced that the persistent denial by
Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to retur~ to their homeland was in
violation of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter as well as
United Nations resolutions on the question of the rights of people under colonial
domination.
24. The Council for Namibia affirmed its solidarity with the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and condemned Israeli
policies and plans aimed at driving the Palestinian people from its homeland.
25. The twin questions of Palestine and of Namibia haunted the conscience of the
international community. Both questions had been on the agenda of the General
Assembly of the United Nations for many years, and a solution had not yet been
found.
26. This Seminar was an occasion to reaffirm the Council's solemn commitment and
determination to be associated with the defence of a noble cause. South Africa and
Israel should be compelled to conform to universally accepted norms and should be
condemned for their defiance of world opinion.
27. Mr. Nabil Maarouf, Director of Holy Jerusalem and Palestine Department of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference, speaking on behalf of
Mr. Sayed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference, stated that the organization had made it a point to participate in the
series of regional seminars on the question of a Palestine organized by the United
Nations, since these seminars were a valuable contribution towards making the cause
of the Palestinian people better known to the world public.
28. The Organization of the Islamic Conference remained fUlly committed to all
proposals and solutions that would ensure for the Palestinian people its
inalienable historical rights, including its right to return, its right to
self-determination and its right to establish its own independent State on its
national soil with its capital of AI-Quds Al Sharif, and under the leadership of
the Palestine Liberation Organization, its sole legitimate representative.
29. In spite of world pUblic opinion, the Palestinian people had not regained its
rights. Israel's intransigence was due to continued political, economic and
mili~ary support by the United States of America. It was this support that enabled
Israel to violate international law and to defy world public opinion.
30. The Palestine Liberation Organization had displayed its desire for peace by
accepting the Fez Peace Plan a~a publicly expressed support for the proposed Middle
East Peace Conference which had however been rejected by Israel, whose negative
attitude was encouraged by the United States. Ways and means should be found by
which effective pressure could be brought to bear upon the United States
Administration to recognize the rights of the Palestinian people. All States that
supported the Palestinian people should join in this effort. It was very important
that the European Community should be persuaded to exert its influence on the
United States.
31. At the second meeting, Mr. Hans Teller, representative of UNESCO in China,
outlined the assistance given to the Palestinian people by UNESCO, in accordance
with resolutions adopted by its General Conference. UNESCO had renewed its
-46-
IF--=---------·-----.....----------------------..
agreemen~ with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in
the Near ~'st for the period 1984-1985 whereby UNESCO assumed technical
responsibilities for the educational proqramme for Palestinian refugees. UNESCO
also continued its efforts to maintain the functioning of the cultural and
educational institutions in the occupied Arab territories, including their projects
concerning the Palestine Open University on which a study had already been approved.
32. With regard to the preservation of cultural properties in the Holy City of
Jerusalem, the Director-General of UNESCO had entrusted a personal representative
to visit Jerusalem on many occasions for the protection of the cultural heritage of
the Holy City.
33. Some 50 fellowships had been granted to Palestinian students and a consultant
had been hired to advise the Palestine Literacy Council. A special account had
been opened to finance scholarships for Palestinian students and contributions had
already been received from some Arab States. Another special account had been
opened for assistance to the Palestine Liberation Organization with the financial
contributions from the Government of Iraq.
34. At the 7th meeting, Ms. Savitri Kunadi, speaking on behalt of the Special
Committee against Apartheid, reaffirmed the Special Committee's support for the
General Assemblv resolutions relating to the auestion of Palestine and stressed its
solidarity with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People in the task of securing the practical attainment of those
rights. The Special Committee against Apartheid attached great significance to the
mobilization of international public opinion for the attainment and realization of
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and viewed the early convening of
the International Peace Conference on the Middle East as a contribution to the just
solution of the Middle East problem, the core of which is the auestion of Palestine.
35. On the occasion of the commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the
Asian-African Conference in Bandung, Indonesia, in April 1955, the Seminar decided
at its 3rd meeting on 23 April 1985, to send a message to His Excellency
Dr. Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, Minister of Foreign Atfairs of Indonesia extending
felicitations, and recalled that the Bandung Declaration had affirmed its tull
support-for the cause of the Palestinian people.
36. The delegation of the Committee on Palestinian rights was officially received
by His Excellency Mr. Zhao Ziyan, the Prime Minister of China, on Thursday,
25 April 1985.
37. The closing session on Friday, 26 April 1985, was attended by His Excellency
Mr. Qian Qichen, Deputy Foreign Minister of China. The meeting was addressed by
the Deputy Foreign Minister, the Chairman of the Seminar and Mr. Shafiq al-Hout,
the representative of Chairman Arafat of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
-47-
Declaration
ANNEX V
-48-
6. We further strongly suppo~t the convening of the United Nations-sponsored
International Conference on Peace in the Middle East as specified in United Nations
resolution 38/58 C. The Palestine Liberation Organization strongly supported this
resolution but it was opposed by both Israel and the United States of America. As
the positions of these two Governments constitute a serious obstacle to world
peace, we urge that more pressure be exerted on both States to join in the global
consensus on the issue. We urge those undecided States, especially members of the
5. We resolutely reaffirm the internationai consenaus that the Palestine
Liberation Organization is the sole and legitimate representative o~ the
Palestinian people. We affirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to
self-determination without external interference, to return, and to the creation of
an Independent Palestinian State 6n its own national territory under the leadership
of the Palestine Liberation Organization, in conformity with relevant United
Nations resolutions.
United Nations Asian Regional Non-Governmental Organizations
Symposium on the Question of Palestine
(New Delhi, 1-3 May 1985)
1. We, the group of non-governmental organizations participating in the United
L Nations Asian Regional NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine, wish to thank
the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People for convening this meeting. We are indeed honoured by the
i' f presence of the Chairman, Members and Observers of the distinguished United Nations
,Ii' body •
[, i: 2. We also wish to thank the Chief of the Division for Palestinian Rights, the r NGO liaison officer, the staff of the Division, the Department of Conference
r Services including the services of the interpreters for their valuable assistance
U in the preparation and execution of this Symposium. We believe this meeting marks
:,r a pivotal point in the constructive interaction between the United Nations and the
i Asian NGO community concerned with the question of Palestine and we look forward to
i increasing levels of understanding, appreciation and co-operation.
I'
IL,
-f
3. Special thanks are extended to the Government of India for hosting this
:~ Symposium and for the generosity and co-operation extended to the participants.
, we were honoured by the presence and statement of His Excellency,
Di; Mr. Khurshid Alam Khan, Minister of State for External Affairs, at the official
~ opening of the Symposium. We recognize and genuinely appreciate the long-standing
Ix and unfailing support that the Government of India has given to the just cause of
the Palestinian people.
t 4. We also wish to sincerely voice our appreciation to the distinguished experts
~ who spoke here and offered valuable historical, political as well as practical
I insights into the auestion of Palestine and the potential central role to be played t by NGOs. The practical suggestions assisted us in formulating future plans for
effective collaboration in Asia and the Pacific and in linking our efforts to a
broader, global network.
13. we concur that influencing world public opinion is a key factor in the just
resolution of the auestion of Palestine. As NGOs, we have access to local
populations, "the grass roots", in many societies and are determined to work to
increase their understanding of the question of Palestine and to effectively
mobilize their potential political, socia~ and spiritual power.
14. Beyond these principles, we firmly believe that non-governmental organizations
are a uniaue asset in securing the rights of the Palestinian people, for we can
present the issue in its vital human dimension to individuals and other
non-qovernmental organizations.
9. We turther reaffirm our belief that only a full and comprehensive solution
involving the Palestine Liberation Organization and all concerned countries of the
region and with the participation of the United States of America and the USSR can
create the basis for a just and lasting peace. We reject partial and piecemeal
agreements as such agreements have proved to be counterproductive and not conducive
to a comprehensive peaceful solution and have totally ignored the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict.
10. This Symposium further asserts the close connection between the struggle of
the Palestinian people and every struggle in each part of the world of peoples
fighting for their independence, defending their freedom and building their life on
the basis of their sov~reignty. The cause of the Palestinian people is
interconnected with the struggle of all peoples for world peace and against
colonialism.
12. We further endorse the global signature campaign to increase popular support
for the proposed international peace conference on the Middle East and will
endeavour to co-ordinate our efforts with the Interim Co-ordinating Committee for
NGOs throughout Asia and the Pacific, CUlminating in the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November 1985.
8. The convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, as
endorsed by General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, offers the only realistic and
practical way towards a solution to the problem of Palestine and the establishment
of a Palestinian State.
7. we express our qrave concern over the protracted Arab-Israeli conflict•. We
recognize that the basic cause of that conflict is the denial by Israel and its
supporters of the inalienable riqhts of the Palestinian people. In particular, we
regret the record of successive Administration of the United States of America
which have supported Israeli State terrorism.
11. This Symposium of ~he NGOs of Asia and the Pacific positively points to the
growing support in the United Nations for Palestinians and the Palestine Liberation
Organization. It stresses the very significant role played by the Movement of the
Non-Aligned Countries representing over two thirds of the world's Governments in
awakening qlobal public opinion to the urgent need to resolve this issQe and in
exposi~g the parts played by ~he Governments of the United States of America and
Israel.
Security Council, to lend their support to this resolution. In this manner, we
also uniformly support the declaration on this issue adopted by the International
NGO Meeting on the Question of Palestine held in August 1984 in Geneva.
-49-
•
15. We are aware of the forces opposed to our efforts. But the inherent Justice
of our cause and the sound construction of a genuine regional and global NGO
network will be mutually reinforcing and demonstrably advance our endeavours.
16. We have reviewed and considered the initial activities of the Interim
Co-ordinating Committee for NGOs (ICC) established at the International Meeting on
the Question of Palestine, convened at Geneva in August 1984 and regard it as a
suitable transitional mechanism for the initial c~rordination of the world-wide NGO
effort on the auestion of Palestine. We look fa~ourably upon its transformation
from an "interim" to an "international" Co-ordinating Committee after the scheduled
consideration of its future structure and composition at the International Meeting
on the Question of Palestine to be convened from 9-12 September 1985 in Geneva.
17. We strongly urge the United Nations through the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestini~n People to assist the ICC in every
possible way in its worthwhile efforts to build a viable, global network of NGOs
active on the auestion of Palestine. This assistance should include further
serious efforts to secure an NGO liaison in Geneva in addition to the current
New York-based liaison activities and to aid in the establishment of a properly
resourced ICC secretariat. The central co-ordination of all common NGO activities
on this issue is a necessary condition for influencing domestic and global pUblic
opinion.
18. We Asian NGOs present here for this Symposium see ourselves as a nucleus ot a
broader, regional effort. We must reach out, identify and involve many other NGO
committees to a just resolution of the question of Palestine. To accomplish these
worthy qoals, we are requesting United Nations assistance, including financial
help, to establish an Asian Regional Interim Co-ordinating Committee of NGOs to
serve as a initial focus for our regional efforts. We visualize such a
Co-ordinating Committee establishing close links with the work of ICC and its
successor.
19. The Asian and Pacific Region is an area ot increasing geopolitical
importance. As a result, forces opposed to the Palestinian cause are attempting to
neutralize the traditional commitment of the peoples of this region to the
Palestinian cause. Such attempts, notably by the State of Israel and its alter
ego, the World Zionist Organization, and as well as by imperialism, must be
resisted as they constitute impediments to achieVing a just, comprehensive and
enduring resolution of the question of Palestine. We distinguish between Judaism
as a religion and political zionism as manifested by Israel, an unjust,
undemocratic, racist, and dangerous ideolOgy. In combating such opposition, Asia
and Pacific NGOs could be expected to play a key role as moulders of pUblic opinion
in the region.
20. To ensure proper representation of this region at the forthcoming
International Meeting on the Question of Palestine, we strongly urge the United
Nations through the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights ot the
Palestinian People, to fund the participation of a representative number of NGO
delegates from the region. To be effective such aid should include transportation
to Geneva and accommodation during the conference.
21. In co-operation with the stated objectives of the ICC, we Asian NGOs call for
the compilation of a regional data base of information on NGOs in Asia and the
Pacific, active on the issue as a potent addition to global networking efforts.
NGOs in Melbourne, Australia, have offered to commence the effort and to assist in
the production of regional materials.
-50-
• -
22. we are determined to cultivate an expanding regional NGO constituency linked
to a world-wide NGO network that will emerge as a significant complementary force
in the campaign for the just resolution of the question of Palestine. We firmly
believe that we can most effectively express our solidarity with the Palestinian
people in this way. We call upon the United Nations, through the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to offer every
assistance including financial support, to achleve these ends.
23. We look with great interest to the forthcoming United Nations-sponsored World
Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for
Women in Nairobi, Kenya, as a prime opportunity to call attention to the question
of Palestine with special focus on the plight of Palestinian women under
occupation. We call upon the Committee to assist us in further strengtheninq the
network of women working for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the
Middle East.
24. We urge the election of the Asian Regional Interim Co-ordinating Committee to
be composed of representatives of organizations present at this Symposium.
25. We applaud the convening ot this Regional Symposium and strongly request the
United Nations, thOrough the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People, to plan a follow-up symposium in Asia and Pacific as soon
as possible but hopefully within the coming year.
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ANNEX VI
Report of the Eleventh United Nations Seminar on the
9~estion of Palestine
(Georgetown, 17-20 June 1985)
1. The Eleventh United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine was held at
the Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown, Guyana, from 17 to 20 June 1985 in accordance with
the terms of General Assembly resolution 38/58 B. Five meetings were held at which
eight panelists presented papers on different aspects of the question of Paiestine.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by Mr. Massamba Sarre (Senegal), Chairman,
Mr. Alberto Velazco-San Jose (Cuba), Mr. David Karran (Guyana), Mr. Miklos Endreffy
(Hungary) and Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi (Palestine Liberation Organization).
Mr. Massamba Sarre was Chairman and Mr. David Karran Rapporteur of the Seminar.
Opening statements
3. The Seminar was opened by H.E. Mr. Rashleigh Jackson, Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Guyana and was attended by many distinguished personages, including
H.E. Mr. Ptolemy Reid, Deputy Leader of the People's National Congress,
Vice-Presidents and cabinet ministers as well as heads of diplomatic missions.
4. Mr. Jackson, in his opening remarks, warmly congratulated Ambassador
Massamba Sarre of Senegal, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, and stated that the Committee had
played a ~aluable supportive role in the Palestinian struggle by drawing up a
structured programme of action for the achievement of the objectives Which had
inspired its creation. The Seminar, which was part of that programme ot action,
had provided an opportunity for the Latin American region to have attention focused
on the Committee1s perspectives and thereby assist in the overall co-ordination of
the strategies of the supporters of the Palestinian cause in all regions of the
world.
5. In a sense, the Seminar 'was not restricted to the question of Palestine alone,
because a number of principles were at stake which were of a universal nature and
which were cardinal to the national poli~ies of many States, inclUding Guyana.
Amongst them were the right of peoples to self-determination and independence,
respect for independence, sovereignty and non-acquisition of territory by force.
6. The situation of the Pal~stinian people was one ot the more sordid tragedies
of recorded history. Like many people of Africa and Asia, the Palestinians were in
the diaspora and had suffered the indignities of living in refugee camps and of
being the objects of global compassion. However, dispersion and degradation,
occupation and repression had served only to reinforce the determination of the
Palestinian people to intensify their struggle under the leadership of the
Palestine Liberation Organization. Guyana congratula~ed the Palestine Liberation
Organization for the effectiveness of its policies and its activities in the
political and diplomatic fronts which had earned the Palestine Liberation
Organization international respect and support.
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7. The Question of Palestine was the crux of the Middle East situation and
lasting peace in the region would remain elusive until the inalienable rights of
the Palestinian people w~re fully respected. The struggle of the Palestinian
people was also an integral part of the world-wide struggle against foreign
domination. T~e Government and people of Guyana had always been firm in their
support for the rights of the Palestinian people. Guyana's participation in the
work of the Committee was testimony of its commitment to that cause. The Committee
could count on Guyana's abiding support.
8. Much needed to be done. Such issues had suffered much from media neqlect or
deliberate distortion and disinformation. The world's people needed to be educated
about the Question of Palestine. At the same time, every effort should be made to
convene an International Peace Conference on the Middle East, a proposal which had
great merit and enjoyed widespread international support. Israel should be made to
realize that its best interests would be served by participating in such a
Conference.
9. Mr. Massamba Sarre, welcoming participants, recalled that His Excellency the
Foreign Minister had, as the distinguished representative of Guyana to the United
Nations, been one of the earliest members of the Committee and participated
actively in its work at a time when the Committee was charting its course. Guyana
had always been an active member of the Committee and the fact that it had so
kindly provided the venue for the Seminar as well as the presence of His Excellency
the Foreign Minister and other distinguished guests at the opening were a
reflection of the importance that Guyana attached to the question of Palestine and
its commitment to finding a just and lasting solution to the problem.
10. The Committee laid great stress on the value of world pUblic opinion on the
Palestine Question and was convinced that a knowledge of all the facts of the case
would lead to a better understanding of the issues and promote a lasting solution.
The Seminar was intended to alert public opinion in the Latin American and
Caribbean region to the various aspects to the Question of Palestine since public
opinion could make a valuable contribution towards making the voice of reason heard
in the formation of policies. In the course of the Seminar, the views of several
influential policy-makers would be heard on the role of Latin American and
Caribbean public opinion. Their views and the discussions that would take place
would be of the greatest value in assessing what still needed to be done in that
field.
11. The Committee also, along with a majority of States, fully endorsed the
convening of an International Peace Conference on the Middle East as a valuable
step forward in the search for peace in the region. Consequently, it had made it
the focus of its work in 1985. It was for that reason that one of the panels of
the Seminar was devoted exclusively to the International Peace Conference. It was
the Committee's hope that the views expressed at the Seminar would help to promote
the convening of such an important Conference.
12. At the opening meeting, the Seminar also heard a message from
Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organization, conveyed by Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi, Permanent Observer of the Palestine
Liberation Organization to the United Nations. In his message Mr. Arafat expressed
his deep gratitude for the tremendous efforts being made to promote the legitimate
struggle of the Palestinian people and in defence of their inalienable rights.
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13. The Palestinian cause was presently witnessing a dangerous phase since Israel
was intensifying its repression of the Palestinian people both inside and outside
the occupied territories. Those acts were perpetrated with the sole aim of
expelling and forcibly deporting the Palestinian people from their land and homes.
At the same time, the United States Administration was intensifying its hostile
policies against the Palestinian people and increasing its support of Israel
militarily and financially. In addition, it denied the Palestinian people their
inalienable rights. In spite of such enormous challenges, the Palestinian people
continued their struggle and resistance to the hostile policies of Israel and the
United States.
14. The Palestine Liberation Organization had availed itself of every opportunity
in the search for peace in the firm belief that justice, peace and stability in the
area as well as international peace and security should be achieved. It would
continue its efforts to achieve a joint Arab political plan aimed at the attainment
of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Middle East conflict.
15. Chairman Arafat expressed his gratitude to the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and its Chairman,
Mr. Massamba Sarre, and to the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Mr. Javier perez de Cuellar. In conclusion, he thanked the people and GOvernment
of Guyana for hosting the Seminar and for Guyana's consistent and militant support.
16. Mr. Gajanan Wakankar, High Commissioner of India to Guyana, speaking on behalf
of the Non-Aligned Movement, stated that the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, had
always felt a particular bond of kinship with the Palestinian people. The issue of
Palestine had been in the forefront of the deliberations and activities of the
Movement from the time of the first Non-Aligned Summit in 1961. The Non-Aligned
countries had been particularly active in mobilizing international support in
favour of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and against Israel's
action in the occupied territories.
17. The Non-Aligned Summit held at New Delhi, in March 1983 had affirmed that a
just and durable peace in the Middle East could not be established without a just
solution of the problem of Palestine on the basis of the attainment and exercise in
Palestine of the inalienable right~ of the Palestinian people.
la. The Meeting of Ministers.and Heads of Delegation of the Non-Aligned Countries
to the thirty-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly had, in
OCtober 1984, stressed the necessity for .the early convening of the International
Peace Conference in the Middle East. More recently, the Committee of Eight at the
Level of Ministers had, on 20 April 1985, endorsed the proposal .for the convening
of the Conference. They had also decided to continue actively their collective and
individual efforts to mobiliz~ all means available with a view to realizing
implementation of United Nations General Assembly resolutions and to ensure the
convening of the Peace Conference.
19. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People had made a significant contribution in its search for a just solution to the
question of Palestine. The efforts of the Committee towards an ·early convening of
the Peace Conference and to mobilize pUblic support for the Palestinian cause had
been untiring.
20. India had consistently supported the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people and that was one of the hallmarks of India's foreign policy. India's
support was rooted in tradition and history and was matched by concrete action.
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21. Mr. Mikl6s Endreffy, speaking on behalf of the Special Committee against
Apartheid, stated that the international community had recently witnessed
developments cUlminating in further suffering for the people of Palestine. Such
events reaffirmed the view of peace-loving peoples all over the world that it .was
impossible to ensure a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East conflict without
resolving its core - the question of Palestine •
22. That could not be achieved while the Israeli occupation of Palestinian and
other Arab territories continued. The Government of Israel persisted in its
attempts to subdue the desire of the Palestinian people to free themselves. It
carried out policies with cruelty and without respect for the human rights of the
Palestinian people. However, in spite of Israel's denial of the inalienable rights
at the Palestinian people and its policy of oppression and intimidation in the
occupied territories, the desire of the Palestinian people for freedom could not be
conauered.
23. Each year, the Special Committee against Apartheid submitted a special report
to the General Assembly and the Security Council on recent developments concerning
relations between Israel and South Africa. That report pointed out very clearly
the seriousness of the alliance between those two regimes. Their collaboration
constituted an alliance detrimental to the interests of the African and Arab
peoples.
24. The Special Committee, in co-operation with the League of Arab States had
convened in Tunis in August 1984, a Conference of Arab Solidarity with the Struggle
for Liberation in Southern Africa. That Conference had considered the threat
facing the Arab and the African peoples as a result of the alliance between Israel
and South Africa and adopted several pertinent resolutions.
25. Mr. Enqin Ansay~ Deputy Permanent Observer of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference to the United Nations, in an address to the Seminar, on behalf of
H.E. Mr. Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Secretary-General of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference, stated that the organization considered the cause of Palestine
and AI--Quds al-Sharif the foremost cause of the Muslim Ummah because of its
justnes§ and because of the existence of Islamic holy shrines under occupation.
Accordingly, the member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference had
given their unreserved support to the cause of the Palestinian people.
26. In spite of Israel's aggressive policies, the Arab States had made clear their
serious desire to bring about a lasting, comprehensive and just peace in the Middle
East. For its part, the Palestine Liberation Organization had demonstrated total
flexibility with regard to the peace· process. The United States and Israel,
however, had rejected every proposal and initiative and would no doubt reject any
proposal that recognized the Palestinians' right to self-determination and
statehood. The question of Palestine was first and foremost a problem of
colonialism1 secondly it was an issue brought about by the aggressiveness of one
entity at the expense of another; thirdly it was an issue based on the dangerous
doctrine of aggression against a neighbour~ng country.
27. The Organization of the Islamic Conference believed that as long as the
auestion of Palestine was not settled on the basis of United Nations approved
resolutions, there would be no peace or stability in the Middle East and world
peace would continue to be threatened.
-55-
33. He acknowledged with appreciation the very important work carried out by the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,
under the l)utstanding and dedicated leadership of Ambassador Massamba Sarre of
Senegal. It was his confident hope that the holding of the present Seminar would
take everyone a step closer to the fUlfilment by the United Nations of its
obligations to the Palestinian people.
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34. The closing meeting on 20 June 1985, was attended by Mr. Rudy Collins, Head of
Department 11 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana. The meeting was
addressed by Mr. Rudy Collins and the Chairman of the Seminar.
32. Although the Palestinian question continued to be one of the most complex,
difficult and dangerous issues facing the United Nations, that should not
discourage the international community in its search for a just solution to the
problem. On the contrary, it should reinforce with a grave sense of urgency, the
international community's commitment to the goal as set forth in a number of
resolutions of the United Nations. It became all the more important therefore that
the international community should firmly rededicate itself to the promotion of a
genuine and lasting settlemen~ of the Middle East conflict. The attainment of that
objective would continue to be elusive unless the core of the Middle East conflict,
namely the Palestine auestion, was resolv.ed in its totality. Concerted action was
long overdue to persuade the supporters of Israel to compel it to respond to
relevant United Nations resolutions and to the will of the international community
on the auestion of Palestine.
28. In defiance of all United Nations resolutions, Israel had announced in 1980,
the annexation of AI-Quds and almost every day committed flagrant sacrilegious acts
against Islam. Morp.over, Israel's policy of settlements in the occupied Arab
territories created one of the greatest threats to peace in the region. Its
settlements policy was intended to pre-empt any achievement by the Palestinian
people towards the affirmation of their inalienable rights.
31. Within that context, the Special Committee viewed with deep concern the plight
of the people of Palestine who had been denied their fundamental and inalienable
right to determine their destiny and had been subjected to cruel, repressive
measures at the hands of their oppressor.
30. At the 4th meeting, H.E. Mr. Alberto Velazco-San Jose, speaking on behalf of
the United Nations Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the
Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial
Countries and Peoples, stated that the tenets that governed the work of the Special
Committee - the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries
and peoples - proclaimed that the sUbjection of peoples to alien subjugation,
domination and exploitation constituted a denial of fundamental human rights, was
contrary to the Charter and was an impediment to the promotion of world peace and
co-operation.
29. The Organization of the Islami~ Conference I~aintained that peace was essential
to the Middle East but the minimum condition for its realization was the
recognition of the Palestinian people's right to their own territory and homeland.
Hence, the convening of an International Peace Conference o~ the Middle East
constituted the ideal solution since it ensured the participation of all parties
concerned.
-
Panel discussion
35. Three panels were established at the Seminar. These, and the panelists who
presented papers on these aspects of the auestion, were as follows:
(a) The role of the Palestine Liberation Organization: Prof. Juan Abugattas
(Peru); Mr. Chas Mijnals (Suriname);
(b) The question of Palestine and Latin American public 0plnlon:
Prof. Cesar Arias Quincot (Peru); Prof. T. O. Gittens (Guyana);
Dr. Arturo Muftoz Ledo (Mexico);
(c) The International Peace Conference on the Middle East, the need for such
a conference; efforts and prospects to promote a successful outcome and
benefits thereof: Mr. Joshua Chowritmootoo (Guyana);
Mr. Ernesto Vera Mendez (CUba); Mr. Jose Luis Villavicencio (Nicar.agua).
36. It was decided that in accordance with established practice, the ::eport of the
Seminar would reflect only the main points that emerged during the d:"g/:~ssions and
that the full texta of the papers presented would be published in due course.
The role of the Palestine Liberation Organization
37. The first discussion panel in the Seminar dealt with the rcle of the Palestine
Liberation Organization.
38. It was stated that the Palestine Liberation Organization had served the
purpose of reconstructing Palestinian social existence. It was experiencing
difficulty in this task bec.~ se of the spiritual and socio-political complexities
of the Middle East region.
39. Th~re was no basif~ to the claim that the Palestine Liberation Organization and
the Palestinian people were two distinct entities and that therefore it would be
possible to deal with the Palestinian people without dealing with the Palestine
Liberation Organization. The development of the Palestine Liberation Organization
was notAing but the result of the development of the social, economic and political
institutions of the Palestinian people and, particularly, their social and
political conscience.
40. Moreover, the expulsion of the Palestinian people from their homeland and
their fragmentation into several communities of refugees living in several Arab
countries were the consequence of both the Zionist denial of the existence of the
Palestinian people and of British policies in mandated Palestine. Consequently,
the Palestinian people had to struggle first and foremost not only to have their
existence recognized but their existence as a people as well.
41. This struggle had started mainly in the refugee camps, where, unfortunately,
traditional social solidarity had been broken and, consequently, ne~ types of
social relations based on social co-operation and mutual aid were the basis of the
Palestine Liberation Organization's social and economic institutions as well as its
educational and cultural efforts.
42. Reconstruction of social life had started with the displaced Palestinians and
later extended to those living under occupation resulting in an open and democratic
process which was now a basic character of all the institutions that constituted
the Palestine Liberation Organization. In order to be effective, however, the
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...
="""""'!iE:."==, ..
Palestine Liberation Organization had had to propose an alternate concept of
"nationalism" in order to avoid bOth the dangers of sectarianism and of racism.
The alternative proposed was the notion of the secular and non-sectarian State, a
formula by which the Palestine Liberation Organization had been able to avoid the
problems which divide and weaken States in the Middle East. It had placed itself
in a position of antagonism, both in relation to Israel and zionism as well as to
United States interests. It had also become a kind of vanguard of the
anti-imperialist struggle in the Arab world. Moreover, its structure had proved
that it was capable not only of withstanding political pressure, but also, and most
importantly, military aggression.
43. Furthermore, by insisting on reminding the Arab States of their responsibility
to continue to help in the task of liberating Palestine and by insisting that they
should use their resources for the promotion of their common interests, the
Palestine Liberation Organization had placed them in a position in which they were
opposed to a power that some of them considered their ally. The Arab States had
reaffirmed their support to the Palestine Liberation Organization at the summit
meeting held in Fez in 1982, when they adopted a series of principles, including
the reaffirmation of the recognition of the Palestine Liberation Organization as
the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
Latin American public opinion and the question of Palestine
44. During the discussion on the question of Latin American pUblic 0plnlon and the
question of Palestine it was stated that the development of informed pUblic 0plnlon
on any issue or set of. issues was rarely an easy or automatic process. It was
indisputably, however, a necessary task in the context of the question of palestine
where the rights of a people were being infringed.
45. It was also difficult to discuss Latin American public oplnlon in general as a
region, as its tradition of full participation of its people~ in decision-making
varied and at varying junctures of history was interrupted and sometimes seriously
disrupted. There were a number of reasons for this, among them low literacy rates,
limited media coverage and access to media source, and a tendency for pUblic debate
and expression to be restricted to the middle and upper classes.
46. All this was accentuated by the fact that the main sources of information were
the Western news agencies whose reporting of issues was not necessarily impartial
or disinterested. In fact, there seemed often to be a deliberate effort at
misinformation or disinformation. Furthermore, the extent of coverage was often
circumscribed by the importance of the issue to the regional or national public.
47. There had been little interest in the auestion of Palestine in the Latin
American region until the mid-1970s when the aggravation of the situation in the
Middle East resulted in more media coverage and, in turn, more interest in the
issues, partiCUlarly, the auestion of Palestine. Despite the fact that events in
the Middle East in the 1980s tended to eclipse the real issue, which is the plight
of the Palestinian people, it was essential that the international community should
always remember that the crucial issue remained the question of ?alestine.
48. It was important that the pUblic media should play a more responsive role in
providing a more balanced reporting on the Middle East and, in particular, on the
plight of the Palestinians as a dispossessed and harassed people. It was also
essential that greater efforts be made to reach the pUblic at large with
information that is presently confined to limited sections of the people.
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Institutions such as universities, colleges, research institutes, churches and
other religious establishments as well as national and international
non-governmental organizations have a crucial role to play in the formation of
puhlic opinion. These institutions should be urged to give wider coverage and more
balanced treatment to the auestion of Palestine through special features and
articles, through the orqanization of lectures and seminars and through every ·other
possible means of playing an educative role in the formation of informed pUblic
opinion. Furthermore, elementary school textbOoks should take a new approach to
third world history which breaks with the colonialist pattern found in
encyclopaedias and with religious texts which, within a biased value system, stated
the existence ot "chosen people" and "master races" as fact.
49. Symposia organized by the United Nations or other organizations were a
pressing necessity tor the Latin American non-governmental organizations. Through
these means, the powerful Latin American churches, labour unions, women's groups
and service clubs could be sensitized. Special consideration should also be given
to wider observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People, which has been established by United Nations General Assembly resolution
34/65 0 to be 29 November each year, and the occasion should be taken to give
maximum coverage to the question of Palestine. United Nations offices in the
region should make 'greater efforts to disseminate information on the issue.
50. The suggestion was also made that the Palestine Liberation Organization should
be given facilities to establish information centres throughout the Latin American
and Caribbean region and that its representatives should be inVited periodically to
tour the region, and be given the opportunity to present their case since this
would dramatize the extent of the sutfering endured by the Palestinian people and
prove to be of inestimable value in the formation of public opinion.
The International Peace Conference on the Middle East
51. The Seminar discussed in depth the auestion of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East. It was agreed that the international community
needed peace now more than ever so that it could devote itself wholeheartedly to
solvinq the present economic and developmental problems facing it and to halting
the arms race to avoid the danger of another world conflagration which would have
catastrophic effects on the human race. To achieve peace it was necessary to
extinguish the hotbeds of tension that could reach dangerous proportions and bring
mankind to the brink of war. The Middle East was undoubtedly one of the principal
hotbeds ot international tension today. Only by finding a just and lasting
solution to that conflict could the international community move forward towards
the elimination of the dangers of anpther holocaust.
52. An analysis of the ramifications of the Middle East conflict led to the
conclusion that the only way to establish a just and lasting peace in the region
was by convening a peace conference on the Middle East under the auspices of the
United Nations and with the participation of all parties concerned, particularly
the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people.
53. The question of Palestine is at the core of the Middle East problem and there
could be no peace in the region until a just and lasting solution was found for
this issue. Such a solution had to be founded on the recognition of the
inalienable riqhts ot the Palestinian people, inclUding the rights to
selt-determination and to a homeland in Palestine.
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54. The International Conference on the Question of Palestine held at Geneva in
August 1983 had recognized the essential linkage between the question of Palestine
and peace in the Middle East and the call for the convening of the International
Peace Conference on the Middle East was motivated by a sense of urgency and concern
that no just solution to the problem of Palestine had been achieved over the
years. A solution to the question of Palestine had to focus on the wider issues to
make up a comprehensive settlement which would meet the guidelines endorsed by the
overwhelming majority of the international community.
55. The Geneva Declaration adopted by the International Conference on the Question
of Palestine envisioned that the Peace Conference would be convened under the
auspices of the United Nations. The United Nations, in addition to its sacred trust
and responsibility to the Palestinian people, was eminently suited for providing an
umbrella and a forum for negotiation and to facilitate the meeting Of all the
parties to the conflict. In spite of its shortcomings, the United Nations provided
a forum where all parties could sit around the same table and express their views.
56. The Geneva Declaration had also called for the participation of all parties to
the conflict, inclUding the Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as the
United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and other
concerned States on an equal footing and would take as its guidelines the various
proposals consistent with the principles of international law.
57. The gUidelines adopted by acclamation by the Conference and endorsed by the
United Nations General Assembly were:
(a) The attainment by the Palestinian people of its legitimate inalienable
rights, including the right to return, the right to self-determination and the
right to establish its own independent State in Palestine;
(b) The right of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of
the Palestinian people, to participate on an equal footing with other parties in
all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East;
(c) The need to put an end to Israel's occupation of the Arab territories, in
accordance with the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by force and, consequently, the need to secure Israeli withdrawal from
the territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem;
(d) The need to oppose and reject such Israeli policies and practices in the
occupied territories, inclUding Jerusalem, and any de facto situations created by
Israel as are contrary to international law a~d relevant United Nations
resolutions, particularly the establishment of settl~ments, as these policies and
practices constitute major obstacles to the achievement of peace in the Middle East;
(e) The need to reaffirm as null and void all legislative and administrative
measures and decisions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have al~ered or
purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jer~salem,
including the appropriation of land and property situated thereon, and in
particular: the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem
as the capital ot Israel;
(f) The right of all States in the region to existence within secure and
internationally recognized bc,undaries, with justice and security for all the
people, the sine qua non of which is the recognition and attainment of the
legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as stated in
sUbparagraph Ca) above.
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"f
~'''--------------------------------------.
58. These guidelines were important and relevant for the focus on the central
issues while fully acknowledging that the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people remained fundamental to any solution.
59. The Seminar regarded the fact that the majority of States in the international
community as well as several major intergovernmental organizations had expressed
their strong support for the holding of the Conference to be a significant factor
and testimony to the vital importance of such a conference. It hoped that all
those in support of the Conference, and this was the overwhelming majority of the
international community, would unite to overcome the obstacles posed by the refusal
of Israel and the United States of America to agree to participate in such a
conference. It was the refusal of the~e two States alone that obstructed the
progress desired by the international community.
60. The time was ripe to move forward in a peace process. Genuine peace was
attainable through negotiations provided that all the parties to the problem
participated actively and there existed the necessary political will. The proposal
for the International Peace Conference provided such an opportunity and was the
most viable mechanism to establish the process for ensuring a lasting peace in the
Middle East.
61. The aims of the International Peace Conference should be to work out legally
binding agreements which would combine in an organically interrelated fashion the
various components of a settlement, ensuring the realization by the Palestinian
people of their legitimate national rights, including that of self-determination,
return to their homeland and the right to an independent State of their own and the
establishment of peace between all States in the region. These elements could be
combined with effective guarantees of compliance by the parties involved and the
international community could perform its role as a guarantor for the agreement
that emanated from the deliberations.
62. The Seminar conveyed to Chairman Arafat of the Palestine Liberation
Organization its thanks for his message to the Seminar and expressed its support
for the just cause of the Palestinian people. It also conveyed its strong support
for the early convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East
with tqe participation of the permanent members of the Security Council, as well as
of the parties most directly involved in the conflict, particularly the Palestine
Libe~ation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian
people, as a positive and constructive step in the search for a solution to the
question of Palestine.
63. The Seminar also adopted by consensus a motion proposed by the panelists,
which reads as follows:
"The Eleventh United Nations Seminar on the Question of palestine,
meeting in Georgetown, the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, from
17 to 20 June 1985, wishes to convey its profound thanks to the people and
Government of Guyana for hosting the Seminar and for the excellent
arrangements it made, which greatly contributed to the success of the
Seminar. It also expresses its sinc~re thanks for the generous hospitality
extended to the participants.
"The Seminar wishes to express it particular appreciation to
His Excellency Mr. Rashleigh Jackson, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana,
for his personal concern and guidance.
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"The Seminar also expresses its appreciation to the people and the
Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana for their consistent support
of the struggle of the palestinian people under the leadership of the
Palestine Liberation Organization, its sole legitimate representative, for the
exercise of its inalienable rights in Palestine."
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ANNEX VII
Report of the Twelfth United Nations Seminar on the Question
of Palestine
(United Nations Headauarters, New York, 8-9 July 1985)
1. The Twelfth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, with its
central theme "The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people", was held at
United Nations Headquarters, New York, on 8 and 9 July 1985 in accordance with the
terms of General Assembly resolution 38/58 B. Four meetings were held at which
five panelists presented papers on different aspects of the question of Palestine.
2. Mr. Oscar Oramas-Oliva (Cuba), Vice-Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, was Chairman of the Seminar
and Mr. Boris Tarasyuk (Ukrainian SSR) Rapporteur of the Seminar. In the absence
of the Chairman, Mr. Farid Zarif (Afghanistan), vice-Chairman of the Committee,
acted as Chairman of the Seminar.
Opening statements
3. The opening session of the Seminar on 8 July 1985 was addressed by
Mr. William B. Buffum, Under-Secretary-General for political and General Assembly
Affairs of the United Nations. In welcoming the participants on behalf of the
Secretary-General, Mr. Buffum stated that the convening of the Seminar underscored
the importance that the international community attached to solving the question of
Palestine, which was at the very heart of the Middle East conflict. It was
moreover a reflection of the realization that to permit a situation to remain
critical to the point of endangering international peace and security had adverse
effects not only on the States and peoples of the region but also on the entire
international community.
4. The persistent efforts of the United Nations had over the years produced at
least ~ consensus on the fundamental elements required for a comprehensive
settlement of the Middle East problem. The call for an international peace
conference on the Middle East and the continued efforts for its convening could not
but be viewed as a recognition of the fact that a comprehensive settlement would
have to be reached through a process of negotiations with the participation of the
parties concerned under the auspices of the United Nations. Any solution would
have to take into consideration the interests and concerns of all States and
peoples in the region, including those of the Palestinian people.
5. Mr. Oscar Oramas-Oliva, welcoming the participants, recalled the importance
the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
attached to the question of Palestine and its commitment to finding a solution to
the problem. He gave a brief account of the Committee's work and highlighted the
significance of ensuring that all facts s4rrounding the question of Palestine
reached the public so that a proper understanding of the issues could be achieved.
6. The Committee also, along with the majority of States, fully endorsed the
convening of an international peace conference on the Middle East as a valuable
step forward in the search for peace, security and stability in the region.
Consequently, it had made this the focus of its work in 1985. It was for this
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reason that one of the panels of the Seminar was devoted exclusively to the
International Peace Conference. It was the Committee's hope that the views
expressed at the Seminar would help to promote the convening of such an important
conference.
7. Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi, Permanent Observer of the Palestine Liberation
Organization to the United Nations, conveyed a message from Mr. Yasser Aratat,
Chai:m~n of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and
Commander-in-Chief of the Forces of the Palestine Revolution. In his message,
Chairman Arafat thanked the participants in the Seminar for their continued efforts
in defence of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
8. Israel's aggressive policies, supported by successive American
Administrations, had resulted in the Palestinian cause entering a dangerous phase.
However, in spite of enormous challenges, the Palestinians continued their struggle
and resistance. The ordeals and hardships they had to undergo did not impair their
resolve to continue this struggle, which met with the support of the peoples of the
world.
9. The Palestine Liberation Organization had availed itself of every opportunity
in the search for peace and would continue its efforts to achieve a joint Arab
political plan which aimed to contribute to the attainment of a comprehensive, Just
and lasting solution to the Middle East conflict.
10. It was significant that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People was organizing two distinct activities - the
Seminar and a symposium. The message carried by the non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) of Canada and the United States of A~erica would focus on the negative
attitude of those two States to the International Peace Conference on the Middle
East, with the hope that it would result in a positive response in those States.
11. Chairman Arafat extended to the representatives of NGOs his great appreciation
for their unrelenting efforts to mobilize pUblic opinion in support of the peace
process as particularly manifested in their signature campaign launched
internationally on 29 November 1984.
12. The opening session was also addressed by Mt. Natarajan Krishnan on behalf of
the Non-Aligned Movement; Mr •.Jonathan Mataa Sibitwa Lichilana on behalt of the
United Nations Council for Namibia; Mr. Gennady Oudovenko on behalf of the United
Nations Special Committee against Aparth~id; Mr. Ahmad Farouk Arnouss on behalf of
the United Nations Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the
Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independen~e to Colonial
Countries and Peoples; Dr. Clovis Maksoud on behalf of the League of Arab States;
Mr. Mamoudou Kane on behalf o~ the Organization of African Unity and
Mr. Youssouf Sylla on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. At the
4th meeting, the Seminar was addressed by Mr. Ben Mokwena on behalf of the African
National Congress of South Africa.
13. Two panels were established at the Seminar. These, and the panelists who
presented papers on these aspects on the question of Palestine, ~ere as follows:
(a) The role of the Palestine Liberation Organization;
Prof. Ibrahim Abu-Lughod (Palestinian);
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(b) The International Peace Conference on the Middle East, the need for such
a conference, efforts and prospects to promote a successful outcome and benefits
thereof, Prof. Naseec Aruri, Mr. Victor J. Gauci, Prof. W. Thomas Mallison,
Dr. Igor Petrovich Belyaev.
14. In view of the ~ell researched and in-depth analysis contained in the papers
presented at the Seminar and in accordance with established practice, the papers
will be published in full, together with the report of the Seminar, as a
contribution to a wider understanding of the question of Palestine. The report of
the Seminar should reflect only the main points that emerged during the discussions.
The role of the Palestine Liberation Organization
15. The Seminar heard an analysis of the role of the Palestine Liheration
Organization. It was noted that the Palestinians today neither enjoyed nor
exercised political rights as Palestinians anywhere in the world. Nevertheless,
their determination, despite many adversities, to normalize their political status
was reflected in their struggle to retrieve their national rights, including their
right to independence and sovereignty in Palestine, to recovery of their national
identity and representation by their own chosen representatives, namely, the
Palestine Liberation Organization.
16. The Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian people were not two
distinct entities, nor was it possible to deal with the Palestinian people without
dealing with the Palestine Liberation Organization. The development of the
Palestine Liberation Organization was nothing but the result of the development of
the social, economic and political institutions of the Palestinian people and,
particularly, their social and political conscience. Consequently, the Palestine
Liberation Organization had assumed the responsibility for the cultural, economic,
social and political development of the Palestinian people.
17. The Palestine Liberation Organization viewed the struggle of the Palestinian
people as a struggle of a colonial population against a form of colonialism
described as settler colonialism. In that sense, Israel was viewed as a colonial
settler State that was implanted on part of an Arab national homeland with the
active support and sustenance of the European/American system of power. To attain
justice, the Palestinians would have to obtain the support of States that reject
COlonialism ideologically, structurally and culturally.
18. The Palestine Liberation Organization had defined the nature of Palestinian
rights. It had articulated these national rights in the broad terms of
self-determination. It was this articulation of Palestinian national rights that
was essentially affirmed by the United Nations when it supported the Palestinian
rights to independence and of return.
19. The Palestine Liberation Organization had struggled since 1968 for a
democratic non-sectarian State. While conceiving of coexistence with the Jewish
people in peace within the framework of a 'unitary State, the Organization
recognized the difficulties in the way of the acceptance of such a solution, not
only by Israel but by other States as well. The Palestine Liberation Organization
had therefore elaborated its provisional solution, which conceived of the
possibility of a de facto coexistence of two States in Palestine, one principally
Jewish-Israeli and the other Palestinian Arab. By this it had placed itself in a
position of antagonism, both in relation to Israel and zionism as well as to United
States interests. It had also become a kind of vanguard of the anti-imperialist
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struggle in the Arab world. Moreover, its structure had proved that it was capable
of not only resisting political pressure, but also, and most importantly, military
aggression. 20. In the 21 years since the establishment of the Palestine Liberation
Organization, it had experienced various tests and hardships and become
overwhelmingly recognized as the sole, legitimate representative of the Palestinian
people and as an active force to be reckoned with in the Middle Eastern political
arena. In that regard, it had had a decisive influence in the search for a
solution of the Palestine question, as well as the problem of the Middle East as a
whole.
The International Peace Conference on the Middle East
21. The Seminar concluded its deliberations by discussing in depth the auestion of
the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. It was noted that, although
almost 40 years had passed since the United Nations General Assembly had adopted
resolution 181 (I!), which recommended the creation of two States - an Arab State
and a Jewish State - so far it had been implemented only to the extent of the
creation of the State of Israel. One of the foremost commitments of the
international community was to ensure the restoration of the rights of the
Palestinian people, including its right to self-determination and creation of its
own independent State in palestine. It was felt that the principles enunciated by
the United Nations commanded universal adherence and should be supported
accordingly, within the framework of a comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli
conflict. The question of Palestine represented a continuing responsibility of the
United Nations and of all its Members who cherished the purposes and principles
enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and who respected the very decisions taken in the United Nations to
which they had subscribed.
22. In that connection, it was strongly reaffirmed that the question of palestine
was at the core of that conflict, which itself was a multi-faceted problem. Over
the years, a broad international consensus had been achieved on the necessity of a
comprehensive, just and durable solution. This consensus was defined in the Geneva
Declaration adopted by the International Conference on the Question of P&lestine
in 1983, and also stressed in United Nations General Assembly resolution 38/58 C,
which called for the convening of an International Peace Conference on the Middle
Ea~t. It was noted that the Internation~l Conference on the Question of Palestine,
held at Geneva from 29 August to 7 September 1983, which adopted the Geneva
Declaration, was the first occasion at which so broad an intern~tional forum had
met to consider the Palestinian question. No less than 117 States had participated
fully in the Conference while 20 others had taken part as observers; in addition,
for the first time ever, apprOXimately 100 non-governmental organizations and
several eminent personalities had been invited for that occasion. Amongst the
NGOs, several came from Israel, thus demonstrating by their presence that there
existed within Israel a group of peace-loving persons who also strove for a just
and lasting peace in the Middle East.
23. The Geneva Declaration adopted by the International Conference on the Question
of Palestine envisioned that the peace Conference would be convened under the
auspices of the united Nations. The United Nations, in addition to bearing a
sacred trust and responsibility to the Palestinian people, constituted the only
forum for negotiation to facilitate the meeting of all the parties to the
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conflict. The existing procedures at the United Nations made possible the
participation of all parties concerned.
24. The Geneva Declaration had also called for the participation of all par~ies to
the conflict, including the Palestine Liberation Organization as well as the United
States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and other concerned
States on an eaual footing and would take as its guidelines the various proposals
consistent with the principles of international law.
25. The guidelines adopted by acclamation by the Conference and endorsed by the
United Nations General Assembly were:
(a) The attainment by the Palestinian people of its legitimate inalienable
rights, including the right to return, the right to self-determination and the
right to establish its own independent State in Palestine;
(b) The right of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of
the Palestinian people, to participate on an eaual footing with other parties in
all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East;
(c) The need to put an end to Israel's occupation of the Arab territories, in
accordance with the principle of the inadmissibility of the acauisition of
territory by force and, conseauently, the need to secure Israeli withdrawal from
the territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem;
(d) The need to oppose and reject such Israeli policies and practices in ~
occupied territories, including Jerusalem, and any de facto situations created jY
Israel as are contrary to international law and relevant United Nations
resolutions, particularly the establishment of settlements, as these policies and
practices constitute major obstacles to the achievement of peace in the Middle East;
(e) The need to reaffirm as null and void all legislative and administrative
measures and decisions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or
purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem,
including the appropriation of land and ptoperty situated thereon, and in
particl!lar the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel;
(f) The right of all States in the region to existence within secure and
internationally recognized boundaries, with justice and security for all the
people, the sine qua non of which is the recognition and attainment of the
legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as stated in
subparagraph (a) above.
26. These guidelines were important and relevant for the focus- on the central
issues while fUlly acknowledging that the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people remained fundamental to any solution. They were based on a recognition of
the indispensable role of law in achieving the greatest possible measure of justice
and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. Law was not only the basis of a
just solution, but provided the only practical solution. It was maintained that
justice and coercion were required in peace settlements and where justice was used
less, coercion needed to be used more.
27. An international peace conference on the Middle East could lead to the
establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region and to the attainment of
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and guarantee the existence and
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r---------__.w.the security of all States in the region, including Israel, lead to the development
of economic ties between all nations of the world with the Arab States and with
Israel, and lead to agreements which would satisfy all the parties concerned, put
an end to the recurring Israeli-Arab wars and thus remove a constant threat to
international peace and security. It would furthermore restore the authority of
the United Nations and make it once more a potent force in the maintenance of peace.
28. The Seminar regarded the fact that the majority of States in the international
community as well as several major intergovernmental organizations had expressed
their strong support for the holding of the Confer~~ce to be a significant factor
and testimony to the vital importance of such a conference. Its central task would
be to implement the existing legal right of Palestinian self-determination. The
Seminar urged the Governments of the United States of America and Israel to
reconsider their negative attitude to the ongoing peace process within the United
Nations system.
29. It also hoped that all those in support of the Conference, and this was the
overwhelming majority of the international community, would unite to overcome the
obstacles posed by the refusal of Israel and the United States of America to agree
to participate in such a Conference. It was the refusal of those two States alone
that obstructed the progress desired by the international community. When the
other States Members of the United Nations acted without hesitancy to assert
leadership in achieving a peacefUl settlement under law, that would have a
significant effect upon the United States of America and bring it back to its
principled advocacy and practical support for the self-determination of the
Palestinian people, which it had recognized at the time of the adoption of the
Partition resolution (General Assembly resolution 181 (11».
30. In th~t same connection, the Seminar appreciated the consistency and
continuity of the Union of Soviet Socialist RepUblics' policy towards the ~Iiddle
East settlement, as reiterated in its latest proposals of 29 July 1984, entitl~d
"The proposals of the Soviet Union on the Middle East settlement", which took into
account the basic interests of all sides involved in the conflict, including PLO as
the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and suggested the
convocation of an international conference on the Middle East as an instrument for
such a settlement.
31. In confirmation of its ~fforts to bring about progress and to maintain the
momentum of hope, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People had decided to exert every effort towards the early convening of
the proposed Conference. The Committee therefore had made this aspect the main
focus of its work programme in 1985. Consequently, in all the seminars and
symposia organized this year, one panel would exclusively deal with the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East. Furthermore, the Committee had
decided to send a delegation of its members to a selected number of countries and,
in particular, those who were members of the Security Council, with a view to
promoting the early convening of the International Peace Conference.
32. The Seminar therefore considered that it was of paramount importance that the
international community should intensify and unite its efforts to ensure the
convening without delay of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East,
as an instrument to ensure the establishment of a just and comprehensive peace and
of security and stability in the Middle East, while at the same time ensuring the
attainment and exercise, long overdue, of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people.
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33. The Seminar conveyed to Chairman Arafat of the Palestine Liberation
Organization its thanks for his message to the Seminar and expressed its support
for the just cause of the Palestinian people. It also conveyed its strong support
for the early convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East
with the participation of the permanent members of the Security Council, as w~ll as
of the parties most directly involved in the conflict, particularly the Palestine
Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian
people, as a positive and constructive step in the search for a solution to the
question of Palestin~.
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1
4ft
ANNEX VIII
United Nations North American Regional Non-Governmental
Organizations Symps~m on the Question of Palestine
(United Nations Headquarters, New York, 10-12 July 1985)
Declaration
1. We wish to thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights for making this
Symposium possible.
2. We also wish to sincerely ~oice our appreciation to the distinguished expert
panelists, workshop organizers and resource persons who spoke here and offered
valuable insights into the Question of Palestine as well as the potential central
role to be played by non-governmental brganizations. The~e practical suggestions
assisted us in formulating future plans for effective collaboration in North
America and in linking our efforts to a broader, global network.
3. We, the representatives of non-governmental organizations present at the North
American NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine, 10-12 JUly 1985, at United
Nations Headauarters in New York, call upon the peoples and Governments of the
United States and Canada to take all possible steps to secure a comprehensive, just
and lasting peace in the Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of which is the question
of Palestine.
4. We resolutely reaffirm the international consensus that the Palestine
Liberation Organization is the sole and legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people. We affirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to
self-determination without external interference, and to establish an independent
Palestinian State on its own national territory under the leadership of the
Palestine Liberation Organization, in conformity with relevant United Nations
resolutions.
5. It is our belief that all the parties to the conflict should come together in
an international peace confer~nce on the Middle East as called for at the
International Conference on the Question of Palestine, August 1983, and as adopted
b~ the General Assembly in resolution 38/58 C. It is essential that the conference
be inclusive of and be attended by representatives of both Israel and the Pal~stine
Liberation Organization, those Arab States party to the conflict, the United States
and the Soviet Union.
6. We strongly encourage all regional NGOs to work diligently with the general
public to develo~ public awareness and support for the Conference. We applaud the
United Nations for this recommendation and request the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian
Rights to assist North American NGOs by producing a concise pUblication in mass
Quantity that clearly explains the objectives and advantages of· such a Conference.
7. We strongly support the global signature campai~n launched on 29 November 1984
by the Interim Co-ordinating Committee (ICC) for NGOs on the Question of Palestine
on behalf of convening the International Conference. We are committed to develop
creative ways of enlisting organizational support during the coming months. We
will co-ordinate our efforts with ICC on this important project.
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8. This Symposium has reminded us of the powerful and decisive role played by the
media, especially television, in shaping North American public opinion on the
question of Palestine. We are determined to seek more effective ways and means of
utilizing this media potential in order to accurately inform the public of the
actual facts pertaining to this issue with the expressed intention of positively
impacting on United States and Canadian Middle East policies.
9. We hereby establish a North American Interim Co-ordinating Committee
(NAICC) a/ on the question of Palestine as a mechanism to enhance our collective
effectiv;ness and to organize our relationship with the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people and the Division for
Palestinian Rights.
10. We define the initial responsibilities of NAICC to include:
(a) Co-operating closely with the United Nations in the planning of the
1986 North American SymposiumJ
(b) Recruiting other NGOs for participation in the 1986 SymposiumJ
(c) Serving as a channel of information among NGOs in North AmericaJ
(d) Circl~lating the minutes of the Co-ordinating committee meetingsJ
(e) Building a vibrant, broadly based coalition of groups in North America in
order to better inform the public and to influence public policy on the question of
PalestineJ
(f) Co-ordinating relations with the International Co-ordinating Committee
and other international NGOs.
11. NAICC members should attend Committee meetings when possible and build a close
working relationship with the Committee. The Division for Palestinian Rights could
assist NAICC in contacting ICC and NGOs both in NOrth America and other regions for
the purpose of strengthening the global network supporting the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people.
12. We urge the Committee to fund che participation of four NOrth American
delegates present for this Symposium in the NGO international m~eting to be
convened at Geneva in September 1985. We believe that such an initiative by the
United Nations will ensure balanced, effective representation at the international
meeting.
13. We believe that the effectiveness of United Nations NGO meetings will be
significantly enhanced by the participation, as resource persons, of
representatives of Israeli peace groups and of Palestinian groups inside Israel and
the occupied territories (West Bank and Gaza). We note with satisfaction that some
such groups did actively participate in the International Conference on the
Question of Palestine (1983) and the International NGO Meeting on the Question of
Palestine (1984), and we call for invitati~ns to be extended to them for regional
symposia as well, in order that the discussions may focus on solutions to the
question of Palestine that include relevant perspectives. NAICC should make a
special effort to expand contacts with Palestinian organizations in North America,
as well as NOrth American Jewish and Arab organizations, to explain NOrth American
NGO work and ~ involve them in co-operative activities.
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14. We NGOs intend to develop additional effective educational resource materials
on the question of Palestine, including teaching aids and relevant bibliographies.
we hereby ask the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights to provide technical and
financial assistance in the final production of these materials.
15. We are distressed by the decline in international financial support for the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency as noted in the workshop report on religious
institutions. We call on all NGOs to encourage both the United States and Canadian
Governments to give top priority to funding UNRWA at its full budgeted level.
16. We gratefully note the emphasis by the many resource centres of the
presbyterian Church (USA) on the question of Palestine. We request that the
Division provide copies of its publications and other relevant United Nations
documents in quantity for their effective utilization by the resource centres.
17. We urge the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian people and the Division to continue to emphasize and work on the
integral issue of women under Israeli occupation. While clearly not separate from
the whole situation, women's lives are beset with particular problems that must be
addressed by all North American NGOs. The full report of the women's workshop
outlines our recommendations for co-ordinating activities in the coming years.
18. We urge the Committee and the Division to extend their outreach into the
region in every possible way. We specifically request that the Division's NGO
liaison and information officers, as well as Department of Public Information
officers, be encouraged to attend the conferences and activities of NGOs, trade
unions, ethnic and other minority groups, peace and disarmament groups and others
to demonstrate the linkage between their various areas of concern and the question
of palestine and to recruit their active participation in future NGO symposia,
conferences and meetings sponsored by the United Nations. The process of achieving
peaceful coexistence and justice in the region is essential to the success of the
global struggle for disarmament, peaceful coexistence and justice.
19. We urge the Chairman of th~ Committee on the Exercise of th~ Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian people to convey this Declaration to the General Assembly
at its fortieth session as part of the Committee's report.
NOtes
~/ The 1985/1986 membership of the NAICC is the following~ American Friends
Service Committee) America-Israel Council for Israeli-Palestinian Peace) Board of
Global Ministries, United Methodist Church; Canadian Arab Federation) NAJDA (Women
Concerned about the Middle East») Near East Cultural and Eaucational Foundation of
Canada (NECEF») Palestine Human Rights Campaign.
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ANNEX IX
United Nations African Regional Non-Governmental Organizations
Symposium on the Question of palestin~
(Dakar, 5-7 August 1985)
Declaration
1. We, the group of non-governmental organizations which participated from
5 to 7 August 1985, at the Centre International d'Echanges, Dakar, in the United
Nations African Regional Non-Governmental Organization Symposium on the Question of
palestine held in implementation of paragraph 3 Cb) of resolution 38/58 B on the
Question of palestine, adopted by the General Assembly on 13 December 1983, wish to
thank the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People for convening this meeting. We are indeed honoured by the
presence of the Chairman, members and observers of the distinguished United
Nations body.
2. We also wish to thank the Chief of the Division for Palestinian Rights, the
NGO liaison officer, the staff of the Division, the Department of Conference
Services, for their valuable assistance in the preparation and execution of this
Symposium. We believe this meeting marks a pivotal point in the constructive
interaction between the United Nations and the African NGO community concerned with
the question of Palestine and we look forward to increasing levels of
understanding, appreciation and co-operation.
3. Special thanks are extended to the Government and people of Senegal for
hosting this Sympos~um and for the "Teranga", generosity and co-operation extended
to the participants. We were honoured by the presence and perceptive statement of
His Excellency Mr. Ibrahima Fall, Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the official
opening of the Symposium, representing His Excellency President Abdou Diouf,
current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity. We record with pride and
genuinely appreciate the long-standing and unfailing militant and effective support
that t~ Government and people of Senegal, as tireless pioneers, have given to the
just cause of the Palestinian people.
4. We also wish to sincerely voice our appreciation to the distinguished experts
who spoke here and offered valuable historical, political as well as practical
insights into the question of Palestine and the potential central role to be played
by NGOs. The practical suggestions 'assisted us in formulating future plans for
effective collaboration in Africa and in linking our efforts to a broader, global
network.
5. We emphasize the richness and depth of the exchanges of information, views and
experience which ensued, and which all converged on support for the Palestinian
cause.
6. We resolutely reaffirm the international consensus that the Palestine
Liberation Organization is the sole and legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people. We affirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to
self-determination without external interference, to return and to the creation of
an independent Palestinian State on its own national territory under the Palestine
Liberation Organization, in conformity with relevant United Nations resolutions.
We call especially upon the United States of America to recognize the right of the
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Palestinian people to self-determination, because the right to self-determination
is a sacred right of all peoples. we condemn Israeli rejection of all peace
initiatives adopted by the international community to put an end to the Middle East
conflict. This militaristic policy of Israel increases tension in the world and is
leading the Middle East to a cycle of perpetual war.
7. We strongly approve and support the convening of the United Nations-sponsored
International Conference on Peace in the Middle East as specified in the United
Nations resolution 38/58 C. The Palestine Liberation Organization strongly
supported this resolution. We condemn the unjustified opposition to this
initiative by Israel and the United States of America, which constitutes a serious
obstacle to world peace. we urge that more pressure be exerted on both States to
join in the global consensus on the issue. We urge those undecided States,
especially members of the Security Council, to lend their support to this
resolution. In this manner, we also uniformly support the declaration on this
issue adopted by the International NGO Meeting on the Question of Palestine held in
August 1984 in Geneva.
8. we express our grave concern over the protracted Arab-Israeli conflict. we
recognize that the basic cause of that conflict is the denial by Israel and its
allies of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and their refusal to
recognize the PLO as the sole and authentic representative of that people. In
particular, we regret the record of successive Administrations of the United States
of America which have encouraged and supported Israeli State terrorism.
9. The convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, as
endorsed by General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, otfers the only realistic and
practical way towards a solution to the problem of Palestine and the establishment
of a Palestinian State and of a global, just and lasting solution for all the
parties to the conflict.
10. We turther reaffirm our belief that only a full and comprehensive solution
involving the Palestine Liberation Organization and all concerned countries, in
particular the United States of America and the USSR, can create the basis for a
just and lasting peace. we reject partial and piecemeal agreements as such
agreements have proved to be counterproductive and not conducive to a comprehensive
peaceful solution and have totally ignored the cqre of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
11. This Symposium further asserts the close connection between the struggle of
the Palestinian people and every struggle in each part of the world of peoples
fighting for their independence, defending their freedom and building their life on
the basis of their sovereignty. The cause of the Palestinian people is
interconnected with the struggle of all peoples for world peace "and against
colonialism, in particular, the struggle of the peoples of southern Africa. In
this connection, we condemn wi~h all the force at our command all the injustices
and violations of human rights perpetrated in South Africa, Namibia and the
front-line countries by the illegal colonial and racist apartheid regime.
12. we atfirm the close solidarity in their struggle of the African and Arab
peoples in the face of the military and political collusion and nuclear
collaboration between the Zionist State of Israel and the racist State of South
Africa. we strongly condemn the imposition of the state of emergency in South
Africa, and demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political
detainees.
-74-
13. This Symposium of the NGOs of Africa positively points to the growing support
in the United Nations for Palestinians and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
It stresses the very significant role played by the Organization of African Unity
and the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries representing over two thirds of the
world'S Governments in awakening global pUblic opinion to the urgent need to
resolve this issue and in exposing the parts played by the Governments of the
United States of American and Israel.
14. We call on African Governments to implement all the resolutions of the
Organization of African Unity on the question of Palestine, particularly that
relating to the diplomatic isolation of Israel. We note with satisfaction that the
maJority of African States have broken otf diplomatic relations with the Zionist
State, and urge them to remain faithful to that position.
15. We further endorse the global signature campaign to increase popular support
for the international peace conterence on the Middle East and will endeavour to
co-ordinate our efforts with the Interim Co-ordinating Committee for NGOs
throughout Africa, culminating in the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People on 29 November 1985.
16. We concur that influencing world pUblic opInIon is a key factor in the just
and lasting resolution of the auestion of Palestine. As NGOs, we have access to
local populations, the grass rocts, in our societies and are determined to work to
increase their understanding of the question of Palestine and to effectively
mobilize their potential political, social and spiritual power.
17. Beyond these principles, we firmly believe that non-governmental organizations
are a uniaue asset in securing the rights of the Palestinian people, for we can
presen~ the issue in its vital human dimension to all people and to
non-go'iTernmental organizations.
18. We are aware of the forces opposed to our efforts. But the inherent justice
of our "cause and the sound construction of a genuine regional and global NGO
network will be mutually reinforcing and demonstrably advance our endeavours.
19. We have reviewed and considered the initial activities of the Interim
Co-ordInating Committee for NGOs (ICC) established at the International Meeting on
the QuestIon of Palestine convened in Geneva in August 1984 and regard it as a
suitable transitional mechanism for the initial co-ordination of the world-wide NGO
et fort on the question of palestine. We look favourably upon its transformation
from an interim to an international co-ordinating committee after the scheduled
consideration of its future structure and composition at the International Meeting
on the Question ot Palestine to be convened from 9-12 September 1985 in Geneva.
20. We strongly urge the United Nations, through the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to assist the ICC in every
possible way in its worthwhile efforts to build a viable, global network of NGOs
active on the question of Palestine. The central co-ordination of all common NGO
activities on this issue is a necessary condition for influencing domestic and
global pUblic opinion. \
21. We, African NGOs present here for this Symposium see ourselves as a nucleus of
a broader, regional effort. We must reach out, identify and involve many other NGO
committees in the search for a just and lasting solution of the question of
Palestine. To accomplish these worthy goals, we are requesting United Nations
-75-
assistance, including financial help, to establish a regional interim co-ordinating
committee of NGOs to serve as an initial focus for our regional efforts. we
visualize such an African co-ordinating committee establishing close links with the
work of ICC and its successor.
22. The African region is an area of increasing political importance. As a
result, forces opposed to the Palestinian cause are attempting to neutralize the
traditional commitment of the peoples of this region to the Palestinian cause.
Such attempts, notably by the State of Israel, the United States of America and the
world Zionist movement, as well as by imperialism, must be resisted as they
constitute impediments to aChieving a just, comprehensive and enduring resolution
of the auestion of Palestine. We distinguish between Judaism as a religion and
political zionism as manifested by Israel, an unjust, undemccratic, racist and
dangerous ideology. In combating the forces opposed to the Palestinian cause,
African NGOs must play a key role as mouldels of public opinion in the region.
23. To ensure proper representation of this region at the forthcoming
International Meeting on the Question of Palestine, we strongly urge the United
Nations, through the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People, to fund the participation of a representative number of NGO
delegates from the reqion. To be effective, such aid should include transportation
to Geneva and accommodatinn during the conference.
24. In co-operation with the stated objectives of the ICC, we African NGOs call
for the compilation of a regional data base of information on NGOs in the region
active on the issue as a potent addition to global networking efforts.
25. We are determined to cultivate an expanding regional NGO constituency linked
to a world-wide NGO network that will emerge as a significant complementary force
in the campaign for the just resolution of the question of Palestine. We firmly
believe that we can most effectively express our solidarity with the Palestinian
people in this way. We call upon the United Nations, through the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to offer all
necessary assistance, including financial support, to achieve these ends.
26. we note with satisfaction the results of the World Confe~ence to Review and
Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for women: Eauality,
Development and Peace, held at Nairobi (Kenya) from 15 to 26 July 1985. The
Conference particularly emphasized the situation of the Palestinian people, and
increased awareness of the question of Palestine on the part of the international
community.
27. We note with interest the activities in solidarity with th~ Palestinian people
conducted in the context of the International Youth Year, particularly on the
occasion of the Twelfth world ¥outh and Students Festival held at Moscow from
27 July to 4 Auqust 1985, and earnestly invite the young people of the world in
general, and of Africa in particular, to increase their support for the Palestinian
cause.
28. We express the wish that the Arab Summit which opens on 7 August 1985 at
Casablanca, Morocco, will contribute to the strengthening of Arab unity and
solidarity with the cause of the Palestinian people. We also hope that the Arab
Summit will adopt appropriate means of putting into effect the principles of Fez
and of the International Conference on Peace in the Middle East, under the auspices
of the United Nations and in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.
-76-
If'U~-------~----Oil1;-~=-"""""-_IliiOlililii.i~---~--------29. We decide to establish the Interim Co-ordinating Committee for Africa,
composed of representatives of organizations which participated in this Symposium,
in order to expand and strengthen the activities of solidarity with the Palestinian
cause undertaken by African NGOs.
30. We applaud the convening of this Regional Symposium and strongly request the
United Nations, through the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People, to plan at least two follow-up symposiums in the region as
soon as possible, but hopefully within the coming year.
-77-
ANNEX X
International Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations
on the Question of palestine
(Geneva, 9-12 September 1985)
Declaration
1. We, the non-governmental organizations participating in the second United
Nations International NGO Meeting on the Question of palestine, wish to thank the
United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalien3ble Rights of the
Palestinian people for convening this meeting. We are indeed honoured by the
presence of the members and Observers of the distinguished United Nations body.
2. We also wish to thank the Chief of the Division for Palestinian Rights, the
NGO liaison officers, the staff of the Division, the Department of Conference
Services, including the services of the interpreters, for their valuable assistance
in the preparation and exec~tion of this meeting. We believe this meeting
strengthens the constructive interaction between the United Nations and the
international NGO community concerned with the absence of a just and durable
solution to the question of Palestine and we look forward to increasing levels of
understanding, appreciation and co-operation.
3. We also wish to voice our appreciation to the distinguished experts and
resource persons who spoke her~ and offered valuable historical, political, as well
as practical insights into the question of Palestine as well as a perspective on
the important role to be played by NGOs. The practical suggestions emanating from
the workshops assisted us in formulating future plans for effective collaboration
in linking our efforts to a broader, global network. The workshop reports are
available separately.
4. In particular, we want to draw attention to the important presentations made
here. We consider the panel "Ways and Means to Implement United Nations
Resolution 38/58 C. The International Peace Conference on the Middle East is the
means for a just, durable and comprehensive solution to the auestion of Palestine
and the Middle East conflict", to be of great significance and urge the United
Nations to reproduce those statements and widely circulate them. We also urge the
United Nations to convene this same pane~ in other locations (USA/Europe) so that
its peLspective can be communicated to wider audiences.
5. We resolutely reaffirm the international consensus that the Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO) is the sole and legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people. We affirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to
self-determination without external interference, to return, and to the
establishment of an independent Palestinian State on its own national territory
under the leadership of the PLO, in conformity with all relevant United Nations
resolutions.
6. We further strongly support the convening of the International Conference on
Peace in the Middle East under the auspices of the United Nations as specified in
United Nations resolution 38/58 C. We note that the PLO and other Arab parties and
the Government of the USSR have supported the resolution and that the Government of
Israel and the United States of America have opposed the convening of such a
-78-
conference. we consider that the stand taken by these two Governments on the issue militates against the search tor peace in the Middle East. We therefore urge that
all Governments and all groups that can, should exert all possible pressure on
these two Governments to reconsider their position and join the rest of the world,
Governments and peoples in thE! movement for peace.
7. In this manner, we uniformly support the declaration on this issue adopted by
the International NGO Meeting on the Question of Palestine held in August 1984 in
Geneva.
8. The convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, as
endorsed by General Assembly resolution 38/58 C otfers a realistic and practical
way towards a solution to the problem of Palestine and the establishment of a
Palestinian State. We further reaffirm OQr belief that only a full and
comprehensive solution involving, in particular, the United States of America and
the USSR, as permanent members of the Security Council and co-chairmen of the
Geneva Peace Conference, can create the basis for a just and lasting peace.
9. we concur that influencing world public opinion is a key factor in the just
and durable resolution of the question of Palestine. As NGOs we have access to
local populations, the grass roots in our societies, and are determined to work to
increase their understanding of the question of Palestine and the just cause of the
Arab people of Palestine, and to effectively mobilize their potential political,
social and spiritual power. Beyond these principles, we firmly believe that NGOs
are a unique asset in securing the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
for we can present the issue also from a vital, human perspective.
10. we confirm our support for the global signature campaign to increase popular
and organizational support for the International Peace Conference on the Middle Eat
East and will redouble and co-ordinate our efforts with the International
Co-ordinating Committee for NGOs throughout the world, culminating in the
International Day of' Solidarity with the Palestinian people on 29 November 1987.
Our emphasis will be to attract the support of popular organizations with large
memberships, parliamentarians, peace forces in Israel, North America and Europe,
and others.
11. We NGOs present here for this international meeting see ourselves as a nucleus
of a broader, world-wide effort. We undertake to reach out, identify and involve
many ,other NGOs in the just resolution of the question of Palestine.
12. we express our grave concern over the protracted Arab-Israeli conflict. We
recognize that the basic cause of t~at conflict is the denial by Israel and its
supporters of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. We deplore the
vigorous assaults upon Palestinian human rights by Israel and urge all NGOs to
activate their networks to protest this repression in every effective way. In
particular, we condemn the record of successive administrations of the United
States of America which have encouraged and supported Israel's expansionist
policies.
13. We urge all NGOs to inform their Governments of the deteriorating economic,
social, cultural and health situation of the Palestinian people in the occupied
territories and abroad. we reject the campaign for a so-called "Improvement of the
quality of life" under Israeli control as a ruse devised to pre-empt independent
Palestinian development in the occupied territories.
-79-
14. Recognizing that more attention needs to be paid to the specific situation of
Palestinian Arabs within Israel, we intend to continue to address this subject at
future international NGO meetings and urge all NGOs to create heightened awareness
of this subject. we call upon the Government of Israel to establish and guarantee
full eaual rights to the Palestinian Arabs inside Israel, who are an integral part
of the Palestinian people.
15. We express our strongest oppositlon to the Israeli Government policy of "Iron
Fist" rule in the occupied territories: the closure of An-Najah University and
other institutions of higher education and the closure of the Arab Hos~ital in the
Austrian Hospice in Jerusalem which have deprived the people of their vital
services; the arbitrary administrative detention and expulsion of leaders of
student organizations, trade unions, voluntary organizations and youth movements.
These actions and attitudes are flagrant violations of human rights and basic human
decency. In particular, we demand the abolition of the expulsion orders against
the following persons:
Amin Darwish Maqbul of Nablus
Walid Ahmad Nazzal of Qabatiyya
Bahjat Mustafa Jayyusi of Jayyus,
as well as the abolition of the orders of administrative detention against
Zalu Jaradat and Ghazi Shashtari, who are both Law in the Service of Man field
workers, all of which contravene international law. All NGOs must take immediate
action to draw attention to these glaring abuses of power and violations of human
rights. All of our networks should be mobilized to protest to the detaining
authorities, and to the United States Government, and to the United Nations, and to
demand an end to the Israeli occupation.
16. We are deeply concerned over the persistent policy of Israel to confiscate
Arab land in the occupied Palestinian territory and to establish Jewish colonial
settlements thereon. This constitutes a flagrant violation of the provisions of
the Fourth Geneva Convention. we call upon the Security Council to apply means and
measures to ensure respect and implementation of its relevant resolutions,
particularly 465 (1978).
17. We consider that the proposed law by the Israeli Knesset prohibiting contacts
between Israelis and members of the PLO constitutes a further obstacle in the
search for peace. In the ligtit of this proposed law, it is of the utmost
imgortance that NGOs take the initiative to convene meetings between Israeli
citizens and Palestinians representing the PLO with the aim to implement the
relevant United Nations resolutions, in particular, United Nations General Assembly
resolution 38/58 C.
18. We voice grave concern over the fate of the Palestinian refugee camps in
Lebanon, and recall the historical responsibility of the United Nations for the
fate of the Palestinian people. We call upon the United Nations to shoulder this
responsibility.
19. We note the fundamental importance of the forthcoming summ~t meeting between
the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist RepUblics and call on them to
have the question of Palestine and peace in the Middle East included in the agenda
and to consider, during the summit, the convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East.
-80-
"'i
20. We are aware that 1986 will be qlobally designated as the Year of peace, and
that there will be no peace without peace in the Middle East. We must take all
action to make it a year of peace with justice for the Palestinian people by
selflessly collaborating with one another in order to influence public opinion and
governmental policy. We strongly condemn the military and political collusion and
nuclear collaboration between the Government of Israel and the Government of South
Africa.
21. We have reviewed and considered the initial activities of the Interim
Co-ordinating Committee for NGOs (ICC) established at the International Meeting on
the Question of Palestine convened at Geneva in August 1984. We hereby establish a
succeSSor organization, the NGO International Co-ordinating Committee on the
Question of Palestine in order to expand and strengthen the NGO global network.
The ICC will work diligently to develop even closer links with the United Nations
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and
the Division for Palestinian Rights. The names of the member organizations on the
1985/1986 ICC are given in footnote ~/.
22. We sincerely thank the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights, of the Palestinian People for inviting a representative of the
ICC to speak as a panelist at each of the regional NGO symposia convened since
May 1985. We believe that these symposia increased NGO contact and created
circumstances for the establishment of regional NGO co-ordinating committees in
Asia, North America and Africa.
23. We urge the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights to continue such
regional and other NGO symposia in the coming year in order to involve
under-represented regions and to reinforce the networking already under way in
other areas. Upcoming regional NGO symposia should include Latin America, East
Asia and Pacific, and Europe. Follow-up symposia in other regions are needed to
maintain continuity and expansion of the global NGO network on Palestine. We
further urge the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights to facilitate the
convening of meetings of the IeC in the coming year so that the ICC can co-ordinate
its ef~orts on behalf of the NGO community it represents.
24. ,Based on our experience over this past year the NGOs participating in this
meeting propose that the new Ice consider Lie establishment of an administrative
secretariat and also consider ways and means of funding the activities of the ICC
and proposed secretariat.
25. We are determined to cultivate an expanding global NGO constituency linked to
a world-wide NGO network that will emerge as a significant force in the campaign
for the just resolution of the question of Palestine. The establishment of the NGO
International Co-ordinating Committee symbolizes this commitment and the growth of
the global movement. We firmly believe that we can most effectively express our
solidarity with the Palestinian people and work for peace in this way. We call
upon the United Nations, through the Unit~d Nations Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people, to offer every assistance,
including financial support, to achieve these ends.
26. We call upon the united Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People to convey this report of the International NGO
Meeting on the Question of Palestine held in Geneva, 9-12 September 1985, to the
General Assembly at its fortieth session as part of the Committee's report.
-81-
Notes
~I All-India Indo-Arab Friendship AssociationJ American Friends Service
CommitteeJ Arab Lawyers UnionJ Association des Juristes Democrates du SenegalJ
Council for the Advancement of Arab/British Understanding; Democratic Front for
Peace and Equality; French NGOs Committee; International Jewish Peace Union; Israel
Council for Israeli/palestinian PeaceJ Near East Cultural and Educational
Foundation of CanadaJ Palestinian Committee for NGOsJ Palestine Human Rights
Campaign of Australia; Palestinian Human Rights Campaign; parliamentary Association
for Euro-Arab Co-operation; Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee; Union
Inter-Africaine des Avocatsz Women's International Democratic FederationJ World
Council of Churches/Middle East Council of ChurchesJ World Peace CouncilJ World
Young Women's Christian Association.
85-26620 2236-37a (E) -62-
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, . /
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGIITS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: FORTY·FIRST SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/41/35)
'JNITED NATIONS
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPI.JE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFIClAL RECORDS: FORTY-FIRST SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/41/35)
UNITED NATIONS
New York, 1986
NOTE
Symbols of United NlItions documents are composed of capital letters combined with
ligures. Mention of such 1I symbol indiclltes a reference 10 a United NlItions document.
[Orig>.al. English)
[11 September 1986)
CONTEN'fS
Paragraphs Page
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••• 1
I I • MANDATE OF THE ~ITTEF. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
IV. ACTII)N TAKEN BY THE {,.'OMMITTEE •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
B. Parti,ipation in the work of the Committee ••••••••••••
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group ••••••••••••••••• 4
5
4
4
4
3
1 - 6 2
7 - 9
10 - 15
10 - 12
13- 14
15
16 - 101
A. Election of officers
I. INTRODUCTION ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••
Ill. ORGANIZATION OF WORK •••••••••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 40/96 A of 12 December ::'985 •••••••••••• ' ••• 16 - 72 5
1. Review o~ the situation relating to the question
of Palestine and efforts to implement the
recommend, ions of the Committee •••• _••••••••••••• 16 29 5
2. Reactions to developments affecting the inlienable
rights of the Palestinian people •••••••••••••••••• 30 - 63 7
3. Action taken by the Committee to promote lhe
convening of the proposed International Pe~ce
Conference on the Middle East in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 38/58 C of
13 Decem'ber 1983 •••..•••••.....•.••....•.•........ 64 - 70 12
4. Attendance at international conferences and
meetings . 71 J.4
5. Action taken by United Nations bodies, the Movement
of Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental
organizations ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 72 14
B. Action taken by the Committee in accoraa~ce with
General Assembly resolutions 40/96 A and B of
12 December 1985 .' ••••••••••••••••••••••• _•••••••••••• 73 - 99 16
1. Co-operation with non-governmental orga~_zations.. 73 - 88 16
2. Seminars •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 89 - 99 18
3. Other activities •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 100 - 101 20
-iiiCONTENTS
(continued)
Paragraphs Page
v. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 40/96 C....... 102 - III 21
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ~ 'TEE •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 112 - 120 23
Annexes
I. Recommendations of th~ Committee endorsed by the General Assembly at
itc thirty-first session •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 25
11. Geneva Declaration on Palestine an~ the Programme of Action for the
Achievemeht of Palestinian Rights ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 28
Ill. List of documents issued by the Committee ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 38
-ivLE'l'TER
OF TRANSMITTAL
8 September 1986
Sir,
I have th. honour to enclc.e herewith the raport of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph ~ of resolution 40/96 A of
12 December 1985.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my.hiqhest consideration.
(Signed) ~assCudba SARRE
t:hairmar. of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian Peoplv
His Excellency
Mr. Javier P~rez de Cu'llar
Secretary-General of the united Nations
-1-
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienabl. Riqhts of the Palestinian
People, estattUshed by General Assembly relJoludon 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975,
is currently composed of 23 Member States. 11
2. The tiut report of the Committee y contained apecifi.: recommendations
desiqned to enable the Pa".estinian people to exercise their inalianable rights as
previously recOQnized and defined by the General Assembly. Those recommendations
were first endorsed by the Assembly in its resolution 31/20 of 24 November 1976 as
a basis for the solution of the question of Palestine.
3. In its subsequent reports to th~ General Assembly, 1/" the Committee retained
its original recommendations unchanged. On each occasion they have been more
firmly endorsed by the Assembly, which has also continuad to renew and, as
necessary, expand the mandate of the Committee.
-I. Despite repeated appeals by the Committee, however, the Security Council has
still not acted on or implemented the recommendatio~s of the Committee owing to the
attitude of a permanent me~~~r. The Committee ~emains convinced that, if the
Security Council were to ado~t positive measures to implement those
recommendationc, the posslbil ity of the establishment of a just, lasting an(J
~omprehensive peace in the ~Iddle East would be increased.
5. Meanwhile, Israel has continued to occupy Palestinian and other Arab
territories, includinq Jerusalem, in violation of Security Council and General
Assembly r.esolutions, and to take measures to strengthen its ~ntrol, includinq
qrowing repr&8sion of the local population and the expansion of settlers'
activities. Israel has also continued to prevent the United Nations Interim Force
in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from deployinq forces along the internationally recOQnized
bo~ndaries of Lebanon, in violation of Security Council resolutions. As a
consequence of the policies and practices of Israel and of the resultinq lack of
proqre8S towards a peaceful, just, dural)le and comprehensive solution, tension and
violence have continued to grow in the area, further endangering international
peace and security. The Committee has therefore continued to stress that this
situation will prevail as long as the Palestinian people is prevented from
exercising its inalienable rights to self-determination, national independence and
sovereignty and to return to its homes and property, and as long as the Palestinian
and other Arab territories remain occupied,
6. In orCier to secure United Nations objectives on the question of Palestine,
during the period under review, the Committee continued to give priority to the
early ~onveninq of the proposed Internatlonal Peace Conference on the Middle East,
under Uni ted Nations auspices and in accordance wi th the provisions of General
Assembly resolution 38/58 C of 13 December 1983. The Committee is convin~ed that
the confetence would undOUbtedly facilit~te the search for a just and l&stinQ peace
in the Middle East and has called on ail parties concerned to co-operate in order
to ensur.e its success in the common interest. The Committee regrets it has not so
fac sensed any change in the negative attitude of I-tael and the United States cf
America concerning the conveninq of the conference, and ~presses the sincere hope
that a positive change will urgently be forthcominq.
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11. MANDATE OF TU ~ITTEE
1. The Committee's man\~ate for the year 1986 is contained in paragraphs 3 to 5
General Assembly resolution 40/96 A of 12 December 1985 by which the Assemb111
(a) Requested the Committee to continue to keep under r.view the situation
relating to the question of Palestine a. well a. the implementation of the
Programme of Action for the ~hievement of Palestinian Rights ~ adopted by th~
International Conference Iln the Question of Pale.tine, and to report and make
suggestions to th, General A8sembl1 or the Security Council, as ~ppropriate,
(b) Authori~ed the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
implementation of its recommendations, including representation at conference. and
meetings and the sending of delegations where llIuch activities would be considered
by it to be appropriate, and to report thereon to the General A8sembly at ita
forty-first session and thereafter,
(c) Requested the CallmHtee to continue to extend its co-operation to
non-goverilmental organizations in their contribution toward. hc..d,ghtening
international awareness of the facts relating to the question of palestine and in
creating a more favourable atmosphere for the full implementation of the
Callmitt~e's recommendations, and to take the necessary steps to expand its contact.
with those organizations.
8. By its lesoluU:)n 40/96 B of 12 December 1985, the General Assembly a180
requested the Sec~etary-General, inter alia, to ensure that the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continued to discharge the tasks detailed in
previous resolutions. in consultation with the CommitteG and under its guidance,
and to Lrovide that Division with the necessary resources to accomplish its tasks
and to expand its work prograr,lIrle, parti.cularly through additional meetinge fo~
non-governmental or~anizationa.
9. By resolution 40/96 C ~f 12 December 1ge5, the General Assembly requeeted the
Department of Public Information, in full co-operatio~ and co-ordination with the
Committee, to continue its special information proqr.mme on the queetion of
Palestine.
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Ill. ORGANIZATION 01" WORK
A. Election ot otticera
10. At its l20th meeting, on 29 OCtober 1985, the Committee elected by acclamation
Mr. George Agiua (Malt.) .a ita Rapporteur, replacing Mr. ~ictor J. Gauci (Malta),
who had taken up another a••ignment tor hi. country.
11. At it. l26th .eeting, on 16 January 1986, tne Committee decided to re-elect
the follow.ing offioera.
OIair..na Mr. Ma.samba Sarr' (Senegal)
Vioe-chairmen. Mr. 080ar Ora...-Oliva (Cuba)
Mr. Mohammad Farid Zarif (Afghanistan)
Rapporteutl Mr. Geotge Agius (Malta)
12. At it. 127th ..eting. on 29 January 1986, the vommittee adopted its programme
of work for 1986 (A/AC.l83/l986/CRP.ljRev.2) in implementation of its mandate.
B. Participation Mon the work of the Call1l.ittee
13. All in previous years, the COIlftittee reconfirmed that all States Merrbers of the
unitild Nation. and Per_nent Ob.ervere to the Jni tee! nations e!eBi ring to
participatt. in the work of the COIIIIittee a. observers were welcome to do so.
Accordingly, in a letter dated 3 FeLruary 1986, the Chairman ot the Committee so
infor.ed the Secr.tary-General, ~ho subsequently transmitted the letter, on
20 ..bruary 1986, to States Member. ot the United Nations and members ot the
ar,~ialhed agencies, and -'" intergovernmental regional organizations. The
Ca..ittee also decid~ ~u invite the Palestine Liberation OLganizaticn (PLO) to
~rticipate in the work ot the eom.ittee .s an ob.erver, to attend all its meetings
and to make observations and proposals for the consideration of the Committee.
14. During 198~ the Comlllittee aglllin welcomed as observers an the states and
organizations that haa participated in the preceding year. ~ The Committee also
welcomed tbe additional participation ot Bulgaria from 16 July 1986.
C. Re-establishment ot the Working Gro~
15. At its 126th meeting, the Committee re-established its Working Group to assist
in the preparation and expedition of the work ot the Committee. The working Group
w.s constituted .s before under the chairmanship of Mr. George Agius (Malta) and
thti vice-chairmanship ot Me. Savitrl ~unadi (India), on t~e understanding that any
Committee member or observer could palticipate in its proceedings. !I
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IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMI'l'TF.E
A. Assembl
1. Review of the .ituation rel.ting to the qu.stion of P.lestin•
• nd .ffort. to implement the reco..ndl'Hons of the Committ••
16. 1n .ccordance with it. mandat., in the ye.r under revi.w the Committ••
continued to follow developaent. rel.~iflg to the question of Palestine and to exert
.11 effort. to pro.ot. the implement.tion of it. recommend.tions as repe.tedly
endor.ed by the Gener.l Aa.embly.
17. In re.pon.e to event. in the region affecting the in.lienabl. rights of the
P.le.tini.n people, the Ch.irman of the Committee on .everal occasions, whenever
urgent action w•• r6~uired, brought .uch dev.lopments to the .ttention of the
secretaryooGeneral .nd the Pre.id.nt of the Security CouncIl, .nd c.lled for
a~opri.te ....ur•• in accordance with United Nations res ,lutions (see sect. 2 (a)
below). Theee letter. were .ent .g.in.t a backdrop of continued milit.ry
occupation and gr.du.l annexation by I.r.el of the P.l••tini.n .nd Ar.b
territorie., which re.ulted in • growing spir.l of conflict, tension .nd violence
in the r89ion.
18. The ee.mitte. w•• incre.singly concerned th.t the situation in the occupied
P.le.tinian territories h.d continued t~ deterior.te, according to teports i.sued
by • variety of .ource., .uch as Government., United Nations agencios,
intergovernment.l .nd non-government.l org.niz.tions, individual experts .nd the
lIedi.. The Committee .1~ reviewed with gr.ve preoccupation the wor.ening
.ituation of P.le.tinian refugee. in .outh Leb.non, as • re8ult of Israeli
expan.ioni.t policies .nd pr.ctice••
19. The information reviewed by the Committ(r l.ft no doubt th.t Isr.el h.d
per.i.ted in it. policy of confi.cating Ar.b-JWfted l.nd in the occupied P.le.tini.n
territories .nd of incre••ing the aize .nd number of it8 settlements, despite the
fact that .uch policy i. in viol.tion of the Genev. Convention relative to the
Prot.ction of Civil Peraon. in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 11 .nd contr.ry to
United Nation. re.olution.. At the .... time, 1.r.el h.d continUed in its policy
of Judah.tion of the occupied Palestini.n territories through their gradu.l
economic .nd ~dmini.tr.tive incorpor.tion into the I8r.eli nation.l sy.tem .nd the
cre.tion of condition••imed .t forcing the P.l.stinian popul.tion to .migrate from
the~r land.
20. ~. i~ ,'f~vioJa ye.r., this cre.ping annex.tion of the occupied P.l.stini.n
territories ",,'J aCOOIIP.n.l..d by ....ur•• de.igned to suppress .11 forms of
,e.i.tance .n~ of politic.l, .oci.l, cultur.l .nd economic expre.sion of the
P.1e.tini.n people, •• we)l a. by .cts of violence and provoc.tion by Is~.eli
troops an4 by armed Jewish settlers .qainst Palesthians.
21. The ~itte. continued to be gr.vely concerned at the reinstatement in
August 1985 of th. emergency regUlations of 1945, introduced during the British
Mand.te, which provide. inter alia, for deport.tion of persons, .dministr.tive
detention without ch.rges or trial for renew.ble six-month periods, .nd the
closing-down of newspapers. Thls meallure wall reported to have become the
corner-.tone of • new repr.ssive policy aimed .t ~uTbihg activities in opposition
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to the occupation of the occupied Palestinian territorieA, and had been directed
pri-arily at univer.ity students, trade unionists and 1our~lalists. It had resulted
in the deportation ot aome 29 Palestinian activists from tile occupied Palestinicn
territor'e. during the period from August 1985 to April ~986 and the detention o~
.are than 130 Palestir,ians in the same period. Restrictions orl freedom of move~ent
continued to be applied, such as denial of travel permitft to sttend meetings abroad
and the refu.al to allow re-entry to Palestinians who had been abroad. MeAsur~9
had been take~ to ~uctail trade-union activities, such a8 the banning of meetings,
.earching of trade-uniorl premisfts, confiscation of documents and refusal to
register new Arab unions.
22. The Committee also received reports indicating that arbitrary arrests and
short-term d~tention without c~,rge or trial continued in th~ occupied Palestillian
territories. It was also alleged that instances of torture had continued~nd that
the conditiorls of detention and imprisonment of Palestinians continUed to ~
inhumane, and inCluded overcrowding, poor food, lack of adequate m~ical care,
physical violence and verbal abuse by security guards. Palestinian political
prisoners at aoveral prisons had engaged in hunger-strikes at various times in
protest against such conditions.
23. Reports in the Israeli and Arab press in the period under review also
indicated that acts of collective punishment and other forms of repression against
the Pelestinian populatton by the Israeli occupying forces had become an almost
routine occurrence. Thdre wete numerous reports of the use of tear-gas and the
shooting of demonstrators, the storming of schools and refugee camps, the
destruction of homes of residents accused of involvement in se~urity incidents,
house-to-house searches, beatings, the clO8ing of schools and destruction of school
property and various other forma of intimidation and harassment directed at the
local population. Newspapers had been clO8ed down on repeated occasions a~d
censorship measures agair.st tha Arab press and individual journalists, writers,
publishers and bookshop owners had continued unabated.
24. The Committee was a180 seriously concerned at reports of continUed provocative
activity by Jewish settlers, particularly their acts of vandalism and profanation
directed at the Muslim holy sites in Hebron and Jerusalem, particularly tha
Har.. al-Sharif and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and their increasing encroachment on Arab
lands and Arab towns, such as in Hebron, which was often accompanied by vIolence
and destruction of property.
25. The Committee was gravely concerned at reports that the occupying authorities
had continued in their policy of establishing complete economic control over the
occupied Palestinian territories and of transforming them into a dependent entity
wh08e socio-economic devel~~~ent would be geared to the benefit of Israel and not
of the Palestinians, and to preventing the Palestinian people from exercising its
right to self-determination and to establish its own independent State.
26. According to the annual report prepared by ~he International tab0ur Offic~,
the economy of the occupied territories had continued to stagnate, there had bean a
decline in private investment and a slow-down in pUblic investment, whil~ incrftased
taxes had been criticized as unfair in view oC the few services the territories
were offered in return. Unemployment, particularly among college graduates, had
continued to grow. A large percentage of the revenue of the territories continued
to come from the employment of residents in Israel, in most ca~es under conditions
of inequality. The situation therefOre was not conducive to autonomous development
of the occupied Palestinian territories.
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"
27. n.ports ~eaching the Committee showed that the health situation of the
Palestinian population remained unfavourable, with high infant mortality rates,
nutritional problems and deficienc~e8 in 8anitation and water supply. There were
continuing problem8 of laCK of access by Palestinians to adequatu medical
facilities, owing to the insu:Uciency of facilities in the occupied territories,
particularly after the closing of the Hospice hospital in the old city ot
Jeru8alem, and to the high cost of medical care in Israel. In this respect, the
Committee d.plor~d the fact that the Special Committee of Experts of the World
Health Organization (WHO) had been refused access to the occupied territories by
the Isr.eli authorities, and noted that that Committee had expressed its great
concern at th~ health situation in those territories.
28. The Committee wishes once again to express its utmo8t concern at the8e
policiea and I;Tactices of the Israeli autho~ities and to bring them forcefully to
the attentl~~ of the General AS8embly and the Security Council as they clearly
violat.:e thfl lOllrth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 7/ and have fler ioos
repercus~ions not only on the attainment by the Palesti~ians of their inalienable
rights, but also on peace and security in the region, a~d en international effort~
to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine,
the COle of the Middle East conflict.
29. At the sam~ ti.e, the Committee noted with appreciation that, in h1s repo.t on
assistance tc the palestinian ~ople (A/4l/3l9-E/1986/72 and COrr.l and Add.l
and 2), the Sectetary-General indicated that agencies, organs and programmes of the
United Nations system were continuing to provide assistance in accordance with
their rospective mandates and that the programme was viewed 1n the area as an
increaaingly important factor in the efforts to achieve development and
self-sufficiency in the occupied territories.
2. Reactions to develOpments affecting the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people
(a) Communications to the Secretary-General and the President of the security
Council
• 30. In response to developments affecting the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, the Chairman or the Committee on seve(~l oc~aslons, whenever
urgent action was required, drew the attention of the Secletary-Gener3l and of the
President of the Security Council to such developments and urged them to take
appr~prlate meaBures in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
31. In his lett~rs, the Chairman reiterated that the policies and practices of the
Israeli authorities in the occupied territories were in violation of the fourth
Geneva Convenhon, the Universal Declaration of Hum'ln Pights, and united Nations
resolutions, and posed a serious obst~~le to international efforts to achieve ~
just and lasting solution to the Palestine question, the core of the Middle East
conflict. The letterb also streslied the urgent necessity for a concentrated
internutional effort towards a just solution to the Palentinian question and called
for all early convening of the proposed It ernational Peac,. Conference on the Middle
East, in accordance with General Assembl resolution 38/58 C.
32. In a letter dated 13 November 1985, addresB~1 to the Secretary-General
(A/40/889-S/l7630), the Chairman drew attention to action taken against
Palestinidns in the occupied territories ss a result of the decision by the Israeli
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.uthoriti•• to r.in.tat. polici•• of administrative d.tention for up to six months
without tri.l, d.port.tion of per.on. who w.r. cons4d.red Ns.curity risksN,
incr••••d cen.or.hip and ot~.r ~.a.ur.s.
33. In the same letter., ~~. Chairman drew attention to reports that deportation
ord.r. had be.n i ••ued on 28 october 1985 again.t four well-known Palestinian
.ctivi.t. from the w••t Bank. Th. int.nded d.portation. had been protested by
nu••rou. groups and individual. within I.r~el and abroad.
34. Finally, the Chairman cited r.port. that arre.ts without char~e had continued,
.nd th.t 104 ptlople h.d b••n .0 detained. He detailed other measures taken against
P.l••tini.na, .uch 8. curf.wa, .earch.a, d.struction of house. and censorship
....ur•• ag.in.t the Arab pr.ss.
35. In a l.tt.r dated 5 lfObruaty 1986, addr••••d to the Secl.tary··General
(A/41/140-S/11800), the Chairman again took up the matter of deportation orders
is.u.d by the Isra.li military authoriti.s against Palestinians in the occupiP.d
W••t Bank. H. r~f.rred to news dispatch.s r.porting that three of the persons
..ntion.d in his l.tt.r of 13 Nov.mber 1985 (s•• para. 33 above) had withdrawn
their High COurt App.als against their deportation orders stating that they could
not .xpect to g.t a fair trial in Israel. The Chairman noted that, under Israeli
law, d.f.nc. l.wyers were not allowed to view .\lidence against their clients which
jUdg•• beli.ved would ha~m Isra.li intelligence networks in the occupied
t.rritori... Th. High Court had, moreov.r, decided to disallow d.fenc. arguments
ba••d on the applic.bility of the fourth Geneva Conv.ntion of 1949 to the occupied
P.l.stini.n t.rritori... The deportation olders had been carried out despite the
obvious injustice of a meaBure ~gainst w~ich there had been numerous protests, in
I.r••l as well as ~~road.
36. In the same l.tt.r, the Chairman said that the Israeli military governor had
••rved d.port.tion orders on four other West Ban!' Palestinians. If these we':e to
t.ke plac., the number of Palestinian. expelled from the occupied territories since
the summ.r of 1985 would reach 2? The Chairman rec~lled that the Security Council
h.d r.affirmed on sev.ral occasions the applicabilit} of the fourth Geneva
COnv.ntion of 12 Augu.t 1949 11 to the occupied territories and that the General
As••mbly had .dopt.d resolution 40/161 E of 16 December 1985, calling specifically
for cancellation of the d.portation orders against the four PaleRtinians mentioned
.bov., and for an end to all deportations from the occupied territories.
31. In a letter dated 24 March 1986, addr.ssed t.o the Secretary-General
(A/.l/229-S/l1935), the Acting Chairman expressed the Committee's grave concern
th.t the Isra.li authorities had again refused travel permits to Palestinia~s
liVing in the occupied t.rritories who had belln invited to attend a meeting
.pon.or.d by the Committee, namely, the meeting held at Geneva from 6 to 1 Mar~h to
pr.par. for the Non-Governmental Or.ganizations International Meeting. He recalled
that the Committ.e had had occasion in the past to deplore measures taken by the
I.raeli authorities again.t participation by Palestinians in United Nations
..-tings on the question of Palestine.
38. Th. Acting Chairman added that, in the opinion of the Committee, those
measur•• w_r. not based on s.curity considerations, but rather, had been aimed at
barring int.rnational expt>sur. of conditions in the occupied ten itor; 'Il and at
pr.v.nting a meaningful dialogue among the various forces devoted to I~aceful
solution, including the Palestinian people themselves. The Acting Chairman
appealed to the Secretary-General to do all in his power to ensure that in futuce
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the l.raeli authoriti.. would not prevent Pale.tinian. from participating in
m••ting. organiaed by the Comaitt.e.
39. In a l.tter dated 5 Jun. 1986, addrep8ed to the Secr.tary-General
(A/4l/399-S/l8l33 .nd Corr.l), the Chairm.n expr ••••d the Ca-mitt••'. qrav. conc.rn
at rec.nt report. from the United Nation. R.li.f .nd Work. Agency for Pal••tin.
R.fug••• in the N.ar E••t (UN~'~) and in the media reg.r~i~~ r.newed .tt.ck.
again.t P.l••tini.ne in the r.1Jq•• camp. of S.br., Bhatila and Burj .l-Barajn.h in
B.irut. The eo.mltt•• wa. particularly di.tr ••••d to l.arn th.t n.ith.r UNRMA nor
the Int.rn.tion.l Committ•• at the Red Cro•• h.d b••n p.rmitted to .nt.r the ca.o.
to evacuate the wounded .nd provide medical h.lp.
40. Th. Ch.irman r.a•••rted that the United Nation., .nd 1n particular the
Security Council, h.d • cl••r r ••pon.ibili,y to en.uu the phyaic.l .afety of the
Pal••tini.n. and to bring about the .x.rcl•• of th.ir inali.nabl. right., and urged
the Secr.tary-Gen.r.l to continue to do .11 in hi. pow.r to put .n end to the
.~n••l ••• viol.nce again.t the Pal.atinian r.fuq~ camps and to pra.ot. proqre.~
tow.rd. the .ttainm.nt of a ju.t .nd la.ting .olution in accordanc. with United
N.tion. r ••01utiOl....
41. Th. Chair.an r.v.rted to the .ame i••u. in hi. l.tter of 13 Jun. 1986
(A/41/413-S/18159), st.ting that d••pit. the app..l of the Security Council, the
.tt.ck. again.t the r.fug•• camp. h.d continued ~nd inten.ified, with tragic
con.equ.nc•• for the civili.n population, which h.d no adequate protection. H.
r.affir.ed the re.pon.ibility of the United N.tion., p.rticularly the Security
Council, to guarant•• the phyaic.1 ••f.ty of the P.leatinian r.fuge•• , and
••rn.atly requ••ted the Secr.tary-Gen.r.1 to t.k. urg.ntly all the nec••••ry
....ur •• to put an end to the att.ck. and to provide e••rgency r.lief to the
r.fug••••
(b) Action t.k.n within the Security Council
42. In addition to tran.mi~ting 1.tt.rs to the Secr.tary-G.n.ral .nd the Pre.ident
of the Security Council, the comaitt.e follow~ c10••1y t~e activiti.. of the
Council on ••tt.r. r.1ating to the Com.itt•••• mandat., .nd p.rticip.ted in Council
debat.. a. nec...ery.
43. In a l.tt.r d.ted 1 OCtober 1985, addr•••ad to the Prr,ident of the Security
Council (8/17509), the P.rman.nt R.pr •••ntative of Tuni.ift •.qu.ated an immediat•
•••ting of the Council to con.id.r the grave .ituation r ..ulting from the violation
of Tuni.ian airapac. and lh. blatant act of aggre•• ion perp.trated by I.r.el
againat the t.rritoria1 integrity, aov.r.ignty and indep.ndenc. of Tuni.ia, which
cau.ed gr..t la•• of human life and con.id.rable ..t.rial damage. Th. Council
conaid.red the it•• at four •••tinq. h.ld betw.~ 2 and 4 ~ctob.r 1985.
44. At ita 2615th m••ting, on 4 Octob.r 1985, the Security Council adopted
r.solution 573 (1985), by which it vi~orou.ly condemned the act of ar.ed aqgre••ion
p.rp.trated by I.ra.l .gainet Tuniai.n t.rritory, d.manded th.t I.ra.l r.frain from
p.rp.trating .uch act. of aqgr ••uion or froe the thr.at to do so, and con.id.red
that Tuniaia had the right to ap~ropriat. r.paration.. The r ••olution wa. adopted
by 14 vot•• to non., with 1 ab.tention.
45. In a l.tt.r dated 30 S.ptemb.r 1985, addr •••ed to the preeid.~t of tl.:
Security Council (S/17507), the P.rmanent R.pre.entative of In~ia, r.f.rring to the
deciaion of the Conf.rence of Poreign Mini.ters of Non-Aligned Countri.a, h.ld at
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Luanda from 4 to 8 September 1985, requested, on bch~lf of the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countri.. , the urgent convening of the Security Council under the item
-The Middle East problem including the Palestinian Question-.
46. Th~ Security Council r ••Ulfted it. consideration of the item at five meetinQs,
held between 9 and 11 October 1985.
47. At the 2620th meeting of the COuncil, on 10 October 1985, the Chairman of the
Comaitte. participated in the debate, .tating that the fundamental reason for the
cycl.. of violence in the Middle Ba.t wa. the fact that the question of Palestine
had not been resolved. That que.tton waa at the heart of the Ar~b-Israeli conflict
and de.erved conatant and continuina attention, with a view to arriving at a jurt
and laating solution.
48. Continuing, the Chairman atated that the Unit~ Nations, throuqh the Security
Council, unquestionably had the re.ponsibility for ensuring recognition of loft
riaht of the Palestini.n people to aelf-determination, to independence, to national
eov.reignty, to return, to recovery of its property, and to physical protection and
decent living conditiona in the refugee camps.
49. He recalled that the recommendation. made by the Committee, although ever more
firmly endor.ed by the General A••embly, had neither been followed nur implemented
by the Secu~ity Council. Tho.e recommendation. were solidly based on
internationally recognised fundamental principles and the Committee remained
convinced that positive m...ur .. by the Council to implement them would increase
the poa.ibility of the ..tabliahment of a juat and laating peace in the Middle East.
50. He further recalled that the General A.s'~bly, in ita resolution 38/58 C, had
invited the Council to facilitate the organisation of the propoaed Irternational
Peace Conference on the Middle Ea.t. Stees.ing t~e primary role that should be
plaYed by the Council in auch a conference, he .tated that only the united Nations
and the Council itself could ensure that agreements reached would b. universally
valid and could be guaranteed and applied equitably by all the parti.B concerned.
He urged the Council members n~t to misu this historic opportul Itv, and in
particular he invited tho•• who still had doubts or r ..ervations or who had
rejected the idea to reconsider t"eir po.ition and to work mor. constructiv.ly for
the convening and the succ••s of the conference.
51. At the end of the 2622nd meeting of the Council, on 11 OCtober 1985, the
President announced that the date of the next meeting of the Security Council to
continue con.id3ration of the item would ~e fixed in consultation wit:. the members
of the Council.
S2. In a letter dated 16 January 1986, addre.sed to the Pre.ident of the Security
Council (S/17740), the Permanent Repre••ntative of Morocco, in hi. capacity as
current Chairman of the Orqanisation of the Islamic Conference, called att.ntion to
thft .erious threat to lnternat~onal p.ace and security resulting from Israeli acts
of profanation ~itted recently against the s.nctuary of Haram al-Sharif in
Al-Qud. (Jerusalem) and reque.t.1d the conv.ning of an urg.nt me.ting of the Council
to con.ider the .ituation. In a lett.r of the ~me date addr ••••d to the Pr.sident
of the Council (R/l7741), the P.rmanent Repr.sentativ. of the United Arab Emirates,
in hi. capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group at the United Nations for the month
of January 1985, called att.ntion to t~. grave situation created in Jerusalem by
Israeli actions violating til. sanctity of the Haram al-Sharif, and requested that
an urgent m.eting of the Council b. conv.ned to consid.r that situation.
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53. On the baais of the above requesta, the Council reaumer. its consideration of
the situation in the occupied Arab territori.. at eighc meetings held between
21 and 30 J~nuary 1986.
54. At the 2645th meeting of the Council, on 22 January 1986, the Chairman ot the
Committee participated in the debate. Reterring to the emotional significance of
Jerusalem for three world religions and to the patient and determined etforts made
over the years to arrive at a just and lasting peace in the reqion, he depl~red the
fact that an extremely serious denominational element had now been added to the
conflict.
55. Reviewing event~ that had led to the convening of the Council, th~ Chair.an
88id tnat a qroup of Israeli parliamentariana, .0.. of who. were known tor their
advocacy of the expulsion ot ArabB trom Jeruaalem and th~ W..t Bank, I.ad viaited
the sanctuary on two occasion., with the permiaaion ot the Mu.lim authorities, tor
the declared purpose ot in.pecting conatruction work in prOQres.. They had,
however, used tile vi.its as a pretext to enqage in act. of provocation, .uch as
reciting Jewish prayers and taking photographs. This h~d l,j to protest
demonstrations by Arabs, which had been violently disper,led by the poLic., who had
fired shots and used tear-qas, wounding five Arabs. Ni~.teen Arabs were al.o
-:rested. The reported behaviour on the part of Israeli parliamentariana was
undoubtedly a profanation ot one of the n 1t .acred pleces of Islam and had arou.ed
a~ger not only In the occupied Arab terriLQri.. but also in the Muslim world at
large. In the already highly charqod atmosph.re of the reqion, the religious
provocation had compounded the political conflict, with unforeseeable and perhaps
disastrous consequences for international ~ace and cecurity.
56. He could not but conclude that the action. he had related were aimed at
establishing permanent I.raeli domination over all of Jerusalem and the occupied
territories and creating a fait ,ceompll by encoucagiuq Arabs to emigrate
permanently from the country. He referred to pr.vi~. act. of aggr.s.ion against
the Mu.lim and Christian Holy Place. and particularly cited excavation work
conducted 2t the Al-Aq•• Mosque, as well a. criminal ac~s of ar.on and armed attack
committed against the Mosque in August 1969 and in April 1982. In March 1983 ~nd
January 1984, attempts had even been made to blow up the structure.
57. The Chairman reoall~ many resolutions of the Council concerning the statu. of
Jerusalem with which the Israeli authorities had failed to comply. In particular
he cited resolutions 252 (1968) of 21 May 1968, 267 (1969) of 3 July 1969 and
271 (1969) of 15 September 1969, by which the Council had reaffirmbd the principle
of the inadmissibility ot the dcquisition of territory by military conquest and had
confirmed in the most explicit terms that all legislative and admini.trativ.
measures taken by I8rael to change the status of Jerusalem, in particular the
"fundamental law", were in violation of the fourth Gen.va Convention ot
12 August 1949, 71 and a••uch, were completely null and void and must be rescinded
immediately. -
38. The Chairman went on to .ay that the Committee had unceasinaly .tr••••d that
tension and violence would continue to grow in the occupied territories as long as
the question of Palestine remained unresolved. It was therefo,:e more urqent than
ever to initiate the negotiation proces. under the auspices of the united Nations.
59. At it. 2650th meeting, on 30 January 1986, the Security Council had before it
a dr5ft resolution sponsored by the Congo, Ghana, Madaqascar. Trinidad and Tobago
and the United Arab Emirates (S/17769/Rev.l) by which the Council would hav~
-11- j
.xpressed its de.p concern at "the prov~ative acta by Isra.li., includinq member.
of the Kn••••t, which have violated the sanctity of the .anctuary of the
Hara. al-Sharif in Jeru.alem- and would have strongly d.plored them, affirmina that
-such acts constitute a s.riou. obatruction to achi~vinq a comprehensive, ju.t and
lastinq peace in the Middle East, the failure of ~hich could also endanger
int.rnational p.ac. and .ecurity-.
60. By adoptinq the draft resolution, th~ Council would have determined once more
that all m.a.ure. taken by I.rael to cb~nae the physical character, demoqraphic
coapo.ition, in.titutional .tructure oc 6tatus of the Palestinian a~d other Arab
territories occupied since 1~67, inclu~inq Jerusalem or any part thereof, had no
leqal validity, and that the .ettlement policy and practic.s were in flaarant
viOlation of the fourth G.neva Convention, that all leaislative and administrative
me~sur•• taken by I.rael, the occupyin~ Pow.r, which had .It.red or purported to
alt.r the charact.r and .tatus of the Holy City of Jeru.alem were null and void and
had to be rescinded forthwith.
61. Th. draft r ••olution al.o called upon Ierael, the occupyinq Power, to ob••rve
scrupulouslY the norms of int.rnati~nDl law oov.rninq military occupati~n, to
prevent ftny hindrance to the dischar~e of the establi.hed functions of the Supreme
Islamic Council in Jerusalem and to implement forthwith the provisions of the
resolution and of relevant Security CO~ncil resolutions. It would further have
reauested the Secretary-G.neral to report to the Securit'i Council on the
implementation of the resolution by 1 May 1986.
62. The dL=.ft resolution received 13 vote. to 1, with 1 abat~ntion, and was not
adopted, owin~ to the neaative vote of a permanent member of the Security Council.
63. The Committee furth.r noted that. on 6 June 1986, follcwino con.ultations, the
Presid.nt of the Security Council i.sued a statement on behalf of the members of
the Council (£/18138), expre.sinq grave concern at the continuing inlen.ification
of the fiohtino in Beirut, especially in and around the Palestinian refugee cam~••
The Council appealed to all concorned Ul use their influence in brinqina about the
cessation of the fighting in order to ~rcable UNNWA as well as other humanitarian
oroa~izations to mount emer~ency operfttiona for the benefit of the populations
concerned, includino the Palestinian refuqees towards whom the international
commun~ty had a particular responsibility.
3. Action tak.n by the Cam-itt.e to promote the convening
of the proposed Int,rnational peace Conference on thp
Middle Ea.t in accordance with General Aasembly
resolution 38/58 ~ o!-!!-D~ember 1983
64. In resolution 40/96 D, the General As.embly, inter alia, reaffirmed .qain it.
endorsement of the call lor conveninq th& International Peace Conferenc~ on the
Middle East in conformity with the provi.ions of its r.solution 38/58 C, etressed
the urgent n.ed for additional conatructiv~ efforts by all Governments in order to
convene the conference without further delay and for the achievement of its
peaceful objective., determined that th~ q~~stion of Palestine waa the root cause
of the Arab-IMraeli conflict in the Middle East, called upon the Governments of
I8rael and the United States of America to reconsider their positions towards the
attainment of peace in the Middle East thrnugh the convenina of the conference,
requested the Secretary-General, in con8ultation with the Security Council, to
continue his efforts with a view to cooveninq the conference and to report thereen
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to the General A.sembly not later than 15 March 1986! and, decided to con.ider at
it. forty-fir.t ••••ion the report of the Secr.tary-G.neral on the i~le.entation
of the r.solution.
65. Accordingly, in it. proqra..e of work for 1986 (A/AC.183/1986/CRP.l/Rev.2) the
Com.nittee decided that, in its activities durinq 1986, it would continue, a. a
matter of priority, to ex~rt all effort. to promote the early convenina of the
propo.ed conf.rence, while urqing the under.tandina and further co-operAtion of all
concerned for the resolution of a problem of .uch fundamental importance to the
maintenance of international peace and .ecurity. Thi. aoal wa. also .tre••ed by
the Chairman in hi. letter to the Secretary-General, of 3 February 1986, invitina
the participation of all State. and interqovernmental orqani.ation. in the work of
the Committee (see oara. 13 above).
66. The Committee wa. qreatly encouraaed that, in ...inar. and in .ympoeia and
meetinas of non-governmental oraani.ation. on the que.tion of Pale.tine held under
the aegis of the United Nations, participant. strongly held that the convenina of
such a conference should b. ~ priority matter since it offered the best nd.aet
comprehensive aPDroach to a just and lastina solution to the question of Palestine,
the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict (see paras. 82, 85, 88 and 97-99 beloW).
67. At it. 122nd meetinq, on 26 November 1985, the Committee had d~ided that, a.
stated iu its reoort to the A.sembly at its fortieth .ession, !I it intended to
complete the process of sending delegations to the capitals of the ...bers of the
Security Council, and that arrangem.nts for th.s. ~isits would be decided in due
course.
68. The Committee noted that, in bis letter to the President of the Security
Council in pursuance of resolution 40/96 D, included in his report on the ..tter
(A/41/215-S/17916), the Secr.tary-G.neral had stated that, in the liaht of the
debate of the General Assembly on the above resolution and other available
information, he believed that the obatacles that had so far prevented the conver.ina
of the International Peace Conference on the Middle Bast as called for by the
General Assembly still existed. However, he also believed that the observations
contained in his report of 22 October 1985 (A/40/779-S/17581) remained valid.
69. The Committee further noted that, in his reply to the Secr~tary-General of
28 February 1986, the President of the Security Council said that he had undertaken
the necessary consultations with reqard to the proposed conference. It wa. cle.r
from those consultation. that almost all members were in favour of the principle of
holdina .uch a conference. The m. jority of tho.e membera felt that it should be
convened as early a. pos.ible. Other. considered th.t the condition. for the
8uccess of the conference did not yet exi.t ~nd felt that new effort. should be
made in that respect. The President said that, in that context, members of the
Council invitod the Secretary-General to corltinue his effort. and con.ultation. on
the suhject in the liqht of General Assembly resolution 40/96 D.
70. The Committee noted with aPDreciation that the Secretary-General intended to
pursue his efforts in the liaht of General Assembly re.olution 40/96 D and the
views expr~jsed by members of the Security Council an~ that he would keep the
General Asgembly and the Security Council informed of any new development. in this
regard.
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4. Attendance at international conferenc•• and me,tinq.
71. In accordance with its mandate, since its previous report to the General
A••embly, the Committee was represented at the followina international conferences
and meetinqsr
(a) Meetina in observance of the Day of Solidarity with South African
Political Priconers, held in New York on 11 October 1985,
(b) Meetina of the United N4tions Council for Namibia to nark the
commemoration of the Week of Solidarity with the People of Namibia and Their
Liberati,>n Movement, SWAPO, held in New York on 28 october 1985,
(c) Sixteenth Islamic Conference of Foreiqn Mini.ters, held at Fe. from 4 to
10 January 1986,
Id) Meetinq in observance at the International Day for the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination, helrl in New York on 21 March 1986,
(e) Ministerial Meetino of the Co-ordinatina Bureau of Non-Aliqned Countri.. ,
held at New Delhi, from 16 to 19 April 1986,
(f) Fourteenth Council Session of the Afro-A.i,n p~~ple'. Solidarity
Oraanization, held in Moscow from 14 to 17 May 1986,
la) Seminar on ·World Action for the Immediate Independence of Namibia·, held
at Valletta, Malta, from 19 to 23 May 1986,
(h) World Conference on Sanctions aqainst Racist South Africa, held in Parts
from 16 to 20 June 1986,
(i) International Conference for the Immediate Independence of Namibia, held
at Vienna from 7 to 11 July 1986,
(j) FortY-fourth ordinary session of the Council of Ministers and
twenty-second session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the
Orqanization of African Unity, held at Addis Ababa, from 21 to 30 July 1986,
(k) Solemn meetinq in commemoration of Namibia Day, held in New York on
26 Auqust 1986,
(1) Eiqhth summit Conference of Heads of State or ~overnment of NOh-Aliqned
Countrie., held at Harare, from 26 Auqust to 7 September 1986.
5. Action taken by United Nations bodie., the Movement of Non-Aligned
Countries and interqovernmental oraanization.
72. The Committee continl"ed to follow with areat intere.t and to note the action.
taken bv the Movement of the Non-Alianed Countrie., Ur·ited Nations badi.s and
interaovernmental orqanizations on matter.' relevant to it. mandate since the
.ubmi•• ion of it. report to the General Assembly at itD fortie~h ••••ion. The
Committee was areatly encouraqed that, in various decisions and re.olution. adopted
by those bodies, as listed hereunder, all previous decisions reqardinq a
comprehensive and peaceful settlement of the Palestine question were once aqain
r.affirmed, and .trenqthened support was expressed for the Committ•• '.
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rocommendation., in particular for the early conveninq of the propo.ed
International Peace Conference on the Mid~la E~.t, in accordance with General
Assembly re.o1ution 38/58 Cl
(a) Communiqu' of the Co-ordination Meeting of lhe Mini.ter. for FOreign
Affair. of the Organi.ation of the I.1amic Conference, he1~ in New York on
9 OCtober 1985 (A/40/158-S/17510, annex),
(b) CommuniQu' adopted by Head. of Govern.ent of Commonwealth State. at their
summit, held at Na.sau from 16 to 22 October 198~ (A/40/817, annex),
(c) Paragraph on the Middle Ea.t problem in the Declaration of the m..bar
States "f the Warsaw Treaty Organhation, is.lled at SOfta on 23 October 19n
(A/C.1/40/1, annex, .ect. IV),
(d) Conf.rence of African Mini.t.r. of Inform.tion .t it. fir.t extr.ordin.ry
•••• ion, h.1d at Cairo from 23 to 25 November 1985 (A/40/980, annex, re.olution
BCIM/RES.3 (I»,
(e) Sixteenth I.1amic Conference of For.ign Mini.ter., held at Fe. from 6 to
10 January 1986 (A/41/326-S/18049, ann.x Ill, r ••o1ution. 1/16-P, 2/16-P and
8/16-P) ,
(f) Final communiqu' of the tenth ....ion of the AI-Qud. Committ.e of the
Organi.ation of the I.1amic Confer.nc., held at Marrakesh on 21 and 22 Janu.ry 1986
(A/41/113-S/17160, annex),
(q) Forty-.econd ••••ion of the COMmi••ion on Hu.an Riqht., held at Genev.
from 3 Febrlluy to 14 March 1986 (re.o1ution. 1986/1 A and 8), !I
(h) 75th Inter-Parliamentary Conference of the Int.r-P.r1iamentary Union,
held t Mexico City from 1 to 12 April 1986 (A/41/435, annex),
(i) Mini.teria1 MeetinQ of the Co-ordinating 8ureau of Non-Aligned Countri.. ,
~.ld at New Delhi from 16 to 19 April 1986 (A/41/341 and Corr.l, r ••o1ution. XVII
.nd XU),
(j) Thirty-ninth World Health A••embly, G.n.va (r ••o1ution WHA 39.10 of
15 May 1986),
(k) Economic and Social Council, fir.t and .econd regu1.r ••••ion. of 1986
(re.o1ution. 1986/21 of 23 May 1986 (E/1986/INF/4) .nd 1986/49 of 22 July 1986
(E/1986/INF/7» ,
(1) Declaration on the situation in Leb.non .dopted by the For.lgn Mini.ter.
of the 12 Stat•• member. of the European Community at The Haque on 27 June 1986
(A/41/441-S/18197),
(m) Forty-fourth ordinary .e••ion of the Council of Mini.t.r. and
twenty-.econd se•• ion of the A••emb1y of H.ad. of Stat~ and Government of the
Organization of African Unity, held at Addi. Ababa fl 21 to 30 July 1986
(resolution CM/RES.1061 (XLIV»,
(n) Declaration adopted at the eighth .ummit Conference of Head. of State or
Government of Non-Aligned Countrie., held at Harare from 26 Augu.t to
1 Septembo·r 1986 (chaps. XVII and XIX).
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B. Action taken by the Committee in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions ~O/96 A and B of 12 December 1985
1. ~-operation with non-govern.ental organi~ation.
73. A number of activities were underl~ken by the COamitt.. and by the Divi.ion
for Palestinian Rights of the Secret~riat, under the Cc.aittee'. guidance, with the
objective of further expandIng co-operation with non-governmental organi••ti~'.
active on the question of Pal~~tine, particularly through additional ..eting. for
such organizations, in order to heighten awarene.s of thQ fact. relating to the
question of Palestine and to create a more favouraLle atmo.~1h.re for the full
implementatton of the recommendations of the COmmitc...
74. In accordance with its mandat~ from the General A••embly, the C~mittee had
decided to hold, in 1986, regional symposia for non-governmental organization. in
Latin America, North America and Europe, an international ...ting of
non-governmental organizations, and two preparatory meeting. for the NOrth American
ftymposium and the international meeting re.pectively.
1~. In view of the finarlcial crisis of the Unit~1 Nation., and in respon.e to the
proposals fnr oost-saving measure. I:ormulated by the secretary-General in hi.
report to d ~neral Assembly at its reslmed fortieth .e.,ion (A/40/ll02 and
Corr.l), the Committee decided to adjust it. calendar of meeting. for 1986 by
deferring to 1987 lhe Latin American sympo.ium and by combining the European
regiona~ symposium and the international meeting in a s ·,gle event. It a180
d~cided to keep travel costs and oth~r expen$es to 3 minimum in carrying out it.
programme of v.ork.
76. The Committee had earli~r decided, in accordance with pa.t practice, to
combin~ the North American symposium and the NOrth American .e.inar in a .ingle
event.
77. In deciding on thos~ measures, the Committee expre••ed a de.ire to re.pond to
the Secretary-General's eftorts to generate immediate .aving., in a way, however,
that would ~ot be d~trimental to the future programme of work of the Coamittee, and
stre.B~d that the achievement of its goals, as mandated by the General A••embly,
remained of primary importance for the international community.
78. In accordance vith its decision to continue to give utmo.t priority to effort.
to promote the early con"ening of the prolX>sed InternaUOI.al Peace Conference on
the r"llddle East, in accordance vi th General As.embly re.olution 38/58 C, the
committee decided that lhe non-governmental symposia and meeting••hould continue
to emphasize the importance of convening the contelence and .tructured the
programmes for those activities accordingly.
79. The preparatory meeting for the North American regional .YlllpoaiulI tor
non-governmental organizationa was held at United Nation. Headquarter. on 24 and
25 February 1986 and was attended .y t~e memberB ot the North ~rican Interim
Co-ordinating Committee of Non-governmentp.l Organizationa, elected by the
participants at the NOrth ~merican regional aymposium tor non-governmental
organizations held in July 1985. The meeting worked out the ~ariouB a.pecte of the
programme for the ymposh..m and the moda11t.hls for expanding the n8twork of
non-govt'r:nmental organizat\ons active on the 'lueation of Pale.tine in North America.
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80. The pr.paratol'Y lI'l/lllttinq foIC ch. :':"ternational Meetinq c.f Non-Governllental
OrqanisaUon. Val. he lo I:; the United Nation. Office at Geneva on 6 and 7 March 1986
and 'la. attended by lIil1!l1l·':lftts of the International Co-ordinfttinq COIIMUt.. of
Non-Governmental Orqa~laation. elected by the participant. at the Internctional
Me.t1nq of Non-Gove.:nftlll!nl:al Organisation. held in Sept..ber 198"'· In that
connection, the COIIlIIiU.e deplored that the I.raeli authoriU.. ha,l aqain prevented
two r~pre.entatives fr(~ the occupied territories frOD attendinq the Meeting (...
para. 37 above). In &:lcordance vith its Mandata, the preparatory MeeUng voned
out the detail. of t:hUt prOQrallme for the International MeeUnq of Non-Governllental
Orqanisation••
81. The North Amerlcft" regional non-gov.rnllental organisation .YllpoaiulI fQt
non-q':)vern...ntal orqaoh:ations 'la. h.ld at United NaUon. Headquarter. frOll 11 to
13 Jun. 1986, i...diately follovinq the North American region~l ...tnar (see
para. 94 below). The sympo.ium 'la. attended by 44 participant. and 6obaerver.
fra. non-Qovernmental organisations in the United State. and Canada, bV a
delegation of the COII1,ltdttee, and by III nU.Der of observers frOll qovernllental and
interqov.rn..ental organisations and liberation mov..~ts. It considered the
follovinq topics I
la) Urq.ncy of crellltinq the conditions for the conv~~ing of the International
Peace Conference on \:t,. Middl. East in accordance vith General As••bly resolution
38/58 C,
lb) Ways and meanB of building popular North Am.rican Bupport for a just and
la.tinq peace in the Middle F.a.t.
82. The COIImitt.ee n()ted vith appreciaUc"1 that the eYllpoBium adopted a declaration
.tronaly .upportinq the conv.ninq of the International Peace Conference on the
Middle East in accordanc. vith General A••embly r.solution 38/58 C and calling upon
the p(~pleB and Gov.rnments of the United Stat.s and Canada to take all possible
st.p. to secure the impl....ntation of that resolution in order to achieve a
comprehenaive, juat and lastinq p.ace io the Arab-I.ra.li conflict, the cor. of
vhich 'la. the qu••tion of Palestine. The Committ.e vas also plea.ed that the
.Yllpo.ium participant. agreed on comaon Ob)ectiv.. and strategies to be i~l.lIented
by North American non-governmental org~ni.ations to pra-ote B ju.t and la.ting
peace in the Middle Bast, and e.tabli.h~ a North A.erican ec·ordinating oo.lIittee
to co-ordinate their work. The full text of the declaration va. i ••ued as a
COIIllit~.e document IA/AC.l83/l986/3), and the report of the sympo.iuM was i ••ued as
a special bulletin of the Division for Pal..tinian Rights.
83. Th. European regional symposium for non-governm.ntal organi.ations v.s held at
the United Nations Office at Vienna on 30 Jun. and 1 July 1986, i..ediately
foll(~ed by the International Meeting of Non-Governmental Organi.ation*, frOll 2 to
4 July 1986.
84. The symposium vaa attend~ by 33 partici~anta and 13 ob.ervers frOll
non-governmental orqanis.tions in various Europw.n countries, by a deleq~tion of
the COIImitte., and by observers from Governments and in~erqOveln ental
organisations.
85. The aain topic of the BYllposium vas -Europe confronting ita
for a comprehensive, just and l.stinq p.ace in the Middle East.
United Nations-. The eor..ittee noted vith appreclation that the
adopted a declaratinn upholdinQ the proposed International Peace
-17-
r ..ponalbiliti..
efforts by the
ay_podUM had
COnference on the
Middle Ea.t in accordanc. with General A••••bly r ••olution 38/58 C. with the
participation of all parti•• conc.rned, including th~ PLO •• the leqitimat.
,.pr.s.ntativ, ot the Paleatintan people, and callinQ upon .11 European Gov.rnmenta
to .upport the convening of the Inte~national P.ace Conf.r.nc. and to work for ita
r ••li.ation •• a top priority. The Com.itte. wa. al.o pl.a.ed that the .ympo.ium
participants had agreed on common objective. and activiti.. for European
non-governmental orqani.ation. with. view to .ncouraging their Gov.rnmenta to
pur.ue tho.e policie., and had establiahed a European Co-ordinating Committee to
harmoni.e th.ir future work. The full text of the declarat~on wa. is.ued aa
docu.ent A/AC.183/1986/4, and the report of the .ympo.iu. wa. publi.hed aa a
special bulletin of the Divi.ion for Pal.stinian rights.
86. The International M••tinq of Non-Governmental Organization. w•• attended by 66
participant. and 16 obeerver. from non-qovernmental organi.ation. in th.
international community, by a delegation of the Committ•• and b~ ob.erv.rs ~rom
Gov.rnm.nt. and intergovernmental orqani.ation••
81. It considered the tollowinq topic.,
(a) The need for and L1rQency ot convening the International Peace Conferltnce
on the Middle Eaat in accordanc. with General A.s..bly resolution 38/58 Cr
(i) Th••ituation of Palestinians in the territori.. occu~ied by Israel in
1961,
(ii) The co.t. and dangers ot not implementing r ••olution 38/58 C,
(iii) Way. and m.ane ot promoting the early impl.mentation of resolution
38/58 C,
(iv) United Nations endeavour. and key United Nation. r ••olutions bearino upon
the conveni1Q of the International Peace COnter.nce,
(b) Mobilization of public opinion alld the que.tion ot Palestine.
88. The Committee noted with appLeciation that, in the declaration adooted at the
end of the meetinQ, the participating non-qov.rnmental orq~nization. had ~c. again
expre••ed their .upport tor the proposed International Peace COnterence on th~
Middle Ea.t in accordance with General A••••bly resolution 38/58 C, with the
participation of all parties conc.rned on an equal tooting. The Committee turther
noted with appreciation that the non-governmental organizations had aqreed on
common objective. and strategie. and had expressed their determination to
.trenathen their etforts tor the achievement of a p.acetul solution to t~e question
of Palestine, in particular in Le fields ot human riqht., develc.:"'''lIent and
mobilization of international public opinion. The full text of th. u~lara~ion was
i ••ued a. document A/AC.183/l986/5, and tl, report on the meeting w~s published aa
a special bulletin of the Division for Pale.tinian Right••
2. Seminars
i -
89, In ita programme of work for 1986, the Committ.e decided that regional
.eminar. wollld be h.ld in turope, Africa and North America. In addition, a.
mentioned above, it was decided that the North American ...inar and .ympo.ium would
be combined.
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90. The Committee further decided that the regional ...inar. would addre•• the
f~llowinQ topicsl
(a) The Internat:onal Peace Conlerence on the Middle E••t, in accordance with
General A....b1y re.olution 38/58 C, the need for .uch ~ conference and efforts and
pro.pect. to prcBOte a .ucce•• ful outcome and benefit. thereof,
(b) The role of the pale.tine Liberation Organi.ation,
(c) The que.tion of Paleatine and public opinion [in the region concerned),
(d) The United Nation. and the que.tion of Pale.t~ne.
91. It was al.o decided that other topic. of particular relevance to the region
concerned miqht be added.
92. The Committee appreciated the deci.ion of the Government of Turkey to provide
the venue for the European regional ...inar (the thirteenth United Nation. Se.inar
on the Que.tion of Pal~tine), which took place at I.tanbul from 7 to 11 April 1986.
93. The conclu.ion. and recommendation. of the ...inar have been i••ued a.
Committee document A/AC.183/1986/1. The full text of the report of the ...inar ha.
been publi.hed a. a .pecial bulletin of the Divi.ion for Pale.tinian Riqht••
94. The fourteenth United Nation. Seminar on the Que.tion of Pal..tine wa. held at
United Nation. HeadQuarter. fro. 9 to 10 June 1986. The .e.inar concentrated on
the topic relatina to -11e International Conference on the Middle Ba.t in
accordance with General A....bly re.olution 38/58 C, the need for .uch a conference
and efforts and pro.pect. to promote a .ucc.~.ful outcome and benefit. thereof-.
~e conclu.ion. and recommendation. adopted ~y the ...inar have been i ••ued a.
~_.mittee document A/AC.183/1986/2. The full text of the report of the .eminar ha.
been published as ~ special bulletin of the Divi.ion for Pale.tinian Riqhta.
95. The Committee appreciated the decision of the Government of Kenya to aqree to
the holdina of th. fifteenth United Nation. Seminar on the Que.tion of Pale.tine at
the United Nation. Office at Nairobi, where it took place from 18 to 22 Auqu.t 1986.
96. In addition to the topic. mentioned above .~ra. 90), the .eminar also
considered the relationa between Israel and South Africa. The conclu.ion8 and
recommendation. of the .emioar have been iaaued a. Committee document
A/AC.18l/19B6/6. The full text of the report of the ••minar ha. been published a.
a special bulletin of the Divi.ion for Paleatinian Riahts.
j7. The Committee noted that, in their conclu -fon. and recommendation., the
participants in the three reqional .e.inar. had reaffirmed that the problem of the
exercise of the inalienable riQhts of the Pal..tinian people romained the core of
the Middle Ba.t conflict and that no comprehen.ive, jU8t and la.tinq peace in the
reuion could be achieved without the reali.atio~ of -ho•• riqhta in accordance with
United Nation. reuolutiona.
98. The Committee ~a. encour.qed that the ••minar participant. had alao reaffirmed
the need for conveninq the International Peace Conference on the Middle El.t under
the auapices of the United Nation. in accordanc. with Ge"-ral A••embly reaolution
38/58 C, and that they had appealed to thoae Stat•• M.-b••• of the United Nation.
which did not suppOrt t~e attainment of the inalienable riaht. of the Pal..tinian
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people, e.p.ci.lly the United St.te••nd I.r.el, to r.conaider their poaition
tow.rda the aolution of the problem.
99. ~he eae.itte. further noted th.t the ...in.r p.rticip.nt. had r~anded the
intehaific.tlon ~f politic.l .nd diplom.tic .ffort. by .11 concerned for r ••lisinq
a cOMprehen.ive, juat and dur.ble a.ttl..ant of the conflict in the Middle S••t,
and th.t they h.d called for addition.l effort. by the United Nationa and by all
concerned to influence public opinion in that direction throuah wider di••••in.tion
of .ccurate inform.tion on the aue.tion of P.leatine.
3. Other activlt1~8
100. Th. COMmittee noted with appr.ciation that the Divi.ion for Pale.tinian piq' ;.
of the S.cretarl.t h.d puraued ita progr.... of r ••••rch .~d public.tion. r.latinq
to various a8peota of the qu••tion of Pal.atine in the year under r.vi~.
101. The International Day of Solid.rity with the P.I..tinian People was ob••rved
on 29 Nov.-ber 1985 at the Headqu.rtera of the United N.tiona in New York and .t
the United r~.l:ion. Office. at Geneva and Vienn.. The COIllIIltte. noted with
appreciation ~hat the International Day had been equ.lly ca.m.-orated in -.ny other
citi.. throuqhout the world in 1985.
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v. ACTION TAKEN BY THB DBPARTMBNT 01" PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCB WITH GBNBRAL ASSEMBLY RBSOWTION 40/96 C
102. Th. Cam.itt•• noted with .ppreci.~ion th.t, durinq the pe.t y..r, the
D.p.rt.ent of Public Infor••tion had continued it. infor••tion progr on the
Qu••tion of P.l••tin., in .ccord.nc. with previous r.l.v.nt Gen.r.l A bly
r ••olution., with. view to furth.ring the world-wide di••••in.tion of accur.t••nd
co~r.h.n.iv. inform.tion on the qu••tion. How.v.r, the financi.l .itu.tion of the
United N.tion. h•• led to the curt.il.ant of ••v.r.l .ctiviti.. in this raq.rd.
Th. infor••tion progr.... included public.tion., r.dio-vi.u.l cov.rag., •
f.ct-finding .i••ion for journali.t. to the Middl. E••t .nd •••ri.. of n.tion.l
.nd raqion.l encount.r. for journ.li.t••
103. In pUblic.tion activity, the Dep.rt.ent continuad to di in.t. inforaation
on the qu••tion of P.l••tin. through .rticlea, pr ••• r.l nd bo3kl.t.. In
particul.r, the D.p.rtment publi.hed • j7-p.q. bookl.t entitled Tb' un\ttd !.t!on•
• nd th, QU..UOn of P,lt.Un" which d.al. cOllprehen.iv.lv with the r ••v.nt
actlvlti.. of the Org.ni••tion fr~ the fir.t .peci.l ....ion of the Gen.ral
A....bly in 1947 to progr••••• c.rried out in 1985. !QI
104. Th. UN Chronicl••lao reported on the con.id.r.tiara given to the queaUon of
Pal••Un. and oth.r r.l.vant it•• by the General A••.-bly at it. forti.th •••• ion ..
the Security Council .nd oth.r united Nation. badi.. Th. Depart.ent a180
di••••inated, a. wid.ly a. po••ibl., infor..tion reqardinq the ...in.r. and
.y.po.ia h.ld by the Committ•••
105. Th. Department'. cov.rag. of the queation of paleetin. included r.dio new.
proqr.... broadca.t. in .11 the offi~ial lanqu~q.. 0' the United Nation.. Th.
occa.ion of the Int.rn.tional Day of Solidarity wtth the P.l.utinian Peopl.,
29 Nov.-b.r 1986, wi'l be highliQht.t in f ..tur. proqr..... and n.... di.patch.e.
In addition, .n exclusive ••ri.. of r.dio proqra..~ will be Produced, four .ach in
Arabic, Bngli.h, Pr.nch .nd Sp.ni.h.
106. A. part of it. ongoing vi.u.l cov.r.g. of event••t H.adquart.r., the
D.partaent produced ••ub.t.nti.l numb.r of t.l.vi.ion n.... it on the qu••tion
of P.leetin. and r.l.ted Middl. B••t .vent.. A SD.ni.h l.nQu.q g••in. on the
Middl. B••t was produced and di•••minated to .ix countri.. in Latin ~.rica.
107. Th. N.... Produc' ton SdCtion of the D.p.rtment will cov.r th. Int.rnation.l D.y
of SOlid.rity with the Pal••tini.n Peopl., on 29 Nov..b.r 1986, .nd the
d.lit,.raUon. on the qu..Uon of PaleaUn••nd oth.r r.l.v.nt it... during the
forty-fir.t ••••ion of the Gen.r.l A....bly. It i. al80 anticip.ted th.t Cain••e
.nd Prench t.l.vi.ion maga.in.. will .ach produc••t l •••t on. progr.... on the
qu••tion of Pal••tin. during 1986. Du. to the financi.l .ituation of the Unitad
N.tion., the production of • new .hort filII on the queetion of P.l..tin. w••
d.f.rred to 1987.
108. Activiti •• that focu.ed on acqu.intinQ the media with the f.ct••nd
d.v.lopm.nt. p.rtaininq to the qu••tion of P.l••tin. included a fact-finding
mi••ion to the Middl. E••t. A t ••• of 8.v.n prOllin.nt journ.liat. ftnd media
r.pr •••nt.tiv•• from various part. of the world vi.ited Egypt, Jord.n .nd the
Syrian Arab Republic from 27 April to 15 M<,y 1986. V1alta to Iara.l .nd the Weat
B.nk W.r. not po••ibl. sinc. no re.pon.e was rec.ived from I.ra.l to an off1cia1
requ ••t fOl .uch vi81 t.. The purpo•• of the m"alon was to prov'd. an oppnrtun1 ty
-21-
tor the participants to learn at fir.t hand and in d~th about the various a.pect.
of the que.tion throuqh di.cu.sion. with .enior official~ and pro.inent
per.onaliti.. and alea vi.it. to Pale.tinian refuqe. c.a.p.. The .i••ion met with
hlQh-level official. and Pal••tinian leader. and received exten.ive media coverage
during the vi.it. Participanta publi.hed nu••roua articl.. upon their return to
their ho.e countrie••
109. In 1986, a. in 1985, the Department orqaniaed two ceqional encounter. for
journali.t. on the que.tion of Pale.tine, brin9in9 hi9h-level journali.t. together
with expart. ~ the question of Pale.tine. The firat encounter waa held at Vienna,
Austria, for the Buropean reqion, from 25 to 28 Pebruary 1986. The .econd at
tu.aka, Zambia, from 12 to 15 Auguat L986. The objective of both encountera wa. to
proaote ~ better under.tanding of the ~ue.tion aaonq leader. of the .edia by
bringinq them toqether with expert. on the aubject for brief, informal
di.cu•• iona. Accordinqly, 15 high-level journaliat. fro. the pre.a, radio and
television media participated in each encounter. The journali.t. were impre••ed by
the hiqh calibre of the paneli.t. and by the infor..l and candid character of the
pr ••entations made. It was their belief that the encounter, which they found
u••ful, infor..tive and intere.ting, had qreatly increa.ed their knowledqe of the
subject.
110. The Department a180 orqanised a .eri.. of national encounter. in which a tea.
of expert panelist. held .eetinq., in the fora of in-depth pre•• conference., with
natil~al journaliats and foreign corre.pondent. in various countri... Buropean
national encounter. were held in Denmark, Hunqary and Greece between 24 February
and ~rch 1986. Another national encounter for Africa wa. held at Nairobi,
Kenya, on 18 Auqu.t 1986.
111. United Nation. information centre. throughout the world continued to carry out
information activities in connection with the qu••tion of Pale.tine and made
available to the public United Nation. publication. on the 8ubject. The centre.
will alea orqaniae a world-wide obeervance of the International Day of Solidarity
with the Pale.tinian People on 29 November 1986.
-22-
I
~
VI • RECOMMEND1\TlONS OF THE COMMITTEE
112. The Committee contendB that action by the Security Council is now required to
take positively into account the recommendations of the Committee and those adopted
by consellsus at the International Conference on the Question of palestine, held at
Geneva from 29 August to 7 September 1983, and ~ndor8ed by General 1\ssembly
resolution 38/58 C. It once again recalls that thotie recommendations are solidly
founded on fundamental and internationally recognized principles relating to the
question of Palestine, the ~~re of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
113. The Committee wishes to stress once again that it considers the convening of
the International Peace Conferenc~ or. the Middle East in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 38/58 C, to be an essential element in the progress towards a
solution of the question of palestine. It also notes that there is overwhelming
support for that conference. The Committee intends to continue to make the
convening of the conference the focal point of its work programme and to do
everything possible to increase awareness of the importance of that conference
througtl contacts with Governments as well as with non-governmental organizations.
114. The Commi~tee therefore annexes its recommendations and those of the
International Conference on the Question of Palestine, held at Geneva in 1983, to
the present report (see annexes I and 11).
115. The Committee stresses that its ori9ina~ recommendations were specifically
designed to enable the Palestinian people to attain its inalienable rights, as
affirmed in General Assembly resolution 3236 (XXIX).
116. The Committee also stresses that th~ Geneva Declaration on Palestine, adopted
by the International Conference on the Q~estion of Palestine, contained specific
guidelines for the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the
1\rab-Israeli conflict, of which an essential element would be the establishment of
an independent Palestinian State in Palestine. Those guidelines were endorsed by
the General Assembly in its resolution 38/58 C, and reaffirmed in resolutions
39/49 0 and 40/96 0 which, inter a11a, stussed the urgent need for additional
constructive efforts by all Governments in order to convene the conference without
further delay and for the aChievement of its peaceful objectives.
117. The Committee strongly points out that the question of palestine has reached a
critical phase and urges a renewed, concentrated and ~~llective effort to find a
just solution under United Nations auspices, on the basis of relevant United
Nations resolutions and end the unacceptable plight of the Palestinian people.
118. To this end, the Committee is conVinced that the International Peace
Conference 0n the Middle East, as endorsed in General Assembly resolution 38/58 C,
and generating quasi-unanimous support, provides a comprehensive opportunity for
all the parties concerned to participate in negotiations that should l~ad to a just
and lasting solution of the question.
119. The Committee recommends that the General 1\SBembly should call once again upon
Israel and the United States to reconsider their positions towards the attainment
of peace through the convening of the conference, appeal to all countries to exert
their best efforts to achieve the convening of that conference, and renew the
mandate of the Secr&tary-General to continue his contacts, in consultation with the
Security Council, on the preparations for the convening of the conference.
-23-
120. The COIDlIitt.. is pl.asad and greatly erlcouraqet'l by the widespread
understanding it has already secured, anJ the favourable reaction of
non-Qovernm.ntal orqaniaations and int9rnational public opinion in qeneral to ita
recommendations. The Committee will c~ntinue to enqaae in the process of
evaluatinq the proqress achieved and the experience qained in ita various
activitiee, with the goal of achievinq optimum effectiveness and impact in carryinq
out it. mandate.
!I The COIDmitt.. is composed of tha following memberB' Afqhanistan, Cuba,
Cyprus, German Democratic R.public, Guinea, Guyan., Hunqary, !ndia, Indonesia, L,o
P~ ~l.'s Democratic Republic, Madaqascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Niaeris, Paki.tan,
Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist
Republic and Yuqoslavia.
11 Official Records of the General Aasembly, Thirty-firat Se••ion,
~elem&nt No. 35 (A)31/35).
11 .~., Thirty-.econd Se••ion, Supelement No, 35 (A/32/35), ~.,
Thirty-third Se•• ion, Supplement No. 3~ (A!33/35 and COrr.l), ~., Thirty-fuurth
Se••ion, Suppl..ent No. 35 (A/34/35 and Corr.l), ~., Thirty-fifth S...ion,
Suep1ent No, }5 (A/35/35 and COn .1), ~., Thirty-.ixth e~~.ion, Supplelll.ut
No. 35 (A/36/35), ~., Thirty-••v.nth S.a.ion, Suppl.ment No. 35 (A/37/35 and
COrr.I), ibid., Thirty-eighth S•••ion, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35), ~.,
Thirty-ninth se••ion} Suppl....nt No. 35 (A/39/35), and ~., Portieth Se••ion,
Supelem,nt No. 35 (A 40/35).
~ Report of the International Conference on the Qu••tion of Pal..tine,
Gen,v" 29 Augu.t-7 S,pt.,b,r 1983 (United Nationa pUblication, Sale.
No. E.83.I.21), chap. I, .ect. B.
21 The Observ.r. at the Committee meetinqs were as foilow.. Algeria,
Dulaaria, China, Caechoslovakia, P~uador. EgYPt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaraqua, Niaer, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic,
United Arab EIIirat•• , Viet Nail, the L.aque t,f Arab State. a,.J the Organiaation of
the I8lamic Confer.nc.. The Pal.stin. L~Deration Organization, a. the
representative of the Palestinian people, the principal party to the Question of
Palestine, waa also an observ.r.
!I The current membership of the ~rking Group i. aa follow.. Afghanistan,
Cuba, Ger.-n Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal,
Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Sociali.t aepublic and, aa the repre.entative of
the people directlY concerned, the Palestine Liberation Organi.ation.
11 United Nations, Tr.aty Serl.. , vol. 75, No. 973, p. 287.
!I Officia1 Records of the General AlIsembly f Por Ueth Sel'l8ion, Supplement
No. 35 (A/40/35), para. 169.
!I Official Records of the Bconomic ,and Social Council.£ U86« Supplement
~ (B/1986/22), chap. 11.
1QI The bookl.t (DPI/861) is curr.ntly available in Engli.h, the Arabic,
French, German and Spanillh ver.ion. are i~ production.
-24-
ANNEX I
Recommendations of the Committee en~ors~ by the General hssembly
at Its thirty-first session*
I. ~~iderations an~ quidelines
59. The Question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle Bast probl.., and
consequently, the Committee stresses its belief that no aolution in the Middle Baat
can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the leqitimate aspiration.
of the Palestinian people.
60. The leqitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to
their ho.es and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence
and BOvereignty arL endors~ by the Committee in the conviction that the full
implementation of these riqhts will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and
final settlement of the Middle East crisis.
61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Orqanir.ation, the represen~.tive
of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties, on the ba.i. of
Genoral Assembl! resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is in~ispen.able in all
efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which are held under the
auspices of the United Nations.
62. The Committee recalls the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the
aCQui.it1oll of territory by force and stres.,es the consequent obligaUon for
complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so occupied.
63. The Committee considers that it is the duty and responsibility of all
concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable riQhts.
64. The Committee recommends an expanded and more influential role by the unit~
Nations and its orqans in promoting a just .alution to the question of Palestine
and in the implementation of such a sol·JUon. The Security Council, in particular,
should take appropriate action to faci14tate the exercise by the Palestinians of
their riqht to retuen to their home., land. and property. The Committee,
furthermore, urqe. the Security Council to pr~te action towards a just solution,
takinq into account all the powers conferred on it by the Chartpr of the United
Nations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numerous
resolution. of the United Nations, after due consideration of all the facts,
proposals and suqQestions advanced in the oourse of it. deliberations, that the
Committee submits its recommendation. on the modalitie. for the implementation of
the exercise of the in'lienable right. of the Palestinian people.
* ~..!!.!!:..; al Records of the General Assembly« Thirty·-f1rst Session,
Supplement ~1(). :, (A/31/351, paras. 59-72.
-2~-
11. The right of return
66. The natural and inalienable right of Palestinians to return to their homes is
recognized by resolution 194 (Ill), which the General Assembly has reaffirmed
almost every year since its adoption. This righ· was also unanimously recognized
by the Security Council in its resolution 237 (1961), the time for t~~ urgent
implementation of these resolutions is long overdue.
61. Without prejudice to the right of all pale~tinians to return to their homes,
lands and property, the Committee considers that the programme of implementation of
the ex~rcise of this right May be carried out in two phasesl
Phase one
68. The first phase involves the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced as a reault of the war of June 1967" The Co~mittee recommends thatl
(i) The Securi·v Council should request the immediate implementation of its
resolution 237 (1961) and that such implementation should not be related
to any other condition,
(ii) The resources of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
~ffugees in the Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be
employed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved in
the resettlement of those returning to their homes. These agencieo could
also assist, in co-operation with the host countries and the Palestine
Liberation Organization, in the identification of the displaced
Palestinians.
Phase two
69. The second phase deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends thatl
(i) While the first phase is being impJ~mented, the United Nations in
co-operation with the States directly involved, and the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the interim represent~;ive of the Palestinian
entity, should proceed to make the necessary arrangements to enable
Palf!stinians displaced betwlJen 1948 and 1967 to exerciBe their right to
return to their homes and property, Ln accordance with the relevant
United Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly
resolution 194 (Ill),
(ii) Palestinians not choosing to return to their homes should be paid just
and equitable compensation as provided for in resolution 194 (Ill).
-26-
Ill. The right to selt-determination, nattonal i~~~~n~e~~~
and sovereignty
70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to self-determination, national
independence and sovereignty in Palostine. The Committee c()nsiders that the
evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in violation of the principles
of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the united Nations is a
~nditio sine qua non for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
rights in Palestine. The Committee considers furthermore, that up(;n the retuln of
the Palestinians to their homes and property and with the establishment of an
independent Palestinian entity, the Palestinian people will be able to exercise its
rights to self-determination and to decide its form of government without external
interference.
71. The Committee al~o feels that the United Natiml~ has an historical duty and
rcsp<>nsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the econoMi~
d~velopment and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
72. To these ends, the Committee recommends that,
(a) A tLnetable should be established by the S«ocurity Council for the
complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation force. from those areas occupied in 1967,
such withdrawal should be completed no later than 1 June 1977,
The Security Council may need to provide temp<>rary peace-keeping forceS
in ordel to facilitate the process of withdrawal,
(c) Israel should be requested by the Security Council to desist from the
establishment of new svttlements and to withdraw during this ~riod from
settlements established since 1967 in the occupied territories. Arab property and
all essential services in these areati should be maintained intact,
(d) Israel should also be requested to abide scrupulously by th~ provisions
of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949 and to declare, pending its spft~dy withdrawal from the.e
territories, its recognition of the applicability of that Convention,
(e) The evacuated territories, with all property and services intact, should
be taken over by the Unit@d Nations, which with lhe co-operation of the League ot
Arab States, will subsequently hand over th@se evacuated arel'l8 to the palestille
I.ibe-:ation Organization aa the representative of the Palestinian people,
(f) The united Nations ~hould, if necessary, assist in e8tablishing
coremunications between Gaza and the west Bank,
(g) As soon as the independent Palestinian entity has been established, the
United Nations, in co-operation with the States directly involved and the
Palestinian entity, shOUld, taking into account General Assembly resolution
3375 (XXX), make further arrangements for the full implementation of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding
problems and the establishment of a just and lasting peace 1n the region, in
accordance with all relevant Uniteo Nations resolutions,
(h) The united Nations should pr<>vide the economic and tftchn1cal assistance
necessary for the consolidation of the PaleRtinian entity.
-27-
ANNEX I1
Geneva Declaration on Palestine and the Pr~me ot~t~
for ,the Achievement 0.!_p~le8tin_lan Ri'Jht~ !,I/
A. Geneva Declaration on Palestine
In pursuance of General !\s8embly resolutions 36/120 C of 10 December 198J,
ES-7/7 of 19 August 1982 and 37/86 C of 10 December 1981, an International
Conference on the Question of Pa~estine was convened at the United Nations Office
at C~nevn from 29 August to 7 September 1983 to seek effe~tive ways ~nd means to
enable the Palest Intan p.~oplc to att.atn and to exercise their ihalienable r ifJhtft.
The Conference was ..~ned by the SecretlHy-General of the United Natiolls,
Javier Perez de Cuellar, and presided over by the Minister for FOreign Atf&irs of
Senegal, Moustapha Niasse.
* * *
I. The Confer~noe, having thoroughly c(Alsidered the question of palestine in all
its aspecI:s, expresses the grave concern of all natio.ls and peoples regarding the
internati(mal tension that hds persisted for several decades in the Miadle F~st,
the principal cause of which is the denial by Israel, and those supporting its
expansionist policies, of the inalienable legitimate rights of the Palestinj~n
p80ple. Che Conference reaflirms r.nd stresses that a just solution of the question
of Palestine, the core ot the problem, is the crucial element in a comprel)ensive,
just and lasting poll tical settlement in the Middle East.
2. T~e Conference recognizes that, a8 one of the most acute and C0mplex problems
of our time, the question of Palestine - inherited by the United Nations at ~he
tilNt of its establishment - requires a con;prehensive, just and lasting political
flettlem'nt. This settlement must be based on the implementation of the relevant
United Nations resolution& concerning the qU~8tion of palestfne and the attainment
of the legitimate, inalienable righ!s of the ral~stin~an people, including the
right to sel f-determina :ion and the right to the cslabl i "lhment ot its own
independent State in Palestine and should al80 be based on the provision by the
Securitr Council of glliuantees for peace "nd necurity among all Statt:s in the
region, including the independent PaleJltlnian State, within secure and
inbiiI'natlonally recognized boundar ies. The Conference is conv inced that the
attainment by the Palestinian pe~ple of t~dir inalienable T~ght8, as defined by
General Assemllly re"o~ution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, wU 1 contribute
substanti<111y to the achievement of peace "nCl stability in the ~nddle East.
3. 'rl,e Conference considers the role of the United Nf.'tions in the achievement of
a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East to be '!s8Q!lntbl .,lId
paramount. It emphasize" the need for raspect for, a~d application of, the
provisions of the Ct'lIr':er c,f the United Nations, the resolutions of the Ul'~ted
Nations relev~nt to the question of Palestine nnd the observance of the prlnciples
of international law.
4. The Conference considers that the variolA propos~ls, consistent with the
principles oL' intt~rnational law, which have bae,. pr"lented on t:his question, such
as the Arab peace plan adopted unanimously I't the Tw.,lfth Arab Summit Conh, rence
(see A/37/696-S/15510, annex), tlf'ld at Fn. Morocco, in SeptembrH 1982, should
serve ao guidelines ~or concerted international effort to resolve the qU~8ti~. of
Palestine. These guidelines include the followincu
-28-
(a) The attainment by the Palestinian people of its legitimate inalienable
rights, including the right to return, the right to self-determination and the
right to establish its own independent State in Palestine,
(b) The right 9f the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of
the Palestinian people, to participate on an equal footing with other parties in
all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Midale EastJ
(c) The need to put an end to Israelis occupation of the Arab territories, in
accordance with the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by force, and, consequently, the need to secure Israeli withdrawal frCllll
the territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem,
Cd) The need to oppose and reject such Israeli policies and practices in the
occupied territories, including Jerusalem, and any de facto situation created by
Israel as are contrary to international law and ~elevant United Nations
resolutions, particularly the estabt'ishment of settlements, as t!'lese policies and
practices constitute major obstacles to the achievement of peace in the Middle East,
Ce) The need to reaffirm as null and void all legislative and administrative
measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or
purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem,
inclUding the expropriation of land and property situated thereon, and in
particular the so-called ·Basic Law· on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel J
Cf) The right of all States in the region to existence within secure and
internationally recognized boundaries, with justice and security for all the
people, the sine qua non of which is the recognition and attainment of the
legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as stated in
8ubparagraph (a) above.
5. In order to give effect to these guidelines, the Conference considers it
essential that an international peace conference on the Middle East be convened on
the basis of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant
resolutions of the United Nations, with the aim of achieving a comprehensive, just
and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, an essential element of which
would be the establishment of an independent Palestinian State in Palestine. This
peace conference should be convened under the auspices of the United Nations, with
the participation of all parties to the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the
Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as the United States of America, the
union of Soviet Socialist R.ePublics, and other concerned States, on an equal
footing. In this context the security Council has a primary responsibility to
create appropriate institutional arrangements on the basis of relevant United
Nations resolutions in o~der to guarantee and to carry out the accords of the
international peace conference.
6. Th~.International Conference on the Question of Palestine emphasizes the
importance of the time factor in achieving a just solution to the preblem of
Palestine. The Conference is convinced that partial solutions are inadequate and
delay~ in seeking a comprehensive solution do not eliminate tensions in the region.
......"' ~ _ _~'".~ ,.__•__. _."""-.,;;~6J1<IIi2_- _,__ __ , __._ &__.~!!il!!.§•!!.i!lIl!lI!J.l!~ilIilil11lM.y:4\'l!!Il!!lJ&.!Ill!J!1l!llllIIliIlI_.•NiI •J
B. Programme of Action tot the Achievement of
Palestinian k1ghts
The International C~lference on the Question of Palestine agreed that no
effort should be spared to seek effective ways and means to enable the Palestinian
people to attain and exercise their rights in Palestine in accordance with the
Charter of the united Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights £/ and the
princip'es of international law. The Conference, "1king into consir' ration the
Geneva Declaration on Pale-stine (sect. A above), reco,"mended the fOllowing
Prograll\llle of Act Lon.
I
The International Confer~nce on the Q'Jflstion of Palestine recommends that
all ::'':ates, individually or collectively, consistent with their respective
constitutions and their obligations under the Cnart~r of the United Nations
and in conformity with tI.::! principles of international law, should I
(1) Recognize the great importance of the time factor in solving the
question of PalestineJ
(2! I~ltensify efforts for the est.ablhhment of an independent
Pbiestll.ian Stll'te within the framework of a comprehensive, just and lasting
"ettlemeat to the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with the Charter of the
United Nations, the relevant United Nations resolutions and the guidelines of
the Geneva De=laration on Palestine)
(3) Consider the continUed presence of I~[ael in the occupied
Palestinian and other Arab territories, inclUding Jerusalem, as exacerbating
instability in the region and endanger inrJ international peace and secur itYJ
(4) Oppose and reje<':t, as a serious and continuing obstacle to peace,
the expansionist policies pursued by Israel tn the Pal~stinian and other Arah
tprrit.orios occupie<. since 1967, including Je. usalem, land in particular the
alteration of toe geographic nature 'nd demographic composition, and the
Israeli attempt to alter, throuqh domestic legislation, the legal status of
those territories, and all the measures taken in violation of the Geneva
Convention relative to the Treatment of Prla~n~rs of War, ~I and the Geneva
Convention relative to the Pr~':ection of Civilian Persons 1n Time of War, ~/
both of 12 August 1949, and ot The Hague Re~ulations of 1907, el such as the
establishment auel expansion of settlements, the transfer of Is;ael i civilians
into thooe territories and the individual and mae~ transfers therefrom of the
Arab Palestinian populationJ
(5) Refrain from p~vviding Israel with assistance of such a nature 88 to
encourage it militarily, economically and financially to continue ita
aggression, occupation and disregard of j A obligations under the r:harter and
the relevant renolutions of the Un! ed NationsJ
(6) Not encourage migration to the occupied Arab territori~ unli1
Iara.. 1 has put a definitive end to the implementation of its il1E'qal pC'. icy of
establishing settlements Ln the palestinian and ,)ther Arab territ:oriel'
occupied since 1967J
-30-
(7) hIlly comply with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations lInd
its specialized agencies on the Holy City of JeruRalem, including those which
reject I rael's annexation of Jeru8a~em and its declaration of ,hat city as
its capital,
(8) Undertake un 'eraal effort.s to protec.: the Holy Places And lIrg~
IsrAel to t~ke measures to prevent thei. dedecration,
(9) Consider ways and meAns of meeting the threAt that Israel poses to
region~l security in Africa in view ot Israel's dhre<jard of UnJted Nations
re~0Iution8, and its close collaboration with the apartheld regime in the
economic, military and nuclear fields, thereby contr ibuting to the continued
illegal occupation of Namibia and enhancing the regime's repre8oivp. and
Aggressi.ve CApacity,
(10) Encourage, through bilaterAl and multilAteral contacts, all
States, including Western European and North Aroerican States which have nol
done so, to welcome all peace initiatives based on the recognition of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, which we:e also welcomed by
Chairman YaRse~ Arafat in his address to the International Conference on the
Question of palestine,
(11) Seek and develop ways and means to ~nable t~e Palestinian people to
exercise sovereignty over their national resources,
(12) Express concern that Israel debars Pal~stinians from economic
activity and access to national resources on Palestinian t,uritory, in
consistent violation of General Assembly resolutions on the right of the
Palestinians to permanent sovereignty over their national resources,
(13) Declare null and void and counter such measures And ... actices
applied by Israel in the occupied palestinian and other Arab t~rritories,
inclUding Jerusalem, as the ann.xation and the expropriation of land, WAter
resources, and property and the alteration of the demographic, geographic,
historical and cultural featur08 thereof)
(14) Undertake measures to alleviate the economic and 80cial bUiden8
borne by the Palestinian people as a result of the continued Israeli
occupation of their territories since 1967J
(15) Consider contributing or increasing special contributions to the
proposed budget8, programmes and projects of the relevant organs, funds and
age~cies of the United Nationa 8yat~m that have ~.en requested to provid~
humanitarian, econ~mic and social assistanco to the pale~tinian people, with
particular reference to.
(a) General Assembly r.solution 33/147 of 20 December 1978 and the
appeal of the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme at
its thirtieth session for additional special contributions amounting to at
least S8 mUlior> during the third programming cycle (1982-1986) aimed 1St
helping to meel ~e economic and social ne&ds of the Palestlnian people, !I
(b) The proposed proguJlIIlle budget of the United Nations Conference on
Trade and De~llopment for the biennium 1984/85 req&rding the establiShment
-31-
within the United Nations Conter...nce 0.1 Trade and Development of a special
economic unit, 91 as requested by that Conference at its sixth session at
Belgrade, !!/
(e) Establishing a special legal aid fur:<1 to assist PaV'stinillns In
securing their rights under conditions of occupation, y in accordance with
the Geneva C~lvention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time
ot War,
(16) Ensure that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East can meet the essential neede of the Palestinians
without interruption or any diminution 1.n tile ettectivelless ot its services,
(17) Review the eitua~ion ot Palestinian women in the occupip.d
Palestinian and other Arab terlitories and, in view of their special
hardships, uIge the Preparatory Committee ot the World Conterence to Review
and Appraise the Achievements of the Un~ted Nations Decade for Women, to be
h~ld Qt Nairobi in 1985, to include this item on the agenda at the Conference,
{1~) Review, if they have not yet done so, in 00~formity with their
national legislation, their e:onomic, CUltural, technical and other relations
with Israel, an~ the agreements governing them ~ith the aim ot ensuring that
these regulations and agr.ements will not be inlerpreted or construed as
implying in any way recognition of any modific~tion 01 the le~al status of
Jerusalem and of the palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel
since 1967, or an acceptance of Israel's illegal presence in those territories,
(19) Recognize that the pr~esR of enabling tt~ pale&tinian people to
exercise its inalienable rights in Palestine is a significant contribution to
the ~estoration of the rule of law in international r~lations,
(20) Assure the observance of the stipulations provided in C~neral
Assembly resolution 181 (11) guaranteeing to all persons equal and
non-discriminatory rights in civil, political, economic and religious matters
and the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom
of religion, spe~ch, publication, education, assembly and aRsoci.~tion,
(2l) Express concern that the laws applicable in the occupied Arab
territories have been totally eclipsed by a plethora of military orders that
have been designed to establish a new -legal r'gime- in violation of The Hague
Regulations of 1907, and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War,
(22) Act in accordance with their obligations under existing
international law, in particular with regard to the Geneva Conventions ot 1949
which require States Parties to ('espect and to ensure respect for those
Conventions in all circumstances, and in particular ensure the respect by
ISi:afltl for the Geneva Conventions of 1949 ill the occupied Palestinian and
othe~ Arab territoriesJ
(23) Express concern that the ~alestinian8 and 0ther Arabs in the
occupied territories are deprived of juridical and ot~~[ kinds of protection,
that they are victims of repressive l~gislation, involving mass arrests, acts
of torture, destruction of houses, and the expulsion of people from their
homes, acts which constitute flagrant violation& of human r'ights,
-32-
(24) Recognize the necessity that Palestinian and Lebanese ~~4.oners
detained by Israel be accorded the status of prisoners of war in accordance
with the C~neva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of
1949, £! if combatants, or in accordance with the ~neV8 Convention relative
to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949, 21 if civilians,
(25) Strive for the adoption of international measures so that Israel
will implement in the We8t Bank and Gaza the provi~ions of The Hague
Re~ulations of 1907 and the Gen~vo Convention relative to the protection of
Civilian }>e1:sons, in the liCfht "i Socurity Council rt!solution 465 (lS80) f
(26) Recognize, if they have not yet done 80, the palestine Liberation
Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people and establish
with it appropriate relations,
(27) Enoourage, in conformity wl':h theIr, Itional legislations, the
formation of national committees in support of the Palestinian people,
(28) Enoourage tha observance of 29 November as the International Day of
Solidarity with th.!i Palestinian People, in a mo,lt effectiv<e and meaningful way,
(29) Request the General Assembly at its thirty_iqhth lession to
designate a Y~ar of Palestine, to be observed at the earliest possible time,
taking into consideration the factors necessary to ensure its effective
preparation for the purpose of galvanizing world-wide public opinion and
support for further implementation of the Geneva Declaration on Palestine and
the Programme of Action.
II
The International Conference on the Ouestion of Palestine stresses the
obligation of all Member States, under the Charter of the United Nations, to
enable the united Nations through an expanded and more effective role to
fulfil its responsibility for achieving a solution to the question of
Palestine. To this ends
A
States participating in the Conference invite the Security Council, 8S
the organ with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international
peace and securitys
(1) To suppress continuing and growing acts of aggression and other
breacheR of the peace in the Middle East which enddnger peace and security in
the region and the world as a whole,
(2) To tak.. prompt, firm lIhd effective steps and actiolls to esti'lblish an
independent sover"{,gn Palestinian State in Palestine turough the
implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutlons, by facilitating the
organization of the ~nternational peace conference on the Middle East, as
called for in paragraph 5 of the Geneva Declaration on Palestine (see sect. A
abov~), and by creating in this context the appropriate in8tjtutio~al
-33-
,trrangemftnts on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions in order to
guarantee and carry out the accords of the international peace conference,
including the followingl
(a) Taking measures consistent with the pr inciple of the inadmissibility
of the acquisition of territory by force to ensure Israel's withdrawal from
the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including
Jerusalem, with a specific timetable,
(b) Undertaking effective measures to guarant~e the safety and security
and legal and human rightu of the P~le.tinianl'! in tl.~ occupied teed tor ies
pending th~ withdrawal of the Isra~li forces from the pslestinian and other
Arab territories occupied by Israel 3ince 1967, including Jerusalem,
(c) Subjecting those territories, following the withdrawal of Israel, to
a short transitional period, under the 8upervisior. of the United Nations,
during which period the Palestinian people would exercise its right to
self-determination,
(d) Facilitating the implementation of the right to return of the
Palestinians to their homes and property,
(e) Supervising elections to the constituent a.s~mbly of the independent
Palestinian State in which all Palestinians shall participate, in exercise of
their right to self-determination,
(f) Providing, if necessary, emporary peace-keepIng forcp.s in order to
facilitate the implementation of subparagraphs (a) to (p.) above.
B
Meanwhile the Security Council is also invited tOI
(1) Take urgent action to bring about an immediate and complete
cessation of su~h Israeli policies in the occupied territories and, in
particular, the establishment of settlements as have been determined by the
Security Council to have no legal validity and as a serious obstruction to
achieVing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace to' the Middle East,
(2) Consider urgently the reports of the Commisftion established under
its resolution 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, which examined the situation
concerning settlements in the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including
Jerusalem, and to reactivate the above-mentioned Commission,
(3) Initiate action to terminate I~rael's exploitative policies which go
against the indigenous economIC development of the occupied territories, and
to compel Israel to lift its restrictions on water use and well-drilling b~
Palestinian farmers as well as its diver8ion of West Bank water resources into
the Israeli water grid system,
(4) Keep under its constant attention the actions committed by Israel
againnt the Palestinian people in violatior of the stipulations provided for
in relevant General Assembly resolutions, ill particular the stipulations of
resolution 181 (11) of 29 November 1947 <JulOtanteeing to all persons equal and
non-discriminatory rights and freedoms,
-34-
(5) Consider, in the event of Israel's persistent non-compliance with
the relevant United Nations resolutions which embody the wIll of the
international community, appropriate measures in accordance with the Charter
of the United Nations, to ensure Israel's compliance with these resolutions.
c
(1) Taking into account the recommendations of the five regional
preparatory meetings of the International Conference on the Question of
Palestine jJ and United Nations resolutions concerning economic and social
assistance to the Palestinian people, the Secretary-General of the United
Nations is requested to convene a meeting of the specialized agencies and
other organizations associated with the United Rations, as well as
representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization and of those
countries which are hosts to Palestinian refugees and other potential sources
of assistance to develop a co-ordinated programme of economic and social
assistance to the Palestinian people and to. ensure its implementationJ
(2) The meeting should also look into the most effective inter-agency
machinery to co-ordinate and sustain and intensify United Nations assistance
to the Palestinian people.
D
The dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information·world wide
and the role of non-governmental organizations and institutions remain of
vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the
establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinian State. To these ends:
(1) The United Nations Department for Public Information, in full
co-operation and constant consultations with the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, should:
(a) Co-ordinate all information activities of the United Nations system
on Palestine through the Joint United Nations Information CommitteeJ
(b) Expand publications and audio and visual coverage of the facts and
of developments pertaining to the question of PalestineJ
(c) Publish newsletters and articles in its respective publications on
Israeli violation$ of human rights of the Arab inhabitants in the occupied
territories and organize fact-finding missions for journalists to the area,
(d) Organize regional encounters for journalistsJ
(e) Disseminate appropriate information on the results of the
International Conference on the Question of Palestine,
(2) The relevant organizations of the United Nations system should
organize meetings, symposia and seminars on topics within their terms of
reference and relating to specific problems of the Palestinian people by
establishing closer li~iaon with non·~governmental organizations, the media and
other groups interested in the question of Palestine.
-35-
III
The International Conference on the Qupstior, of paleotine, convinced of
the important role of world-wide public opinion in resolving the queotion of
Palestine, and in the implementation of the Declaration and Programme oJ'
Action, urges and encourages;
(1) Intergovernmental dnd non-governmental organizations to increase
awareness by the international community of the economic and social burdens
borne by the Palestinian people as a result of the continued Israeli
occupation and its negt.tive effects on the economic development of the west
Asian region as a whole,
(2) Non-governmental organizations and profes~lional and popular
assocl ations to .llltenslfy their efforts to support the rights of the
P<llestinian people in every possible way,
(3) Organizations such as those of women, teachers, workers, youths and
students to undertake exchanges and other pnlgrammes of joint action with
their Palestinian e~unterparts,
(4) Women's assocLstions, in particular, to investigate the conditions
of Palestinian women and children in all occupied t~rritories,
(5) The media and oth'r institutions to disseminate relevant information
to increase public awareness and understand in'] of the question of Palestine,
(6) Institutions of higher education to promote the study of the
question of Palest ne in all its aspects,
(7) Various jurists' associations to establish special investigative
commissions to determine the violations by Israel of the Palestinians' legal
1- ights and to disseminate their findings accordLlgly,
(8) Jurlsts to initiate with their palestinian counterparts
consultations, research and inves, igations on the juridical aspects of
problems affecting the southern African and Palestinian struggles, in
particular the detention of political prisoners and the dental of
prisoner-of-war status to detained mem~rs of the national liberation
movements of southern Africa and Palestine,
(9) Parliamentarians, political parties, trade unions, organ zlltions for
solidarity and intellectuals, particularly in Western Europe and North
America, to jein theit' counterparts in other parts of the world in giving
their support, where it has not been doae, to an initiative which would
expreRs the desire of the l.lternational community to see the Palestinian
people at last living in their own independent homeldnd in peace, freedom and
dignity.
-36-
I
Notes
Ij!/ See Report of the Internat i,mal Conference on the Question of Palestine,
Gen"~L-29 ~,~~~-.!_ September 1983 (United Nations puhlication, SaleR
No. E.83.I.7.J), chap. I, sect-H. A and R.
pJ See Genera1 Assembly resolution 211 A (Ill).
y [lnited r-;ations, Treaty Series, vo!. 75. No. 972, p. 135.
~/ Ibid., No. 973, p. 287.
~ Carnegie Endowment tor International Peace, The Hague Conventions and
Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 191,), p. 100.
lj See Official Records of the F..conomic and Social Council, 1983, Supplement
No. 9 (E/198J/20).
91 A/C.5/38/4, para. 8 (c).
!y Recommendation 146 (VI) of 2 July 1983 of the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development.
1/ Recommendation l~ of the Latin Amer iean Regional Preparatory Meeting,
Managua, Nicaragua, 12-15 April 1983 (A/CONF.114/2).
iI African region, A/OONF.114/1J Latin American region, A/CONF.114/2~
Western Asian region, A/ODNF.114/3, Asian region, A/CONF.114/4, European ,egion,
A/OONF .114/5.
-37-
A/M"'. 183/1986/1
ANNEX lIT
List of documents issued '!!y~ the Committee
Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the
thirteenth United Nations Seminar on ':he
Question of Palestine, held at Istanbul from
7 to 11 Apr il 1986
A/AC.183/1986/2 and Corr.l
A/AC.183/1986/3
A/AC.183/1986/4
A/AC .183/1986/5
A/AC.l83/l986/6
86-23128 2072u (E)
Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the
fourteenth United Nations Seminar on the
Question of Palestine, held at United Nations
Headquarters on 9 and 10 •./une 1'?86
Declaration adopted by the North American
Regi.onal Symposium for non-government.al
organizations on the Question of Palestine, held
at United Nations Headquarters from 11 to
13 June 1986
Declaration adopt"d by the European Symposium
for non-governmental organizations on the
Question of Pale3tine, held at Vienna on
30 June and 1 July 1986
Declaration adopted by the International Meeting
of non-governmental orqan j '7.at ions on the
Ques tion of Pales tine, held (' L Vienna from 2 to
4 .1uly 1986
Convlusions and recommer.dations adopted by the
fifteenth united Nations Seminar on the Question
of Palestine, held at the United Nations office
at Nairobi from is to 22 August 1986
-38~
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REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
._~-------------------~
GEiNERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: FORTY-SECOND SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/42/35)
UNITED NATIONS
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: FORTY-SECOND SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/42/35)
UNITED NATIONS
New York, 1987
NOTE
Syrnhols of l 'n'ted NiI'ions d,'clIllIl'nts i1rc compmctlof capitill Ictll'rs comhincd with
figurcs. Mcntion of such a symhol indicatcs a rl'fercnn: to a United Nations documcnt.
[Original: English)
[16 October 1987)
CONTENTS
?aragraphs Pag~
LE'l"I'ER OF TAANSMI'I"rAL "......................................................... v
I. INTRODUCTION •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•.••••••••••
I I • MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE •.•••••••••••• , •••••••••••••••••••
I I I • ORGANl ZATION OF WORK ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
B. Participation in the work of the Con.mittee •••••••••••• 4
4
3
4
4
6
6
1 - 6 1
7 .• 9
10 - 17
10 - 13
14- 15
16 - 17
18 - 80
18 - 55
A. Election of officers
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 41/43 A of 2 December 1986 •••••••••••••••••
C. Re'-establi~hment of the Working Group., •••••••••••••••
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
1. Review of the s~tuation relating to the question
of Palestine and efforts to implement the
recommendations of the Committee •••••••••••••••••• 18 - 28 6
2. Reactions to developments affecting the inalienahle
rights of the Palestinian people •••••••••••••••••• 29 - 46 8
3. Action taken by the Committee to promote the
convening of the proposed International Peace
Conference on the Middle East iil accordance I<'i th
General Assembly Lesolution 38/58 C of
13 December 1983 ••..•..•••••.••••••••.••• •••• ~ ••• 47 - 53 11
4. Attendance at international conferences and
meetings ".. _ . 54 13
5. Action taken by United Nations bodies, the Movement
of Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental
organizations ••..••..•.•.•••••.•.••••••••••••••.•• 55 14
B. Action taken by the Committee in accordance with
General Assembly resolutions 41/43 A and B of
2 December 1986 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 56 - 80 15
1. Co-operation with non-governmental organizations •• 56 - 69 15
2. Seminar s ••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 70 - 78 18
3. Other activities 79 - 80 20
-iiiCONTENTS
(continued)
Paragraphs Page
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPA.d'MENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 41/43 C •••••••
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••
ANNEXES
81 - 91
92 - 96
21
23
I. Recommendations o~ the Committee endorsed by the General
Assembly at its thirty-first session •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 25
II. Geneva Declaration on Palestine and the Programme of Action
for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights ••••••••••••••••••••• ,....... 28
Ill. Conclusions and recommendations ado~ted by the Sixteenth
United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine,
New De.hi, 8-12 June 1987 •••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••••••• 38
IV. Declaration adopted by the United Nations Asian Regional
Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium on the Question
of Palestine, New Delhi, 8-10 June 1987 •••••.••••••••.•••••.•••••••••• 43
V. Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Seventeenth
United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine,
New York, 22-2~ June 1981 .•••••••••••••••••.•••••••••.•••••.••••.••.•• 4&
VI. Declaration adopted by the United Nations North American
Regional Non-Government~l Organizations Symposium on the
Question of Pale8tine, New York, 24-26 June 1987 •••••••••••••••••••••• 53
VII. Declaration adopted by the International Meeting of
Non-Governmental Organiza~ions on the Question of Palestine,
Geneva, 7-9 September 1987 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••,.............. 63
-ivLE'M'ER
OF TRANSMI'M'AL
7 October 1.987
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of ttle Palestinian People for submission to thtl
Genp.rbl Assembly in accordance with paragraph 4 of re~lution 41/43 A of
2 December 1986.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Massamba SARRE
. Chairman of the Committee on the
Exp.rcise of the Inalienable Ri9~ts
of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Javier P~rez de Cu~llar
Secretary-General of the United Nations
-vI.
INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People, establighed by General Assembly resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975,
is currently composed of 23 Member States. 1/
2. The first report of the Committee ~/ contained specific recommendations
designed to enable the '>alestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights as
previously recognized and defined by the General Assembly. Those recommendations
were first endorsed by the As~embly in its resolution 31/20 of 24 November 1976 as
a basis for the solution of the question of Palestine.
3. In its subsequent reports to the General Assembly, 1/ the Committee retained
its original recommendations unchanged. On each occasion they have been firmly
endorsed by t e Assembly, which has also conti~ued to renew and, as necessary,
expand the mandate of the Committee.
4. Despite repeated and urgent appeals by the Committee, however, the Security
Council has not yet been able to act on or ~mplement the recommendations of the
Committee. The Committee remains convincec that positive consideration and action
by the Security Council on its recommendations would advance prospects for the
attainment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
5. Meanwhile, the occupation by Israel of Palestinian and other Arab territorleR,
including Jerusalem, in violation of Security Council and General Assembly
resolutions, has continued and is now in its twentieth year. Israel still occupies
parts of Lebanon. As a result, the situation relating to the inalienable l'ights of
the Palestinian people has continued to deteriorate. The Committee ha; repeatedly
expressed its grave concern at the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied
territories, which are in violation of the Genev3 Convelltion relative to the
Protection of Civilian Per,ons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 4/ and the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (General Assembly resolution-2l7 A (Ill».
Such poli~ies and practices have continued to pose obstacles to the efforts towards
a comprehensive, just and las~ing solution, and to exacerbate tension and conflict
in the area, further endangering international peace and security. The Committee
has therefore repeatedly warned that thiR situation will continue to prevail as
long as the Palestinian people is denied its inalienable rights in Palestine,
including those to self-determination without external interference to national
independence and sovereignty, to returl. to its homes and property, and to establish
its own independent sovereign State, and as long as the Palestinian and other Arab
territories remain occupled. In this connection, the Committee has also been
gravely concerned by the violence and destruction directed against Palestinians in
refugee camps, for whom the international community has a special responsibility.
6. In order to secure United Nations objectives on the question of Palestine,
during the period under review, the Comlnittee continued to give priority to the
ea~ly convening of the proposed Internatiu.lal Peace Conference on the Middle East,
under United Nations auspices and in accordance with the provisions of General
Assembly resolution' 38/58 C of 13 December 1983. The Committee is convinced that
the conference would make a practical and pobitive contribution to efforts to
promote a just and lasting peace in the Middle East and has continued to stress the
-1-
urgent need for ad(iltional concrf'te and constructive efforts ny all (;overnment~; in
order to convene ~he Conference without delay. As a practical step tnwarris that
objective, a preparatory r;ommittee should he ,:stahlished imml'c1iately, in dccord"ncp
with General Assembly resolution 41/43 D ot 2 December 19B6, with the parlicipJtiun
of the five permanent members of thp Security Council and also of all pdrtie~;
involved, including the Palestine Liberati()1 Organization (PLO).
--2-
I I. MANDATE Oi" THE COMMIT'I'I~E
7. The Committee's mandate for the year 1987 is contained in paragraphs 3 to 5 of
General Assembly resolution 41/43 A of 2 December 1986 by which the Assembly:
(a) Requested the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation
rela inq to the question of Palestine as well as the implementation of the
Programme of Action for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights .?/ and to repor', and
make s~ggestions to the General ASSembly or the Security Council, as appropriate,
(b) Authorized the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the
implementation of its recommel1daL ns, including representi\tion at conferences and
meetings and the sending of delegations wherp such activities would be considered
by it to Je appropriate, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its
forty-second session and thereafter,
(c) Requested the Committee to continue to extend Lts co-operation to
non-governmental organizations in their contribution towardo heightening
international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and in
creating a more favourable atmosphere for thf\ full implementation of the
Committee's recommendations, and to take the necessary stJpS to expand its contacts
with those organizations.
8. By its resolution 41/43 B of 2 ::'ecember 1986, the General ASbembly also
requested the Secretar)-General, inter alia, to provide the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources and to ensure
that the Division continued to discharge the tasks detailed in paragraphs 2 and 3
of General Assembly res0lution 40/96 B, in consultation with the Committee and
under its guidance.
9. By resolution 4~/43 C of ~ December 1986, the General Assembly requested the
Department of Public Information, in full co-operation and co-ordination with the
Committee, to continue its special information programme on the question of
Palestine.
-3-
Ill. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A. Election of officers
lOo At its l37th meeting, on 12 January 19b7, the Committee decided to re-elect
the following officers:
Chairman: Mr. Mdssamba Sarre (Senegal)
Vice-Chairt~n: Mr. Oscar Oramas-Olivd (Cuba)
Rapporteur: Mr. George Agius (Malta)
11. At its 139th meeting, on 12 March 1987, the :ommittee elected by acclamation
Mr. Shah Mohammad Oast (Afghanistan) dS Vice-Chairman.
12. At its 141st meeting, on 7 July 1987, the Committee designated
Mr. Saviour Borg (Malta) as Rapporteur a.i., in lieu of Mr. George Agius, who had
returned to his country. At its 142nd meeting, on 14 September 1987, the Committee
elected by acclamation as Rapporteur, Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier, who had recently
been appointed Permanent Representative of Malta.
13. At its 138th meeting, on 12 February 1987, th~ Committee adopted its programme
of work for 1987 (A/AC.183/1987/CRP.l/Rev.l) in implementation of its mandate.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
14. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of Uae
United Nations and Permanent Observers to the United Nations desiring to
participate in the work of the Committee as observers wo~~ welcome to do so.
Accordingly, in a letter dated 18 February 1987, the Chu!rman of the Committee so
informed the Secretary-General, who subsequently transmitted the letter, on
26 February 1987, to States Members of the united Nations and members of the
specialized agencies, and to intergovernmental regional organizations. The
Committee also decided to invitQ the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to
participate in the work of the Committee as an observer, to attend all its meetings
and to make observations and proposals for the consideration of the Committee.
15. During 1987 the Committee again welcomed as observers all the States and
organizations that had participated in its work the preceding year. 6/ The
Committee also welcomed the additional participation of Kuwait as of-28 April and
of Bangladesh as of 7 July 1987.
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group
16. At its 137th meeting, the Committee re-established its Working Group to assist
in the preparation and expedition of the work of the Committee. The Working Grou~
was constituted as before under the cha!rmanshi~ of Mr. George Agius (Malta), on
the understanding that any Committee member or observer could participate in its
proceedings. 7/ At its 141st meeting, the Committ~e designated Mr. Saviour Borg
(Malta) :0 serve as Chairman a.i. of the Working Group. At its 142nd meeting. the
-4-
Committee appointed Mr. Alexander Borg-Ollvier (Malta) as Chairman of the Working
Group.
17. At its 1st meeti~1, on 4 February 19B7, the Working Group elected by
ac,=lamation Mr. Pramathesh Rath (India) as its Vice-Chairman.
-5-
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMI'rTEE
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolutinn
41/43 A of 2 December 1986
1. Review of the situation relating to the question o! PalestirIP
and efforts to implement the recommendations of the Committee
18. In accordance with its mandate, in the year under review, the Committee
continued to follow developments relating to the question of Palestine and to exprt
all efforts to promote the implementation of its recommendations .'If> repeat.'dly
endorsed by the General Assembly.
19. In response to events in the region affecting the inalienable riqhts of the
Palestinian people, the Chairman of the Committee, on several occasion!" whenever
urgent action "'lS required, brought such developments to the attention of the
Secretary-General and the President of the ~)ecurity Counci 1, anci ca lled for
appropriate measures in accordance with United Nations resolutions (see sect. 2 (a)
below). Those letters were sent against a backdrop of continued mi litary
occupation and gradual annexation by Israel of the Palestinian and Arab
terr itor ies, which resulted in a growing spiral of conf 1ict, t.ension and violence
in the region.
20. The Committee was increasingly concerned at the fact that the situation in the
occupied Palestinian territories had continued to deteriorate, accorciing to reports
reaching the Committee from a variety ut sources, such as Governments, Uniteci
Nations bodies and agencies, non-govern ~enta1. organizations, individual experts and
the media. The Comm~ttee was also alarmed at the continuing gralte situation of
Palestinian refugees in the camps in south Lebanon.
21. According tu the information received by the Committee, Israel haci persisteci
in its policy ol confiscating Arab-owned land in the occupied Palestinian
territories and of expanding its settlements, in violation of the Geneva Convention
relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of
12 ~ugust 1949, i/ and Uniteq Nations resolutions.
22. The Committee remained gravely concerned at the continued imposition of the
"iron-fist" policy by Israel, the occupying Power, in the occupied territories, in
an effort to curb popular sent.mC!nt and activities in opposition to the occupation
and in support of PLO. Demonstrations and protests which spread throughout the
territories during the period under review were met with armed force by Israeli
troops on repeated occasions, resulting in the killing and wounding of unarmed
civilians, including children. The Israeli authorities continued to impose a range
of measures against suspected activists, particularly trade unionists, community
and stUdent lerders, journalists, and academics. Such measures included arrest,
administrative detention for up to six months without charges or trial, town or
house arrest, denial of permission to travel abroarl, and deportation. The
Committee was gravely concerned at repeated reports of torture, beatings anll
ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners by Israeli security forces, despite appe.lls
by human rights orqanizations and hunger strikes by thousands of prisoners.
-6-
23. The Israeli author itieB hdrl <lIno conI inued t.o \ll1q,I'jP in <-lcts ul collf'ctive
puniflhment clnd other medBure~, dqainnt the Palestini.tn popuLI! itlll in thl' occupied
terr itor ies, flitch rlfl the destruction or sealing 01 homes of I ami I ips of Iwrflons
charged with security o1tencen, the imposition of curfew!., raid:; on n'bt')l'e Cdmp!',
schoola and trd,le union premises, and various other forms uf intimidation clnd
harassment. Schools, universitipfl and newspapers were closed clown on repeated
occasions, trade union activit.1.es were prohibited, and measures were taken againflt
student unions, community organizations, wom,~n's groups, and otherfl.
24. These repreGsive actions by the Israeli author Hies were accompanied by a
growing trend towards settler vigilantism, encroachment and provocation, which
resulted in numerous violent incidentfl .•nd further exacerbated tengion in the area.
25. The Committee was gravely concerned at the fact that the Israeli authorities
had continued to take administrative, economic and other measureR to further
entrench their control over the occupied terr itor iea, thereby impeding their
autonomous development. In particular, the Committee noted reports relating to the
growing confiscation of agricultural Idnds and water reAourcea, to the arbitrary
taxation and restrictions imposed on the commercial and industrial sectors, and to
the continuing destruction of the economic, demographic, social and cultural
structure of the occupied territories. The Palestinian people was thereby
prevented from making use of, and developing, its own resources, and had to depend
increasingly on the Israeli market for its products and on the Israeli labour
market for employment, or even to emigrate. The Committee further noted with
concern reports that living standards had continued to deteriorate, and that in
particular the health situation had worsened, labour conditions remained
discr iminatorYI and the educational system continued to be inadequat.e.
26. The Committee wished once again to expres& its utmost concerr, at these
policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, and to br ing them forcefully
to the attention of the General Assembly anJ the Security Council as they clearly
violated the fourth Genev~ Convention of 12 August 1949 4/ and had serious
rp.percussions not only on the attainment by the Palestinians of their inalienable
rights, but also on peace and security in the region, and on international efforts
to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine,
the core of the Middle East conflict.
27. At the same time, the Committee noted with appreciation that the
Secretary-General's report on assistance to the Palestinian people
(A/42/289-E/19P7/86 and Add.l) had provided evidence of the continuing commitment
of the agencies and programmes of the United Nations system to provide economic and
social assistance to the Palestinian people. The Committee was pleased that
cOllsensus had been reached on tht: proposed programme of assistance and that efforts
would now turn to its implementation and to the mobilization of the necessary
resources.
28. The Committee also noted with appreciation the report of the Seminar on the
Living Conditions of the Palestinian People in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
(A/42/l83-F, /1987/53), held at the Vienna 1'Iternational Centre from 2 to
6 March 1981 pursupnt to General Assembly resolution 40/201 of 17 December 1985 and
fUlly supported its goals of labour absorption and the entrenchment of t:he
Palestinian people in their homes and on their land.
-7-
2. Reactions to developments affectiny the inalienable rights
of the PaleRtininn peoplf>
(a) COmmUnlci\t ions to till! St~cr('tary-General and thl' President of the Secur ity
Counc il
29. In resl~nse to events affecting the inalienable rights of the Pale8tinian
people, the Chairman of the Committee, whenever urgent action was required, drew
the attention of the Secretary-General and of the President of the Security Council
to such events, urging the adoption of appropriate measures in accordance with
United Nations resolutiona. The Chairman continued to call, in particular, for
renewed efforts to promote a comprehemllve, jllRt and lasting solution to the
question of Palentine, the root cause ef the conflict in the Middle East, and to
stress the urgent need for thl' conveninq of the International PeaC'f~ Conference on
the Mlddle East in accordance wlth General Assembly resolution 38/58 C.
30. In a letter to the Secretary-General dated 10 November 1986
(A/41/811-S/18452), the Chairman expressed the Committee's grave concern at tht
persistence and intensification of fighting in and around Palestinian refugee camps
at Beirut and near Tyre and Sidon. In particular, the Committee was greatly
concerned that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for palestine Refugees in
the Near East (UNRWA) had been unable to deliver supplies to several of the camps,
which were surrounded and remained inaccessible. In his lettpr, the Chairman
called for urgent measures to be taken to tnd the suffering and to provide the
necessary emergency relief, as well as to ensure the security and safety of the
Palestinians in the refugee camps.
31. On 16 Oecember 1986, the Chairman drew attention in a letter
(A/41/970-S/18525) to the grave incidents which had conUnued to occur in the
occupied Palestinian territories since the adoption by the Security Council of
resolution S92 (1986). The Chairman detailed the most significant developments,
which included several instances of shootings of Palestinian demonstrators by
Israeli troops, hundreds of arrests, the closing of schools and universities and
the imposition of curfews in several areas. He stressed th~t che actions by the
Israeli authorities in the occupied territories were totally in violation of the
Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Tim~ of War of
1949, and that, in resolution :1':l'2 (1986), the Security Council had called upon
Israel to abide immediately and scrupUlously by the Convention and to release any
per80n or persons detained as a result of the recent events.
32. In a letter dated 11 February 1987 (A/42/122-8/18682), the Chairman again
expressed the Committo~e's grave concern at the persistence and intensification of
attacks on the Palestinian refugee camps at Beirut and near Tyre. Since his
previous letter (see para. 30 above), the violence and destruction hod escalated,
cauding thousands of casualties. The Committ~e wished to express its utroost
concern at th,~ fact that lJNRWA had been unable to deliver food or medicines to the
camps and that thousands of persons We[2 trapped and close to starvation. In view
of the seriousness of the situation, the Committe~ .shed to make an urgent appeal
to all interested parties to use their influence to enable UNRWA and other
humanitarian organizations to provide essential emerqen~y relief.
33. In d further letter on the same issue, dated 20 f<'ebruary 1987
(A/42/13S-S/18713), the Acting Chairman expressed the Committee's utmost concern at
the fact that lJNRWA had once again been prevented from dEJlivering food and
-8-
medicines to the Palestinian refugee camps at Beirut nnd near Tyre. In view of the
desperate situation of the Palestinlan civilians who had been trapped in the camps
for months and who were on the verge of starvation, the Committee wished to
reiteratt~ its earlit>r urgent appeal to r.lll the parties concerned.
34. On 12 March 1987 (A/42/176-S/187S1), the Chairman stated that the situation in
the Palestinian refugee camps at Beirut and near Tyre continued to arouse the most
ser ious concern. After being allowed to deliver some supplies, UNRWA had aga in
been barred from the camps; the situation remained e::tremely grave and was bound to
deteriorate further unless urgent measures were taken. He accordillgly reiterated
the Committee's pressing appeal to all parties concerned to do everything possible
to enable UNRWA and other humanitarian organizations to provide emergency relief.
35. On 7 May 1987 (A/42/278-S/1e850), the Chailman drew urgent attention to recent
al.r raids carr ied Out by the Isr..leli Air Force against Palf>~tinian refugee camps
near Sidon. Two attacks in the space of about a week had resulted in a toll of
22 df>ad and 65 wounded persons, primarily among the civilian population, and in the
destruct lon of several houses. He expressed the view that the attacks had to be
seen in the context of the intensification of measures taken by the Israeli
authorities against the Palestinian people in the occupied territories, as well as
the general military escalation in south Lebanon. He warned that the situation
th~t was being created was a most explosive one, and expressed the Commi~tee's deep
concern at the actions of the Israeli authorities, which continued to heighten
tension in the region and posed a serious obstacle to international efforts to
achieve a solution to the questio.l of Palestine.
36. In a letter dated 20 May 19J7 (A/42/297-S/l8874), the Chai,man express0d once
again the grave concern of the Committee at the continuing detel ioration of the
situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. Since his earlier letter on the
issue (see para. 35 above), demonstrations by Palestinians against the occupation
had intensified and the Israeli authorities had again resorted to a variety of
measures, including the use of armed force, the detention of leaders for six-month
periods, arrests, the closing down of unlversiti~s, and expulsions. Three youth
leaders had recently been denorted: Marwan Barghouti, Chairman of the Student
Council at Bir Zeit University, Khalil Ashour, Chairman of the Student Council at
A~-Najah University (both in the West Bank) and Ahmed Abdulfatah Nasser, President
of the Arab Youth Federation at Xhan ~unis in Gaza. The Chairman recalled that
Security Council resolution 592 (1986) had reaffirmed the applicability of the
Geneva Convention relative to toe Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of \~ar of
12 August 1949 to the occupied ter~ltories, and had called on Israel to abide
immediately an<i scrupulously b:, that Convention.
37. In a letter dated 3 June 1987 (A/42/3l8-S/1R893), the Chairman called urgent
attention to the serious incidents that had continued to occur in the occupied
Palestinian territories. The Israeli authorities had launch~l a massive campaign
of detention of Palestinians following protest demonstrations in the refugee camps
in the West Bank, one camp had been raided by Israeli troops, which had o~ened fire
on demonstrators; 1;0 persons had been nrrested, and 10 had been ordered detained
for a period of six months. The Committee wished to emQhasize that such actions
were absolutely contrary to the Geneva Convention and tu recall the provisions of
Security Council resolution 592 (1986).
38. In a letter dated 9 September 1987 (Aj42j550-sjl9122), the Chairman drew
urgent attention to the recent air raids carried nut by the Israeli Air Force on
-9-
the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugep camp near Sidon. He stated that, according
to information from var i,ous press agencies, as a result of the bombings many
Palestinians, including women and chllJren, had lost their lives and scores had
been injured. He stressed that the si.tuation being created in the area was a most
explosive one, which could not but arouse the greatest concern. In conclusion, the
Chairman reiterated the Committee's conviction that positive action by the Security
Council on its recommendations and or. the proposed International Peace Conference
on the Middle East would advance pr~5pects for a just and lasting peace in the
region, and called for continued efforts towards this objective.
39. In a letter dated 22 September 1967 (A/42/575-S/19150), the Chairman urgently
drew attention to the steady deterioratiun of the human rights situation in the
occupied Palestinian territories. In particular, suspected opponents of the
occupation continued to be subjected to measures of ~dministrative detention for up
to six months without charges or trial. The latest such case was that of
Faisal Husseini, the well-known director of the Arab Studies Suciety, recently
detained for the third time in less than a year, apparently because of statements
made in connection with his activities in the Committee Confronting t~e Iron-Fist
Policy, a J ewi .:-h-Ar ab 9 roup opposed to I sr aeli poUcies in the a.::cupied
territories. Mr. Husseini had a1s0 been under town-arrest for five years.
Stressing that such policies only eA~cerbated tension and created new obstacles to
a negotiated and peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question, the Chairman
called for intensified efforts by the i.nternational community to convene the
International Peace Conference on th~ Middle East in accordance with General
Assemb~y resolution 38/58 C.
(b) Action taken within the Security Council
40. In addition to tr.ansmitting letters to the Secretary-General and the President
of the Security Council, the Commlttf!e followed closely the activities of the
Council on matters relating to the Committee's mandate, and participated in Council
debates as necessary.
41. In a letter dated 4 December 19d6, addressed to the President of the Security
Council (S/18501), the Permanent Representative of Zimbabwe to the united Nations
and Chairman of the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries
requested an immediate meet'irig of the Council to consider the situation in the
l~raeli-occupied Palp.stinian and other Arab territories, inclUding Jerusalem. The
Council considered the item at four meetings held on 5 and 8 December 1986.
42. At the 2725th meeting of the Cou~cil, on 8 December 198b, the Chairman of the
Committee intervened in the debate and stated that the Committee observed with
ever-growing concern the deterioratio.\ of the situation in ~he Palestinian and
other Arab territories occupied by Israel, including Jerusalem. The incidents that
the Council was considering, which invol~ed the shooting of PalesGinian student
demonstrators by Israeli troops, were but the latest manifestacions of the "iron
fist" policy of repre~sion adopted by the Israeli authorities. Such measures were
in violation of the Universal Declari'ltion of Human Rights, the Fourth Geneva
Convention and the r~levant resolutiona of the United Nations in the matter. They
caused growing tensions and violence in the region, which would continue so long as
the Palestinian people was prevented from exercising its inalienabl~ rights.
43. It was therefore essential t~ take steps to initiate the process that could
lead to a peacefuL solution, in acco:dance with L:1e guidelines established by the
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General Assembly. The Committee invited those who had so far opposed the holding
of the proJosed International Peace Conference on the Middle East to work in a more
constructive fashion for its convening an~ successful outcome, and appealed to the
Security Council to take appropriate measures to ensure resumption of the policy of
dialogue among all the parties concerned.
44. At its 2727th meeting, on 8 December 1986, the Council adopted resolution
592 (1986), by which it reaffirmed the applicability of the Geneva Convention
relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,
to the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967,
including Jerusalem, and called upon Israel to abide immediately and scrupulously
by it; strongly deplored the opening of fire by the Israeli army resultinq in the
death and the wounding of defenceless students; called for the release of all
persons detained as a result of the recent events, called upon all concerned
parties to exercise maximum restraint, to avoid violent acts, and to contribute
towards the establishment of peace, and requested the Secretary-Genpr.\l to report
to the Council on the implementation of the resolution not later thai'
20 December 1986.
45. The Committee subsequently took note of the report of the Secretary-General
(5/18532), prepared in pursuance of resolution 592 (1986).
46. The Committee noted the statement made by ~he President of the Security
Council on behalf of the members of the Council on 13 February 1987 (S/18691), by
which the members of the Council, mindful of the sovereignty, independence and
territorial integrity of Lebanon, expressed their profound concern at the continued
escalation of violence in certain parts of Lebanon, affecting the civilian
population, particularly in and around palestinian refugee camps. The members
called upon the parties concerned to observe an immediate cease-fire and to permit
access to the camps for humanitarian purposes. They also urgently appealed to all
concerned to facilitate the efforts of various Governments and united Nations
agencies, including UNRWA, as well as non-governmental organizations, to provide
critically needed humanitarian assistance.
3. Action taken by the Committee to promote the convening
of the proposed Int~rnational Peace Conference on the
Middle East in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 38/58 C of 13 December 1983
47. General Assembly resolution 41/43 D of 2 December 1986, ipter alia, determined
that the question of Palestine is the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the
Middle East, reaffirmed once again its endorsement of the call for convening the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East in conformity with the provisions
of resolution 38/58 C, stressed the urgent need for additional concrete and
constructive efforts by all Governments in order to convene the Conference without
further delay; endorsed the call for setting up a preparatory committee, within the
framework of the Security Council, to take the necessary action to convene the
Conference1 requested the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Security
Council, to continue his efforts with a view to convening the Conference and to
report thereon to the General Assembly not lat.ar tha, 15 May 1987, and decided to
consider at its forty-second session the report of the Secretary-General on the
implementation of the resolution.
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48. In the light of that resolution the Committee, in adopting its programme of
work (A/AC.183/l987/CRP.l/Rev.l), once again decided that, in its activities during
1987, it would continue as a matter of priority to exert all efforts to promote the
early convening of the proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East,
while urging the understanding and further co-operation of all concerned for the
resolution of a problem of such fundamental importance to the maintenance of
international peace and security. This goal was also stressed by the Chairman of
the Committee in his lettel to the Secretary··General of 18 )'ebruary 1987, inviting
the participation of all States and intergovernmental organizations in the work of
the Committee (see para. 14 above). The Committee was further strengthened in its
resolv~ by the positive replies it received from several Member States, which
showed firm support for the Committee's objectives and reaffirmed that the
Committee had an important role to play in international efforts towards the
convening of the Conference. The CowToittee intends to take into consideration in
its future activities the suggescions made by Member States.
49. The Committee was also greatly encouraged by the strong consensus in favour of
the urgent convening of the Conf~rence as the most practical and comprehensive
approach to a soll'tion of the question, that had emerged from the regional seminars
and from symposia and meetings of non-governmental organizations on the question of
Palestine organized under the Committee's auspices. The Committee also found
support for the establishment of the preparatory Committee in accordance with
Assembly resolution 41/43 0 (see sect. B below).
50. The Committee was pleased to note that the Secretary-General had continued his
efforts with a view to convening the Conference in accordance with the
above-mentioned resolution. In ilis report (A/42/277-S/l8849), the
Secretary-Gen~ral had stated that, in contrast with the experience of recent years,
nore of the members of the Security Council opposed in principle the idea of an
international conference under United Nations auspices. He further state that
wide differences still existed regarding the form that a conference should take and
that the positions of tl ~ par.ties themselves remained far apart on a number of
issues of procedure and of substance, but that in recent months there had been
indications of greater flexibili~y in attitudes towards the negotiating process and
that this should be encouraged.
51. The Committee noted with 'appreciation that the Secretary-General intended to
intensify his contacts with the parties in order to try to find ways of bridging
the gapA between th&m, and that he would keep the General Assembly and the Security
Council fully informed of his continuing efforts to make progress towards a just
and l.asting peace in the Middle East. The Committee also noted with appreciation
the statement made on 7 September by the representative of the Secretary-General,
ac the fourth United Nations International Meeting of Non-Governmental
Organizations held at Geneva, that since May, the Secretary-General had continued
his consultations with the parties and the members of the Security Council. In
June he hac) sent a mission to the area to explore further the positions of all the
parties concerned, including PLO. The mission had had a most constructive
discussion with Chairman Arafat in Tunis. Similarly, the talks held with the other
parties had also been useful, providing the Secretary-General with clear
indications of their positions. While a number of obstaclp.s still needed to be
overcome, the Secretary-General was determined to continue his efforts.
52. The Committee was encouraged by the positive elements contained in the
Secretary-General's report as well as by the growing international consensus and
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efforts in favour of the proposal (see para. 55 below). The Committee continued to
stress the urgent need for the Secur i ty Counc i 1 and the par ties concerned to take
positive action towards the convening of the Confe~ence, particularly in the light
of the worsening situation in the occupied territories and in the refugee camps.
T!lt! Committee's view was reiterated in a meeting of its bureau 'Iith the President
of the Security Council on 20 May 1987.
53. On 5 June 1987, the Chairman of the Committee issued a press statement
(GA/PAL/348) commemorating the twentieth anniversary· of the 1967 war in the Middle
East, which had resulted in the occupation by Israeli forces of the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza str ip, and in the deniC:11 of the right to
self-determination of the Palestinian people. He l~unched an appeal to the
international community to redouble its efforts to bring about 3 just and lasting
solution to the Palestinian question, the root cause of the conflict in the Middle
East. The Committee believed that the International Peace Conference Bhould be
convened as soon as possible and it requested the co-operation of all concerned and
interested parties in order to ensure its success in the common ir.terest.
4. Attendance at international conferences and meetings
54. In accordance with its mandate, since its previous report to the General
Assembly, the Committee was represented at the following international conferences
and meetings:
(a) Meeting of the Special Committee against Apartheid in obs~rvance of the
Day of Solidarity with South African Political Prisoners, held in New York on
10 October 1986i
(b) Special meeting of the United Nations Council for Namibia to commemorate
tre Week of Solidarity with the People of Namibia and their Liberation Mo.ement,
held in New York on 27 October 1986i
(c) Meeting of the Special Committee againbt Apartheid in commemoration of
the seventy-fifth anniversary of the African National Congress of South
Africa (ANC), held in New York on 8 January 1987i
(d) Fifth Islamic Summit Conference, held in Kuwait from 21 to
28 January 1987;
(e) Solemn meeting of the Special Committee against Apartheid in observance
of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, held in
New York on 20 March 1987;
(f) Meeting of the Committee of Nine Non-Aligned Countries on Palestine, held
at Harare on 14 and 15 April 1987;
(g) Eighteenth session of the Palestine Nati0"al Council, held at Algiers
from 20 to 26 April 1987;
(h) Extraordinary plenary meetings of the United Nations Council for Namibia,
held at Luanda from 18 to 22 May 1987;
(l) Meeting of the Solidarity Committee: of the Genoan Democratic Republic in
solidarity with the Palestinian people, held at Berlin on 5 June 1987;
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(jl Solemn meeting of the Special Committee aqa'r.st Apartheid in observance
of the International Day of Solidarity with the Stru~glin~ People of South Africa Soweto
Day, held in New York on 16 June 19871
(k) Forty-sixth ordinary session of the C0~ncil of Ministers and twenty-third
session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of
~frican Unity, held at Addis Ababa on 20 to 29 July 1987;
(1) Solemn meeting of the United Nations Council lor Namibia in commp.moration
of Namibia Day, held on 26 Aug"st 19871
(m) European Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations organized by the
European Co-ordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question
of Palestine, held at Geneva on 3 and 4 September 1987.
5. Action taken Ly United Nations bodies, the Movement
of Non-Aligned Countries ~nd intergovernmental
organization~
55. The Committee continued to follow with great interest the activities relating
to the question of Palestine of the Movement of Non-"'.ign:!!d Countries, United
Nations bodies and intergovernmenta\ organizations. the Co~ittee especially noted
the grave concern at all levels of ~he international commuuity over the continuing
lack of progress towards a negotiated solution of the Palestine qup.stion and over
the steady deterioration of the situation of the Palestinian people in the occupied
territories and the refugee camps. It welcomed the growing sentim~nt and momentum
in favour of the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle
East. The Committee noted in parti~ular the following documents:
(a) Final communique of the Meeting of Ministers and Heads of Del~gation of
the Non-Aligned Countries to the forty-first session of the United Nations General
Assembly, held in New York on 2 October 1986 (A/4l/703-~/18395)1
(b) Final communique adopted at the Co-ordination Meeting of the Ministers of
Foreign Affairs of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, held in New York on
2 October 1986 (A/41/740-S/l84l8) 1
(c) Communique issued by the plenary meeting of Non-Aligned Countries held in
New York on 8 December 1986 (A/42/79-S/l8569)1
(d) Final communique and resolutions adopted ry the Fifth Islamic Summit
Conference, held at Kuwait from 26 to 29 January 1987 (resolutions 1/5-P(IS),
2/5-P(IS) and 8/5-P(IS» (A/42/l78-S/l8753) J
(e) Resolutions adopted by the forty-third session of the Commission on Human
Rights, held at Geneva ~rom 2 February to 13 March 1987 (resolutions 1987/2 A
and R, 1987/4 and lq87/49) (E/1987/18-E/CN. 4/1987/60) J
(f) Dec~acation of the Foreign Ministers of the Twelve Member States of the
European Community on the Middle East, made at Brussels on 23 February 1987
(A/42/l51-S/l87l8) J
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('1) Rerlolu': 10 " adopted by ttw Council of Ministers of the Organizat ion of
African Unity at It,; forty-f ifth ordinary session, held at Addis Ababa from 2] to
28 February 1987 (A/42/292);
(h) Statement on the Middle E<.lst issued by the Nordic Foreign Ministers at
their meeting held at Reyjkavik from 25 to 26 Marcll 1987;
(i) Final document adopted at the Meeting of the Ministers for Foreign
Affairs of t.he <::olllmittee of Nine Non-Aligned Countr ies on Palestine (Harare
Declaration) held ~t Harare on 14 and 15 April 1987 (A/42/~84-S/18856);
(j) Commllniq..lf! issuec by the SesAion of the Political Consultative Committee
of the States Parties to the Warsaw Treaty on Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual
Assistance held at Berlin on 28 and 29 M~y 1987 (A/42/313-S/18888);
(k) Communique of the Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the
Mediterranean members of the Movement of !ion-Aliglled Countries, held at Orioni,
Yugoslavia, from 3 to 4 June 1987 (A/42/409)1
(1) Commun:;clue of the r.ommi ttee of Nine Non-AligneC' Countr ies on Palestine
meeting at the mir.isterial level at . 'ongyang, Democratic People's RepUblic of
Kore", on 10 June 1987;
(m) Joint communique of the Twentieth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, held in
Sing<.lpore on 15 and 16 J'me 1987 (A/42/477-S/19048);
(11) Resolutions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its second
regUlar session of 1987, held at Geneva from 23 June to 9 July 1987 (resolutions
H87/77 and 1987/87) (E/1987/INF/7);
(0) Declaration concerning the Middle East adopted by the Minist~rs for
Foreign Affairs of the twelve St~tes members of the Europe~n Community at
Copenhagen on 13 ,July 1987 (A/42/401-S/18978);
(p) Resolutions adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of
African Unity at its forty-sixth ordinary session, held at Addis Ababa from 20 to
2~ July 1987 (CM/Res. 1093, 1094, 1095 (XLVI»);
(q) Declaration by the twelve member States of the European Community
concerning Israel's settlement policy, issued at Brussels, on 14 September 1987
(A/42/56-S/19139).
B. Action taken by the Committee in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions 41(4] A and B of 2 December 1986
1. Co-operation with non-governmenL~1 organizations
56. During the p~Liod under review, the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights, in con~~ltation with the Committee and under its guidance, organized a
number of activities in their continuing efforts to expand their contacts with
non-governmental organizations and to co-operate with such organizations in their
contribution towards heightening international awareness of the facts relating to
the question of Palestine and in creating a more favourable atmo. ?here for the full
implementation of the Committee's recommendations.
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57. Accordinyly, the Committee during 1987 organized regional sy.~po!lia lor
non-governmental organizations in Asia and North America, an international w~etinq
of non-governmental organizations, and two preparatory meeting~ for the Nort~
\merican symposium and the international meeting, respectively.
58. In accordance with its decision to continue to give utmoBt f>riority to efforts
to promote the early convening of the proposed International Peace Conference on
the Middle East, in accordance with General Assembly reuolution 38/58 C, the
Committee decided that non-governmental symposia an~ meetingb should continue to
emphasize the imper tance of convening the Conference ann str uctllred the l·rogrammes
for those activities accordingly.
(a) North Americb~ Regional Symposium
59. The preparatory meeting for the North American Regional Symposlllm for
Non-Governmental Organizadons was held 'lt United Nations Headqu':l':tern on 17 and
18 February 1987 and was attended by the members of the North American
Co-ordlnating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question at
Palestine, elec~ed by the participants a~ the North American Regional symposium for
Non-Governmen~l Organizations held in June 1986. ~he meeting worked out the
various aspects of the programme for the symposium to be held in 19a7 and the
modaliti~s for expanding the network of non-government3l organizations acti/e on
the question of Palestine in North America.
60. The North American Regional Symposium for Non-Governmental Organizations was
held at United Nations Headquartels from ~4 to 26 June 1987, immediately following
the North American Regioi\al Seminar, with which it was con,bined in the interest of
economy and in accordanc~ with the practice followed in previous years (see
para. 73 b~low). The Symposium was attended by representatives of 46
non-go~ernmental organizations as Farticipants, and 24 non-governmental
organizations as observers from the United States of America and Canada, by a
delegation of the Committee, and by a number of observers from governmental and
intergovernmental organizations and liberation movements. The symposium had one
main panel on "Th& need for convening the International Peace Conference on the
Middle Bast in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C: the urgency, f
~nding twenty years of occupation", and a number of action-oriented workshops.
61. The Committee noted with appreciation that the symposium adopted a declaration
strongly supporting the convening of the Internati~nal Peace Conference on the
Midd~e East in accordance wtih General Assembly resolution 38/58 C and calling upon
the peoples and Governmen~s of the United States and Canad~ to take all possible
steps to secure the implementation of that resolution in order to secure a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conf.lict, the core
of which is the question of Palestine. The Committee was also pleased that the
Symposium parti~ipants agreed on common objectives and strategies to be implemented
by North American non-governmer.tal organizations to promote a just and i~qting
peace in the Middle East, in particular the proposal to convene a model
international peace conferenc~ at the non-governmental or.ganizat.ion level, and
again established a North America~ Co-ordinating Committee for Non-Governmental
Organizations to co-ordinate their work. (For the full text of the declaration,
see annex VI to the present document.)
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(b) Asian Regional Symposium
62. The Asian Reglonal Symposium for Non-Governmental Organizations was held at
the Vigyan Uhawan Conference Centre at New Delhi from 8 to 10 June 1987. The
Committee had decided, in the interest of economy, to intt.'qrate this sy,,,posium as
far as possible with the Asian Regional Seminar, which was held ftt the same venue
from B to 12 June 1987 (see para. 72 below). The Committee expressed its
appreciation to the Government of India for its willingness to host both events.
63. The Symposium was attended by representatives of 21 non-governmental
organizations as participants and 11 non-governmental organizations as observers,
as well as by a delegation of the Committee and governme~tal and intergovernment~l
observers.
64. The Symposium shared two panels with the Seminar, namely, on "the role of
PLO", and on "the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance
with General Assemblr resol,ltion 38/58 C, the need for such a Conference, and
efforts and prospects to promote a successful outcome and benefits thereof". An
addit~onal panel on "non-governmental organization collaboration on the question of
Palestine and the role of t:he U.tited Nations" was also organized for the benefit of
the Symposium only, as well as a workshop on "non-governmental organization
activities to pcomote the convening of the International Peace Conference on the
Middle East and to mobilize Asian public opinion".
65. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Symposium had adopted a
declaration upholding the proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle
East in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/~8 C, with the participation
of all parties concerned, including PLO as the legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people, and calling for the mobilization of public opinion in the Asian
region in supprrt of the convening of the Conference. The Committee was also
pleased that the participants in the Symposium had agreed on common objectives and
activities for Asian non-governmental organizations with a view to encouraging
their Governments to pur sup those policies, and had taken steps towards the
establishment of a co-ordinating committee of the Asian non-governmental
organizations to harmonize their future work. (For the full text of the
declaration, See annex IV to the peesent document.)
(c) International Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations
66. The preparatory meeting for the International Meeting of Non-Governmental
Organizations was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva on 16 and
17 March 1987 and was attended by members of the International Co-ordinating
Committee foe Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine, elected
by the participants at the Inter~ational Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations
held in July 1986. In accordance with its mandate, the preparatory meeting worked
out the details of the programme for the Interna, ional Meeting of Non-Governmental
Organizations to be held in 19B7 and discllssed future co-operation and action at
the international level.
67. The International Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations was leld at the
United NationH Office at Geneva from 7 to 9 September 1987. The Meeting was
~ttended by representatives from 121 non-governmental organizations as participants
and 149 non-governm~ntal organizations as obsE-rvers from all regions, inCluding
several from Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. The Committee was
honoured by the partici~ation in the Meeting of Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the
Executive Committee of PLO, who also received the Committee delegation for an
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exchange ot views. 'X'he Commit.tee w.,s "lso plf!a~wd that a number 01 prominent
political personalit.ies hac! accepted ita invi.tation to attenc! "nd arldress the
Meeting.
68. 'rhe Heeting established two panels to consider "'1'he need for and the urqcncy
of convening the Int.ernational Peace Conference on the Middle East, i.n accordance
with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C", and "Palestinian political and human
rights", and four workshops, on mobi lization of public opin ion; creative artn dnd
the Palestinian struggle for national identitYI community development dnd relidf
work, and mobilizing thp. international peace movement for a nuclear-weapon-frec
Middle East.
6Q. The Committee noted with appreciation that. the Meetinq adopt..d cl declaration
reaffirming the need for and urgency of convening the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resollltions
38/58 C and 41/43 D and pledging further efforts by the international
non-gov~rnmental organization community to promotll this objective. In this
connection, the Committee noteo the commitment of the guropean non-governmental
organizations to work towards increased support. for the Conference by their
Governments, particularly in the States members of the guropean Economic Cnmmunity
and that the non-governmental organizations had urged the European P.lrliament to
invite Chairman Arafat to present the views of the Palestinian people. Further,
the non-governmental organizati, '1 had reaffirmed th~ international consensus that
the PLO is t~le legitimate reprf ntative of the Palestinian people and they callec!
on all Governments to recognize the PLO. The Committee noted that the Meeting had
called for the r~peal of the Israeli law of 1986 which criminalizes Israeli
citizens who engage in peace talks with the PLO. The Committee also noted that the
Meeting reaffirmed its support for the recognition and attainment of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, inclUding t.he right of return and the
right to self-determination, and expressed grave concern over the deteriorating
situation of Palestinians in the occupied territories and in southern Lebanon. The
Committee further noted with appreciation that the Meeting had agreed on a number
of action-oriented proposals for the future, including efforts for the further
expansion of the in~ernational network of non-governmental organizations, and had
again established an Intern~tional Co-ordinating Committee for Non-Governmental
Organizations to harmonize these activities. (For the full text of the
declaration, see annex VI I to' the presel.t document.)
2. Seminars
70. In accordance with the mandate given by the General Assembly, t.he Committee
and the Division for Pa1eBtinian Rights in consultation with the Comn,itt.ee and
under its guidance continued to organize seminars in various regions. As in the
pllst, the Committee decided that the seminars would cons;der the foU<>wing topics:
(a) The convening of the International Peace Conference on t,ne Middle East,
in accordance with General Assembly resolut.ion 38/58 C, the need lor such a
conference and efforts and prospects to promote a succesBlul ollt('ome and benefits
thereof;
(b) The role of the Palestine Liberation Organizat.ion;
(c) The question of Palestine and public opinion (in the region concerned);
(d) The United Nations and t.he question of Palestine.
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71. It was also decided that other topics of particular relevance to the r~gion
concerned might be added.
72. The Committee appreciated the decision of the Government of India to provide
the venue for the Asian Regional Seminar (the Sixteenth United Nations Seminar on
the Question of Palestine), which took place at New Delhi from 8 to 12 June 1987.
As already mentioned (~ee p~ra. 49 above), the Seminar was integrated with the
Asian Regional Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium to the extent possible.
The conclusio~s and recommendations of the Seminar are contained in annex III to
the present document.
73. The North American Regional Sem\nar (the Seventeenth United Nations Seminar on
the Question of Palestine) was held at United Nations Headquarters on 22 and
23 June 1987. Its conclusions and recommendations are contained in annex V to the
present document.
74. The Committee regretted that, owing to circumstances beyond its control, it
could not hold th~ Latin American seminar which it had included in its programme of
work for 1987. The Committee has decided to organize this seminar as early as
possible in 1988.
75. The Committee was pleased by the participation in the seminars of prominent
political personalities, parliamentarians and policy makers, as we]', as persons
from the academic community and other experts, as this showed the growing
determination of the internstional community at all levels to promote progress
towards a solution of the Palestine question.
76. The Committee noted that, in their conclusions and recommendations, the
participants in the regional seminars had reaffirmed that the question of Palestine
was the core of the Middle East conflict and that no comprehensive, just and
lasting peace in the region could be achieved without the realization by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights in accordance with United Nations
resolutions.
77. The rommittee was encuuraged that the participants in the seminar had also
reaffirmed the need for convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle
East under the ausp~:es of the United Nations in accordance with General Assembly
re~,lution 38/58 C, and that they urged the Governments of Israel and the United
States of America to reconsider their np.gative attitud~ towards the convening of
the Conference.
78. The Committee further noted that the participants in the seminar had expressed
the view that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People had an important role to play in promoting the convening of the
Conference and recommended the intensification of political and diplomatic efforts
by all concerned to reach a comprehensive, just and durable settlement of the
conflict in the Middle East, and that they had called for additional efforts by the
United Nations and by all concerned to influence public opinion in that direction
through wider disspmination of accurate information on the question of Palestine.
The Asian Seminar also expressed serious concern with regard to the rp.lations
between I3rael and South Afrlca and called upon the Commitlee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights to keep under review the develc~ment of such relationJ.
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3. Other activities
79. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Division for Palestinian Rights
of the Secretariat had pursued its programme of studies and publications relating
to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in ~nplementation of its
mandate as reaffirmed in General Assembly resolution 41/43 B. In particular, the
Division h~d continuea to pUblish its monthly bulletin reporting on relevant
activities and decisions of United nations bodies and inter.governmental and
non-governmental organizations, as well as special bulletins containing the reports
of regional seminars and of symposia and meetings of non-governmental organizations
organized under the auspices of the Committee, and the proceedings of the solemn
meetings of the Committee in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with
the Palestinian People. In addition, the Division had continued to update its
compilation of ~'nited Nations resolutions on the situation in the Middle East and
the question of Palestine. The Division had also produced information notes on the
International Day of Solidarity and on the various anniversaries of importance to
the Palestinian people to be observed in 1987. A study on the need fo~ convening
the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 38/58 C, and part IV of the study entitled "The origins and
evolution of the Palestine problem" were also in preparation and would be finalized
during 1987. The D\vision had also continl1~d to monitor deve~opments in the area
and to prepare information material for the uce of the Committee as required.
80. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
on 1 December 1986 at United Nations Headquarters in New York and at the United
Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna. The Committee noted with appreciation that
the International Day had been equally commemorated in many other cities throughout
the world in 1986 (see para. 91 below).
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V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE m:;PARTMENT OF' PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WI'rH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REsoLll'rION 41/43 C
81. The Committee noted with appreciation that, during the past year, the
Department of Fublic Information had continued its information programme on the
question of Palestine, in accordance with previous relevant General Assembly
resolutions, with Cl view to furthering the world-wide dissemination of accurate and
comprehensive information 0' the question. However, the financial situation of the
United Nations had led to the curtailment of several acti~ities in this regard.
The information programme included press "Ind publication activities, radio-visual
coverage, a fact-finding mission for journalists to the Middle East and a series of
national and regional encounters for journalists.
82. In pUblication activities, the Departm~nt had continued to disseminate
information on the question of Palestine through articles and press releases. The
UN Chronicle had also reported on the consideration given to the quest\on of
Palestine and other relevant items by the General Assembly at its forty-first
session, the Security Council and other United Nations bodies. The Department had
also dissemincted, as widely as possible, information regarding the seminars and
symposia held by the Committee.
83. Due to the freeze in recruitment, no new pUblications were issued. However,
the Department's publications The United Nd~~ons and the Question of Palestine and
The Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the
Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories were reproduced.
84. The Department's coverage on the question of Palestine included radio news
programme broadcasts in all the official languages of the United Nations. The
occasion of the International Day of 80lidarity with the Palestinian People,
30 November 1987, would be highlighted in feature programmes and news dispatches.
In addition, a special series of raoio programmes, four each in Arabic, English,
French and Spanish, were produced in 1986 on the following aspects of the question
of Palestine: the international dimension; a search for a political solution; the
human dimension and the proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle
East. P~other exclusive series of radio programmes would be produced in 1987 for
each In Arabic, English, French and Spanish.
85. Videotape packages included the above-ment.oned coverage and were circulated
around the world. As part of its ongoing visua. coverage of events at
Headquarters, the Department produced a substancial number of television news items
on the question of Palestine and related Middle East events. The News production
Section of the Department would cover the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People, on 30 November 1987, and the deliberations on the question of
Palestine and other relevant items during the fortY-3econd session of the General
Assembly. Several regional magazines on the question ef Palestine were also
produced and disseminated.
86. The production of a new short filln on the question of Pales~ine was currently
under way and expected to be ready for screening before 30 November 1987.
87. Activities that focused on acquainting the media with the faGts and
developments pertaining to the question of Palestine included a fact-finding
mission to the Middle East. A team of 12 prominent journalists and media
representatives from various parts of the world had visited Egypt, Jordan and Iraq
-21-
from 2 to 15 ~Tl1ne 1987. A visit to IS1ael was not possible, since no response had
been received from the Government of Israel to an official rp.quest for such a
visit. Also, a vislt to the occupied Palestinian territories ....as not possible
since Israel, the ocC"upying Power, had not responded to the same official reque!\t.
The purpose of the mlsnioll was to provide an opportunity for the participants to
learn first hand and in depth about the various aspects of the question through
discussions with senior officials of the Governments concerned and of the Palestine
Liberation Organization, prominent personalities, and visits to the Palestinian
refugee camps. The mission received extensive media coverage during the visit.
Participants published numerous articles upon their return to their hom\:! countries.
88. In 1987, as in 1986, I:he Department organized two regional encounters for
journalists on the question of Palesti.ne, br inging high-level journalists together
with experts on the question of Palestine. The first encounter was held at San
Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, for the North and LQ~tn American regions, from
20 to 23 January 1987. The second was held at Singapore, for Asian journalists
from 6 to 9 April 1987. The objective o~ both encounters was to promote a better
understanding of the question among leaders of the media by bringing them together
with experts on the subject for brief, inf()rmal discussions. Accordingly, around
15 high-level journalists from the press, radio and tele\'ision media participated
in each encounter. The journalists were impressed by the high calibre of the
panelists and by the informal and candid character of the presentations made. It
was their belief that the encounter, which they found useful, informative and
interesting, had greatly increased their knowledge of the subject.
89. The Department also organized two series of national encounters in which a
team of expert panelists held meetings, in the form of in-depth press conferences,
with natio~al journalists and foreign correspondents in ~arious countries. Latin
American national encounters were held in Peru and Venezuela on 28 and 30 January,
respectively. Asian national encounters were held i~. India, Thailand and Japan
between 31 March and 13 April 1987.
90. Feedback analysis of the above-mentioned activities revealed the great
interest of journalists and public opin!( n makers in tile question of Palestine and
their appreciation for the United Nations pUblic information progrumme in this
regard.
91. United Nations information centres througaout the world continued try carry out
information activities in connectio~ with the question of Palestine and made
available to the public United Nations publications on the sabject. The centres
also continued to organize a world-wide observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Pale&tinian People on 29 November 1986. In this regard, the
centres widely disseminated, in official and local languages, the statements of the
Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly and the Chairman of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
Commemorative meetings were also held in a large number of capitals in which
official government representatives, parliamentary groups, non-governmental
organizations and representatives of the diplomatic corpn participated. Exhibits
of posters, photographs, publications and other visual mJterials were mounted and
United Nations and UNRWA films were screened on the premises of several centres an~
at the site of the comme~orative functions. The centres would again observe the
Day on 30 November 1987.
-22-
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
92. During the year under review, international understanding of the question of
Palestine and support for the attainment and exercise of thp. inalie~able rights of
the Palestinian people have reached new heights, as demonstrated by the many
activities, statements and declarations reviewed in the present report. At the
same time, the grave deterioration of the situation of Palestinians in the area has
aroused the most widespread and serious concern that tension and violence will
conti~ue to increase, with possible disastrous consequences for the region, unless
progress is finally made towards a negotiated settlement to this long-standing and
difficult problem. The Committ~~ therefore considers that a new phase has been
reached, which necessitates renewed and intensified collective efforts to achieve a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution under United Nations auspices and on the
basis of relevant United Nations resolutions particularly General Assembly
resolutions 38/58 C and 41/43 D.
93. The Committee considerg that, at this critical juncture, urgent positive
action by the Security Council is required on the recommendations formulated by the
Committee in its first report and those adop~ed by the International Conference on
the Question of Palestine held at Geneva in 1983, which have been repeatedly
endorsed by the General Assembly. The Committee reaffirms that those
recommendations are solidly founded on fundamental and internationally accepted
principles and that the recognition and attainment of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people are indispensable conditions in the solution of the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East.
94. The Committee wishes to reaffirm that the International Peace Conference on
the Middle East, in accordance with the guidelines and other provisions contained
in General Assembly resolutions 38/58 C and 41/43 D, is the most comprehensive and
widely accepted proposal and that its convening would constitute a major
contribution by the United Nations towards the realization of such a sol.ution. In
the past year, an international consensus has clearly emerged in favour of the
convening of the Conference. The Committee therefore intends to further intensify
its efforts towards this objective, and to make it the focal point of its work
programme in the coming year.
95. Noting that the Secretary-General has reported that it has not yet proved
possible to obtain the agreement of all the parties, the Committee recommends that
the General Assembly should call once again upon those Member States which do not
yet support the convening of the Conference to reconsider their attitude, call for
additional concrete and constructive efforts by all Governments in particular the
permanent members of the Security Council, for the convening of the Conference and
for setting up the preparalory committee for the conference in accordance with
General Assembly resplution 41/43 DJ and renew the mandate of the
Secretary-GeneraJ., in conSUltation with the Security Council, to continue his
efforts with a view to convening the Conference.
96. The Committee has been impressed and encouraged by the strength and unity of
the Palestinian people under the leadership of its representative, the Palestine
Liberation Organization in confronting adversity. and by the growing awareness and
mobilization of the intern~tional community at all levels in support of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and of United Nations recommendatons
for their atta i nment. The Committee \~ill continue to engage in the process of
-23-
evaluating the progress achieved and the experience gained in its various
activities, with the goal of strengthening its efforts and achieving maximum
effectiveness in the implementation of its mandate.
Notes
1/ The Committee is composed of the following members: Afghanistan, Cuba,
Cyprus, German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao
People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist
Republic and Yugoslavia.
1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/31/351.
1/ Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/351' ibid.,
Thirty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35 and Corr.ll, ibid., Thirty-fourth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35 and Corr.ll, ibid., Thirty-fifth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/35/35 and Corr.ll, ~., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement
No. 35 ~A/36/351, ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35),
ibid., Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35), ~bid., Thirty-ninth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/39/351, ibid., Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/40/351, ibid., Forty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/41/351.
i/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973, p. 287.
~/ Report ot the International Conference C~ the Question of Palestine,
Geneva, 29 August-1 September 1983 (United Nations pUblication, Sales
No. E.83.I.211, chap. I, sect. B.
~/ The observers at the Committee meetings were as follows: Algeria,
Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Czechoslovakia, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait,
Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Sri Lanka,
Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, the League of Arab states and
the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The Palestine Liberation organization,
as the representative of the Pal~btinian people, the principal party to the
qup.stion of Palestine, was also an observer.
21 The current membership of the working Group is as follows: Afghanistan,
Cuba, German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal,
Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and, as the representative of
the people directly concerned, the Palestine Liberation Organization.
-24-
ANNEX I
Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly
at its thirty-first session*
I. Basic considerations and guidelines
59. The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and
consequently, the Committee stresses its belief that no solution in the ~iddle Edst
can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate aspi.rations
of the Palestinian people.
60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to
their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national indeiendence
and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the f~ll
implementatioll of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and
final settlement of the Middle East crlsis.
61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative
of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties, on the basis of
General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is indispensable in all
efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which ar& held under the
auspices of the United Nations.
62. The Committee recalls the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligati~n for
complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so occupied.
63. The Committee considers that it is the duty and responsibility of all
concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights.
64. The Committee recommends an expanded and more influential role by the United
Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine
and in the implementation of such a solution. The Security Council, in particular,
should take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of
their right to return to their homes, lands and property. The Committee,
furthermore, urges the Security Council to promote action towards a just solution,
taking into account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter of tll~ United
Natlons.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numero~s
resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideration of all the facts,
proposals and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that the
Committee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation of
the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
* Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-Cirst Session,
Supplement No. 35 \A!31!35), paras. 59-72.
-25-
11. The right of return
66. Tho. natural and inalienable right of Pal~stinians to return to their homes is
recognized by resolution 194 (Ill), which the General Assembly has reaffirmed
almost every year since its adoption. This right was also unanimously recognizad
by the Security Council in its resolution 237 (1967), the time for the urgent
implementation of these resolutions is long overdue.
67. Without prejudice to the right of all Palestinians to return to their homes,
lands and property, the Committee conside~s that the programme of impl&mentation of
the exercise of this right may be carried out ir two phases:
Phase one
68. Tr..'! first phase involves the retul:n to their homes of the P,lestinians
displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) The Secur i ty Council should request the immediate implementaHon of its
resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementation should not bP related
to any other condition,
(ii) The r'!sources of the I~ternational Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
and/or of the United Nations Relief and WQrks Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the ~ear Rast, suitably financed and mandated, may be
employed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved in
the resettlement of those returning to their homes. These agencies could
also assist, in cO-Qp~ratioo with the host countries and the Pale9tinp
Liberation Organization, in the identification of the displaced
Palestinians.
Phasl! two
69. The second phase deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(i) Whlle the fi~st phase is being implemented, the United Nations in
co-operation with ~he States directly involved, and the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the interim representative of the Palestinian
entity, should proceed to make the necessary arrangements to enable
Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967 to exercise their right to
return to their homes and property, in accord~nce with the relev~nt
United Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly
resolution 194 (Ill),
(ii) Palestinians not choosing to return to their homes should be paid just
and equitable compensation as provided for in resolution 194 (Ill).
Ill. The right to self-determin'ltion, national independence
and sovereignty
70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to self-determination, rational
independence and sovereignty in Palestine. The Committee considers that the
-26-
evacuation of the terri.tories occupied by force alll! in violation of the principles
of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the United Nations is a
conditio !dne qua non for the exercise by the Palestinian pf'nple of its inalienable
rights in Palestine. The Committee considers furthetmore, t It upon the return of
the Palestinians to their homes and ploperty and with the est.ablishment uf an
independent Palestinian entity, the P~lestinian peopl~ will be able to exercise its
rights to self-determination and to decide itR form of government without exterll~l
.1.nterference.
'11. The Commi ttee also f:-els tllat the Uni ted Nations has an historical duty and
tesponslbility to render all assistance necessary to promote t:1C economic
development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
72. To these ends, the Committee recommends that:
(a) A timetable should be est~blished by the Security Council for the
complete w~thdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in 1967,
such wlthdrawal ~hould be completed no later than 1 June 1977,
(b) The Security Council may neeJ to provide temporary peace-keeping forces
in order to facilitate the process of withdrawal,
(c) Israel should be requested by the Set ·ity Council to desist from the
estaLlishment of new settlements and to ",ithdraw during this pen.od from
settlements establishe" since 1967 in the oc,;upied territor ies. Arab property and
all essential services in these areas should be maintained intact,
(d) Isr~el should ~lso be requested to abide scrupulously by the provisions
of the Geneva ('')nventi<"'o relaltve to tb~ Protection of Civilian Persons io Time of
war, of 12 Aug ,st 1949 and to declare, pending its speedy withdrawal from these
territories, its recognition of the applicability of that Con"ention,
(e) The evacuated territories, with all property and services intact, should
be taken over by the United Nations, which with the co-operation of the League of
Arab States, will subsequently hand over these evacuated areas to the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people,
(f) The United Nations shuuld, if necessary, aS3ist in establishing
communications between Gaza and the West Bank,
(g) As soon as the independent Palestinian entity ha/> been eotablil:Jhed, the
United Nations, in c~-operation wit~ the States dire~tly involved and the
Palestinian entity, sh'luld, taking into account General Assembly r'~8clution
3375 (XXX), makt:! further arral'gements for the full implement.ation Ol: the
inalienable rights of the Palebtinian people, the r(solulion of 'll'~Btanding
problems and the ostablishment of a just and lasting peace in the region, in
accordance with all relevant United Nations resolutionsl
(h) The United Nations should provide the Hconomi~ and technical assi'3tance
necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity.
-27-
ANNEX 11
Geneva Opc larati~?~..Pale5tine and the Pr()(Jralnml~ of Action
for the Achievement of PaleB!ini~~ights~/
In pursuance of Gen~ral Assemhly rer'lutions 36/120 C of 10 December 1981,
ES-7/7 of 19 AuguBt 1982 and 37/86 C of 10 December 1982, an International
Conference on the QlIestlt-,n of PalestJnt> was convened at: the United Nations O!'fi.ce
at Geneva from 29 August to 7 Septemher 1983 to ;-;eek effective ¥lays and means to
,nable the Palestinian people to attain and to exercise their inalionahle rtghts.
The Conference was opened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Jllvier Perez d~l Cuellar, and presided over by the Minister for Foreign Affi,tir!-l of
Senegal Moust.'ipha NLlSg.'l.
* *
1. The Conference, having thorollqhly considered the qlleet!on of. Palestine In all
Its aspects, expresst!s the grave concern of ell! nations and r'>eoplea reg,udlng the
international tension that has persisted for several decadr.·,g in the Middle East,
the principal cause of which b t'le deni'11 by Isr,lel, and t~I(J'H~ supporting its
expansionist policies, of the in lienable legi.timat.e rights uf the Palestinian
people. The Confert'nce reaffirms and stresseg that a just solution of the question
of Palestine, the core ot the problem, is the crucial element in a comprehensive,
jUflt and lasting polit.ical setUement in thl' Middle East.
2. The Conference recognizes t.helt, as o,.e ot the most /lcut£' and complex problems
of our time, the question of Palestine - inheri.ted by the United Nations at the
time of its establishment - requires a comprp.hensive, just and lasting political
settlement.. This settlement must be based on the implementallon of the relevant
United Nations resolutions concerning the ques; ion of Pillestinl~ and the al:tainment
of the legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian peol'le, inclUding the
right to self-determination and the right to the establishment of its own
independent State in Palestine and should also be bmwd on t.he provision by the
Secur ity Council of guarantees for peace and secur i ty among all States in t.he
region, including the independent Palestinian state, within secure and
internationally recOf}nized boundar iea. 'rhe Conference is convinced that the
attainment by the Palestinian people of their ir 'llienab1f~ rights, as defined by
General Assembly resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, will contribute
subota:-tially to the achievement of peace and stahility in the Middle East.
3. The Conference considers the role of the United Nations in the achievement of
a comprehensive, just and lasting pear;e in the Middl.e East to be essential and
paramount. It emphasizes t.he n,!pd for re"Fect for, and applicatio,. of, the
provisions of thl' Char.ter of tlH~ United Nations, the resolutions of ,'lP United
Nations relevant to the qu.'s t ion of. Palentim~ and the observance of Ue pr inciples
of international law.
4. The Conference consl.der.'l that t.he various proposals, consistent 1N1.t.1~ lh~
principleL of internatiunal law, which have been presented on this questioll, such
as the Arab p~ace plan adopted unanimollsly at the 'rwelfth Arab Summit Conference
(see A/J7/696-S/15510, annex), hl~ld at \"ez, Mo(occo, in Se~J"cjnber 1982, should
-28-
serve as ~uidnlines for concerted international effort to resolve the question of
Palestine. These g~idelines i~clude the foliowing:
(a) The attai~menL by the Palesti~ian people of its leqitimate inalip.nable
rights, includinn the right .") return, the right to self-determination ;;and t~e
ci~ht ~o establish its own independent State in Palastine,
(b) The right of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the represen~ative of
the Palestinian people, t.o parti..:ipate on an equal footing with other parties in
all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the to'iddle East,
(c) The need to put an end to Israel's occupation of the Arab territories, in
accordance with the principle of the inadmissibi' :ty of the acquisition of
territory by torce, and, consequently, the need secure Israeli withdrawal from
the territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem,
(d) The need to oppose and reject such Israeli policies and practices in the
occupied territories, including Jerusalem, and ar,~' de facto situation created by
Israel as are contrary to international law ~nd relevant United Nations
resolutions, particularly t.he establishment. of i:lcttlements, as these policies and
prl',ctices constitute major obstacles to the achic>vement of peace in the Middle East,
(e) The need to reaffirm as null and void all legislative and administrative
measures and actions takell by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or
purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem,
including the expropriation of land and property situated ther~~n, and in
par.ticular the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamat.ion of Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel,
(f) The right of all States in the region to existence wi.thin secure and
internatlonally recogniZed boundar ies, with justice and secur ity for all the
people, the sine gua non of which is the recognition and attainment of thl!
legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as stated in
8ubparagraph (a) above.
5. In order to give effect to these guidelines, the Conf~~rence considers it
essential that an internation~l peace conference on the Hildle East be ccnvened on
the basis of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant
resolutions of the United Nations, with the aim of achieVing a comprehensive, just
and bsting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, an essential element of which
would be the establishment of an independent PalestinJ.an StatE' in Palestine. This
peace con(erence should be convened under the auspices of the United Naticns, with
the participation of all parties to the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the
Palesline Liberation Organization, as well as the United States of America, the
Union of Soviet Socialist RepUblics, and other concerned States, on an equal
footing. In this context the Secur ity Council has a pr imary ref"1'Onsibility to
create appropr late institutional arrangements on the basis of relevant United
Nations resolutions in order to guarantee and to carry out the accords of the
international peace conference.
6. Thp. International Conference on the Question of Palestine emphasizes the
importance of the time factor in achievlng a just solution to the problem of
Palestine. The Conference is convinced that partial solutions are inadequat~ and
delays in seeking a comprehensive solution do not eliminate tensions in the region.
-29-
B. Programme of Action for the Achievement of
~alestinian Right~
Tht· Intf!rnationdl Cnnf(.!tence un the Question of Palestine agreed that no
effort should be spared to seek effective ways and means to enable the Palestinian
people to attain and exercise their rights in Palestine in accordance with the
Ch3rter of the United Nations, the Universal Decl~ration of Human Rights b/ and the
principles of lnterniltional le-wo The Conference, taking into consideraU-;:;n the
Geneva Declaration or. Palestine (sect. A ab,:we), recommended the following
Programme of Action.
I
The International Conference on the Question of Pc11estine recommendr that
all states, individually or collec~ively, consistent with their respective
cons~itutions and their obligations under the Charter of the United N3lians
and i.n c"nforn~ity with L.e pr inciples of international law, ~Ihould:
(1) Recognize the great importanc<~ of the timl) factor in solving t.he
question of Palest.ine!
(2) Intensify el'forts for the establishinent of an independenl:
Palestinian state within the framework 0(' a comprnhensive. just and lasting
sett.lament: to the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance wi th r,he Charter of the
United Nations, the (elevant United Nations resolutions and the guidelines of
the Geneva Declaration on Palestine!
(3) Consirier the conlinued presence of ISr31!1 in the occupied
Palestinian imd other Arab teer itor ies, including Jer usalem, as exacerbating
inAtability in the region and endangering international peace a.ld security!
(4) Oppose and reject, as a ser iOllS and continuing obBtacle to peace,
the expar.sionil:lt policies pursued by Isrdel in the Palestinian and other Arab
territories occupi~ since 1967, including Jerusalem, and in particular the
alteration of the geoqraphic nature and demographic composition, and the
Israeli attempt to alter, through domestic legi.slation, the legal status of
thOse territories, and all the measures taken in violation of the Ganeva
Convention relative to the Treatment of PriEloners of. War, ~/ and the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, dl
both of 12 August 1949, and of The Hague RegUlations of 1907, el such as the
Cf:ltabUshment and expansion of settlements, th':! transfer of larlleU civilians
into those territories and the individual and mass transfers therefrom of the
Arab Palestinian population,
(5) Refr~in from providing Israel with assistance of such a nature as to
encourage it mill tar ily, economically and financially to continue its
aggression, occupation and disregard of its obligations under the Charter and
the relevant resolutions of thp United Nations!
(6) Not encourage migration to tile occupied Arab territories until
Israel has put a definitive end to the implementation of its illegal policy of
establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories
occupied since 19671
-30-
(7) rully a»nply with the relevant resolutiuns of the United Nations and
its specialized agencies on the Holy City of .Jerusalem, including those which
r,~ject [sral'l's c1nrlf'xiltion of ,Jerusalem and its fleclaration of that city as
it~; cilpit"!l
(8) UndlHtake universal efforts to protect the Holy Places and urge
Israel to take measures to p~event their desecrationJ
(9) Consider ~ays and means of meeting thp threat that Israel poseo to
regional security in Africa in view of Israel's .Iiaregard of United Nations
resolutions, and its close collaboration with the ~)~rtheid regime in the
economic, milLtary and nuclear fields, thereby contributing to the continued
illegal occupation of Namibia and enhancing the regime's repressive and
aggressive capacitYJ
(10) Encourage, through bilateral and multilateral contacts, all
states, including western European and North American States which have not
flone so, to welcome all peace initiatives based on the recognition of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, which were also welcomed by
Chairman Yasser Arafat in his address to the International Conference on the
Question of Palestinel
(11) Seek and develop ways and means to enable the Palestinian people to
exercise sQvereigllty over their national resources;
(12) Express concern that Israel debars Palestinians from economic
activity and access to national resources on Palestinian territory, in
consistent violation of General Assembly resolutions on the right of the
Palestinians to permanent sovereignty over their national resourcesJ
(13) Declare null and void and counter such measures and practices
applied by Israel in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories,
including Jerusalem, as the annexation and the expropriation of land, water
resources, and property and the alteration of the demographic, geographic,
historical and cultural features thereofJ
(14) Undertake measures to alleviate the economic dnd social burdens
borne by the Palestinian people as a result of the continued Israeli
occupation of thE-ir territories since 19671
(15) Consider contributing or increasing special contributions to the
proposed budgets, programmes and projects of the relevant organs, funds and
agencies of the United Nations system that have been requested to provide
humanitarian, economic and social assistance to the palestinian people, with
particular reference to:
(a) General Assembly re3ulution 33/147 of 20 Decemter 1978 and the
appeal of the Go.rerning Council of the United Natior.s Development Programme at
its thirtieth session for additional special contributions amounting to at
least $8 million during the third programming cycle (1982-1986) aimed at
helpill9 to meet the economic and social needs of the Palestinian people, !/
(b) The proposed programmP. bl~~et of the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development for the bienniu,n 1984/85 regarding the establishment
-31-
within the United Nations Conferenc~ on Trade and Development of a special
economic unit, ~/ as requested by that Conference at its sixth session at
Be 19rade, !!/
(c) Establishing a special legal aid fund to assist Palestinians in
securing their rights under conditions of occupation. i/ in accordance with
the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Ci;ilian Persons in Tim~
of War,
(16) Ensure that the United N~tions Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East can meet the essential needs of the Palestinians
without interruption or any diminutjon in the effectiveness of its u~rvices,
(17) Review the situation of Palestinian women in the occupied
Palestinian and other Arab territories and, in view of their special
hardships, urge the Preparatory Committee of the World Conference to Review
and Appraise the Achievemp.nts of the United Nations Decade for women, to be
held at Nairobi in 1985, to include this item on the agenda of the Conference;
(18) Review, if they have not yet done so, in conformity with their
national legislation, their economic, cultural, technical and other relations
with Israel, and the agre&ments governing them with the aim of ensuring that
these regulations and agreements will not be interpreted or construed as
implying in any way recognition of any modification of thp. legal status of
Jerusalem and of the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel
since 1967, or an acceptance of Israel's illegal presence in those territories,
(19) Recognize that the process of enabling the Palestinian people to
exercise its inalienable rights in Palestine is a significant contribution to
the restoration of the rule of law in international relationsl
(20) Assure the observance of the stipulations provided in General
Assembly resolution 181 (11) guaranteeing to all persons equal and
non-discriminatory rights in civil, political, economic and religious matters
and the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom
of religion, speech, pUblication, education, assembly and association,
(21) Express concern' that the laws applicatle i.n the occupied Arab
territories have been totally eclipsed by a plethora of military orders that
have been designed to establish Q new "legal regime" in violation of The Hague
Regulations of 1907, and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of Warl
(22) Act in accordance with their obligations under existing
international law, in particular with regard to the Geneva Conventions of 1949
which require States Parties to respect and to ensure respect for those
Conventions in all circumstances, and in particUlar ensure the respect by
Israel for the Geneva Conventions of 1949 in the occupied Palestinian and
other Arab territories,
(23) Express concern that the Palp.btinians and other Arabs in the
occupied terr Hor ies are depr ived of jUl' idiGal and other Unds of protection,
that they are victims of repressive 1~91slation, involving mass arrests, acts
-32-
of torture, destruction of houses, and the expulsion of people from their
homes, acts which constitute flagrant violations of human right~I
(24) Recognize the necessity that Palestinian lind Lebanese prisoners
detained by Israel be accorded the status of prisoners of war in accordance
with the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of
1949, cl if combatants, or in accordance with the Geneva Convention rElative
to the-protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949, ~I if civilians;
(25) strive for the adoption of international measures so that Isra~l
will implement in the West Bank and Gaza the provisions of The Hague
Regulations of 1907 and the Geneva Convention relative lo the Protection of
Civilian Persons, in the light of Security Council resolution 465 (1980);
(26) Recognize, if they have not yet done 80, the Palestine Liberation
Organization e.s the representative of the Palestinian people and establish
with it appropriate re1ationsl
(27) Encourage, in conformity with thelr national 1egJ.slations, the
formation of national committees in support of the Palestinian people,
(28) Encourage the observance of 29 November as the International Day of
Solidarity with the PalustJ.nian People, in a most effective and meaningful way;
(29) Request the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session to
designate a Year of Palestine, to be obserVed at the earliest possible ' ~e,
taking into consideration the factors neceseary to ellSUI'e its effective
preparation for the purpose of galvanizing world-wide pUblic ollinion and
support for further implementation of the Geneva Declaration on Palestine and
the Programme of Action.
11
The International Conference on the Question of Paletltine stresses the
obligation of all Member Statf!S, under the Charter <>f the United lIations, to
enable the United Nations through an pxpanded and more effective role to
fulfil its responsibility for achieving a solution : .... th~ question of
Palestine. To this end:
A
States participating in the Conference invite the Security Council, as
the organ with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international
peace and security:
(1) To suppress conHnuing and growing acts of aggression and other
breaches of the peace in the Middle East which endanger peace and security in
the region and the world as a whole,
(2) To tal.e prompt, firm and effective steps and actions to establish an
independent sovereign Palestinian State in Palestine through the
implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions, by facilitating the
organization of the international peace conference on the ~iddle East, as
called for in paragraph 5 of the Geneva Declaration on Palestine (see sect. A
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above), and by creating in this context the appropriate institutional
arrangements on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutiuns in order tu
guarantee and carry out the ilCCOlJS ot the international pedce conference,
including the fulluwinq:
(a) Taking measures consistent with the principle of the inadmissibility
of the acquisition of territory by force to ensure Israel's withdrawal from
the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including
Jerusalem, with a specific timetablel
(0) Undertaking effective measures to guarantee the safety and security
and legal and human rights of the Palestinians in the occupied territories
pending the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the Palestinian and other
Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusaleml
(c) Subjecting those territories, following the withdrawal of Israel, to
a short transitional period, under the supervision of the united Nations,
during ",hich period the Palestinian paople would exercise its right to
self-determinationl
(d) Facilitating the implementation of the right to return of the
Palestinians to their hom~s and property,
(e) Supervising elections to the constituent assembly of the independent
Palestinian State in which all Palestinians shall participate, in exercise of
their right to self-determination;
(f) Providing, if necessary, temporary peace-keeping forces in order to
facilitate the implementation of 6ubparagraphs (a) to (e) above.
B
Meanwhile the Security Council is also inviced to:
(1) Take urgent action to bring about a~ immediate and complete
cessation of such Israeli policies in the occupied territories and, in
particular, the establishment of settlements as have been determined by the
Security Council to have no legal validity and as a serious obstruction to
achi~ving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East,
(2) Consider urgently the reports of the Commission established under
its resolution 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, which examined the situation
concerning settlements in ~he ~rab territories occupied since 1967, in~luding
Jerusalem, and to reactivate the above-mentioned Commission,
(3) Initiate action to terminate Israel's explc,itative policies which go
against the indigenous economic development of the occupied territories, and
to compel Israel to lift its restrictions on water use and well-drilling by
Palestinian farmers as well as J.ts diversion of West Bank water resources into
the Israeli water grid systeml
(4) Keep under its const~nt attention the actions committed by Israel
against the Palestinian people in violation of the stipulations provided for
in relevant General Assembly resolutions, in particular the stipulations of
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resolution 181 (Il) of 29 November 1947 guaranteeing to all persons equal and
non-discriminatory rights and freedoms;
(5) Consider, in the event of Israel's persistent non-compliance with
the relevant United Nations resolutIons which embody the wi 11 of the
international community, appropriate mr,asures in accordance with the Charter
of the Unitei' Nations, to ensure Israel's compliance with these resolutions.
c
(1) Taking into account the recommendatior.. of the five regional
preparatory meetings of the International Conference on the Question of
Palestine i/ and United Natiuns resolutions concerning economic and social
assistance to the Palestinian people, the Secretary-General of the United
Nations i9 requested to convene a meeting of the specialized agencies and
other organizations associated with the United Nations, as well as
representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization and of those
countries which are hosts to Palestinian refugees and other potential sources
of assistance to develop a co-ordinated programme of economic and social
assi~tQnce to th€ Palestinian people and t.o ensure its implementation,
(2) The meeting should also look into the most effective inter-agency
machinery to co-ordinate and sustain and intensify United Nations assistance
to the Palestinian people.
D
The dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information world wide
and the role of non-governmental organizations and institutions remain of
vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination ;>,Id to the
establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinian State. To tl.ese ends:
(1) The United Nations Department for Public Information, in full
co-operation and constant consultations with the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, should:
(a) Co-ordinate all information activities of the united N~tions system
on Palestine through the Joint United Nations Information Committee;
(b) Expand publications and audio and visual coverage of the facts and
of developments pertaining t the question of Palestine;
(c) Publish newsletter dnd articles in its respective pUblications on
Israeli violations of human rights of the Arab inhabitants in the occupied
territories and organize fact-findillg missions for journalists to the areal
(d) Organize regional encounters for journalists;
(e) Disseminate appropriate information on the results of the
International Conference on the Question of Palestine;
-35-
(2) The relevant organizations of the United Nations system should
organize meetings, symposia and seminars on topics within their terms of
referencp. and relating to specific problems of the Palestinian people by
establishing closer liaison with non-governmental organizations, the media and
other groups interested in the question of Palestine.
III
The International Conference cn the Question of Palestine, convinced of
the important role of world-wide public opinion in resolving the question of
Palestine, and in the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of
Action, urges and encourages:
(1) Intergovernmental and nOli-governmental organizations to increase
awareness by the international community of the economic and social burdens
borne by the Palestinian people as a result of the continued Israeli
occupation and its negative effects on the economic development of the West
Asian region as a whole,
(2) Non-governmental organizations and professional and popular
associations to intensify their efforts to support the rights of the
Palestinian people in every possible way,
(3) Organizations such as those of women, teac~ers, workers, youths ~na
students to undertake exchanges and other programmes of joint action with
their Palestinian counterparts;
(4) Women's dssociations, in particular, to investigate the conditions
of Palestinian women and children in all occupied territoriesi
(5) The media and other institutions to disseminate relevant information
to increase public awareness and understanding of the question of Palestinei
(6) Institutions of higher education to promote the study of the
question of Palestine in all its aspects;
(7) Various jurists' associations to establish special investigative
commissions to determine' the violations by Israel of the Palestinians' legal
rights and to disseminate their findings accordingly;
(8) Jurists to initiate with their Pa~~stinian counterparts
consultations, research and investigations on the juridical aspects of
problems affecting the southern African and Palestinian struggles, in
particular the detention of political prisone.rs and the denial of
prisoner-of-war status to detained members of the national liberation
movements of southern Africa and Palestine,
(9) Parliamentarians, political parties, trade unions, organizations for
sQlidarity and intellectuals, particularly in Western Europe and North
America, to join their counterparts in oth~r paris of the world ir. gi;.'ing
their support, where it has not been done, to an initiative which would
express the desire of the international community to sep :he palestinian
people at last llving in their own independent homelan' I peace, freedom and
dignity.
-36-
Notes
~/ See Report of the International Conference on the Question of Pale~tine,
Geneva, 29 August-7 September 1983 (United Nations ~ub1ication, Sales
No. E.83.I.21), chap. I, sects. A and B.
~/ See General Assembly resolution 217 A (Ill).
£/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 972, p. 135.
2/ ~., No. 973, p. 287.
~/ Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and
Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915), p. 100.
!/ See Official Records of the Economic and social Council, 1983, Supplement
No. 9 (E/1983/20).
~ A/C. 5/38/4, para. 8 (c).
~/ Reco endation 146 (VI) of 2 July 1983 of the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development.
1/ Recommendation 19 of the Latin American Regional Preparatory Meeting,
Managua, Nicaragua, 12-15 April 1983 (A/CONF.114/2).
i/ African region, A/CONF.114/l; Latin American region, A/CONF.114/2,
Western Asian region, A/OONF.114/3; Asian region, A/CONF.1l4/4; European region,
A/CONF.114/S.
-37-
ANNEX III
Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Sixteentl' United
Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine
(New Delhi, 8-12 Jun~ 1987)
Introdl'ction
1. The Sixteenth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine entitled
"The inalienable rights of the Palestinian People" was held at the Vigyan Bhawan
C0nferenc~ Centre, New Delhi from 8 to 12 June 19B7. The Committee on the Exercise
of the Inulienable Rights of the Palestinian People had decided to integrate the
Seminar with the Asian Regional Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium on the
Question of Palest. ne which was helQ from Monday, 8 to 10 June 1987, on an
experimental basis ~nd in the inter~st of economy.
2. The Committee on th~ Exercise of th~ Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation cor~sisting of Mr. Oscar Oramas-Oliva (Cuba),
Vice-Chairman of the Committee, head of delegation, M~. Guennadi I. Oudovenko
(Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic), Mr. David K. Karran (Guyana),
Mr. Saviour F. 80rg (Malta); Mr. Pramathesh Rath IIndia), and Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi
(Palpstine Liberation Organization). Mr. Oramas-Olivd was Chairman of the Sentinar
and Mr. Rath R~pporteur.
J. Seven meetings were held <:lod 14 pa,lelists presentee t'apers on .':.;l<::vted aspe~ts
of the question of Palestine. In additioll, representat.ives of 4G Governments, the
Palestine Liberation Org~nization (&'L~), three United Nations organs, two United
Nations programmes and specialized tlgencies, one intergovernmental organization and
ob~;ervers of 30 non-governmental organizat ions attended the Seminar.
4. The opening se&sion 01 the Seminar was addressed by Hr. K. Natwar Singh,
Minister of State for External Affairs of India, Mr. N. G. Rathore, representative
of the Secretary-General, Mr. Oscar Oramas-Oliva, Chairman of the Seminar,
Mr. N. N. G. Mal<ura, High Commissioner of Zimbabwe to India who read a mescage from
Mt:. Robert MU':Jabe, Chairman of the Non-rUgned Movement, and Mr. Khalid E]-Sheikh,
runbassador at the Palestine Liberalion Orgar~zation ta India w~o read a m~ssage
from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive COffimi~tee of the Pales~ine
Liberation Organizatior. Th~ opl'ning session "'as also addressed by
Mr. Guennadi I. Oudovenko (Ukrainian Soviet Socialint Republic), representing the
Special COllunittee against Apartheid, and Mr. Ammar Amari ('l'unisia), representing
the Special Committee on the Sltuation with regbrd to the Implementation of the
Declaratic" ~n the Granting of Independence to Co10nial Countrles and P~oples.
J. Four panels were established to consider difterent aspects at the question of
"alestille. 'l'l:e panels and their panelist'3 were as follows:
(a) "The Role of the Pole!;tine LibeL'.tion Organization" (cor,lbined for the
Seminar and tile Non-Governmental Org~nizations Symposium): Mr. Jawad Naji Al-Awad
,Palestinii.ln). The paper prepal'ed by Mr. ll1-Jlwad was read by Mr. Khaled El-Sheikh,
Ambassador of the PLO to India,
'-38-
(bl "'l'he lnt.l"rnationill Peace Conf('rence on th.~ Mlt!Cnc> Fast, in accordance with
United Nations General Assemhly resolut ion 38/'i8 C, I he need for such a Confl?rel'lcE'
and efforts and prO!'lpectf' to prcrnote a mlcceElElfuJ outcomt! .'lnd benefits thereof"
(combined for the Seminar and the Non-Governmental Orgllnizati,.ns SympoBillm) I
Mr. P. N. Haks"r (India), Mr. lqor M. l<hvorostillny (Ukra) niall Soviet. So.~ialist:
Republic), Dy ••Jorge Manfugas (Cuba), Mr. Abdullah ~;,'t1ah (,J0rd."ln).
Mr. Mohamlll"d Aziz ShukrI (Syrian ArAb Republic), Mr. V. P. Vorobyov (Union of
Soviet Socialist Rellubllcs) and Mr. Wan Guang (China) I
(c) "The QueHtion of Palestine and Asian Publ le Opinion" (combined for the
Seminar and the Non-';Qvern!Tlental Organizations Sympo&ium): Mr. Manfloor Alarn
(Pak ist.an), Prof.essor Mohanlmad Rahmet-Al i (India), PI:ofessor Yi lmaz Al tug ('fu rkey) ,
Mr. Hl'Ird i (Indonesia), Mr. 'l'ran Hoan (Viet Nam), ~nd Professor 1<.. R. Misra (IndL~) I
(d) "The United Nations and t.he Question of Palestine":
Mr, Guennadi I. Oudovenko (Ukrainien Soviet Socialist Republic).
6. The report of thE' Seminar, which was e'iopted unanimously, contains ,\ summary
of the pre.3entations made by the lXlnelists and of the discussions of the four
panels, as well as conclusions an~ recommendations emanating fram the Seminar'~
dellberatiuns. The Seminar also adopted m~ssages of support to
Mr. Yasser Atafat, Ch3irman of the Executive Committee oC the Palestine Liberation
Organ.ization, to the Secretary-General of the United Nations dnd to
Mr. Robert Mugabe, Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement. The Seminar also adopted
a motion of thanks t.o the people and Government of India. The full text of the
repor~ will be published in due course aSl special bulletin of thp United Na~ions
Division for Palestinian Rights.
Cone lus ions and ReC'0.!!1menda t i~
7. The concll1sions and recommendations adopted hy the Seminar are as follows:
(a) The Seminar expressed deep concern over the dang~rous situation in the
Middle East, as it presents a threat to the stability of the region and to
international peace and se,.:urity as a \~hole. In the nllclear age, it is necessary
that international relations be restructured so that confrontrAcion is replaced by
co-operation, and conflict sitllations resolved through peaceful political means,
not through military means. The Seminar affirmed the need for a comorehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the Mirldle East conflict, the L~re of which is the
question of Palestine. The full exercise by the Palestinian p",o~le of its
inalienable rights, .:.,cluding thf:! right of return, the right to self-·determinat.ion
without ext(~rnal int :ference and tlle right to create its own independent State in
Palestine, as well as the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces fram all the Arab
territ.ori .. s occupied since 1967, inclU<1ing Jerusalem, remain the basis to solve the
P31estinian problem.
(b) The situati.c', relating to Lw inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people continues to deteriowte. Whi 1,., strenuous atl empts have been made to find a
solution to ~his problem, the situation in the region continues to be further
complicated by Israel's actions in the oCGupied ter·ri.tories. Israel continues with
its policies of illegally maintaining and expanding ,Jewish settlp.ments as well as
the confiscation of l\rab-ow,jedwnds in the occupied Palestinian territodes. The
-39-
"Lrcn-f!st policing" dce accentua~.ed by meiH>un~B ct,gigned to otit:"Le .111 form>! of
pal! ticcd., cultl,rdl, 80ciitl and (collomic ey.pre.lflloll of the Palestinian peopl(~.
rurth(Hm, ·re, Tsrael continues to strennthen its control over most aspects of Life,
wit.h the -.>bjtK:tive of obst L,lcting the gelf-generatlng development. of the occupipd
ten itor h!s by turning them into a dependent entity with the aim of its f ina I
absorpti.oll dnd annex"tion. These policies are in violation of United Nations
resolutions alld intetll<.lt.lonal law and le/id only to the exact:rhotion of tension in
th(~ area thu" hindering attem~lts to find a peaceful solution to the Palestine
que:;t ton.
(C) The Seminar was aware uf the factors that encourage Israel in pursuing
ibl pol i ien. It lioted with ~;er ious concern the relations between Israel and the
raCi[lt rt. ime in South Afr iea, in particular in the econom.l.c, military and nuclear
fifdds. 'rhe Seminar calls upon the Committee on tht! Exereise of the Inalienable
Riqht!, (,f t.he Palp;;l:inian Peoplp and the United Nat..<lnB Diviflion for Palestinian
Riqhts to ke.ep under review the development of such rt~lationB and report thereo'l.
The Seminar also demanrte<'l t:ldt I fir ae 1 de~>i s t frcm ,lOd te rminate such collabor ation
and abide scrupulously by the relevant resolutions (If the General Assembly and the
Security Council.
(d) '1'he Seminar expressel qrave concern about thf~ economic <lnd social
policies of the occupying power, Israel, 3'lainst the Palesl:.inian lJl~(Jple in the
occupied Palestinian territories. It:. not.ed thclt. Israel pursul j a policy that
deprived the Palesdniano of t.heir main source of livelihood Mid survival, in
particular, with regard to agr iculture, land confiscation and takeover of water
resour-::es. The Seminar further noted the increa<;>ing utilizativo of cheaJ,- Arab
labour by Israeli. employers, which constituted exploitat'.on and discrimipation. In
this context, the Seminar expressed appreciation for the endeavour and effort.s of
the Palestine r.ib~latjon Organization in the fie::'d of social and economic
development o( the Palestinian people. The S~minar ~~lled upon the United Nations
and its organ!! .md agencies to t::ender and co-ordinate all forms of economic and
social assistance to the Palestinian people, in consultation &nd co-operation with
the PGlestine ~ibetalion Organtz~tion.
(e) 'rhe Seminar. also recalled that. the year 19tH marked'l number of
anniversaries of significant events in the history of. the Palestinian people in its
atr Jggle to attain ha legitimate and inalienable rights including the 70th
anniversary of the Balfour Decla~atlon, the 40th anniversary of the adoption of
General Assembly resolution 181 (11), the 20th anniversary of the 1967 War and the
5th anniversary of the Israeli invasion and oCGupation of f.ebanese terr Itary and
the massacre at Sabra and Shat.ila. The Seminar stressed thf:: urgency to solve the
Middle Ea3t conflict und its core issue, thE: question of Palestine. Those States
that did not :oupport the attainment by thl> Palestinian people oE its L1alienable
rights and the exercise of those righl8, in particular, the right to
self-determination as well as the establishment of a State 0f its own in Palestine,
were urged to reconsIder their positioCl to'l'Iards a solution "0 the problem.
(f) TIH! SelT,inar unanimously concluded that the best way to establish a jUf,;t
and lasting peae"'! in the Middle E:ast was by convening ttJ(~ Intel.national Peace
Conferencl!. on the Middle EaE;t und(~r the auspices of the United Nationu and with the
participation of all parties to the conflict l.lcJ.udinq the Pale"Une Liberation
Organization, as well as the Uni ted States and the ~Jnion of Soviet Socialist
Republics and other concerned States, in accordance with the quidelines laid down
in General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. The Seminal supported the establishment of
-40-
a preparatory commi tteo.! within the framework of the Secur ity Council, with the
participation of its permament members as called for by Gen~ral Assembly resolution
41/43 D, as a means tc' under take practical step!: towards the convening of the
Conference.
(9) It further recalled the unyielding and firm support by the Palestine
Liberation Organization, the Arab States, the Movement of the Non-Aligned
Countries, the European Community and other groups of countries, of the proposed
International Peace Conference on the Middle East. The Seminar was convinced that
partial and piece-meal agreements would ignore the core of the Arab-Israeli problem
and were not conducive to a comprehensive peaceful solution. The Seminar was of
the view that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People had a major role to play in promoting the convening of such a
Conference and encouraged its efforts in this regard.
(h) The Seminar greatly appreciated the efforts undertaken by the
Secretary-General of the United Nations with a view to convening the International
Peace Conference on the Middle East. In this regard, the Seminar took note of the
Secretary-General's report (A/42/277-S/18849) of 7 May 1987 and expressed support
for the continuation of his efforts to intensify his contacts with the par ties
concerned and of ~is consultations with the members of the Security Council. In
this context, the Seminar urged the Governments of Israel and the United States of
America to reconside_' their negative attitude towards the convening of the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East.
(i) The Seminar appealed to the members of the Security Council, and in
particular to its permanent members, in exercising their responsibilities for the
maLltenance of international peace and security, to make every effort to achieve
the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East without
further delay.
(j) The Seminar viewed the results of the 18th session of the Palestine
National Council held in April 1987 at Algiers, as a significant contribution in
achieving a just solution to the question of Palestine and in resolving tne plight
of thn Palestinian people. 'l'he Seminar welcomed in particular the unequivocal
support of the Palestine Liberation Organization for the convening of the
International Peace Conf'tence on the Middle East and for the establishment of a
preparatory committee within the framework of the Security Council, with the
participation of its permanent membera.
(k) Th~. Commi.ttee on the Exer.cise of t.he Inalienable Rights of the
Palest.ioian People has itn important role to play in promoti.ng th(! convening of the
Interrlational Peace Conferel'ce on the Middle East.. In that context, t.he Seminar
recommended the intensi eication of the l)olitical and diplomatic efforts by ,111.
concerned [or reachinlj a comprehensive, just and durable settlement of {',he conflict
in the Middle East.
(1) The Semi.nar agreed that vigorous uffort "; should be made to mobilizl~
p'.lblic opinion in Asia as well as in oi:her regions of the world, in particlllar,
throu1h the use of the media and activities by non-governmental orgnizations. The
Seminar Euggested that the Uniled Nations Inform~tion Centres in various cities in
Asia should establish closer contacts with univeruities, educational in8titut~ons
and non-governmental organizations. 'l'he Seminar appeah~ to tile leadera of. the
major Powers anl~ the parties to thE! conflic:t to demonstrate politicdl w.ill i.nd t.o
-41-
play an active and cor.structive role in the effortR to create lastinq peace in the
Mid~le East, in particular, in the resolution of the Palestine prohlem.
(m) In that regard, the United Nations should make additional efforts to
disseminate factual and up-ta-date information on the question of Palestine, not
only in its official languages but in others as well, in particular, on the United
Nations resolut\ons relevant to the convening of the International Peace Conference
on the Middle East and the establishment of the aforementioned preparatory
committee.
In) It was important that the media should play a more responsive role in
providing a balanced reporting on the Middle ~ast and, in particular, on the pli'Jht
of the Palestinians in and outside the occupil!d terr i todes as a dispossessed and
harassed people. The Seminar emphasized that intergo~ernmental organizations,
institutio,s, such as universities, colleges, research institutes, churches and
other religious establishments, as well as national and international
non-governmental organizationa, had a crucial role to play in the formation of
public opinion, especially in the United States and Israel. Those institutions
ehould bP. urged to give wider coverage and balanced treatment to the question of
Palestine. It was the view of the Seminar that national committees be set up to
promote the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East.
'0) Every effort shoula be made to step up the widespread dissemination of
information, as one of the major contributions to the achievement. of a just
solution to the problem on the basis of the attainment by the Palestinian people in
Pde13tine of their inalienable rights. The Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian
Rights of the Secretariat had an important role in such dissemination of
informati.on. Furthermore, the oepartmer.t of Public Information, in co-operation
with the Division for Palestinian Ri9ht~, should make every effort to ensure that
accurate information on the question of Palestine received the widest possible
dissemination.
-42-
ANNEX IV
Declaration adopted by the United Nations Asian Regional
Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium on the Question
of Palestine
(New Delhi, 8-10 June 1987)
Introduction
1. 'rhe second United Nations Asian Regional Non-Governmental Organizations
Symposium on the Question of Palestine, on the theme "The ir.alienable rights of the
Palestinian People" was held at the Vigyan Bhawan Conference Centre, New Delhi from
8 to 10 June 1987. The Symposium ~as held concurren~ly with the Sixteenth United
Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, which was held flom 8 to
12 June 1987, (see annex 11 I)
2. The Symposium was attended by 21 non-governmental organizations as
participants and 11 non-governmental organizations as observers, with about 80
persons in attendance, as well as by observers from several Governments, one United
Nations programme, one intergovernmental organization and the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO).
3. In addition to the panels held jointly with the Seminar, tile Symposium
considered a panel entitled "Non-governmental organizations collaboration on the
question of Palestine and the role of the United Na~ions", at which presentations
were made by Mr. David D. Karran (Guyana) and Mr. Donald Betz (United States of
America), on behalf of the Committee on the E"ercise of the Inalienable Righ~s of
the Palestinian People and the International Co-ordinating CommiUE''' lor
Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine, respecti~ely.
4. A. workshop was also organized on "Non-governmental organizations activities to
promote the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East and
to mobilize Asian public opinion", at which presentations were made by the
following three experts: Dr. Ronlisn T. Akhramovict. (Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics), Dr. Ergun Ozbudun (Turkey) and Dr. Amnon Zichroni (Israel).
5. The Symposium sent a message of appreciation to Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, Prime
Minister of Ir.dia, and in addition, sent a message of appreication and support to
Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
organization.
6. The Symposium decided to create a 12-member Asian Regional Preparatory
Committee, in this connection, a r.hairman and an Executive Secretary were elected.
The two offic~als were charged with the. responsibility, through consultations with
non-governmental organizations in the region, to identify the remaining ten members
who should include repr~Bentativeb of non-government~l organizations from countries
represented at the Symposium. It was also decided that such a body would be the
prototype for an Asi.m Reg ional Co-ord inat ing r::ommi ttee.
7. The Declaration of the symposium, which was adopted unanimously, is reproduced
below. The full text 0 the report will be issued in due course as a special
bulletin of the United N~tions Division [or Palestinian Hights.
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Declaration of the Symposium
B. We, the non-governmental organizations participating in the United Nations
Asian Regional Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium on the Queltion of
Palestine, wish to thank the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for convening this meeting. We are
indeed honoured by the presence of the members and observers of the distinguished
United Nations body and the expert resource persons, whose valuable contribution
provided a ~;uitable perspective for working out concrete programmes of action.
9. We also wish to thank the representative of the Secretary-General, the Chief
of the Div~5ion for Palestinian Rights, the International Co-ordinating Committee.
the non-governmental organizations liaison officers, the staff of the Department of
Conference Services and the interpreters for their valuable assistance in the
preparation and exe~'ltion of this meeting. We believe this meeting strengthens the
bonds bl:tween the United Nations and the community of Asian non-governmental
organizations involved with the Palestinp question 3nd look forward to increasing
levels of understanding, appreciation and co-operation.
10. We wish also to thank very sincerely the Governm( .. t of India for hosting thin
Symposium and for its generous co-operation. We recognize and appreciate the
long-standing and unfailing support of the Governmelt and the people of India to
the just cause of the Palestinian people, in the tradition of the national
liberation movement of India from the early 1920s, when it opposed the Balfour
l:eclaration.
11. We recognize that 1987 marks th~ seventieth anniversary of the BaIfour
Declaration, the fortieth anniversary u~ the adoption of General Assembly
resolution 181 (Ill "f 29 November 1947 for the partition of Palestine, the
twentieth anniversary of the 1967 war and the subsequent Israeli mi~itary
occupation of the West BanK and Gaza, and the fifth anniversary of the destluctive
Israel i agqresflion against Lebanon and tt.e massacre at Sabra an~ Shatila and the
Inter'1ational Year of the People of Palestine.
12. We re~olutely reaffirm the international consensu~ that PLO is the sole
legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in its ~Jst struggle for its
inalienable rightF. Tak ing n6te of the support of the Palestinian people for pr.o,
and of the consolidated unity established at the April 1987, ei9hteenth session of
the Palest ne National Council at Algiers, we reject outright the idea that anyone
other tt.3n the ralestinian people should decide who should represent them, all the
more so as the first ar:t of any people in implementin'] its right to
self-determination is the choice of its own representatives. We fully support the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to untramelled independent
decisIon-making through i~s own national organization, PLO.
13. Accordingly, we call upon all Governments that do not recongize PLO to do so
without delay. We also call upon all Governments to support the convening of the
International Peace Confer~nce on the Middle East and tc work for the realization
of such a conference as a top ~riority.
14. We reco~giz~ that the self-determination of the Palestinian people and their
right to self-governm~nt in their o~n independpnt state in Palestine is the cpntral
requirement for peace and security, for a just and durable peace between Israel and
the Palestinian national State and its Ar,.b neighbours, and is in full ac:cord with
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one of the most fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We
reaffi~m that this right must be exercised without outside interference on its own
national territory and under the leadership of the Palestine Liberation
Organiz.tion, in conformity with relevant United Nations resolutions.
15. We l'ully support the Geneva Declaration on Palestine of 7 september 1983
adopted by the Intertnational Conference 0n the Question of Palestine, held at
Geneva from ~9 August to 7 September 1983, in favour of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East and we fully uphold General Assembly resolution
38/58 C of 13 December 1983. It is essential that the Conference be inclusive and
be attended by the repreeentatives of both Israel and PLO, those Arab States
parties to the conflict, the United States of America and the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics, all on an equal footing. We are aw~re that not only world
peace but also the human and civil rights of the Palestinian people have been set
back by the non-implementRtion of resolution 38/58 C. In this context, we reject
partial 'nd piecemeal agreements as counter-productive and not conducive to a
comprehensive peaceful solution, as others totally ignore the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict.
16. We take serious note of the fact that, while PLO fully supports General
Assembly resolution 38/58 C, the United States of America and Israel are opposed to
it. We strongly feel that the position of those two Governments constitutes a
serious threat to world peace and we urge all Governments to exert more pressure on
the two Governments to join the global consensus on this issue.
17. We view with grave concern the law recently adopted by the Israeli Government
making any meeting between an Israeli citizen and a member of PLO puni&hable by
three years' imprisonment. This is considered an ac~ designed to prevent peace
efforts at the non-governmental organization level. We urge the Israeli Government
to immediately repeal that law and call upon the United tlations and all Governments
to exert their influence upon the Israeli Government to do so.
18. We note with grave concern the discr~minatory policy and practices being
committed by the Iaraeli Government against the Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel
and condemn the racist laws and practices that endanger their existence in their
homeland. We call u[~n the Israeli Government to give equal rights to the Arab
citizens of Israel. We declare our full support for the struggle of the Arab
Israeli community together with the Jewish democratic forces for equality and
s~curity. We believe that there can be no democracy without equal rights for all
citizens.
19. We have heard with great appreciation the voice of Israeli peace forces and
extend 1:0 thl,m all our sympathy; nd support in their difficult task of opposition
to the oppressive policies of the Israeli Government, within the Israeli Parliament
and among the Israeli public. In particular, we express solidarity with those who,
dS an act of peace, accept imprisonment for their refusal to engage in military
service in the occupied terr itor ies. We note wi,th great satisfaction the emergence
of peace forces, particularly within the Oriental Jewish Community in Israel. We
regard this as a most significant development and call up?n all elements interested
in early peace in the Middle East to 'Jive moral anG political support to the
emerging peace forces within Israel.
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20. We strongly condemn the continu~tion of the repressive measures by the Israeli
administration against the Arab population in the occupied territories (arrests,
tortures, demolition of homes and land r~quisitions, etc.) and call upon the United
Nations, all Governments and people to urge the Israali Government to stop such
oppressive acts.
21. We note with great concern the continued Israeli attacks on the Palestinian
refugee camps in Lebanon and strongly condemn the atrocities committed against the
Palestinian people in the camps. We call upon all concerned parties to enforce a
durable cease-fire and to ensure the flow of medical and relief supplies to the
camps throug~ the United Nations Relief and Works As~ncy for Palestine Refugees in
the Near East, the Tnternational Red Cross and other international agencies.
22. We call upon all concerned parties to guarantee the security of the
Palestinian people in Lebanon and to their right to live in security in Lebanon.
The preeence of the Palestinian people in the refugee camps is not of their own
will, but the r~sult of the non-fulfilment of General Assembly resolution
181 (Ill. As this is the responsibility of all member nations of the United
Nations, vie call upon to' and the Uni.ted Nations General Assembly to take every
necessalY measure to enl .. e the security of the Palestinian people in Lebanon and
elsewhere.
23. We draw attention to the continued Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon,
intervention in that country's internal affaird through political coercion and
oppressive actions in the eouth. We demand t~e immediate withdrawal of Israeli
forces froll southern I,ebanon and t ,e release at t-housands held in pr ison. The
question of Lebanon is an inte1ral pe.rt of the Palestinian question and Israeli
military expansion.
24. We believe that it is the increasing expansion of conflict areas by Israel and
the growing threat it constitutes not only to the peace of this region as a whole
but of Asia and tne world, that makes the convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East such an urgent necessity and the only practical and
realistic solution to the problem of Palestine and the establishment of a
Palustinian State. Immediate steps should be taken tQ set up a prep'lratory
~ommittee ~'ith the pilrticipati~n of the permanent members of the Security Council
as the first step towards the holding of the Confer.. '1....d.
25. We urther assert the inextricable connection between th,' strug<jle of the
Palestinlans for their independent homeland and every struggle in every part of the
world of peo(Jles fighting for tt,~ir independence and sovereign right t.o build their
life in their own way without any outside interference. The struggle of the
Palestinian peopl~ is an integral part of the struggle of alL peoples for world
peace and against r.eo-c~lonialism, racism and all sorts of oppression against
humanity and for a nuclear-weapon-frce and non-violent world.
26. We fully appreciate the growing support in the United Nations for the
Palestinian stru9Qle and t'1C Palest inE;' I.iberation Organi:lation, the signi.ficant
part being pJ.ayed in this connectLon by the non-aU.gned movement and express our
awareness of the urgent need for t.he non·-governmentul organizations of Asia t.o take
the fullest 3dvdntage of the growing favourable environment to create pUblic
opinion in the Un~ted Stcltes of America and Isr,u!l against. the polici,'s of Ileir
Governments, \hil~ at. the same time mobilizlnq pUblic opinion in the I sian
countries.
·46-
27. We are fUlly confident of the powerful role that non-governmental
organizations and particularly non-governmental organizations of Asia can play in
creating public opinion for the urgent convening of the International Conference.
We are also confident that by creating pUblic opinion not only in Asia but also in
other countries of the world we can bring pressure on the Governments of IHrael and
the United States of America and also strengthen the hands of our respective
Gov~rnments in this task.
28. We believe the time has now come for urgent practical action. Having
considered the various suggestions made at this Symposium, we pledge to mobilize
people from different disciplines in Asian coun tr ies to influence their
counterparts in other parts of the world, organize the disseminatin of news about
the conditions of the people of Palestine through the media, produce campaign
pamphlets, organize film screenings, meetings, demonstrations, symposia on specific
issues concerned and signature campaigns among parliamentarians of the respective
Asian count~ies, and similar other activities.
29. We appreciate the formation of the International Co-ordinating Committee for
Non-Governmental Organizations. We strongly urge the United Nations, through the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people to
continue to give all assistance to the International Chamber of Commerce in
organizing a network of non-governmental organization activities at a global levp.l
on the Palestinian question. Such a co-ordination committee with regional branches
is essential for building up a massive campaign by non-governmental organizations
for immediately convening the International Conference and for a continuing
mobiLization of public opinion for the realization of the just demands of the
people of Palestine. Without the active material support of such an International
Co-ordinating Committee, it will not be possible to mount effp.ctive mass campaigns
involving expensive modern media.
30. We, the Asian non-governmental organizations present here, decide to form an
Asian Regional Co-ordinating Committee of Non-Governmental Organizations to serve
as a focus for our regional efforts. We recommend that we should begin with a
preparatory commjttee of 12 members for thiR purpose, to be formed through a wider
discussion with other Asian non-governmental organizations for identifying the
structure OL such an organization and for finally constituting the preparatory
committee. The delegates to the Symposium elect Mr. P. N. f1aksar as the Chairman
and Mr. M. S. Agwani as Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Committee for
undertaking this task. The participants decide that non-governmental organization
representation from countries represented by non-governmental organizations at t.his
Symposium shall be included in the Preparatory Committee when finally con~tituted.
31. We call upon the international organizations of media men in the Asian region
to take up the Palestine question and work together with the non-governmental
olqanizaticns active on this issue. We call upon the pool of non-aligned news
agencies to provide more information about the Palestine question and also about
the world-wide campaiqn for the International Peace Conference Otl the Middle East.
]2. We conclude this Symposium wit.h a great ~eeling of confidence and call upon
the United Nations, through the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestini.all People, to give due considbV"ation to... the practical
recommendations of acthrities proposed in this Q0CUment and to provide neceBBiHY
assistance and \Xl-operation to the Asian Regional Co-ordinating Committee in
fulfilling these tasks.
'·47-
ANNEX V
Conclusions and recommendations adopted ~y the Seventeenth
United Nations Seminar on the Que~tion of Palestine
(New York, 22-23 June 1987)
I.ltroduction
1. The Seventeenth Uniten Nation~ Seminar on the Question of Palestine, entitled
"The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people", was held at United Nations
Headquarters, New York, on 22 and 2~ June 1987.
2. Mr. Shah :'lohammad Dost (Afghanistan), Acting Chairman of the Committee nn the
Exercise of t.'e Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, was Chairman of. the
Seminar, and Mt, Savioul' F. 80rg (l~alta), was the Rapporteur.
3. Four meetings were held and seven panelists ,resented papers on selected
aspects of the question of Palestine. In addition, representatives of 42
Governments, the Palestine LiberaH,.,n Organization (PLO), three United Nations
organs, four United Nations programml's and specialized agencies, three
intergovernmental organizations, one national liberation organization, and
observers of 20 non-governmental organizations attende<1 the Seminar.
4. The open,ing session of the Semiuar was addressed by Mr. William B. Buffum,
Under-Secretary-General for Political and General Assembly Affairs and Secretariat
Services, on behalf of the Secretary-General, Mr. Shah Mohammad Dest, Chairman of
the Saminar and Mr. Nasser Al-Kidwa, Alternate Permanert Observer of the Palestine
Liberrtion Organization to the United Nations, who read a message from
Mr, Y~sser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine ~iberation
Organization. The opening session was also addressed by Mr. Isack Mudenge
(Zimbabwe), on behalf of the Chairman of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries,
Mr. Ahmad Farouk Arnouss {Syrian Arab Republic), Rapporteur of the Special
Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on
the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Mr. Moussa Bocar Ly
(Senegal), representing the Unlted Nations Council for Namibia,
Mr. Arif Shah id Khan (India), Rapporteur of the Special Committee against
Apartheid, Mr. Samir Mansouri, Deputy Permanent Observer of the League of Arab
States to the United Nations, Mrs. Salimatu T. Timbo, representing the Office of
the Executive Secretary of the Organization of African Unity to the united Nations
and Mr, Noureddine Mezni, Deputy Director of the Permanent Observer Mission of the
Organization of the Islamic Corference to the United Nations.
5. Two panels were established as follows:
(Cl) "The Internati"nal Peace Conference on the Middle East, in accordance
with United Nations General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, the need for such a
conference and efforts and prospects to promote a successful outcome, and benefits
thereof": Brother David Car roll (United States of America), Mr. Ramsey Clark
(Uniten states of America), Mr. Konstantin Gueivandov (Union of Soviet Socialist
RepUblics), Professor Atif Kubursi (Canada) and Mr. Pramathesh Rath (India). The
participants in tile Seminar regretted that Mr. Gueivandov was not in a position to
participate in the Seminar, because his vi&a for the United States was not issu~~.
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His paper was made available to all participants. Professor Atif Kubursi also
addressed the impact of the economic and social policies on the P«lestinian people
in the occupied Palestinian t~rritories as well as the role of the Palestine
Liberation Organization.
(b) "The Question of Palestine and North American pUblic opinion",
Professor Ibrahim Abu-Lughod (Palestinian) and Professor Francis Boyle (United
States of America).
6. The report of the Seminar, which was adopted unanimously, contains a summary
of the p~esentations made by the panelists and of the discussions of the panels, a.
well as conclusions and recommendations emanating from the Seminar's
deliberations. The Seminar also adopted a message of support to
Mr. Yasser Arafat. The full text of the report will be pUblished in due course aB
a special bulletin of the United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights.
Conclusions and recommendations
7. The conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Seminar are as follows,
(a) Despite intensive efforts by the united Nations, a peaceful settlement of
the Middle East conflict remains elusive and the situation in the region continues
to be unstable. Recent events in the Middle East highlight the increasing urgency
of finding a solution to this most complex problem. Such delays not only prolong
the plight of the Palestinian people, but also continue to po~e a threat to
regional peace. In this age, it is necessary that international relations be
restructured 80 that ~lnfrontation is replaced by co-operation, and conflict
situations, such dS the Arab-Isra~li conflict, are resolved through peaceful
political means, not through military force.
(b) ~he Seminar, concerred over the dangerous situation in the Middle East,
is profoundly convinced th~t the vital interests of the peoples of that region, as
well a3 interests of international peace and security as a whole, urgently dictate
the need for the speeoiest attainment of a comprehensive, just and lasting
settlemenc ~f the A,ab-Israeli confl.ct, lhe core of which is the question of
Palestine. The full exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights,
including the right of return, the right to self-determination without ~xternal
inter~erence und the right to create i~s own independent State in Palestine, as
well 8R the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the Arab territories
occupied since 1967, in~luding Jerusalem, remain the basip to solve the Palestinian
problem.
(c) The situation relating to the inalienable rig~ts of the Palestinian
people conti;lucs to deteriorate. While strenuous attempts have been made to find a
solution, the situation in the region is further complicated by Israel's cctions in
the occupied territories. Israeli policies of illegally establishing and
maintaining Jewish settlements and confiscating Arab-owned lands in the occupied
Palestinian territories continue. These "iron-fist policies" are accompanied by
measures designed to stifle all forms of political, cultural, social and economic
expression of the Palestinian people. The Israeli authorities have continued to
strengthen control over most aspects of life, with the objective of obstructing the
self-generating development of the occupied territories and turning them 1nto a
dependent entity, aiming at its final absorption and annexation. These policies
-49-
are in direct contraventio.1 of United Nations resolutions dnd international law and
lead only to the eXdcerbation of tension in the area, further hindering attempts to
find a peaceful "olution.
(d) 'rh.. Seminar noted with grave concern the continued Israeli economic
sUbjugation of the Palestinian people in the occupied territories by confiscating
their land, denying them the exploitation of their own water resources, preventing
them from engaging in tl'ade with the parties of their choice, and treating the
people of the occupied territories as a hostage pool of cheap lahour, using them as
a buffer to cool an overheated Israeli economy, the first to lose their jobs at the
slightest slowdown of that economy. The Seminar expressed appreciation for the
endeavours and efforts of the Palestine Liberation Organizatin 0' the United Nations
and its organs and agencies, ~s well as of intergovernmental dnd non-governmental
organizations in the field of social and economic development of the Palestinian
people under occupation. The Seminar called upon the United Nations and its organs
and agencies to render and co-ordinate all forms of social and economic assistance
to the Palestinian people in consultation and co-operation with the Palestine
Liberation Organization.
(e) The Seminar affirmed that the problem of the eK~rcise of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people remained the core of the conflict in the Middle
East ana that no comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region could be
achieved without the full exercise of those rights, including the right of return,
the right to self-determination and the right to create its own independent State
in Palestine, and without the complete withdrawal of Israel from Arab territories
occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem. It further reaffirmed that the Palestine
Liberation Organization was the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian
people.
(f) The Seminar considered the question of the status of Jerusalem and
reiterated the position of the Security Council as contained in its resolution
478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, by which it affirmed "that the enactment of the
'basic law' by Israel constitutes a violation of international law and does not
affect the continued application of the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, in the
Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including .Jerusalem",
and determined "that all legis'lative and administrative measures and actions taken
by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purported to alter the
character and the status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, and in particular the
r~cent 'basic law' on Jerusalem, are null and void and must be rescinded forthwith".
(g) The Seminar unanimously concluded that the best way to establish a just
and lasting peace in thp. Middle East was to convene the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East under the auspices of the United Nations and with the
participation of all parties to the conflict, including the Palestine Liberation
Organization, as well as the United States of America and the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics and other concerned States, in accordance with General Assembly
reSOlution 38/58 C. The Seminar supported the establishment of a preparatory
committee within the frame\~rk of the Security Council, with the participation of
its permanent members, as called for by General Assembly resolution 41/43 0, as a
means to undertake practical steps cowards the convening of the conferepce. The
Seminar believed that the members of the Security Council should immediately
proceed to establish the said preparatory committee.
-50-
(h) The Seminar further recalled the unyielding and firm support by the
Palestine Liberation Organization, the ~rab States, the Mover ,t of Non-~ligned
Countries, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the ist count::ies, the
European Community and other groups of countries, to the pro ~ International
Peace Conference on the Middle East. The Seminar was convinced that partial and
ptecemeal agreements would ignore the core of the Arab-Israeli problem and were not
conducive to a comprehensive peaceful solution. The Seminar was of th~ view that
the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
had a major role to play in promoting the convening of such a conference and
encouraged its effort in this regard.
(i) The Conference should be convened without pre-conditions and its
proceedings should be conducted in a constructive spirit. The aim of the
Conference sho~ld be a comprehensive settlement encompassing all aspects of the
Arab-Israeli conflict. The Seminar appealed to all members of the SeclJrity
Council, and in particular to its permanent members, to fulfil their
responsibilities for t~e maintenance of international peace and security. and to
exercise the necessary political will and to undertake vigorous efforts to bring
about the convening of the Conference.
(j) The Seminar greatly appreciated the efforts of the Secretary-General of
the United Nations with a view to convening the International Peace Conference on
the Middle East. In thJ.s regard, the Seminar took note of the Secretary-General's
report (A/42/277-S/18849) of 7 May 1987 and expressed support for his intention to
intensify his contacts with the parties in order to try to find ways of bridging
the gaps between them.
(k) The Seminar viewed the results of the eighteenth session of the Palestine
National Council, held in April 1987 at Algiers, as being of great importance. It
welcomed in particula~, the unequivocal support of the Palestine Liberation
Organization for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle
East and the establishment of a preparatory committee within the framework of the
Security Council, with the participation of its permallent members.
(1) The Seminar recalled that the year 1987 marked a number of important
anniversaries in the history of the struggle of the Palestinian people, including
the seventieth anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, the fortieth anniversary of
the adoption of General ~ssembly resolution 181 (11), the twentieth anniversary of
the 1967 Wal and the fifth anniversary of the Israeli invasion and occupation ot
Lebanese territory and the massacre at Sabra and Shatila.
(m) Intensified efforts should be made to mobiliz~ public opinion in North
America and throughout the world through the use of the media. In that connection,
the United Nations should make additional efforts to disseminate more factual and
up-to-date information on the questJ.on of Paledtine, as one of the contributions to
the achievement of a just solution to the problem of Palestine on the basis of the
attainment by the Palestinian people of its inalienable national right~.
(n) The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Pale~tinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations
Secretariat have an important role in the pre~arati()n and dissemination of
information. Furthermore, the Department ot Public Information of the United
Nations, in cu-operation with the Division for Palestinian Rights, should ensure
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that accurate information on the question of Pl!lestine receives the widest possible
dissemination.
(0) It was important that the media play a more responsive role in providing
more balanced reporting On the Middle East ~nd, in particular, on the plight of the
Palestinians in and outside the occupied territories. Institutions, such as
universities, colleges, research institutes, churches and other religious
establishments, as well as national and international non-governmental
orgsnizations, had a crucial role to play in +:he formation of public opinion,
pa~ticularly in the United states and Canada. Those institutions should be urged
to give wider coverage and more balanced treatment to the question of Palestine.
(p) The Seminar encouraged the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People to take a strong position against the proposed
enactment of legislation by the United States Congress to close the Permanent
Observer Office of the Palestine Liberation Organization to the United Nations in
New York, or to make association with the Palestine Liberation Organization a
crime. It was the view of the Seminar that such proposed legislation went against
the United Nations Host Country Agreement with the United States. The Committee
should examine and explore with the United Nations Legal Counsel the implications
as to the compatibility or not of the proposed pieces of legislation with basic
principles of internation~J law, including the Host Country Agreement. The Seminar
also urged the Committee to request the Committee on Relations with the Host
Country to take a position against the proposed leqislation.
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ANNEX VI
Declaration adopted by the United Nations North American
Regional Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium on the
Question of Palestine
(New York, 24-26 June 1987)
Introduction
1. The fourth United Nations North American Regional NCil-Governmenta1.
Organizations symposium on the Question of Palestine on the theme "The inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people" was held at. United Nations Headquarters in New
York, from 24 to 26 June 1987.
2. The Symposium was attended by 46 non-governmental organizations as
participants and 24 as observers, as well as by a number of observers from
Governments and intergovernmental organizations and l~beration movements.
3. Mr. Alberto Velazco-San Jose (Cuba) opened and closed the Symposium on behalf
of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People. Ms. Ethel Born, Chairman of the North American Co-ordinating Committee for
Non-Goverru.lental Orqanizations on the Question of Palestine, s ~rved as Moderator 0":
the Symposium.
4. The Symposium had one main panel entitled "The need for convening the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with resolutions
38/58 Cz the urgency of ending 20 years of occupation". The following panelists
presented papersz
Mr. Tawfiq Abu Ghazaleh, an attorney with the Gaza Centre for Rights and Law,
Mr. tatif Dori, founder, Committee for Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue,
Rev. Benjam:n Weir, Moderator, Presbyterian Church (United States of America).
Mr. Svend Robinson, a Canadian Member of Par liament, \\,\0 had accepted an
invi.tation to participate as a pa:.lelist, was unfortunately unacle to attend, owing
to his official duties.
5. Eight workshops were set up to deal with tli~ following issues:
(a) Media/public relations,
(b) Challenges in defending human and civil ,j4hts,
(c) Coalition-building,
(d) Grass-roots organizing,
(e) Women,
(f) Peace and anti-intervention;
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(g) Religion and relief groupsi
(h) Third world communities.
Mr. David Hardin (United States) and Ms. Lea Tsemel (Israel) acted as workshop
leaders for the "Media/public re tions" and "Challenges in defending human and
civil rights" workshops, respectively.
6. The Symposium received a message from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and, in return, sent a
telegramme of appreciation to the Chairman.
7. The Declaration of the Symposium, which was adopted unan~mously, is reproduced
below. The full text of the report will be pUblished in due course as a special
bulletin of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
Declaration
8. We, the non--governmental organizations p~rticipating in the fourth united
Nations North A',ler ican Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium on the Question of
Palestine, wish to thank the United Nations Cummittee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian Peopl~ for making this meeting possible. We
are indeed honoured by the presence of the members aud observers of this
distinguished United Nations body.
9. We wish also to thank the Chief of the Division for Palestinian Rights, the
non-governmental organizations liaison officers, the staff of the Division and the
Department of Conference Services for their invaluable assistance in the
preparation and execution of this meeting.
10. We wish also to voice our appreciation to the distinguished expert panelists,
workshop organizers, reSOtiL~e persons and facilitators who offered their invaluable
insights into the question of Palestine and the potential central role to he played
by non-governmental organizations in North America. The practical suggestions and
strategies developed in the workshops assisted us in forlllulating future
cOllaborative efforts in North America and in linking our efforts to a broader
global network.
11. We believe that this meeting contributed to the constructive interaction
between the United Nations and the North ~nerican non-governmental organizations
community concerned with the non-implementation of General Assembly resolution
38/58 C of 13 December 1983, a resolution whose implementation we hold to be
indispensable in securing a just and dULable solution to the question of Palestine.
12. We call upon the peoples and Governments of the United States of America and
'::'lnada to take all possible steps to secure the implementdtion of General Assembly
resolution 38/58 C, in order to secure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in
the Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine.
13. We resolutely reaffirm the international consensus that the Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO) is the sole and legitimate representative of the
Palestinian People. We affirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to
self-determination without external interference and to establish an independent
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Palestinian State on its own national territory under the leadership of PLO and the
right of return, in conformity with all relevant United Nations resolutions.
14. We further strongly support the ~onvening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East as called for at the International Conference on the
Question of Palestine, held in August-September 1983, and as adopted by the General
Assembly in resolution 38/58 C. We applaud the continuing efforts of the
Secretary-General to establish a preparatory committee for the Conference. It is
essential that the International Peace Conference be inclusive and be attended by
representatives of both Israel and PLO, those Arab States parties to the conflict,
the Unit~d States of America and the Union of So/iet Socialist Republics. We are
encouraged by the declaration of the F.uropean Community of February 1987 and the
declaration of the Nordic countries of March 1987 and hope that they will lead to
initiatives that will result in the conveninq of the Conference.
15. Within our larger concern for equal rights and justice for all people, we
rp-affirm that our focus as participants in this sympo~lum is the Palestinian people
and its struggle to achieve its inalienable rights, and that our goal and
responsibility is to support that struggle through t~e strategies and activities
proposed in our workshops.
16. As non-governmental organizations, we have the unique opportunity to
cont:ibute to this struggle without governmental constraints. Our guidelines must
come from our consciences, which are informed by history, the knowledge of current
events, and respect for international law.
17. Events in t.he territories occ~pied in 1967 must be seen as part of both an
historical pattern and a continuum. The history of the P;\lestinlan community
living in pre-~967 Israel is instructive in two respects. The first is 1 rael's
systematic attempt at removin9 the people from their land, the second is the
Palestinian people's unyielding determination, which has empowered them to succeed
in remaining on theiL land.
18. The Palestinians of 1948 have taught us the importance of "samed"
(steadfastness). As non-governmental organizations, we must therefore be committed
to support concurrently bott. tile struggle of the Palestinian~ of the 1967
occupation to remain on the land and the struggle of the entire Palestinian people
to attain self-determination.
19. Non-governmental organi:t..:stions in Canadian and United States society take
special note of their role as representatives of an important segment of public
o~inion on the Palestine question. Non-governmental organizations constitute an
unquenchable force to be reckoned wit~, that derives from this public
consciousness. In view of that special role and status, non-governmental
~rganization8 in North America also recognize as part of their responsibi~ity that
they go beyond the self-imposed limitations of States and Governments to contribute
positively to the speedy restoration of national rights to the victimized
Palestinian people.
20. The non-governmental organizations here convened recognize with appreciation
the contributions that States Members of the United Nations have made to the
provision of standards of world order through the promulgation of international
law. Humanitarian and human rights statutes constitute the legal basis for the
self-determination of peoples, including the Palestinian people. In par':icular,
-55-
such legal instruments as the Charter of the United Nations and the Universa:,
Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations and other international C0venants
and conventions, guarantee that right for the P3lp~tinian people.
21. The international community had already affirmed the right of the Palestinian
Arab people to their State in Palestine as early as 1947, with the "Plan for
Partition with Economic Union". The denial of that right over the ensuing 40
years, and particularly throughoutche 20 years of Israel's occupation by force of
the West Bank and Gaza districts of Palestine, dramatize the failure of the
international community of States to uphold the atandards that they themselves have
set forth. We, as non-governmental organizations in North America, call upon our
respective Governments to respect and _~lI'plelllelt the inalienable rights of
Palestinians as a people and nation, in accordance with international law.
22. In our constant attention to the issue of Palestine, the North American
non-governmental organizations cannot confront this conflict in isolation from the
considerations held in other parts of the world as well.
23. As people of conscience, we cannot conduct activities in our own countries in
isolation from the world consensus and expect to contribute to a positive future.
24. The non-governmental organizations in North America affirm their commitment to
co-operate in good faith with the international peace community - in the Americas,
Europe, Israel, in the non-aligned countries and elsewhere - in their efforts
towards the restoration of Palestinian rights, both for its own sake and in
conj'Jnction with efforts to reduce the continuing violence and risk of war in the
Middle East.
25. Among the suggestions emanating from t~e discussion groups that merit serious
attention and endorsement was that of convening an non-gove~nmental
organizations-sponsored conference in North ~~erica (with the site of preference
being Washington, the alternate, Ottawa) bringing together representatives of PLO
and Israeli notables, and repeating the opportunity offered by the Constanta and
Budapest meetings. Representatives of interested Governments, particularly from
the European Community, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and North America
would also be invited.
26. We also recommend that the International Co-ordinating Committee on the
Question of Palestine, in co-operation with the ~orth American Co-ordinating
Committee on the Question of Palestine, convene a model International Peace
Conference utilizing non-governmental organizations representatives from Israel,
PLO, the five permanent members of th~ Security Council and the Arab parties to the
conflict. It should be held in New York under United Nations auspices in
conformity with General Assembly resolutions 38/58 C and 40/43 D. We further urge
that this proposal be adopted by the non-governmental organizations participating
in the fourth United Nations International Meeting of Non-Governmental
Organizations on the Question of Palestine in Geneva from 7 to 9 September 1987.
The other small group discussion recommendations are annexed to the present paper.
27. The symposium supports the Israeli citizens, both Jews and Arabs, who are
peace activists and who are in danger of going to prison as a result of their
struggle to bring peace and security to their people and their nation.
-56-
28. The symposium condemns attempts by the Israeli Government to limit the
activities of Israeli peace activists by promulgating anti-democratic laws such as
the "Law for Prevention of Terrorism".
29. In the light of the above, the symposium requests that Israel re-examine the
law and its negltive influence and abrogate that law. In addition, the symposium
caLls upon Israel to drop ",'.1 charges against the peace activists.
30. The aim of the present meeting was to df'velop practical objectives and
strategies to be implement<,d by Nurth American non-governmental organizations in
this the Year of the Palestinian Feople. Our primary work was conducted in
workshops, and we affirm their conclusions as we have amended them below.
31. The Media/public relations workshop made the following recommendations:
(a) The NOI~h American Co-ordinating Committee (NACC), in close co-operation
with North American non-governmental organizations, will undertake the development
of a standardized guide on how to deal with the media and an annotated experts list
representing the various sectors oi North American society,
(b) The experts will be selected for their ability to work effectively with
the elctronic and print media. The guide and list will be made available to
non-governmenta' organizations co-operating with NACC,
(c) The workshop repeatedly voiced a concern for humanizing the North
American public's perception of the Palestinian people. To change minds, the
participants concluded that it is necessary to develop effective techniques.
Non-governmental organizations s~all focus on issues of high value to their
targeted audiences, the moderate public of the United States and Canada. They
should provide new information in concise form to media sources. Finally, in
conformity with the suggested ~xperts list, non-governmental organizations should
offer cr~dible spokespersons to the media and the pUblic to comment on the issues,
(d) Awareness of Palestinia~. culture is one method of humanizing perceptions
of Palestinians. We therefore u~ge the North American non-governmental
organizations:
(i) To co-operate closely with the International Co-ordinating Committee on
Palestine (ICCP) on the tours of Palestinian women and artists through
North America in the fall of 1987 and at other times, as one way or
introducing North Americans to Palestinian people, their culture and
their concerns,
(ii) To target mainstream CIVIC and social organizations in North America
(i.e. Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Soroptimists) in order to s=hedule
sympathetic speakers on the Middl~-East conflict, the role of the United
States and the question of Palestine,
(iii) To request the United Nations to establish a permanent display of
Palestinian cultural heritage to join tne existing display on Palestinian
political history currently on the third floor of the United Nations
General Assembly building;
-57-
(iv) To create a mobile exhibit un Palestinian culture and history to be
d isplayp.d throughout Nor th Amer ica, wh ich cou ln be used in conj unction
with programmes in local churches, libraries and universities.
32. The workshop on challenges in defending civil and human rights reaffirms the
Third North American Non-Governmental Organization Ldclaration of June 1986 and:
(a) Calls upon Israel to observe the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949)
concerning the treatment of the palestinian population in the occupied territories,
(b) Condemns the use of any "alleged" legal system as a tool of foreign
pulicy and as an instrument of repression of the Palestinian people,
(c) Affirms the right of the Palestinian people to resist the Israeli
occupat ion,
(d) Affirms the rights of frp.e speech and political associ~tion in the
occupied territories, in Israel and in the United States, particularly during the
two hundredth anniversary ol the Consdtution of the Unitt!d States,
(e) Opposes the Dole and Kemp bills and all related legislation and ptedges
collective action to defeat these billsl
(f) Calls for legislation in support of the Interntional Peace Conference on
the Middle East as propose~ by United Nations General Assembly resolution 38/58 C,
(g) Supports Pal~stinian family reunification in the occupied territories,
the "Los Angeles Eight" ~/ r -~ndants case and other similar cases in the coming
year,
(h) Reaffirms the non-governmental organizations theme/campaign to end the 20
years of occupation,
(i) Salutes all those Israelis who work for Palestinian human and civil
rights.
33. The C' 'lition-building workshop recommendp.d the development of a hroad-based
coalition 1n North America drawing in participants from new constituencies such as
third world groups, religious communities, labour unions and peace,
anti-intervention and women's groups. Its work shall be aimed at redirecting
United States Middle-East policy by:
(a) Influencing public opinion, particular"y in the united States, in support
of the Palestinian people in their right to self-determination, incl uding the right
of return, and in support of an international peace conference to include PLO,
Israel, the five p~rmanent members of the Secur ity Cvuncil and the Arab states wh,)
are parties to the conflict,
(b) Fnding the Israeli occupation of Palestinian and other Arah territoriesl
(c) Addressing human riqhts violations;
(d) Creating a forum for debate of Middle East issues in the 1988 United
States presidential campaign, to result in planks in major party platforms covering
-58-
United States support for Palestinian self-determination and united States
recognition of PLO aa the representative of the Palestinian people and support for
an internatiolal peace conference. NACC might further facilitate the work of this
coalition by overseeing and encouraginy contacts between non-governmental
organizations along geographical lines throughout the United States and Canada.
34. ~he grass-roots organizing workshop:
(a) Recommends that NACC establish a national guide book of non-governmental
organizations registered with the United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights to
include:
(i) National office address and one-paragraph description,
(il) Regional and local affiliates,
(i il) A Hoting of eacn organization's available human a..d material resourceSI
(b) Recommends that NACC facilitate additional speaking tours on a national
and local level to address grass-roots organizations, i.e., cou~ling Palestinians
and Israelis on national tours, matching Palestinians, blacks, Latin Americans,
Asians and Jews and other exp'!rts living in local areas,
(-::) Recommends that NACC co-ordinat.e simultaneous regional (to ~.nclude
Canada), one-day symposia ~o promote the International Peace Conference before the
next North American symposium. The intent is to develop greater local
participation in the promotion of the Peace Conference. In an effort to broaden
the base of the non-govern~ental organizations a committee was formed to approach
other organizations in order for those organizations to become aware of the
non-governmental organizations and to join the non-governmental organizations
movement.
35. The Women's workshop endorses the call of the United Nations General Assembly
to convene an International Peace Conference on the Middle East in conformity with
the provisions of resolutior 38/58 C. The women assembled further call upon all
United Nations organs and specialized agencies and other int~rgovernmental and
non-governmental organizations to provide immediate and adequate assistance
projects, which will contribute to improving the living conditions of Palestinian
women and children. To these ends, the women and groups assembled committed
themB~lves 1".0 the following specific projects to be undertaken dur ing the next 12
months:
(a) CuI tu. '.l.l exchanges and speaking tours, to include the tour currently
~~ing set up hy NACC Rnd ICC,
(b) The creation of high visibili~y for t~~ International Peace Conference.
Taking a lesson from the role of entertainers in bringing African issues into the
homes of Amer~ca, participants agree to seek out well-known artists and
entertainers to promot.e the International Peace Conference and to establish a
dialogue with prominent public ",omen likewise, to seek their endorsement,
(c) Letter-writing calHpaigns for Palestinian prisoners, particularly women
and children;
-59-
(d) Material aid and community development projects, with the underscanding
that it is imper~tiv~ Lo work in tandem with Palestinian women's institutions in
the area, in response to their needs, to undertake specific aid projects. At the
same time, participants recognized the educational benefits accruing from such a
campaign.
An interim task force was set up to ~nsure follow-through on the four agreed are~s
of activity.
36. The peace and anti-intervention workshop recommends the reaffirmation and
implementation of the resolutions of the 19R6 North American Symposium on the
Question of Palestine and calls on non-governmental organizations:
(a) To pressure the United States to support t~e convening of the
International Peace Conference as defined in General Assembly resolution 38/58 C
and to educate the peace movement about that resolution. Non-governmental
organizations should work to popUlarize the concept of the International Peace
Conference through c~mpaigns that include slogans!
(b) To urge all peace and anti-intervention groups to work to end United
States support for IsraelJ occupation of the west Bank and Gaza now and ~o
co-operate closely with North American non-governmental organizations on the
question of Palestine!
(c) To commit symposium participants to convening local committees of
non-governmental organizations to visit local congressional/parliamentary
representatives to discuss the International Peace Conference and the pursuit of
~iddle East peac~ with them,
(d) To salute efforts towards peace undertaken by Palestinians, Israelis and
other peace-loving forces around the world!
(e) To respond effectively to United States global foreign policy in a
unified and collective way, particularly co-operating with the peace and
anti-intervention community.
37. The religious and relief groups workshop:
(a) Urges religiouc:; organizations to encourage "Holy Land tours", ''/hich give
inclusive perspectives of people, ideas and sites. Good models are avaiLable and
should be sought to urge greater youth exchange programmes,
(b) Urges NACC to explore the possibility of promoting an inter-faith day of
Middle East peace and appointing a task force of organizati0ns to develop ide~9 for
activities to be circulated in the NACC newsletter,
(c) Urges immediate investigation and other appropriate action against the
treatment of United States citizens (Palestinian and other Arab Americans) who,
with their families, journey to Israel and the occupied territories for a visit.
They are often not allowed into the countrf. If trey are granted a short stay,
their passports are held and high bonds (thousands of dollars) are requ~rerl till
their departure,
-60-
(d) Urgee increased advocacy efforts through continuous monitoring,
questioning, challenging and influencing of public policy, in Washington and Ottawa
ard through district offices in local communities,
(e) Ur'1es an ecumenical approach to constituency education utilizing the
model given by the Presbyterians in their Moderator's Conference on the Middle East
held in April 1987. In addition, urges circulation of ~vailable resources through
NACC,
(f) Urges listing of resources on the Middle East through the NACC network,
establishing ~ome means to network with one another about what is available,
(g) Enc~urages the National Council of Churches in its dialogue with the
United Statea evangelical Christian community concerning theology related to Middle
Eclst issues.
38. The third world communities workshop considered the problems and oppottunities
for increasing co-operation and interchange between the movement for peace and
justice in the Middle East and third-world communities and their organizations.
The workshop took note of the failure to attract the participation of nationally
oppressed minorities and urges the adoption of the following recommendations:
(a) The facilitation of greater interchange with and p~rticipation of
third-world organizations,
(b) The pursuit of discussions with Congressional black caucuses and Hispanic
caucuses on the question of Palestine, especially to promote an international peace
conference,
(c) The development of a network uf third-world activists and experts on the
question of Palestine,
(d) The organization of delegations to the Middle East,
(e) The creation of an NACC sub-committee to implement the above
recommendations.
39. Additional, more comprehensive strategies and tactics emanating from the
workshops and discussion ~roups are reproduced in annexes I and 11 to the present
paper and should be carefully considered by the non-governmental organization
community.
40. Non-governmental organizations attending the present meeting have selected a
North Mler ican Co-ordinating Committee. Our ing the coming year, the Commi tt-ee is
charged by this meeting to co-ordinate the work of the North American
non-governmentdi organizations present in pursuing our common objectives and
strategies. The non-governmental organizations present r~quest a report from the
Committee at the 1988 North American symposium in order to evaluate its efforts.
We urge continuing North American non-governmental otganizarions support for the
North American Co-ordinating Committee as it works to accom?lish the objectives
stated in the present Declaration.
41. The North American Regional Non-Governmental Organization Symposium on the
Question of Palestine reaffirm~ the importance of the work of the United Nations
.- 61--
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees ill the Near East (UNRWA) and
strongly supports contributionR from the Governments of the llni.:tld states and
Canada at the current or higher levels. The non-governmental organization8
strongly reject attempts on the part of some in the Unitt>d States to de-legitimize
the importance of the work of UNIlWA.
42. We, the North American non-g()vernmental organi~~tionB, have taken note of the
continuing assaults on Palestinian refugee camps and have duly condemned the
atrocities committ.ed, called for the siege to be lifted permanently and called for
the free flow of medical assistance and olher relief to the campfl.
43. We urge all people and organizations workinq towards an end to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict to support, through an internationcll peace conference,
the Palestinian rJ.ghts of return, the right of self-determination and the
establishment of an independent Palestinian State alongside of Israel as a basis
for a comprehensivl' and lasting peace.
NACC wishes to continue to act as a resource for the United NaLions Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the P~leBtinian People and the
DIvision for Palestinian Rights, as requestel1. NACC requests that the United
Nations continue its flnanclal support of an NACC preparatory meeting, so th~t NACC
can fulfil its obligations in relation to the 1988 North American symposium on the
Question of Palestine.
44. In order to continue collaboration between the United Nations and the North
American non-governmental organization com~"nity, we urge both the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the P01estinian People and the Division for
Palestinian Rights to sell~ rep.::esentatives La the major North American
non-governmental organizations conferences.
45. We urge the Chairman of the Committee on the exercine of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People to convey this Decldration to the Generzl Assembly
at its forty-second session as part of the Committee's report.
Notes
a/ The Immigration and Naturalization Service seeks to deport seven
Palestinians and one Kenyan under ~'w McCarran-Walter Act, accusing them of
membership in an organization which promotes international communism as well as
other technical immigration violations.
-62-
ANNEX VII
nf!(·I_,~~.ic~. art.:)£!.~d by the Intern'lt ional Mf't!t !:_l~
.N..'.:_~-·~~~~~rnmt'nt.al Or<Jilniziltiong on the QUt':Hinn of
PalfHltine
(Geneva, 7-9 september 1987)
Introduction
1. The fourth United Nations Internation.• l Mt'pt.ing of Nr''1-Goverumental
Organizationg rn) thp Question of Palcotine was held at the United Nations Office at
Geneva from 7 to <) Sept.ember 1987. The Meeting was attenden by representatives of
121 non-governmental organizations as participants dnd 149 non-governmental
orqanizations as oh. 'lrVfJrS, as \~el1 as by a large numher of observers from
Governments, interqovernme•• tal organizations, United Nationo bodies ann liberation
movements.
2. Mr. Massamba Sarr~ (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable aights of thf' Palestinian People, opened thf' Meeting anci
Mr. 1\lberto Velazco-Sall Jose (Cub,,) cltmed the Meeting on behalf of the Committee.
The opening session was addressed by Mr. Diego Cordovez, Under-Secretary-General
for Special Political Affairs and representative of the Secretary-General, by
Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of PLO and Mr. Donald Betz,
Chairman of the International Co-ordinating Committee for Non-Governmental
Organizations on the Question of Palestine. A keynote addres& was given by
Congressmnn Nick Joe Rahall 11 (Uniteci States of America). Messages of solidarity
were read out on behalf of Mr. Chadli Belldjeded, President of Alger ia,
Mr. Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference, Mr. Chedli Klibi, Secretary-General of the League of Ar~b States and on
behalf of the Indian National Congress and the Indian Youth Congress.
3. The work of the Meeting was conducted in panel discussions and in workshops
and special-issue groups. Two panels were established dnd presentations were made
by a number of experts, as indIcated below:
(a) "The need tor dnd the urgency of convening the International Peace
Conference on the Middle ~aBt, in dccordance with General Asoembly
resolution 38/58 CH,
The first session of the panel was ~haired by Mr. Massd~ba Sarri and heard the
following panelists: Mr. M. S. Agwani (India), Mr. Gordon Bilney (Auutralia),
Mr. Peter Jankowitsch (Austria); Mr. Heath N. MacQuarrie (Canada), and
Mr. Vladimir Vinoqradov (Union of Soviet Socia'ist Republics). The second session
of the panel heard preser.l:.ations [ram the fo1.lowing experts:
Professor Ibrahim Abu-Lughod (Palestinian), Mr. Shafiq AI-Hout (Palestini. n);
Mr. Mattilyahu Peled (Israel); Mr. Tawfiq Zayyad (Palestinian);
(ll) "PaleHtinian lJolit.icdl ... nd human ri'.lhtt;";
Panelists: Mr. Hat.em Abu-Ghazalah (Palestinian); Mr. Latif Dori (Israel);
Ms. Raymonda Tawil (Israel), Mr. Amnon ~ichr()ni (Israel).
-63-
4. The following workshops were held:
(a) Mobilization of pUblic opinionl
Workshop leaders: Mr. Donald Betz (United States of America), and
Mr. James Graff (Canada), Mr. David Watkins (United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland),
(b) Creative arts and the Palestinian struggle for national identity,
Workshop leader: Mr. Kamal Boulatta (Palestinian)1
(c) Community development and relief workl
Workshop leader: Mr. Hans Peter Kotthaus (Austria),
(d) Mobilizing the international peace movement for a nuclear-weApon-free
Middlfl East,
Workshop leader: Mr. Amnon Zichroni (Israel).
5. In addition, 12 special-issue groups were formed to discuss specific action
proposals by non-governmental organizations intelested in particular topics related
to tl.. question of Palestine.
6. The Declaration of the Meeting, which was adopted unanimously, is reproduced
below. The full text of the report will be published in due course as a special
bulletin of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
Declaration
7. We, the non-governmental organizations participating ill the fOIl[th United
Nations International Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of
Palestine, in this year of the Palest:nian people, thank the United Nations
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for
convening this meeting and we a~preciate the presence of the members and observers
of that United Nations body.
8. We thank the Chief of the Division for Palestinian Rights, the
non-governmental organization liaison officers and the staff of the Division and
the Department of Conference Services, including the interpre+:.ers, for their
assista~ce in this Meeting. We look forwc.rd to increasing the level of mutual
co-operation and understanding.
9. We were honoured by the presence of CI.~irman Yasser Arafat at the opening
s8ssion of this Meeting and sincerely thank him for hi tatement and his
continuing support of our efforts.
10. We express our appreciation to the '~istinguished experts, resourcp persons and
moderators who spoke here.
11. We recognize the need for and the urgency of convening t.he Interational Pea.::e
Conference on the Middle East in accordance with United Nations General Assembly
-64-
resolutions 38/58 C and 41/43 D. We are concerned at the delay in convening the
Conference and gravely concerned that any further delay will worsen L~nflict in the
Middle East, intensify the suffering and oppreRsion to which the Palestinian people
are daily subjected and increase the danger of global conflagration. For that
reason, the international non-governmental organizations urge that practical
preparations for the convening of the International Conference be started by the
permanent members of the Security Council without delay.
12. Accordingly, we call upon all Governments to work for the convening of the
International Peace Conference under the auspices of the United Nations, as a
matter of the utmost urgency, the participants to include the five permanent
members of the Security Council, PLO, Israel, th~ Arab St~tes parties to the
conflict, and other concerned States, on an equal fLoting and with equal rights.
13. We express our conviction that one hope for peace lies witl. a concerted
European intiative to bring Israel and the united State~ to accept the
International Peace Conference as called for in resolution 38/58 C. To this end,
we urge the non-governmental organizations in the countries members of the European
Economic Community to persuade their Governments to update the Venice Declaration
If 1980 to be in conformity with the guidelines enunciated in resolution 38/58 C.
We not~ that the European Parliament has given the opportuhity to a number of
leaders involved in the Middle East conflict to present their views. We urge the
European Parliament to invite Chairman Arafat to present the views of the
Palestinian people.
14. We reaffirm that the right of r~turn and the recognition and exercise of the
right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, with all that it implies, is
a central requirement for peace and security, as well ~s being fully in accord with
one of the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Therefore,
we call on all Governments to recognize and respect that right.
15. We reaffirm the international consensuo ll.at PLO is the legitimate
re?resentative of the Palestinian people in its just struggle for its inalienable
rights. Accordingly, we call on all Governments to recognize PLO.
16. We are appalled at the 1986 amendment to the 1948 Israeli Prevention of
Terrorism Act, which criminalizes Israeli citizens who engage in peace talks with
members of PLO. We call for the repeal of this law forthwith, and the dropping of
all charges laid under this law or its amendments, particularly those relating to
the Alternative Information Centre in Jerusalem. We note past acts CJf llarassment
by the Israeli authorities against individuals living under its judicial and
military authority who ai..tend meetings with members of PLO. We insist upon the
basic right of all individuals to attend meetings, including this fourth United
Nations International M~eting uf Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of
Palestine held at Geneva. We call upon the Israeli Government to permit such
individuals, wi thol~t discr imination, to return home safely and unharassed after
their participation in this Conference. We further con~emn attempts by any
Goverment to curtail 0': obstruct the freedom of its ci tizens '.0 associate wi th PLO
or any of its members. We strongly support continuing dialogue between Israelis
and memuers of PLO as an extremely important means of promoting a just and durable
peace.
17. We ar.~ greatly concerned about the policies of racial diSCI:" imination practiced
by the Israeli Government against Palestinian Arab Ci t [zens of Israel. SpA.cial
-65-
attention should be paid to the plight of the oft··neg::'e.::ted Palestinian Bedouins
and the Arabs in the area of Beersheva and the Negev. We condemn the continuing
repressive measures of the Israeli occupying Power against the Palestinian people
in the occupied territories (including arrests, shootings, torture, expulsions,
demolition of houses, closure of educatio:lal, cultural, and social institutions,
collective punishment, land and water seizur~u, and censorship in all its forms),
and we call upon all Governments and peopl~6 to press the Israeli Government to end
the occupation. Inhumane practices against Palestinian ~)litical prisoners and the
denial of all their rights must be deplor~d.
18. We note with great concern the deteriorating situation in the camps of
Palestinian refugees in Beirut and southern Lebanon which have been under constant
attack for three years. In the absence of actual legal measllres that would
guarantee the security of the Palestinian civilians in Lebanon after the abrogation
of the Cairo agreement, we demand that the refugees receive the international legal
protection provided under the relevant int.ernational conventions, spdcifically the
Geneva Conventions and Protocols. We cail for an end to the blockade, the start of
reconstruction, and the normalization of the situation of the palestinians tn
Lebanon, we call for the establishment of an international delegation of eminent
persons to study the situation in the fj~ld and to report its findings to the
United Nations Committee on the exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People.
19. We urge our Governments to contact tl.e appropriate parties to lift th~
blockade, to permit the immediate entry of the International Committee of the Red
Cross and other health and relief organl~Qtions into the camps and the dispatch of
medl,cal and food supp1h s. We also demand the reconstruction of dwellings,
hospitals and schools and the re-establishment of social and educatio~al services.
20. We call for the ending of the continued Israeli occupation of southern
I.ebanon, the inhumane air raids, which take P,'1lestinian and Lebanese lives, and Uae
intervention in Lebanese internal affairs thro~gh political coercion and opprcqsive
action. We demand the immediate Israeli withdrawal from southern Leban~n, in
conformity with lInited Nations Security Council resolutions 508 (1982) and
509 (1982), and respect for its unity, sovereignty and democratic development and
for the release of all those ~eld in prison.
21. We deplore the Israeli policy of kidnapping Palestinians and others tl.'avelling
in international waters and call upon all non-governmental organizations to launch
a campaign against these actions, including informing maritime organizations and
seamen's unions in their respective States about these acts of piracy, and to work
with them to oppose these deplorable acts.
22. We, non-governmental organizations, condemn the introduction of nuclear
weapons by Israel into the Middle East. We urge the United States and "Jestern
European States to terminate all co-operati.on with Israel in the fields of nuclear
weaponry and research. We further call upon Israel to dismantle its nuclear
weapons, to open its nuclear facilities to eA~ert inspection and to sign the
non-proliferation Treaty. The ~rld has a right to know, the Israeli people have a
right to know about Israel's nuclear capacity and the threat to regional and world
peace which that capaci ty represents. The Uni ted Nat ions resolution on t;.e
creation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East must be implemented.
-66--
23. We are deeply concerned about the harsh ann illegitimate conditions under
which Mordechai Vanunu is being beld and tr ied. Mordechai Vanunll drew the
attention of the world to the Israeli nuclear armp capability. We conJemn his
kidLapping from European soiL We demand a fair, just. and pUblic tr ial for
Mordechai Vanunu and submit that the need for regional and wor Id-wide secur ity from
nucl9ar warfare morally justifies his actions.
24. We note Chairman Arafat's statement on the serious threat to peace and
security posed by the perpetuation of the Gulf war and cor,cur that "we must exert
every possible effort to decrease the dangerous tension in this important region of
the world before fire extends to other areas and the hurricane expands and thus
destruction follows". We appeal to all parties to uphold the recent United Nations
Security Council resolution 598 (1987) which aimed to end the war.
25. The objective of this Meeti~g was to plan and co-ordinate non-governmental
organization activities. Our prim",ry work was conducted in workshops a,I' in
special working groups, and we affirm their conclusions as 3ppended herpwith.
26. We, non-governmental organizationH, urgently request the establishment of a
special committee on Palestinian culture to confront the systematic war being waged
against l'alestinian identity. The conamitttee should consist of three Palestinian
cultural experts who would advise and assist the International Co-ordinating
Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine (ICCP) in
planning future non-governmental organization activities.
27. Increased non-governmental organization effectiveness demands enhanced
co-ordination and organization. In the light of the growing importance of the Icep
liaison office at Geneva, we propose the establishment of an non-governmentaL
organization liaison off.ice in North America, and national and regional committees
in Europe and elsewhere.
28. It is important that special efforts be made to extend our network to Latin
Ame"ica, Australia, New Zealand and other under-tepresented areas, and to encourage
the participati~n of their non-governmental organizations in thp international
meeting to be held in 1988. We urge the Committee on the Exerci'ie of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to exert special efforts to convene a
Latin American regional non-governmental organization symposium in 1988 and on a
regular basis.
29. We congratulate the European non-governmental organizations on the Regional
Symposium successfully convened by them immediately prior to our Meeting with
valued suport of the ICC secretariat. We urge the Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalianble Rights of the Palestinian People to include the Final
Declaration of this European Symp0sium in the Committee's report (to the General
Assembly) •
30. We urge the United Nations to convene an annual European regional symposium
immediately prior to an annual international meeting. We further urge the United
Nations to schedule a five-day international meeting of non-governmental
organizations in the first week of September 1988 in Vienna, the format of which is
to be decided in co-operation with ICCP witt emphasis on workshops and special
interest planning meetings.
-67-
31. We reaffirm the organization and work of ICCP and its secretariat at Geneva.
We call upon the United Nations to offer every possible assistance to ICCP and its
secretariat.
32. We urge the Chairman uf the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People to convey this Declaration to the General Assembly
at its forty-second session as part of the Committee's report.
87-25488 247Hu (E) -68-
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Litho in United Nations, New York 00900 25488-Novem'::2!" 1987-3,600
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF TI-K PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
CFFICIAL RECORDS: FORTY-THIRD SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/43/3S)
UNITED NATIONS
New York, ‘1988
NOTE
Symbols of United Nations documents arc’ composed ofcapitul lcttcrs comhincd with
tigurcs. Mention of such u symbol indicoks B rcfcrcncc 10 u United Nations documcnr,
[Originall English]
(27 October 19881
CONTENTS
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ........ ..I...~............,,~..~."...,,.......~.......
I . INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . ..~......~......,,,.,,~,,,.,,.,,,,,
II I mmmm 0F THE COMMITTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK . I . . , . . . . . . , , . , , . ~ , , ~ . , , . . . . . . , , , , . , . ,
A. Election of officers . . . . ..~...I..I......,.,.....,.~.,,
B. Participation in the work of the Committee .,...,,,,,.,
c . Re-establishment of the Working Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IV, ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE . ..*....,,.,...*..,,*.......*
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 42166 A of 2 December 1987 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1, Review of the situation relating to the question
of Palestine and efforts to implement the
recommendations of the Committee ,e....,,.,*.......
2. Reactions to developments affecting the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people ,.....,....,......
3. Action taken by the Committee to promote the
convening of the International Peace Conference
on the Middle East in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 38158 C of 13 December 1983 . . .
4. Atteirdance at international conferences and
meetings ..,,...........,.....,*..*...,............
5. Action taken by other United Nations bodies, the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and
intergovernmental organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. Action taken by the Committee in accordance with
General Assembly resolutions 42166 A and B of
2 December 1987 . . ..*..........*..*........*,..........
1. Co-operation with non-governmental organizations . .
2, Seminars ,,...,.,,..,...,,.~........~~~~~.~.....~..
3. Other activities ,.,.,*.,..*I*.,....*......*.......
- i i i -
1 - 7
8 - 10
11 - 16
11 - 13
14 - 15
16
17 - 128
17 - 95 5
17 - 31
32 - 86
5
8
87 - 93
94
21
23
95 24
96 - 128 26
96 - 112 26
113 - 125 29
126 - 128 31
v .
VI,
I .
I I .
III.
IV,
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
CONTENTS (continued)
ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 42166 C . . . . . . 129 - 140
RECOM4ENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 - 148
Recommendation8 of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly at
its thirty-first session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..~......~....~.......~.
Qeneva Declaration on Palestine and the Programme of Action for the
Achievement of Palestinian Rights .*...*..,.,...,............*..**....
Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Eighteenth United
Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, Havaua, Cuba, 15 to
17 December 1987 .1........*.....0.......*........................ .*.
Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Nineteenth United
Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, Berlin, Oerman
Democratic Republic, 25 to 29 April 1988 ,,.....,.....,....,..........
Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Twentieth United
Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, New York, 27 to
28 June 1988 . ..~....~,..,..,~,~.~~~...~....,....~.....~.,~,..........
Declaration adopted by the United Nations North Ameriaan Regional
NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine, New York, 29 June to
1 July 1988 .,..,.....,.....*.............*.*.................*.....*.
Declaration adopted by the United Nations European Regional NO0
Symposium on the Question of Palestine, Geneva, 29 to 30 August 1988 .
Declaration adopted by the International NGO Meeting on the Question
of Palestine, Geneva, 31 August to 2 September 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
36
39
42
52
57
63
68
72
75
-ivLETTER
OF TRANSMITThL
25 October 1988
Excellency,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 4 of resolution 42166 A of
2 December 1987.
Accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(w) Absa Claude DIALLO
Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Javier P6rez de Cucillar
Secretary-General of the United Nations
-v1,
INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People, established by Qeneral Assembly resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975,
is currently composad of 23 Member States as rollows8 Afghanistan, Cuba, Cyprus,
German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and
Yugoslavia.
2. In its first report, 11 the Committee made a number of recommendations
specifically designed to enable the Palestinian people to attain and exercise its
inalienable rights in Palestine as previously recognieed U’~3 defined by the General
Assembly. Those recommendationti were first endorsed by the Assembly in its
resolution 31120 of 24 November 1976 as a basigl for the solution of the question of
Palestine.
3. In it6 subsequent reports to the General Assembly, 22/ the Committee reaffirmed
its original reconunendatiions and called for their implementation. On each occasion
they have bran endorsed overwhelmingly by the Assembly, which has also continued to
renew and, a6 nece86ary, expand the mandate of the Committee.
4, However , despite the increasing urgency of the appeals by the Committee, the
Security Council has not yet been able to act on or implement the recommendations
of the Committee. The Committee remains convinced that positive consideration and
action by the Security Council on the recommendations of the Committee would
advance prospects for the attainment of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution
to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine,
5. The Cofr*ittee’s efforts to promote such a solutiorl acquired particular urgency
in light of the grave deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian
territories in the year under review as a consequence of the repressive policies
and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, in its efforts to quell the
Palestinian uprising (m) against the occupation, which began in
December 1987. Despite the international outcry over repeated violations of human
rights in the occupied territories and the adoption by the Security Council of
several resolutions requesting the occupying Power to abide by the relevant
international instruments and United Nations resolutions, Israel continued to
resort to military force against the Palestinian population resisting the
occupation, and to engage in armed attacks against the integrity and sovereignty of
countries in the region. The “ommittee expressed the greatest concern at the
mounting casualties and suffering inflicted on the Palestinian people and warned
that the intransigence of Israel would further exacerbate the situation, jeopardizr
international efforts towards a just and lasting settlement, and further endangel
international peace and security. The Committee reasserted that no solution could
be achieved as long as the Palestinian people was denied its inalienable rights in
Palestine, including those to self-determination without extirrnal interference, to
national independence and sovereignty, to return to its homes and property, and to
establish its own independent sovereign State, and as long as the Palestinian and
other Arab terril ories remained occupied.
6. Tho urytlncy ~11 taking measures to protect the PJ!estinian people under
occupation, LO guarantee the safety and security and the legal and human rights of
- 1 -
the Palestinian refugees in all the territories under Israeli occupation and to
alleviate their suffering and the imperative necessity of breaking out of the
current stalemcte and advancing toward6 a peaceful settlement of this longstanding
question were paramount concerns in the Committee’s programme of work during the
year under review.
7. The Committee accordingly repeatedly appealed to the Security Council to take
appropriate action to secure United Nations o)rjectives on the question of
Palestine, and again accorded utmost priority to the early convening of the
proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East in conformity with
General Assembly resolution 38/58 C of 3 December 1983, The Committee remains
convinced that the Conference woullr make a practical and positive contribution to
efforts to promote 3 just and lasting peace in the Middle East and continues to
stress the urgent need for additional concrete and constructive efforts by all
Governments in order to convene the Conference without further delay.
-2-
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
8. The Committee’s mandate for the year 1988 is contained in paragraphs 3 to 5 of
General Assem’,ly resolution 42166 A of 2 December 1987 by which the Assembly;
(a) Requested the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation
relating to the qirestion of Palestine as well as the implementation of the
Progressme of Action for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights 91 adopted by the
International Conference on the Question of Palestine, and tc report and make
suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate)
(b) Authorised the Committee to continue to c;;ert all efforts to promote the
implementation of its recommendations, including representation at conferences and
meetings and the sending of delegations, to make such adjustments in its approved
programme of seminars and of symposia and meetings for non-governmental
organizations as it may consider necessary, and to report thereon to the General
Assembly at its forty-third session and thereafter;
(c) Requested the Committee to continue to extend its co-operation to
non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening
international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and in
creating a more favourable atmosphere for the full implementation of the
Committee’s recommendations, and to take the necessary steps to expand its contacts
with those organizations.
9. By its resolution 42166 B of 2 December 1987, the General Assembly also
requested the Secretary-General, malia, to provide the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources and to ensure
that it continues to discharge the tasks detailed in earlier resolutions, in
consultation with the Committee and under its guidance.
10. By its resolution 42166 C of 2 December 1987, the General Assembly requested
the Department of Public Information, in full co-operation and co-ordination with
the Committee, to continue its special information programme on the question of
Palestine.
-3-
I I I . ORGANIZAFION C.. WORK
11, At its 149th meeting, on 14 January 1988, the Committee decided to re-elect
the following officers;
wma.~r H.E. M r . Massar.ba Sarre (Senegal)
ce-Chairmen; H.E. Mr. Oscar Oramas-Oliva (Cuba)
H.E. Mr, Shah Mohammad Dost (Afghanistan)
wrW.E. Mr, Alexander Borg Olivier (Malta)
12. At its 155th meeting, on 23 August 1988, the Committee elected
H.E. Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo (Senegal) as Chairman in place of
H.E. Mr. Mar?oamba Sarre (Senegal) who had left New York on another aseignment for
his country.
13. At it6 150th meeting, on 10 Ma?ch 1988, the Committee adopted its programme of
work for 198& (A/AC.183/1988/CRP.l/Rev.l) in implementation of its mandate.
14. As in previous yeB;.s, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Member6 of the
United Nations and Pe:manent Observers to the United Nations desiring to
participate in the work of the C~znmittee as observers were welcome to do so.
Accordingly, in a Letter dated 36 March 1988, t,he Chairman of the Committee so
informed the Secretary-General, who subsequently transmitted the letter, on
20 April 1988, to States Members of the United Nations and member6 of the
specialized agencies, and to intergovernmental regional organizations, The
Committee also decided to invite the Palestine Liberation Otganizution (PLO) to
participate in the work of the Committee a6 an observer, to attend all its meetings
and to make observation6 and proposals for the consideration of the Committee.
13. During 1988 the Committee again welcomed as ObSerVerd all the States And
organisations that had participated in its work in the preceding year. jl/
C.F-tof the Worktim
16. At its 149th meeting, the Committee re-established its Working Group to assi6t
in the preparation and expedition of the work of the Committee. The Working Group
wa6 constituted a6 before under the chairmanship of Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier
(Malta), on the understanding that any Committee member or observer could
participate in its proceedings. 51 Mr. Pramathesh Rath (India) was re-elected
Vice-Chair,nan ol: the Working G.. oup,
-4-
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
1. Review of the situ.&i.on relu to the-of
ixl.&effottsttheo f the
17. In accorda;rce with its mandate, in the year under review, the Committee
continued to follow development6 relating to the question of Palestine and to exert
all efforts to promote the im,rlementation of its recommendations at; repeatedly
endorsed by the General Assembly.
10, In response to event6 in the region affecting the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, the Chairman of the Committee, on repeated occasions, whenever
urgent action was required, brought such deVelOpment6 to the attention of the
Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, and called for
appropriate measures in accordance with United Nation6 resolutions (see
sect. A.2 (a) below).
19. The Committee was alarmed at the serious deterioration of the situation in the
occupied Palestinian territories as a result of the increasing resort by Israel to
armed force and other draconian measures in an effort to suppress the popular
uprising, which began in early 3ecember 1987, against the continued occupation and
gradual annexation of the occupied Palestinian territories and against the Israeli
policies and practices violating the rights of the Palestinian people.
20. The Committee monitored the situation on an ongoing basis through the media,
the report6 of missions dispatched to the area by United Nation6 organ6 and
agencies as well as by non-governmental organisations, the reports of individual
experts and persons from the occupied territories who participated in meetings held
under the auspices of the Committee, information collected by Governments, and
other sources.
21. According to this information, the number of Palestinian6 shot to death by
Israeli armod forces since early December 1987 had reached a total of 248
identified cases by 27 September 1988. Another 126 Palestinians had died from
beatings, tear qps inhalation, and other causes related to actions by Israeli armed
forces and Israt! ! ; r:ettlers. Thousands of Palestinians had been wounded or had
suffered crushed holres in beatings administered at random by Israeli soldiers in
impiementation of the policy of “might, force and beatings” to suppre6s the
upri5ing, announced by th6 Israeli Defence Minister in January 1988, The Conuni ttee
was alarmed at tile high proportion of youth6 and children among the victims. Tho
Committee also noted with grave concern various reports that the total casualty
toll among Palest.inians was probably much higher because 01 the fear of many
Palestinians that they would be arrested if they went to a hospital for treatment
of WOUnd6, and because the repeated sealing of entire areas, measures to restricl.
the activities or the press and the detention and harassment of journalists and
human rights workers had made it increasingly difficult to collect systematic
information on the situation. The Committee also expressed grave preoccupation at,
the growing involvement of armed Israeli settlers in attacks against the
Palestinian populc\t.ion, and at the announced policy of the authorities to allow
settlers to shoot. Palestinian demonstrators seen carrying what seemed to be
firebombs .
-5-
22. In this connection, the Committee was extremely concerned at reports by
humanitarian assistance organisations that were able to visit the axea that medical
personnel was refused access to camps and villages closed by the military anii that
hospitals had been attacked, equipment destroyed, medical personnel and patients
beaten, and that patients had been arrested and taken away. In view of the high
number of casualties, the Committee was alarmed at information that the health
situation in the occupied territories and particularly in Qasa had resched
catastrophic proportions and that hospitals were facing severe shortages because
the authorities were restricting access to medical supplies, In this connection,
the Committee deplored that the Special Committee of Experts of the World Health
Organisation (WHO) had again been refused access to the occupied territories and
noted that the information collected by that Committee had caused it to express
deep concern regarding the health situation in the occupied territories,
23, The Committee further noted that, in addition to the use of force, the Israeli
authorities had resorted to a policy of mass arrests, imposition of adminittrative
detention without charges or trial, and deportations, in its efforts to eradicate
the leadership of the uprising. Human rights organisations estimated that, by the
end of September 1988, about 5,500 Palestinians remained in detention, 2,500 of
whom had been placed under administrative detention without charges or trial,
Several new prison camps had been built, where conditions were reported to be in
clear violation of international human rights standards. There were numerous
reports of severs overcrowding, mistreatment and beating, and even killing of
prisoners, lack of hygiene and unavailability of medical care* Several cases of
torture were also reported. In addition, since the beginning of the uprising, the
Israeli authorities deported 33 Palestinians from the occupied territories and
issued deportation orders on another 25, in defianae of Seaurity Council
resolutions and of the provisions of the Fourth Qeneva Convention.
24. The Committee was also gravely concerned at the reported escalation of
collective punishment measures directed against the entire Palestinian population.
Repeatedly, Israeli forces had declared entire areas closed military sones and
placed the population under extended curfews, sealing all entry points to villages
and camps and preventing the delivery of foodstuffs and other essential items such
au fuel and medicines! electricity and telephone service were repeatedly
interrupted) thousands of trees were uprooted and crops bulldosed# and property was
randomly destroyed in raids on Palestinian homes, which were reported to have
become a regular occurrence. Some 236 homes were rspor ed to have been destroyed
as of 23 September 1988, displacing thousafrds of Palestinians, and hundreds more
were reportedly scheduled for demolition.
25. The Committee further noted that Israel had imposed severe restrictions on
freedom of movement within and outside the occupied territories and had intensified
its restrictions on travel abroad. In this connection, the Committee 6 trongly
deplored that the Israeli authorities had denied permission to travel to person6
from the occupied territories who had been invited by the Committee to participate
in meetings of non-governmental organisations held under its auspices.
26. The growing resort by Israel to the use of force against the Palestinian
population in general was accompanied by an intensification of measures against
Palestinian economic, social and cultural institutions. Universities and other
educational institutions, which had suffered frequent closings and other
disruptions prior to the uprising, were closed on the West Bank from December 1987
to May 1988, and then again for varying periods of time. Most schools were also
- 6 -
repeatedly closed in the Qasa Strip. A large number of schools in the occupied
territories were sequestered by the army* for its own use, and school property
destroyed. All teachers newly appointed at the beginning of the 1987-1988 academic
year were dismissed. Pelestinian trade unions were also the object of harassment
and punitive measures. Twenty-four unions, as well as the General Federation of
Trade Unions were reported to have oeen closed since the beginning of the uprising,
and a number of trade unionists were arrested, placed under administrative
detention, or expallcd. The Palestine ?ress Service was closed for six months and
other Palestinian publications were the object of harassment through repeated
closings, disruption of distribution, and the arrest and detention of many
Palestinian journalists, At the end of June 1988, the military commander of the
West Bank ordered closed the relief organisation In’ash el-Usra, which served the
needs of over 15,000 Palestinians, for two yearsr the first such self-help
community group to be so closed. Many Palestinian institutions were also closed
and popular committees outlawed, and their members arrested.
27, In addition, the Israeli authorities adopted a number of st,rJ.ngent
administrative and economic measures directed at further strengthening their
control over key aspects of life in the occupied territories, and to stifle
Palestinian resistance to the occupation, particularly efforts to boycott the
military authorities. The authorities engaged in aggressive collection of back
taxes, linking proof of payment of all Israeli taxes to the issuance of any
official document (such as drivers licences, marriage or birth certificates) and,
in the Game. Strip, to the requirement that existing identity cards be replaced by
new ones. Direct export of agricultural produce from the occupied territories was
prohibited, thus causing great material damage to Palestinian farmers, who are
dependent on exports for the marketing of their produce. In addition, the amount
of money that Palestinians could bring across was reduced to one fifth the amount
previously allowed, thus almost eliminating the possibility of indirect export and
severely reducing the amount of remittances from Palestinians working abroad, on
which many families depended, The restrictions were also causing great
difficuJt1as to voluntary organisations providing services not supplied by the
occupation authorities, The authorities also repeatedly imposed the closing of
Palestinian shops of an essential nature, such as’ bakeries and pharmacies, and
forced the opening of others in an effort to break protest strikes.
28. These measures directed at suppressing the uprising were taken against a
backdrop of intensified Be annexation of the occupied territories. The total
area of land confiscated by Israel since 1967 had reached almost 2.8 million dunums
(1 dunsm = 1,000 m2), i.e. more than half the land area of the occupied
Palestinian territories, by May 1988. The number of settlements reached 170 in the
West Bank and 20 in the Gaze Strip, and the establishment of new settlements and
the expansion of existing ones were announced. Stringent restrictions continued to ’
be imposed on water use, new construction, the grant.ing of credit and other
activities necessary for the development of the territories.
29. The Committee noted with great concern that in his ann ral : eport on the
situation of workers in the occupied Arab territories, based on three missions to
the area, the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) bed
concluded that the clashes resulting from the uprising and the repressive and other
measures which had ensued gravely affected the situation of Arab workers in those
territories. The report expressed concern that the situation of Arab workers,
which was already seriously affected by the occupation, was likely to be
increasingly aggravated if the occupation continued and if the serious events
-7-
taking place in the territories persisted or assumed greater dimensions, The
repercussions on employment and on living and working conditions, in the view of
the ILO, could be extremely grave.
30, In light of these alarming developments in the occupied territories, the
Committee wishes to draw once again the most urgent attention of the General
Assembly and the Security Council to the policies and practices of Israel, the
occupying Power, which are in flagrant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention,
prevent the Palestinian people from attaining its inalienable rights, and thwart
international efforts to bring about a peaceful settlement of the Palestine
question, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle Eaet, In this
connection, the Committee considers that every effort should be made to ensure the
safety and protection of the Palestinians in the occupied territories.
31. At the same time, the Committee noted with appreciation that, in his report on
ass!.stance to the Palestinian people (A/43/367-E/1988/82), the Seoretary-Qeneral
had described a number of measures to respond to the emergency situation in the
occupied territories, in accordance with the report he had submitted to the
Security Council under resolution 605 (1987) (6119443). Unfortunately, no aation
was authorised by the Security Council on that report owing to the negative vote of
a permanent member of the Security Counail, The Committee was encouraged by the
assessment that, although a number of projects had been disrupted, the assistance
programme continued to operate at full strength and had made considerable progress,
and that all organisations of the United Nations system had expressed a willingness
to expand their activities in the area, provided additional funding was available,
The Committee expressed its deep appreciation to the Governments which had
increased their contributions to the programme and, noting that needs are still
very great and that additional funding is urgently needed, associated itself with
the Secretary-General’s appeal to the international community to continue to
increase its support for the assistance programme, The Committee considered that
intensified efforts towards genuine development of the occupied territories, with
the close involvement of the Palestinian people themselves, through their
representative, the PLO, must be a necessary accompaniment of renewed efforts to
achieve a political solution of the question.
32. In response to the very grave situation in the occupied Palestinian
territories in the course of the year under review, the Chairman of the Committee
repeatedly drew the most urgent attention of the Secretary-General and of the
President of the Security Council to developments in the area and, in particular,
to the intensification of repression by the Israeli military authorities, urging
the adoption of appropriate measures in accordance with humanitarian principles and
United Nations resolutions. The Chairman repeatedly pointed out that the policigs
and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, in the occupied Palestinian
territories are in contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention, international
human rights instruments and United Nations resolutions. He further stressed that,
such policies ancl practices pose further obstacles to international efforts to
promote a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestine question, Ths
-8-
Chairman reiterated his appeals to the Secretary-General and to the President of
the Security Council to take all possible measures for ensuring the safety and
protection of the Palestinian civilians under occupation, and to intensify all
efforts towards the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle
East, in accordance with Oeneral Assembly resolution 38/58 C.
33, In a letter dated 13 October 1987 (A/42/655-8/19203), the Chairman described
an incident in the Gaea Strip which had resulted in the shooting death of three
Palestinians and which had prompted demonstrations and a general students strike.
A subsequent incident in which Sour Palestinians and an Israeli soldier had been
killed had sparked widespread protests in the Qasa Strip which were still
continuing. Extremely serious incidents had also been reported from the occupied
West Bank, where a renewed attempt by militant Jews to enter the Islamic Holy
Shrine or Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem had sparked protest demonstrations which had
resulted in the death of a Palestinian woman* There had also been dosene of
injuries among Palestinian demonstrators, and many had been arrested, Protest
strikes had been declared in many areas.
34. In a letter dated 13 November 1987 (A/42/768-6/19270), the Chairman detailed a
number of grave incidents which had taken place in the occupied Palestinian
territories and had caused the death and injury of several Palestinians, including
schoolchildren. The Chairman further reported that it had been disclosed by an
official Israeli report that the Shin Beth internal eecurity service had routinely
subjected Palestinian detainees to physical abuse and that such abuse had been
covered up in the courts.
35. On 11 December 1987 (A/42/877-6/19337), the Chairman drew urgent attention to
the very dangerous situation which was being created in the occupied territories by
renewed acts of violence by the Israeli troops, which had again resulted in
casualties among young Palestinians. In the Gasa Strip, Israeli troops had shot
two Palestinian youths dead and had wounded 18 others. Protesters assembled in the
courtyard of a hospital were attacked by Israeli helicopters which dropped tear gas
canisters into the crowd. Many schools and shops in the Oasa Strip remained closed
and hundreds of Palestinians stayed away from work in Israel, In the West Bank,
Israeli soldiers had shot six Palestinians, including an 11-year-old boy, to death
in various towns and refugee camps, and had wounded many others in protest
demonstrations. Many Palestinian protestors had been arrested, Military
authorities had also detained the head of the Arab Journalists Union for six months
without trial and had ordered the daily Al-P& to halt distribution in the West
Bank for 10 days,
36. In a letter dated 29 December 1987 (A/43/73-S/19394), the Acting Chairman
stated that the use of live ammunition by Israeli troops had already caused the
killing of at least 23 Palestinians and injuring of hundreds of others, The number
of Palestinian youths arrested by the Israeli army for suspected involvement in the
recent wave of protests had risen to nearly 1,000. The army had opened two
makeshift prisons to detain the hundreds of prisoners until trials could be
arranged, where conditions were reported to be extremely harsh. The Israeli army
was preparing to begin military trials which, based on past experience, were
expected to be swift and in the nature of “a mass court-martial”, Defence lawyers
had not been allowed to see the detainees and Palestinian lawyers in the Gasa Strip
were boycotting the military trials. The army was also report& to have ordered
the closing of several universities and of about 800 schools in the West Bank and
92 schools in the Gasa Strip.
-9-
37, In a further letter dated 5 January 1958 (A/43/77-6/19405), the Chairman
reported that Israeli military authorities had decided to expel nine Palestinians,
five from the West Bank and Sour from the Qasa Strip, accusing them of being the
“chief instigators” of the uprising in the territories, More than 1,000
Palestinians rounded up during the paRt month also remained gaoled, and trials on
inaitement charges were proceeding in the military courts, Further violent
incidents had also taken place, resulting in several new casualties.
38. In a further letter dated 12 January 1988 (A/43/86-6/19424), the Chairman once
again drew urgent attention to the oontinuinq deterioration of the situation in the
occupied Palestinian territories, particularly due to the use of live ammunition
against demonstrators, mass arrests, detentions and deportations. He described a
number of grave incidents which had taken place eince his earlier letter and which
had resulted in the death of! eight Palestinians, including a pregnant woman, and in
numerous injuries, The Israeli army was reported to have sent large reinforaements
into the aasa Strip and to have declared most of the area a closed military lone,
barred to journalists and others, The total number of dead had reached at least 35
since the beginning of the protests in December. At least 30 Palestinians from the
West Bank and Game had been placed under administrative detention without trial for
up to six months. A total number of almost 2,000 Palestinians had been arrested,
the majority of whom remained gaoled awaiting trial in the military courts.
39, In a further letter dated 20 January 1986 (A/43/95-6/19441), the Chairman drew
urgent attention in particular to the increasingly systematic use by Israel of
collective punishment against Palestinians, It had been reported that the army was
imposing “economic curfews” on refugee cemps, preventing residents from leaving and
thus cutting off more than 250,000 Palestinians from their sources of income, and
even preventing food from reaching the camps, thus leading to serious shortages.
The Chairman also reported that several violent incidents had taken place,
resulting in renewed casualties among Palestinians.
40, On 10 February 1988 (A/43/132-S/19490), the Chairman said that events since
his last letter had shown that, despite international appeals, Israeli authorities
had increasingly resorted to random beatings, curfews, the closing of schools, and
mass arrests. Live ammunition was again being used against Palestinian
demonstrators, raising the death toll to at least 50 since December 1987. The
Committee was also gravely concerned at the reported growing involvement of Israeli
settlers in acts of violence against the Palestinian population. At least
300 Palestinians had been hospitalised for injuries inflicted in beatings by
Israeli troops carrying out the policy announced by the Defence Minister of “might,
force and beatings”. Several hundreds of others were also beaten but ha@
reportedly avoided going to hospi:als for fear of being arrested. One hundred
twenty-nine Palestinians had been placed in administrative detention for six months
without trial and a further 1,753 Palestinians were still under arrest, including
577 who had been sentenced to gaol terms by military courts. The Chairman further
described several incidents in which another 10 Palestinians, including a
lo-year-old boy, had been killed by Israeli troops.
41, In this connection, the Chairman expressed the Committee’s appreciation for
the report ot the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of resolution 605 (1907)
(s/.9433) and for its objective analysis of the situation and the identification of
waya and means for ensuring the safety and protection of Palestinian civilians
under Israeli occupation. The Committee in particular expressed appreciation for
the steps taken 1Jy the Secretary-General in pursuance of that resolution and for
-lOthe
action he planned to take to help alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian
people under occupation, The Committee stressec¶ that the international community
should also take suitable action, including the measures identified in that report,
to help ensure the protection of the Palestinian civilian population.
42. In a further letter dated 1 .,. xh 1988 (A/43/183-6/19562), the Chairman stated
that the toll of Palestinians known to have been killed by lsraeli gunfire or
beatingE was at least 79 since early December. At least 29 Palestinians had died
since his previous letter, indicating an extremely serious increase in casualties,
Another 12 deaths had been attributed to the effects of tear-gas. A humanitarian
assistance organization which had visited the occupied territariez had estimated
that injuries ran into the thousands, many of them victims of beatings. Medical
personnel had been refused entry to refugee camps and areas under curfew, and
hospitals had been assaulted, medical personnel beaten, equipment smashed and
patients pulled from beds and arrested. Giving a brief chronology of the incidents
that had taken place since his previous letter, he reported that Israeli troops or
settlers had killed Palestinians, including a four-year-olc child, in a number of
areas.
43. In a further letter dated 30 March 1988 (A/43/264-8/19710), thr Chairman
reported the latest incidents and stated tha: the toll of Palestinians known to
have been killed by Israeli gunfire, beatings and tear-gas inhalation was at least
127 since the beginning of the uprising in early December, Children as young as
three had also been beaten, The number of Palestinians aetained b:r the army had
reached at least 4,000. Stringent new measures had been announced, including an
easing of the rules allowing for administrative detention without charges or trial)
the outlawing of the Shabiba (Youth) Movement) and allowing Israeli civilians to
shoot at demonstrators who hurled firebombs. The imposition of a variety of
economic restrictions had also been announced. In view of demonstrations planned
to commemorate Land Day on 30 March, the Israeli army had now declared the entire
West Bank and Qaza Strip closed military zones for threvl days, banning journalists
and prohibiting Palestinians from travelling between the occupied territories and
Israel. International telephone links had been cut, and food supplies restricted.
The Gara Strip had also been placed under curfew , meaning that more than 650,000
Palestinians were confined to their homes.
44. In a further letter dated 13 April 1988 (A/43/302-6/19769), the Acting
Chairman drew the most urgent attention to the intensification of repression by
Israel against the Palestinian people, including deportation of persons, the
demolition of houses, the imposition of curfews over long periods, restrictions on
media coverage, and other measures. Live ammunition continued to be used
indiscriminately and widely against demonstrators. The growing death toll of
Palestinians due to Israeli gunfire had now reached at least 138 since early
December . The Committee in particular strongly deplored the expulsion of eight
Palestinians to southern Lebanon, and the decision by the Israeli authorities to
deport another 12 Palestinians, in defiance of Security Council resolutions
607 (1988) and 608 (1988).
45. In another letter dated 13 May 1988 (A/43/362-5/19881), the Acting Chairman
stated that the toll of Palestinians known to have been killed by Israeli gunfire
had now reached at least 180~ dozens more had reportedly died Erom beatings and
suffocation from the particularly toxic form of tear-gas used by the armed forces.
In addition, the Israeli authorities had introducbd new administrative measures
against the entire Palestinian population in the occupied territories in order to
-llt!
ghten control over the area in further efforts to quell the uprjsing. Desoi te
growing restrictions on the press and the detention of several journalists, there
was information that the uprising was continuing and a number of grave incidents
had taken place. Another eight Palestinians had been expelled and further
deportations were plannedr the number of prisoners had topped 7,000, of whom 1,200
had been placed in administrative detention.
46. On 3 June 1988 (A/43/392-5/19926), the Chairman drew urgent attention to the
conviction by an Israeli court of four Israeli peace activizcs for meeting with
members of the PLO in Romania in 1986. The Committee was also seriously concerned
at the continued Israeli policy of military repression in the occupied Palestinian
territories. The casualty toll had now reached 190 Palestinians killed by gunfire,
More than 2,000 Palestinians were being dntained without charges in a desert prison
camp at Ketziot under inhuman conditions. Thousands more remained imprisoned in
Israeli gaols and there had been several report8 of ill-treatment of prisoners.
47. In a further letter dated 22 July 1988 (A/43/417-S/20052), the Chairman
expressed the Committee’s most serious concern that live ammunition, rubber bullets
and beatings continued to be used widely. The number of Paleetiniaxs killed by
Israeli gunfire had reached at least 230, and 9,000 Palestinians were still
detained under inhuman conditions. Israeli civilians had been allowed to shoot
Palestinians carrying firebombs. He detailed several instances of house
demolitions, closure of schools, expulsions, banning of community organizations,
and other measures taken by the military authorities.
48. On 4 August 1988 (A/43/502-6/20086), the Acting Chairman ztrongly deplored the
deportation by Israel of eight Palestinians from the West Bank and Qaza Strip to
Lebanon, on charges of being involved in inciting recent uprisings in the occupied
Palestinian territories. The Committee also strongly deplored the arrest of
Faisal Husseini, Director of the Arab Studies Society in Jerusalem, who was given
up to six months administrative detention for allegedly participating in the
co-ordination of the Palestinian uprising.
49. In another letter dated 19 August 1988 (A/43/547-5/20136), the Acting Chairman
reported that the Israeli army had adopted a new pre-emptive policy of sealing off
entire ereas. The Gaza Strip was reportedly placed under complete and total curfew
from 14 to 18 August, and separate curfews remained in effect in a nur,&er of
areas, Another part of the army’s new strategy had been to outlaw the “popular
committees” established in the course of the uprising to keep civic affairs
running. A Defence Ministry official was reported to have disclosed that more than
250 members of the committees had been jailed recently. Despite the new measures,
protest demonstrations had taken place in the Gaza Strip and at least 13\4 persons
had been injured by beatings or tear-gas on 16 and 17 August. At least
247 Palestinians had been killed since December, including two Palestinians shot to
death on 16 August at Ketziot prison camp during a demonstration against the
inhumane conditions of detention of some 2,500 administrative detainees at the
camp. The shooting was condemned by the International Committee of the Red Cross,
which stated that. Israel was violating the Fourth Geneva Convention of
12 August 1949. The Acting Chairman also expressed concern that another four
Palestinians were deported to Lebanon on 17 August 1988.
50. In a letter dated 29 September 1988 (A/43/663-S/20210), the Chairman of the
Committee detailed a number of grave incidents which had taken place in the
occupied Palestinian territories and had caused death and injury to many
-A2-
Palestinians. The Chairman in particular expressed most serious concern at the use
oP plastic bl*llets by the Israeli army which had led to increasing deaths and
wounding of Palestinians. The Chairman also expressed the Committee’s concern OL
the fact that a number of Palestinian institutions perceived by the Israeli
authorities to be the nucleus of a future Palestinian State were ordered closed for
prolonged periods and a network of popular committees charged with organizing the
Palestinian uprising in Gaze had been smashed and some 20C people had been arrested.
51. In a further letter dated 13 October 1988 (A/43/710-6/20228), the Chairman
reported an intensification of the policies of repression of Israel in the occupied
Palestinian territories, in particular army raids in order to prevent
demonstrations, and the extension of the closure of schools and universities until
15 November. The closure of the Palestine Press Service had also been extended for
one year, Live ammunition continued to be used widely and had resulted in an
increase in casualties, She reported a statement by the Israeli Army Chief of
Staff to the effect that the number of Palestinians wounded had almost doubled in
recent weeks, and detailed several recent incidents in which Israeli troops had
shot Palestinians to death.
W U!ibn taken_within SeCriFitv cixuudl
52, In addition to transmitting letters to the Secretary-General and the President
of the Security Council, the Committee followed closely the act.vitics of the
Council on matters relating to the Cznmittee’s mandate, and participated in Council
debates as necessary.
53. In a letter dated 11 December 1987, addressed to the President of the Security
Council (S/19333), the Permanent Representative of Democratic Yemen to the United
Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of December,
requested that an immediate meeting of the Security Council be convened to address
the situation in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories. Tho Security
Council considered the item at seven meetings held between 11 and 22 December 1987.
54. At the 2770th meeting of the Security Council, on 11 December 1987, the
Chairman of the Committee intervened in the debate and stated that the
deterioration of the situation in the occupied territories was all the more
disturbing because it directly affected not merely the future of the Palestinian
population but also international peace and security. He described J number of
incidents which had taken place and which he had related in a letter sent to the
President of the Security Council (A/42/877-5/19337) (see pare, 35 above).
55. The Committee had continued to emphasize that the situation in the occupied
Palestinian and other Arab territories, including Jerusalem, would continue to
worsen, as long as the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people had not been
exercised. The United Nations had an undeniable responsibility for ensuring the
protection of the Palestinians and the enjoyment of their rights in the occupied
territories. The Committee considered that it was now up to the Security Council
to implement the findings of the 1983 International Conference on the Question of
Palestine held at Geneva, endorsed by growing majorities in the General Assembly,
in particular by calling for the convening of the International Peace Conference an
the Middle East. He underscored that the question of Palestine had reached a
critical stage and urgently appealed for increased efforts to achieve a just and
lasting solution to the question and to put an end to the intolerable situation of
the Palestinian people.
-13-
56, At its 2777th meeting, on 22 December 1967, the Security Council adopted
resolution 605 (1987) by 14 votes in favour to none against, with 1 abstention, by
which it strongly deplored those policies and practices of Israel, the occupying
;owe P , which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied
territories, and in particular the opening of fire by the Israeli army‘ resulting
in the killing and wounding of defenceless Palestinian civilians2 reaffirmed that
the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949, is applicable to the Palestinian and other Arab territories
occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem! called once again upon Israel,
the occupying Power, to abide immediately and scrupulously by that Conventions
called for the exercise of maximum restraint to contribute to the establishment cf
peacer stressed the urgent need to reach a just, durable and peaaeful settlement of
the Arab-Israeli conflict) and requested tha Secretary-General to examine the
present situation in the occupied territories by all means available to him and to
submit a report containing his recommendations on ways and means for ensuring the
safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation.
57, In a letter dated 4 January 1988, addressed to the President of the Security
Council (S/19402), the Permanent Represent&ive of Jordan to the United Nations, in
his capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of January, requested an
immediate meeting of the Security Council to address the situation in the occupied
Palestinian and other Arab territories. The Security Council considered the item
at its 2780th meeting held on 5 January 1988.
56. At that meeting, the Security Council adopted unanimously resolution
607 (i988), by which it reaffirmed once again that the Geneva Convention relative
to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, is
applicable to Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967,
including Jerusalemr called upon Israel to refrain from deporting any Palestinian
civilians from the occupied territories1 strongly requested Israel, the occupying
Power, to abide by its obligations arising from the Convention) and decided to keep
the situation in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel
since 1967, including Jerusalem, under review.
59. The Security Council resumed consideration of the item at its 2781st meeting,
held on 14 January 1988. At that meeting, the Council adopted resolution
608 (1968) by 14 votes in favour, none against and 1 abstention. By that
resolution, the Council expressed deep regret that Israel, the occupying Power, had
deported Palestinian civilians in defiance of resolution 607 (1988); called upon
Israel to rescind the order to deport Palestinian civilians and to ensure the safe
and immediate return to the occupicld Palestinian territories of those already
deported; requested that Israel desist forthwith from deporting any other
Palestinian civilian from the occupied territories; and decided to keep the
situation under review.
60. The Security Council resumed its consideration of the item at its 2765th to
2787th meetings, on 27 and 28 January 1988, and at its 2789th and 2790th meetings.
on 1 February 1986, having before it the report, dated 21 January 1988, submitted
by the Secretary-General pursuant to Security Council resolution 605 (1987) of
22 December 1987 (S/19443).
61. The representative of Senegal, also in his capacity as Chairman of the
Committee, intervened in the debate at the 2786th meeting of the Security Council,
on 27 January 1988, and praised the report submitted by the Secretary-General as
-14-
complete, balanced and responsible, He expressed his satisfaction that the report
stressed the special duty of the United Nations towards the Palestinian people, nnd
the need to reach a negotiated, just and lasting bettloment of the Middle East
problem. Referring to the violent repression in the oooupied territories, he
stressed once again the primary responsibility of the Council, guarantor of
international peace and security, and called on it to take measures to make Israel
comply with its obligations and duties as occupying Power, under the Fourth Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of
12 August 1949. He further called for the strengthening of humanitarian
organisations in a universal effort to rehabilitate the Palestinian population, and
for renewed efforts, through the Security Counail, to advance a negotiating process
leadlrg to a just and lasting settlement of the Middle East problem, including the
question of Palestine.
62. At its 2790th meeting, on 1 February 1988, the Security Council had before it
a draft resolution (S/19466), submitted by Algeria, Argentina, Nepal, Senegal,
Yugoslavia and Zsmbia, by which the Council would have called upon Israel, as the
occupying Power and as a High Contracting Party to the Geneva Convention relative
to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to accept
the da.jura applicability of the Convention to tne Palestinian and the other Arab
territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and fully to cornEly with its
obligations under that Conventions would have recalled the obligation of all the
High Contracting Parties to ensure respect for the Convention in all airaumstances)
would have called again upon Israel to desist forthwith from its policies and
practices which vi Jlate the human rights of the Palestinian peopler would have
requested Israel to facilitate the task of humanitarian relief agencies and request
all members to give them their full supports would have requested the
Secretary-General to continue to monitor the situation in the occupied territories
by all means available to him and to make regular and timely reports to the
Council) would have affirmed the urgent need to achieve, under the ausgiaes of the
United Nations, a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli
conflict, an integral part of which is the Palestinian problem, and expressed its
determination to work towards that end] would have requested the Secretary-General
to continue his endeavours to promote such a settlement and to keep the Security
Council regularly informedt and would have decided to keep the situation under
review,
63, At the ssme meeting, the Security Council proceeded to vote on the draft
resolution, which received 14 votes in favour to 1 against (United States of
America), with no abstentions, and was not adopted, owing to the negative voto of a
permanent member of the Council.
64. In a letter dated 29 March 1988, addressed to the President of the Security
Council (S/19700), the Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the United Nations,
in his capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of March, requested
that an urgent meeting of the Security Council be convened to discuss the situation
in the occupied Arab territories. The Security Council resumed its consideratiou
of the item at its 2804th meeting, held on 30 March 1988.
65. At the 2804th meeting, the representative of Senegal intervened in the debate,
also in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee, He stressed the further
deterioration of the situation in the region as described in his letter addressed
to the President of the Security Council on the same date (A/43/264-S/19710) (see
para. 43 above). He appealed to the Council to take action on the recommendations
-15-
adopted by consensus at the International Conference on the Question of Palestine
held in 1963 and approved repeatedly by an increasing majority in the General
Assembly for the convening of an international peace conference on the Middle East,
The Chairman further stressed that the question of Palestine had now entered in
critical phase and urged that increased efforts should be undertaken to provide a
just and lasting solution to this question. He urgently appealed to all Council
members to make a positive contribution to the adoption of appropriate measures so
that the policy of dialogue could be followed by all the interested parties in order
to put an end to the tragic situation which had continued for more than 40 years.
66. The Security Council resumed its consideration of the item at two further
meetings held on 14 and 15 April 19C8. The Acting Chairman of the Committee
intervened in the debate at the 2805th meeting, on 14 April 1986, and stated that
notwithstanding the resolutions adopted by the Council since December 1987 and the
emphatic appeals addressed to Israel by the entire international community, the
Isreeli authorities had continued and il.ens?fied their repreesive policy. He
calls6 on all concerned to use every possible means to guarantee the security and
protection of the Palestinian civilians living under occupation, and to redouble,
joint efforts to secure the convening of the International Peace Conference on the
MLddle East, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38158 C. He urged the
Council to take measures to that end and appealed to the Secretory-General to
implement the recommendations contained in his report (S/19443), so that the
necessary humanitarian assistance could be provided to the long-suffering
Palestinian people in the occupied territories.
67. At the 2806th meeting, on 15 April 1988, the Security Council considered a
draft resolution (S/19760), submitted by Algeria, Argentina, Nepal, Senegal,
Yugoslavia and Zambia. By that draft resolution, the Council would have urged
Israel, the occupying Power, to abide immediately and scrupulously by the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of
12 August 1949, and to desist forthwith from its policies and practices that are in
violation of the Conventiont would have urged Israel to rescind the order to deport
Palestinian civilians and Cdsure the safe and immediate return to the occupied
Palestinian territories of those already deported! would have urged Israel once
again to desist forthwith from deporting Palestinian civilians from the occupied
territories] it would have condemned those policies and practices of Israel, the
vccupying Power, that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people in the
oc: -pied territories, and in particular the opening of fire by the Israeli army,
rc.;‘ltiing in the killing and wounding of defenceless Palestinian civilians# would
hate affirmed the urgent need to achieve, under the auspices of the United Nations,
a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, an
integral part of which is the Palestinian problem, and would have expressed its
determination to work towards &hat endr would have requested tho Secretary-General
to submit periodic reports m tha situation in the occupied territories, including
those aspects relating to endeavours for ensuring the safety and protection of the
Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupationr and would have decided to keep the
situation under review.
68. The draft resolution received 14 votes in favour and 1 against (United States
of America) and was not adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent member nf
the Council.
69. In a latter dated 19 Aprii 1968 (S/19796), the Permar..ent Representative oE
Tunisia to the United Nations requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council
-16~.
to consitler the situation created by the new deliberate attack by Israel on the
territorial integrity and sovezeiqnty of Tunisia, The letter stated that on
16 April 1988 a terrorht commando had entered the residbnce of
Mr, Khalil Al-Wasir, Deputy Commander in Chief of the Palestinian Armed Forces and
a member of the Central Council of the PLO, and had assassinated him in the
presence of his wife and daughter, Three other persons had also died in the
attack. An investigation carried out by the Tunisian Oovernment had ascertained
the direct responsibility of Israel in the attack, Accordingly, the Tunisian
Qovernment invited the Council to condemn IsrsPli terrorism forcefully and to take
appropriate steps to avert and prevent the repetition of such acts. The Council
considered the item at four meetings held between 21 and 25 April 1988.
70. At the 2807th meeting of the Council, on 21 April 1988, the representative of
Senegal, also in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee, intervened in the
debate and called on the Council to condemn unequivocally, on the one hand, the
repeated violation of Tunisia’s territorial integrity acd sovereignty and, on the
other hand, the assassination of Khaljl Al-Wasir as a terrorist act that the
international community finds intolerable, in accordance with the principles
defined by both the Security Council and the General Assembly.
71. He further stated that the cycle of violence in the region could not be halted
so long as there was no political solution guaranteeing the Palestinians the
exercise of their inalienable right to self-determination and the creation of a
State. Assassinations and measures of repression did not serve the cause of peace,
but simply postponed the reaching of a peaceful settlement and cast doubt on the
ability of the United Nations to find just and lasting solutions to longstanding
conflicts. Such e. solution should be sought within the framework of the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions.
72, At its 2820th meeting, on 25 h\pril 1988, the Security Council, by a vote of
14 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention, adopted resolution 611 (1988). By
that resolution the Council condemned vigorously the aggression perpetrated on
16 April 1988 against the sovereignty rind territorial integrity of Tunisia in
flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, international law and
norms of conductr urged Member States to take measures to prevent such acts against
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States; expressed its
determination to take the appropriate steps to ensure the implementation of the
resolution) requested the fecretary-General to report urgently to the Security
Council any new elements available to him and relating to the aggression; and
decided to remain seized of the matter.
73. After consultations, the President of the Security Council issued the
following statement on behalf of the members of the Counci, on 26 August 1988
(S/20156) t
“The members of the Security Council are gravely concerned by the
continued deterioration of the situation in the Pales:inian territories
occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, and especially by the
current grave and serious situation resulting from the closing-off of areas,
ths imposition of curfews and the consequent increase in the numbers of
injuries and deaths that have occurred.
-17-
“The members of the Council are profoundly concerned by the persistence
of Israel, the occupying power, in continuing its policy of deporting
Palestinian civilians in contravention of Security Council resolutions and the
Fourth Qeneva Convention, as demonstrated on 17 August 1988 by its expulsion
of four Palestinian civilians to Lebanon and its decision to expel 40 more,
The members request Israel immediately to desist from deporting any
Palestinian civilians and immediately to ensure the safe return of those
already deported.
“The members of the Council consider that the current situation in the
occupied territories, described in paragraph 1 above, has grave consequences
for endeavours to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the
Middle East.
“They reaffirm that the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, is applicable to the
Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967,
including Jerusalem, and request the high contracting parries to ensure
respect for the Convention.
“Recalling Security Council resolutions, the members of the Security
Council will keep the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories,
including Jerusalem, under review.”
(cl Aetiontekenbv
74, The Committee considered with great concern the legal and political
implications of the “Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987” enacted by the United States olE
America which, in the Committee’s view, affected not only the work of the Committee
and of the United Nations but aleo the prospects for peace in the Middle East. The
Committee had initially considered the matter prior to the adoption of the
legislation and had expressed its grave concern through its Chairman, at the
126th meeting of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country, on
14 October 1987. The Bureau of the Committee also met with the Secretary-Qeneral
on 13 October 1987 to discuss the question. At its 144th meeting, on
20 October 1987, the Committee considered the matter further and took note of the
decisions and statements adopted by the Group of Arab States of the United Nations,
the Co-ordination Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, and the
Organisation of the Islamic Conference, as well as of the activities in opposition
to the legislation undertaken by the North American Co-ordinating Committee of
Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine.
75. The Committee noted that, at its forty-second session, the General Assembly
considered the matter under the item entitled “Report of the Committee on Relations
with the Host Country” and adopted resolution 421210, of 17 December 1987, by 143
votes in favour to 1 against (fsratil), with no abStentiOn8. By that resolution,
the Assembly took note with appreciation of the Secretary-General’s position with
regard to the Permanent Observer Mission of the Palestine Liberation Organizatiou
to the United Nations; reiterated that the Permanent Observer Mission of the
Palestine Liberation Organisation to the United Nations is covered by the
provisions of the Headquarters Agreement and should be enabled to establish and
maintain premises and adequate functional facilities, and the personnel of the
Mission should ho enabled to enter and remain in the United States to carry out
their off iciu! functions; requested the host country to abide by its treaty
-18-
obligations under the United Nations Headquarters Agreement and in this connection
to refrain from taking any action that would prevent the discharge of the official
functions of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Palestine Liberation
Organieation to the United Nations) requested the Secretary-Qeneral to take
effective measures to ensure full respect for the Headquarters Agreement and to
report, without delay, to the Qeneral Assembly on any further development in the
matterj and decided to keep the matter under active review.
76. As the matter was still. unresolved, the forty-second session of the General
Assembly was resumed on 29 February 1988 at the request of the Permanent
Repreotintative of Bahrain to the United Nations in hi3 capacity as Chairman of the
Arab Qroup for the month of February (A/42/919) and the Permanent Representative of
Zimbabwe to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Co-ordination
Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries (A/42/921). The request was
strongly supported by the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations
in his capacity as Chairman of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference
(A/42/922) and by the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People (A/42/924). The General Assembly held five
plenary meetings on the matter between 29 February and 2 March 1988.
77. The Chairman of the Committee intervened in the debate at the 1Olst plenary
meeting of the General Assembly, on 29 February 1988, and expressed the Committee’s
appreciation for the Sec.-stary-Qeneral’s efforts as described in his report
(A/42/915), The proper fuactioning of the United Nations and its ability to fulfil
its mandate under the Charter were at stake. The Committee was deeply disturbed by
the host country’s inability to provide assurances thnt the present arrangements
for the PLO Observer MissjDn would not be curtailed or otherwise affected by the
new legislation, and by its continued unwillingness to enter formally into the
dispute settlement procedure set forth in eection 21 of the Headquarters
Agreement. Implementation by the United States Qovernment of the new legislation
would prevent the PLO from exercising its right to participate in United Nations
efforts to find a comprehensive and just settlement to the Palestine question,
which had become more urgent than ever in light of events in the occupied
Palestinian territories since December 1987.
78. At its 104th plenary meeting, on 2 March 1988, the General Assembly adopted
resolution 42/229 A by 143 votes in favour to 1 against (Israel), by which it
reaffirmed that the Permanent Observer Mission of the PLO to the United Nations in
New York is covered by the provisions of the Headquarters Agreement) considered
that the application of the legislation in question would be contrary to the
international legal obligations of the host country under that Agreementr
considered that a dispute exists between the United Nations and the United States
of America, the host country, concerning the interpretation and application of the
Headquarters Agreement, and that the dispute settlement procedure set out in
section 21 of the Agreement should be set in operation; called upon the host
country to abide by its treaty obligations under the Agreement and to provide
assurances that no action would be taken that would infringe on the current
arrangements for the official functions of the PLO Observer Mission to the United
Nations in New York; requested the Secretary-Qeneral to continue his efforts in
pursuance of the provisions of the Agreement1 and decided to keep the matter under
active review.
79. At the same meeting, the General Assembly also adopted resolution 421229 B by
143 votes in favour to none against, by which it decided, in accordance with
-19-
Article 96 of the Charter of the United Nations, to request the International Court
of Justice for an advisory opinion on whether the United States of America, as a
party to the Headquarters Agreement, is under an obligntion to enter into
arbitration in accordance with section 21 of the Agreement,
80. The Committee further noted the subsequent reports of the Secretary-Qeneral
(A/42/915/Add.2 and Add.3) in which he informed the General Assembly of the
decision by the United States Government to close the office of the Permanent
Observer Mission of the PLO to the United Nations, which he had protested as a
clear violation of the Headquarters Agreement between the United Nations and the
United States. The Committee participated in the subsequent meetings of thsr
resumed forty-second session of the Qeneral Assembly held between 18 March and
22 March 1988.
81. The Acting Chairman of the Committee intervened in the debate at the 106th
plenary meeting of the Qeneral Assembly, on 21 March 1988, and stated that the
decision taken by the host country would be counterproductive and would jeopardise
the cause of peace, The participation of the PLO in all efforts, deliberations and
conferences on the Middle East, as repeatedly affirmed by the Assembly, was
essential for the solution of the question of Palestine, the core of the conflict
in the Middle East, The Committee wished once again to urge the Government of the
host country to refrain from implementi:lg the proposed measure and urgently to take
steps to resolve the dispute through the machinery provided for in the Headquarters
Agreement.
82. At its 109th plenary meeting, on 23 March 1988, the General Assembly, by a
vote of 148 in favour to 2 against (Ierael and United States of America), adopted
rosolution 421230. By that resolution, the Assembly strongly supported the
position taken by the Secretary-General) reaffirmed that the Permanent Observer
Mission of the PLO to the United Nations in New York is covered by the provisions
of the Headquarters Agreement and that it has the right to establish and maintain
premises and adequate functional facilities and that its personnel should be
enabled to enter and rem&n in the United States to carry out their official
functionst determined that the application and enforcement of the legislation in
question is inconsistent with the Headquarters Agreement and is contrary to the
international legal obligations of the host country] reaffirmed that a dispute
exists between the United Nations and the host country concerning the
interpretation or application of the Headquarters Agreement and that the dispute
settlement procedure provided for under the Agreement should be set in operation!
requested the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to ensure the proper
constitution of the arbitral tribunal provided for under the Agreement1 deplored
the failure of the host country to comply with its obligations under the Agreement
and urged it to E&bide by those obligations and to desist from taking any action
inconsistent with the Agreement1 and requested the Secretary-General to take
adequate measures on a preliminary basis, if necessary, in order to ensure the
discharge of the official functions of the Permanent Observer Mission of the PLO,
and to report to the General Assembly on further developments.
83. The forty-second session of the General Assembly wa6 resumed for the third
time on 13 May 1988, following the advisory opinion given by the International
COUII. of Justice on 26 April 1988 in responee to Assembly resolution 42/229 B. The
Committee noted with appreciation that the Court was unanimously of the opinion
that. "the United States of America, as a part.y to the Agreement between the United
Nations and the Ilnited States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United
-2oNations,
of 26 June 1947, is under an obligation in accordance with section 21 of
that Agreement, to enter into arbitration for the settlement of the dispute bat.ween
itself and the United Nations” (A/42/952),
84. The Acting Chairman of the Committee spoke at the 113th plenary meeting of the
General Assembly, on 13 May 1988, and called on the Assembly to endorse the
advisory opinion, The Committee sincerely hoped that the host country, in the
light of that opinion, would now reconsider the measures adopted to give effect to
that imprudent legislation and would desist from its intent to proceed with the
matter in domestic courts, The Committee urged again the host country to repeal
the legislation which, in addition to the possible closing of the PLO office, also
had potential adverse implications for activities by NGOs on behalf of the
Palestinian cause.
85. At the same meeting, the General Assembly, by a vote of 136 in favour to 2
against (Israel and the United States of America), adopted resolution 421232, by
which it expressed its appreciation to the International Court of Justice for
having found that an early answer to the regueet for an advisory opinion would be
desirable and for having accelerated its procedure) took note of and endorsed the
advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, of 26 April 19881 urged the
host country to abide by its international legal obligations and to act
consistently with the advisory opinion and accordingly to name its arbitrator to
the arbitral tribunal provided for under section 21 of the Agreements requested the
Secretary-General to continue his efforts in this regard, and to report to the
General Assembly without delay on developments in this matter; and decided to keep
the matter under active review.
86. In this regard, the Committee noted the report of the Secretary-General in
document A/42/915/Add,5 containing the judgement of the United States Disrict Judge
in Manhattan of 29 June 1988 concerning the PLO Observer Mission to the United
Nations. The judgement dismissed the United States Government lawsuit seeking to
close the PLO Mission under the Anti-Terrorism Act passed by Congress last year.
The Committee also noted the decision by the United States Qovernment not to appeal
the judgement of the FederG: District Court for the Southern District of New York.
87. By resolution 42166 D of 2 December 1987, the General Assembly noted with
satisfaction the ever-increasing international consensus in favour of the early
convening of tha International Peace Conference on the Middle East; determined once
again that the quet;tion of Palestine is the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict in
the Middle East; renfEirmed once again its endorsement of the call for convening
the Conference in conformity with the provisions of resolution 38158 Ct reiterated
its endorsement of the call for setting up a preparatory committee; stressed once
again the urgent need for additional concrete and constructive efforts by all
Governments in order to convene the Conference without further delay] and requested
the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Security Council, to continue his
efforts with a view to convening the Conference and to report thereon to the
General Assembly wt later than 31 March 1988.
-21-
88. In the light of that resolution, the Committee once again, in adopting its
programme of work (A/AC.183/1988/CRP.l/Rev.l), decided that, in its activities
during 1988, it would continue, as a matter of the utmost priority, to exert all
efforts to promote the early convening of the proposed International Peace
Conference on the Middle East, while urging the understanding and further
co-operation of all concerned for the resolution of a problem of such fundamental
importance to the maintenance of international peace and security.
89. In light of the grave situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, the
Committee also decided to give the higheet priority to the need for ensuring the
safety and protection of Palestinians under Israeli occupation, in accordance with
the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949. These goals were stressed in the letter
addressed to the Secretary-General by the Chairman of the Committee on
30 March 1988, inviting the participation of all States and intergovernmental
organisations in the work of the Committee (see para, 14 above). In response to
the letter of the Secretary-General transmitting the Chairman’s letter, Borne Member
Statee addressed letters to the Secretary-Genera.1 containing suggestions regarding
the Committee’8 work, The Committee decided to take note of those suggestions and
to take them into account in its future programme of work.
90. The Committee was greatly strengthened in its resolve by the inareasing
concern of the international community as a whole at the worsening situation in the
occupied territories and the overwhelming consensus in favour of a comprehensive
negotiated settlement through the convening of the International Peace Conference
on the Middle East, as it emerged in partiaular from the regional seminars and from
sflposia and meetings of NGOs on the question of Palestine organised under its
auspices (6188 eect. 1V.B below).
91, The Committee noted with appreciation that the Secretary-General had continued
his efforts with a view to convening the Conference in accordance with the
above-mentioned resolution. In particular, the Committee was pleased to note from
the report of the Secretary-General under General Aseembly resolution 42166
(A/43/272-6/19719) that the President of the Security Council, following
consultations with the members of the Council, had reported that the members were
convinced that the latest developments in the Middle East, particularly the
situation in the occupied territories, called for urgent action to resolve the
underlying problem through a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement, including
a solution to the Palestinian problem in all its aspects. All members of the
Council were in agreement concerning the desirability to convene an International
Peace Conference on the Middle East. Almost all members had declared their support
for an early convening of a substantive international conference under the auspices
of the United Nations, with the participation of all parties concerned and of the
five permanent members of the Council. Most of those members had reiterated their
support for General Assembly resol.ution 38158 C. Some members, however, while
expressing continuing reservations concerning resolution 38158 C as a basis for an
international conference, had reaffirmed the right of the Palestinian people to
self-determination, with all that this implies, as well as the right to existence
and to security of all States in the region, including Israel. One member of the
Council *ras of the opinion that it was not possible to make progress nor to find a
peaceful solution to the problem on the basis of resolution 38158 C, and had
pointed to a peace initiative currently under way. All but one member of the
Council had invited the Secretary-General to continue his efforts and consultations
on the subject in connection with General Assembly resolution 42166 D.
-22-
92. The Committee further noted that the Secretary-Genercl had also consulted the
parties directly concerned for their current positions on the convening of the
International Conference in conformity with resolution 38/58 C, The Committee
noted with regret the Secretary-General’s conclusion that it was again clear from
the communications he had received that sufficient agreement did not exist, either
among the parties directly concerned or within the Security Council, to permit the
convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East as called for in
resolution 42166 D. It also noted the Secretary-General’s view that the recent and
continuing events in the occupied West Bank and Gasa Strip had dramatically
highlighted the urgent need for the negotiation, in a manner acceptable to all the
parties directly concerned, of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the
Arab-Israeli conflict.
93. The Committee was of the view that the uprising in the occupied territories
and the repressive policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, as well
as its repeated violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
countries in the area, had created a critical situation which made it imperative to
advance towards a comprehensive, just ancl lasting settlement of the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. At the same
time, events during the year had also brought about a greatly increased
understanding of the problem and support for the proposed International Peace
Conference on the Middle East among Governments, intergovernmental and
non-governmental organisations, and international public opinion everywhere. The
Committee accordingly continued to stress the urgent need for the Security Council
and the parties directly concerned to seiee this opportunity to take positive
action towards the convening of the Conference. It also stressed that that member
of the Security Council and others who thus fur have not shown willingness to
co-operate should reconsider their positions.
4 . meatisconfarennes
94. In accordance with its mandate, since its previous report to the General
Assembly, the Committee was represented at the following international conferences
and meetings!
(a) Special meetings of the United Nations Council for Namibia to commemorate
the Week of Solidarity with the People of Namibia and their Liberation Movement,
the South West Africa People’s Organieation (SWAPO), held in New York on
27 October 1987:
(b) Seventeenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held at Amman, from
18 to 25 March 1988:
(c) Seminnr on the International Responsibility for Namibia’s Independence,
held under the auspices of the United Nations Council for Namibia at Istanbul,
Turkey, from 21 to 25 March 1988;
(d) Forty-eighth Ordinary Session of thtr Council of Ministers and
Twenty-Fourth Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of
African Unity, held at Addis Ababa from 19 to 28 May 1988;
-23-
(e) Meeting in Solidarity with the Palestinian People and its Uprising
organized by the Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization, Nicosia, Cyprus, from
28 to 30 June 1988;
(f) Solemn meeting of the United Nations Council for Namibia in commemoration
of Namibia Day, 26 August 1988;
(g) International Symposium on Practical Ways to Support the Palestinian
Trade Union Movement, organized by the European Co-ordinating Committee for NGOs on
the Question of Palestine, held at Geneva on 28 August 1988:
(h) Conference of Foreign Ministers of Non-Aligned Countries, held at
Nicosia, from 7 to 10 September 1988.
5. Action taken bv other United Nations bodies. the Movement of
Non-Alianed Countries and interaovernmental oraanizations
95. The Committee continued to follow with great interest the activities relating
to the question of Palestine of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, United
Nations bodies and intergovernmental organizations. The Committee especially noted
the growing concern at all levels of the international community about the
deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and in the
region as a whole owing to the policies and practices of Israel, and the increasing
sense of urgency with which the international community addressed the need to
ensure the safety and protection of the Palestinian people under occupation, and to
advance towards a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of
Palestine. The Committee welcomed the growing sentiment and momentum in favour of
the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 38158 C. The Committee noted in
particular the following documents:
(a) Final communique of the Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs and
Heads of Delegation of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries to the forty-second
session of the United Nations General Assembly, held in New York from 5 to
7 October 1987 (A/42/681, chap. XVIII and NE);
(b) Final Declaration issued by the Extraordinary Arab Summit Conference held
at Amman from 8 to 11 November 1987 (A/42/779-S/19274);
(c) Declaration on the Middle East issued by the Heads of State and
Government of the Twelve States Members of the European Community meeting in the
European Council at Copenhagen on 4 and 5 December 1987 (A/42/858-S/19322):
(d) Communique adopted by the members of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference at the United Nations, at the urgent meeting on the situation in the
occupied Palestinian territories, held in New York on 15 December 1987
(A/42/892-S/19348);
(e) Communique issued by the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries meeting in New York on 15 December 1987 (A/42/889-5/19360);
(f) Final communique and recommendations adopted at the emergency meeting of
the Al-Quds Committee held at Ifrane, Morocco, on 5 January 1988 (A/43/114-5/19464);
-24-
(g) Communique adopted at the urgent meeting of the members of the
Organisation of the Islamic Conference at the United Nations, held in New York on
19 January 1988, concerning the desecration of Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa on 15 January 1988
during Friday prayers (A/43/94-S/19439))
(h) Statement by the Foreign Ministers of the Twelve States Members of the
European Community on the Middle East made at Bonn on 8 February 1968
(A/43/131-S/19487);
(i) Final communique and resolutions of the Seventeenth Islamic Conference of
Foreign Ministers, Session of Islamic Solidarity with the Uprising of the
Palestinian People, held at Amman, from 21 to 25 March 1988 (A/43/273-S/19720)1
(j) Statement on the Middle East issued by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs
of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden at their meeting at Tromso, Norway,
on 23 and 24 March 1988 (A/43/295-S/19754))
(k) Communique issued at the session of the Committee of Ministers for
Foreign Affairs of the States parties to the Warsaw Treaty, held in Sofia on 29 and
30 March 1988 (A/43/276);
(1) Declaration by the Twelve States Members of the European Community on
Israeli Practices in the Occupied Territories, made at Bonn on 15 April 1988
(A/43/318-S/19804)1
(m) Cornmuniqu& adopted by the members of the Organisation of the Islamic
Conference at the United Nations, at the urgent meeting to consider the situation
created by the new deliberate attack on the territorial integrity and sovereignty
of Tunisia, held in New York on 20 April 1988 (A/43/323-S/19813))
(n) Conununiqu6 issued by the Co-ordination Bureau of the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries meeting in New York on 21 April 1988 (A/43/327-6/19820);
(0) Resolutions adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organisation of
African Unity at its forty-eighth ordinary session, held at Addis Ababa frw 19 to
23 May 1988 (resolutions CM1Res.1154, 1155 and 1156) (A/43/398)1
(p) Final declaration of the Extraordinary Arab Summit Conference held at
Algiers, from 7 to 9 June 1988 (A/43/407-S/19938)1
(q) Joint declaration issued in Luxembourg on 15 June 1988 by the European
Community and its Member Stater. and the Co-operation Council for the Arab States
of the Gulf and its Member States (A/43/549) I
(r) Joint communiqu& of the twenty-first ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, held at
Bangkok, on 4 and 5 July 1988 (A/43/510-6/20091);
(8) Communiqu& of the ninth meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government.
of the Caribbean Community, held at Deep Bay, Antigua and Barbuda, from 4 to
8 July 1988 (A/43/480);
(t) Communiqui issued at Nicosia on 7 September 1988 by the Foreign Ministers
of the Committee of Nine Non-Aligned Countries on Palestine (A/43/613);
-25-
(u) Communique issued by the meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers for
Foreign Affairs held in New York on 30 September 1988 (A/43/673);
(v) Communique of the Co-ordination Meeting of the Ministers for Foreign
Affairs of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, held in New York on
29 September 1988 (A/43/692-S/20220).
9. Action taken bv the Committee in accordance with General
Assemblv resolutions 42166 A and B of 2 December 1987
1. Co-ooeration with non-wovernmertal oraanizationa
96. During the period under review the Committee, in accordance with its mandate
under General Assembly resolution 42/66 A, continued to extend its so-operation to
NGOs in their contribution to heightening international awareness of the facts
relating to the question of Palestine and in creating a more favourable atmosphere
for the full implementation of the Committee's recommendations, and continued to
take the necessary steps to expand its contacts with those organizations.
97. In accordance with its mandate under General Assembly resolution 42/66 B, the
Division for Palestinian Rights, in consultation with the Committee and under its
guidance, organized the following activities for NGOs during 1988 in implementation
of those objectives: regional symposia for NGOs in North America and Europe: an
international meeting of NGOs; and two preparatory meetings, for the North American
symposium and the International Meeting, respectively.
98. In accordance with its decision to continue to give utmost priority to efforts
to promote the early convening of the proposed International Peace Conference on
the Middle East, in conformity with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, the
Committee decided that non-governmental symposia and meetings should continue to
emphasiz-+ the importance of convening the Conference and structured the programmes
for those activities accordingly. In light of the extremely grave situation in the
occupied territories and the legislation affecting the presence of the PLO Observer
Mission to the United Nations in New York, and the concern expressed by NGOs in
this regard, the Committee decided to include consideration of those topics in the
programmes of the meetings for NGOs.
99. The Committee was greatly encouraged by the intensification of activities and
programmes of NGOs, including the sending of fact-finding missions to the area,
intensified efforts to promote greater understanding of the issue and support for
the convening of the International Peace Conference, as well as relief efforts to
assist Palestinians in the uprising. The Committee vr;as particularly strengthened
in its resolve by the growing involvement of Israeli organizations and Jewish
organizations in North America and Western Europe in these efforts.
(a) North American Regional NGO Svmuosium and Preoaratorv Meetinq
100. The Preparatory Meeting for the North American Regional NGO Symposium was held
at United Nations Headquarters on 1 and 2 February 1988 ano was attended by the
members of the North American Co-ordinating Committee for Non-Governmental
Organizations on the Question of Palestine and by a delegation of the Committee.
The meeting elaborated tne various aSpaCts of the programme for the Symposium to be
held in 1988 and the modalities for expanding the network of NGOs active on the
question of Palestine in North America.
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101. The North American Regional NO0 Symposium was held at United Nations
Headquarters from 29 June to 1 July 1988, immediately following the North American
Regional Seminar , with which it was combined in the interest of economy and in
accordance with the practice followed in previous years (eee pare. 116 below). The
Symposium was attended by representatives of 47 NQOs as partiaipants, and 34 NBOs
as observers from the United States and Canada, by a delegation of the Committee,
and by a number of observers from governmental and intergovernmental organisations
and liberation movements, The Symposium considered two main panels ant
(a) The uprising in the oacupied Palestinian territories1 the urgenay of
convening the International Peace Conference in accordance with United Nations
general Assembly resolution 38158 Cl
(b) Implications of United States legislation affecting the promotion in the
United States and the United Nations of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people.
102. The Symposium also established a number of action-oriented workshops under the
general topic “Overcoming obstaalss and organising in North Ameriaa”.
103. The Committee noted that the Symposium adopted a declaration in whiah the NQOs
resolutely reaffirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and that the
PLO was the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, The
organioations further committed themselves to provide moral, political ancl material
support for the j&J.&&&, and called for immediate intervention by United Nations
peace-keeping forces to replabe the Israeli occupying forces in order to provide
protection and ensure respect for the human and political rights of the Palestinian
population of the West Bank and Oasa. In doing so, the organisations affirmed
their support for the goals of the intifaaah as repeatedly statet¶ in leaflets
issued by its Unified National Leadership, The Committee also noted with
satisfaction that the declaration contained a plan of action in which the North
American NC306 had agreed on practical strategies and support projects in order to
promote the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East,
particularly through the convening of the International Peace Conference on the
Middle East in accordance with Qeneral Assembly resolution 38158 C, (For the text
of the declaration, 888 annex VI.)
104. The European Regional NC0 Symposium was held at Geneva from 29 to
30 August 1988, immediately preceding the International NC0 Meeting, with which it
was combined in the interest of economy and efficiency (see pare, 110 below).
105. The programme for the Symposi*um was elaborated in consultation between the
members of the European Co-ordinating Committee for NQOs on the Question of
Palestine and the Committee delegation attesding the Preparatory Meeting for the
International NGO Meeting held at Geneva on 21 and 22 March 1988.
106. The Symposium was attended by representatives of 66 NO08 as participants amI
93 NGOs as observers, as well as by a delegation of the Committee and governmental
and intergovernmental observers and liberation movements,
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107. The Symposium had a main theme, entitled “The Palestinian uprising and the
European commitment to the International Peace Conference” and considered a panel
of the same title and four action-Jriented workshops.
108. The Committee noted that the Symposium adopted a declaration by which it
expressed support for the Palestinian uprising and called upon the United Nations
to exercise full respunbibility for the question of Palestine and \*o place observer
teams in the West Bank and Qasa to help protect the people there from continuing
human right _E violations, It reaftirmed very strongly the urgent need for the
International Peace Conference to be convened in accordance with General Assembly
resolutions 38158 C and 41143 D, as the only possible means to achieve a just and
peaceful settlement The Symposium further noted the historic links between Europe
and the Middle East and the European Economic Community’s declarations supporting
the convening of ?n international conference, and called upon the Qovernrnents
concerned to act to ensure the convening of the Conference and to end breaches of
the Gensvo Convention by Israel, It also called on European Qovernments which had
not yet fully recognised the PLO to do so. Tho Symposium also endorsed the
recommendations of the NGO-sponsored International Symposium on Practical Way8 to
Support the Palestinian Trade Union Movement, held at Qeneva on 28 August 1988, and
included them in the declaration, It also endorsed a programme of activities drawn
up by participants in the workshops. (For the text of the declaration, see
annex VII,)
(cl .‘nternatiagal_.Meetixlaof
109, The Preparatory Meeting for the International Meeting of NO06 was held at
Geneva on 21 and 22 March 1988 and was attended by members of the International and
European Co-ordinating Committees for Non-Governmental Organisations on the
Question of Palestine (ICCP and ECCP), In this connection, the Committee
delegation strongly deplored that the Israeli authorities had denied permission to
Ms, Zaheera Ksmal, of the Palestine Union of Women’s Work Committees, to depart
from Israel to attend the Meeting. The Preparatory Meeting elaborated the details
of the programmes for the International Meeting of NGOs and the European Regional
Symposium to he held in 1988 and discussed future co-operation and action by NGOs
at the Europaan and the international levels. In addition, the two Co-ordinating
Committees held informal consultations with the Committee delegation and
represerltatives of the Division for Palestinian Rights concerning ways and means of
strengthening co-operation and improving exchange of information between the United
Nations and the NGO community.
110, The International Meeting of Non-Governmental Organisations WBR held at Geneva
from 31 August to 2 September 1988. The Meeting was attended by representatives
from 140 NGOs as participants and 138 NGOs as observers from all regions, including
several !Lrom Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. The Committee was
pleased that a number of prominent political perso~~alities had accepted its
invitation to attend and address the Meeting.
111, The Meei.ing established two panels, namely! (a) a panel of eminent persons on
the topic “The consequences of the uprisirrq in the occupied Palestinian territories
and the new urgelicy of convening the I.?ternutional Peace Conference in accordance
with United Nations General Assembly resolution 38158 C”; and (b) a panel of
perscns from the occupied territories qntitled “The consequences of occupation -
Witnesses from the occupied territories - What has happened”. In addition, five
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workshops were established under the general topic “Responding to the challenge of
the uprising md the search for peace”,
111, The Committee noted that the Meeting adopted a declaration supporting the
i&faBeh and calling far the immediate convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East in accordance with Oeneral Assembly resolutions
38/58 C and 41143 D. The Meeting condemned all deportations and all other
manifestations of the systematic destruction of Palestinian society and the
attempts by the occupation forces to eliminate Palestinian society for the future.
The Meeting urged the United Nations, the five permanent members of the Security
Council and the entire international community to help to ensure the protection of
the Palestinian people in the occupied territories in accordence with the
suggestions contained in the Secretnry-Qeneral’s report (6110443). The Meeting
requested the Secretary-Qeneral to send a fact-finding mission to the occupied
territories to assess the needs of the Palestinians there, The Committee also
noted that the Meeting called upon the United Naticns to exercise its full
responsibility for the question of Palestine and place observer teams and/or any
other United Nations body in the occupied Palestinian territories without delay to
help protect the people there from continuing human rights violations and
specifically requastsd the Secrelzary-Qeneral to establish immediately a special
commission to investigate specific instances of violations. The Meeting also
called on all Governments to recognime the inalienable rights of t.ho Palestinian
people ani to r mogni5e -.he Palestine Liberation Organisation. It further affirmed
a progrmme for NO0 activities drawn up by the participants in the workshops and
requested the United Nations to assist in its implementation, (For the text of the
declaration, see annex VIII.)
2. Seminars
113. During the period under review the Division Ior Palestinian Rights coatinued
to organise seminars in consultation with the Committee and under its guidance, in
accordance witn its mandate under General Assembly resolution 34165 D and
subsequent resolutions. The regions covered during the reporting period were Latin
America, Europe and North America.
114. The Committee further expressed its appreciation for the decision of the
aoverrunent of Egypt to provide the venue for the African Regional Seminar (the
twenty-first United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine) and the African
Regional NGO Symposium. Owing to circumstances beyond its control, the Committee
could not hold these events within the reporting period and hPs scheduled them to
take place at Cairo, from 18 to 22 December 1988.
115. In accordance with previous practice, the Commrttee again decided that the
regional seminars would coutjnue to emphasize ths urgent need for corr:enitrg ths
International Peace Conference on the Middle East) the role of the PLO: and the
need for mobilising public opinion in the region concerned. The Committee further
decided to stress the grave situation created by the policies and pract’a-es of
Israel, the occupying Power, in the occupied Palestinian territories, in its
efforts to suppress the Palestinian uprisitig.
116, The Committee was pleased by the participation in the seminars of prominent
pal itical personali ties, parliamentarians and policy makers, as well as persons
from the academic community and other experts, as this showed the growing concern
-29-
of the international community at all levels over the situation in the occupied
Palestinian territories and its determination to promote progress towards a
solution of the Palestine question.
117. The Committee greatly appreciated the offer of the Qovernment of Cuba to host
the Latin American Regional Seminar (the Eighteenth United Nations Seminar on the
Question of Palestine), which had been jnaluded in the programme of work of the
Committee for 1987 but could not be held before the forty-seaond session of the
Qeneral Assembly for reasons beyond the Committee’s control.
118. The Seminar considered three panels on the following topicsr (a) The
International Peace Conference on the MiddAz East, in acaordance with United
Nations Qeneral Assembly resolution 38158 C, the need for such a conference and
efforts and prospects to promote a successful outcome, and benefits thereofl
(b) The question of Palestine and Latin American/Caribbean publia oginionr (a) The
role of “,hs Palestine Liberation Organiantion.
119. The Committee noted that, in its conclusions and recommendations, the Seminar
expressed its deep concern over the dangerous situation in the area and the Israeli
policies and practices, whiah were in violation of international instruments, and
called for attainment by the Palestinian people of Its inalienable rights, The
Seminar further called for recognition of the PLO, tho sole and legitimate
representative of the Palestinian people, by Qovctxxnents which had not yet done
SO. The Seminar unanimously concluded l;hat the way to establish a just and lasting
peace in the Middle East was by convening the International Peace Conference in
accordance with Qeneral Assembly resolution 38158 C and aalled on Israel and the
United States to reconsider their position towards the Conference. The Seminar
also stated that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People had an important role to play in this effort, and called for
full implementation of the Committee’s recommendations. Finally, the Seminar urged
intensified efforts to mobilise official and public opinion in Latin America and
other regions and to disseminate factual and up-to-date information on the rights
of the Palestinian people and the United Nations recommendations for their
attainment. (For the tert of the aonolusions and recommendations, see annex III.)
120. The Committee expressed its gratitude to the Government of the German
Democratic Republic for providing the venue for the European Regional Seminar (the
Nineteenth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine), which took place
at Berlin from 25 to 29 April 1988.
12’1. The Seminar considered tha following topicsl (a) ‘A.~ uprising in the occupied
Palestinian territoriest the urgency of convening the International Peace
Conference on the M!ddle East in acccrdancs with Qeneral Assembly resolution
38/58 CJ (b) The role of the PLOJ (c) The question of Pulestine and European publjc
opinion.
122. The Committee noted that, in the conclusions and recommendations 04 the
Seminar, it WXI stated that the Palesti:iian uprising in the occupied territories
had confirmed l.he determination of the Palestinian people to reject and resist
-3oIsraeli
domination an8 occupation. The Seminar reaffirma that the PLO is the sole
and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, It further expressed
satisfaction at the growing support world wide for the convening of the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with Qeneral
Assembly resolution 30158 C, and urged the United States and Israel to reconaicler
their negative attitucles towards that Conference, The Committee also noted with
interest that the Seminar expressed appreciation for the evolving position of the
Western European ancl the Nodic countries in this regarcl, and expressed the hope
that the Committee would undertake further endeavours with a view that the
countries of Western Eurape woulcl play an even more active role in bringing about a
comprehensive political settlement, The Committee also noted the suggestions that
it intensify its co-operation with European NQOs and its efforts so that the next
European seminar could be held in a Western European country. (For the text of the
conclusions and recommendations, see annex IV,)
(cl---New
123. The North American Regional Seminar (the Twentieth United Nations Seminar on
the Question of Palestine) was held at United Nations Headquarters, on 28 and
29 June 1988,
124, The Seminar considered two panels1 (a) The uprising in the occupied
Palestinian territories1 the urgency of convening the International Peace
Conference on the Midclle East in accorclance with Qeneral Assembly resolution
38/58 C; and (b) The role of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
125. The Committee noted that, in its conclusions and recommendatione, the Seminar
had remarked that the uprising in the occupied Palestinian territories hacl brought
home to Israeli citizens the destructive impact of continuea occupation, raising
for the first time serious doubts about the wisdom of the policies of their
Qovernment . These doubts were also reflected in important Jewish communities in
Western countries, whose politic 7 an8 financial support was essential to Israel.
The Seminar further stated that the basic issues to be addressed in orc¶er to
resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict were! Israeli recognition of and respect for
Palestinian rights) Arab acceptance of the State of Israel within internationally
recoyniaer3 borders) acceptance by fsrael of the Iuternational Peace Conference on
the Middle East under United Nations auspices, and recognition by Israel an8 others
of the right of the Palestinian people to participate in such a Conference through
the PLO, its sole and legitimate representative. The Committee further noted with
interest the Seminar’s call for the Conference to be convenecY before the end of
1988. (For the text of the conclusions and recommendations, see ailnex V,)
126. The Committee took note with appreciation that the Division for Palestinian
Rights, in accordance with its mandate, hac¶ continued to prePare the following
publications, u~~.Iar the guidance ol: the Commi tteer
(a) Monthly bulletins covering action by the Committee, other United Nations
organs, an8 intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned with the
question of Palestinet
-31-
(b) Reports of regional seminars, regional iSQ0 symposia ant3 international NO0
meetings, and rrpvcial bulletins on tho obeervancs of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People1
(c) Compilations on an annual basis of tbe relevant resolutions adopted by
the Qeneral Assembly and the Security Councilj
(d) Monitarinq of Arabic, English and Hebrew press an8 media on developments
relating to the question of Palestine and issuance of monthly reports for the use
of the Committee.
127, The Committee further noted that the Division hM finaliraed a new study
entitled “The need for convening the International Peace Conference on the Midclle
East (In accordance with Qenerel Assembly resolution 38158 C)“, The study entitler3
“The origins anC evolution of the Palestinian problem” (part IV), covering the
period from 1984 to June 1988, is currently under finalization. Thie study will be
added to the existing three volumes. An information note on the work of the
Committee and of the Division was prepared by the Division and is now available in
all the six official United Nations languages,
128. Tho International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
on 30 November 1987 at United N&ions Headquarters in New York anr3 at the United
Nations Offices at Qeneva and Vienna. The Committee notec¶ with appreciation that
the International Day had been equally commemorated in many atha: cities throughout
the worlcl in 1987.
-32-
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH QENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 42166 C
129, The Committee noted with appreciation that, during the past year, the
Department of Public Information continued its information programme on the
question of Palestine with a view to furthering the world-wide dissemination of
accurate I objective and comprehensive information on the question. The
Department’e continuing mandate on the area derived from Qeneral Assembly
resolution 42166 C of 2 December 1987, by which the Assembly requested it to
continue its special information programme on the question of Palestine during the
biennium 1.983-1989.
130, In response to the Assembly’s request, the Department has disseminated press
releases, publications and audio-visual material and has also organised
fact-finding publications and audio-visual material and has also organised
fact-finding miseione and reqional and national encounters for journalists. Full
coverage was provided of meetings by the Qeneral Assembly, the Security Council and
the Commission on Human Rights as they dealt with the question of Palestine, and of
the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights
of the Population of the Occupied Territories and the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the PaJestinian People,
131. The Department’s coverage of the question of Palestine during the past year
focused increasingly on news itema and information concerning the situation in the
occupied territories, particularly since December 1988, and efforts to convene an
international peace conference on the Middle East under United Nationrl auspices.
132, In publication activities, the Department actively disseminated information
through articles, press releases, brochures and booklets. The UN~hronicla
reported extensively on the consideration given to the question of Palestine and
other related items by the Assembly at its forty-second session and by the Security
Council, particularly since the beginning of the uprising in the occupied
territories. The meetings of the Council which related to the uprising were fully
covered by press releases. The Department also disseminated information on the
seminars and symposia held in different world capitals by the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. An information
officer travelled with the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices
Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories during its
fact-finding mission to Amman, Damascus and Cairo in May-June 1988 and reported on
teetimony taken from inhabitants of the occupied territories.
133. The Department continued to distribute a brochure on the Special Committee to
Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the
Occupied Territories as well as the booklet, [QNationssthe
Palestine. They are available in Arabic, English, French, German and Spanish and
have been given wide circulation through all available channels. The Department
expects to update and revise both publications by the end of 1988. A new booklet
on the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People is at the production stage.
134. All aspects of the question of Palestine and other related items were covered
in the news and taped feature radio programmes of the Department. The Arabic and
Middle Enat Radio Unit, for example, provided broad coverage of the question,
-33-
including the uprising in the occupied territories, in its weekly programmes and
telephone feeds to rac¶io stations of the region. United Nations activities and
wente, including observance of 29 November 1987 as the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People, ractrived extensive coverage. Two feature
programmes in the m$iy~ series, adapted in many languages, dealt with new
initiatives to convene the proposed International Peace Conference, In addition, a
special series of four feature programmes each in Arabic, Wench and Spanish were
produced on the question, &ding with the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the human dimension of the issue,
United Nations economic and social assistance, and the latest efforts aimed at
conv@lling the peace conference.
135, A 22-minute film, “Palestinian Portraital’, was produced in English by the
Department. Although released in late 1907, the film has already been widely
screened and loaned out by 34 United Nations information centres and film libraries
of the United Nations Development Programme.
136, Full television coverage was provided on General Assembly and Security Council
meetings on the question of Palestine, The commemoration of the International Day
of Solidarity, as well as the opening ceremony of the photo-exhibit on the
inalienable rights of the Palestinians, were also fully covered. A total of
241. television news packages on the varioue aspects of the question were prepared
for world-wide dissemination, Members of delegations were also provided with
video-caesette dubs and excerpts on the question of Palestine-related eubjects.
Cassette copies and linefeeds were made available to the major networks,
137. As in previous years, the Department once again organised activities to
acquaint the media with the facts and developments pertaining to the question of
Palestine, A team of 10 high-level journalists participated in a new8 mission to
the Middle East organised by the Department. Between 13 March and 2 April, they
visited Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic. A formal requeet to
the Permanent Mission of Israel for the mission to visit Israel and the West Bank
went unanewered. The mission provided the participants with an opportunity to gain
first-hand knowledge and impressions on various aspects of the Palestine question,
Particularly because of the heightened state of tension in the occupied
territories, the mission received extensive media coverage in all the countries
visited. Numerous articles were later published by the participants on the basis
of their experience and interviews conducted during the mission,
136. The Department organieed two regional encounters for journalists on the
question of Palestine, bringing high-level journalists together with experts in the
field for brief, in-depth, informal and candid discussions of the various aspects
of the Palestinian problem. The first encounter was held at Nairobi, from 2 to
5 February, and wus attended by 18 journalists from a8 many African countries,
representing the print, radio and television media. The second encounter was
organieed at Vienna, from 17 to 20 May. About 20 journalists from the different
parts of Europe participated.
139. The Department also organised two series of national encounters in which
small, balanced panels of experts held meetings, in the form of in-depth press
conferences, with national journalists and foreign correspondents in various
countries. African national journalists encounters were held in Kfnshasa,
Dar es Salaam and Addis Ababa, between 29 January and 0 February. National
encounters for Europe were held between 16 and 25 May in Madrid, Brussels and
ftockho lm.
-34-
140. United Nations information centres throughout the world continued to carry out
information activities in connection with the question of Palestine and made
available to the publio United Nrtions information materials in the subject. The
information centres undertook various activities in oDeervance of 30 November as
the International Day of Rolidarity with the Palestinian People. They made
available publications prepared for, and under the guidance of, the Committee C~ZI
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and distributed
information circulars in official and local langonges. Exhibitions were held,
films screened, and events organised in various centres in cc-operation with the
diplomatic corpsI the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palrstine Refugees
in the Near East and national parliaments,
-35-
VI * RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
141. The year under review was marked by the courageous uprising (the in-1 of
the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories against 20 years of
Israeli occupation and for t5e achievement of its inalienable rights. The uprising
brought to a new level the understanding of the question of Palestine and support
for a comprehensive , just and laeting solution of this long-standing conflict among
public opinion internationally and within Israel itself, The intensification of
repressive measures by Israel, the occupying Power, in an effort to crush the
uprising and its armed attacks against States in the region have been un.\versally
condemned and have aroused the most serious concern for the safety of the
Palestinian people under occupation. The situation has given a new impetus to
efforts to reach a peaceful settlement in accordance with United Nations
resolutions and particularly through the convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East az called for in Qeneral Assembly resolutions 38158 C
and 41/43 D.
142. The Committee reaffirms that, in view of the critical situation, urgent
positive action by the Security Council is required on the recommendations
formulated by the Committee in its first report and those adopted by the
International Conference on the Question of Palestine held at Geneva in 1983, which
have been repeatedly endorsed by the General Assembly, and annexea them to the
present report (see annexes I and II). The Committee reaffirms that these
recommendations are solidly founded on fundamentt: and internationally accepted
principles and that the recognition, attainment and exercise of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people are indispensable conditions in the solution of
the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle
East. The Committee further reassert6 that the Israeli evacuation of the
territoriea occupied by force and in violation of the principles of the Charter and
relevant resolutions of the United Nations is a aon8itio.sine for the
exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights in Palestine.
143. The Committee noted the action taken by the Central Council of the Palestine
Liberation Organization in the light of the decision of Jordan relative to the West
Bank, and the response of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organfzation to assume full responsibility to maintain as well the functioning of
the administrative structure in the occupied Palestinian territories of the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Committee asserts that the question of representation
of the Palestinian people is definitively settled and the Palestine Liberation
Organization is the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
The Committee nuted the universal demand for the withdrawal ol Israeli forces from
the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories and the overwhvlming support
for the right of the Palestinian people to establish its own independent sovereign
State on Palestinian territory, voiced by participants in seminars and NGO symposia
and meetings organised under the Committee’s auspices, as well as by many
intergovernmental organisations and Qovernments,
144. The Committee is convinced that these important developments open the way fl)r
the PalesLinian people to establish an independent Arab State in Palestine as
envisaged in General Assembly resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, which has
only been implemented in part. The Committee is further convinced that the United
Nations and the international community as a whole must now urgently intensify
their effortz t.o bring this about.
-36-
145. The Committee considers that it has now become imperative for the Security
Council to take positive action towards the convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East in accordance with the guidelines and other
provisions contained in General Assembly resolutions 38/58 C and 41/43 D. That
Conference remains the most comprehensive and widely accepted proposal for the
attainment of a peaceful settlement, The Committee appeals to the
Secretary-General to do everything in his power to ensure that active consultations
are undertaken within the framework of the Security Council for this purpose. In
the past year* the international consensus in favour of the convening of the
Conference has clearly been consolidated. The Committee therefore intends to
further intensify its efforts towards this objective, and to make it once again the
focal point of its work programme in the coming year,
146. Noting that the Secretary-Generel has reported that sufficient agreement does
not exist, either among the parties directly concerned or within the Security
Council, to permit the convening of the Conference, the Committee recommends that
the Qeneral Assembly should call once again for additional concrete and
constructive efforts by all Governments, in particular the permanent members of the
Security Council, for the convening of the Conference and for setting up the
preparatory committee for the Confersnce in accordance with General Asaembly
resolution 41143 D; and renew the mandate of the Secretary-General, in consultation
with the Security Council, to continue his efforts with a view to convening the
Conference .
147. Pending the attainment by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights,
the Committee wishes to affirm in the strongest terms the urgent need for effective
measures to ensure the safety and protection of the Palestinian population in the
occupied Palestinian territories. The Committee calls on the international
community, and in particular on the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to do all
in their power to ensure respect for the Convention by Israel, the occupying
Power . The Committee calls on the Security Council to take the necessary measures
to ensure compliance by Israel with Security Council resolutions 605 (1987),
607 (1988) and 608 (1988). The Committee also calls upon the Security Council to
act positively on the recommendations of the Secretary-General contained in his
report submitted under resolution 605 (1987) (S/19443), and in particular to make a
solemn appeal to the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention that
have diplomatic relations with Israel, drawing their attention to their obligation
to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and urging them to use
all the means at their disposal to urge Israel to abide by and to give effect to
the provisions oL the Convention. The Committee also calls upon the Security
Council to give positive consideration to the Secretary-Ganeral’s recommendations
and observations concerning other ways and means available to the international
community, inclucling physical protection, legal protection, general assistance, and
protection by publicity. The Committee further calls on the international
community, the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental
organisations to sustain and increase their assistance to the Palestinian people,
in close co-operation with the PLO.
148. The Committee noted with satiskaction the increased awareness and mobilisation
of international public opinion in support of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people and of United Nations re(,ommendations for a compreh*nsive, just
and lasting solution of the Palestinian question. The Committee believes that Its
programme of regional seminars and NGO meetings and symposia, as well as the
-37-
journalists’ encounters and other informational activities sponsored by the
Committee, have played a valuable role in this processr and will continue to strit
to achieve maximum effectiveness in carrying out this programme and to intensify
its efforts in the implementation of its mandate.
Rew o f m.vel Thirtv-first#
(A/31/35).
2/ W.,# No. 35 (A/32/35)~ ikid. I
N o . U (A/33/35)~ M., wtvw
(A/34/35) J mr, Ihittv-flithdLNo. *
(A/35/35)) i&i., SBeseian,(A/35/35) I ihid. I
. 35 (A/37/35)r U&d.,w#
(~/36/35)1 Ah&&,Da35
(A/39/35); i&id*, N o . 35 (A/40/35)r U&i., EWtv-gj,x&
&a. 35 (A/42/35).
91 ort of theIn- o n UkQlbaatLQILPfm,
a. 29 wt-7m196g (Unitec! Nations publication, Sales
No. E.63.1.21), c h a p . I , s e c t . B .
41 The observers at the Committee’s meetings were as follows: Algeria,
Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Csechoslovakia, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jodan, Ruwait,
Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Sri Lanka,
Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, the League of Arab States ant
the Organieation of the Islamio Conferenoe. The Palestine Liberation Organisation,
a8 the representative of the Palestinian people, the principal party to the
question of Palestine, was also an observer.
51 The current membership of the Working Group is as follows8 Afghanistan,
Cuba, German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal,
Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and, as the representative of
the people directly concerned, the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
-38-
ANNEX1
I . mcm
59. The question of Palestine is et the heart of the Middle East problem, and
consequently, the Committee stresses its belief that no solution in the Middle East
can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate aspirations
of the Palestinian people.
60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to
their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence
and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the full
implementation of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and
final settlement of the Middle East crisis,
61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, the representative
of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties, on the basis of
Qeneral Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is indispensable in all
efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which are held under the
auspices of the United Nations,
62. The Committee recalls the funBamenta1 principle of the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligation for
complete and speedy evacuation of any territory 60 occupied.
63. The Committee considers that it is the duty and responsibility of all
concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights,
64. The Committee recommends an expanded and more influential role by the United
Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine
and in the implementation of such a solution. The Security Council, in particular,
should take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of
their right to return to their homes, lands and property, The Committee,
furthermore, urges the Security Council to promote action towards a just solut.ton,
taking into account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter of the United
Nations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numerous
resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideration of all the facts,
proposals and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that the
Committee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation of
the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
* QfLicial Records of theGeneral Thistv-first Sauhxa I
~LLii (A/31/35), paras. 59-72.
-39-
I I . I&e ri& o f retlUU),
66. The ne,titral and inalienable right of Palestinians to return to their homes is
recognised by resolution 194 (III), which the General Aaeembly has reaffirmed
almost every year lsinoe its adoption, This right was aleo unanimously reaognired
by the Security Council in its resolution 238 (1967)) the time for the urgent
implementation of these resolutions is long overclue.
67. Without prejudice tc, the right of all Palestinians to return to their homes,
land0 and property, the CoYnittee considers that the programme of implementation of
the exerciee of this Light tnay be carried out in two phases:
68. The first phnse involves the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced a8 a result of the war of June 1967, The Committee recommends thatr
(i) The Security Council should request the immediate implementation of its
resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementation ehould not be related
to any other condition;
(ii) T4e resources of the International Committee of the Red Croes (ICRC)
and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be
employed to assist in the solution of any logietioel problems involved in
the resettlement of those returning to their homes. These agenciee could
ah0 a s s i s t , in co-operation with the host countries and khe Palestine
Liberation Organisation, in the identification of the displaced
PalestiniaxAs.
69. The second phaee deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced between 1248 and 1967, The Committee recommends tha,#
(1) While the first phase is being implemented, the United Nations in
co-operation with the States direatly involved, anc¶ the Palestine
Liberation Organluation as the intwim representative of the Palestinian
e n t i t y , should proceed to make the neceosary arrangements to enable
Palestinians clieplaced between 1946 AM 1967 to exercise their right to
return to their home, and property, in accordance with the relevant
un&ted Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly
resolution 194 (III)!
(ii) Palestinians not choosing to return to their homed should be paid just
and equitable compensation as providea for in resolution 194 (III).
70. The ?alestin.ian people has the inherent right to self-determination, national
independence and sovereignty in Palsdtine. The Committee contzidrtrs that the
evwuation o f t h e tetri*n.--&’ es occupied by for c e an8 in vfolation of the pr inc ipl e s
-4oof
t1 .-narter end relevant resolutions of the United Nations is a
uf -cio_einew for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
right.8 in Palestine. The Committee considers furthermore, that upon ‘-he return of
the Palestinians to their homes and property end with the establishment of an
indepcnflent Palestinian entity, the Palestinian people will be able to ereroiso its
rights to self-cleterminrtion and to decide its form of government without +ternal
interference .
71. The Committee also feels that the United Nation6 has an histariaal duty and
responsibility to rendor all aesistance neaessary to promote the economic!
development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
72. To these endo, the Committee reaommends that 1
(a) A timetable should be established by the Security Council for the
complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in 19671
such withdrawal should be completed no later than 1 June 1977)
(b) The security Counail may need to provide temporary peace-keeping forces
in order to facilitate the process of withdrawall
fc) Israel should he requested by the Security Council to tlesist from the
establishment of new settlements and to withdraw during this period from
settle,nents established shoe 1967 in the ooaupiecl territcries. Arab property and
~11 essential services in these areas should be maintainecl intactr
(d) Israel should also be requested to abide scrupulously by the provisions
of the Qeneva Convention relative to the Proteation of Civilian Persons Cn Time of
War, of 12 August 1949 and to deolare, pending its speedy withdrawal from these
t e r r i t o r i e s , its recognition of the ap;rlicability of that Convention!
(e) The evacuated territories , with all property enr9 services intaat, should
be taken over by the United Nations , which with the ao-operatiorr of the League of
Arsb States, will subsequently hanrl over these evacuated areas to the Palestine
Liberation Organisation as the representative of the Palestinian people)
(f) The United Nations shcllld, if necessary* assist in establishing
cemmuniaatiocs betwee. Gawa an& .he West Bankr
(g) As soon as the independent Palestinian entity has been established, the
Unitetl Nations, in co-operation with the States t.¶irectly involvet3 and the
Palestinian entity, should, taking into account Qeneral Assembly resolution
3275 (XXX), make further arrangements fo.’ the full implementation of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding
problems and the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region, in
accordance with all relevant United Nations resolutions1
(h) The United Nations should provide the economic an@ technical assistance
necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity.
c
-4xANNEX
II
In pursuanae of general Assembly resolutions 36/120 C of 10 Deaember 1961,
#S-7/7 of 19 August 1982 and 37/W C of 10 Deaember 1962, an International
Conference on the Question of Palestine was convened at the United Nations Office
at Qeneva from 29 Allgust to 7 September 1963 to seek effeative ways and means to
enable the Palest’ Jan people to attain and to exeraire their inalienable rights.
The Conferonce was opened by the Secretary-Qeneral of the United Nations,
Javier P&em de Cudllar, and preeided over by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Senegal, Moustaphe Niaeod.
1, The Conference, having thoroughly considered the question of Palestine in all
its aspects, expresses the grave concern of all nations and peoples regarding the
tntornational tension that has persisted for several deaades in the Middle East,
the prinaipal aause of whiah is the denial by Israel, and those supportirrg its
expansionist poliaies, of the inalienable legitimate righte of the Palestinian
people. The Conference reaffirm0 and stresses that a just solution of the question
of Palestine, the core of the problem, i s t h e aruoial element i n a aomprehensive,
just and lasting political settlement in the Middle East.
2. The Conference reaogniaes that, as one of the most acute and complex problems
of our tl.t!Ie, the question of Palestine - inherited by the United Nations at the
time of fts esL,ablishment - requires a CJOmFrehenSiVe~ just and lasting political
settlement. Tds settlement muxt be based on the implementation of the relevant
United Nations resolutions aonaerning the queetion of Palestine and the attaiment
of the legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, inaluding the
right to eelf-determination &nd the right to the establishment of its own
independent State in Palestine and should also be based on the yrovision by the
Security Counail of guarantees for peaae and eeaurity among all States in the
rchgion, including the independent Palestinian State, within eecure and
internationally recognrsed boundarier. The Conference is convinced that the
attainment by the Palestinian ,leople of their inalie.qable rights, as defined by
general Assembly resolution 3236 (XXIXj of 22 November 1974, will iqontribute
subsi&ntially t* the aahievement of peace and stability in the k,;Ccldlr: East.
3 . The Conference considers the role of the United Nations in the achievement of
a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East to be essential ant9
paramount. It amphasiaes the need for respect for, and application of, the
provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the *esolutions of the United
Natione relevant to the question of Palestine and the observance of the yrinciplos
of international law,
4 . The Cor.ference considers that the varioue proposals, consistent with the
principle8 of international law, which have been presented on this question, such
as the Arab peace plan adopted unanimously at the Twelfth Arab Summit Conference
(see A/37/696-S/15510, annex), held at Fes, Morocco, in Septembsr 1982, should
-42-
serve as guidelines for conaerted international effort to resolve the question of
Palestine. These guidelines include the following!
(a) The attainmant by the Palestinian people of its legieimate inalienable
rights, including the right to return, the right to self-determination and the
right to establish its own independent State in Palestine1
(b) The right of the Palestino Liberation Organisation, the representative of
the Palestinian people, to participate on an equal footing with other parties in
t:l e,"forts, dsliberations and conferences on the Middle East1
(c) The need to put an end to Israel’s ocaupation of the Arab territories, in
accordance with the prinaiple of the inadmissibility of the aaquisition of
territory by force, and, consequently, the need to secure Israeli withdrawal from
the territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem!
(d) The neecl to oppose and reject such Israeli poliaies and practises in the
occupied territories, including Jerusalem, and any defacto situation created by
Israel as are contrary to international law and relevant United Nation6
resolutions, particularly the eetablishment of settlements, as these poliaiee and
practices constitute major obstacles to the achievement of peace in the Middle East)
(e) The need to reaffirm as null and void all legislative and administrative
measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or
purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem,
including the expropriation of land and property situated thereon, and in
particular the so-called “Baeia Law” on Jerusalem and the proolamation of Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel;
(PI The right of all States in the region to existenas within seoure and
internationally recognised boundaries, with justice and necurity for all the
people, tho dnau-non of whiah is the reaognition and attainment of the
legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as stated in
subparagraph (a) above,
5. In order to give effect to these guidelines, the Conference aonsiders it
essential that an international peaae confezwnce on the Middle East be convened on
the basis 0.. the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant
resclutions of the United Nations, with the aim of aahieving a comgrehensivc, just
and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, an essential element of which
would be the establishment of an independent Palestinian State in Palestine. Thin
peace conference should be convened :*nder the auspices of the Unitad Nations, with
the participation of all parties to the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the
Palestine Liberation Organisation, as well as the United States of America, Che
Union of Bowiot Socialist Republics, and other concerned States, on an equal
footing. In this context ths Security Council has a primary responsibility to
create appropriate institutional arrangements on the basis of relevant United
Nations resolutions in orc7er to guarantee and to carry oui; the accords of the
international peace conference.
6. ‘ILI~ International Conference on the Question of Palestine emphasiees the
importance of the time factor in achieving a just solution to the problem of
Palestine, The Conference is convince3 that partial solutions are inadequate anal
delays in seeking a comprehensive solution do irot eliminate tenSiOns in the region.
-43-
The Internationel Conference on the Question of Palestine agreed that no
effort should be epered to seek effective ways and means to enable the Palestinian
people to attain and exercise their rights in Palestine in accordance with the
Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights b/ and the
principles of international law, The Conference, taking into consideration the
Geneva Declaration on Palestine (sect. A above), recommended the following
Programme of Action.
I
The International Conference on the Question of Palestine recommends that
a l l S t a t e s , individually or aollectively, ooneistent with their respective
constitutions and their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations
and in conformity with th,J prinaiples of international law, should1
(1) Recognise the great importance of the time factor in solving the
question of Palestine1
(2) Intensify effort8 for the establishment of an independent
Palestinian State within the framework of a comprehensive, juet and lasting
settlement to the Arab-Ieraeli conflict in accordance with the Charter of the
United Nations, the relevant United Nations resolutions ant! the guidelinea of
the Qeneve Declaration on Palestine)
(3) Consider the continued presence of Israel in the occupied
Palestinian and other Arab territories, inaluding Jerusalem, as exacerbating
instability in the region and endangering internationnl peace and eecurityt
(4) Oppose and reject, as a serious and continuing obstacle to peace,
the expansioniet policiesl pursued by Israel in the Palestinian and other Arab
territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and in particular the
alteration of the geographic nature and demographic composition, and the
I s r a e l i &tempt to a l t e r , through domestia legislation, the legal etatus of
those territories, and all the measure6 taken in violation of the Qeneva
Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, E/ and the Qeneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, d/
both of 12 August 1949, and of The Hague Regulations of 1907, 81 such as the
establishment and expansion of settlements, t h e t r a n s f e r o f I s r a e l i civiliana
into those territoriee and the individual and mass transfer-e therefrom of the
Arab Palestinian population)
(5) Refrain from providing Israel with assistance of such a nature as to
encourage it militarily, economically end financially to continue its
aggression, occupation and disregard of its obligations under the Charter and
the relevnnt resolutions of the United Nationst
(6) Not encourage migration to the occupisd Arab territories until
Israel hao put a definitive end to the implementation of its illegal policy of
establishing settlements in the Palestisian and other Arab territories
occupied since 1967!
-44 -
(7) Fully comply with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and
its specialised agencies on the Holy City of Jerusalem, including those which
reject X8rael’s annexation of Jerusalem and its declaration of that city as
i t s aapitalt
(6) Undertake universal efforte to protect the Holy Places and urge
Israel to take measures to prevent their deeecrationr
(9) Consider ways and means of meeting the threat that Israel poses to
regional security in Africa in view of Ierael’s disregard of United Nations
resolutions, and its close collaboration with themregime i n t h e
economic, military and nuclear fields, thereby contributing to the continued
illegal occupation of Namibia and enhancing the regime’s represeive and
aggressive capacity1
(10) Encourage, through bilateral and multilateral contacts, all
States, including Western European and North American States whiah have not
done 80, to welcome all peace initiatives based on the recognition of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people , which were also welcomed by
Chairmen Yasser Arafat in his address to the International Conference on the
Question of L,elestiner
(11) Seek and develop ways and means to enable the Palestinian people to
exercise sovereignty over their national resources 1
(12) Express conaern that Ierael debars Palestinians from eaonomic
activity and access to national resource8 on Palestinian territory, in
consistent violation of Qeneral Assembl:? resolutions on the right of the
Palestinians to permanent eovereignty over their national resources;
(13) Declare null ant3 void and counter such measures ad practices
applied by Israel in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territoriee,
including Jerusalem, as the annexation and the expropriation of land, water
resources, and property and the alteration of the demographic, geographic,
historical and cultural features thereof?
(14) Undertake measures to alleviate ths economic and social burdens
borne by the Palestinian people as a result of the continued Israel.\
occupation of their territories eince 19671
(15) Consider contributing or increasing specie1 contributions C,Q the
proposed budgets, programmes and projects of the relovant organs, funds and
agencies of the United Nations system that have been regueatd to provide
humanitarian, economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, with
particular reference toa
(a) General Assembly resolution 331147 of 20 December 1978 and the
appeal of the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme at
its thirtieth session for additional special contributions amounting to at
least $8 million during the third progrsmming cycle (1982-1986) aimed at
helping to meet the economic and social needs of the Palestinj.an people; 11
(b) The proposed programme budget of the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development for the biennium 1984185 regarding the establishment
-45-
within the United Nation6 Conference on Trade an8 Development of a epecial
economic unit, g/ as requested by that Conferenoe at its sixth session at
Belgratlei h/
(c) Establishing a special legel aid funiS to assist Palestinians in
securing their rights unc¶er cwditions of occupation, i/ in accordance with
the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time
of !ferr
(16) Ensure that the United Nations Relief and Works hgency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East aan meet the essential needs of the Palestinians
without interruption or nny Biminution in the effectiveness of its serviaesr
(17) Review the situation of Palestinian women in the occupied
Palestinian and other Arab territories and, in view of their special
hardships, urge the Preparutory Committee of the World Conference to Review
and Appraiaa the Achievements of the United Nations Decac¶e for Women, to be
held at Nairobi in 1985, to include this item on the agenda of tho Conferencer
(18) Review, if they have not yet done so, in conformity with their
n a t i o n a l l e g i s l a t i o n , t h e i r ticonomic, cultural, technical and other relations
with Israel, and the agreements governing them with the aim of ensuring that
these regulations and agreements will not be interpreted or construed as
implying in any way recognition of any modification of the legal status of
Jerusalem and of the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupiec¶ by Israel
since 1967, or an aaceptance of Israel’s illegal presence in those ‘xwitoriesr
(19) Recognise that the process of e-abling the Palestinian people to
exercise its inalienable rights in Palestine is a significsnt contribution to
the redtoration of the rule of law in international relations)
(20) Assure the observance of the stipulations provit3etI in Qeneral
Assembly resolution 161 (II) guaranteeing to all persons equal and
non-t!liscriminatory rights in c i v i l , p o l i t i c a l , economic anB r,eligious mutters
and the enjoyment of human rights ancl fundamental freec¶oms, inaluding freedom
of religion, speech, publication, educetion, assembly and aeeociationr
(21) Express concern that the lawa applicable in the oacupiefl Arab
territories have been totally eclipsed by a plethora of military orders that
have been designed to establish a new “legal dgime" in violation of Th? Hague
Regulations of 1907, and tiie Geneva Conven*ion relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War]
(22) Act in accordance with their obligations under existing
lnternationol law, in particular with regard to the Geneva Conventions OP 1949
which require States Parties to respect and to ensure respect for those
Conventions in all circumstances, and in particular ensure the respect by
Israel Par the Geneva Conventions of 1949 in the occupied Palestinian and
other Arab territocieet
(23) Express concern that the Palestinians ancl other Arabs in the
occupied territories are deprived of juridical and other kinds of protection,
that they are victims of repressive legislation, involving mass arrests, acts
-46-
of torture, destruction of Louses, and the expulsion of people from their
homes, acts which constitute flagrant violations of human righter
(24) Rerognise the necessity that Palestinian end Lebanese prisoners
detained by Israel be acaordetl the status of grisonere of war in accordance
with the Qeneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of
1949, ~1 if combatants, or in accordance with the Geneva Convention relative
to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949, 91 if civiliansr
(25) Strive for the adoption of international measure so that Israel
will implement in the West Bank and Qaaa the provSsions of The Hague
Regulations of 1907 and the Geneva Convention relative to the Proteation of
Civilian Persons, in the light of Security Council resolution 465 (1980)~
(26) Recognize, if they have not yet dons so, the Palestine Liberation
Organisation ae the representative of the Palestinian people and establish
with it appropriate relationer
(27) Encourage, in conformity with their national legislations, the
formation of nationel committees in support of the Palestinian people!
(25) Encourage the observance uf 29 November as the Intarnational Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in a most effective an8 meaningful way!
(29) Request the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session to
clesignate a Year of Palestine, to be obeerved at the earlieet possible time,
taking into conslderatioa the factors necessary to ersuro itu effective
preparation for the purpose of galvanising worid-wide publia opinion and
support for furthe,: implementation of tho Qeneva Declaration on Palestine and
the Frogremme of Action.
II
The International Conference on the Question of Palestine stresses the
obligation of all Member States, under the Charter of the United Nations, to
enable the United Nations through an expanded and more effective role to
f u l f i l i t s responsibill.l., v for achieving a solution to the question of
Palestine. To this end1
A
States participating in the Conference invite the Security Council,. as
the organ with primery responsibility for the maintenance of international
peace and security;
(1) To suppress continuing and grOWin acts of aggression and other
breaches of the peace in the Middle Eaet which endanger peace an8 security in
the region and the wor+d a~ a whOlet
(2) To tnke prompt, firm and effelctive steps and actions to establish an
indepaxdent sovereign Palestinian State in Palestine through the
implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions, by facilitating tha
organization of the international peace conference on the Middle Eact, as
called for in paragraph 5 cf the Geneva Declaration on Palestine (nee sect, A
-47-
above 1, an% by creating in this context the appropriate institutional
arrangements on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions in order to
guarantee anc¶ carry out the accor%s of the international peaae conference,
inolu%ing t h e followinga
(a) Taking measures consistent with the prinoiple of the inadmissibility
of the acquisition of territory by foroe to ensure Israel’s withdrawal from
the Palestinian an% other Arab territories occupie% since 1967, including
Jerusalem, with PI specific timetabler
(b) Undertaking effective measures to guarantee the safety an% sevrrity
an% legal an% human rights of the Palestinians in the ooaupie% territories
pen%ing the with%rawal of the Israeli forces from the Palestinian an% other
Arab territories oacupie% by Israel since 1987, inclu%ing Jerusalema
(c) Subjeating t h o s e t e r r i t o r i e s , following the with%rawal of Israel, to
a short transitional perio%, un%er the supervision of the Unite% Nations,
Buring which perio% the Palestinian people would erercise its right to
self -%eterminationr
(d) Facilitating the implementation of the right to return of the
Palestinians to their homes an% property1
(e) Supervising elections to the constituent assembly of the in%epen%ent
Palestinian State in whiah all Palestinians shall partiaipate, in exercise of
their r i g h t t o self-%eterminationt
(f) Provi%ing, if necessary, temporary peace-keeping forces in order to
facilitate the implementation of subparagraphs (a) to (e) above,
Meanwhile the Security Council is also invited to;
(1) Take urgent action Lo bring about an imme%iate an% complete
cessation of such IsraelA polioies in the ocaupie% territories an%, in
particular, the establishment of settlements as have been %etermine% by the
Security Council to have no legal vali%ity ma% as a serious obstruction to
alhieviug a comprehensive, just an% lasting peace in the Mi%%le EaStJ
(2) Conei%er urgently the reports of the Commission establishe% un%er
its resolution 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979. which exsmine% the situation
concerning settlement@ in the Arab territories occupie% since 1967, inclu%inJ
Jerusalem, and to reactivate the above-mentioned Commissions
(3) Initiate action to terminate Israel’s exploitative policies which go
against, the indigr,nous economic development of the occupied territories, and
to compel Israel to lift its restrictions on water use an% well-drilling by
Palestinian farmers as well as its diversion of West Bank water resources into
the Israeli water grid system1
(4) Keep under its constant attention the actions committed by Israel
against the Palestinian people in violation of the stipulations provided for
in relevant General Assembly resolutions, in particular the stipulations of
-48-
resolution 161 (II) of 29 November 1947 guaranteeing to all. persons equal and
nordiscriminatory rights an% free%omsr
(5) Consider, in the event of Israel’s persistent non-compliance with
the relevant Unite% Nations resolutions whioh embody the will of the
international community, appropriate mensures in accordance with the Charter
of the Unite% Nations, to ensure Israel’s compliance with these resolutions.
C
(1) Taking into aoaount the reoommen%ations of the five regional
preparatory meetings of the International Conference on the Question of
Palestine 11 an% Unite% Nations resolutions conaerning economic and social
assistance to the Pelestinian people, the Secretary-Oeneral of the United
Nations is requeste% to aonvene a meeting of the specialised agenaies an%
other organiaatione ossoaiated with the United Nations, as well as
representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organisation an% of those
countries #which sre hosts to Palestinian refugees and other potential sources
of assistance to develop a co-ordinate8 programme of economia and social
assistance to the Palestinian people and to ensure its implementationr
(2) The meeting should also look into the most effective inter-agency
machinery to co-ordinate an% sustain and intensify Unite% Nations assistance
to the Palestinian people,
D
The dissemination of accurate and aomprehensive information world wi%e
an% the role of non-governmental organisations and institutions remain of
vital importance in heightening awareness of an% support for the inalienable
rights of the Paleetinian people to self-determination and to the
establishment of an indepen%ent soveLei$n Palestinian State. To these endsr
(1) The United Nations Department for Publia Information, in full
co-operation an% constant consultations with the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, shoulda
(a) Co-ordinate all information aativities of the Unite% Nations system
on Palestine through the Joint United Nations Information Committee;
(b) Expand publications and audio an% visual coverage of the Iacts and
of developments pertaining to the question of Palestiner
(c) Publish newsletters and articles in its respective publications on
Israeli violations of human rights of the Arab inhabitants in the occupied
territories and organise fact-fin%ing missions for journalists to the area:
(cl) Organise regional encounters for journalistt3J
(e) Disseminate appropriate information on the results of the
International Conference on the Question of Palestiner
-49-
(2) The relevant organisations of the Unite% Nations system should
organise meetings, symposia and seminars on topics within their terms of
reference an% relating to specific problems of the Palestinian people by
establishing closer liaison with non-governmental organieations, the media and
other groups interested in the question of Palestine.
III
The International Conference on the Question of Palestine, convinae% of
the important role of worl%-wi%e public opinion in resolving the question of
Palestine, an% in the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of
Action, urges and encourages t
(1) Intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations to increaee
awareness by the international community of the economic an% social burdens
borne by the Palestinian people as a result of the continued Israeli
occupation and its negative effects on the economic development of the West
Asian region as a wholet
(2) Non-governmental organisations and professional an% popular
associations to intensify their efforts to support the rights of the
Palestinian people in every possible wayI
(3) Organisations suoh as those of women, teachers, workers, youths an%
students to undertake exchanges an% other programmes of joint action with
their Palestinian counterpartsj
(4) Women’s associations, in particular, to investigate the con%itions
of Palestinian women an% ohil%ren in all occupie% territoriesr
(5) The media and other institutions to disseminate relevant information
to increase public awareness and understanding of the question of Palestine)
(6) Institutions of higher education to promote the study of the
question of Palestine in all its aspectsl
( 7 ) Varioue j u r i s t s ’ associations to establish special investigative
commissions to determine the violations by Israel of the Palestinians’ legal
rights an% to disseminate their findings accordinglyr
(8) Jurists to initiate with their Palestinian counterparts
consultations, research an% investigations on the juridiaal aspects of
problems effecting the southern African and Palestinian struggles, in
particular the detention of political prisoners and the Benial of
prisoner-of-war status to detained members of the national liberation
movements of southern Africa and Palestine)
(9) Paslismentarians, p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s , t r a d e u n i o n s , organisations f o r
solidarity and intellectuals, particularly in Western Europe and North
America, to join their counterpsrts in other parts of the world in giving
their support, where it has not been %one, to an initiative which would
express the desire of the international community to see the Palestinian
ptople at last living in their own in%epen%ent homeland in peace, freedom and
dignity.
-5o81
see ReBortQ.xatheInternatiqnslm#
va. 29 A&gust-7SelQ6g (United Natioxls publication, Sales
No. E.83.1.21), chap. I, sects, A and B,
P/ See General Aesembly resolution 21? A (III),
c/ United Nations, sleries, vol. 75, No. 972, p. 135.
w uLiJi*t No. 973, po 287.
81 Carnegie Enr3owment for International Peace, uue Conventians
of 1899 & 1QQZ (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915), p. 100.
f/ See OfficialRecoraea.Q
No. 9 (E/1983/20).
0’ A/C.5/38/4, para. 8 (c).
lv Recommendation 146 (\:) of 2 July 1983 of the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development.
i/ Recommendation 19 of the Latin American Regional Preparatory Meeting,
Managua, Nicaragua, 12-15 April 1463 (A/CONF.114/2).
11 Af ricen region, A/C0NF,114/1~ Latin American region, A/CONF.l14/2j
Western Asian region, A/CONF.114/31 Asian region, A/CQNF.114/4# European region,
A/CONF.114/5,
-51-
ANNEX III
(Havana, 15-17 December 1907)
1, The Eightsenth United Nations Seminar on the Quastion of Palestine, entitled
“The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people”, was held at the Palacio de las
Convenciones at Havana, Cuba, from 15 to 17 December 1987, in accordance with the
terms of Qeneral Assembly resolution 40/96 El of 12 December 1985.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation consisting of Mr. Massamba Sarre (Senegal),
Chairman of the Committee, head of the delegation1 Mr. Albert0 Velaaco-San Jose
(Cuba)] Mr. Pramathesh Rath (India); and Mr, Zehdi L.. Terzi (Palestine Liberation
Organisation). Mr. Massamba Scrrri was Chairman and Mr. Pramathesh Rath Rapporteur
of the Seminar,
3, Four meetings were held and 17 panelists presented papers on selected aspects
of the question of Palestine. In addition, representatives of 26 Governments, the
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), 2 United Nations organs, 4 United Nations
programmes and specialized agencies, 2 national liberation organizations, as well
as observers of 17 non-governmental organizations attended the Seminar,
4, The opening session of the Seminar was attended by Mr. Jorge Risquet, Member
of the Politburo and the Secretariat, Chief of the General Department for External
Relations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba. The Seminar was
addressed by the followingr Mr. Isidoro Malmierca Peoli, Minister of External
Relations of Cubat Mr. Naseem Mirza, Chief, Division for Palestinian Rights, on
behalf of the Secretary-Generals Mr. Massamba Sarrh, Chairman of the Seminart
Mr, Imad Jada’a, Ambassador of the PLO to Cuba, who conveyed a message from
Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO; Mr, Anunar Amari
(Tunisia), representing the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the
Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial
Countries and PefJples: and Mr. Nasreldin A. M. Idries (Sudan) representing the
Special Committee against Am.
5. The Seminar also heard statements from Mr. Helmut, Angula, Permanent Observer
of the South West AErica People’s Organization (SWAPO) to the United Nations and
from Mr. Stanley Manana, Representative of the African National Congress of South
Africa to Cuba.
6. MeEsayes of slIpport were received from Mr. Clodomiro Almnida, former
Vice-President or Chile and Secretary-General of the Socialist, Party or that
country, as well as from the Arab Union of Cuba of the City of Ciego de Avila.
7. On its piirt, the Seminar adopted messages to Mr. Yasser Arafat, to the
President of the Security Council and also to the Secretary-General of the United
Nations.
-52-
8. Three panels were established, The topics of these and panelists were as
follows t
( a ) P a n e l I , “The International Peace Conference on the Middle East, in
accordance with United Nations Qftneral Assembly resolution 38158 C, the need for
such a conference and efforts a*1 prospects to promote a successful outcome, and
benefits thereof”! Mr. Shafiq Al-Rout (Palestinian), Mr. Tillo Declerq (Belgium),
Mr. Miklos Endreffy (Hungary), Mr, Eduardo Kronfly (Colombia), Mr. Jorge Manfugas
(Cuba), Mr. Paul McCloskey (United States),
Mr. Gabriel Pcjree Tarrau (Cuba) )
Mr, Mattiyahu Peled (Israel), and
(b) Panel II, “The question of Palestine and Latin American/Caribbean public
opinion” t Mrs. Irma Cdceres Pdres (Cuba), Mr. Roberto Garcia (Nicaragua),
Mr, Aivaro Men/tndes Franc0 (Panama), Mr. Ruben Montedonico (Mexico),
Mr. Juan Pereira Fiorilo (Bolivia), Deputy Henry Rondinel Cornejo (Peru),
Mr, Juan Sanchez (Cuba) and Mr. Carlos Albert0 Torrengo (Argentina)]
( c ) P a n e l I I I , “The role oE the Palestine Liberation 0rganiaation”r
Mr. Fouad Moughrabi (Palestinian),
The expert members of the three panels agreed on summaries of the presentations and
the discussions on the three topics. The Seminar decided to include those
summariea in the report, which has been published as a special Bulletin of the
United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights.
9. The conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Seminar are as followsr
(a) The Seminar recalled that the year 1987 marked a number of anniversaries
of significant events in the history of the Palestinian people in its struggle to
attain its legitimate and inalienable rights. It was the seventieth anniversary of
the Balfour Declaration, the fortieth anniversary of the adoption of Qeneral
Assembly resolution 181 (II), the twentieth anniversary of the 1967 war and the
fifth anniversary of the Israeli invasion and occupation of Lebanese territory and
the massacre of Palestinians at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.
(b) The Seminar expressed its deep concern over the present dangerous
situation in the Middle East which posed a serious threat to international peace
and security. In the nuclear age it was necessary for international relations to
be restructured so that confrontation was replaced by co-operation, and cor\flict
situations were resolved through peaceful political means and not through military
actions.
(c) The Seminar was profoundly convinced that the vital interests of all
peoples of the reqicn, as well as the interests of international peace and
security, could be secured only through the attainment of a comprehensive, just and
lasting settlement, on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions and under
its auspices, of the Arab-Israeli conflict of which the question of Palestine was
the core,
(d) The Seminar was aware that while strenuous attempts had been made to find
a solution to the diddle East conflict, the situation in the region remained
-53-
intractable. It was further aggravated by Israel’s actions in the occupied ,.rab
t e r r i t o r i e s . The inalienable rights of tho Palestinian people continued to be
undermined, Israel continued its policies of illegally maintaining and expanding
Jewish settlements as well as confiscating Arab-owned lands and diverting scarce
water resources to its own use in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories.
The “iron-fist” policy of Israel had further stifled all forms of political,
cultural, social and economic expression of the Palestinian people. Israel
continued to strengthen its control over most aspects of life, with the objective
of obstructing a self-sustained development of the Palestinians in the occupied
territories by turning those territories into a dependent entity with the aim of
their final absorption and annexation. Such policies were in violation of United
Nations resolutions, the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and other norms of
international law and exacerbated tension in the area, thus hindering attempts to
find a peaceful solution to the question of Palestine.
(e) The Seminar affirmed that the denial of the exercise of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people remained tho core of the conflict in the Middle
East and that a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region could not be
achieved without the full exeraise of those rights, including the rights to return,
to self-determination and to statehood, and without the complete withdraw?. of
Israel from Palestinian and Arab territories occupied since 1967, inoludj .g
Jerusalem. It further affirmed that the PLO was the sole and legitimate
representative of the Palestinian people. It invited Governments which had not yet
done so to accord recognition of the PLO aa such,
(f) The Seminar unanimously concluded that the way to establish a just and
lasting peace in the Middle East warn by convening the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East, under the auspices of the United Nations and with
the participation of all partieo to the conflict, including the PLO on an equal
footing, as well as the United Stator and the Soviet Union and other concerned
States, in accordance with General Aeeembly resolution 38158 C. The Seminar was
convinced that partial and piocemoal solutions would ignore the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict and were not conducive to a comprehensive settlement, The
need was stressed for a comprrhencive attempt at establishing a just and lasting
peace in the Middle Last through the International Peace Conference in accordance
with General Assembly resolution 38158 C. The Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People had an important role to play in
promoting the convening of the Conference.
(g) The Seminar was of the view that, during 1987, international
understanding of the question of Palestine and support for the attainment and
exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights had continued to
grow. At the same time, in the region, tension and violence had continued to
mount, with tragic consequences. The Seminar considered that the present situation
demanded renewed and intensified collective international efforts aimed at reaching
a comprehensive, just and lasting solution, Urgent positive action by the Security
Council was required on the recommendations formulated by the Committee in its
first report, submitted in 1976 and endorsed by the General Assembly, as well as
the recommendations adopted by the International Conference on the Question of
Palestine, held at Geneva in 1983. The peaceful solution of this long-standing
conflict and the attainment of justice and security for all, based on the exercise
by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, remained a primary and urgent
responsibility of the United Nations.
-54-
(h) The Seminar took note with appreciation of thb efforts of the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to secure
universal recognition of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and of
i+.s recommendations for ensuring the exercise by the Palestinian people of those
rights. The Seminar also noted with satisfaction the increased support at the
Uniter3 Nations for the programme of action undertaken by the Committee. It urged
the international community to sustain and strengthen its support for the
Committee’s activities and endeavours, in particular its efforts for facilitating
the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East and the!
establishment of a preparatory committee within the framework of the Security
Council, with the participation of its permanent msmbers.
(i) The Seminar expressed its grateful appreciation for the efforts
undertaken by the Secretary-Qeneral of the United Nations with a view to convening
the International Peace Conference on the Middla East, In this regard the Seminar
took note of his report (A/42/714-S/19249) and expressad full support for his
intention to maintain his special efforts and continue to explore with the parties
ways of advancing the process. The Secretary-Qeneral, in his report, had stated
that “the inability of the Qovernment of Israel as a whoie to agree to the
principle of an international conference under United Nations auspices00 remained a
major obstacle. The Seminar concluded that the Government of Israel, along with
the Qovernment of the United States, opposed compliance with Qeneral Asssmbly
resolution 30158 C. In that context, the Seminar urged l>e Qovernments of Israel
and the United States to reconsider their negative attitudes towards the convening
of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East.
(j) The Seminar was of the view that the recent adoption of Amendment No. 940
by the United States Senate making unlawful the establishment and msintenance of
offices of the PLO in the United States ignored the fact that the PLO Observer
Mission to the United Nations was present in accordance with Qeneral Assembly
resolution 3237 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974. Furthermore, that legislation was
contrary to the Headquarters Agreement between the host country and the United
Nations. The Seminar was also of the view that the closure of the PLO Observer
Mission to the United Nations would mean the elimination of an importart
institution contributing to the search for peace in the Middle East.
(k) The Seminar expressed its strong protest against the reported Israeli
military actions against Lebanon as well as the new wave of oppression ?f
Palestinians in the occupied territories. It demanded that those actions should
cease immediately and requested the Security Council to undertake every effort
under the Charter of the United Nations in order to put an end to the causes of
violence and the use of force,
(1) The Seminar appealed to the members of the Security Council and in
particular to its permanent merlbers, in exercising their responsibilities for the
maintenance of international peace and security, to make every effort to convene
the International Peace Conference on the Middle East without further delay,
(m) The Seminar viewed the results of the eighteenth session of the Palestine
Nationtil Council, held in April 1987, at Algiers, as a significant contribution to
achieving a just solution to the question of Palestine aAd resolving the plight of
the Palestinian people. The Seminar welcomed in particular the unequivocal support
of the PLO for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle
East in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C.
-55-
(n) The Selllinar recalled .<ith appreciation the support that Governments and
peoples of Latin America hlld extended at the United Nations and in other forums to
the Palestinian cause and for the achievement of a just and lasting peace in the
Middle East. It agreed that efforts should be continued and intensified to
mobilise the official and public opinion in the Latin American region, as well as
in other regions of the world, especially through the use of the media and
activities of non-governmental organisatfons, The United Nations should undertake
additional efforts to disseminato factual and up-to-date information on the quesion
of Palestine, the pliqht of Palestinians under occupation or in exile, and the
measures required to be taken for the achievement of a just solution to the
question of Palestine on the basis of the attains,?nt by the Palestinian people in
Palestine of its inalienable rights, The Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian
Rights had an important role in the dissemination of such information, Moreover,
the United Nations Department of Public Information should make every effort to
ensure that accurate information on the question of Palestine received the widest
possible dissemination and should ensure adfdquate representation of Latin American
journalists in its annual fact-finding missions to the Middle East,
(0) It was important that governmental media and international news agencies
should play a more objective role in providing balanced reporting on the Middle
East and, in particular, on the plight of the Palestinian people. The Seminar
emphasised that intergovernmental organisations, institutions such as universities,
colleges, research institutes, churches and other religious establishments as well
as national and international non-governmental organisations, had a crucial role to
play in the formation of public opinion, especially in the United States and
Israel. Those institutions should be encouraged to give wider coverage and
objective treatment to the question of Palestine.
-56-
ANNEX IV
on6 & resmbv t-w
ted Netions on the of pustine
(Berlin, German Democratic Republic, 25-29 April 1988)
1. The Committee on the Enercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People accepted the offer of the Government of the German Democratic Republic (GDR)
to hold the Nineteenth United Natiolrs Seminar on the Question ?f Palestine (Fourth
European Regional Seminar) entitled *‘The inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people”. The Seminar was held at the Palasthotel, Berlin, from 25 to
29 April 1988, in accordance with the terms of General Assembly resolution 42166 B
of 2 December 1987.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation consisting of Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier
(Malta), RapporLeur of the Committee, head of the delegation1 Mr. Tom Obaleh Kargbo
(Sierra Leone)1 Mr. Albert0 Velazco-San Jo66 (Cuba)) Mr. Dirk Hielscher (QDR); ead
Mr. Zehdi L, Terei (Palestine Liberation Organization). Mr. Borg Olivier served as
Chairman, Mr. Velazco-San Jo66 8s Vice-Chairman and Mr. Kargbo as Rapporteur of the
Seminar.
3. The opening session of the Seminnr waz attended by the President of the
forty-second session of the Qeneral Assembly, Mr. Deter Florin.
4. Eight meetings \*2re held and 14 panelists presented papers on selected aspects
of the question df Palestine. In addition, representatives of 37 Governments, the
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), 3 United Nations organs, 4 United Nations
specialized agencies and bodies, 1 intergovernmental organization as well as
observers of 5 non-governmental organisations (NGOS) attended the Seminar.
5. The opening session of the Seminar was addressed by Mr. Oskar Fischer,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the ODR, and a message was received from the
General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany and Chairman of the
Council of State of the GDR, H.E. Mr. Erich Honecker, which was read out by the
Chairman of the Seminar.
6 . At the opening session, statements were also made by the representative of the
Secretary-General of the United Nations, Under-Secretary-General
Joseph Verner Reed, and by H.E. Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier, Chairman of the Ssminar.
7 . A message was received from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the PLO, and read out by Mr. Isam Ksmel Salem, Ambassador of the PLO
to the GDR. In addition, a statement was made by Mr. Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada,
Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
8 . The Seminar also heard statements from Mrs. Shi Yanhua (China), representing
the United Nations Council for Namibia; Mr. Emmanuel Douma (Congo), representing
the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the
Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countritls and Peoples;
-57-
Mr, Dirk Hielscher (GDR), representing the Special Committee against m,and
Mr, Achim Reichardt, General Secretary of the Solidarity Committee of the GDR. Thr
Seminar also received a message by the Chairman of the Special Committee to
Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the HtImaA Rights of the Population of the
Occupied Territories, Mr. Daya Parera.
9. On its own part, the Seminar adopted messages to Mr. Erich Honecker, Chairman
of the Council of State of the QDR, and to Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the PLO.
10. Three panels were established. These panels and their panelists were as
follows t
( a ) P a n e l I t “The Uprising in the Occupied Paleztinian Territories: The
Urgency of Convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in
accordance with United Nations General Assembly resolution 38/58 (7’1
Mr. Shafiq Al-Hout (Palestinian), Mr. Dragan Jovanic (Yugoslavia),
Mr. Igor M. Khvorostiany (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic),
Mr. Vladimir I. Kisselyov (Union of So*liet Socialist Republics),
Mr. Roberto Mesa (Spain) and Mr, Ingo Schoenfelder (GDR)r
( b ) P a n e l 118 “The Role of the Palestine Liberation Organisation”;
Mr. Yusif Sayegh (Palestinian);
(c) P a n e l I I I : “The Question of Palestine and European Public Opinion”8
Mr. Mikko Lohikoski (Finland), Mr. Ion Margineanu (Romania),
Mr. Lothar Pilz (GDR), Mr. Mikntaz Soysal (Turkey), Mr. Jijrgen Stromberg
(Sweden), Mr. Paolo Ungari (Italy) and Mr. Nicola6 Voulelis (Greece).
11. The expert members of the three panels agreed on summaries of the
presentations and the discussions on the three topics. The Seminar decided to
include those summaries in the report , which has been published as a special
bulletin of the United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights,
12. The conclusions and recommendations adopted by the SEminar are as followst
(a) The Palestinian uprising in tile occupied territories confirms that the
Palestinians are determined to reject and resist Israeli domination and
occupation. The Palestinian people is struggling to preserve and protect its
identity and its land and to regain and freely exercise its inalienable national
rights to return, to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent
State of its own in Palestine.
(b) While strenuous attempts have been made to bring about a solution to the
Arab-Israeli conflict, the situation in the region remains intractable. It i s
further aggravated by Israel’s reaction to the Palestinian uprising in using
mi!.itary might to quell the demands by the Palestinian people for the exercise of
its inalienable human and national rights. Israel contincles i t s p o l i c i e s o f
-58-
illegally maintaining and expanding Jewish settlements as well as confiscating
Arab-owned lands and divereing scarce water resources to its own use in the
occupied Palestinian and Arab territories. The “iron-fist” policy of Israel has
further stifled all forms of political, cultural, social and economic expressions
cf the Palestinier people. Jsrael continues to strengthen its control over most
aspects of life, with the objeative of obstructing a self-sustained development of
the Palestinian people in the occupied territoriee by turning those territories
into a dependent entitir with the aim of their final absorption and annexation.
Such policies are in violation of United Nations resolutions, the Geneva
Conventions of 1949, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, end other norme of
international law and exacerbate tension in the areaI thus hindering attempts to
find a peaceful solution to the question of Palestine.
(c) The Seminar agreed that the role of the PLO derive6 from the inalienable
right of the Palestinians to Palestine, their right to identify with it, to live on
its soil as a community and national entity, with its social structure and its
economic life, It derives from the collective will of the Palestinians, both on
Palestinian territory and outside of it, that the PLO is their legitimate and sole
representative. Those two factors are the source of the legitimacy of Ghe PLO and
the determinant of the complex role it has to play, The record of the PLO confirms
and Solidifies that legitimacy and has won the recognition, first of all by the
Arab States and, in due cour38, by more than 1OC other States, that the PLO ie the
legitimate and sole representative of the Palestinians. Among the exceptions to
this significant development is Israel, the United States and South Africa.
(d) The international community is becoming; more deeply convinced of the need
to find an immediate political settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. That is
evidenced by the growing support for the convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution
38/58 C a6 the only realistic and reliable mean6 of achieving such a eettlement.
That support is clearly reflected in the position adopted by the PLO, the Movement
of Non-Aligned Countries, the League of Arab States, the Organieation of African
Unity, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the European Community, the
Nordic countries, as well as by the USSR, China and other socialist countries, In
that regard, the Seminar emphasised in particular the sustained and continuing
support by the European socialist and non-aligned countries for the exercise by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable national rights and the convening of the
International Peace Conference on the basis of General Assembly resolution 38/58 C.
(e) The Seminar appreciated the evolving position of Western European and
Nordic countries in support of a comprehensive settlement and the convening of the
International Peace Conference as expressed in the official statements by the
European Community and the Nordic countries. It took al60 into account tho
position of the European Parliament in that regard and expressed the hope that the
Corm,:fttee on the Exerc:ise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will
undertake further endeavour6 with a view that the countries of Western Europe will
play an even more active role in bringing about a comprehensive political
settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, guaranteeing the exercise by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights.
(f) The Seminar concluded that the way to establish a just and lasting peace
in the Middle East is by convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle
EaSt, under the auspices of the United Nation6 and in conformity with General
Assembly resolution 38158 C, which endorsed the Geneva Declaration adopted by the
-59-
International Conference on the Question of Palestl’ne, held at Ceileva ?.n 1983,
There was concurrence that a careful examination of the components of that
resolution, *rhic.h was based on the Charter of the United Nations and the principles
of international law, and took into account all relevant United Nation6
resolutions, and included the objective, the political elements, tho framework of,
and the participant6 in the International Peace Conference, demonstrate6 the
credibility and applicability of that project to produce a durable solution, It i s
the only prescription that could claim to have the ingredient6 for a just solution
to the conflict, for the transfr,rmation of the military conflict into peaceful
political platforms. Among the parties involved in the Middle East conflict,
Israel and the United States are the only one6 rejecting that path.
(g) The Seminar expressed its appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the
Security Council of the United Nation6 to bring about a just, lasting and
comprehensive settlement of the Arab-ISraeli conflict and in particular, to
facilitate the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle Easi*.
Attention was drawn to the report of tne Secretary-General to the Security Council
(S/19443 of 21 January 1988), as requested by resolution 605 (1987) of
22 December 1987, describiny the existing situat!qn in the occupied territories and
indicating action to be taken by the internation#br community to alleviate the
suffering oE the Palestinian people under occupation and to rectify the causes of
the present situation through a peaceiul negotiated settlement. The Seminar urged
the Committee on the Exercise of the Ir&ienable Right6 of the Palestinian People
to take the necessary steps co facilitate Lre implementation of those actions.
Attention was also drawn tc tba report of the Secrel:ary-General to the General
ASbembly (A/43/272) on tF* drrent situation regarLng the convening of the
lnternational Peace C?nfPrence on the Middle East. In that context, the Seminar
urged the Government6 cP Israel and the United States to reconsider their negative
attitude6 toward6 the convening o % the Conference in conformity with General
Assembly resolution 38158 C.
(h) The Seminar took note with appreciation of the effort6 of the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to secure
universal recognition of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and its
recommendation6 for ensuring the exercise by the Palestinian people of those
rights, The Seminar expressed its satisfaction that the Committee had Organi66d
the Seminar for Europe and the suggestion was made that the Committee should
intensify its effort6 so that the next European Seminar cculd be held in a Weatern
European country. The Seminar also noted with satisfaction the increasad support
aL the United Nation6 for the programme of action undertaken by the Committee. It
urged the international community to sustain and strengthen its support for the
Committee’6 activities and endeavours, i n p a r t i c u l a r i t s e f f o r t 6 for f a c i l i t a t i n g
the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. At the
same time, all countries must act and make their own contribution6 toward6 the
convening of the International Peace Conference.
(i) Although Israel and the United States are not yet convinced of the
usefulness of the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle
East, o v e r a l l i n t e r n a t i o n a l conPition6 f o r a c c o m p l i s h i n g t h a t t a s k a r e n o t
unfavourable. Additir *al effort6 toward6 the political, negotiated settlement of
r e g i o n a l c o n f l i c t a r e e s s e n t i a l . The hope was expressed that the forthcoming
summit meeting of General Secretary Gorbachev and President Reagan would lead to a
healthier international climate and produce tangible progress for a political
solution to the Arab-Israeli confict and its core, the question of Palestine.
-6O(
j) The Seminar condemned the brutal assassination by Israeli special forces
in Tunis of Khalil al-Wasir, tieputy Commander-in-Chief of the Palestinian armed
forces, and the open violation of thb sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Tunisia. In that regard, the Seminar was apprised of the deliberations of the
Security Council and noted with appreciation the adoption of resolution 611 (1988)
of 25 April 1988. The Seminar expressed its condolences to the PLO and the family
of al-Waeir . It was of the view that that outrageous act of State terrorism, which
has been condemned by the international community, would not deter the Palestinian
people from its path to secure and exercise its inalienable rights,
(k) The Seminar expressed its serious concern over the attempts by the United
States Administration to close the Permanent Observer Mission of the PLlJ to the
United Nations in complete disregard of its legal obligations under the
Headquarters Agreement. The position of the General Assembly in its resolution on
that issue was unequivocally supported. The hope was expressed that that dispute
between the United States and the United Nations could be resolved in accordance
with the provision of the Headquarters Agreement and on the basis of the principles
of international law. The Seminar took note of the Advisory Opinion unanimously
adopted by the International Court of Justice which affirmed that the United States
was obliged to enter into the settlement procedure under article 21 of the
Headquarters Agreement. The Seminar expressed the hope that the United States
would act accordingly.
(1) The Seminar recalled with appreciation the support that Governments and
peoples of Europe have extended at the United Nations and in other forums to the
Palestinian cause and for the achievement of a just and lasting peace in the Middle
East. It agreed that efforts should be continued and intensified to mobilize
official and public opinion in Europe, and in particular in Western Europe, as well
as in other regions of the world, especially through the use of the media and
a c t i v i t i e s o f NGOs, The United Nations should undertake additional efforts to
disseminate factual and up-to-date information on the question of Palestine, the
plight of Palestinians under occupation or in exile, and the measures required to
be taken for the achievement of a just solution to the qtlestion of Paleotine on the
basis of the attainment by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights. The
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and
the Division for Palestinian Rights have an important role in the dissemination of
such information. Moreover, the United Nations Department of Public Information
should make every effort to ensure that accurate information on the question of
Palestine received tkr? widest possible dissemination and should ensure adequate
representation of Eut(l]fcran journalists in its annual fact-finding missions to the
Middle East.
(m) The Seminar was apprised of the activities of the European Co-ordinatinq
Committee for Non-Governmental Organisations on the Question of Palestine and
expressed its appreciation for the manifold activities undertaken by that
Committee. Regarding the co-operation of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People with the European Co-ordinating
Committee and European NGOs in general, the following suggestions were made:
(i) To encourage the United Nations to strengthen its co-operation with the
NGO community in all ways possible. In that respect, the decision that
the United Nations is planning to organise regional European NGO sympos!a
annually was noted with appreciation;
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(ii) To encourage visits by representatives of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to national events
organised by various NGOsj
(iii) To foster efforts to produce and update existing factual information
material on the question of Palestine about the various aspects of the
life of the Palestinian people, Its organisations, national identity,
culture, etc.1
(iv) To promote to the extent possible the translation of those publications
in languages other than the official languages of the United Nations1
(v) To facilitate a closer dialogue between NGOs and Governments for exchange
of information and views.
(n) It is important that governmental media and international news ac;encies
should play a more objective role in providing balanced reporting on the Middle
East and, in particular, on the plight of the Palestinian people. The Seminar
emphasised that intergovernmental organisations, institutions such as universities,
colleges, research institutes, peace movements, churches and other religious
establishments, as well as national and international NGOs, have a crucial role to
pley in the formation of public opinion, eupecially in Western Europe, the United
States and Israel. Those institutions should be encouraged to give wider coverage
and objective treatment to the question of Palestine.
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ANNEX V
(New York, 2’1 to 28 June 1988)
1. The lwentieth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine (Fifth North
American Regional Seminar) entitled “The inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people”, was held at United Nations Headquarters, New York, on 27 akd 28 June 1988,
in accordance with the terms of Qeneral Assembly resolution 42166 B of
2 December 1987.
2. Four meetings were held and six panelists presented papers on .uel.ected aspects
of the question of Palestine. In addition, representatives of 40 Qovernments, the
Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), 2 United Nations organsr 6 United Nations
specialised egencies and bodies, 3 intergovernmental organisations, 3 national
liberation movements as well as observers of 9 non-governmental organisations
(NQOs) attended the Seminar.
3. Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier (Malta), Rapporteur of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, was Chairman,
Mr. Albert0 Velasco-San Jose (Cuba) Vice-Chairman, and Mr. Tom Obaleh Kargbo
(Sierra Leone) Rapporteur of the Seminar.
4. The opening session was addressed by the representative of the
Secretary-Qeneral o f t h e United Nat?ons, Mr. Naseem Miria, Chief, Division for
Palestinian Rights and also by Mr, Alexander Borg Olivfer, Chairman of the Seminar.
5. A message was received from Mr. Yasser Arefat, Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the PLO, which was read out by Mr:. Zehdi L. Tersi, Permanent Observer
of that organisation to the United Nations.
6. Other statements were made at the opening session by the following:
Mr. Ahmad P’arouk Arnouss, Rapporteur of the Special Committee on the Situation with
regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Qranting of Independence to
Colonial Countries and Peoplesr H.E. Mr. Jai Pratap Rana, Acting Chairman of he
Special Committee against w;Mr. Samir Mansouri, Deputy Permanent Observer
of the League of Arab States to the United Nations] H.E. Mr, A. Engin Ansay,
Pertrenent Observer of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to the United
Nations; and Mrs. Monica Noshandi, Deputy Permanent Observer of the SOU;.‘~ West
Africa People’s Organisation to the United Nations. At the third meeting, the
Observer of the African National Congress of South Africa, Dr. Ernest Fred Dube,
made a statement.
7. On its own part, the Seminar adopted a message to Mr, Yasser Arafat, Chairman
of the Executive Committee of the PLO.
8, Two pcinels were established. The panels and their panelists were as follows:
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(a) Panel 11 “The uprising in the occupied Palestinian territoriesa the
urgency of convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in
accordance with United Nations Qeneral Assembly resolution 3;3/58 C*‘I
Mr. Ibrahim Abu-Lughod (Palestinian), Mr. William H. Barton (Canada),
Mr, Paul N. McCloskey (United States), Mr, Mattityahu Peled (Israel),
Mr. V. P, Vorobyov (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)t
(b) P a n e l II; “The role of the Palestine Liberation 0rganiaation”r
Mr. Yusif Sayegh (Palestinian).
Owing to circumstances beyond his control, Mr, Yusif Sayegh aould not attend the
Seminar and his paper was read by the Permanent Observer of the PLO to the United
Nations.
9, The expert members of the panels agreed on summaries of the presentations and
the discussions on the two topics. The Seminar decided to include those summaries
in the report, which hes been published as a Special Bulletin of the United Nations
Division for Palestinian Rights.
10. The conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Seminar are as followsr
(a) The Seminar expressed its deep conaern over the present dangerous
situation in the Middle East, The vital interests of all peoples and States of the
region, as well as the interests of international peace and security, could only be
secured through the attainment of a comprehsnsive, just and lasting settlement of
the Arab-Israeli conflict and its core, the question of Palestine, on the basis of
United Nations resolutions and under United Nations auspices.
(b) The Palestinian uprising in the occupied territories now in its seventh
month confirms that the Palestinians are determined to reject and resist Israeli
domination and occupation. Despite Israel’s extremely cruel attempts to suppress
it, including the use of brute force against women and children, it is all too
evident that the Palestinian uprising has been thus far the most successful in
challenging Israel’s oppressive plans and policies and in 8emonstrating anew the
Palestinian people’s strong determination to realise its inalienable national
rights. The Palestinian people is struggling to preserve and protect its identity
and its land and to regain and freely exercise its inalienable national rights to
return, to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent State of
its own in Palestine.
(c) Israel has confiscated Palestinian lands and has been instrumental in
effecting population expulsion to the extent that today less than half of the
5 million Palestinians live in historic Palestine. The varied and harsh
s o c i o - p o l i t i c a l , economic and legal conditions which characterise the Palestinian
existence on their own soil are intended to create an objective condition of
permanent subordination and subjugation to a State that views itself as ths
sovereign State of the Jewish people. Those Israeli policies of occupation,
subjugation, dispossession and expulsion account for the continuing Palestinian
resistance.
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(d) The campaign of civil disobedience by the Palestinians in the occupied
territories, sustained with great fortitude in the face of the use of overwhelming
military force has brought home to Israeli citisens the destructive impact of
continued occupation on their own social values, This, coupled with increasing
awareness of the ultimate futility of attempting to maintain suaerainty over lands
where they are outnumbered demographically, has for the first time raised serious
doubts in the minds of many ordinary Israeli citisens about the wisdom of the
policies of their Government. These doubts are also reflected in important Jewish
communities in Western countries, whose political and financial support is
essential to Israel. Once the inability to resolve the problem by confrontation is
grasped by Israel the road will then be open for a negotiated settlement.
(a) The Seminar affirmed that the denial of the exercise of the inalienable
rights of the Pelestiuian people remained the core of the conflict in the Middle
East and that a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region could not be
achieved without the full exercise of those rights by the Palestinian people,
including the rights to return, to self-determination and to the establishment of a
State of its own in Palestine, and without the withdrawal of Israel from
Palestinian and Arab territories occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem. It further
agreed that the role of the PLO derives from the inalienable right of the
Palestinians to Palestine, their right to identify with it, to live on its soil as
a community and national entity, with its social structure and its eaonomic life.
It derives from the collective will of the Palestinians, both on Palestinian
territory and outside of it, that the PLO is their legitimate and sole
representative.
(f) The besic issues which must be addressed in order to resolve the
Arab-Israeli conflict area (a) Israeli recognition of and respect for the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people which have been hitherto deniedr
(b) Arab acceptance of the State of Israel within internationally recognised
borders) (c) acceptance by Israel of the International Peace Coaferenae on the
Middle East, under the auspices of the United Nations and with the participation of
the five permanent members of the Security Council and all the parties to the
conflict, as the mechanism to achieve a solution to the conflictr and
(d) recognition by Israel and others of the fact that the Palestinian people has
the right to perticipete in the International Peace Conference through the PLO, its
sole and legitimate representative.
(g) The international community is becoming more deeply convinced of the
urgent need to bring about an immediate political settlement of the Arab-Israeli
conflict and its core, the question of Palestine, Tensions that persist could be
further aggravated by the introduction of weapons of mass destruction into the
region. There is growing support for the convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution
38/58 C as the only realistic and reliable means of achieving such 8 settlement.
Resolution 38/58 C reaffirms the rights of the Palestinian people, including the
right to return, the right to self-determination and the right to establish an
independent State in Palestine as well as the right of all States in the region t;o
exist within secure and intornetionally recognised boundaries. That support is
clearly reflected in the position adopted by the PLO, all Arab States, the Movement
of Non-Aligned Countries, the Organisation of African Unity, the Organisation of
the Islamic Conference, the European Community, the Nordic countrJss, as well as by
the USSR, China and other socialist COUntriSS. I t i s encouraginp t h a t a l l o f t h e
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permanent members of the Security Council recoqnime that the situation must not be
allowed to drift any longer.
(h) Although Israel is not yet convinced of the usefulness and the United
States is not yet supportive of the convening of the International Peace Conference
on the Middle East in aooordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, overall
international conditions for aaaomplishing that task are very favourable.
MOmoveI:, it was encouraging that the relations between the United States and the
USSR seem to have improved and the nations of the European Community have
acknowletiged their responsibility to encourage the searah for a solution.
Additional efforts towards the politioal, negotiated settlement of regional
conflict are essential, The hope was expressed that the existing healthier
international climate could produce tangible progress for a political solution to
the Arab-Israeli conflict and its core, the question of Palestine,
(i) The Seminar expressed its appreoiation and support for the efforts
undertaken by the Secretary-Qeneral and the Security Council of the United Nations
to bring about a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli
conflict and in particular, to facilitate the convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East. Attention was drawn to the report of the
Secretary-Seneral to the Security Council (6119443 of 21 January 1988), as
requested by resolution 605 (1987) of 22 December 1987, diescribing the existing
situation ii, the occupied territories anc¶ indicating action, that may include
United Nations presence therein, to be taken by the international community to
alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people under ooaupation and to rectify
the cauaea of the present situation through a peaceful negotiated settlement.
Attention was also drawn to the raqort of the Secretary-Qeneral to the General
Assembly (A/43/272) on the current situation regarding the convening of the
International Peace Conferenae on the Middle East. In that context, the Seminar
urged the Qovernmente of Israel and the Unitecl States to reaoneider their attitut3es
towards the convening of the Conference in conformity with General Assembly
resoluion 38/58 C .
(j) The Seminar took note with appreciation of the efforts of the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to seoure
universal recognition of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and its
recommendations for ensuring the exercise by the Palestinian people of those
rights. The Seminar urged the international oommunity to sustain and strengthen
its support for the Committee’s activities and endeavours, in particular its
efforts for facilitating the convening of the International Peace Conference on the
Micklle East. At the same time, all countries must act and make their own
contributions towards the convening of the International Peace Conference.
(k) The Seminar unanimously stressed the urgency of convening the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 38158 C. The Seminar urged that the Conference be convened
before the end of 1988.
(1) The Seminar viewed the results of the recent Arab Summit held at Algiers
as a significant contribution to achieving a settlement of the Arab-Israeli
conplict and the question of Palestine. The Arab States once more committed
the:sselves to meaningful political and economic support to the Palestinian
uprising. The Seminar welcomed in particular the unequivocal support of the Summit
for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East,
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(m) The Seminar took note with great interest of the statement of 7 June 1988
by Mr, Bassam Abu Sherif, Advisor to Chairman Yasser Arafat on the prospects of a
Palestinian-Israeli settlement.
(n) The Seminar expressed its serious concern over the attempts by the United
States Government to close the Permu..:nt Observer Mission of the PLO to the United
Nations, The position of the General Assembly in its resolutions on that issue was
unequivocally supported. The hope was expressed that that dispute between the
United States and the United Nations aould be resolved in accordance with the
provision of the Headquarters Agreement and on the basis of the principles of
international law. The Seminar ezpreeeed the hope that the United States would act
in conformity with article 21 of the Headquarters Agreement as indicated by the
International Court of Justice in its advisory opinion,
(0) The Seminar agreed that efforts should be continued and intensified to
mobilise official and public opinion in North America especially thro,ugh the use of
the media and activities of national and international NGOs. The United Nations
should undertake additional efforts to disseminate factual and up-to-date
information on the question of Palestine, the plight of Palestinians under
occupation, and the measures required to be taken for the achievement .rf a just
solution to the question of Palestine on the b&eis of the attainment by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights. The Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian
Rights have an important role in the dissemination of such information.
(p) It is important that the media should play a more responsive role in
providing more balanced reporting on the Middle East and, in particular, on the
plight of the Palestinians as well a8 on the efforts to convene the International
Peace Conference on the Middle East. Publia i n s t i t u t i o n s , u n i v e r s i t i e s , c o l l e g e s ,
research institutes, churches and other religious establishments, as well as
national and international NGOs, have a crucial role to play in the formation of
public opinion, particularly in the United States and Canada. Thoso institutions
should be urged to give wider coverage and more balanced treatment to the question
of Palestine.
67-
ANNEX VI
(New York, 29 June-l July 1968)
1. The fifth North American Regional NO0 Symposium on the Question of Palestine
was held from 29 June to 1 July 1986 in accordance with General Assembly resolution
42/66 B of 2 December 1987,
2. The Symposium was attended by representatives of 47 non-governmental
organisations as participants and 34 such organisations as observers from the
United States and Canada. Still other NGOs from tc.veral regions attended the
Symposium as well as a number of governmental and intergovernmental observers.
3. The Symposium received a message from His Excellency Mr. Yasser Arafat,
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
4. His Excellency Mr. Albert0 Velaeco-.Sau Jo& (Cuba) opened the Symposium on
behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People. Me. Jeanne Butterfield, Vice-Chairperson of the North American
Co-ordinatinq Committee for NGOs on tire Question of Palestine (NACC) served as
chairperson of the Symposium, while His Excellency Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier, the
Rapporteur of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalianable Rights of the
Palestinian People, presided over the closing session.
5. Two panels were established. The first considered the topic “The uprising in
the occupied Palestinian territoriesa the urgency of convening the International
Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution
38/58 c . Under that topic the following panelists presented papers8
Me. Hanrrn Mihail-Aehrawi (Dean of the Arts School, Bir Zeit University)t
Ms, Tikvah Parnase-Honig (Committee to Confront the “Iron Fist”); and,
Mr. Mubarak Awad (Director, Palestine Centre for the Study of Non-Violence).
6. The second panel was entitled, “Implications of the United Nations
legislation affecting the promotion in the United States and the United Nations of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People”, Papers on this topic were
presented by the following persons: Ms. Jaanne Butterfield (Palestine .;olidarity
Committee, Vice-Chairperson, NACC)j Mr. Hanna Halaq (Professor, Bir Zelc
University) ; and, Mr. Ramsey Clark (former United States Attorney-General).
7. Ten workshops were set up to consider the following topics, under the general
theme “overcoming obstacles and organizing in North America”:
(a) Congressional and parliamentary;
(b) Breakthrough in the media and beyond;
(c) Forging links between the Palestinian and North American trade union
movements;
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(d) Religioue communitiesa obstacles created by Christian conservative
fundamentalist~z building support for Palestinian rights)
(e) Effects of occupation on Palestinian children)
(f) ‘ducating and mobilising women in solidarity with Palestinian women)
(g) Violations of international and United States laws: attacks on
Palestinians and the PLO in the United Statesr
(h) Understanding American Jewish policy and problems of organising within
the American Jewish community)
(i) The importance of the Israeli/Palestinian issue to the peace and
disarmament movementst
(j) Obstacles and strategies for organising students in support of
Palestinian rights.
8. The Declaration of the 8ympoeium was adopted unanimously and is reproduced
below. The Report has been published as a special bulletin of the Unitod Nations
Division for Palestinian Rights.
9. We, the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) participating in the fifth
United Nations North American Regional NO0 Symposium on the Question of Palestine,
wish to thank the United Nations Committee on the Enerciee of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People for making this Meethg possible, We are !ndeed
honoured by the reception, and the presence of the members and observers of this
distinguished United Nations body.
10. We wish also to thank the Chief of the Division for Palestinian Rights and are
especially grateful for his enthusiastic support throughout our deliberations. We
wish to thank also the Liaison Officer, the staff of the Division and the
Department of Conference Services for their invaluable assistance in the
preparation and execution of this Meeting.
11. We \:ish also to voice our appreciation to the distinguished expert panelists,
workshop organisers, resource persons and facilitators who offered their invaluable
insights into the question of Palestine and the potential central role to be played
by NGOs in North America. The practical suggestions and strategies developed in
the workshops assisted us in formulating future collaborative efforts in North
America and in linking our efforts to a broader global network.
12. We note with satisfaction the record attendance and participation in this
year ’ 6 Symposium, and the commitment to Palestinian rights and a just and lasting
solution that such participation represents.
13. We believe this Meeting contributed to the constructive interaction between
the United Nations and the North American NGO community concerned to promote the
implementation of General Assembly resolution 38158 C of 13 December 1983, a
resolution whose implementation we hold to be indispensable.
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14. We resolutely reaffirm the international consensus that the Palestine
Liberation Organisation (PLO) is the sole and legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people. We affirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to
self-determination without external interference and to establish an independent
Palestinian State on its own national territory under the leadership of the PLO,
and the right of return, in conformity with all relevant United Nations resolutions.
15. We recognise and express our concern for the role that racism, both Be
and de jw, plays in the situation and treatment of Palestinians inside and
outside the 1967 occupied territories. State actions directed against the
Palestinians by the Israeli Government, coupled with the uncritical support by the
United States Administration of these Israeli policies, shows clearly that racism
serves as a buttresc for denial of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
16. We express our admiration for the unity, courage, determination and
self-sacrifice of the Palestinian people in the uprising. We commit ourselves to
provide moral, political arld material support for the m. We req lest that
the United Nations Security Council and the Secretary-General seek to arrange for
an interim international peace-keeping force to replace the Israeli occupying
forces in order to provide protection and ensure respect for the human and
political rights of the Palestinian population of the West Bank and Gala.
17. In doing so, we affirm our support for the goals of the i&i.&&& as
repeatedly stated in leaflets issued by its united national leadership:
(a) Refusal to deal with or give legitimacy to any Israeli-appointed civil
authority (police, revenue service, department of motor vehicles, etc.).
specifically, municipal council and mayors , which have usurped the rights and
responsibilities of an elected national authority. The resignation of such
appointed individuals and bodies is an immediate and unequivocal public demand
(which has been heeded by most appointees so far)t
(b) The rejection of all attempts at creating an “alternative” Palestinian
leadership from the occupied territories and exposing them as attempts at
undermining the unity and legitimate PLO leadership of the Palestinian people
WeryWhereJ
(c) The qualitative transformation of the minto a full-fledged
situation of civil disobedience (more accurately, civil disobedience/rebellion))
(d) Nullification of the emergency laws (Ottoman, British) and an immediate
end to Israeli’s application of them;
(e) The dismantling of Israeli detention camps and centres and the release of
all Palestinian prisoners in addition to the cancellation of the Israeli programme
of intimidation and terror, including the deployment of troops against civilians In
populated areas;
If) The cessation of all Israeli measures aimed at creating new geo-political
and demographic facts in the occupied territories such as the confiscation of land,
the erection of settlements, the expropriation of resources, the deportation of
P a l e s t i n i a n s , and the demolition of houses;
-7o(
g) The demand for the immediate end of the occupation, since Israel has been
proven totally unfit to remain in charge of a civilian population whose human
rights it has constantly violated in direct defiance of the Fourth Qeneva
Conventions
(h) Instituting free elections under the auspices of a neutral international
body whereby the Palestinians in the West Bank and Qasa may elect their own local
c i v i l authorftyl
(i) Requesting internatioaal intervention in the form of an interim neutral
caretak.Frship of the West Bank and Qasa (whether United Nations or EEC or other) to
safeguard Palestinian rights and to prevent Israel from creating further 1Nfacts11
and from altering the demographics in the area!
(j) Urging temporary caretakerchip 80 that the Palestinians in the West Bank
and Gasa can practice their rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of
p o l i t i c a l organisation, and freedom of access to Palestinians everywhere, inaluding
their legitimate PLO leadership, All of this is in preparation for the aonvening
of the United Nations International Peace Conference as called for in Qeneral
Assembly resolution 38158 CJ
(k) The launching of a concerted Palestinian peace offensive clearly
expounding political strategy, objectives, and commitments.
18. The aim of this Meeting was to develop practical strategies and support
projects for concerted action by North American NQOs, Our primary work was
conducted in workshops. We commend their recommendations to all NQOs for their
careful consideration.
19. NGOs attending the present meeting have selected a North Ameriaan
co-ordinating committee, During the coming year, the committee ic charged by this
meeting to co-ordinate the work of the North American NGOe, present in pursuing our
common objectives and strategiee. The NO06 present request a report from the
committee at the 1989 North American symposium in order to evaluate its effort@,
We urge continuing North American NO0 support for the objeatives stated in the
present Declaration.
20. NACC wishes to continue to act as a resource for the United Nations Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the
Division for Palestinian Rights, as requested. NACC requests that the United
Nations countinue its financial support of an NACC preparatory meeting so that NACC
can fulfil its obligations in relation to the 1989 North American NO0 Symposium on
the Question of Palestine.
21. In order to continue collaboration between the United Nations and the North
American ND0 community, we urge both the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian
Rights to send representatives to the major North American NO0 conferences,
22. We urge the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People to convey this Declaration to the Qeneral Assomtly
at its forty-third session as part of the Committee’s report.
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ANNEX VII
(Geneva, 29-30 August 1988)
1. The United Nations European Regional NQO Symposium on the Question of
Palestine, the seaond for the Europsan region, was held under the auspices of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People at
the United Nations Office at Qeneva from 29 to 30 August 1988. The Symposium was
convened in pursuance of Qeneral AssembJ,* resolutions 42166 A and B of
2 Del:emuer 1987.
2. The Symposium was attended by a total number of 159 non-governmental
orqsnisations (NGOs), 93 of whom attended as observers. It was also attended by
several observers f ram QDvernments, intergavernmental organisations and United
Wations bodies.
3. The Committee on the Exeraise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation composed of H.E. Mrs, Absa Claude Diallo
(Senegal), Committee Chairman, H.E. Mr. Shah Mohammad Dost (Afghanistan), Committee
Vice-Chairman, K.E. Mr, Guennadi Oudovenko (Ukrainian SSR), and Mr. Zuhdi L. Terei
(PAlestine Liberation Organisation).
4. The programme for the Symposium was elaborated by the Committee in
consultation with the European Co-ordinating Committee for NGOs on the Questior, of
Palestine. Its main theme was “The Palestinian uprising and the European
commitment to the International Peace Conference”. A panel of the same title was
held and presentation*4 were made by the following experts1 Prof. Ziad Abu-Amr
(Palestinian)J Mr. Robert C3arai (Hungary)r Ms. Luciana Castellina (Italy)) and
Mr. Ernie Ross (United Kingdom).
5. Four workshops were also held on the following topicsr (a) Children under
occupation) (b) Mobilimation for a political solution of the question of Palestine)
(cl Homen for Palestine) (d) Actions to improve the economic and social conditions
of the Palestinian people in the occll,uied territories.
6. The Symposium adopted a final declaration as well as action-oriented proposals
emanating from the workshops. It also elected a new European Co-ordinating
Committee for lGOs on the Question of Palestine to co-ordinate the work of European
NGUs from 1988 to 1990. The report will be published in due course as a Special
Bulletin of the United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights.
7, We, the non-governmental organieations (NGOs) participatiny in the United
Nations Er-3pean Regional NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine, thank the
United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People for convening this meeting and we appreciate the presence of t!le
-72-
members and observers of that body. We thank the Chief of the Division for
Palestinian Rights, the NO0 liaison officers and staff of the Division and the
Department of Conference Services, including the interpreters, for their assistance
in this meeting. We express cur appreciation to the distinguished experts who
spoke hers. We deplore the fact that one distinguished expert was prevented from
attending by the Israeli Government.
8, We salute the brave peoplol of the occupied Palestinian territories for their
courage e endurance and solidar!ty throughout the uyl;isiag and we -note how strongly
they have focused the attention of the entire world on the iajusticee suffered by
all the Palestinian people. The uprising, by rejecting the oacupstion and
affirming the inalienable righte of the Palestinian people, exposes the true nature
of the Israeli occupation. We extend all possible support to them in this historic
procees. We call upon the United Nations to exercise full reeponsibility for tLe
Palestinian question. The United Nation8 should place observer teams in the West
Bank and Gaaa to help protect the people there from continuing human rights
violations.
9. We reaffirm very strongly the urgent need for the International Peace
Conference to be convened, in accordance with General Assembly reeolutions 38158 C
and 41143 D, a8 the only possible means to achieve F just and peaceful settlsment.
10, The historic links between the countries and people8 of Europe and those of
the Middle East, and the fact that Europe is also affected by the lack of peace and
justice in th\I Middle East, gives it a special responsibility and a key role in the
search for a peaceful and just solution of the conflict in the region. Noting
especially the declarations of the European Community (EEC\ of February 1987 and
February 1988 in support of the conveaing of an international conference, we call
upon the Qovernments concerned to act to implement their declarations and to ensure
the convening of the International Conference without delay.
11, We condemn the systematic destruction of the political, eoaial and economic
structure of Palestinian society and the attempt8 by the occupation forces to
eliminate Palestinian society for the future. Even a8 we are meeting, the army of
occupation closed down trade union headquarters and charitable institutions. These
actions are wholly and specifically contrary to articles 47, 49 and 50 of the
Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and they destroy the myth of the democratic nature
of Israel. We call upon all European Government6 to etate categorically that their
bilateral relations with Israel will be affectec¶ by these breaches of the Geneva
Convention which will be reconsidered if these and similar practices are not ended
especially as the signatories of the Geneva Convention are reeponeible for its
impltimentation.
12. We congratulate the members of the European Parliament who have opposed the
ratification of the Israeli trading protocol8 with the EEC and uphold their example
in practical action lx demonstrate disapproval of Israeli action8 which are wholly
i l l e g a l i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w . On the same issue, we condemn the Israeli and
Zionist demand8 addressed to the Soviet Government to establish special direct
flights for emigrants to Israel.
13, We call upon all European Governments which have not yet fully recognised the
PLO to do 80, especially since the international con8ensu8 that the PLO is the
legitimate representative of the Palestinian people is greatly strengthened by ths
-‘I 3 .-
unequivocal support for the PLO by the people of the uprising. Accordingly, we
call for the PLO’s participation in the International Peace Conference on the
Middle East, on an equal footing with all other parties in accordance with Generci
Assembly resolutions 38158 C and 41143 D. We note that the Palestinians have
completed the procees of nation building and are now ready to have their own
nation-State* Accordingly, the Palestinians’ right to self-determination, in
accordance with United Nations principles , must be basic to the deliberation8 of
the Peace Conference.
14. We express our strong support for the foroes of peace in Israel which favour
the principle of a Paleetinian State, We especially express support for those who
refuse military service in occupied Palestinian and other oaaupied Arab territories.
15, We express our great appreoiation of the work of NGOe actively involved in the
Middle East, in blending missions there and in all their other activities, in
support of oppressed people and in working with Palestinian NQOs, We note that NO0
worker8 in thie field are subject to physical danger and kidnchpping, We give them
our strong support.
16. Our primary work in this Symposium was conducted in workshops and we affirm
their conclusions. We congratulate the European Co-ordinating Committee on
organising a highly successful internationdl symposium on 28 August on practical
ways to support the Palestinian trade union movement and we also affirm its
conclusions.
-74-
In-1 NQO Me~&g
(Qeaeva, 31 August-2 September 1988)
1. The Fifth United Nations International NO0 Meeting on the Question of
Palestine was held under the auspices of the Committee on the Eacerciee of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People at the United Nations Offiae at Qeneva
from 31 August to 2 September 1988. The Meeting was convened in pursuanae of
Qeneral Assembly resolution 42166 B of 2 December 1987.
2. The Meeting was attended by a total number of 278 non-governmental
organisations (NOOs), of whom 138 attended as observers, It was also attended by
Mr. Joseph Verner Reed, Under-Searetary-Qeneral for Political and Qeneral Assembly
Affairs and Secretariat Servicea, representative of the Secretary-Qeneral, and by
several observers from Qovernments, intergovernmental organisations, United Nations
bodies and the Palestine Libc*ation Organisation (PLO).
3. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation composed of H.E. MM. Absa Claude Diallo
(Senegal), Committee Chairman, H.E. Mr. Mohammed Dost (Afghanistan), Committee
Vice-Chairman, H.E. Mr. Quennadi Oudovenko (Ukrainian SSR), and
Mr, Zuhdi Lahib Terai (Palestine Liberation Organisations (PLO)).
4 . The programme for the Meeting was elaborated by the Committee on the Exeroise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in consultation with the
International Co-ordinating Committee for NQOs on the Question of Palestine
(ICCP) 8 Its main theme was “The aonsequences of the uprising in the occupied
Palestinian territories and the new urqenay of convening the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East in accordance with United Nations Qeneral Assembly
resolution 38158 C”,
5. A panel of the same tiile was established and presentations were made by the
following eminent personalitiest
H.E. Mr. Apolinar Diaa Callejas (Colombia)j H.E. Mr. Paul Findley (United
States)) H.E. Mr. Rikki Jaipal (India)] H,E, Mr. Qerald Kaufman (United
Kingdom); H.E. Mr. Vladimir Vinogradov (USSR).
6 . The following panelists presented papers on the second panel entitled “The
consequences of occupation - witnesses from the occupied territories - what has
happened” :
Mr. Qhassan Abdelwahab El Khatib (Palestinian)r Mr. Emil Habibi (Israel)]
Ms. Samar Hawash (Palestinian)) Dr. Allam Jarrar (Palestinian)t
Dr. &mane Odeh (Palestinian); Dr. Amnon Zichroni (Israel).
Five workshops were also held on the foliowing topics! (a) Protecting the human
rights and security of the Palestinian people) (b) Mobilizing to meet special
-75-
needs I health, education and wolfare in the ocaupied territories) (c) New
initiatives for mobiliration for a just peace; (d) Meeting the socio-economic
crisis in the occupied territoriesr (e) Supporting women and ahildren. A number of
special interest groups were also orqaniled by the participatinq NQOe.
7 . The Meeting adopted a final declaration as well as action-oriented proposals
emanating from the workshops and special interest groups. !Ihe report will be
.ublished in due course a6 a Speaial Bulletin of the Division for Palestinian
Rights.
8. We, the non-governmental organisations (NQOs) participatinq in the Fifth
United Nations International NQO Meeting on the Ouestioa of Palestine, are
gathering at a time when the Palestinian struggle has entered a decisive stage. We
admire and support the determination of the Palestinian people in the struggle for
independence and the securing of its own State.
9. Last year, the Fourth United Nations International NQO Meeting on the Ouestion
of Palestine expressed ite grave concern that any further delay in aonveninq the
International Peace Conferece on the Middle East, in acaordance with Qeneral
Assembly resolutions 38/58 C and 41143 D, would worsen conflict in the Middle East
and intensify the suffering and oppression to which the Palestinian people were
daily subjected. Noting that the International Conference has still not been
convened in spite of our warning, we now draw attention, with all the power at our
command, to the murderous intensifiaation of the daily and aontinuinq suffering and
oppression of the Palestinian people since December 1987. We vigorously renew our
call for the Conference.
10. We salute the brave people of the occupied territories for their aoutage,
endurance and solidarity throughout the intifaash (uprising) and we note that they
have done more during the months of the intifaaah to focus attention on the
injustices suffered by the Palestinian people than the entire world community had
done in the previous 40 years.
11. We condemn all deportations and all other manifestations of the systematic
destruction of Palestinian society and the attempts by the occupation forces to
eliminate Palestinian society for the future. We condemn all infringemeats of
human rights and international law such as administrative detentions, imprieanmsnt,
arbitrary arrests, collective punishments, and demolition of houses, the closing of
schools and educational institutions, the confiscation of property and the killing
of innocent people. We warn the international community that plans for mass
expulsions and population transfer (expulsions) of Palestinians are being seriously
discussed in Israel. Even as we were assembling, trade union headquarters and
charitable institutions were closed down. All these actions are wholly and
specifically contrary to Articles 47, 49 and 50 of the Fourth Qeneva Convention of
1949. We call upon all Governme.lts to state oateqorically that their bilateral
relations with Israel will be affected by these breaches of the Qeneva Conventlou
and that relations will be reconsidered if these and all breaches of the Geneva
Convention are not ended.
12. In accordance with the suggestions made by the United Nations
Secretary-GenaKal (S/19443) of 21 January 1988, we urge the United Nations, the
five permanent membets of the Security Council and the entire international
7b
community to help to ensure the proteCtiOn of the Palestinian people in the
occupied territorius, This s h o u l d include p h y s i c a l p r o t e c t i o n , l e g a l p r o t e c t i o n ,
general a s s i s t a n c e t o r e s i s t t h e v i o l a t i o n s o f t h e i r r i g h t s and p r o t e c t i o n b y
pub1 ici ty through the international msdi 8. We request the Secretsry-General ta
send a fact-finding mission to the occupied territories to 8~~8~s the needs of the
Palestinians then e.
13. We call upon the United Nations to exercise its full responsibility for the
E’alestine question. The United Nations should place observer teams and/or any
other United Nations body in the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank
and Gaea Strip without delay to holp protect the people thure from continuing human
rights violations and Israeli war crimes, We specifically request the
Secretary-Genurol to establish immediately a special commission to investigate the
repeated occurrence of maltreatment, beatings, toxic gassing, torture and shooting
and killing of Palestinian children by lsraeli troops, prison authorities and
sottlors.
14. We note that the i.ntiErxClah has greatly strengthened the international
consensus in favour of the Peace Conference. Accordingly, we call on all
Governments to support the immediate convening of the Conference under United
Nation8 t3USpiCUS, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 38/58 C and
41/43 D, with the participants including the five permanent members of the Security
Council, the PLO, lsrael, the Arab States party to the conflict, and other
concerned States, on an equal footing and with equal rights. The object must be to
reach a peactiful settlement between the Palestinian State to be established and
Israel as conducive to the overall settlement in the Middle East.
15, Noting that the people of the i&J&&& are not just protesting against
oppression but are calling tar the self-determination, independence and right to
return which is their right in accordance with the fundamental principles of the
Charter of the United Nations, we call on all Government8 to recognise that right
and to uphold it. Recent evunts have created a new situation where there is no
recognised sovereign authority over the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967
except that of the Palestinian people. Therefore, we call for the immediate end of
the occupation, We also call on the United Nat. 118 to assist the Palestinian
people in securing the right to exercise sovereignty there, according to United
Nation8 resolutions.
16. Reaffirming the international consensus that the PLO is the sole and
legitimate representotivo o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people, we note that the consensus is
greatly strengthened by the unequivocal support for the PLO by the people of the
intif.adah and hy t h e u n i t e d n a t i o n a l l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e inf.ti&h, We therefore
call on ;ill Governments Lully to recognize the PLO.
17. We demand immediate Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in accordance
with United Nat.iuns Security Council resolutions 425, 508 and 509. We demand the
ending of the inhumane Israeli air raids and all other attacks on targets in
Lebanon. We cn.l.1 for an end to all attempts to destabiliee Lebanon and for full
r e c o g n i t i o n o f i t s u n i t y , sovereignty and democratic development. We ask ICCP tc
co-ordinate the sending of delegations to Lebanon as a way to protect the
Palestinian population there from the occupying authorities.
18. We condemn t.hc introcluction by Israel of nuclear weapons into the Middle East.
and the threat to rcgionol and world peace which those weapons constitute, We ~1711
-77-
for the implementation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East and for
Israel to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to dismantle its nuclear and
chemical weapons and open its nuclear facilities to international inspection. We
especially deplore the creation of new nuclear threats in the Middle East at a time
when the United States and the Soviet Union have embarked upon reductions in
nuclear weapons. We demand the immediate release of Mordechai Vanunu.
19. We express our strong support for the forces of peace in Israel which favour
the International Peace Conference and the establishment of a Palestinian State.
We strongly condemn the closing down of newspapers and the harassment of
journalists. We express support for those who refuse military service in occupied
Palestinian territories and other occupied territories of Arab countries and we
call upon the Israeli Government to release the imprisoned soldiers, to drop the
investigation by its security services against Yesh Gvul and to recognize the right
of Israelis to conscientious objection. We strongly urge the Israeli Parliament to
rescind the law of August 1986 which prohibits contact between Israeli citizens and
representatives of Palestinian organizations.
20. A major objective of this Meeting was to plan and co-ordinate NGO activities
and much of our work was conducted in workshops and in special interest group
meetings. We affirm their conclusions and suggestions for action. In so doing, we
draw attention to the fact that NGO opinion has been more progressive and creative
than official governmental thinking. We urge all Governments, in the interest of
peace and justice, to consider seriously the options defined by NGOs.
21. It is important that NGO effectiveness be further increased. Accordingly, we
call for NGO liaison offices to be established in every United Nations designated
region and we urge the United Nations to convene an annual NGO regional symposium
in every region. We urge the United Nations to convene an international meeting in
Vienna in the first week of September 1989, the format to be decided, like the
format for this present meeting, in co-operation with ICCP.
22. We call upon all our fellow NGOs to provide every material, medical and other
assistance to the Palestinian people.
23. We affirm the organixation and work of ICCP and its secretariat in Geneva. We
call upon the United Nations to offer every possible assistance to ICCP and its
secretariat.
24. We urge ihe Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People to convey this Declaration to the General Assembly
at its forty-third session as part of the Committee’s report. We urge that the
results of this meeting be disseminated as widely as possible to NGOs unable to
attend, to Governments and the media.
25. We thank the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People for convening this meeting and we appreciate the
presence of the members and observers of that body. We thank the Chief of the
Division for Palestinian Rights, the NGO Liaison Officer and staff of the Division,
and the Department of Conference Services, including the interpreters, for their
assistance in this meeting. We express our appreciation to the distinguished
experts who spoke here.
88-33244 0566-67e (E) -78-
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REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS
OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: FORTY-FOURTH SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/44/35)
UNITED NATIONS
New York, 1990
NOTE
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2036
[ O r i g i n a l : English]
[15 January 1990]
ССЖТЕНТБ
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL v
I. INTRODUCTION 1-8 1
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE 9-11 3
III. ORGANIZATICW OF WORK 12-17 4
A. Election of o f f i c e r s 12-14 4
B. Participation in the work of the Committee 15-16 4
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group 17 4
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE 18-93 5
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 43/175 A of 15 December 1988 18-63 5
1. Review of the s i t u a t i o n r e l a t i n g to the question of
Palestine and e f f o r t s to implement the
recommendations of the Committee 18-31 5
2. Reactions to developments a f f e c t i n g the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people 32-56 9
3. Action taken by the Committee to promote the
convening of the proposed International Peace
Conference on the Middle East i n accordance with
General Assembly resolution 43/176 of
15 December 1988 57 - 61 14
4. Attendance at international conferences and
meetings 62 16
, 5. Action taken by United Nations bodies, the Movement
of Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental
organizations 63 16
B. Action taken by the Committee i n accordance with
General Assembly resolutions 43/175 A and Б of
15 December 1988 64 - 93 18
1. Co-operation with non-governmental organizations .. 64-82 18
CONTENTS ( c o n t i n u e d)
P&r&qretptis Pgqe
2. Seminars 83 - 90 22
3. Other a c t i v i t i e s 91-93 24
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 43/175 С 94 - 109 25
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE 110-118 29
Annexes
I. Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly at
i t s t h i r t y - f i r s t session 33
I I . Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Twenty-first United
Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, Cairo, 18 to
22 December 1988 36
I I I . Declaration adopted by the United Nations African Regional NGO
Symposium on the Question of Palestine, Cairo, 18 to 21 December 1988 42
IV. Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Twenty-second United
Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, New York, 19 and
20 June 1989 45
V. Declaration adopted by the United Nations North American Regional NGO
Symposium on the Question of Palestine, New York, 21 to 23 June 1989 . 52
VI. Declaration adopted by the United Nations European Regional NGO
Symposiiun on the Question of Palestine, Vienna, 28 and 29 August 1989 57
VII. Declaration adopted by the Sixth United Nations International NGO
Meeting on the Question of Palestine, Vienna, 30 August to
1 September 1989 61
- i v -
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
8 November 1989
S i r,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly i n accordance with paragraph 4 of resolution 43/175 A of
15 December 1988.
Accept, S i r , the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Absa Claude DIALLO
Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the P a l e s t i n i a n People
His Excellency
Mr. Javier Peres de Cuellar
Secretary-General of the United Nations
INTRODUCTION
1. The Conunittee on the E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i an
P e o p l e , e s t a b l i s h e d by General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975,
i s c u r r e n t l y composed of 23 Member S t a t e s as f o l l o w s : A f g h a n i s t a n , Cuba, Cyprus,
(German Democratic R e p u b l i c , Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, I n d i a , I n d o n e s i a , Lao People's
Democratic R e p u b l i c , Madagascar, M a l a y s i a , M a l i , M a l t a , N i g e r i a , P a k i s t a n , Romania,
S e n e g a l , S i e r r a Leone, T u n i s i a , Turkey, U k r a i n i a n S o v i e t S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c and
Y u g o s l a v i a.
2. In i t s f i r s t r e p o r t , 1/ the Committee made a number of recommendations
s p e c i f i c a l l y d e s i g n e d to enable the P a l e s t i n i a n people to a t t a i n and e x e r c i s e i ts
i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s i n P a l e s t i n e as p r e v i o u s l y r e c o g n i z e d and d e f i n e d by the Genercl
Assembly. Those recommendations were f i r s t endorsed by the Assembly i n i t s
r e s o l u t i o n 31/20 of 24 November 1976 as a b a s i s for the s o l u t i o n of the q u e s t i o n cf
P a l e s t i n e .
3. In i t s subsequent r e p o r t s to the General Assembly, 2/ the Committee r e a f f i r m ed
i t s o r i g i n a l recommendations and c a l l e d f o r t h e i r i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . On each o c c a s i c r.
they have been endorsed o v e r w h e l m i n g l y by the Assembly, which has a l s o c o n t i n u e d to
renew and, as n e c e s s a r y , expand the mandate of the Committee.
4. However, d e s p i t e the i n c r e a s i n g urgency of the appeals by the Committee and
the grave d e t e r i o r a t i o n of the s i t u a t i o n i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , the
S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l has not yet been a b l e to act on or implement the recommendations
of the Committee. The Committee remains c o n v i n c e d t h a t p o s i t i v e c o n s i d e r a t i o n and
a c t i o n by the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l on these recommendations would advance p r o s p e c t s for
the a t t a i n m e n t of a comprehensive, j u s t and l a s t i n g s o l u t i o n to the A r a b - I s r a e li
c o n f l i c t , the core of which i s the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e.
5. The Committee's e f f o r t s to promote such a s o l u t i o n a c q u i r e d even g r e a t er
urgency in the year under review because of the f u r t h e r e s c a l a t i o n of r e p r e s s i o n by
I s r a e l , the o c c u p y i n g Power, i n i t s e f f o r t s to c r u s h the P a l e s t i n i a n u p r i s i n g , the
i n t i f a d a l ^ , now in i t s second year. Despite the i n t e r n a t i o n a l o u t c r y over grave and
r e p e a t e d v i o l a t i o n s of human r i g h t s i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y and the
a d o p t i o n by the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l of r e s o l u t i o n s r e q u e s t i n g the o c c u p y i n g Power to
a b i d e by i t s o b l i g a t i o n s under i n t e r n a t i o n a l law, I s r a e l has c o n t i n u e d and has
i n c r e a s e d i t s a c t s of r e p r e s s i o n and o p p r e s s i o n w i t h the help of i t s armed f o r c es
and s e t t l e r s a g a i n s t the P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n p o p u l a t i o n r e s i s t i n g the o c c u p a t i o n.
The Committee r e p e a t e d l y expressed i t s most p r o f o u n d concern at the mounting
c a s u a l t i e s and s u f f e r i n g i n f l i c t e d on the P a l e s t i n i a n people, p a r t i c u l a r l y women
nnd c h i l d r e n , and at the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of t e n s i o n and v i o l e n c e in the r e g i o n , and
warned t h a t I s r a e l ' s i n t r a n s i g e n c e would o n l y e x a c e r b a t e the s i t u a t i o n , j e o p a r d i ze
i n t e r n a t i o n a l e f f o r t s to promote a n e g o t i a t i n g p r o c e s s , and f u r t h e r endanger
i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace and s e c u r i t y . The Committee r e a f f i r m e d that no s o l u t i o n could
be a c h i e v e d as long as the P a l e s t i n i a n people was denied the e x e r c i s e of i t s
i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s i n P a l e s t i n e , i n c l u d i n g those to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n without
e x t e r n a l i n t e r f e r e n c e , to n a t i o n a l independence and s o v e r e i g n t y , to r e t u r n to i t s
homes and p r o p e r t y , and to e s t a b l i s h i t s own independent s o v e r e i g n S t a t e , and as
l o n g as I s r a e l c o n t i n u e d to occupy the P a l e s t i n i a n and other Arab t e r r i t o r i e s.
6. The Committee t h e r e f o r e c o n t i n u e d to g i v e the h i g ) i e s t p r i o r i t y to the urgent
need f o r e n s u r i n g the s a f e t y and p r o t e c t i o n of P a l e s t i n i a n s under I s r a e li
occupation and for a l l e v i a t i n g t h e i r s u f f e r i n g , w h i l e f u r t h e r i n t e n s i f y i n g i t s
e f f o r t s to promote a comprehensive, j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t i n accordance with
U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s.
7. The Committee welcomed the h i s t o r i c peace i n i t i a t i v e launched by the P a l e s t i ne
N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l at i t s n i n e t e e n t h e x t r a o r d i n a r y s e s s i o n , h e l d at A l g i e r s in
November 1988, and, i n p a r t i c u l a r , the p r o c l a m a t i o n of the S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e as a
b o l d and s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n towards the achievement of peace i n the Middle
E a s t . The Committee took note w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n of the i n i t i a t i o n of a d i a l o g ue
between the U n i t e d S t a t e s of America and the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i on
(PLO) as a p o s i t i v e measure t h a t c o n t r i b u t e s to r e d r e s s i n g the imbalance between
the p a r t i e s . It e x p r e s s e d the hope t h a t the d i a l o g u e would l e a d to the removal of
o b s t a c l e s to the convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East
and c a l l e d f o r i t s c o n t i n u a t i o n and the expansion of i t s p o l i t i c a l scope. The
Committee c o n s i d e r e d that i t was now incumbent upon the Government of I s r a e l to
respond p o s i t i v e l y to the P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e , which had the overwhelming
s u p p o r t of the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community. The Committee f u l l y s u p p o r t e d the
courageous i n t i f a d a h of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , which c o n f i r m s in no u n c e r t a in
terms the P a l e s t i n i a n d e t e r m i n a t i o n to r e s i s t , r e j e c t and put an end to I s r a e li
occupation of the P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967. The Committee
c o n s i d e r e d that the i n t i f a d a h and the subsequent developments, as w e l l as the
general improvement i n the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c l i m a t e , had c r e a t e d a new momentum
towards a n e g o t i a t e d s e t t l e m e n t and that t h i s h i s t o r i c o p p o r t u n i t y should not be
missed.
8. The Committee a c c o r d i n g l y r e i t e r a t e d i t s a p p e a l s to the S e c u r i t y Council to
take a c t i o n u r g e n t l y i n o r d e r to secure U n i t e d N a t i o n s o b j e c t i v e s on the question
of Palestine, in p a r t i c u l a r through the convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East, in accordance with the principles affirmed by the
General Assembly in i t s resolution 43/176 of 15 December 1988. The Committee
reiterated i t s firm conviction that the Conference provides the only comprehensive,
p r a c t i c a l and overwhelmingly accepted framework for peace and stressed once again
the urgent need for additional concrete and constructive e f f o r t s by a l l concerned
i n order to convene the Conference without further delay.
I I . MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
9. The Committee's mandate f o r t h e y e a r 1989 i s c o n t a i n e d i n p a r a g r a p h s 3 t o 5 of
G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/175 A of 15 December 1988, by w h i c h the Assembly:
(a) Requested the Committee to c o n t i n u e to keep under review the s i t u a t i o n
r e l a t i n g to t h e q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e as w e l l as the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of t he
Programme of A c t i o n f o r t h e Achievement of P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s 1/ and t o r e p o r t and
make s u g g e s t i o n s to t h e G e n e r a l Assembly or the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , as a p p r o p r i a t e.
(b) A u t h o r i z e d the Committee to c o n t i n u e to e x e r t a l l e f f o r t s to promote the
i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of i t s recommendations, i n c l u d i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a t c o n f e r e n c e s and
meetings and the s e n d i n g of d e l e g a t i o n s , to make such adjustments i n i t s approved
programme of seminars and symposia and meetings f o r non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o ns
as i t may c o n s i d e r n e c e s s a r y , and t o r e p o r t thereon to the G e n e r a l Assembly at i t s
f o r t y - f o u r t h s e s s i o n and t h e r e a f t e r .
(c) Requested the Committee to c o n t i n u e to e x t e n d i t s c o - o p e r a t i o n to
non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n towards h e i g h t e n i ng
i n t e r n a t i o n a l awareness of the f a c t s r e l a t i n g to t h e q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e and
c r e a t i n g a more f a v o u r a b l e atmosphere f o r t h e f u l l i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of t he
Committee's recommendations, and t o take the n e c e s s a r y steps to expand i t s c o n t a c ts
w i t h those o r g a n i z a t i o n s.
10. By i t s r e s o l u t i o n 43/175 В of 15 December 1988, t h e G e n e r a l Assembly a l so
r e q u e s t e d the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l , i n t e r a l i a , to p r o v i d e the D i v i s i o n f o r
P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s of the S e c r e t a r i a t w i t h the n e c e s s a r y r e s o u r c e s and t o ensure
t h a t i t c o n t i n u e s to d i s c h a r g e the t a s k s d e t a i l e d i n e a r l i e r r e s o l u t i o n s , i n
c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the Committee and under i t s guidance.
11. By i t s r e s o l u t i o n 43/175 С o f 15 December 1988, the G e n e r a l Assembly requested
the Department o f P u b l i c I n f o r m a t i o n of t h e S e c r e t a r i a t , i n f u l l c o - o p e r a t i o n and
c o - o r d i n a t i o n w i t h the Committee, t o c o n t i n u e i t s s p e c i a l i n f o r m a t i o n programme on
the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , w i t h p a r t i c u l a r emphasis on p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n Europe and
N o r t h America.
I I I . ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A, E l e c t i o n o f o f f i c e r s
12. At i t s 161st meeting, on 26 J a n u a r y 1989, the Committee d e c i d e d t o r e - e l e c t
the f o l l o w i n g o f f i c e r s:
Chairman; H.E. Mrs. Absa Claude D i a l l o (Senegal)
V i c e - c h a i r m e n : H.E. Mr. O s c a r Oramas-Oliva (Cuba)
H.E. Mr. Shah Mohammad Dost ( A f g h a n i s t a n)
R a p p o r t e u r : H.E. Mr. A l e x a n d e r Borg O l i v i e r (Malta)
13. At i t s 165th meeting, on В November 1989, the Committee e l e c t ed
H.E. Mr. Noor Ahmad Noor ( A f g h a n i s t a n ) as V i c e - C h a i r m a n i n p l a c e of
H.E. Mr. Shah Mohammad Dost ( A f g h a n i s t a n ) , who had d e p a r t e d from New York.
14. At i t s 162nd m e e t i n g , on 10 March 1989, the Committee adopted i t s programme o f
work f o r 1989 i n i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of i t s mandate.
B. P a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e work of t h e Committee
15. As i n p r e v i o u s y e a r s , the Committee r e c o n f i r m e d t h a t a l l S t a t e s Members o f the
U n i t e d N a t i o n s and Permanent Observers to t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s d e s i r i n g to p a r t i c i p a t e
i n the work of t h e Committee as o b s e r v e r s were welcome to do so. A c c o r d i n g l y , i n a
l e t t e r dated 10 March 1989, t h e Chairman of the Committee so i n f o r m e d t he
S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l , who s u b s e q u e n t l y t r a n s m i t t e d the l e t t e r , on 29 March 1989, to
S t a t e s Members o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s and members of t h e s p e c i a l i z e d a g e n c i e s , and
t o i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l r e g i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s . The Committee a l s o d e c i d e d t o i n v i t e
P a l e s t i n e , r e p r e s e n t e d by the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n , t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n
the work o f t h e Committee as an o b s e r v e r , to a t t e n d a l l i t s m e e t i n g s and t o make
o b s e r v a t i o n s and p r o p o s a l s f o r the c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e Committee.
16. During 1989, t h e Committee a g a i n welcomed as o b s e r v e r s a l l t h e S t a t e s and
o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h a t had p a r t i c i p a t e d i n i t s work i n t h e p r e c e d i n g y e a r . 1/
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group
17. At i t s 161st meeting, the Committee r e - e s t a b l i s h e d i t s W o r k i n g Group t o a s s i st
i n the p r e p a r a t i o n and e x p e d i t i o n o f the work of t h e Committee. The Working Group
was c o n s t i t u t e d as b e f o r e under the c h a i r m a n s h i p of Mr. Alexander Borg O l i v i er
( M a l t a ) , on the u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t any Committee member or observer could
p a r t i c i p a t e i n i t s p r o c e e d i n g s , i / Mr. Pramathesh Rath (India) was re-elected
V i c e - c h a i r m a n of t h e Working Group. Subsequently, at i t s 165th meeting, the
Committee e l e c t e d Mr. Dinesh Kumar J a i n ( I n d i a ) as Vice-Chairman of the Working
Group i n p l a c e of Mr. Rath, who had d e p a r t e d from New York.
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IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
A. Action taken i n accordance w i t h General Assembly
r e s o l u t i o n 43/175 A of 15 December 1988
1. Review of the s i t u a t i o n r e l a t i n g to the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i ne
and e f f o r t s to implement the recommendations of the Committee
18. In accordance w i t h i t s mandate, i n the past y e a r , the Committee c o n t i n u e d to
keep under review the s i t u a t i o n r e l a t i n g to the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e and to e x e rt
a l l e f f o r t s to promote the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of i t s recommendations as r e p e a t e d ly
endorsed by the General Assembly.
19. In response to urgent developments a f f e c t i n g the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the
P a l e s t i n i a n people, the Chairman of the Committee, on repeated o c c a s i o n s , brought
such developments to the a t t e n t i o n of the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l and the P r e s i d e n t of
the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , u r g i n g the a d o p t i o n of a p p r o p r i a t e measures i n accordance
w i t h U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s (see s e c t . A.2 (a) below).
20. The Committee was alarmed at the f u r t h e r a g g r a v a t i o n of the s i t u a t i o n i n the
o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y as a r e s u l t of the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f e f f o r t s by
I s r a e l to suppress the P a l e s t i n i a n i n t i f a d a h , i n c l u d i n g the i n c r e a s i n g r e s o r t to
armed f o r c e and s e t t l e r v i g i l a n t i s m , and other Draconian measures.
21. The Committee m o n i t o r e d the s i t u a t i o n i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y cn
an ongoing b a s i s through the media, the r e p o r t s of U n i t e d N a t i o n s organs and
a g e n c i e s , as w e l l as i n f o r m a t i o n c o l l e c t e d by non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s,
i n d i v i d u a l e x p e r t s and persons from the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y who p a r t i c i p a t e d in
meetings h e l d under the a u s p i c e s of the Committee, Governments and other s o u r c e s.
22. The Committee noted that the i n t i f a d e h , the u p r i s i n g of the P a l e s t i n i a n people
a g a i n s t m i l i t a r y o c c u p a t i o n and g r a d u a l a n n e x a t i o n by I s r a e l of the P a l e s t i n i an
t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967, had c o n t i n u e d d e s p i t e overwhelming odds s i n ce
9 December 1987. P a l e s t i n i a n s , o f t e n c h i l d r e n and youths, have c o n t i n u e d to
c h a l l e n g e the I s r a e l i occupying f o r c e s w i t h stones, b a r r i c a d e s , burning t y r e s and
o t h e r means. In order to suppress the i n t i f a d a h , the I s r a e l i troops have r e s o r t ed
to e x c e s s i v e and i n d i s c r i m i n a t e use of f o r c e , which was r e p o r t e d to have been
condoned and even encouraged at the h i g h e s t l e v e l of government, w i t h the apparent
i n t e n t to p u n i s h and i n t i m i d a t e the p o p u l a t i o n , r e s u l t i n g i n an e x t e n s i v e and
unprecedented range of human r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n s . Live ammunition, i n c l u d i n g rubber
•Hid p l a s t i c b u l l e t s f i r e d at c l o s e range, was used l i b e r a l l y and i n c r e a s i n g l y , even
i n n o n - l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g s i t u a t i o n s . There was an a p p a r e n t l y d e l i b e r a t e misuse of
t e a r gas, f i r e d , for example, i n t o h o s p i t a l s or homes. Thousands of P a l e s t i n i a ns
were the v i c t i m s of b e a t i n g s , d e l i b e r a t e l y aimed at b r e a k i n g bones, w h i l e i n the
hnnds of the army or s e c u r i t y p e r s o n n e l . As at 15 September 1989, a c c o r d i n g to the
DataBase P r o j e c t on P a l e s t i n i a n Human R i g h t s , a r e s p e c t e d human r i g h ts
o r g a n i z a t i o n , the number of P a l e s t i n i a n s shot to death by the I s r a e l i f o r c e s or
armed s e t t l e r s had reached a t o t a l of 537 i d e n t i f i e d c a s e s . Another
212 P a l e s t i n i a n s had died from b e a t i n g s , s u f f o c a t i o n from t e a r gas, and other
causes r e l a t e d to a c t i o n s by the occupying f o r c e s . The Committee was p a r t i c u l a r ly
alarmed at what appeared to be the d e l i b e r a t e t a r g e t i n g of c h i l d r e n i n such
a t t a c k s , as at l e a s t 20 per cent of the f a t a l i t i e s were c h i l d r e n under 16. That
percentage had i n c r e a s e d to 28 per cent s i n c e March 1989 and 46 per cent d u r i n g the
month of August 1989.
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23. In a d d i t i : , ! ^.o /^LO.SI d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , mass s t r i k e s and t a x b o y c o t t s have been
o r g a n i z e d by P a l e s t i n i a n s i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y , and hundreds o f p o p u l ar
committees have been s e t up w i t h the o b j e c t i v e of c r e a t i n g a l t e r n a t i v e s t r u c t u r es
t o the I s r a e l i C i v i l A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . I n i t i a l l y o r g a n i z e d to p r o v i d e food and
m e d i c a l s u p p l i e s to r e f u g e e camps under curfew, those committees were then r e p o r t ed
t o have grown and t o have expanded t h e i r g o a l s . They became r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the
c o - o r d i n a t i o n of s t r i k e a c t i v i t i e s , a l t e r n a t i v e e d u c a t i o n , h e a l t h needs, guard
d u t i e s and t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of a s u r v i v a l economy c e n t r e d on a r e t u r n to f a m i ly
a g r i c u l t u r e . A number of P a l e s t i n i a n employees of t h e I s r a e l i C i v il
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y p o l i c e o f f i c i a l s , have r e s i g n e d from t h e i r p o s t s.
24. The I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s have r e s o r t e d to i n c r e a s i n g l y h a r s h measures i n t h e i r
attempt t o s u p p r e s s such a c t i v i t i e s . A number of P a l e s t i n i a n newspapers and
i n s t i t u t i o n s were c l o s e d down and the p o p u l a r committees p r o s c r i b e d . Currency
r e s t r i c t i o n s were i n t r o d u c e d to c o n t r o l money g o i n g to f a m i l i e s and i n s t i t u t i o n s i n
the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y . New i d e n t i t y cards were i s s u e d i n t h e Gaza S t r i p to
m o n i t o r the p o p u l a t i o n more c l o s e l y . S i x t y P a l e s t i n i a n s were d e p o r t e d i n v i o l a t i o n
o f the f o u r t h Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e to t h e P r o t e c t i o n of C i v i l i a n Persons i n
Time o f War, o f 12 August 1949, and numerous S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n s.
V i l l a g e s , towns and r e f u g e e camps have been put under p r o l o n g e d curfew, som'«times
f o r a month or more, d u r i n g which time e l e c t r i c i t y , water and t e l e p h o n e s have o f t en
been d i s c o n n e c t e d and f o o d and m e d i c a l s u p p l i e s i n t e r r u p t e d . At l e a s t
100,000 p r o d u c t i v e trees have been uprooted and c r o p s r u i n e d . There was a d r a m a t ic
i n c r e a s e i n t h e number of house d e m o l i t i o n s i n t h e p a s t year, as a form of
punishment of e n t i r e v i l l a g e s f o r s u p p o r t i n g the i n t i f a d a h . At l e a s t
236 P a l e s t i n i a n homes were d e s t r o y e d for " s e c u r i t y " reasons between December 1987
and August 1989, w h i l e another 675 b u i l d i n g s were d e s t r o y e d on t h e p r e t e x t that
t h e y had been b u i l t i l l e g a l l y.
25. The Committee noted t h a t , i n t h e i r e f f o r t s t o s u p p r e s s the P a l e s t i n i a n
l e a d e r s h i p of t h e i n t i f a d a h , the I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s had waged campaigns of mass
a r r e s t s . I t was e s t i m a t e d t h a t , as a t September 1989, more than 40,000
P a l e s t i n i a n s had been i n p r i s o n a t one time or a n o t h e r , of whom o n l y 18,000 had
a c t u a l l y been sentenced. The I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s had a l s o i n c r e a s i n g l y r e l i e d on
the use o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n w i t h o u t charges or t r i a l . I t was r e p o r t ed
t h a t , i n March 1988, the power to i s s u e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n o r d e r s was
extended to a l l o f f i c e r s w i t h the rank of c o l o n e l and above. At t h e same time,
p r e v i o u s l y e x i s t i n g j u d i c i a l s a f e g u a r d s , which gave the d e t a i n e e s a measure of
p r o t e c t i o n , were removed. Lawyers r e p r e s e n t i n g P a l e s t i n i a n d e t a i n e e s have
m a i n t a i n e d t h a t the w i t h h o l d i n g of e v i d e n c e f o r " s e c u r i t y r e a s o n s " and
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e and o t h e r p r a c t i c a l o b s t a c l e s imposed by the I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i es
have made i t n e a r l y i m p o s s i b l e to r e p r e s e n t t h e i r c l i e n t s p r o p e r l y . In A u g u s t , t he
s t a n d a r d p e r i o d of a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n was doubled from s i x months to a year.
I t was r e p o r t e d that a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n was i n c r e a s i n g l y used t o d e t a in
p r i s o n e r s of c o n s c i e n c e . A l l s e c t o r s of P a l e s t i n i a n s o c i e t y were i n c l u d e d , such as
t r a d e u n i o n i s t s , s t u d e n t s , j o u r n a l i s t s , d o c t o r s , lawyers, academics, t e a c h e r s,
members o f v o l u n t a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n s and human r i g h t s w o r k e r s , as w e l l as l a b o u r e rs
and the unemployed. About 13,600 P a l e s t i n i a n s , i n c l u d i n g c h i l d r e n , were r e p o r t ed
t o be i n d e t e n t i o n as a t September 1989, 4,400 of whom were h e l d under h a r sh
c o n d i t i o n s at t h e A n s a r I I I camp i n t h e Negev d e s e r t i n I s r a e l , where they had been
t a k e n i n v i o l a t i o n of t h e p r o v i s i o n s of t h e f o u r t h Geneva C o n v e n t i o n.
26. The Committee was g r a v e l y concerned a t t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of v i o l a t i o n s o f
the P a l e s t i n i a n s ' r i g h t t o e d u c a t i o n d u r i n g the second year of t h e i n t i f a d a h .
-6-
Measures taken by the o c c u p y i n g Power i n c l u d e d the complete c l o s u r e of u n i v e r s i t i es
,uid the long-term and repeated c l o s u r e of s c h o o l s , the p r o h i b i t i o n o f home study
and compensation c l a s s e s i n a l t e r n a t i v e l o c a t i o n s , the use of s c h o o l s as m i l i t a ry
o u t p o s t s , the d e s t r u c t i o n of s c h o o l p r o p e r t y , and m i l i t a r y r a i d s on s c h o o l s and
a l t e r n a t i v e c l a s s e s . A r r e s t s , d e p o r t a t i o n s and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n were used
a g a i n s t f a c u l t y , a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and s t u d e n t s . It was e s t i m a t e d that p r i m a r y and
secondary s c h o o l c h i l d r e n , numbering about 400,000, had been taught s c h o o l for only
about f i v e months a l t o g e t h e r d u r i n g the p e r i o d from the autumn of 1987 to
June 1989. About 100,000 c h i l d r e n between 6,to 8 years of age had been unable to
b e g i n f i r s t grade. About 20,000 u n i v e r s i t y s t u d e n t s had t h e i r e d u c a t i o n completely
i n t e r r u p t e d . The Committee noted w i t h g r e a t concern the assessment by educators
t h a t the i m p o s i t i o n of those r e s t r i c t i o n s p e n a l i z e s present and f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o ns
of P a l e s t i n i a n s and w i l l c r e a t e s e r i o u s d y s f u n c t i o n s i n the e d u c a t i o n a l system that
w i l l be e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t to compensate at a l a t e r stage.
27. The Committee f u r t h e r noted t h a t the h e a l t h s i t u a t i o n i n the occupied
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y had c o n t i n u e d to d e t e r i o r a t e and was a m a t t er of the most
s e r i o u s concern. It was reported t h a t , s i n c e the b e g i n n i n g of the o c c u p a t i o n,
I s r a e l i p o l i c i e s had r e s u l t e d i n a l a c k of b a s i c s a n i t a r y i n f r a s t r u c t u r e and healch
s e r v i c e s . The number of h e a l t h p e r s o n n e l and h o s p i t a l beds, the q u a n t i t y and
q u a l i t y of s e r v i c e s , the m e d i c a l equipment and s u p p l i e s , were i n c r e a s i n g ly
i n s u f f i c i e n t to meet the needs of the P a l e s t i n i a n p o p u l a t i o n . There was no
s t r u c t u r e d h e a l t h system and no long-term h e a l t h p l a n n i n g s p e c i f i c to the occupied
t e r r i t o r y and independent of the I s r a e l i system, which d r a i n e d the r e s o u r c e s of the
o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y w i t h o u t p r o v i d i n g c o r r e s p o n d i n g s e r v i c e s . The e s t i m a t e d 40,000
P a l e s t i n i a n s i n j u r e d d u r i n g the i n t i f a d a h , who were i n need of p h y s i o t h e r a p e u t i c al
r e h a b i l i t a t i o n , had c r e a t e d enormous s t r a i n s on the a l r e a d y inadequate f a c i l i t i e s.
The Committee a l s o noted w i t h g r e a t concern c o n t i n u i n g r e p o r t s that access to
m e d i c a l care, even i n emergency cases, was o f t e n rendered d i f f i c u l t by t r a v el
r e s t r i c t i o n s and curfews imposed by the o c c u p y i n g Power, and that h o s p i t a l s had
been a t t a c k e d and p a t i e n t s a r r e s t e d.
28. The Committee a l s o noted w i t h concern t h a t , i n h i s r e p o r t on the s i t u a t i o n of
workers of the o c c u p i e d Arab t e r r i t o r i e s , based on the r e s u l t s of a f a c t - f i n d i n g
m i s s i o n to the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , the D i r e c t o r - G e n e r a l of the
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Labour O r g a n i z a t i o n (ILO), ^/ had s t a t e d t h a t economic and other
measures taken by the I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s to suppress the i n t i f a d a h had l e d to a
s u b s t a n t i a l d e t e r i o r a t i o n i n the s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e - by
as much as 50 per cent, a c c o r d i n g to some o b s e r v e r s . P a l e s t i n i a n employees and
workers were of the o p i n i o n that any development f o r t h e i r b e n e f i t had been reduced
•^o a minimum i n r e c e n t y e a r s , and that any e f f o r t s t h a t they themselves had
undertaken for genuine development had been slowed or wrecked i n o r d e r to keep the
P a l e s t i n i a n economy as dependent as p o s s i b l e on t h a t of I s r a e l . P a l e s t i n i an
workers c o n t i n u e d to s u f f e r from fundamental i n e q u i t i e s i n t r a i n i n g and employment
o p p o r t u n i t i e s and i n the l e v e l and c o n d i t i o n s of employment and s o c i a l insurance
system, c o n t r i b u t i n g to t h e i r v u l n e r a b i l i t y and dependence. The I s r a e li
a u t h o r i t i e s had a l s o c o n t i n u e d to engage i n grave i n f r i n g e m e n t s of the
P a l e s t i n i a n s ' r i g h t to freedom of a s s o c i a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g r a i d s on and c l o s u r e of
t r a d e union p r e m i s e s , a r r e s t , house a r r e s t , e x p u l s i o n or t h r e a t of e x p u l s i o n,
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n and p h y s i c a l harassment and i n t e r r o g a t i o n o f trade
u n i o n i s t s .
29. Taking i n t o account the c o n t i n u i n g s e r i o u s a g g r a v a t i o n of the s i t u a t i o n i n the
o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y , which a f f e c t e d every aspect of P a l e s t i n i a n l i f e and s o c i e t y.
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the Committee d e p l o r e d that I s r a e l , the o c c u p y i n g Power, had denied e n t r y to the
t e r r i t o r y to a number of U n i t e d N a t i o n s bodies and agencies s e e k i n g to i n v e s t i g a t e
the s i t u a t i o n , i n p a r t i c u l a r , the S p e c i a l Committee to I n v e s t i g a t e I s r a e li
P r a c t i c e s A f f e c t i n g the Human R i g h t s of the P o p u l a t i o n of the Occupied T e r r i t o r i e s,
the Commission on the S t a t u s of Women and the S p e c i a l Committee of E x p e r t s of the
World H e a l t h O r g a n i z a t i o n (WHO). The Rapporteur and e x p e r t m i s s i o n s of the U n i t ed
N a t i o n s E d u c a t i o n a l , S c i e n t i f i c and C u l t u r a l O r g a n i z a t i o n (UNESCO) to i n v e s t i g a t e
the needs of P a l e s t i n i a n e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s had a l s o been unable to v i s i t the
o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . The Committee a s s o c i a t e d i t s e l f w i t h the c a l l made
i n General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/233 of 20 A p r i l 1989 for the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l to
submit p e r i o d i c r e p o r t s on developments i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y.
30. The Committee wishes to draw once again the most urgent a t t e n t i o n of the
G e n e r a l Assembly and the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to the p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s of I s r a e l,
the o c c u p y i n g Power, which are i n f l a g r a n t v i o l a t i o n of the Geneva Convention
r e l a t i v e to the P r o t e c t i o n of C i v i l i a n Persons i n Time of War, of 12 August 1949,
and which p r e v e n t the P a l e s t i n i a n people from a t t a i n i n g i t s i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s , and
thwart i n t e r n a t i o n a l e f f o r t s to b r i n g about a p e a c e f u l s e t t l e m e n t of the q u e s t i on
of P a l e s t i n e , the core of the A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t i n the M i d d l e East. The
Committee r e i t e r a t e s i t s most urgent appeal to the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l and the
i n t e r n a t i o n a l community as a whole to take a l l n e c e s s a r y measures to ensure the
s a f e t y and p r o t e c t i o n o f the P a l e s t i n i a n s i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y , pending the
w i t h d r a w a l of I s r a e l i f o r c e s and the achievement of a s e t t l e m e n t.
31. The Committee f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r e d t h a t , above and beyond p r o t e c t i v e and
emergency r e l i e f measures, the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community must take a l l p o s s i b l e
measures to h a l t the c u r r e n t economic c r i s i s and to develop socio-economic
s t r u c t u r e s t h a t w i l l l e a d to the genuine and autonomous development of the occupied
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . The P a l e s t i n i a n s t r u g g l e f o r independent nationhood
r e q u i r e s , and i s e n t i t l e d t o , the f u l l support and c o n c r e t e a s s i s t a n c e of the
U n i t e d N a t i o n s system, i n accordance w i t h the r e l e v a n t p r o v i s i o n s of the C h a r t e r of
the U n i t e d N a t i o n s and U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s . In t h a t c o n n e c t i o n , the
Committee noted t h a t , i n r e s o l u t i o n 43/178 of 20 December 1988, e n t i t l ed
" A s s i s t a n c e to the P a l e s t i n i a n people", the General Assembly a f f i r m e d t h a t the
P a l e s t i n i a n people cannot develop t h e i r n a t i o n a l economy as long as the I s r a e li
o c c u p a t i o n p e r s i s t s and i t e x p r e s s e d awareness of the i n c r e a s i n g need to p r o v i de
economic and s o c i a l a s s i s t a n c e to the P a l e s t i n i a n people. The r e s o l u t i o n c o n t a i n ed
a mamber of r e q u e s t s f o r a c t i o n by the U n i t e d N a t i o n s system and by Governments and
i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l and non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s . The Committee a l s o noted
w i t h a p p r e c i a t i o n the e f f o r t s of the Economic and S o c i a l C o u n c i l and the r e l e v a nt
U n i t e d N a t i o n s agencies and b o d i e s , as w e l l as the recommendations emanating from
meetings of non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s o r g a n i z e d under i t s a u s p i c e s . The
Committee c a l l e d on a l l c o n c e r n e d to s u s t a i n and i n c r e a s e t h e i r a s s i s t a n c e to the
P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , i n c l o s e c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i on
O r g a n i z a t i o n , as a n e c e s s a r y accompaniment of renewed e f f o r t s to a c h i e v e a
p o l i t i c a l s o l u t i o n to the P a l e s t i n e q u e s t i o n.
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2. Reactions to clevelopments a f f e c t i n g the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h ts
of the P a l e s t i n i a n people
(a) Communications to the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l and the P r e s i d e n t of the S e c u r i ty
C o u h C il
32. In response to the d e t e r i o r a t i n g s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i an
t e r r i t o r y i n t h e c o u r s e of the y e a r under review, the Chairman of the Committee
r e p e a t e d l y drew the most urgent a t t e n t i o n of the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l and o f t he
P r e s i d e n t of the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to developments i n t h e a r e a and, i n p a r t i c u l a r ,
to the e s c a l a t i o n of r e p r e s s i o n by the I s r a e l i m i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t i e s , u r g i n g the
a d o p t i o n of a p p r o p r i a t e measures i n accordance w i t h h u m a n i t a r i a n p r i n c i p l e s and
U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s . The Chairman d e t a i l e d v a r i o u s i n s t a n c e s of k i l l i n g and
maiming of P a l e s t i n i a n s by the I s r a e l i armed f o r c e s and s e t t l e r s , mass a r r e s t s,
house d e m o l i t i o n s and o t h e r forms of c o l l e c t i v e punishment, d e p o r t a t i o n s , and o t h er
grave v i o l a t i o n s of the human and i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n s i n t h e
o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y by I s r a e l , the o c c u p y i n g Power. The Chairman r e p e a t e d l y pointed
out that those p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s were i n c o n t r a v e n t i o n of the f o u r t h Geneva
C o n v e n t i o n , i n t e r n a t i o n a l human r i g h t s i n s t r u m e n t s and U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s,
and posed f u r t h e r o b s t a c l e s to i n t e r n a t i o n a l e f f o r t s t o promote a comprehensive,
j u s t and l a s t i n g s o l u t i o n to the P a l e s t i n e q u e s t i o n . The Chairman r e i t e r a t e d the
Committee's appeals to the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l and t o the P r e s i d e n t of the S e c u r i ty
C o u n c i l to take a l l p o s s i b l e measures f o r e n s u r i n g the s a f e t y and p r o t e c t i o n of t he
P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s under o c c u p a t i o n , and t o i n t e n s i f y a l l e f f o r t s towards the
c o n v e n i n g of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East, i n accordance
w i t h General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176 of 15 December 1988.
33. The l e t t e r s from the Chairman of the Committee were c i r c u l a t e d as o f f i c i a l
documents of the G e n e r a l Assembly, under the agenda item e n t i t l e d "Question of
P a l e s t i n e " , and o f the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , and a r e c o n t a i n e d i n t h e f o l l o w i ng
documents: A/43/946-S/20315; A/43/992-S/20372; A/43/994-S/20424; A/43/999-S/20505;
A/43/1004-S/20563 and C o r r . l ; А/43/1005-S/20952 ; A/43/1008-S/20623 ;
A/43/1009-S/20668 ; A/43/1011-S/20714; A/44/209-S/20564 and A/44/547-S/20860.
(b) A c t i o n taken w i t h i n the S e c u r i t y C o u n c il
34. In a d d i t i o n to t r a n s m i t t i n g l e t t e r s to t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l and the P r e s i d e nt
of the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , the Committee f o l l o w e d c l o s e l y the a c t i v i t i e s of t he
C o u n c i l on m a t t e r s r e l a t i n g to the Committee's mandate, and p a r t i c i p a t e d i n C o u n c il
debates as n e c e s s a r y.
3'"). In a l e t t e r dated 8 F e b r u a r y 1989 (S/20454), the Permanent R e p r e s e n t a t i v e of
T u n i s i a , Chairman of the Arab Group f o r t h e month of F e b r u a r y , r e f e r r i n g t o t he
l e t t e r dated 7 F e b r u a r y 1989 from the Permanent Observer M i s s i o n of P a l e s t i ne
(А/44/117-S/20451), r e q u e s t e d an u r g e n t meeting of the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l i n o r d e r to
c o n s i d e r the s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . The r e q u e s t was
s u p p o r t e d by the Chairman of the Committee on the E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b le
R i g h t s of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n People i n a l e t t e r dated 9 F e b r u a r y 1989 (S/20455), i n
which she a l s o r e i t e r a t e d the Committee's most s e r i o u s concern at the d e t e r i o r a t i o n
of the s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . The S e c u r i t y C o u n c il
c o n s i d e r e d the i t e m at f i v e meetings h e l d between 10 and 17 F e b r u a r y 1989.
36. The Chairman of the Committee i n t e r v e n e d i n t h e debate at the 2845th meeting
of the C o u n c i l (see S/PV.2845), h e l d on 10 F e b r u a r y 1989, and s t a t e d t h a t , since
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the b e g i n n i n g of the i i i t i X a d a h , there hnd beoii at l e a s t 494 f a t a l i t i e s and
thousands i n j u r e d , m o s t l y c h i l d r e n and younq people. T h e s i t u a t i o n demanded an
u r g e n t and a p p r o p r i a t e response from the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community to ensure
c o m p l i a n c e by I s r a e l w i t h i t s o b l i g a t i o n s as an o c c u p y i n g Power. There was a v i t al
need to reach a n e g o t i a t e d , j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t of the M i d d l e East
problem. The Committee i n v i t e d the C o u n c i l to e n t e r i n t o an i n - d e p t h debate on the
b e s t means of t r a n s l a t i n g i n t o c o n c r e t e r e a l i t y the P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e.
The U n i t e d N a t i o n s had an o b l i g a t i o n to ensure the r e a l i z a t i o n of the l e g i t i m a te
a s p i r a t i o n s and i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e . It was also
incumbent upon the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to implement the recommendations of the General
Assembly on the P a l e s t i n e q u e s t i o n that had been adopted by e v e r - i n c r e a s i ng
m a j o r i t i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y those c a l l i n g for an i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace c o n f e r e n c e on the
M i d d l e East,
37. At i t s 2850th m e e t i n g , on 17 February 1989, the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l c o n s i d e r e d a
d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n (S/20463) s u b m i t t e d by A l g e r i a , Colombia, E t h i o p i a , M a l a y s i a,
N e p a l , Senegal and Y u g o s l a v i a . By that d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n , the C o u n c i l would have:
s t r o n g l y d e p l o r e d I s r a e l ' s p e r s i s t e n t p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s a g a i n s t the
P a l e s t i n i a n people i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s , e s p e c i a l l y the
v i o l a t i o n of hximan r i g h t s , and the c o n t i n u i n g d i s r e g a r d by I s r a e l , the occupying
Power, of the r e l e v a n t d e c i s i o n s of the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l ; c o n f i r m e d once more the
a p p l i c a b i l i t y of the f o u r t h Geneva Convention to t h a t t e r r i t o r y ; c a l l e d upon
I s r a e l , the o c c u p y i n g Power, to abide by the r e l e v a n t S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o ns
and to comply w i t h i t s o b l i g a t i o n s under the C o n v e n t i o n ; c a l l e d f o r the e x e r c i s e of
maximum r e s t r a i n t to c o n t r i b u t e towards the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of peace; e x p r e s s e d i t s
d e t e r m i n a t i o n to work towards the achievement, under the a u s p i c e s of the U n i t ed
N a t i o n s , of a comprehensive, j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t of the M i d d l e East
c o n f l i c t , an i n t e g r a l p a r t of which i s the P a l e s t i n i a n problem; r e q u e s t e d the
S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l to f o l l o w the implementation of the r e s o l u t i o n , i n c l u d i n g
examining the s i t u a t i o n i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s by a l l means
a v a i l a b l e to him and to r e p o r t to the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l ; and decided to keep the
s i t u a t i o n under review.
38. At the same m e e t i n g , the d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n was voted upon. The r e s u l t of the
v o t i n g was 14 to 1, w i t h no a b s t e n t i o n s ; the d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n was not adopted,
owing to the n e g a t i v e vote of a permanent member of the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l.
39. In a l e t t e r dated 31 May 1989, addressed to the P r e s i d e n t of the S e c u r i ty
C o u n c i l (S/20662), the Permanent R e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the Sudan to the U n i t e d N a t i o n s,
i n h i s c a p a c i t y as Chairman of the Group of Arab S t a t e s at the U n i t e d N a t i o n s for
the month of May 1989, requested that an urgent meeting of the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l be
convened to d i s c u s s the s i t u a t i o n i n the occupied P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . The
S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l resumed i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n of the item at f i v e meetings, h e ld
between б and 9 June 1989.
40. The Chairman of the Committee i n t e r v e n e d i n the debate at the 2863rd meeting
of the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l (see S/PV.2863) h e l d on 6 June 1989, and s t a t e d t h a t i t was
h i g h time f o r the C o u n c i l , r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the maintenance of i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace,
to i n c r e a s e i t s i n v o l v e m e n t by making a p o s i t i v e c o n t r i b u t i o n to i n t e r n a t i o n a l
e f f o r t s to b r i n g about a j u s t and l a s t i n g peace i n the M i d d l e East. Appropriate
a c t i o n by the C o u n c i l c o u l d do much to r e l i e v e the s u f f e r i n g of P a l e s t i n i a n
c i v i l i a n s , i n c l u d i n g women and c h i l d r e n , as requested by the G e n e r a l Assembly in
i t s r e s o l u t i o n 43/233 and i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the recommendations and o b s e r v a t i o ns
c o n t a i n e d i n the r e p o r t p r e p a r e d by the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l pursuant to S e c u r i ty
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C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n 605 (1987) of 22 December 1987. She c a l l e d on the C o u n c i l to
s u p p o r t the g r o w i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l s o l i d a r i t y i n f a v o u r of t h e r e s t o r a t i o n of t he
i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people and t o a c t on the recommendations of
the G e n e r a l Assembly f o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a j u s t and l a s t i n g peace, i n
p a r t i c u l a r those i n Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176. The P a l e s t i n i a n l e a d e r s have
r e s o l u t e l y adopted a courageous p o l i c y of openness, and have done t h e i r p a r t ; the
i n t e r n a t i o n a l community had the duty to p r e v a i l upon I s r a e l to respond i n a
p o s i t i v e way, f o r no r e p r e s s i o n c o u l d overcome the i n t i f a d a h.
41. At i t s 2864th meeting, on 7 June 1989, t h e C o u n c i l c o n s i d e r e d a d r a ft
r e s o l u t i o n (S/20677) s u b m i t t e d by A l g e r i a , Colombia, E t h i o p i a , M a l a y s i a , N e p a l,
Senegal and Y u g o s l a v i a . By t h a t d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n , the C o u n c i l would have:
s t r o n g l y d e p l o r e d I s r a e l i p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s v i o l a t i n g the human r i g h t s of t he
t ' a l e s t i n i a n people i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y ; c a l l e d upon I s r a e l , as the o c c u p y i ng
P()wer and as a High C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t y to the Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e to t he
P r o t e c t i o n of C i v i l i a n Persons i n Time of War, of 12 August 1949, t o a c c e p t the
de j u r e a p p l i c a b i l i t y of the C o n v e n t i o n to the P a l e s t i n i a n and o t h e r Arab
t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m ; r e c a l l e d the o b l i g a t i o n s of
a l l the H i g h C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s , under a r t i c l e 1 of the C o n v e n t i o n , to ensure
r e s p e c t f o r t h e C o n v e n t i o n i n a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s ; demanded t h a t I s r a e l d e s i st
f o r t h w i t h from d e p o r t i n g P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s from the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y and
ensure the s a f e and immediate r e t u r n of those a l r e a d y d e p o r t e d ; e x p r e s s e d g r e at
c o n c e r n about the p r o l o n g e d c l o s u r e of s c h o o l s i n p a r t s of the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o ry
and c a l l e d upon I s r a e l to p e r m i t the immediate reopening of those s c h o o l s;
r e q u e s t e d the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l to c o n t i n u e to m o n i t o r the s i t u a t i o n i n t h e
o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y by a l l means a v a i l a b l e to him, and t o make t i m e ly
r e p o r t s to t h e C o u n c i l , the f i r s t such r e p o r t t o be s u b m i t t e d no l a t e r than
23 June 1989; and d e c i d e d to keep the s i t u a t i o n i n t h e P a l e s t i n i a n and o t h e r Arab
t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d by I s r a e l s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , under review.
42. At i t s 2867th meeting, the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l proceeded to v o t e on the d r a f t
r e s o l u t i o n (S/20677). The r e s u l t of the v o t i n g was 14 t o 1, w i t h no a b s t e n t i o n s .
I t was not adopted, owing to the n e g a t i v e vote of a permanent member of t he
S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l.
43. In a l e t t e r dated 30 June 1989, a d d r e s s e d to the P r e s i d e n t o f t h e S e c u r i ty
C o u n c i l (S/20709), the Permanent R e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e S y r i a n Arab R e p u b l i c t o t h e
U n i t e d N a t i o n s , i n h i s c a p a c i t y as Chairman of t h e Group of Arab S t a t e s a t t he
U n i t e d N a t i o n s f o r t h e month of June 1989, r e q u e s t e d the c o n v e n i n g of an immediate
meeting of the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to c o n s i d e r the s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i ed
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , i n p a r t i c u l a r the d e p o r t a t i o n o f P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s from
the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y.
44. At i t s 2870th meeting, held on 6 J u l y 1989, t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l had b e f o r e i t
^\ d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n (S/20710) s u b m i t t e d by A l g e r i a , Colombia, E t h i o p i a , M a l a y s i a,
N e p a l , Senegal and Y u g o s l a v i a . The d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n was adopted by 14 v o t e s to
none, w i t h 1 a b s t e n t i o n , as S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n 636 (1989) of 6 J u l y 1989.
Ry t h a t r e s o l u t i o n , the C o u n c i l d e e p l y r e g r e t t e d the c o n t i n u i n g d e p o r t a t i o n by
I s r a e l , the o c c u p y i n g Power, of P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s ; c a l l e d upon I s r a e l to ensure
the s a f e and immediate r e t u r n to the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s of those
d e p o r t e d and t o d e s i s t f o r t h w i t h from d e p o r t i n g any o t h e r P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s;
r e a f f i r m e d t h a t the Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e to the P r o t e c t i o n of C i v i l i a n
Persons i n Time of War, of 12 August 1949, was a p p l i c a b l e to t h e P a l e s t i n i a n
t e r r i t o r i e s , o c c u p i e d by I s r a e l s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , and t o t h e o t h er
o c c u p i e d Arab t e r r i t o r i e s ; and d e c i d e d to keep the s i t u a t i o n under review.
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45. In a l e t t e r dated 29 August 1989 addressed to the P r e s i d e n t of the S e c u r i ty
C o u n c i l (S/20817), the Charge d ' a f f a i r e s a . i . of the Permanent M i s s i o n of Qatar to
the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , on b e h a l f of the Group of Arab S t a t e s , r e q u e s t e d the convening
o f an urgent meeting of the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l i n o r d e r to c o n s i d e r the s i t u a t i o n in
the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , and i n p a r t i c u l a r the d e p o r t a t i o n of
P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s from the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y.
46. The S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l met on 30 August 1989, at i t s 2883rd meeting, and had
b e f o r e i t a d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n (S/20820) s u b m i t t e d by A l g e r i a , Colombia, E t h i o p i a,
M a l a y s i a , N e p a l , Senegal and Y u g o s l a v i a . The d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n was adopted by 14
v o t e s , w i t h 1 a b s t e n t i o n , as S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n 641 (1989) of
30 August 1989. By t h a t r e s o l u t i o n , the C o u n c i l d e p l o r e d the c o n t i n u e d d e p o r t a t i on
by I s r a e l , the o c c u p y i n g Power, of P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s ; c a l l e d upon I s r a e l to
ensure the safe and immediate r e t u r n to the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s of
those deported and to d e s i s t f u r t h e r from d e p o r t i n g any other P a l e s t i n i an
c i v i l i a n s ; r e a f f i r m e d t h a t the Geneva Convention r e l a t i v e to the P r o t e c t i o n of
C i v i l i a n Persons i n Time of War, of 12 August 1949, i s a p p l i c a b l e to the
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s , o c c u p i e d by I s r a e l s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , and to
the o t h e r o c c u p i e d Arab t e r r i t o r i e s ; and d e c i d e d to keep the s i t u a t i o n under review.
47. In a l e t t e r dated 3 November 1989, addressed to the P r e s i d e n t of the S e c u r i ty
C o u n c i l (S/20942), the Permanent R e p r e s e n t a t i v e of Kuwait to the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , in
h i s c a p a c i t y as Chairman of the Group of Arab S t a t e s f o r the month of
November 1989, requested an immediate meeting of the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l i n order to
c o n s i d e r the c u r r e n t s i t u a t i o n i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . The S e c u r i ty
C o u n c i l resumed i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n of the item at t h r e e meetings h e l d on 6 and
7 November 1989.
48. The Chairman of the Committee i n t e r v e n e d i n the debate at the 2888th meeting
(see S/PV.2888), on 6 November 1989, and s t a t e d t h a t , d e s p i t e repeated i n d i g n a nt
p r o t e s t s by the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community and the t i r e l e s s e f f o r t s of the U n i t ed
N a t i o n s and i t s S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l , the human r i g h t s s i t u a t i o n of the c i v i l i an
p o p u l a t i o n i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s had been s t e a d i ly
d e t e r i o r a t i n g . The Committee's concern was a l l the more acute s i n c e the S e c u r i ty
C o u n c i l had s t i l l not succeeded i n a g r e e i n g to measures to guarantee the s e c u r i ty
of the P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s , i n p a r t i c u l a r women and c h i l d r e n . The Chairman
a p p e a l e d to the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to become more i n v o l v e d i n the q u e s t i o n of
P a l e s t i n e and to i n i t i a t e and oversee the peace p r o c e s s i n the r e g i o n , and in
p a r t i c u l a r to work r e s o l u t e l y w i t h the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l to o r g a n i z e the
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East i n accordance w i t h General
Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176. The U n i t e d N a t i o n s had more than ever b e f o r e the duty
and the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y to promote the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of peace and c o e x i s t e n ce
between the P a l e s t i n i a n and I s r a e l i peoples.
49. At i t s 2889th meeting, on 7 November 1989, the C o u n c i l c o n s i d e r e d a d r a ft
r e s o l u t i o n (S/20945/Rev.1) s u b m i t t e d by A l g e r i a , Colombia, E t h i o p i a , M a l a y s i a,
N e p a l , Senegal and Y u g o s l a v i a . By t h a t d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n , the C o u n c i l would have:
s t r o n g l y d e p l o r e d those p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s of I s r a e l , the o c c u p y i n g Power,
which v i o l a t e d the human r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people, i n p a r t i c u l a r the siege
of towns, the r a n s a c k i n g of homes, and i l l e g a l and a r b i t r a r y c o n f i s c a t i o n of
p r o p e r t y and v a l u a b l e s ; c a l l e d upon I s r a e l to d e s i s t from such p r a c t i c e s and
a c t i o n s , to l i f t i t s s i e g e and to r e t u r n the c o n f i s c a t e d p r o p e r t y ; r e a f f i r m e d the
a p p l i c a b i l i t y of the f o u r t h Geneva C o n v e n t i o n to the P a l e s t i n i a n and other Arab
t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d by I s r a e l s i n c e 1967, and c a l l e d on I s r a e l , the occupying
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Power, t o a b i d e by t h a t C o n v e n t i o n ; c a l l e d upon a l l H i g h C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s to
t h a t C o n v e n t i o n to e n s u r e r e s p e c t f o r i t , i n c l u d i n g the o b l i g a t i o n of t h e occupying
Power t o t r e a t the p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y humanely a t a l l t i m e s and
i n a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s ; and r e q u e s t e d the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l t o c o n d u c t o n - s i te
m o n i t o r i n g o f t h e p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n i n the P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n ce
1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , by a l l means a v a i l a b l e t o him, and t o s u b m i t p e r i o d i c
r e p o r t s t h e r e o n , the f i r s t such r e p o r t as soon as p o s s i b l e .
50. At t h e same meeting, the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l proceeded to v o t e on the d r a ft
r e s o l u t i o n (S/20945/Rev.1). The r e s u l t of t h e v o t i n g was 14 t o 1, w i t h no
a b s t e n t i o n s . The d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n was n o t adopted, owing t o t h e n e g a t i v e vote of a
permanent member o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l.
{с) A c t i o n taken w i t h i n the General Assembly
51. In i t s r e s o l u t i o n s 43/48 of 30 November 1988 and 43/49 o f 2 December 1988, the
G e n e r a l Assembly c o n s i d e r e d the d e c i s i o n o f t h e host c o u n t r y t o deny an e n t r y v i sa
to the Chairman o f the E x e c u t i v e Committee of t h e P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i on
O r g a n i z a t i o n , and d e c i d e d to c o n s i d e r the agenda item e n t i t l e d " Q u e s t i o n of
P a l e s t i n e " i n p l e n a r y meetings a t t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s O f f i c e a t Geneva from 13 to
15 December 1988. At i t s 78th p l e n a r y meeting, the Assembly heard a h i s t o r i c
statement by the Chairman of the E x e c u t i v e Committee of t h e P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i on
O r g a n i z a t i o n . The Committee endorsed the P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e c o n t a i n e d i n
t h a t statement.
52. At i t s 82nd p l e n a r y meeting, on 15 December 1988, the General Assembly adopted
f i v e r e s o l u t i o n s on the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e . By r e s o l u t i o n s 43/175 A, В and C,
the Assembly renewed the r e s p e c t i v e mandates o f t h e Committee, the D i v i s i o n f or
P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s and t h e Department of P u b l i c I n f o r m a t i o n (see paras. 9-11
above). By i t s r e s o l u t i o n 43/176, the Assembly o u t l i n e d p r i n c i p l e s f o r the
achievement of a comprehensive peace through the convening of t h e I n t e r n a t i o n al
Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East (see para. 57 b e l o w ) . By i t s r e s o l u t i on
43/177, the Assembly acknowledged the p r o c l a m a t i o n of the S t a t e o f P a l e s t i n e by the
P a l e s t i n e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l on 15 November 1988; a f f i r m e d the need t o e n a b l e the
P a l e s t i n i a n people to e x e r c i s e t h e i r s o v e r e i g n t y over t h e i r t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i ed
s i n c e 1967; and d e c i d e d t h a t the d e s i g n a t i o n " P a l e s t i n e " should be used i n p l a c e o f
the d e s i g n a t i o n " P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n " i n the U n i t e d N a t i o n s system,
w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e t o t h e observer s t a t u s and f u n c t i o n s o f t h e PLO w i t h i n the U n i t ed
N a t i o n s system, i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h r e l e v a n t U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s and p r a c t i c e.
On 14 December 1988, the Government of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s announced i t s
d e c i s i o n to open a s u b s t a n t i v e d i a l o g u e w i t h the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i on
O i g a n i z a t i o n . That p o s i t i v e development was welcomed by a l l S t a t e s p a r t i c i p a t i ng
i n the p l e n a r y meetings of the General Assembly h e l d a t Geneva.
54. The G e n e r a l Assembly s u b s e q u e n t l y decided t o r e t a i n the item on t h e agenda of
i t s f o r t y - t h i r d s e s s i o n (General Assembly d e c i s i o n 43/459 o f 22 December 1988).
The General Assembly resumed i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e item, e n t i t l e d "Question of
P a l e s t i n e " , on 18 A p r i l 1989, at t h e request of t h e Permanent R e p r e s e n t a t i v e of
Saudi A r a b i a i n h i s c a p a c i t y as Chairman o f t h e Arab Group a t t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s,
c o n t a i n e d i n a l e t t e r dated 17 A p r i l 1989 (A/43/1007), and i n accordance w i th
G e n e r a l Assembly d e c i s i o n 43/459, by w h i c h the Assembly r e t a i n e d t h a t item on the
agenda o f i t s f o r t y - t h i r d s e s s i o n . The Assembly c o n s i d e r e d the item a t t h r ee
m e e t i n g s , h e l d on 18 and 19 A p r i l 1989.
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55. The Chairman of the Committee i n t e r v e n e d i n the debate of the G e n e r a l Assembly
a t i t s 92nd p l e n a r y m e e t i n g , on 18 A p r i l 1909 (see A/43/PV.92) and s t r e s s e d t h at
the s i t u a t i o n i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y had c o n t i n u e d to worsen owing
t o I s r a e l ' s i n t r a n s i g e n c e . The Chairman r e p o r t e d to the Assembly on v a r i o us
i n s t a n c e s of k i l l i n g s and d e s t r u c t i o n t h a t had taken p l a c e s i n c e the b e g i n n i n g of
1989 and t h a t had been d e t a i l e d i n l e t t e r s w r i t t e n on b e h a l f of the Committee. The
Committee s t r o n g l y p r o t e s t e d the f u r t h e r e s c a l a t i o n of r e p r e s s i o n i n r e c e n t days
and the growing r o l e of armed I s r a e l i s e t t l e r s , and wished to appeal to the
i n t e r n a t i o n a l community to redouble i t s e f f o r t s to ensure the p r o t e c t i o n of
P a l e s t i n i a n s , the w i t h d r a w a l of I s r a e l from the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , and
the convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East in
accordance w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176.
56. On 20 A p r i l 1989, at i t s 94th p l e n a r y meeting, the G e n e r a l Assembly adopted
r e s o l u t i o n 43/233 by a v o t e of 129 to 2, w i t h 1 a b s t e n t i o n . By t h a t r e s o l u t i o n,
the Assembly condemned those p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s of I s r a e l , the o c c u p y i n g Power,
which v i o l a t e the human r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y;
demanded t h a t I s r a e l abide s c r u p u l o u s l y by the Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e to the
P r o t e c t i o n of C i v i l i a n Persons i n Time of War, of 12 August 1949; requested the
S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to c o n s i d e r w i t h urgency the s i t u a t i o n i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i an
t e r r i t o r y w i t h a view to c o n s i d e r i n g measures needed to p r o v i d e i n t e r n a t i o n al
p r o t e c t i o n f o r the P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s i n the P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d by
I s r a e l s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m ; s t r e s s e d the urgent need to e x p e d i t e the
c o n v e n i n g of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e E a s t , under the
a u s p i c e s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s and i n accordance w i t h the p r o v i s i o n s of Assembly
r e s o l u t i o n 43/176 of 15 December 1988; and requested the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l to
submit p e r i o d i c r e p o r t s on developments i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y.
3. A c t i o n t a k e n by the Committee to promote the convening of the
p r o p o s e d I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East i n
accordance w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176 of
15 December 1988
57. By i t s r e s o l u t i o n 43/176, the General Assembly a f f i r m e d the urgent need to
a c h i e v e a j u s t and comprehensive s e t t l e m e n t of the A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t , the core
of which i s the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , c a l l e d f o r the convening of the
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e E a s t , under the a u s p i c e s of the U n i t ed
N a t i o n s , w i t h the p a r t i c i p a t i o n of a l l p a r t i e s to the c o n f l i c t , i n c l u d i n g the
P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n , on an equal f o o t i n g , and the f i v e permanent
members of the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , based on S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n s 242 (1967)
of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and the l e g i t i m a t e n a t i o n al
r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people, p r i m a r i l y the r i g h t to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , and
a f f i r m e d the f o l l o w i n g p r i n c i p l e s f o r the achievement of comprehensive peace: the
w i t h d r a w a l of I s r a e l from the P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i ng
J e r u s a l e m , and from the o t h e r o c c u p i e d Arab t e r r i t o r i e s ; g u a r a n t e e i n g arrangements
f o r s e c u r i t y of a l l S t a t e s i n the r e g i o n , i n c l u d i n g those named i n r e s o l u t i on
181 ( I I ) o f 29 November 1947, w i t h i n secure and i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y r e c o g n i z ed
b o u n d a r i e s ; r e s o l v i n g the problem of P a l e s t i n e refugees i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h Assembly
r e s o l u t i o n 194 ( I I I ) o f 11 December 1948, and subsequent r e l e v a n t r e s o l u t i o n s;
d i s m a n t l i n g the I s r a e l i s e t t l e m e n t s i n the t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967; and
g u a r a n t e e i n g freedom of access to Holy P l a c e s , r e l i g i o u s b u i l d i n g s and s i t e s . The
Assembly a l s o noted the e x p r e s s e d d e s i r e and endeavours to p l a c e the P a l e s t i n i an
t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , under the s u p e r v i s i o n of the
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U i i i L o d N a t i o n s for n l i m i t e d p e r i o d , as p a r t of the peace p r o c e s s ; r e q u e s t e d the
S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to c o n s i d e r measures needed to convene the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace
C o n f e r e n c e on the M i d d l e East, i n c l u d i n g the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a p r e p a r a t o ry
committee, and t o c o n s i d e r guarantees f o r s e c u r i t y measures agreed upon by the
Conference f o r a l l S t a t e s i n the r e g i o n ; and r e q u e s t e d the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l to
c o n t i n u e h i s e f f o r t s w i t h the p a r t i e s concerned, and i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the
S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , to f a c i l i t a t e the c o n v e n i n g of the C o n f e r e n c e , and t o submit
p r o g r e s s r e p o r t s on developments i n t h i s matter.
50. In the l i g h t of t h a t r e s o l u t i o n , the Committee once a g a i n , i n a d o p t i n g i t s
programme of work, d e c i d e d t h a t , i n i t s a c t i v i t i e s d u r i n g 1989, i t would c o n t i n u e,
as a m a t t e r of the utmost p r i o r i t y , to e x e r t a l l e f f o r t s to promote the e a r ly
c o n v e n i n g of the proposed I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East. It
a l s o d e c i d e d to c o n t i n u e to g i v e the h i g l i e s t p r i o r i t y to the need f o r e n s u r i n g the
s a f e t y and p r o t e c t i o n of P a l e s t i n i a n s under I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i th
the p r o v i s i o n s of the Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e to the P r o t e c t i o n o f C i v i l i a n
Persons i n Time of War, of 12 August 1949.
59. The Committee was g r e a t l y s t r e n g t h e n e d i n i t s r e s o l v e by the overwhelming
consensus i n f a v o u r of a comprehensive n e g o t i a t e d s e t t l e m e n t through the convening
of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference op the M i d d l e East and by the i n t e n s i f i c a t i ' :n
of e f f o r t s among the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community as a whole aimed a t m e e t i n g the needs
of the P a l e s t i n i a n people under o c c u p a t i o n , as r e f l e c t e d i n p a r t i c u l a r by the
recommendations adopted by the r e g i o n a l seminars and by symposia and meetings of
non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s on the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e o r g a n i z e d under i t s
a u s p i c e s (see s e c t . IV.В below).
60. The Committee noted that the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l , i n h i s r e p o r t on the work of
the O r g a n i z a t i o n , 7/ s t a t e d t h a t hopes f o r e a r l y p r o g r e s s i n t h e peace p r o c e s s had
s a d l y g i v e n way to m i s t r u s t and doubt among the p a r t i e s concerned. B i l a t e r al
e f f o r t s to promote a d i a l o g u e between I s r a e l i s and P a l e s t i n i a n s had been
u n s u c c e s s f u l . The S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l ' s c o n s t a n t attempts to pave the way t o an
e f f e c t i v e n e g o t i a t i n g p r o c e s s , i n c l u d i n g c o n t a c t s w i t h the p a r t i e s concerned and
the permanent members of the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , had a l s o proved i n c o n c l u s i v e . In
l i g h t of the p e r s i s t e n c e of w i d e s p r e a d v i o l a t i o n s of human r i g h t s i n t h e o c c u p i ed
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s , the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l reminded a l l c o n c e r n e d of t h e urgent
need f o r an e f f e c t i v e n e g o t i a t i n g p r o c e s s based on S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n s
242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and t a k i n g f u l l y i n t o account the l e g i t i m a t e r i g h t s of
the P a l e s t i n i a n people, i n c l u d i n g t h a t of s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n .
f i ] . The Committee was of the view t h a t the c o n t i n u a t i o n o f the i n t i f adah and the
i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of r e p r e s s i v e measures by I s r a e l , the o c c u p y i n g Power, had c r e a t ed
a c r i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n that made i t i m p e r a t i v e to advance towards a comprehensive,
j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t of the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , the c o r e of t he
A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t i n t h e M i d d l e East. At the same time, events d u r i n g the year
had a l s o brought about a new i n t e r n a t i o n a l momentum towards a n e g o t i a t e d s e t t l e m e nt
under the a u s p i c e s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s . The Committee a c c o r d i n g l y c o n t i n u e d to
s t r e s s the u r g e n t need f o r t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l and t h e p a r t i e s d i r e c t l y concerned
to s e i z e t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o t a k e p o s i t i v e a c t i o n towards the c o n v e n i n g of t he
C o n f e r e n c e.
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4. Attendance at i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e s and ni(^e_ting_s
62. In accordance w i t h the Committee's mandate, i t was r e p r e s e n t e d a t the
f o l l o w i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e s and meetings d u r i n g the p e r i o d s i n c e i t s
p r e v i o u s r e p o r t to the G e n e r a l Assembly:
(a) S p e c i a l meetings of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s C o u n c i l f o r N a m i b i a to commemorate
the Week of S o l i d a r i t y w i t h the people of Namibia and t h e i r l i b e r a t i o n movement,
the South West A f r i c a People's O r g a n i z a t i o n (SWAPO), h e l d i n New York on
27 October 1988;
(b) E i g h t e e n t h I s l a m i c Conference of F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r s , h e l d at Riyadh from
13 to 16 March 1989;
(c) M i n i s t e r i a l M e e t i n g of the C o - o r d i n a t i n g Bureau of the Movement of
N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s , h e l d at Harare from 17 to 19 May 1989;
(d) F i f t i e t h o r d i n a r y s e s s i o n of the C o u n c i l of M i n i s t e r s , h e l d at Addis
Ababa from 17 to 22 J u l y 1989, and t w e n t y - f i f t h o r d i n a r y s e s s i o n of the Assembly of
Heads of S t a t e and Government of the O r g a n i z a t i o n of A f r i c a n U n i t y , h e l d at A d d is
Ababa from 24 to 26 J u l y 1989;
(e) I n t e r n a t i o n a l non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n c o n f e r e n c e on "Non-alignment
i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s " , sponsored by the I n d i a n I n s t i t u t e f o r N o n - A l i g n ed
S t u d i e s , New D e l h i , and h e l d from 28 to 30 J u l y 1989;
( f ) Solemn m e e t i n g of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s C o u n c i l f o r N a m i b i a i n commemoration
o f Namibia Day, New York, 25 August 1989;
(g) I n t e r n a t i o n a l symposium on the r o l e of f o r e i g n a s s i s t a n c e i n m e e t i n g the
economic and s o c i a l development requirements of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e : from
o c c u p a t i o n to independence, sponsored by the I n t e r n a t i o n a l and the European
C o - o r d i n a t i n g Committees f o r non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s on the q u e s t i o n of
P a l e s t i n e and the S o c i e t y f o r A u s t r o - A r a b R e l a t i o n s , and h e l d at V i e n n a on
27 August 1989;
(h) N i n t h Conference of Heads of S t a t e or Government of the Movement of
N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s , h e l d at B e l g r a d e from 4 to 7 September 1989.
5. A c t i o n taken by U n i t e d N a t i o n s b o d i e s , the Movement of
N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s and i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t al
o r g a n i z a t i o ns
63. The Committee c o n t i n u e d t o f o l l o w w i t h g r e a t i n t e r e s t the a c t i v i t i e s r e l a t i ng
t o the q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e of the Movement of N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s , U n i t ed
N a t i o n s bodies and i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s . The Committee e s p e c i a l l y noted
the growing concern at a l l l e v e l s of the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community about the
d e t e r i o r a t i o n of the s i t u a t i o n i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s and i n the
r e g i o n as a whole, owing to the p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s of I s r a e l , and the
i n c r e a s i n g sense of urgency w i t h which the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community addressed the
need to ensure the s a f e t y and p r o t e c t i o n of the P a l e s t i n i a n people under
o c c u p a t i o n , and to advance towards a comprehensive, j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t of
the q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e . The Committee welcomed the growing sentiment and
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mnmeiitum i n f a v o u r of the convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the
M i d d l e East i n accordance w i t h General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176. The Committee
noted i n p a r t i c u l a r the following documents:
(a) Resolutions adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union at the Conference
held at Sofia from 19 to 24 September 1988 (A/43/759, annex);
(b) Communiqué on the s i t u a t i o n in the Palestinian t e r r i t o r i e s occupied by
I s r a e l , issued on 26 October 1988 in New York by the Co-ordinating Bureau of the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries (A/43/781-S/20258, annex);
(c) Declaration made on 21 November 1988 by the Twelve States members of the
European Community on the decisions of the Palestinian National Council
(A/43/853-S/20287, annex);
(d) Communiqué of the Non-Aligned Committee of Nine on Palestine, issued at
Geneva on 14 December 1988 (A/43/950, annex);
(e) Statement on the s i t u a t i o n in the Middle East made at Athens on
16 December 1988 by the Twelve States members of the European Community
(A/43/987-S/20343, annex);
(f) Final communiqué of the ninth session of the Supreme Council of the
Co-operation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, held at Manama from 19 to
22 December 1988 (A/44/84-S/20407, annex I );
(g) Final communiqué issued by the Special Arab M i n i s t e r i a l Committee to
Support the Intifadah, meeting at Tunis on 12 January 1989 (A/44/83-S/20406, annex);
(h) Resolutions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at i t s f o r t y - f i f th
session, held at Geneva from 30 January to 10 March 1989 (resolutions 1989/2 A
and В and 1989/19); fi/
( i ) Resolution 43/XII/89 adopted by the Union of African Parliaments at i t s
Twelfth General Assembly, held at Yaounde on 2 and 3 March 1989;
(j) Communiqué on the question of Palestine, issued i n New York on
15 March 1989 by the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries
(A/43/1000-S/20533, annex);
(k) Final communiqué of the Eighteenth Islamic Conference of Foreign
Ministers (Session of Islamic Fraternity and S o l i d a r i t y ) , held at Riyadh, from
13 to 16 March 1989 (A/44/235-S/20600, annex);
(1) Resolution adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union at the Conference
held at Budapest from 10 to 18 March 1989 (A/44/240 and C o r r . l , annex);
(m) Final documents of the M i n i s t e r i a l Meeting of the Co-ordinating Bureau of
the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Harare from 17 to 19 May 1989
(A/44/409-S/20743 and C o r r . l and 2, annex);
(n) Resolutions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at i t s f i r s t and
second regular sessions (resolutions 1989/34 of 24 May 1989, 1989/86 and 1989/96 of
26 July 1989);
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(о) statement i s s u e d on 31 May 1989 in M a d r i d by the Twelve S t a t e s members of
the European Community on the c l o s i n g of the s c h o o l s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s R e l i ef
and Works Agency f o r P a l e s t i n e Refugees i n the Near East i n the West Bank
(A/44/299-S/20667, annex);
(p) D e c l a r a t i o n on the M i d d l e East adopted by the Heads of S t a t e or
Government of the Twelve S t a t e s members of the European Community at the European
C o u n c i l h e l d i n M a d r i d on 26 and 27 June 1989 (A/44/354-S/20703, annex);
(q) J o i n t communiqué of the Twenty-second M i n i s t e r i a l M e e t i n g of the
A s s o c i a t i o n of South-East A s i a n N a t i o n s , h e l d at Bandar S e r i Begawan, on 3 and
4 J u l y 1989 (A/44/415-S/20749, annex);
( r ) Communiqué of the M e e t i n g of the P o l i t i c a l C o n s u l t a t i v e Committee of the
S t a t e s P a r t i e s to the Warsaw T r e a t y , h e l d at B u c h a r e s t on 7 and 8 J u l y 1989
(A/44/386, annex I ) ;
( s ) R e s o l u t i o n adopted by the C o u n c i l of M i n i s t e r s of the O r g a n i z a t i o n of
A f r i c a n U n i t y at i t s f i f t i e t h o r d i n a r y s e s s i o n , h e l d at Addis Ababa from 17 to
22 J u l y 1989 (A/44/бОЗ, annex I, r e s o l u t i o n CM/Res.l212 (L));
( t ) D e c l a r a t i o n of the N i n t h Conference of Heads of S t a t e or Government of
t h e Movement of N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s , h e l d at B e l g r a d e , from 4 to 7 September 1989
(A/44/551-S/20870, annex).
B. Action takgn by thg Committgg i n accordançg w i t h Ceneral
Assembly r e s o l u t i o n s 43/175 A and В of 15 December 1988
1. C o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o ns
64. During the p e r i o d under review the Committee, i n accordance w i t h i t s mandate
under r e s o l u t i o n 43/175 A, c o n t i n u e d to extend i t s c o - o p e r a t i o n to non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n to h e i g h t e n i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l awareness of the
f a c t s r e l a t i n g to the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e and i n c r e a t i n g a more f a v o u r a b le
atmosphere f o r the f u l l i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of the Committee's recommendations, and
c o n t i n u e d to take the n e c e s s a r y steps to expand i t s c o n t a c t s w i t h those
o r g a n i z a t i o n s.
65. In accordance w i t h i t s mandate under G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/175 B, the
D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s , i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the Committee and under i t s
g u i d a n c e , o r g a n i z e d the f o l l o w i n g a c t i v i t i e s for non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o ns
d u r i n g 1988 in i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of those o b j e c t i v e s : r e g i o n a l symposia f or
non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n A f r i c a (combined w i t h the r e g i o n a l seminar).
N o r t h America and Europe; an i n t e r n a t i o n a l m e e t i n g of non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s ; and two p r e p a r a t o r y meetings, f o r the N o r t h American symposium and
the i n t e r n a t i o n a l m e e t i n g , r e s p e c t i v e l y . The non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o ns
symposium f o r the A s i a n r e g i o n w i l l be h e l d at M a l a y s i a from 18 to
22 December 1989. The non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s symposium f o r the L a t in
American and Caribbean r e g i o n , o r i g i n a l l y s c h e d u l e d to be h e l d at Buenos A i r e s from
31 J u l y to 4 August 1989, has been postponed, i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the Government
o f A r g e n t i n a.
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66. In accordance w i t h i t s d e c i s i o n to c o n t i n u e to g i v e utmost p r i o r i t y to e f f o r ts
to promote the e a r l y convening of the proposed I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on
the M i d d l e E a s t , i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176, the
Committee d e c i d e d t h a t non-governmental symposia and meetings s h o u l d c o n t i n u e to
emphasize the importance of convening the Conference and s t r u c t u r e d the programmes
f o r those a c t i v i t i e s a c c o r d i n g l y . In the l i g h t of the e x t r e m e l y grave s i t u a t i o n in
the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y and the new s i t u a t i o n c r e a t e d by the i n t i f a d ah
and the p r o c l a m a t i o n of the independent S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e , and subsequent
developments, the Committee d e c i d e d to i n c l u d e c o n s i d e r a t i o n of those t o p i c s i n the
programmes of the meetings f o r non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s.
67. The Committee was g r e a t l y encouraged by the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of a c t i v i t i e s and
programmes of the non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g the sending of
f a r t - f i n d i n g m i s s i o n s to the area, i n t e n s i f i e d e f f o r t s to promote g r e a t er
u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the i s s u e and support f o r the convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace
Conference on the M i d d l e East, as w e l l as r e l i e f e f f o r t s to a s s i s t P a l e s t i n i a n s in
the u p r i s i n g . The Committee noted w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n the c o n t i n u i n g and growing
i n v o l v e m e n t of I s r a e l i o r g a n i z a t i o n s and Jewish o r g a n i z a t i o n s in N o r t h America and
Western Europe i n these e f f o r t s.
(a) A f r i c a n R e g i o n a l NGO Symposium
68. The A f r i c a n R e g i o n a l NGO Symposium was held at C a i r o from 18 to
21 December 1988 together w i t h the A f r i c a n R e g i o n a l Seminar (see below,
p a r a s . 86-88). The non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n (NGO) Symposium c o n s i d e r e d the
t o p i c s of t h r e e panels j o i n t l y w i t h the seminar. Two workshops s p e c i f i c a l ly
r e l a t e d to non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s were e s t a b l i s h e d for
non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n p a r t i c i p a n t s to c o n s i d e r non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n m o b i l i z a t i o n and a c t i o n i n A f r i c a on the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e.
69. The Committee noted that the Symposium adopted a d e c l a r a t i o n e x p r e s s i n g f u ll
s u p p o r t f o r the P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e and the p r o c l a m a t i o n of the State of
P a l e s t i n e and c a l l i n g upon a l l Governments to r e c o g n i z e t h a t S t a t e and on a l l
governmental and non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s to extend c o n c r e t e a s s i s t a n ce
towards i t s e s t a b l i s h m e n t . The d e c l a r a t i o n a l s o c a l l e d f o r the prompt convening of
the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East under U n i t e d N a t i o ns
a u s p i c e s , i n accordance w i t h General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176, and e x p r e s s e d the
commitment of non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s to arouse i n t e r n a t i o n a l p u b l i c o p i n i on
i n favour of that o b j e c t i v e . The d e c l a r a t i o n f u r t h e r c a l l e d f o r the p l a c i n g of the
o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y under U n i t e d N a t i o n s s u p e r v i s i o n for a l i m i t ed
p e r i o d as an e s s e n t i a l p a r t of the peace process and for the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of
U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s for the a t t a i n m e n t of the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the
P a l e s t i n i a n people. (For the f u l l t e x t of the d e c l a r a t i o n , see annex I I I to the
p r e s e n t r e p o r t .)
(b) North American R e g i o n a l NGO Symposium and P r e p a r a t o r y Meeting
70. The P r e p a r a t o r y M e e t i n g f o r the Nort h American R e g i o n a l NGO Symposium was held
at U n i t e d N a t i o n s Headquarters on 13 and 14 February 1989 and was attended by the
members of the N o r t h American C o - o r d i n a t i n g Committee f o r Non-Governmental
O r g a n i z a t i o n s on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e and by a d e l e g a t i o n of the Committee.
The meeting e l a b o r a t e d the v a r i o u s aspects of the programme f o r the Symposium to be
h e l d i n 1989 and the m o d a l i t i e s for expanding the network of non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s a c t i v e on the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e i n N o r t h America.
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71. The North American R e g i o n a l NGO S-^Tnposiiim was held at U n i t e d N a t i o ns
H e a d q u a r t e r s from 21 to 23 June 1989, immediately f o l l o w i n g the N o r t h American
R e g i o n a l Seminar, w i t h which i t was combined i n the i n t e r e s t of economy and in
accordance w i t h the p r a c t i c e f o l l o w e d i n p r e v i o u s years (see p a r a s . 89 and 90
b e l o w ) . The Symposium was attended by r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f 73 non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s as p a r t i c i p a n t s , and 33 non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s as o b s e r v e rs
from the U n i t e d S t a t e s and Canada, by a d e l e g a t i o n o f the Committee, and by a
number of o b s e r v e r s from Governments, i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s . U n i t e d
N a t i o n s bodies and n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n movements.
72. Two main p a n e l s were e s t a b l i s h e d : I. The i n t i f a d a h : c r e a t i n g a new context
f o r peace; and I I . Convening the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference i n accordance w i th
U n i t e d N a t i o n s General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176: I m p l i c a t i o n s f o r I s r a e l and the
U n i t e d S t a t e s of the P r o c l a m a t i o n of the S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e , the P a l e s t i n i a n peace
i n i t i a t i v e and the i n t i f a d a h . The programme f o r the Symposium a l s o i n c l u d e d e i g ht
a c t i o n - o r i e n t e d workshops.
73. The Committee noted t h a t the Symposium adopted a d e c l a r a t i o n welcoming the
P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e as a c o n c r e t e c o n t r i b u t i o n to the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a
j u s t and l a s t i n g peace i n the r e g i o n and c a l l i n g upon the Governments of the U n i t ed
S t a t e s and I s r a e l to accept t h a t i n i t i a t i v e by s u p p o r t i n g the immediate convening
o f the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East i n accordance w i t h General
Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176. The d e c l a r a t i o n f u r t h e r c a l l e d f o r immediate measures
by the U n i t e d N a t i o n s system and o t h e r s i n o r d e r to ensure the p r o t e c t i o n of
P a l e s t i n i a n s i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y . The Committee a l s o noted t h a t , through
t h e i r d i s c u s s i o n s i n the d i f f e r e n t a c t i o n - o r i e n t e d workshops, the non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s had f u r t h e r developed p r a c t i c a l o r g a n i z i n g s t r a t e g i e s and support
p r o j e c t s f o r c o n c e r t e d a c t i o n by N o r t h American non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s .
(For the t e x t of the d e c l a r a t i o n , see annex V to the p r e s e n t r e p o r t .)
(c) European R e g i o n a l NGO Symposium
74. The European R e g i o n a l NGO Symposium was h e l d at V i e n n a on 28 and
29 August 1989, immediately p r e c e d i n g the i n t e r n a t i o n a l non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s meeting, w i t h w h i c h i t was combined i n the i n t e r e s t of economy and
e f f i c i e n c y (see p a r a s . 80 and 82 below). In t h a t c o n n e c t i o n , the Committee
e x p r e s s e d i t s a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r the d e c i s i o n of the Government of Austria to provide
the f a c i l i t i e s of the A u s t r i a n C e n t r e f r e e of charge f o r both meetings.
75. The programme f o r the Symposium was e l a b o r a t e d by the members of the European
C o - o r d i n a t i n g Committee f o r NGOs on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e i n c o n s u l t a t i o n with
the Committee d e l e g a t i o n a t t e n d i n g the P r e p a r a t o r y M e e t i n g f o r the i n t e r n a t i o n al
non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n m e e t i n g h e l d at V i e n n a on 20 and 21 March 1989.
76. The Symposium was attended by r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f 82 non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s as p a r t i c i p a n t s and 132 non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s as observers,
as w e l l as by a d e l e g a t i o n o f the Committee and governmental and i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t al
o b s e r v e r s . U n i t e d N a t i o n s bodies and n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n movements.
77. The Symposium c o n s i d e r e d the t o p i c s of two p a n e l s : I. "The dynamics of the
i n t i f a d a h and consequences f o r NGO a c t i v i t i e s " and I I . "The I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace
Conference on the M i d d l e East and the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of P a l e s t i n i an
s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n : the r o l e of Europe". The programme f o r the Symposium also
i n c l u d e d f i v e a c t i o n - o r i e n t e d vrorkshops.
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78. The Committee noted t h a t the Symposium adopted a d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t welcomed t he
P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e and the o p e n i n g of a d i a l o g u e between the U n i t ed
S t a t e s and the PLO, and s t r e s s e d the i m p o r t a n c e of c o n v e n i n g the I n t e r n a t i o n al
Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h General Assembly r e s o l u t i on
43/176. The d e c l a r a t i o n c a l l e d f o r a g r e a t e r c o n t r i b u t i o n by European Governments
to the peace p r o c e s s , i n c l u d i n g r e c o g n i t i o n of the P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e . It r e j e c t ed
the plan f o r e l e c t i o n s i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y proposed by t he
Government of I s r a e l as a cover f o r t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n of o c c u p a t i o n and r e p r e s s i o n,
and expressed concern over human r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n s by the o c c u p y i n g Power. It
c a l l e d upon European Governments to take e f f e c t i v e measures to ensure r e s p e c t by
I s r a e l of the f o u r t h Geneva C o n v e n t i o n , and c a l l e d upon the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to
take urgent measures, i n c l u d i n g deployment of a U n i t e d N a t i o n s peace-keeping f o r c e,
to ensure the p r o t e c t i o n and s e c u r i t y of P a l e s t i n i a n s under o c c u p a t i o n . The
d e c l a r a t i o n a l s o c a l l e d upon U n i t e d N a t i o n s agencies to i n t e n s i f y t h e i r e f f o r t s to
address the e d u c a t i o n a l , medical and g e n e r a l socio-economic needs of t he
P a l e s t i n i a n people. (For t h e t e x t of the d e c l a r a t i o n , see annex VI t o t h e p r e s e nt
r e p o r t .)
(d) I n t e r n a t i o n a l Meeting of Non-Governmental O r g a n i z a t i o n s and P r e p a r a t o r y Meeting
79. The P r e p a r a t o r y Meeting f o r t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Meeting of Non-Governmental
O r g a n i z a t i o n s was h e l d at V i e n n a on 20 and 21 March 1988 and was a t t e n d e d by
members of the i n t e r n a t i o n a l and European c o - o r d i n a t i n g committees f o r
non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s on the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , as w e l l as a number of
non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n o b s e r v e r s from o t h e r r e g i o n s . The P r e p a r a t o ry
M e e t i n g e l a b o r a t e d the d e t a i l s of the programmes f o r t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Meeting of
Non-Governmental O r g a n i z a t i o n s and the European NGO Symposium, to be h e l d i n 1989,
and d i s c u s s e d f u t u r e c o - o p e r a t i o n and a c t i o n by non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s at
the i n t e r n a t i o n a l and European l e v e l s.
80. The I n t e r n a t i o n a l Meeting of Non-Governmental O r g a n i z a t i o n s was h e l d at V i e n na
from 30 August to 1 September 1989 and was a t t e n d e d by r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s from 213
non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s as p a r t i c i p a n t s and 138 non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s as o b s e r v e r s from a l l r e g i o n s , i n c l u d i n g s e v e r a l from I s r a e l and t he
o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s . The Committee was p l e a s e d t h a t a number of
prominent p o l i t i c a l p e r s o n a l i t i e s had a c c e p t e d i t s i n v i t a t i o n to a t t e n d and address
the meeting.
81. The m e e t i n g had as a main theme " I n t i f a d a h : the c o n t i n u i n g s t r u g g l e of t he
P a l e s t i n i a n People f o r independence". The f o l l o w i n g panel was e s t a b l i s h e d : "Two
p e o p l e s , two S t a t e s : future r e l a t i o n s " . Six a c t i o n - o r i e n t e d workshops and a
number of s p e c i a l - i n t e r e s t groups a l s o met w i t h i n the framework of the m e e t i n g.
П2. The Committee noted that the m e e t i n g adopted a d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t e x p r e s s e d f u ll
s u p p o r t f o r t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p r o c l a m a t i o n of independence and t h a t c a l l e d on a l l
(Governments to r e c o g n i z e the independent S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e and t h e PLO as the s o le
l e g i t i m a t e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the p e o p l e and S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e . The d e c l a r a t i on
f u r t h e r c a l l e d f o r t h e e a r l y convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on t he
M i d d l e E a s t , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176, and r e j e c t ed
the e l e c t i o n p l a n put f o r w a r d by the Government of I s r a e l , as d e s i g n e d to p r e v e nt
independence and t o l e a d to the a n n e x a t i o n of the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y . The
d e c l a r a t i o n a l s o expressed concern at the i n c r e a s i n g human r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n s i n t h e
o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y and c a l l e d f o r e f f e c t i v e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o l i t i c a l and economic
p r e s s u r e on I s r a e l , as w e l l as f o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a U n i t e d N a t i o n s presence.
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i n ordei- to ensure cc^nrp 1 i a n c e w i t l i the f o u r t h Geneva C o n v e n t i o n . It a l s o c a l l ed
f o r comprehensive involvement by the U n i t e d N a t i o n s system i n the h e a l t h and
s o c i o - e c o n o m i c f i e l d s , i n c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h the PLO and P a l e s t i n i an
non-governmental o r g a n i s a t i o n s , in o r d e r to meet the growing emergency and
development needs of the P a l e s t i n i a n people. (For the t e x t of the d e c l a r a t i o n , see
annex V I I to the p r e s e n t r e p o r t .)
2. Seminars
83. During the p e r i o d under review, the D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s c o n t i n u ed
to o r g a n i z e seminars i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the Committee and under i t s g u i d a n c e , in
accordance w i t h i t s mandate under G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 34/65 D and
subsequent r e s o l u t i o n s . The regions covered d u r i n g the r e p o r t i n g p e r i o d were
A f r i c a and North America. The Committee e x p r e s s e d a p p r e c i a t i o n to the Governments
o f M a l a y s i a and A r g e n t i n a f o r a g r e e i n g to p r o v i d e the venue f o r the A s i a n Seminar
and NGO Symposium and the L a t i n American and Caribbean Seminar and NGO Symposium,
r e s p e c t i v e l y . Those meetings c o u l d not be held w i t h i n the r e p o r t i n g p e r i o d for
reasons beyond the Committee's c o n t r o l . The Asian R e g i o n a l Seminar and NGO
Symposium i s s c h e d u l e d to take p l a c e at Kuala Lumpur from 18 to 22 December 1989.
The L a t i n American and Caribbean R e g i o n a l Seminar and NGO Symposium, o r i g i n a l ly
s c h e d u l e d to take p l a c e i n Buenos A i r e s from 31 J u l y to 4 August 1989, was
postponed, i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the Government of A r g e n t i n a.
84. The Committee d e c i d e d t h a t the r e g i o n a l seminars would emphasize the urgency
o f convening the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e E a s t ; the i n t i f a d ah
i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y and i t s impact on the achievement of a
comprehensive s e t t l e m e n t of the M i d d l e East c o n f l i c t ; the r o l e of the P a l e s t i ne
L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n i n the s o c i a l , c u l t u r a l , economic and p o l i t i c a l development
of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e ; and the m o b i l i z a t i o n of p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n the region
concerned f o r the r e a l i z a t i o n of the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people.
85. The Committee was p l e a s e d by the p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n the seminars of prominent
p o l i t i c a l p e r s o n a l i t i e s , p a r l i a m e n t a r i a n s and p o l i c y - m a k e r s , as w e l l as persons
from the academic community and other e x p e r t s , as t h i s showed the growing concern
o f the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community at a l l l e v e l s over the s i t u a t i o n i n the o c c u p i ed
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , and the Committee's d e t e r m i n a t i o n to promote p r o g r e ss
towards a s o l u t i o n of the P a l e s t i n e q u e s t i o n.
(a) A f r i c a n R e g i o n a l Seminar, C a i r o , 18 to 22 December 1988
86. The Committee g r e a t l y a p p r e c i a t e d the o f f e r of the Government of Egypt to
p r o v i d e a venue f o r the A f r i c a n R e g i o n a l Seminar (the T w e n t y - f i r s t U n i t e d N a t i o ns
Seminar on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e ) , which was held j o i n t l y w i t h the A f r i c a n NGO
Symposium.
87. The seminar e s t a b l i s h e d the t o p i c s of t h r e e p a n e l s : Panel I. "The u p r i s i ng
i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s : the urgency of convening the
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East i n accordance w i t h U n i t e d N a t i o ns
G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n s " ; Panel I I . "The r o l e of the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i on
O r g a n i z a t i o n ; and Panel I I I . "The m o b i l i z a t i o n of A f r i c a n p u b l i c o p i n i o n for the
r e a l i z a t i o n of the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people".
-22-
ня. The Committee noted t h a t the seminar adopted c o n c l u s i o n s and recommendations
i n wliich p a r t i c i p a n t s expressed t h e i r c o n v i c t i o n t h a t r e c e n t developments r e g a r d i ng
the A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t and i t s c o r e , the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , had c r e a t e d a
new momentum f o r b r i n g i n g about a s o l u t i o n on the b a s i s of r e s o l u t i o n s of the
U n i t e d N a t i o n s and w i t h i n i t s framework. The seminar welcomed the P a l e s t i n i an
peace i n i t i a t i v e and the p r o c l a m a t i o n of an independent P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e as a
p o s i t i v e c o n t r i b u t i o n towards a p e a c e f u l s e t t l e m e n t of the c o n f l i c t i n the r e g i o -.
The d e c i s i o n of the Government of the U n i t e d S t a t e s of America to i n i t i a t e a
d i a l o g u e w i t h the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n was a l s o welcomed as a p o s i t ; - 'r
development. I s r a e l was c a l l e d upon to respond p o s i t i v e l y to the stand taken by
t l i e PLO and to r e c o g n i z e the n a t i o n a l a s p i r a t i o n s o f the P a l e s t i n i a n s i n the
o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . The p a r t i c i p a n t s of the Seminar f u r t h e r expresss^^^
f u l l support f o r the p r i n c i p l e s c o n t a i n e d i n G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176
a b a s i s f o r the achievement of a comprehensive peace. They urged that every
a s s i s t a n c e should be p r o v i d e d by the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community to the P a l e s t i n i an
people i n i t s endeavours to end the o c c u p a t i o n and to set up the i n f r a s t r u c t u r e '^jr
an independent and s o v e r e i g n P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e . Pending the a t t a i n m e n t of a
s e t t l e m e n t , the Seminar appealed to the U n i t e d N a t i o n s to take urgent measures tp
r o t e c t the P a l e s t i n i a n s under o c c u p a t i o n . (For the t e x t of the c o n c l u s i o n s and
recommendations, see annex I I to the p r e s e n t r e p o r t .)
(b) North American R e g i o n a l Seminar, New York, 19 and 20 June 1989
89. The North American R e g i o n a l Seminar (the Twenty-second U n i t e d N a t i o n s Seminar
on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e ) was held at U n i t e d N a t i o n s Headquarters in New York
on 19 and 20 June 1989. The Seminar c o n s i d e r e d the s u b j e c t s of two p a n e l s , as
f o l l o w s : Panel I ( a ) : "The urgency of convening the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace
Conference on the M i d d l e E a s t " ; Panel I ( b ) : "The i n t i f a d a h i n the o c c u p i ed
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y and i t s impact on the achievement of a comprehensive
s e t t l e m e n t of the M i d d l e East c o n f l i c t " ; and Panel I I : "The r o l e of the P a l e s t i ne
L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n i n the s o c i a l , c u l t u r a l , economic and p o l i t i c a l development
of the P a l e s t i n i a n people".
90. The Committee noted t h a t , i n the c o n c l u s i o n s and recommendations of the
seminar, the p a r t i c i p a n t s welcomed the p r o c l a m a t i o n of a P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e and
subsequent developments as i m p o r t a n t landmarks i n the i n t e r n a t i o n a l endeavours
towards a c h i e v i n g a j u s t s e t t l e m e n t of the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e . The seminar
urged the Government of the U n i t e d S t a t e s of America to c o n t i n u e i t s c o n t a c t s w i th
the PLO and to broaden the p o l i t i c a l scope of the d i a l o g u e . It c o n s i d e r e d t h a t the
s o - c a l l e d peace i n i t i a t i v e proposed by the I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s was inadequate and
c a l l e d on I s r a e l to t e r m i n a t e i t s o c c u p a t i o n and to accept the terms f o r a l a s t i ng
s e t t l e m e n t . It urged the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to e x p e d i t e the convening of the
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East and to adopt i n t e r i m measures,
i n c l u d i n g the development of a U n i t e d N a t i o n s peace-keeping f o r c e , to s a f e g u a r d the
p h y s i c a l s e c u r i t y of P a l e s t i n i a n s i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y . The v i o l a t i o n s of
luiman r i g h t s , r e p r e s s i v e economic measures and the c l o s u r e of s c h o o l s i n the
o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y were condemned, and the U n i t e d N a t i o n s system was
c a l l e d upon to p r o v i d e urgent h u m a n i t a r i a n a s s i s t a n c e and to i n t e n s i f y i t s e f f o r t s
towards a genuine development of the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y . (For the t e x t of the
c o n c l u s i o n s and recommendations, see annex IV to the p r e s e n t r e p o r t .)
-23-
3 . 0_t he r a с t i i t i_e_s
91. The Committee took note w i t h a p p r e c i a t i o n t h a t the D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n
R i g h t s , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h i t s mandate, would c o n t i n u e to p r e p a r e the f o l l o w i ng
p u b l i c a t i o n s , under the g u i d a n c e of t h e Committee:
(a) Monthly b u l l e t i n s c o v e r i n g a c t i o n by the Committee, o t h e r U n i t e d N a t i o ns
organs, and i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l and non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s concerned w i t h the
q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e;
(b) Reports of r e g i o n a l seminars, r e g i o n a l symposia o f non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s and i n t e r n a t i o n a l meetings of non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s , and
s p e c i a l b u l l e t i n s on the o b s e r v a n c e of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Day o f S o l i d a r i t y w i t h the
P a l e s t i n i a n People;
(c) C o m p i l a t i o n s on an annual b a s i s of the r e l e v a n t r e s o l u t i o n s adopted by
the General Assembly and t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l;
(d) M o n i t o r i n g of A r a b i c , E n g l i s h and Hebrew p r e s s and media on developments
r e l a t i n g to the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e and the i s s u e of monthly r e p o r t s f o r t h e use
o f the Committee.
92. The Committee f u r t h e r noted t h a t the D i v i s i o n had p u b l i s h e d a s t u d y e n t i t l ed
The Need f o r C o n v e n i n g the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East ( i n
accordance w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 38/58 C ) . The study e n t i t l e d Th^
O r i g i n s and E v o l u t i o n of the P a l e s t i n e Problem ( P a r t I V ) , c o v e r i n g the p e r i o d 1984
to December 1988, has a l s o been completed and w i l l be added to the t h r e e p r e v i o u s ly
p u b l i s h e d p a r t s . The c o n s o l i d a t e d volume of the s t u d y w i l l c o n s i s t of f o u r parts
c o v e r i n g the p e r i o d 1917 t o 1988. The study on the p l i g h t of P a l e s t i n i a n c h i l d r en
i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y i s c u r r e n t l y b e i n g f i n a l i z e d . Two updated
i s s u e s (March and August) o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n note on the work of the Committee and
of the D i v i s i o n were a l s o p r e p a r e d and i s now a v a i l a b l e i n t h e s i x o f f i c i a l
languages of t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s , as w e l l as i n German and Japanese. An i n f o r m a t i on
n o t e , e n t i t l e d "The U n i t e d N a t i o n s and non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s on t he
q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e " , was a l s o completed and w i l l be made a v a i l a b l e i n t h e s i x
o f f i c i a l languages of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s as w e l l as i n German and Japanese.
93. The I n t e r n a t i o n a l Day o f S o l i d a r i t y w i t h the P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e was observed
on 29 November 1988 at U n i t e d N a t i o n s Headquarters i n New York and at the U n i t ed
N a t i o n s O f f i c e s at Geneva and V i e n n a . The Committee noted w i t h a p p r e c i a t i o n that
the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Day had a l s o been commemorated i n many o t h e r c i t i e s throughout
the w o r l d i n 1988.
-24-
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 43/17 5 С
94. The Conunittee noted w i t h a p p r e c i a t i o n t h a t , d u r i n g the p a s t y e a r , the
Department of P u b l i c I n f o r m a t i o n of the S e c r e t a r i a t c o n t i n u e d i t s i n f o r m a t i on
programme on the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e w i t h a view to f u r t h e r i n g the w o r l d - w i de
d i s s e m i n a t i o n of a c c u r a t e , o b j e c t i v e and comprehensive i n f o r m a t i o n on the
q u e s t i o n . The Department's c o n t i n u i n g mandate on the a r e a d e r i v e d from General
Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/175 С of 15 December 1988, by w h i c h the Assembly requested
i t to c o n t i n u e i t s s p e c i a l i n f o r m a t i o n programme on the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e
d u r i n g the b i e n n i u m 1988-1989.
95. In response to the r e q u e s t of the G e n e r a l Assembly, the Department of P u b l i c
I n f o r m a t i o n has d i s s e m i n a t e d press r e l e a s e s , p u b l i c a t i o n s and a u d i o - v i s u a l m a t e r i al
and has a l s o o r g a n i z e d f a c t - f i n d i n g news m i s s i o n s and r e g i o n a l and n a t i o n a l
e n c o u n t e r s for j o u r n a l i s t s .
96. F u l l coverage by p r e s s r e l e a s e s was p r o v i d e d at t h e f o r t y - t h i r d s e s s i o n of the
G e n e r a l Assembly, i n c l u d i n g i t s meetings at Geneva, the m e e t i n g s of the S e c u r i t y
C o u n c i l , the Commission on Human R i g h t s and o t h e r i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l bodies as they
d e a l t w i t h the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , and of the S p e c i a l Committee to I n v e s t i g a te
I s r a e l i P r a c t i c e s A f f e c t i n g the Human R i g h t s of the P o p u l a t i o n of the Occupied
T e r r i t o r i e s and the Committee on the E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of t he
P a l e s t i n i a n People.
97. The Department's coverage of the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e d u r i n g the p a s t year
f o c u s e d i n c r e a s i n g l y on news items and i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g the s i t u a t i o n i n t he
o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s , and e f f o r t s to convene an i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace c o n f e r e n c e on
the M i d d l e East under U n i t e d N a t i o n s a u s p i c e s.
98. The Department d i s s e m i n a t e d i n f o r m a t i o n through a r t i c l e s , press r e l e a s e s,
b r o c h u r e s and b o o k l e t s . The UN C h r o n i c l e r e p o r t e d e x t e n s i v e l y on the c o n s i d e r a t i o n
g i v e n to the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e and o t h e r r e l a t e d items by the G e n e r a l Assembly
a t i t s f o r t y - t h i r d s e s s i o n and by the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , p a r t i c u l a r l y s i n c e t he
b e g i n n i n g of the u p r i s i n g i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s . In t h e l a t e s t volume of t he
Yearbook of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , due t o be i s s u e d s h o r t l y , a 22-page s e c t i o n i s
devoted to the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , w h i c h i s a l s o d e a l t w i t h i n s e c t i o n s
c o n c e r n i n g r e f u g e e s , human r i g h t s and the s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s.
The commemoration of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Day of S o l i d a r i t y w i t h the P a l e s t i n i an
People by the Committee on the E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of t he
P a l e s t i n i a n People at Headquarters w i t h other U n i t e d N a t i o n s o f f i c e s was f u l ly
c o v e r e d . The Department has a l s o d i s s e m i n a t e d i n f o r m a t i o n on the seminars and
symposia t h a t were h e l d i n d i f f e r e n t w o r l d c a p i t a l s by the Committee on t he
E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n People. An i n f o r m a t i on
o f f i c e r t r a v e l l e d w i t h the S p e c i a l Committee to I n v e s t i g a t e I s r a e l i P r a c t i c es
A f f e c t i n g the Human R i g h t s of the P o p u l a t i o n of the O c c u p i e d T e r r i t o r i e s d u r i n g i t s
f a c t - f i n d i n g news m i s s i o n to T u n i s , Damascus, Amman and C a i r o i n May 1989 and
r e p o r t e d on t e s t i m o n y taken from i n h a b i t a n t s o f the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s.
99. The Department c o n t i n u e d to d i s t r i b u t e i t s b o o k l e t e n t i t l e d The U n i t e d N a t i o ns
and the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , an updated and r e v i s e d v e r s i o n o f w h i c h i s s c h e d u l ed
by the end o f the y e a r.
-25-
100. Two new b o o k l e t s were i s s u e d d u r i n g 1989. The f i r s t b o o k l e t , e n t i t l e d FQtL_the
R i g h t s of P a l e s t i n i a n s : The Work of the Comi^ittee on the E x e r c i s e of t he
I n a l i e n a b l e Rights of the P a l e s t i n i a n People, d e a l s w i t h the work of the Committee
on the E x e r c i s e of t h e I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e . The second
one, e n t i t l e d Human R i g h t s f o r t h e P a l e s t i n i a n s : The Work of t h e S p e c i a l Committee
t o I n v e s t i g a t e I s r a e l i P r a c t i c e s A f f e c t i n g the Human R i g h t s of t h e P o p u l a t i o n of
the Occupied T e r r i t o r i e s , d e a l s w i t h the work of the S p e c i a l Committee. Both
b o o k l e t s were produced i n A r a b i c , E n g l i s h , French, German and S p a n i s h and
d i s s e m i n a t e d on a w o r l d - w i d e b a s i s.
101. A new p o s t e r on the p r o p o s e d I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East
was produced and g i v e n the w i d e s t p o s s i b l e c i r c u l a t i o n.
102. A l l a s p e c t s of the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , i n c l u d i n g the m e e t i n g s of t h e
G e n e r a l Assembly h e l d at Geneva, P a l e s t i n i a n r e f u g e e s , P a l e s t i n i a n r i g h t s , the
i n t i f a d a h , the s i t u a t i o n of the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s , the m e e t i n g s of t h e Committee
on the E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b l e Rights of the P a l e s t i n i a n People and t he
p r o s p e c t s f o r an i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace c o n f e r e n c e on the M i d d l e E a s t , were covered
e x t e n s i v e l y i n news, c u r r e n t a f f a i r s magazines, and o t h e r r a d i o programmes of t he
Department of P u b l i c I n f o r m a t i o n.
103. In a d d i t i o n to items i n t h e news and i n news magazines, the Department
produced a s p e c i a l s e r i e s of f o u r r a d i o f e a t u r e s i n F r e n c h , namely, "The
P a l e s t i n i a n U p r i s i n g " ( p a r t s 1 and 2) and "The I n t e r n a t i o n a l Conference on Peace i n
the M i d d l e E a s t " ( p a r t s 1 and 2 ) . The weekly i n - d e p t h r a d i o programme, e n t i t l ed
P e r s p e c t i v e i n c l u d e d f i v e f e a t u r e s devoted e x c l u s i v e l y to the q u e s t i o n of
P a l e s t i n e , namely, " H u m a n i t a r i a n a s s i s t a n c e to P a l e s t i n i a n r e f u g e e s " , "The
P a l e s t i n i a n u p r i s i n g and t h e p r o s p e c t s f o r an i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e " , "The
G e n e r a l Assembly at Geneva acknowledges a P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e " , "The q u e s t i o n of
P a l e s t i n e and the c o n t i n u i n g search f o r peace" and "The s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i ed
t e r r i t o r i e s " . The prograinme, adapted i n t o o f f i c i a l and n o n - o f f i c i a l languages,
i n c l u d i n g Bangla, C h i n e s e , French, H i n d i , R u s s i a n , S w a h i l i and T u r k i s h , was
d i s s e m i n a t e d w o r l d wide. The I n t e r n a t i o n a l Day of S o l i d a r i t y w i t h the P a l e s t i n i a n
P e o p l e was f e a t u r e d i n t h e w e e k l y r a d i o programmes i n A r a b i c , E n g l i s h and T u r k i s h.
An i n t e r v i e w w i t h Mr. G i o r g i o G i a c o m e l l i , Commissioner-General of t h e U n i t ed
N a t i o n s R e l i e f and Works Agency f o r P a l e s t i n e Refugees i n t h e Near East (UNRWA), on
the Agency's work was a l s o f e a t u r e d i n t h e w e e k l y r a d i o magazines i n E n g l i s h , Hindi
and S w a h i l i . The A r a b i c and M i d d l e East U n i t produced seven f e a t u r e s devoted
e x c l u s i v e l y to t h e q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , i n c l u d i n g the s i t u a t i o n i n t h e Arab
o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s and h i g h l i g h t s of the G e n e r a l Assembly s e s s i o n at Geneva.
Four e d i t i o n s of the w e e k l y r a d i o programme i n S p a n i s h d e a l t w i t h the p r o c l a m a t i on
of a P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e , the r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , P a l e s t i n i a n refugees
and the i n t i f a d a h . E x t e n s i v e r a d i o coverage i n S p a n i s h was a l s o g i v e n to the L a t i n
American R e g i o n a l J o u r n a l i s t s Encounter on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , which was
h e l d from 26 t o 28 J u l y 1989 a t K i n g s t o n , Jamaica. The N o r t h American R e g i o n al
Seminar on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , h e l d i n New Y o r k , was c o v e r e d i n t h e w e e k ly
news magazines i n E n g l i s h , French and P o r t u g u e s e.
104. A 15-minute e d u c a t i o n a l video f o r h i g h - s c h o o l s t u d e n t s , w i t h an accompanying
s t u d y pamphlet f o r t e a c h e r s on the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , i s c u r r e n t l y i n
p r o d u c t i o n i n t h r e e languages f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n w o r l d wide.
105. F u l l t e l e v i s i o n coverage was p r o v i d e d of meetings of t h e G e n e r a l Assembly and
S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l on the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e . T e l e v i s i o n coverage was a l so
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p r o v i d e d of m e e t i n g s of t h e Committee on t h e E x e r c i s e o f t h e I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of
t l i e P a l e s t i n i a n People and t h e s e m i n a r s h e l d under i t s a u s p i c e s , as w e l l as o t h er
o f f i c i a l events. The commemoration of t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Day o f S o l i d a r i t y w i t h t he
P a l e s t i n i a n People, as w e l l as t h e o p e n i n g ceremony of t h e p h o t o e x h i b i t on the
i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people, were a l s o f u l l y covered. A t o t a l of
138 video news packages on the v a r i o u s a s p e c t s of t h e q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e were
d i s s e m i n a t e d w o r l d wide through i n t e r n a t i o n a l s y n d i c a t o r s . Furthermore, three
e d i t i o n s of t h e w e e k l y video programme, e n t i t l e d "UN i n A c t i o n " , which i s b r o a d c a st
w o r l d wide i n A r a b i c , Chinese, E n g l i s h , French, Japanese, R u s s i a n and S p a n i s h , as
w e l l as by C a b l e News Network (CNN) i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , were devoted to v a r i o u s
a s p e c t s of t h e q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , namely, " P a l e s t i n i a n women"; "UNRWA r e b u i l ds
camps i n Lebanon" and "The U n i t e d N a t i o n s expands h u m a n i t a r i a n a s s i s t a n c e t o the
Gaza S t r i p " . Members of d e l e g a t i o n s were a l s o p r o v i d e d w i t h video c a s s e t t e dubs
and e x c e r p t s on the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e and o t h e r r e l a t e d items. Cassette copies
and l i n e feeds were made a v a i l a b l e to major t e l e v i s i o n networks.
106. As i n p r e v i o u s y e a r s , the Department once a g a i n o r g a n i z e d a c t i v i t i e s to
a c q u a i n t the m e d i a w i t h the f a c t s and developments p e r t a i n i n g t o the q u e s t i o n of
P a l e s t i n e . A team of 13 h i g h - l e v e l j o u r n a l i s t s p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e news m i s s i o n to
the M i d d l e East o r g a n i z e d by the Department. Between 7 and 23 May 1989, they
v i s i t e d T u n i s , Damascus, Amman and C a i r o . There was no r e p l y t o a f o r m a l request
to the Permanent M i s s i o n of I s r a e l for the news m i s s i o n to v i s i t I s r a e l and the
West Bank. The news m i s s i o n p r o v i d e d the p a r t i c i p a n t s w i t h an o p p o r t u n i t y to g a in
f i r s t - h a n d knowledge and i m p r e s s i o n s on v a r i o u s a s p e c t s of t h e P a l e s t i n e q u e s t i o n.
D u r i n g the m i s s i o n , the j o u r n a l i s t s met and i n t e r v i e w e d l e a d e r s and s e n i o r
o f f i c i a l s of Egypt, Jordan, the S y r i a n Arab R e p u b l i c , T u n i s i a and t h e PLO.
Numerous f i e l d v i s i t s , p a r t i c u l a r l y to P a l e s t i n i a n refugee camps, were a l so
o r g a n i z e d . P a r t i c u l a r l y because of t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s , the
m i s s i o n r e c e i v e d e x t e n s i v e media coverage i n a l l t h e c o u n t r i e s v i s i t e d . Numerous
a r t i c l e s were l a t e r p u b l i s h e d by the p a r t i c i p a n t s on the b a s i s of t h e i r e x p e r i e n ce
and i n t e r v i e w s conducted d u r i n g the m i s s i o n .
107. The Department a l s o o r g a n i z e d two r e g i o n a l encounters for j o u r n a l i s t s on the
q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , b r i n g i n g h i g h - l e v e l j o u r n a l i s t s t o g e t h e r w i t h e x p e r t s i n the
f i e l d f o r b r i e f , i n - d e p t h , i n f o r m a l and c a n d i d d i s c u s s i o n s o f t h e v a r i o u s aspects
of the P a l e s t i n i a n problem. The f i r s t encounter was h e l d a t S i n g a p o r e , from
30 January to 1 F e b r u a r y 1989, and was a t t e n d e d by 20 j o u r n a l i s t s from many A s i an
c o u n t r i e s , r e p r e s e n t i n g the p r i n t , r a d i o and t e l e v i s i o n media i n A s i a and the
P a c i f i c . The second encounter was o r g a n i z e d at K i n g s t o n , Jamaica, from 26 t o
28 J u l y 1989. About 18 j o u r n a l i s t s from N o r t h and L a t i n America p a r t i c i p a t e d.
108. The Department a l s o o r g a n i z e d three s e r i e s of n a t i o n a l e n c o u n t e r s , i n which
s m a l l , balanced panels of e x p e r t s h e l d meetings i n t h e form of i n - d e p t h press
c o n f e r e n c e s . In Europe, one n a t i o n a l encounter w i t h n a t i o n a l j o u r n a l i s t s and
f o r e i g n c o r r e s p o n d e n t s was h e l d i n London and two a t B e r l i n between 16 and
19 January 1989. Asian n a t i o n a l e n c o u n t e r s were h e l d a t New D e l h i , Bangkok,
Sydney, C a n b e r r a , W e l l i n g t o n and Tokyo, between 24 J a n u a r y and 13 F e b r u a r y 1989.
N a t i o n a l encounters for L a t i n America were h e l d between 19 and 24 J u l y 1989 at
Bogota, Q u i t o and S a n t i a g o.
109. U n i t e d N a t i o n s i n f o r m a t i o n c e n t r e s throughout the w o r l d c o n t i n u e d to c a r r y o ut
i n f o r m a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e and made
a v a i l a b l e to t h e p u b l i c U n i t e d N a t i o n s i n f o r m a t i o n m a t e r i a l s on the s u b j e c t . The
i n f o r m a t i o n c e n t r e s undertook v a r i o u s a c t i v i t i e s i n o b s e r v a n c e o f 29 November as
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the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Day of S o l i d a r i t y w i t h the P a l e s t i n i a n People. They made
available publications prepared for, and uiider the guidance of, the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the P a l e s t i n i a n People and d i s t r i b u t ed
information c i r c u l a r s in the o f f i c i a l languages of the United Nations as well as
l o c a l languages. Exhibitions were held, films screened, and events organized in
various centres i n co-operation with the diplomatic corps, UNRWA and national
parliaments.
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V I . RECOt-MEHDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
110. The y e a r under review brought about events of momentous s i g n i f i c a n c e i n the
l o n g h i s t o r y of t h e s t r u g g l e of the P a l e s t i n i a n people to r e g a i n and e x e r c i s e i ts
i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s . The c o n t i n u i n g u p r i s i n g of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people a g a i n s t over
20 years of I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n and o p p r e s s i o n , the p r o c l a m a t i o n of the S t a t e of
P a l e s t i n e , and the P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e announced by
P r e s i d e n t Y a s s e r A r a f a t at the meetings of the f o r t y - t h i r d s e s s i o n of the G e n e r al
Assembly, h e l d at Geneva i n December 1988, have c r e a t e d new c o n d i t i o n s and
o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r c o n c e r t e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l a c t i o n aimed at a c h i e v i n g a
comprehensive, j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t of the problem. The growing
d e t e r i o r a t i o n of the s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , where
hundreds of P a l e s t i n i a n s have been k i l l e d and tens of thousands wounded, maimed and
d e t a i n e d s i n c e the b e g i n n i n g of the i n t i f a d a h , i s a m a t t e r of utmost concern that
imposes a moral duty on the U n i t e d N a t i o n s and the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community as a
whole to b r i n g about e x p e d i t i o u s l y such a s e t t l e m e n t , as w e l l as t o ensure the
s a f e t y and p r o t e c t i o n of the P a l e s t i n i a n people under o c c u p a t i o n.
111. The Committee c o n s i d e r s that i t i s incumbent upon the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to take
c o n c r e t e and e f f e c t i v e a c t i o n to s e c u r e those g o a l s . The Committee b e l i e v e s that
the recommendations c o n t a i n e d i n i t s f i r s t r e p o r t , a/ w h i c h have been r e p e a t e d ly
endorsed by the G e n e r a l Assembly by overwhelming m a j o r i t i e s , p r o v i d e a c o n s t r u c t i ve
programme f o r t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of the e x e r c i s e of the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of t he
P a l e s t i n i a n people. The Committee has a c c o r d i n g l y annexed those recommendations to
the p r e s e n t r e p o r t (see annex I) and c a l l s f o r u r g e n t p o s i t i v e a c t i o n thereon by
the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l . The Committee f u r t h e r r e a f f i r m s the v a l i d i t y of t he
D e c l a r a t i o n and Programme of A c t i o n adopted by the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Conference on t he
Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , held at Geneva i n 1983, Д/ which made a v a l u a b le
c o n t r i b u t i o n towards the achievement of P a l e s t i n i a n r i g h t s . The Committee
r e a f f i r m s that those recommendations are s o l i d l y founded on fundamental and
i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y accepted p r i n c i p l e s and t h a t the r e c o g n i t i o n , a t t a i n m e n t and
e x e r c i s e of the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people are i n d i s p e n s a b le
c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e s o l u t i o n of the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , the c o r e of t he
A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t i n t h e M i d d l e East. The Committee f u r t h e r r e a s s e r t s that the
I s r a e l i e v a c u a t i o n of the t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d by f o r c e and i n v i o l a t i o n o f t h e
p r i n c i p l e s of the C h a r t e r of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s and r e l e v a n t r e s o l u t i o n s of t h e
U n i t e d N a t i o n s i s a c o n d i t i o sine qua non f o r t h e e x e r c i s e by the P a l e s t i n i a n
p e o p l e of i t s i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s i n P a l e s t i n e.
112. The Committee r e a f f i r m s the i n t e r n a t i o n a l consensus t h a t the P a l e s t i ne
L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n i s the s o l e and l e g i t i m a t e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t he
P a l e s t i n i a n people, whose p a r t i c i p a t i o n on an e q u a l f o o t i n g i s i n d i s p e n s a b l e i n any
e f f o r t s and d e l i b e r a t i o n s aimed at the achievement of a comprehensive, j u s t and
l a s t i n g peace i n t h e M i d d l e East. The Committee welcomes the D e c l a r a t i o n of
Independence adopted by the P a l e s t i n e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l at i t s m e e t i n g h e l d at
A l g i e r s on 15 November 1988, and r e i t e r a t e s t h a t the p r o c l a m a t i o n of t he
independent Arab S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e i s i n f u l f i l m e n t o f G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i on
181 ( I I ) o f 29 November 1947. A c c o r d i n g l y , the Committee c o n s i d e r s t h a t the S t a te
of P a l e s t i n e should be a c c o r d e d i t s r i g h t f u l p l a c e w i t h i n the i n t e r n a t i o n a l
community and t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s O r g a n i z a t i o n . The Committee notes the w i d e s p r e ad
i n t e r n a t i o n a l support f o r t h e P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e and i t d e e p l y r e g r e ts
t h a t I s r a e l has so f a r f a i l e d to respond p o s i t i v e l y to i t and has c o n t i n u e d to
r e f u s e to acknowledge the i n a l i e n a b l e n a t i o n a l r i g h t s of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people.
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The Committee a c c o r d i n g l y urges I s r a e l to r e v e r s e i t s p o s i t i o n and to j o i n the
i n t e r n a t i o n a l consensus.
113. The Committee c o n s i d e r s t h a t i t has now become i m p e r a t i v e f o r the S e c u r i ty
C o u n c i l to take p o s i t i v e a c t i o n towards the convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace
Conference on the M i d d l e East on the b a s i s of the framework and elements set out in
G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176 of 15 December 1988, which has the overwhelming
s u p p o r t of the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community. The Committee r e a f f i r m s the p r i n c i p l e s for
the achievement of a comprehensive peace c o n t a i n e d i n Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176,
namely: the w i t h d r a w a l of I s r a e l from the P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n ce
1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , and from the other o c c u p i e d Arab t e r r i t o r i e s;
g u a r a n t e e i n g arrangements f o r s e c u r i t y of a l l S t a t e s i n the r e g i o n , i n c l u d i n g those
named i n Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 181 ( I I ) , w i t h i n secure and i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y r e c o g n i z ed
b o u n d a r i e s ; r e s o l v i n g the problem of the P a l e s t i n e r e f u g e e s i n c o n f o r m i t y w i th
Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 194 ( I I I ) o f 11 December 1948, and subsequent r e l e v a nt
r e s o l u t i o n s ; d i s m a n t l i n g the I s r a e l i s e t t l e m e n t s i n the t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d s i n ce
1967; and g u a r a n t e e i n g freedom of access to Holy P l a c e s , r e l i g i o u s b u i l d i n g s and
s i t e s .
114. In the past year, the i n t e r n a t i o n a l consensus i n f a v o u r of the convening of
the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference has c l e a r l y been f u r t h e r c o n s o l i d a t e d . The
Committee a c c o r d i n g l y urges the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l to do e v e r y t h i n g i n h i s power to
ensure t h a t a c t i v e c o n s u l t a t i o n s are undertaken w i t h i n the framework of the
S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l f o r t h a t purpose. The Committee i n t e n d s to c o n t i n u e to i n t e n s i fy
i t s e f f o r t s towards t h a t o b j e c t i v e and to make i t once a g a i n the f o c a l p o i n t of i t s
work programme i n the coming year.
115. N o t i n g t h a t the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l has r e p o r t e d t h a t h i s attempts to pave the
way to an e f f e c t i v e n e g o t i a t i n g p r o c e s s have u n t i l now proved i n c o n c l u s i v e , the
Committee recommends t h a t the General Assembly s h o u l d c a l l once a g a i n upon the
S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , and i n p a r t i c u l a r the permanent members, to c o n s i d e r measures
needed to convene the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East, i n c l u d i ng
the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a p r e p a r a t o r y committee, and to c o n s i d e r g u a r a n t e e s for
s e c u r i t y measures i n accordance w i t h Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176, to renew the
mandate of the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l to c o n t i n u e h i s e f f o r t s w i t h the p a r t i e s concerned
and, i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , to f a c i l i t a t e the convening of the
C o n f e r e n c e.
116. The Committee p r o t e s t s i n the s t r o n g e s t terms the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of
r e p r e s s i o n by I s r a e l , the o c c u p y i n g Power, a g a i n s t P a l e s t i n i a n s i n the o c c u p i ed
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , i n c l u d i n g c h i l d r e n , p a r t i c u l a r l y the l i b e r a l use of l i ve
ammunition, random b e a t i n g s , r a i d s and mass a r r e s t s , the i n c r e a s e d use of
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n , d e p o r t a t i o n s and c o l l e c t i v e punishment. The Committee
condemns the unchecked v i o l e n c e by I s r a e l i s e t t l e r s . It a l s o condemns the measures
taken by the o c c u p y i n g Power to d e p r i v e the P a l e s t i n i a n p o p u l a t i o n of t h e i r r i g ht
to e d u c a t i o n , as w e l l as a d m i n i s t r a t i v e , economic and other measures taken to
c o n t r o l a l l a s p e c t s of P a l e s t i n i a n l i f e and to p r e v e n t the development of
autonomous socio-economic s t r u c t u r e s . The Committee welcomes the a c t i o n taken by
Governments, non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s and other bodies to denounce those
measures, and welcomes the p a r t i a l opening of s c h o o l s as a r e s u l t of t h at
i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r e s s u r e . The Committee r e c a l l s S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n s
636 (1989) of 6 J u l y 1989 and 641 (1989) of 30 August 1989 and c a l l s upon a l l
concerned to redouble t h e i r e f f o r t s to expose, p r o t e s t and put an end to those
I s r a e l i p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s , which are i n v i o l a t i o n of the Geneva Convention
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r e l a t i v e to the P r o t e c t i o n of C i v i l i a n Persons i n Time of War, of 12 August 1949.
G i v e n the grave s i t u a t i o n c r e a t e d by such p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s , the Committee
c a l l s once a g a i n upon the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to c o n s i d e r u r g e n t l y measures needed to
p r o v i d e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o t e c t i o n to the P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s i n the P a l e s t i n i an
t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d by I s r a e l s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m . The Committee a l so
c a l l s f o r a p p r o p r i a t e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a c t i o n to a l l e v i a t e the s u f f e r i n g s of the
P a l e s t i n i a n s l i v i n g under o c c u p a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y women and c h i l d r e n.
117. The Committee f u r t h e r r e a s s e r t s that the U n i t e d N a t i o n s has a h i s t o r i c a l duty
and r e s p o n s i b i l i t y to render a l l a s s i s t a n c e n e c e s s a r y to promote the autonomous
economic development of the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r the
a t t a i n m e n t of independence i n accordance w i t h the r e l e v a n t U n i t e d N a t i o ns
r e s o l u t i o n s . The Committee a c c o r d i n g l y r e i t e r a t e s i t s c a l l upon the o r g a n i z a t i o ns
of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s system, as w e l l as on Governments and on i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t al
and non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s , to s u s t a i n and i n c r e a s e t h e i r economic and
s o c i a l a s s i s t a n c e to the P a l e s t i n i a n people, i n c l o s e c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h the
P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n.
118. The Committee noted w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n the i n c r e a s e d awareness and m o b i l i z a t i on
of i n t e r n a t i o n a l p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n s u p p o r t of the a t t a i n m e n t of the i n a l i e n a b le
r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people and of U n i t e d N a t i o n s recommendations f o r a
comprehensive, j u s t and l a s t i n g s o l u t i o n of the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e . The
Committee b e l i e v e s t h a t i t s programme of r e g i o n a l seminars and meetings and
symposia of non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s , as w e l l as the j o u r n a l i s t s ' encounters
and other i n f o r m a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s sponsored by the Committee, have p l a y e d a
v a l u a b l e r o l e i n t h i s p r o c e s s , and w i l l c o n t i n u e to s t r i v e to a c h i e v e maximum
e f f e c t i v e n e s s i n c a r r y i n g out t h i s programme and to i n t e n s i f y i t s e f f o r t s i n t he
i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of i t s mandates.
Notes
I/ Official Records of the general Assembly, T h i r t y - f i r s t Session,
Supplement No. 3 5 (A/31/35).
2/ Ihlu., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35); ihlu..
T h i r t y - t h i r d Session. Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35); i b i d . . Thirty-fourth Session,
Supplement MQ. 35 (A/34/35 and C o r r . l ) ; i l i i d . , T h i r t y - f i f t h Session. Supplement
No. 35 (A/35/35); i b i d - . T h i r t y - s i x t h Session. Supplement No. 35 (A/36/35); i b i d -,
Thirty-seventh Session. Supplement No. 35 (A/37/35 and C o r r . l ) ; ihiu- >
Thirty-eighth Session. Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35); i b i d . , Thirty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 3 5 (A/39/35); i b i d . , Fortieth Session. Supplement No. 35 (A/40/35);
ibijS., F o r t y - f i r s t Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); i b i d . , Fprty-second
Ses^sion, Supplement NQ, 35 (A/42/35); i b i d . , Forty-third Session. Supplement No. 35
(A/43/35).
1/ Report of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine,
Geneva. 29 August-7 September 1983 (United Nations publication. Sales
No. E.83.I.21), chap. I, sect. B.
-31-
Notes (continued)
4/ The o b s e r v e r s at t h e m e e t i n g s of t h e Committee were as f o l l o w s : A l g e r i a,
Bangladesh, B u l g a r i a , C h i n a , C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , Ecuador, Egypt, I r a q , J o r d a n , Kuwait,
Lebanon, L i b y a n Arab J a m a h i r i y a , M a u r i t a n i a , Morocco, N i c a r a g u a , N i g e r , S r i Lanka,
S y r i a n Arab R e p u b l i c , U n i t e d Arab E m i r a t e s , V i e t Nam, the League of Arab S t a t e s and
the O r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e I s l a m i c Conference. P a l e s t i n e , r e p r e s e n t e d by t he
P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n , as the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the P a l e s t i n i a n people,
the p r i n c i p a l p a r t y to the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , was a l s o an o b s e r v e r.
5/ The c u r r e n t membership of the Working Group i s as f o l l o w s : A f g h a n i s t a n,
Cuba, German Democratic R e p u b l i c , Guinea, Guyana, I n d i a , M a l t a , P a k i s t a n , Senegal,
T u n i s i a , Turkey, U k r a i n i a n S o v i e t S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c and P a l e s t i n e , r e p r e s e n t e d by
the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n , as the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the p e o p l e d i r e c t ly
concerned.
6/ I n t e r n a t i o n a l Labour Conference, 76th ggSSipn, Report tUg
D i r e c t o r - G e n e r a l , appendices ( V o l . 2 ) .
7/ O f f i c i a l Record? of t h e General Aggembly, F<?ctY-fOVfttl SesSAQH/
Supplement No. 1 (A/44/1).
1/ For the p r i n t e d t e x t , see O f f i c i a l Records ot the Economie and Soctail
Council. 1989. Supplement No. 2 (E/1989/20).
£/ Officiai- i^ecprds of the GeneraJ- Asserrtbly, T h i r t y - f i r s t Session/
Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35), paras. 59-72.
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ANNEX I
PecomTT'endgtJ.Qns of the Committee e n d o r s g j by the
G e n e r a l Assembly at i t s t h i r t y - f i r s t s e s s i o n*
I . Basic c o n s i d e r a t i o n s and g u i d e l i n es
59. The q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e i s at the h e a r t of the M i d d l e East problem, and
c o n s e q u e n t l y , the Committee s t r e s s e s i t s b e l i e f t h a t no s o l u t i o n i n the M i d d l e East
can be e n v i s a g e d which does not f u l l y take i n t o account the l e g i t i m a t e a s p i r a t i o ns
of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e.
60. The l e g i t i m a t e and i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people to r e t u r n to
t l i e i r homes and p r o p e r t y and to a c h i e v e s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , n a t i o n a l independence
and s o v e r e i g n t y are endorsed by the Committee i n the c o n v i c t i o n t h a t the f u ll
i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of those r i g h t s w i l l c o n t r i b u t e d e c i s i v e l y to a comprehensive and
f i n a l s e t t l e m e n t of the M i d d l e East c r i s i s.
61. The p a r t i c i p a t i o n of the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n , the r e p r e s e n t a t i ve
of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , on an equal f o o t i n g w i t h other p a r t i e s , on the b a s i s of
G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n s 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX), i s i n d i s p e n s a b l e i n a l l
e f f o r t s , d e l i b e r a t i o n s and conferences on the M i d d l e East which are h e l d under the
a u s p i c e s of the U n i t e d Nations.
62. The Committee r e c a l l s the fundamental p r i n c i p l e of the i n a d m i s s i b i l i t y of the
a c q u i s i t i o n of t e r r i t o r y by f o r c e and s t r e s s e s the consequent o b l i g a t i o n f or
complete and speedy e v a c u a t i o n of any t e r r i t o r y so o c c u p i e d.
63. The Committee c o n s i d e r s that i t i s the duty and r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of a l l
concerned to enable the P a l e s t i n i a n s to e x e r c i s e t h e i r i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s.
64. The Committee recommends an expanded and more i n f l u e n t i a l r o l e by the U n i t ed
N a t i o n s and i t s organs i n promoting a j u s t s o l u t i o n to the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i ne
and i n the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of such a s o l u t i o n . The S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , i n p a r t i c u l a r ,
s h o u l d take a p p r o p r i a t e a c t i o n to f a c i l i t a t e the e x e r c i s e by the P a l e s t i n i a n s of
t h e i r r i g h t to r e t u r n to t h e i r homes, lands and p r o p e r t y . The Committee,
f u r t h e r m o r e , urges the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to promote a c t i o n towards a j u s t s o l u t i o n,
t a k i n g i n t o account a l l the powers c o n f e r r e d on i t by the C h a r t e r of the U n i t ed
N a t i o n s.
65. It i s w i t h t h i s p e r s p e c t i v e in view and on the b a s i s of the numerous
r e s o l u t i o n s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , a f t e r due c o n s i d e r a t i o n of a l l the f a c t s,
p r o p o s a l s and s u g g e s t i o n s advanced i n the course of i t s d e l i b e r a t i o n s , t h a t the
Committee submits i t s recommendations on the m o d a l i t i e s f o r the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of
the e x e r c i s e of the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e.
* O f f i c i a l Records o£ the General Assernb^y. T h i r t y - f i r s t Session,
Supplement ЙС. 35 (A/31/35), paras. 59-72.
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11. The r i g h t of r e t u rn
66. The n a t u r g i l and i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t of P a l e s t i n i a n s to r e t u r n to t h e i r homes i s
r e c o g n i z e d by r e s o l u t i o n 194 ( I I I ) , which the G e n e r a l Assembly has r e a f f i r m ed
almost every year s i n c e i t s a d o p t i o n . This r i g h t was a l s o unanimously r e c o g n i z ed
by the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l i n i t s r e s o l u t i o n 237 (1967); the time f o r t h e u r g e nt
i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of these r e s o l u t i o n s i s l o n g overdue.
67. Without p r e j u d i c e to the r i g h t of a l l P a l e s t i n i a n s to r e t u r n to t h e i r homes,
l a n d s and p r o p e r t y , the Committee c o n s i d e r s that the programme o f i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of
the e x e r c i s e of t h i s r i g h t may be c a r r i e d out i n two phases:
Phase one
68. The f i r s t phase i n v o l v e s the r e t u r n to t h e i r homes of the P a l e s t i n i a n s
d i s p l a c e d as a r e s u l t of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommends t h a t:
( i ) The S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l should request the immediate i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of i t s
r e s o l u t i o n 237 (1967) and t h a t such i m p l e m e n t a t i o n s h o u l d not be r e l a t ed
t o any o t h e r c o n d i t i o n;
( i i ) The r e s o u r c e s of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Committee of the Red C r o s s (ICRC)
and/or of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s R e l i e f and Wor)cs Agency f o r P a l e s t i n e
Refugees i n t h e Near East, s u i t a b l y f i n a n c e d and mandated, may be
employed to a s s i s t i n t h e s o l u t i o n of any l o g i s t i c a l problems i n v o l v e d i n
the r e s e t t l e m e n t of those r e t u r n i n g to t h e i r homes. These a g e n c i e s could
a l s o a s s i s t , i n c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h the h o s t c o u n t r i e s and the P a l e s t i ne
L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n , i n t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of the d i s p l a c ed
P a l e s t i n i a n s .
Phase two
69. The second phase d e a l s w i t h the r e t u r n to t h e i r homes of the P a l e s t i n i a n s
d i s p l a c e d between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends t h a t:
( i ) While the f i r s t phase i s b e i n g implemented, the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , i n
c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h the S t a t e s d i r e c t l y i n v o l v e d , and t h e P a l e s t i n e
L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n as the i n t e r i m r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the P a l e s t i n i a n
e n t i t y , should proceed to make the n e c e s s a r y arrangements to e n a b le
P a l e s t i n i a n s d i s p l a c e d between 1948 and 1967 t o e x e r c i s e t h e i r r i g h t to
r e t u r n to t h e i r homes and p r o p e r t y , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h the r e l e v a nt
U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y General Assembly
r e s o l u t i o n 194 ( I I I );
( i i ) P a l e s t i n i a n s not c h o o s i n g to r e t u r n to t h e i r homes s h o u l d be p a i d j u st
and e q u i t a b l e compensation as p r o v i d e d f o r i n r e s o l u t i o n 194 ( I I I ).
I I I . The r i g h t to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , n a t i o n a l independence
and sovereignty
70. The P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e has the i n h e r e n t r i g h t t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , n a t i o n al
independence and s o v e r e i g n t y i n P a l e s t i n e . The Committee c o n s i d e r s that the
e v a c u a t i o n of the t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d by f o r c e and i n v i o l a t i o n of the p r i n c i p l e s
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of the C h a r t e r and r e l e v a n t r e s o l u t i o n s o f the U n i t e d N a t i o n s i s a
c o n d i t i o s i n e qua non f o r t h e e x e r c i s e by the P a l e s t i n i a n people of i t s i n a l i e n a b le
r i g h t s i n P a l e s t i n e . The Committee c o n s i d e r s , f u r t h e r m o r e , t h a t upon the r e t u r n of
the P a l e s t i n i a n s to t h e i r homes and p r o p e r t y and w i t h the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of an
independent P a l e s t i n i a n e n t i t y , the P a l e s t i n i a n people w i l l be a b l e to e x e r c i s e i t s
r i g h t s to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n and t o d e c i d e i t s form of government w i t h o u t e x t e r n al
i n t e r f e r e n c e .
71. The Committee a l s o f e e l s that the U n i t e d N a t i o n s has an h i s t o r i c a l duty and
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y to render a l l a s s i s t a n c e n e c e s s a r y to promote the economic
development and p r o s p e r i t y o f the P a l e s t i n i a n e n t i t y.
72. To those ends, the Committee recommends t h a t:
(a) A t i m e t a b l e s h o u l d be e s t a b l i s h e d by the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l f o r the
complete w i t h d r a w a l by I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n f o r c e s from those areas o c c u p i e d i n 1967;
such w i t h d r a w a l should be completed no l a t e r than 1 June 1977;
(b) The S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l may need to p r o v i d e temporary peace-Jceeping f o r c es
i n order to f a c i l i t a t e the p r o c e s s of w i t h d r a w a l;
(c) I s r a e l should be r e q u e s t e d by the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to d e s i s t from the
e s t a b l i s h m e n t of new s e t t l e m e n t s and t o withdraw d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d from
s e t t l e m e n t s e s t a b l i s h e d s i n c e 1967 i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s . Arab p r o p e r t y and
a l l e s s e n t i a l s e r v i c e s i n t h o s e areas should be m a i n t a i n e d i n t a c t;
(d) I s r a e l should a l s o be r e q u e s t e d to a b i d e s c r u p u l o u s l y by the p r o v i s i o n s
of the Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e to t h e P r o t e c t i o n o f C i v i l i a n Persons i n Time of
War, o f 12 August 1949, and t o d e c l a r e , pending i t s speedy w i t h d r a w a l from these
t e r r i t o r i e s , i t s r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e a p p l i c a b i l i t y of t h a t Convention;
(e) The evacuated t e r r i t o r i e s , w i t h a l l p r o p e r t y and s e r v i c e s i n t a c t , should
be taken over by the U n i t e d N a t i o n s which, w i t h the c o - o p e r a t i o n of the League of
Arab S t a t e s , w i l l s u b s e q u e n t l y hand over those evacuated areas to t h e P a l e s t i n e
L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n as the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f the P a l e s t i n i a n people;
( f ) The U n i t e d N a t i o n s should, i f n e c e s s a r y , a s s i s t i n e s t a b l i s h i n g
communications between Gaza and the West Bank;
(g) As soon as the independent P a l e s t i n i a n e n t i t y has been e s t a b l i s h e d , t h e
U n i t e d N a t i o n s , i n c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h the S t a t e s d i r e c t l y i n v o l v e d and t he
P a l e s t i n i a n e n t i t y , should, t a k i n g i n t o account General Assembly r e s o l u t i on
.1.V/5 (XXX), make f u r t h e r arrangements f o r t h e f u l l i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of t he
i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people, the r e s o l u t i o n of o u t s t a n d i ng
problems and the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a j u s t and l a s t i n g peace i n t h e r e g i o n , i n
accordance w i t h a l l r e l e v a n t U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s;
(h) The U n i t e d N a t i o n s should p r o v i d e the economic and t e c h n i c a l a s s i s t a n ce
n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f the P a l e s t i n i a n e n t i t y.
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ANNEX II
C o n c l u s i o n s and reconmendations adopted by the T w e n t y - f i r st
U n i t e d N a t i o n s Seminar on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i ne
( C a i r o , 18 to 22 December 1988)
I n t r o d u c t i on
1. The T w e n t y - f i r s t U n i t e d N a t i o n s Seminar on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e ( F i f th
A f r i c a n R e g i o n a l Seminar) e n t i t l e d "The I n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i an
p e o p l e " , was h e l d j o i n t l y w i t h the A f r i c a n R e g i o n a l NGO Symposium on the Question
o f P a l e s t i n e a t the Ramses H i l t o n H o t e l , at C a i r o , from 18 to 22 December 1988, in
accordance w i t h the terms of General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 42/66 В of 2 December 1987.
2. The Committee on the E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i an
People was r e p r e s e n t e d by a d e l e g a t i o n c o n s i s t i n g of H.E. Mrs. Absa Claude D i a l lo
( S e n e g a l ) , Chairman of the Committee; H.E. Mr. Alexander Borg O l i v i e r ( M a l t a ),
R a p p o r t e u r of the Committee; H.E. Mr. Samuel R. I n s a n a l l y (Guyana);
H.E. Mr. Tom Obaleh Kargbo ( S i e r r a Leone); H.E. Mr. Agus T a r m i d z i ( I n d o n e s i a ) ; and
Mr. Zehdi L. T e r z i ( P a l e s t i n e ) . Mrs. Absa Claude D i a l l o was Chairman and
Mr. Alexander Borg O l i v i e r , Rapporteur, of the seminar.
3. Nine meetings were h e l d and 21 p a n e l i s t s p r e s e n t e d papers on s e l e c t e d aspects
o f the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e . In a d d i t i o n , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of 51 Governments,
P a l e s t i n e , t h r e e U n i t e d N a t i o n s organs, three U n i t e d N a t i o n s s p e c i a l i z e d agencies
and b o d i e s , t h r e e i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , two n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i on
movements, as w e l l as 50 non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s a t t e n d e d the seminar.
4. The j o i n t opening ceremony of the seminar and NGO Symposium heard a statement
from H.E. Dr. Ahmed Esmat Abdel Meguid, Deputy Prime M i n i s t e r and M i n i s t e r f or
F o r e i g n A f f a i r s of Egypt, d e l i v e r e d by H.E. Aziz S e l f E l Nasr, A s s i s t a n t M i n i s t e r
f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s.
5. A message from the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s,
H.E. Mr. J a v i e r P e r e z de Cuéllar, was read out by h i s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e,
Mr. Naseem M i r z a , C h i e f , D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s . Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo,
Chairman of the seminar, a l s o addressed the meeting.
6. A message was r e c e i v e d from Mr. Yasser A r a f a t , Chairman of the E x e c u t i ve
Committee of the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n (PLO), which was read out by
Mr. Jamal S o u r a n i , member of the E x e c u t i v e Committee of the PLO.
7. Other statements were made by; Dr. Abdel Ahad Gamal E l D i n , P r e s i d e n t of the
Supreme C o u n c i l f o r Y o u t h and Sports of Egypt and Chairman of the U n i t e d N a t i o ns
A s s o c i a t i o n of Egypt; H.E. Mr. Tesfaye Tadesse ( E t h i o p i a ) , Chairman of the S p e c i al
Committee on the S i t u a t i o n w i t h r e g a r d to the Implementation of the D e c l a r a t i o n on
the G r a n t i n g of Independence to C o l o n i a l C o u n t r i e s and P e o p l e s ; Dr. Morad Ghaleb,
P r e s i d e n t of the A f r o - A s i a n People's S o l i d a r i t y O r g a n i z a t i o n;
H.E. Mr. Agus T a r m i d z i ( I n d o n e s i a ) , s p e a k i n g on b e h a l f of the S p e c i a l Committee
a g a i n s t A p a r t h e i d ; Mr. Muhammed A l - F a r r a , U n d e r - S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l of the League of
Arab S t a t e s ; Mr. A l Mamoun K e i t a ( M a l i ) , speaking on b e h a l f of the P r e s i d e n t of
M a l i , Chairman of the O r g a n i z a t i o n of A f r i c a n U n i t y ; and Mr. S h e r i f R e f a a t ( E g y p t ),
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r e p r e s e n t i n g the U n i t e d N a t i o n s C o u n c i l for Namibia. The seminar a l s o r e c e i v e d a
message from Mr. Uaya P e r e r a , Chairman of the S p e c i a l Committee t o I n v e s t i g a te
I s r a e l i P r a c t i c e s A f f e c t i n g the Human R i g h t s of t h e P o p u l a t i o n of t h e O c c u p i ed
T e r r i t o r i e s and a message from the O r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e I s l a m i c Conference.
8. The seminar adopted a message to Mr. Y a s s e r A r a f a t , and a m o t i o n of thanks to
t l i e Government and the p e o p l e of Egypt.
y. Three p a n e l s were e s t a b l i s h e d:
(a) Panel I ; "The u p r i s i n g i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s ; the
urgency of c o n v e n i n g the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East i n
accordance w i t h U n i t e d N a t i o n s G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n s " ; Mr. L o t f y E l - K h o ly
( E g y p t ) , Mr. R a f a e l E s t r e l l a ( S p a i n ) , Mr. Y. V. Glukhov (Union o f S o v i e t S o c i a l i st
R e p u b l i c s ) , Mr. C o r e n t i n Hervo-Akendengue (Gabon), Mr. A l Mamoun K e i t a ( M a l i ),
Mr. Jonathan Kuttab ( P a l e s t i n i a n ) , Mr. S a l a h Ladgham ( T u n i s i a ) , Mr. Ibbo Mandaza
(Zimbabwe), Mr. Ahmed Osman ( E g y p t ) , and Mr. S. Amos Wako (Kenya);
(b) Panel I I : "The r o l e of t h e P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n ":
Mr. N a b i l Sha'ath ( P a l e s t i n i a n );
(c) Panel I I I : "The m o b i l i z a t i o n of A f r i c a n p u b l i c o p i n i o n f o r the
r e a l i z a t i o n of the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people":
Mr. Farouk Abu E i s s a (Sudan), Mr. Donald Betz ( U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a ),
Mr. Gipu F e l i x - G e o r g e ( S i e r r a Leone), Mr. Mohamed E l - S a y e d G a l l a b (Egypt),
Mr. Gora Ibrahim (South A f r i c a ) , Mr. L a t y r Kamara ( S e n e g a l ) , Mr. G a b r a l l a h Khamsin
(Sudan), Mr. A s s i h K o s s i (Togo), Mr. D i k h i g a n g Nasemola (South A f r i c a ) ,
Mrs. Ruth Neto ( A n g o l a ) , Mr. Gesaya Nyama ( N a m i b i a ) , and Mr. A b d e l Moneim Said
( E g y p t ).
10. The r e p o r t of t h e s e m i n a r , i n c l u d i n g summaries of t h e p r o c e e d i n g s , has been
p u b l i s h e d as a s p e c i a l b u l l e t i n of t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n
R i g h t s.
Conclusj-ons and fecQnunendatioos
11. The c o n c l u s i o n s and recommendations adopted by the seminar are as f o l l o w s:
(a) The p a r t i c i p a n t s i n t h e seminar e x p r e s s e d t h e i r c o n v i c t i o n t h a t recent
developments r e g a r d i n g the A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t and i t s c o r e , the q u e s t i o n of
P a l e s t i n e , have c r e a t e d a new momentum f o r b r i n g i n g about a s o l u t i o n to t h i s
c o m p l i c a t e d and dangerous c o n f l i c t , on the b a s i s of r e s o l u t i o n s of t h e U n i t e d
N a t i o n s and w i t h i n i t s framework. Those developments are m a i n l y owing to t h e
courageous and d e t e r m i n e d s t r u g g l e of the P a l e s t i n i a n people to a t t a i n and t o
e x e r c i s e i t s i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s , p r i m a r i l y the r i g h t to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , as
d r a m a t i c a l l y m a n i f e s t e d i n t h e c o n t i n u i n g P a l e s t i n i a n i n t i f a d a h i n t h e o c c u p i ed
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . They have been f a c i l i t a t e d by a c o n d u c i v e i n t e r n a t i o n al
c l i m a t e c h a r a c t e r i z e d by i n c r e a s i n g c o - o p e r a t i o n and the p o l i t i c a l w i l l to s o l ve
r e g i o n a l c o n f l i c t s i n a p e a c e f u l way through n e g o t i a t i o n s.
(b) P a r t i c i p a n t s welcomed the r e s u l t s of t h e n i n e t e e n t h e x t r a o r d i n a r y session
of the P a l e s t i n e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l at A l g i e r s and, i n p a r t i c u l a r , the p r o c l a m a t i on
of an independent S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e as a p o s i t i v e c o n t r i b u t i o n towards a p e a c e f ul
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s e t t l e m e n t of the c o n f l i c t i n the r e g i o n . The d e c i s i o n adopted by the P a l e s t i ne
N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l and the p o s i t i o n o u t l i n e d by Mr. Yasser A r a f a t , Chairman of the
E x e c u t i v e Committee of the PLO, in h i s address to the U n i t e d N a t i o n s General
Assembly on 13 December 1988, as w e l l as i n o t h e r forums, are i m p o r t a n t landmarks
i n the endeavours of the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community towards a c h i e v i n g a comprehensive,
j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t of the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e that have r e s u l t e d in
i n c r e a s e d support by a l l s e c t o r s of the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community f o r the convening
of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the Middle East and have made p o s s i b l e the
i n i t i a t i o n of a d i a l o g u e between the U n i t e d S t a t e s of America and the PLO. The
d e c i s i o n of the Government of the U n i t e d S t a t e s to e s t a b l i s h c o n t a c t s w i t h the PLO
and to p a r t i c i p a t e i n a s u b s t a n t i v e d i a l o g u e w i t h the PLO was welcomed as a
p o s i t i v e development, and the hope was expressed t h a t such c o n t a c t s would l e a d to
c o n c r e t e r e s u l t s and to a comprehensive s e t t l e m e n t of the c o n f l i c t.
(c) The p a r t i c i p a n t s agreed that i t was now incumbent upon the Government of
I s r a e l to respond p o s i t i v e l y to the stand taken by the PLO that has been welcomed
and p r a i s e d by the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community. I s r a e l can no longer ignore the
n a t i o n a l a s p i r a t i o n s of the P a l e s t i n i a n s i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y.
The ongoing i n t i f a d a h of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , which e n t e r e d i t s second year on
9 December 1988, confirms i n no u n c e r t a i n terms t h a t the P a l e s t i n i a n s are
d e t e r m i n e d to r e s i s t , to r e j e c t and to end I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n of the P a l e s t i n i an
t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967. The p r o c l a m a t i o n of the independent S t a t e of
P a l e s t i n e by the P a l e s t i n e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l at i t s n i n e t e e n t h e x t r a o r d i n a r y session
has r e c e i v e d e n t h u s i a s t i c support from an overwhelming m a j o r i t y of S t a t e s . The
same S t a t e s have h a i l e d t h a t p r o c l a m a t i o n as a c o n c r e t e c o n t r i b u t i o n towards
peace. S i g n i f i c a n t l y , many S t a t e s have a l r e a d y f o r m a l l y r e c o g n i z e d the State of
P a l e s t i n e , p r o c l a i m e d at A l g i e r s on 15 November 1988.
(d) The seminar took note of and welcomed the r e s o l u t i o n s on the item
e n t i t l e d " Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e " , adopted by the General Assembly on
15 December 1988 at Geneva. In p a r t i c u l a r i t noted w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n the c a l l for
the convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e E a s t , under the
a u s p i c e s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , w i t h the p a r t i c i p a t i o n of a l l p a r t i e s to the
c o n f l i c t , i n c l u d i n g the PLO, on an equal f o o t i n g , and the f i v e permanent members of
the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , based on S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n s 242 (1967) and
338 (1973) and the l e g i t i m a t e n a t i o n a l r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , p r i m a r i ly
the r i g h t to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n . It e x p r e s s e d i t s f u l l support f o r the p r i n c i p l es
c o n t a i n e d i n p a r a g r a p h 3 of Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176, as a b a s i s for the
achievement of a comprehensive peace. Cognizant of the r o l e of the S e c u r i ty
C o u n c i l i n m a i n t a i n i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace and s e c u r i t y , p a r t i c i p a n t s i n the
seminar endorsed the request to the C o u n c i l to c o n s i d e r measures needed to convene
the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the Middle East, i n c l u d i n g the e s t a b l i s h m e nt
of a p r e p a r a t o r y committee, and to c o n s i d e r guarantees for s e c u r i t y measures to be
agreed upon by the Conference f o r a l l S t a t e s in the r e g i o n , as w e l l as i n t e r im
measures to s a f e g u a r d the p h y s i c a l s e c u r i t y of the i n h a b i t a n t s of the o c c u p i ed
t e r r i t o r i e s pending agreement on a f i n a l comprehensive s e t t l e m e n t . The
p a r t i c i p a n t s c o n s i d e r e d t h a t i t was now incumbent upon I s r a e l to accept the terms
f o r a l a s t i n g and comprehensive s e t t l e m e n t , which have been agreed upon by the
i n t e r n a t i o n a l community as a whole, and which s h o u l d be based on S e c u r i t y C o u n c il
r e s o l u t i o n s 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and
the l e g i t i m a t e n a t i o n a l r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , p r i m a r i l y the r i g h t to
s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n.
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(e) The p a r t i c i p a n t s a l s o welcomed the d e c i s i o n by the General Assembly, in
i t s r e s o l u t i o n 43/177, t h a t the d e s i g n a t i o n " P a l e s t i n e " should be used i n p l a c e of
the d e s i g n a t i o n " P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n " in the U n i t e d N a t i o n s system.
The p a r t i c i p a n t s regarded the d e c i s i o n as a r e c o g n i t i o n of the a s p i r a t i o n s of the
P a l e s t i n i a n people and a r e a f f i r m a t i o n of the PLO as i t s s o l e l e g i t i m a te
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , and also as an endorsement of the courageous steps taken d u r i n g the
int_i_fa_d3h to end the o c c u p a t i o n and to set up the i n f r a s t r u c t u r e f o r an independent
and s o v e r e i g n P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e . The p a r t i c i p a n t s urged t h a t every a s s i s t a n ce
s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d by the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community to the P a l e s t i n i a n people i n i t s
endeavours to a c c o m p l i s h that important o b j e c t i v e.
( f ) The i n t e r n a t i o n a l community i s becoming more d e e p l y c o n v i n c e d of the need
to f i n d a j u s t , comprehensive and l a s t i n g p o l i t i c a l s e t t l e m e n t of the A r a b - I s r a e li
c o n f l i c t . That is e v i d e n c e d by the growing support f o r the convening of the
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the Middle East. That support i s c l e a r ly
r e f l e c t e d i n the p o s i t i o n adopted by the Movement of N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s , the
League of Arab S t a t e s , the O r g a n i z a t i o n of A f r i c a n U n i t y (OAU), the O r g a n i z a t i o n of
the I s l a m i c Conference (OIC), the European Community, the N o r d i c c o u n t r i e s , as w e ll
as by the Union of S o v i e t S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c s , China and other s o c i a l i st
c o u n t r i e s . In that regard, the seminar noted w i t h a p p r e c i a t i o n the s u s t a i n e d and
c o n t i n u i n g support by A f r i c a n S t a t e s and peoples f o r the e x e r c i s e by the
P a l e s t i n i a n people of i t s l e g i t i m a t e n a t i o n a l r i g h t s and for the convening of the
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference.
(g) The p a r t i c i p a n t s noted t h a t , w h i l e strenuous attempts have been made to
b r i n g about a s o l u t i o n to the A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t , the s i t u a t i o n i n the region
remains tense. It i s aggravated by I s r a e l ' s b r u t a l s u p p r e s s i o n of the P a l e s t i n i an
u p r i s i n g through m i l i t a r y might, b e a t i n g s , d e t e n t i o n s , d e p o r t a t i o n s , i t s p o l i c i e s
of i l l e g a l l y m a i n t a i n i n g and expanding J e w i s h s e t t l e m e n t s , as w e l l as c o n f i s c a t i ng
Arab-owned lands and d i v e r t i n g scarce water r e s o u r c e s to i t s own use i n the
o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n and Arab t e r r i t o r i e s . The " i r o n - f i s t " p o l i c y of I s r a e l has
f u r t h e r s t i f l e d a l l forms of p o l i t i c a l , c u l t u r a l , s o c i a l and economic e x p r e s s i o ns
of the P a l e s t i n i a n people. I s r a e l c o n t i n u e s to s t r e n g t h e n i t s c o n t r o l over most
a s p e c t s of l i f e , w i t h a view to o b s t r u c t i n g a s e l f - s u s t a i n e d development of the
P a l e s t i n i a n people i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s . Such p o l i c i e s are i n v i o l a t i o n of
U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s , the Geneva C o n v e n t i o n s of 1949, in p a r t i c u l a r the
Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e to the P r o t e c t i o n of C i v i l i a n Persons i n Time of War, of
1949, and other forms of i n t e r n a t i o n a l law, and exacerbate t e n s i o n i n the area,
thus h i n d e r i n g attempts to f i n d a p e a c e f u l s o l u t i o n to the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e.
The p a r t i c i p a n t s noted f u r t h e r that those massive v i o l a t i o n s of human r i g h t s had
i i " t succeeded in ending the i n t i fadah and were u n l i k e l y to achieve f o r I s r a e l i t s
" l ) i e c t i v e s . P e r s i s t e n c e by I s r a e l i n acts of a g g r e s s i o n a g a i n s t n e i g h b o u r i ng
.''lates, in p a r t i c u l a r Lebanon, endangered s e c u r i t y i n the region.
(h) The seminar appealed to the U n i t e d N a t i o n s to take urgent measures to
p r o t e c t the P a l e s t i n i a n s under o c c u p a t i o n , to guarantee the s a f e t y and s e c u r i t y and
the l e g a l and human r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n refugees i n a l l t e r r i t o r i e s under
I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n and to a l l e v i a t e t h e i r s u f f e r i n g . Adequate a s s i s t a n c e should
a l s o be p r o v i d e d on a r e g u l a r b a s i s to the P a l e s t i n i a n refugees i n the n e i g h b o u r i ng
and other c o u n t r i e s . The U n i t e d N a t i o n s system, as w e l l as i n t e r n a t i o n a l , r e g i o n al
and n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , should c o n t i n u e and s t r e n g t h e n t h e i r h u m a n i t a r i an
a s s i s t a n c e to the P a l e s t i n i a n s under o c c u p a t i o n and to P a l e s t i n i a n r e f u g e e s . In
p a r t i c u l a r , s u s t a i n e d and i n c r e a s e d support s h o u l d be c h a n n e l l e d through the U n i t ed
-39-
N a t i o n s R e l i e f and Works Agency f o r P a l e s t i n e Refugees i n the Near East, as w e l l as
non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s working d i r e c t l y i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s.
( i ) The seminar a f f i r m e d that the d e n i a l of the e x e r c i s e of the l e g i t i m a te
n a t i o n a l r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people remains the core of the c o n f l i c t i n the
M i d d l e East and that a comprehensive, j u s t and l a s t i n g peace i n the r e g i o n cannot
be a c h i e v e d w i t h o u t the f u l l e x e r c i s e of those r i g h t s , and w i t h o u t the w i t h d r a w al
of I s r a e l from the P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g Jerusalem,
and other o c c u p i e d Arab t e r r i t o r i e s . It f u r t h e r a f f i r m e d that the PLO is the sole
l e g i t i m a t e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the P a l e s t i n i a n people and, as such, i s an e s s e n t i al
p a r t y to any n e g o t i a t i o n s aimed at r e s o l v i n g the c o n f l i c t by p e a c e f u l means.
( j ) The seminar took note w i t h a p p r e c i a t i o n of the e f f o r t s of the Committee
on the E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b l e Rights of the P a l e s t i n i a n People to secure
u n i v e r s a l r e c o g n i t i o n of the i n a l i e n a b l e n a t i o n a l r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people,
and of i t s recommendations made i n i t s r e p o r t in 1976 a/ and r e p e a t e d l y endorsed by
the U n i t e d N a t i o n s G e n e r a l Assembly s i n c e then f o r e n s u r i n g the e x e r c i s e by the
P a l e s t i n i a n people of those r i g h t s . The seminar a l s o noted w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n the
i n c r e a s e d support at the U n i t e d N a t i o n s for the programme of a c t i o n undertaken by
the Committee. It urged the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community to s u s t a i n and s t r e n g t h e n i t s
s u p p o r t f o r the Committee's a c t i v i t i e s and endeavours, i n p a r t i c u l a r i t s e f f o r t s
f o r f a c i l i t a t i n g the convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the Middle
E a s t.
(k) The p o s i t i o n of the A f r i c a n c o u n t r i e s , as m a n i f e s t e d i n the d e c l a r a t i o ns
and r e s o l u t i o n s of OAU, was one of s o l i d a r i t y w i t h and support f o r the s t r u g g l e of
the P a l e s t i n i a n people f o r the e x e r c i s e of i t s i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s , i n p a r t i c u l ar
the r i g h t to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n and to have a S t a t e of i t s own. Many of the
p a r t i c i p a n t s drew p a r a l l e l s between the cause of the P a l e s t i n i a n people and the
s t r u g g l e of the peoples of South A f r i c a and Namibia. Those p a r t i c i p a n t s noted
t h a t , as the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community welcomed the s i g n i n g of the B r a z z a v i l le
agreements on the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n 435 (1978)
r e g a r d i n g Namibia, South A f r i c a c o n t i n u e d i t s a b h o r r e n t p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s of
a p a r t h e i d , which the p a r t i c i p a n t s condemned, and I s r a e l p e r s i s t e d i n i t s attempts
t o s t i f l e , by b r u t a l f o r c e and o p p r e s s i v e p o l i c i e s , the P a l e s t i n i a n u p r i s i n g in the
o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s . Both the p o l i c i e s of I s r a e l and the a p a r t h e i d p o l i c i e s in
South A f r i c a endanger i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace and s e c u r i t y and were of the g r a v e st
c o n c e r n to the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community. P a r t i c i p a n t s a l s o e x p r e s s e d concern at the
c o l l a b o r a t i o n between South A f r i c a and I s r a e l , which they condemned.
(1) The seminar viewed w i t h a p p r e c i a t i o n the support OAU and the Governments
and peoples of A f r i c a have extended at the U n i t e d N a t i o n s and i n o t h e r forums to
the P a l e s t i n i a n cause and for the achievement of a j u s t and l a s t i n g peace i n the
M i d d l e E a s t . It agreed t h a t e f f o r t s should be c o n t i n u e d and i n t e n s i f i e d to
m o b i l i z e o f f i c i a l and p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n A f r i c a through the use of the media and
a c t i v i t i e s of the non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s . P a r t i c i p a n t s e x p r e s s e d the view
t h a t the c o - o p e r a t i o n of A f r i c a n o r g a n i z a t i o n s , trade u n i o n s , s o l i d a r i t y groups,
e t c . among themselves, as w e l l as between them and t h e i r c o u n t e r p a r t s i n other
r e g i o n s , should be expanded. The U n i t e d N a t i o n s s h o u l d undertake a d d i t i o n al
e f f o r t s to d i s s e m i n a t e f a c t u a l and up-to-date i n f o r m a t i o n on the q u e s t i o n of
P a l e s t i n e and the measures r e q u i r e d to be taken f o r the achievement of a j u st
s e t t l e m e n t to the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e . The Committee on the E x e r c i s e of the
I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n People and the D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i an
R i g h t s have an important r o l e i n the d i s s e m i n a t i o n of such i n f o r m a t i o n . Moreover,
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the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat should make every e f f o r t to
ensure that accurate information on the question of Palestine received the widest
possible dissemination.
Notes
0/ See O f f i c i a l Records of the General Assembly. T h i r t y - f i r s t Session.
SuDPlement No. 35 (A/31/35).
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ANNEX I I I
D e c l a r a t i o n adopted by the U n i t e d N a t i o n s A f r i c a n R e g i o n al
NGO Symposium on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i ne
( C a i r o , 18 to 21 December 1988)
I n t r o d u c t i on
1. The second A f r i c a n NGO Symposium on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e was held in
accordance w i t h the terms of General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 42/66 В of
2 December 1987, under the a u s p i c e s of the Committee on the E x e r c i s e of the
I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e , at the Ramses H i l t o n H o t e l at C a i ro
from 18 to 21 December 1988. The Symposium was held i n p a r t t o g e t h e r w i t h the
T w e n t y - f i r s t U n i t e d N a t i o n s Seminar on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e ( F i f t h A f r i c an
R e g i o n a l Seminar) (see annex I I ) .
2. In a d d i t i o n to the panels h e l d j o i n t l y w i t h the seminar, two workshops
s p e c i f i c a l l y r e l a t e d to a c t i v i t i e s of non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s were
e s t a b l i s h e d for the Symposium to c o n s i d e r the f o l l o w i n g t o p i c s:
(a) M o b i l i z a t i o n and networking by A f r i c a n non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s to
end I s r a e l i v i o l a t i o n s of human r i g h t s of P a l e s t i n i a n s i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i es
and to promote i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o t e c t i o n for P a l e s t i n i a n s under I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n;
(b) A c t i v i t i e s of non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s to m o b i l i z e f u r t h e r A f r i c an
p u b l i c o p i n i o n and the r e l a t i o n s h i p between the P a l e s t i n i a n u p r i s i n g and the
s t r u g g l e of the peoples of Namibia and South A f r i c a.
3. The Symposium p a r t i c i p a n t s adopted a D e c l a r a t i o n (see below) as w e l l as
a c t i o n - o r i e n t e d p r o p o s a l s emanating from the two workshops, and e l e c t e d an A f r i c an
C o - o r d i n a t i n g Committee f o r NGOs on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e . The r e p o r t of the
Symposium has been i s s u e d as a s p e c i a l b u l l e t i n of the D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i an
R i g h t s , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h a t of the seminar.
Dgctaratioa
We, the non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n the Second U n i t ed
N a t i o n s A f r i c a n R e g i o n a l Symposium on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , are g a t h e r ed
i n C a i r o at a h i s t o r i c moment when the P a l e s t i n i a n s t r u g g l e for
s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n and independence has entered a d e c i s i v e phase. We h a i l and
s u p p o r t the d e t e r m i n a t i o n of the P a l e s t i n i a n people i n i t s q u e s t f o r n a t i o n al
l i b e r a t i o n and the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of i t s own independent s o v e r e i g n n a t i o n al
S t a t e.
We f u l l y support the peace p r o j e c t e n u n c i a t e d at the N i n e t e e n th
E x t r a o r d i n a r y S e s s i o n of the P a l e s t i n e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l , convened from 13 to
15 November 1988 at A l g i e r s , as now r e f l e c t e d i n U n i t e d N a t i o n s General
Assembly r e s o l u t i o n s 43/176 and 43/177 of 15 December 1988.
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S p e c i f i c a l l y we welcome and e x p r e s s our s u p p o r t f o r t h e h i s t o r i c
p r o c l a m a t i o n of the S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e i n l i n e w i t h General Assembly
r e s o l u t i o n 181 ( I I ) .
We c a l l upon a l l Governments t h a t have not r e c o g n i z e d the new S t a t e of
P a l e s t i n e to do so and urge governmental and non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s to
e x t e n d every a s s i s t a n c e for t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g of the e d u c a t i o n a l , m e d i c a l,
economic and s o c i a l i n s t i t u t i o n s i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s , a n e c e s s a r y step
f o r the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of the P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e.
F u r t h e r , we h a i l the s t r u g g l e of the P a l e s t i n i a n people through the
i n t i f a d e h , now over one year o l d , as the p o p u l a r e x p r e s s i o n of i t s
i r r e p r e s s i b l e w i l l to c r e a t e c i r c u m s t a n c e s f o r s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n and
independence. We c a l l upon the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community to g i v e u n f l i n c h i ng
s u p p o r t to t h e i n t i f a d a h and u n i t e i n p r e s s i n g f o r an end t o i l l e g a l I s r a e li
o c c u p a t i o n , d e n i a l of the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people and
g r o s s human r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n s .
We c a l l f o r t h e prompt convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on
the M i d d l e East under U n i t e d N a t i o n s a u s p i c e s , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h the
g u i d e l i n e s s p e l t out under r e l e v a n t U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y
G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176 of December 1988.
We are aware of the major o b s t a c l e s that have thwarted the c o n v e n i n g of
the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference u n t i l now and the impediments t h a t remain.
But we are u n i t e d i n o u r d e t e r m i n a t i o n to overcome any b a r r i e r s to the peace
p r o c e s s and the c o n v e n i n g of the C o n f e r e n c e . We undertake to arouse
i n t e r n a t i o n a l p u b l i c o p i n i o n f o r t h e h o l d i n g of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace
C o n f e r e n c e u n t i l i t i s convened.
We r e a f f i r m t h a t peace i n t h e M i d d l e East i s u n a c h i e v a b l e w i t h o u t a j u st
s o l u t i o n of the P a l e s t i n e problem, and r e c o g n i z e t h a t peace e f f o r t s i n t h e
M i d d l e E a s t , and p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e new t h r u s t of P a l e s t i n i a n s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i on
r e f l e c t i n g a r e a l i s t i c and genuine d e s i r e f o r p r i n c i p l e d peace, f a c i l i t a t e and
form p a r t of a b r o a d e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace i n i t i a t i v e . We f i r m l y b e l i e v e that
independence and peace f o r P a l e s t i n e would c o n t r i b u t e p o s i t i v e l y t o g l o b al
peace.
We condemn the r e p r e s s i o n i n t h e West Bank and Gaza S t r i p and i t s
e s c a l a t i o n s . I n t e r n a t i o n a l v i g i l a n c e i n m o n i t o r i n g human r i g h t s v i o l a t i o ns
p e r p e t r a t e d against P a l e s t i n i a n s i s r e q u i r e d now more than ever.
We, t h e r e f o r e , e s p e c i a l l y i n v i e w of the i n t e r n a t i o n a l l e g i t i m a c y gained
by the P a l e s t i n e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l ' s d e c l a r a t i o n of a P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e to be
e s t a b l i s h e d on the P a l e s t i n i a n homeland, c a l l f o r t h e immediate i m p l e m e n t a t i on
of G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176 c o n c e r n i n g the p l a c i n g of t he
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d by I s r a e l s i n c e 1967 under the s u p e r v i s i o n of
the U n i t e d N a t i o n s f o r a l i m i t e d p e r i o d , as an e s s e n t i a l p a r t of the peace
p r o c e s s . Such an i m p o r t a n t i n t e r n a t i o n a l presence w i l l ensure the p h y s i c al
p r o t e c t i o n of the P a l e s t i n i a n people of the West Bank and Gaza S t r i p . The
U n i t e d N a t i o n s and i n t e r n a t i o n a l community are c a l l e d upon to bear f u ll
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n and s a f e t y of the P a l e s t i n i a n people under
o c c u p a t i o n.
-43-
We r e a f f i r m t h a t I s r a e l i s e t t l e m e n t s i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s are
i l l e g a l and r e a s s e r t the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c a l l for the d i s m a n t l i n g and e v a c u a t i on
o f those s e t t l e m e n t s on the West Bank and Gaza S t r i p as p r o c l a i m e d i n General
Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176. We c a l l upon the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , Governments and
non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s to take c o n c r e t e a c t i o n s to p r e v e n t the I s r a e li
r u l e r s from e s t a b l i s h i n g new s e t t l e m e n t s . We a l s o r e a f f i r m our pledge to
f u r t h e r our support for the r i g h t of the P a l e s t i n i a n s t o r e t u r n to t h e ir
homeland i n accordance w i t h General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 194 of 1948.
We f u r t h e r r e a f f i r m the s t r o n g c o n n e c t i o n between the s t r u g g l e f or
n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n and peace w i t h j u s t i c e i n the M i d d l e East and t h a t in
s o u t h e r n A f r i c a . We express our t o t a l and u n f l i n c h i n g s u p p o r t for the
s t r u g g l e f o r the r e a l i z a t i o n of the r i g h t s of s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , independence
and other human r i g h t s i n Namibia and South A f r i c a , which must be enjoyed on
the b a s i s of e q u a l i t y and n o n - d i s c r i m i n a t i o n . We c a l l upon a l l S t a t e s and the
i n t e r n a t i o n a l community to stop a i d i n g I s r a e l and a p a r t h e i d South A f r i c a , and
urge A f r i c a n S t a t e s to c o n t i n u e the severance of a l l r e l a t i o n s w i t h and the
i s o l a t i o n of both régimes u n t i l the people r e a l i z e i t s i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s.
We r e a f f i r m the n e c e s s i t y of s t r e n g t h e n i n g A f r o - A r a b c o - o p e r a t i o n as an
i n d i s p e n s a b l e medium of promoting the development of the two ( A f r i c a n and
Arab) p e o p l e s , as w e l l as the s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t d o m i n a t i o n and r a c i al
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n i n s o u t h e r n A f r i c a and i n I s r a e l i o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n e.
As non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s , we r e s o l v e to e x e r t every e f f o r t to
oppose the c o - o p e r a t i o n between I s r a e l and a p a r t h e i d South A f r i c a . We condemn
t h e i r m i l i t a r y n u c l e a r b u i l d - u p , which i s a s e r i o u s t h r e a t to r e g i o n a l and
i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace and s e c u r i t y.
We express our s o l i d a r i t y w i t h d e m o c r a t i c and p e a c e - l o v i n g f o r c e s i n
I s r a e l , which s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n i s t , e x p a n s i o n i s t and
m i l i t a r i s t p o l i c i e s and a c t i o n s , and which support the i n t i f a d a h . the
p r o c l a i m e d independent P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e on P a l e s t i n i a n land and the
i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people. We s t r o n g l y condemn the u n j u st
I s r a e l i law which p r o h i b i t s c o n t a c t s between the people of I s r a e l and the PLO
and demand i t s t o t a l and immediate a b r o g a t i o n.
We append the workshop r e p o r t s and urge A f r i c a n non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s to work i n a c o - o r d i n a t e d way to implement the recommendations.
We note the comments of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o - o r d i n a t i n g Committee f o r NGOs on
the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e and i t s e x p r e s s i o n of a s s i s t a n c e i n the development
o f our work.
We have f u r t h e r d e c i d e d to o r g a n i z e our work through an A f r i c an
c o - o r d i n a t i n g committee. ... We ask that t h i s r e p o r t be d i s s e m i n a t e d as
w i d e l y as p o s s i b l e throughout A f r i c a and through the i n t e r n a t i o n a l network of
non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s , as w e l l as to the media. We request the
U n i t e d N a t i o n s to p r o v i d e the f i n a n c i a l means f o r one meeting of the A f r i c an
C o - o r d i n a t i n g Committee per year, i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h the I n t e r n a t i o n a l NGO
M e e t i n g on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e.
We thank the U n i t e d N a t i o n s Committee on the E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b le
R i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n People, the D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s , the
Department of Conference S e r v i c e s of the S e c r e t a r i a t and our g r a c i o u s E g y p t i an
h o s t s f o r t h e i r e f f o r t s to ensure the success of the A f r i c a n NGO Symposium.
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ANNEX IV
C o n c l u s i o n s and recommendations adopted by t h e Twenty-second
U n i t e d N a t i o n s Seminar on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e
(New York, 19 and 20 June 1989)
I n t r o d u c t i on
1. The Twenty-second U n i t e d N a t i o n s Seminar on t h e Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e ( S i x th
N o r t h American R e g i o n a l Seminar), e n t i t l e d "The i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of t he
P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e " , was h e l d at U n i t e d N a t i o n s H e a d q u a r t e r s , New York, on 19 and
20 June 1989, i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h the terms o f G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 42/66 В
of 2 December 1987.
2. H.E. Mrs. Absa Claude D i a l l o ( S e n e g a l ) , Chairman o f t h e Committee on t he
E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n People, was Chairman;
H.E. Mr. A l e x a n d e r Borg O l i v i e r ( M a l t a ) , Rapporteur of the Committee, was
V i c e - C h a i r m a n ; and H.E. Mr. Tom Obaleh Kargbo ( S i e r r a Leone) was Rapporteur of t he
seminar.
3. Four meetings were h e l d and 12 p a n e l i s t s p r e s e n t e d papers on s e l e c t e d a s p e c ts
of the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e . In a d d i t i o n , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f 57 Governments,
P a l e s t i n e , two non-member S t a t e s , two U n i t e d N a t i o n s organs, s i x U n i t e d N a t i o ns
s p e c i a l i z e d agencies and b o d i e s , three i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , as w e l l as
two n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n movements a t t e n d e d the seminar.
4. At the o p e n i n g s e s s i o n , a message o f t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l of t h e U n i t e d
N a t i o n s , Mr. J a v i e r Perez de C u e l l a r , was read out by h i s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e,
Mr. Naseem M i r z a , C h i e f of the D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s.
Mrs. Absa Claude D i a l l o , Chairman of the seminar, a l s o addressed the meeting.
5. A message from Mr. Y a s s e r A r a f a t , Chairman of the E x e c u t i v e Committee o f t h e
P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n , was read out by Mr. Zuhdi L. T e r z i , Permanent
Observer of P a l e s t i n e t o the U n i t e d N a t i o n s.
6. Other statements were made a t the o p e n i n g s e s s i o n by the f o l l o w i n g:
Mr. Tesfaye Tadesse ( E t h i o p i a ) , Chairman of the S p e c i a l Committee on the S i t u a t i o n
w i t h regard to the I m p l e m e n t a t i o n of the D e c l a r a t i o n on the G r a n t i n g of
Independence to C o l o n i a l C o u n t r i e s and P e o p l e s , Mr. Guennadi Oudovenko ( U k r a i n i an
S o v i e t S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c ) , A c t i n g Chairman of the S p e c i a l Committee a g a i n st
A p a r t h e i d , Mr. Daya P e r e r a ( S r i L a n k a ) , Chairman of the S p e c i a l Committee to
I n v e s t i g a t e I s r a e l i P r a c t i c e s A f f e c t i n g the Human R i g h t s of t h e P o p u l a t i o n o f t h e
Occupied T e r r i t o r i e s , Mr. Ahmet E g i n Ansay, Permanent Observer of t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n
of the I s l a m i c Conference and Mr. Tebogo M a f o l e , C h i e f R e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h e
A f r i c a n N a t i o n a l Congress of South A f r i c a.
7. The seminar adopted a r e s o l u t i o n r e q u e s t i n g the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l and t he
P r e s i d e n t of t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to j o i n i n an immediate communication t o I s r a e l,
r e q u e s t i n g t h a t i t s h o u l d r e s c i n d the r e c e n t order f o r t h e d e p o r t a t i o n of
P a l e s t i n i a n s . The seminar a l s o adopted a message to Mr. Y a s s e r A r a f a t , Chairman of
the E x e c u t i v e Committee of t h e P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n.
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8. Two p a n e l s were e s t a b l i s h e d . The p a n e l s and t h e i r p a n e l i s t s were as f o l l o w s:
P a n e l I . (a) "The urgency of c o n v e n i n g the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on
the M i d d l e E a s t " ; (b) "The i n t i f a d a h i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y and i t s
impact on the achievement of a comprehensive s e t t l e m e n t of t h e M i d d l e East
c o n f l i c t " : Mr. M o r d e c h a i Bar-On ( I s r a e l ) , Rev. E l i a s Chacour ( P a l e s t i n i a n ),
Mr. R a f a e l E s t r e l l a ( S p a i n ) , Mr. James G r a f f (Canada), Ms. Z a h i r a Kamal
( P a l e s t i n i a n ) , Mr. L a t y r Kamara ( S e n e g a l ) , Mr. P a u l McClos)cey ( U n i t e d S t a t e s of
A m e r i c a ) , Ms. M a r g a r e t McCormack ( U n i t e d S t a t e s ) , Mr. Jack O ' D e l l ( U n i t e d S t a t e s ),
Mr. V. P. Vorobyov (Union of S o v i e t S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c s ) , Mr. James Zogby (United
S t a t e s ).
P a n e l I I . "The r o l e of t h e P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n i n t h e s o c i a l ,
c u l t u r a l , economic and p o l i t i c a l development of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e ":
Mr. Mohammad Abu Kosh ( P a l e s t i n i a n ).
9. The r e p o r t of t h e s e m i n a r , i n c l u d i n g summaries of t h e p r o c e e d i n g s , has been
p u b l i s h e d as a s p e c i a l b u l l e t i n o f the U n i t e d N a t i o n s D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n
R i g h t s.
C o n c l u s i o n s and recommendations
10. The c o n c l u s i o n s and recommendations adopted by the seminar are as f o l l o w s:
(a) The p a r t i c i p a n t s ^/ i n t h e seminar e x p r e s s e d t h e i r c o n v i c t i o n t h a t recent
developments r e g a r d i n g the A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t and i t s c o r e , the q u e s t i o n of
P a l e s t i n e , have c r e a t e d a new momentum f o r b r i n g i n g about a s o l u t i o n to t h i s
c o m p l i c a t e d and dangerous c o n f l i c t on the b a s i s of r e s o l u t i o n s of t h e U n i t e d
N a t i o n s and w i t h i n i t s framework. Those developments are m a i n l y due t o t h e
courageous and d e t e r m i n e d s t r u g g l e of the P a l e s t i n i a n people to a t t a i n and e x e r c i se
i t s i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s , p r i m a r i l y the r i g h t to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , as d r a m a t i c a l ly
m a n i f e s t e d i n t h e c o n t i n u i n g P a l e s t i n i a n u p r i s i n g , the i n t i f a d a h , i n t h e o c c u p i ed
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . The p r e s e n t i n t e r n a t i o n a l c l i m a t e , which i s c h a r a c t e r i t ed
by i n c r e a s i n g c o - o p e r a t i o n and t h e p o l i t i c a l w i l l to s o l v e r e g i o n a l c o n f l i c t s i n a
p e a c e f u l way t h r o u g h n e g o t i a t i o n s , i s s p e c i a l l y conducive to t h e s e a r c h f o r a
comprehensive, j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t of t h e q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e . I t i s
i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h i s h i s t o r i c o p p o r t u n i t y not be missed.
(b) The p a r t i c i p a n t s welcomed the r e s u l t s of t h e N i n e t e e n t h E x t r a o r d i n a ry
S e s s i o n of t h e P a l e s t i n e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l , held at A l g i e r s i n November 1988, and,
i n p a r t i c u l a r , the p o l i t i c a l statement, as w e l l as the p r o c l a m a t i o n of an
independent P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e , as a p o s i t i v e c o n t r i b u t i o n towards a p e a c e f ul
s e t t l e m e n t of the c o n f l i c t i n t h e r e g i o n . The d e c i s i o n adopted a t A l g i e r s and t h e
p o s i t i o n o u t l i n e d by Mr. Y a s s e r A r a f a t , Chairman of the E x e c u t i v e Committee of t h e
PLO, i n h i s address to the U n i t e d N a t i o n s G e n e r a l Assembly a t Geneva on
13 December 1988, as w e l l as i n o t h e r forums, are i m p o r t a n t landmarks i n the
i n t e r n a t i o n a l endeavours towards a c h i e v i n g a j u s t s e t t l e m e n t of t h e q u e s t i o n of
P a l e s t i n e and have r e s u l t e d i n i n c r e a s e d support by a l l s e c t o r s of t h e
i n t e r n a t i o n a l community f o r t h e c o n v e n i n g of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on
the M i d d l e East.
(c) The seminar welcomed the i n i t i a t i o n of a d i a l o g u e between the U n i t e d
S t a t e s and t h e PLO as a p o s i t i v e measure which c o n t r i b u t e d to r e d r e s s i n g the
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imbalance between the p a r t i e s . It was hoped t h a t the d i a l o g u e would l e a d to the
removal of o b s t a c l e s in the way of convening the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on
the M i d d l e East which, among o t h e r t h i n g s , should ensure the f u l l e x e r c i s e by the
P a l e s t i n i a n people of i t s l e g i t i m a t e n a t i o n a l r i g h t s i n P a l e s t i n e . The wish was
e x p r e s s e d t h a t such c o n t a c t s would l e a d to c o n c r e t e developments and to a
comprehensive s e t t l e m e n t of the c o n f l i c t . The seminar urged the Government of the
U n i t e d S t a t e s to c o n t i n u e i t s c o n t a c t s w i t h the PLO and to broaden the p o l i t i c al
scope of that d i a l o g u e.
(d) The p a r t i c i p a n t s s t r e s s e d that the ongoing u p r i s i n g of the P a l e s t i n i an
p e o p l e , now in i t s n i n e t e e n t h month, c o n f i r m s , in no u n c e r t a i n terms, t h a t the
P a l e s t i n i a n s are determined to r e s i s t , r e j e c t and end I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n of
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967. The peace i n i t i a t i v e s taken by the
P a l e s t i n i a n l e a d e r s h i p , as w e l l as the p r o c l a m a t i o n of the independent S t a t e of
P a l e s t i n e by the P a l e s t i n e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l at i t s n i n e t e e n t h e x t r a o r d i n a ry
s e s s i o n , have r e c e i v e d e n t h u s i a s t i c support from an overwhelming m a j o r i t y of
S t a t e s , which have h a i l e d i t as a c o n c r e t e c o n t r i b u t i o n towards peace.
S i g n i f i c a n t l y , a l a r g e number of S t a t e s (over 90) have a l r e a d y f o r m a l l y recognized
the S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e.
(e) The p a r t i c i p a n t s agreed that i t was incumbent upon the Government of
I s r a e l to respond p o s i t i v e l y to the stand taken by the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of the
P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , which has been welcomed and p r a i s e d by the i n t e r n a t i o n al
community. I s r a e l can no longer ignore the n a t i o n a l a s p i r a t i o n s of the
P a l e s t i n i a n s and deny them t h e i r p o l i t i c a l r i g h t s . The seminar c o n s i d e r e d that the
s o - c a l l e d peace i n i t i a t i v e proposed by the I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s was inadequate.
Under the I s r a e l i p l a n , the only f u n c t i o n of the e l e c t e d d e l e g a t e s would seem to be
to rubber stamp the p o l i c i e s of the o c c u p y i n g Power. Any v i a b l e peace p r o p o s al
must i n c l u d e i n t e r i m measures of p r o t e c t i o n for the P a l e s t i n i a n people and measures
w h i c h would enable the P a l e s t i n i a n s to e x e r c i s e f u l l y t h e i r r i g h t s to
s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n . The p a r t i c i p a n t s noted t h a t , as long as the I s r a e l i e l e c t i on
p r o p o s a l s remained s e p a r a t e from the f i n a l o b j e c t i v e of the e x e r c i s e by the
P a l e s t i n i a n people of i t s r i g h t to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , they would be n o t h i n g but a
d e v i c e f o r p e r p e t u a t i n g I s r a e l i occupation.
( f ) The seminar took note of and welcomed the r e s o l u t i o n s on the q u e s t i o n of
P a l e s t i n e adopted by the General Assembly at i t s f o r t y - t h i r d s e s s i o n on
15 December 1988 at Geneva. In p a r t i c u l a r , i t s t r e s s e d the s i g n i f i c a n c e and
t i m e l i n e s s of Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176 of 15 December 1988 c a l l i n g f o r the
c o n v e n i n g of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e E a s t , under the
a u s p i c e s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , with the p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f a l l p a r t i e s to the
c o n f l i c t , i n c l u d i n g the PLO, on an equal f o o t i n g , and the f i v e permanent members of
the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , based on S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n s 242 (1967) of
22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and the l e g i t i m a t e n a t i o n al
r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , p r i m a r i l y the r i g h t to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n . It
e x p r e s s e d i t s f u l l support f o r the p r i n c i p l e s c o n t a i n e d in p a r a g r a p h 3 of Assembly
r e s o l u t i o n 43/176, as a b a s i s for the achievement of a comprehensive peace.
C o g n i z a n t of the r o l e of the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l i n m a i n t a i n i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace
and s e c u r i t y , the p a r t i c i p a n t s i n the seminar urged the C o u n c i l to e x p e d i t e the
c o n v e n i n g of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East, and to adopt
i n t e r i m measures, i n c l u d i n g the deployment of a U n i t e d N a t i o n s p e a c e - k e e p i n g f o r ce
to s a f e g u a r d the p h y s i c a l s e c u r i t y of the i n h a b i t a n t s of the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i an
t e r r i t o r y , and to b r i n g about s t a b i l i t y i n the r e g i o n pending agreement on a f i n al
comprehensive s e t t l e m e n t . The p a r t i c i p a n t s c o n s i d e r e d that i t was incumbent upon
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I s r a e l to t e r m i n a t e i t s o c c u p a t i o n i n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i on
242 (1967) and to a c c e p t the terms f o r a l a s t i n g and comprehensive s e t t l e m e n t , as
agreed by the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community as a whole, as s t a t e d above.
(g) The p a r t i c i p a n t s r e g r e t t e d that one permanent member had p r e v e n t e d the
S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l from t a k i n g a c t i o n on measures i n d i s p e n s a b l e for e n s u r i n g the
s a f e t y and p r o t e c t i o n of P a l e s t i n i a n s i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . They
p o i n t e d out t h a t , t a k i n g i n t o account the g r a v i t y of the a c t s of v i o l e n c e and
r e p r e s s i o n by I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s a g a i n s t P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s i n t h e o c c u p i ed
t e r r i t o r y , the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l should assume i t s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s and p r o v i d e f o r
the p r o t e c t i o n of the P a l e s t i n i a n people under o c c u p a t i o n . They c a l l e d upon
I s r a e l , as the o c c u p y i n g Power, to r e s p e c t the Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e to t he
P r o t e c t i o n of C i v i l i a n Persons i n Time of War, of 1949, a c c e p t the de j u re
a p p l i c a b i l i t y of the C o n v e n t i o n to the P a l e s t i n i a n and o t h e r Arab t e r r i t o r i es
o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , and f u l l y comply w i t h i t s o b l i g a t i o ns
under t h a t Convention.
(h) The p a r t i c i p a n t s e x p r e s s e d s e r i o u s concern at the c o n t i n u e d grave
v i o l a t i o n s of the human r i g h t s of the c i v i l i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i ed
t e r r i t o r y . The e n t i r e i n t e r n a t i o n a l community, as r e p r e s e n t e d at the U n i t ed
N a t i o n s and o t h e r forums, has r e p e a t e d l y d e c l a r e d t h a t the I s r a e l i acts of v i o l e n ce
a g a i n s t the P a l e s t i n i a n s i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y are b l a t a nt
v i o l a t i o n s of t h e p r o v i s i o n s of the Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e to the P r o t e c t i o n of
C i v i l i a n Persons i n Time of War, which i s f u l l y b i n d i n g on I s r a e l - a S t a t e Party
t o the C o n v e n t i o n . The I s r a e l i a c t i o n s are a l s o c o n t r a r y to U n i t e d N a t i o ns
r e s o l u t i o n s and t o t h e g e n e r a l l y accepted norms of i n t e r n a t i o n a l law. In Gaza
e s p e c i a l l y , new measures to c o n t r o l the movement of i n d i v i d u a l s had produced
t i n d e r - b o x c o n d i t i o n s that c o u l d i g n i t e at any moment. In t h e West Bank, s e t t l er
v i g i l a n c e t h r e a t e n e d to degenerate i n t o l a r g e - s c a l e b l o o d - l e t t i n g . New e x t r e m i st
elements were t a k i n g over and had begun k i l l i n g women and c h i l d r e n . The
p a r t i c i p a n t s s t r o n g l y opposed the p r e s e n c e of s e t t l e r s i n t h e o c c u p i ed
t e r r i t o r i e s . They e x p r e s s e d the view t h a t the I s r a e l i p o l i c y of e s t a b l i s h i ng
s e t t l e m e n t s i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y was not o n l y a u s u r p a t i o n of the i n a l i e n a b le
r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , but a l s o an o b s t a c l e to the s o l u t i o n of t he
A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t.
( i ) The p a r t i c i p a n t s drew p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n to the damaging e f f e c t s of t he
b l a n k e t c l o s u r e of s c h o o l s , i n c l u d i n g p r i m a r y s c h o o l s and k i n d e r g a r t e n s , as w e l l as
the b a r r i n g of any a l t e r n a t i v e t e a c h i n g i n t h e West Bank, which had s e r i o us
i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r t h e e d u c a t i o n and c o g n i t i v e development of an e n t i r e g e n e r a t i o n of
P a l e s t i n i a n c h i l d r e n . The p a r t i c i p a n t s noted f u r t h e r that those massive v i o l a t i o ns
of human r i g h t s had not succeeded i n e n d i n g the i n t i f a d a h and were bound to f a i l .
Moreover, p e r s i s t e n c e by I s r a e l i n a c t s of a g g r e s s i o n a g a i n s t n e i g h b o u r i n g S t a t e s,
i n p a r t i c u l a r Lebanon, endangered s e c u r i t y i n t h e r e g i o n.
( j ) The p a r t i c i p a n t s e x p r e s s e d t h e i r concern a t t h e r e p r e s s i v e economic
measures by I s r a e l aimed a t b r i n g i n g about the economic s t r a n g u l a t i o n of t he
o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s . In p a r t i c u l a r , the p a r t i c i p a n t s e x p r e s s ed
o u t r a g e a t t h e p o l i c i e s of l a r g e - s c a l e , u p r o o t i n g of t r e e s , a p p r o p r i a t i o n of water
r e s o u r c e s and wanton d e s t r u c t i o n of houses and b u i l d i n g s , which are c a u s i ng
i r r e p a r a b l e damage t o t h e environment and v e r y s e r i o u s s o c i a l and economic
consequences f o r t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people under o c c u p a t i o n.
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(к) The seminar appealed to the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to take urgent measures to
p r o t e c t the P a l e s t i n i a n people under o c c u p a t i o n , to guarantee the s a f e t y and
s e c u r i t y and the l e g a l and human r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n refugees i n a l l the
t e r r i t o r i e s under I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n . The U n i t e d N a t i o n s system, as w e l l as
i n t e r n a t i o n a l , r e g i o n a l and n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , s h o u l d c o n t i n u e and s t r e n g t h en
t h e i r h u m a n i t a r i a n a s s i s t a n c e to the P a l e s t i n i a n s under o c c u p a t i o n and to
P a l e s t i n i a n r e f u g e e s . In p a r t i c u l a r , the seminar urged an e x p a n s i o n of the Refugee
A f f a i r s O f f i c e r Programme of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s R e l i e f and Works Agency f or
P a l e s t i n e Refugees i n the Near East (UNRWA), which p r o v i d e s some measure of
p r o t e c t i o n by m o n i t o r i n g b e h a v i o u r towards the P a l e s t i n i a n s by I s r a e l , the
o c c u p y i n g Power. The seminar b e l i e v e d t h a t the number of R e l i e f Agency
O r g a n i z a t i o n s i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y should be i n c r e a s e d to p r o v i de
24 hours' m o n i t o r i n g s e r v i c e s . The p a r t i c i p a n t s urged as w e l l the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of
s t a f f e d n e u r o - s u r g i c a l f a c i l i t i e s i n s u i t a b l e h o s p i t a l s at Gaza and Nablus, in
o r d e r to p e r m i t immediate treatment of the i n c r e a s i n g number of P a l e s t i n i an
c i v i l i a n s s u f f e r i n g s e r i o u s head wounds, to p r e v e n t death and permanent
d i s a b i l i t y . At p r e s e n t , Maquassed H o s p i t a l i s the o n l y h o s p i t a l i n East Jerusalem
t h a t has such f a c i l i t i e s . P a l e s t i n i a n s s u f f e r i n g s e r i o u s head wounds must be
t r a n s p o r t e d e i t h e r to T e l A v i v or to J e r u s a l e m f o r t r e a t m e n t , which r e s u l t s in
d e l a y s t h r e a t e n i n g t h e i r l i v e s or c a u s i n g permanent handicaps.
(1) The seminar a l s o urged the U n i t e d N a t i o n s C h i l d r e n ' s Fund (UNICEF) and
o t h e r s u i t a b l e U n i t e d N a t i o n s agencies to e s t a b l i s h programmes to address the
s p e c i a l needs of P a l e s t i n i a n c h i l d r e n , p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y and e m o t i o n a l l y t r a u m a t i z ed
by the I s r a e l i Defence Force and s e t t l e r v i o l e n c e d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t them, t h e ir
f a m i l i e s , neighbours and peers. The seminar supported as w e l l the e x p a n s i o n of the
p r o t e c t i v e r o l e of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Committee f o r the Red Cross (ICRC) and the
e x t e n s i o n of i t s a c t i v i t i e s to p r o v i d e emergency m e d i c a l s e r v i c e s at a l l l e v e l s .
P a r t i c i p a n t s b e l i e v e t h a t ICRC c o u l d be h e l p f u l i n e s t a b l i s h i n g the n e u r o - s u r g i c al
f a c i l i t i e s r e f e r r e d to above. S u s t a i n e d and i n c r e a s e d support s h o u l d be c h a n n e l l ed
t h r o u g h a l l a v a i l a b l e means, i n c l u d i n g the agencies and bodies of the U n i t ed
N a t i o n s system, i n p a r t i c u l a r through UNRWA, as w e l l as through non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s w o r k i n g d i r e c t l y i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y . The seminar c o n s i d e r ed
t h a t i n t e n s i f i e d e f f o r t s towards genuine development of the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y,
w i t h the c l o s e i n v o l v e m e n t of the P a l e s t i n i a n people through i t s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e,
the PLO, must be a n e c e s s a r y accompaniment of renewed e f f o r t s to a c h i e v e a
p o l i t i c a l s o l u t i o n of the q u e s t i o n.
(m) The seminar a f f i r m e d t h a t the d e n i a l of the e x e r c i s e of the l e g i t i m a te
n a t i o n a l r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people remains the core of the c o n f l i c t i n the
M i d d l e East and t h a t a comprehensive, j u s t and l a s t i n g peace i n the r e g i o n cannot
be a c h i e v e d w i t h o u t the f u l l e x e r c i s e of those r i g h t s , and w i t h o u t the w i t h d r a w al
of I s r a e l from the P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g Jerusalem,
and other o c c u p i e d Arab t e r r i t o r i e s . It f u r t h e r a f f i r m e d t h a t the PLO i s the s o le
l e g i t i m a t e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , and, as such, i s an e s s e n t i al
p a r t y to any n e g o t i a t i o n s aimed at r e s o l v i n g the c o n f l i c t by p e a c e f u l means.
(n) The seminar a p p r e c i a t e d the e f f o r t s of the Committee on the E x e r c i s e of
the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n People to secure u n i v e r s a l r e c o g n i t i o n of
the i n a l i e n a b l e n a t i o n a l r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , and of i t s
recommendations, made i n i t s r e p o r t i n 1976, h/ and r e p e a t e d l y endorsed by the
U n i t e d N a t i o n s General Assembly s i n c e then, f o r e n s u r i n g the e x e r c i s e by the
P a l e s t i n i a n people of those r i g h t s . The seminar a l s o noted w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n the
i n c r e a s e d support at the U n i t e d N a t i o n s f o r the programme of a c t i o n undertaken by
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the Committee. It urged the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community to s u s t a i n and s t r e n g t h e n i t s
s u p p o r t f o r the Committee's a c t i v i t i e s and endeavours, i n p a r t i c u l a r i t s e f f o r ts
f o r f a c i l i t a t i n g the convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the Middle
E a s t.
(o) The seminar s t a t e d that the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community was deeply and f i r m ly
c o n v i n c e d of the urgent need to achieve a j u s t , comprehensive and l a s t i n g p o l i t i c al
s e t t l e m e n t of the A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t . There was a broad consensus r e g a r d i n g the
need f o r convening the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East in
accordance w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176. Movement towards peace i n the
r e g i o n was f a c i l i t a t e d by the c a r e f u l l y b a l a n c e d P a l e s t i n i a n p o s i t i o n . The
c o n t i n u i n g o b s t a c l e was the i n f l e x i b l e a t t i t u d e of I s r a e l . The p a r t i c i p a n t s c a l l ed
on I s r a e l to abandon i t s n e g a t i v e p o s i t i o n and to respond p o s i t i v e l y to
i n t e r n a t i o n a l e f f o r t s to a t t a i n a j u s t s e t t l e m e n t.
(p) The seminar welcomed the p o s i t i v e r e s u l t s of the Arab Summit, h e l d at
C a s a b l a n c a i n May 1989. The Arab S t a t e s , once more, committed themselves to
m e a n i n g f u l p o l i t i c a l and economic support to the P a l e s t i n i a n u p r i s i n g . The seminar
welcomed, i n p a r t i c u l a r , the u n e q u i v o c a l support of the Summit f o r the convening of
the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e East. Those a c t i o n s taken
unanimously by the Summit c o n t r i b u t e d to e f f o r t s for a c h i e v i n g a p e a c e f ul
s e t t l e m e n t of the A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t and i t s c o r e , the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e.
(q) The seminar noted w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n t h a t p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n N o r t h America
was becoming i n c r e a s i n g l y aware of the p l i g h t of the P a l e s t i n i a n s under o c c u p a t i on
and the urgent need to f i n d a j u s t s o l u t i o n to the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e . The
seminar agreed t h a t e f f o r t s should be c o n t i n u e d and i n t e n s i f i e d to m o b i l i ze
o f f i c i a l and p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n N o r t h America, e s p e c i a l l y through the use of the
media and a c t i v i t i e s of n a t i o n a l and i n t e r n a t i o n a l non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s.
The U n i t e d N a t i o n s s h o u l d undertake a d d i t i o n a l e f f o r t s to d i s s e m i n a t e f a c t u a l and
u p - t o - d a t e i n f o r m a t i o n on the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , the p l i g h t of P a l e s t i n i a ns
under o c c u p a t i o n and the urgent need to p r o v i d e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o t e c t i o n to the
Arab c i v i l i a n s i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y , as w e l l as the measures r e q u i r e d to be
t a k e n f o r the achievement of a j u s t s o l u t i o n to the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e on the
b a s i s of the a t t a i n m e n t and e x e r c i s e by the P a l e s t i n i a n people of i t s inalienable
r i g h t s . The Committee on the E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of the Palestinian
P e o p l e and the D i v i s i o n of P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s have an i m p o r t a n t r o l e i n the
d i s s e m i n a t i o n of such i n f o r m a t i o n.
( r ) The seminar c o n s i d e r e d t h a t the media and p u b l i c i n s t i t u t i o n s,
u n i v e r s i t i e s , c o l l e g e s , r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t e s , churches and other r e l i g i o us
e s t a b l i s h m e n t s , as w e l l as n a t i o n a l and i n t e r n a t i o n a l non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s , have a c r u c i a l r o l e to p l a y i n the f o r m a t i o n of p u b l i c opinion and
i n i n f l u e n c i n g o f f i c i a l p o l i c y , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n the U n i t e d S t a t e s of America and
Canada. Those i n s t i t u t i o n s and the media s h o u l d be urged to give wider coverage
and more b a l a n c e d t r e a t m e n t to the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e.
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а/ On 20 June 1989, Mr. Mordechai Bar-On, i n a w r i t t e n communication,
i n f o r m e d the U n i t e d N a t i o n s D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s t h a t he wanted to
e x p r e s s h i s a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r t h e work of the Committee on the E x e r c i s e of t he
I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n People and h i s g r a t i t u d e f o r t h e o p p o r t u n i ty
g i v e n to him t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e seminar. He f e l t much sympathy w i t h most of the
wordin g of the c o n c l u s i o n s and recommendations of the seminar, y e t he f e l t that he
c o u l d not endorse them f o r m a l l y , s i n c e he h e l d d i f f e r e n t c o n v i c t i o n s w i t h respect
to some i m p o r t a n t p o i n t s . He added t h a t the document was d r a f t e d , u n d e r s t a n d a b l y,
from the p e r s p e c t i v e of the Committee, which s t r e s s e d the r i g h t s o f t he
P a l e s t i n i a n s , but t h a t i t g i v e s l i t t l e c o n s i d e r a t i o n to t h e problems of I s r a e l i n
t h i s t r a g i c c o n f l i c t.
b/ See O f f i c i a l Records of the G e n e r a l Assembly, T h i r t y - f i r s t S e s s i o n,
Supplement No. 3 5 (A/31/35).
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ANNEX V
Declaration adopted by the United Nations North American
Regional NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine
(New York, 21 to 23 June 1989)
Introduction
1- The Sixth North American Regional NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine
was held from 21 June to 23 June 1989, in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 43/175 В of 15 December 1988.
2. Representatives of 106 non-governmental organizations from Canada and the
United States of America participated i n the work of the Symposium, 35 of whom were
observers. Several observers from Governments, intergovernmental organizations and
United Nations bodies also participated.
3. Mrs. Absa Claude D i a l l o (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the P a l e s t i n i a n People, opened the meeting on behalf
of the Committee. The programme of the Symposium was elaborated by the Committee
i n consultation with the North American Co-ordination Committee for NGOs on the
Question of Palestine. The o v e r a l l theme was "The inalienable rights of the
P a l e s t i n i a n people".
4. The following panels were established:
Panel I. "The i n t i f a d a h ; creating a new context for peace";
Ms. Zahira Kamal, Chairman, Palestine Federation of Women's Action Committees;
Mr. Meir Amor, graduate student, Tel Aviv University; Rev. E l i a s Chacour, Melkite
p r i e s t , Galilee, Israel.
Panel II. "Convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East,
i n accordance with United Nations General Assembly resolution 43/176: implications
for Israel and the United States of the proclamation of the State of Palestine, the
P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e , and the i n t i f a d a h " : Mr. Mahdi Abdul-Hadi, foimder of
the Arab Thought Forum, President, Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of
International A f f a i r s , Jerusalem; Mr. Mattityahu Peled, Professor of Arabic
L i t e r a t u r e , Tel Aviv University; Ms. Margaret McCormack, a p o l i t i c a l consultant
from the United States of America.
5. Eight workshops addressed the following topics;
(a) Mobilizing public awareness i n North America: mobilizing concern and
support for:
( i ) Palestinian children;
( i i ) Palestinian medical and health services;
( i i i ) The victims of punitive v i o l a t i o n s of the fourth Geneva Convention?
(iv) Palestinian workers and t h e i r conditions of labour;
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(b) Development of a c t i o n - o r i e n t e d s t r a t e g i e s f o r b e t t e r c o - o r d i n a t i o n and
o r g a n i z a t i o n i n N o r t h America:
( i ) P e o p l e - t o - p e o p l e campaigns;
( i i ) E l e c t o r a l i n i t i a t i v e s and m o b i l i z i n g p u b l i c o p i n i o n;
( i i i ) Humanitarian and m a t e r i a l a i d p r o j e c t s;
( i v ) C o n g r e s s i o n a l and p a r l i a m e n t a r y s t r a t e g i e s : human r i g h t s , f o r e i g n p o l i cy
and f o r e i g n a i d.
6. The D e c l a r a t i o n of the Symposium was adopted unanimously and i s r e p r o d u c ed
below. The r e p o r t , i n c l u d i n g summaries of the p r e s e n t a t i o n s , has been p u b l i s h e d as
a s p e c i a l b u l l e t i n o f the U n i t e d N a t i o n s D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s.
D e c l a r a t i on
We, the non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n the S i x t h U n i t ed
N a t i o n s N o r t h American R e g i o n a l NGO Symposium on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e,
w i s h to thank the U n i t e d N a t i o n s Committee on the E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b le
R i g h t s of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n People f o r making t h i s meeting p o s s i b l e . We are
i n d e e d honoured by the r e c e p t i o n , and the p r e s e n c e of the members and
o b s e r v e r s of t h i s d i s t i n g u i s h e d U n i t e d N a t i o n s body.
We w i s h a l s o to thank the C h i e f of the D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n Rights
and are e s p e c i a l l y g r a t e f u l f o r h i s e n t h u s i a s t i c support throughout our
d e l i b e r a t i o n s .
We w i s h to thank a l s o the l i a i s o n o f f i c e r s , the s t a f f of the D i v i s i o n and
the Department of Conference S e r v i c e s of the S e c r e t a r i a t f o r t h e i r i n v a l u a b le
a s s i s t a n c e i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n and e x e c u t i o n of t h i s meeting.
We are encouraged t h a t about 90 S t a t e s Members of t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s have
r e c o g n i s e d the S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e , and encourage our own Governments t o j o i n
t h i s i n t e r n a t i o n a l consensus.
We note w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n the r e c o r d attendance and p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h i s
y e a r ' s Symposium, and the commitment to P a l e s t i n i a n r i g h t s and a j u s t and
l a s t i n g s o l u t i o n to the I s r a e l i / P a l e s t i n i a n c o n f l i c t t h a t such p a r t i c i p a t i on
r e p r e s e n t s.
We w i s h a l s o to v o i c e our a p p r e c i a t i o n to the d i s t i n g u i s h e d expert
p a n e l i s t s , workshop o r g a n i z e r s , resource persons and f a c i l i t a t o r s who o f f e r ed
t h e i r i n v a l u a b l e i n s i g h t s i n t o the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e and t h e p o t e n t i al
c e n t r a l r o l e to be p l a y e d by non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n N o r t h America.
The p r a c t i c a l s u g g e s t i o n s and s t r a t e g i e s developed i n t h e workshops a s s i s t ed
us i n f o r m u l a t i n g f u t u r e c o l l a b o r a t i v e e f f o r t s i n N o r t h America and i n l i n k i n g
our e f f o r t s to a broader g l o b a l network.
We r e s o l u t e l y r e a f f i r m the i n t e r n a t i o n a l consensus t h a t the PLO i s t h e
s o l e and l e g i t i m a t e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the P a l e s t i n i a n people. We a f f i r m the
i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h a l l r e l e v a nt
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U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g t l i e r i g h t to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n w i t h o ut
e x t e r n a l i n t e r f e r e n c e , the r i g h t to e s t a b l i s h an independent P a l e s t i n i a n S t a te
on i t s own n a t i o n a l t e r r i t o r y under the l e a d e r s h i p o f the PLO, and the r i g ht
o f r e t u r n . We r e s o l u t e l y r e a f f i r m the i n t e r n a t i o n a l consensus as expressed
t h r o u g h General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/177, acknowledging the p r o c l a m a t i o n of
the S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e by the P a l e s t i n e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l and the r e c o g n i t i on
t h r o u g h o u t the U n i t e d N a t i o n s system of " P a l e s t i n e " i n p l a c e of the
d e s i g n a t i o n " P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n ".
We welcome the P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e as a c o n c r e t e c o n t r i b u t i o n to
the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a j u s t and l a s t i n g peace i n the r e g i o n . We c a l l upon the
Governments of the U n i t e d S t a t e s of America and I s r a e l to accept t h is
i n i t i a t i v e by s u p p o r t i n g the immediate convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace
Conference i n accordance w i t h General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176. We also
c a l l upon the Government of Canada to support u n e q u i v o c a l l y the I n t e r n a t i o n al
Peace Conference and to use i t s i n f l u e n c e w i t h i n the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to
s e c u r e unanimous support f o r t h a t c o n f e r e n c e . We condemn the Shamir
" e l e c t i o n " p r o p o s a l as a mere p r e t e x t and t r a n s p a r e n t p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s p l o y to
c o v e r I s r a e l ' s i l l e g a l o c c u p a t i o n and i n t e n s i f i e d r e p r e s s i o n o f the i n t i f a d a h.
We b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s meeting c o n t r i b u t e d t o the c o n s t r u c t i v e i n t e r a c t i on
between the U n i t e d N a t i o n s and the N o r t h American non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n community concerned w i t h the promotion of the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of
G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176 of 15 December 1988, c a l l i n g for an
i n t e r n a t i o n a l U n i t e d N a t i o n s sponsored peace c o n f e r e n c e on the M i d d l e East.
We r e a f f i r m our unwavering commitment to support the P a l e s t i n i a n people
and i t s s t r u g g l e f o r s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n . We c a l l for the immediate w i t h d r a w al
o f I s r a e l i f o r c e s from the P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967,
i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , and other o c c u p i e d Arab t e r r i t o r i e s.
We honour the v i c t i m s of I s r a e l ' s b r u t a l and s e n s e l e s s r e p r e s s i o n o f the
p o p u l a r P a l e s t i n i a n u p r i s i n g , i n c l u d i n g the many hundreds f a t a l l y shot,
b e a t e n , gassed and o t h e r w i s e b r u t a l l y murdered. We a l s o honour the s c o r e s of
thousands wounded and i m p r i s o n e d under inhuman c o n d i t i o n s i n v i o l a t i o n of
i n t e r n a t i o n a l law.
We undertake to i n t e n s i f y our e f f o r t s to a l l e v i a t e the s u f f e r i n g of those
who have been the t a r g e t s of I s r a e l i v i o l e n c e , e s p e c i a l l y the c h i l d r e n , many
thousands of whom have been maimed, permanently d i s a b l e d and e m o t i o n a l ly
t r a u m a t i z e d . We c a l l upon U n i t e d N a t i o n s a g e n c i e s , e s p e c i a l l y the U n i t ed
N a t i o n s C h i l d r e n ' s Fund, the U n i t e d N a t i o n s R e l i e f and Works Agency f or
P a l e s t i n e Refugees i n the Near East (UNRWA), the World H e a l t h O r g a n i z a t i o n,
the U n i t e d N a t i o n s Centre f o r Human R i g h t s and the U n i t e d N a t i o n s Development
Programme, to i n t e n s i f y t h e i r e f f o r t s to address the e d u c a t i o n a l , m e d i c a l and
g e n e r a l economic and s o c i a l needs of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , i n c o - o p e r a t i on
w i t h P a l e s t i n i a n g r a s s - r o o t s o r g a n i z a t i o n s . We c a l l upon S t a t e s Members of
the U n i t e d N a t i o n s to i n c r e a s e t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n s and support f o r such
e f f o r t s .
We f u r t h e r commit o u r s e l v e s to p r o v i d e m o r a l , p o l i t i c a l and m a t e r i al
s u p p o r t f o r the i n t i f a d a h . We r e c o g n i z e t h a t independent s t a t e h o o d f or
P a l e s t i n e , as demanded by the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , l e d by the PLO, i s the
e x p r e s s i o n of P a l e s t i n i a n s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , as w e l l as a b a s i c n e c e s s i t y f o r
the p r e s e r v a t i o n o f the e n t i r e P a l e s t i n i a n people.
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We c a l l upon the U n i t e d N a t i o n s S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l and the
S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l to seek to arrange an e x t r a o r d i n a r y s e s s i o n of the U n i t ed
N a t i o n s General Assembly to d i s c u s s the p r o t e c t i o n of the P a l e s t i n i a n people
i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y . We f u r t h e r c a l l upon t h a t e x t r a o r d i n a r y s e s s i o n to
d i s p a t c h an i n t e r i m i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace-keeping f o r c e to r e p l a c e the I s r a e li
o c c u p y i n g f o r c e s i n order to p r o v i d e p r o t e c t i o n and to ensure r e s p e c t f o r the
human and p o l i t i c a l r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p o p u l a t i o n of the West Bank and
Gaza. In case i t i s i m p o s s i b l e to o b t a i n such a f o r c e , we c a l l upon the
U n i t e d N a t i o n s General Assembly to request an A d v i s o r y O p i n i o n of the
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Court of J u s t i c e on the a p p l i c a b i l i t y o f the 1949 Geneva
C o n v e n t i o n and the o b l i g a t i o n to pay compensation f o r v i o l a t i o n s of the
C o n v e n t i o n . In a d d i t i o n , we urge an expansion of the Refugee A f f a i r s O f f i c er
Programme of UNRWA which p r o v i d e s some measures of p r o t e c t i o n by m o n i t o r i ng
b e h a v i o u r towards the P a l e s t i n i a n s by I s r a e l , the o c c u p y i n g Power.
We r e c o g n i z e and express our concern for the r o l e t h a t r a c i s m , both
de f a c t o and de j u r e , p l a y s i n the s i t u a t i o n and treatment of P a l e s t i n i a ns
i n s i d e and o u t s i d e the 1967 occupied t e r r i t o r y . State a c t i o n s d i r e c t ed
a g a i n s t P a l e s t i n i a n s by the Government of I s r a e l , s u p p o r t e d by c o n t i n u ed
U n i t e d S t a t e s a i d to I s r a e l i n v i o l a t i o n of U n i t e d S t a t e s law, as made c l e ar
i n the U n i t e d S t a t e s S t a t e Department human r i g h t s r e p o r t on I s r a e l and the
o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s , shows c l e a r l y t h a t racism serves as a b u t t r e s s for
d e n i a l of the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people. This i s of
g r o w i n g immediate concern as the number of house d e m o l i t i o n s , land and water
c o n f i s c a t i o n s are i n c r e a s i n g , both w i t h i n I s r a e l and w i t h i n the occupied
t e r r i t o r y , under the p r e t e x t of s u p p r e s s i o n of the i n t i f a d a h.
We are p a r t i c u l a r l y alarmed at the r e c e n t l y uncovered document of the
M i n i s t r y of the I n t e r i o r of I s r a e l , d i r e c t i n g the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of the 1986
( M a r k o w i t z ) Government commission r e p o r t , which c a l l s for the e r a d i c a t i o n of
tens of s o - c a l l e d " u n r e c o g n i z e d " P a l e s t i n i a n v i l l a g e s w i t h i n the green l i n e.
We a l s o support the urgent appeal from the I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o - o r d i n a t i ng
Committee f o r NGOs on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e (ICCP) and w i l l work w i t h ICCP
t o p r o t e s t the c u r r e n t l y proposed amendment to the I s r a e l i P r e v e n t i o n of
T e r r o r i s m Ordinance, which may become law by the end of June. By empowering
the Government to s e i z e a r b i t r a r i l y the p r o p e r t y of, and shut down, community
s e r v i c e o r g a n i z a t i o n s , on the p r e t e x t that the sources of t h e i r f u n d i n g may be
" t a i n t e d " , that amendment t h r e a t e n s the a b i l i t y of the P a l e s t i n i a n community
t o defend i t s e l f , among o t h e r t h i n g s , a g a i n s t the f i n a l phase of the
J u d a i z a t i o n p r o c e s s . The amendment w i l l a l s o s e r i o u s l y t h r e a t e n the e x i s t e n ce
of P a l e s t i n i a n s o c i a l and n a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s i n East J e r u s a l e m and can
t h r e a t e n the r i g h t s of P a l e s t i n i a n s in the West Bank and Gaza S t r i p as w e l l.
We note w i t h a p p r e c i a t i o n the i n c r e a s i n g numbers of I s r a e l i i n d i v i d u a ls
and o r g a n i z a t i o n s who decry racism, support a p o l i t i c a l s o l u t i o n and support
the n a t i o n a l and human r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people. A c t i o n s such as
r e s i s t a n c e to m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , p u b l ic
d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , peace c a r a v a n s , v i s i t s to P a l e s t i n i a n towns and v i l l a g e s that
have been a t t a c k e d by s o l d i e r s and s e t t l e r s , and the many o t h e r a c t i o n s and
i n i t i a t i v e s of I s r a e l i peace f o r c e s are e s s e n t i a l elements i n changing
o f f i c i a l I s r a e l i p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s towards P a l e s t i n e.
We are encouraged by General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/178 of
20 December 1988 for i t s a c t i o n s taken to empower the U n i t e d N a t i o n s Centre
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f o r Human S e t t l e m e n t s ( H a b i t a t ) to engage a committee of e x p e r t s , i n
c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the PLO, f o r t h e purpose of a comprehensive development plan
i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . We welcome the r e s o l u t i o n adopted by
the Commission on Human S e t t l e m e n t s on 2 May 1989, condemning I s r a e l 's
d e m o l i t i o n of P a l e s t i n i a n homes and d e c r y i n g I s r a e l ' s a l t e r a t i o n of t h e
demographic c h a r a c t e r of the 1967 o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s.
We are a l s o encouraged t h a t the Commission on Human R i g h t s has a c t i v e ly
t a k e n up t h e i s s u e s of P a l e s t i n i a n r i g h t s i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y and would
encourage the Sub-Commission on the P r e v e n t i o n of D i s c r i m i n a t i o n and
P r o t e c t i o n of M i n o r i t i e s t o take up the i s s u e of the i n e q u a l i t y o f I s r a e li
c i t i z e n s h i p t h a t d i s a d v a n t a g e s the P a l e s t i n i a n Arab m i n o r i t y w i t h i n I s r a e l.
We acknowledge the Economic and S o c i a l C o u n c i l ' s r e s o l u t i o n 1988/54 of
26 J u l y 1988, r e q u e s t i n g the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community, the o r g a n i z a t i o n s of t he
U n i t e d N a t i o n s system, i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s and non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s to s u s t a i n and i n c r e a s e t h e i r a s s i s t a n c e to t h e P a l e s t i n i a n
p e o p l e i n c l o s e c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h the PLO.
The aim o f t h i s meeting i s t o d e v e l o p p r a c t i c a l o r g a n i z i n g s t r a t e g i e s and
s u p p o r t p r o j e c t s f o r c o n c e r t e d a c t i o n by N o r t h American non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s . Our p r i m a r y work was conducted i n workshops and we r e c e i v ed
t h e i r recommendations, and commend them t o a l l non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o ns
f o r t h e i r c a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n and i m p l e m e n t a t i o n.
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ANNEX VI
Dgclgtrgitign gidppted by thg U n i t e d N a t i o n s Eyirgpggn Rggignal
NÇQ Symppsiyun on thg Q y g g t i p n of P g i j e s t i n g
( V i e n n a , 28 and 29 August 1989)
I n t r o d u c t i on
1. The U n i t e d N a t i o n s European R e g i o n a l NGO Symposium on the Q u e s t i o n of
P a l e s t i n e , the t h i r d f o r t h e European r e g i o n , was h e l d under the a u s p i c e s of t he
Committee on the E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e at
the A u s t r i a C e n t r e , Vienna, on 28 and 29 August 1989. The Symposium was convened
i n pursuance of G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n s 42/66 A and В o f 2 December 1987.
2. A t o t a l of 214 r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s attended the
Symposium, 132 of them as o b s e r v e r s . Several o b s e r v e r s from Governments,
o r g a n i z a t i o n s . U n i t e d N a t i o n s bodies and P a l e s t i n e a l s o p a r t i c i p a t e d .
3. The Committee on the E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n
People was r e p r e s e n t e d by a d e l e g a t i o n composed of Mrs. Absa Claude D i a l lo
( S e n e g a l ) , Chairman of the Committee; Mr. A l e x a n d e r Borg O l i v i e r ( M a l t a ),
R a p p o r t e u r ; Mr. Guennadi Oudovenko ( U k r a i n i a n S o v i e t S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c );
Mr. Abdul Halim B i n A l i ( M a l a y s i a ) and Mr. Zuhdi L. T e r z i (Permanent Observer of
P a l e s t i n e to t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s ).
4. The programme of the Symposium was e l a b o r a t e d by the Committee i n c o n s u l t a t i o n
w i t h the European C o - o r d i n a t i n g Committee f o r NGOs on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e .
The o v e r a l l theme was "The i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s o f the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e ".
5. Two P a n e l s were h e l d . The f i r s t , e n t i t l e d "The dynamics o f t h e i n t i f a d a h and
consequences f o r NGO a c t i v i t i e s " , was p r e s e n t e d by Mr. K h a l i l Mahshi
( P a l e s t i n i a n ) . The second was e n t i t l e d "The I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on t h e
M i d d l e East and t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of P a l e s t i n i a n s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n : The r o l e of
Europe", a t w h i c h the f o l l o w i n g e x p e r t s made p r e s e n t a t i o n s:
Mme M a r i e - C h r i s t i n e A u l a s ( F r a n c e ) , Dr. P e t e r J a n k o w i t s c h ( A u s t r i a ) and
Mr. M i r o s l a v P r c h a l ( C z e c h o s l o v a k i a ).
6. Five workshops were a l s o h e l d on the f o l l o w i n g t o p i c s :
(a) P a l e s t i n i a n t r a d e w i t h Europe;
(b) The European Economic Community and P a l e s t i n e : towards a more
c o n s t r u c t i v e p o l i c y;
( c ) I n v o l v i n g J e w i s h communities i n Europe;
(d) B u i l d i n g the P a l e s t i n i a n e d u c a t i o n system;
(e) The r o l e of non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t h e s o c i o - e c o n o m ic
development and h e a l t h care i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y .
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7. The Symposium adopted a f i n a l d e c l a t a t i o n (see b e l o w ) , as w e l l as
a c t i o n - o r i e n t e d p r o p o s a l s emanating from the workshops. The r e p o r t of t he
Symposium w i l l be p u b l i s h e d i n due course as a s p e c i a l b u l l e t i n of the D i v i s i o n f o r
P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s.
Déclaration
We, the non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e T h i r d U n i t ed
N a t i o n s European R e g i o n a l NGO Symposium on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , welcome
the r e c e n t developments which have helped towards the achievement of the g o al
of s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n f o r t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people. Those developments have
been m a i n l y the consequence of the courageous and d e t e r m i n e d s t r u g g l e o f t he
P a l e s t i n i a n people f o r t h e i r i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s , which i s d r a m a t i c a l l y
m a n i f e s t e d i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s , where the P a l e s t i n i a n u p r i s i n g , the
i n t i f a d a h , has been m a i n t a i n e d i n the face of the most b r u t a l r e p r e s s i ve
methods.
We welcome the r e s u l t s a c h i e v e d at the N i n e t e e n t h E x t r a o r d i n a r y S e s s i on
o f the P a l e s t i n e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l , h e l d at A l g i e r s i n November 1988, and i n
p a r t i c u l a r , the p r o c l a m a t i o n of the independent S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e and t he
p o l i t i c a l statement. The p o s i t i o n o u t l i n e d i n t h e C o u n c i l c r e a t e d f a v o u r a b le
c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e s u c c e s s f u l meetings of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s General Assembly
on the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , w h i c h were h e l d i n December at Geneva. The
s t a t e m e n t s by Mr. Y a s s e r A r a f a t , Chairman of the E x e c u t i v e Committee of t he
P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n (PLO) and P r e s i d e n t of the S t a t e of
P a l e s t i n e , a t Geneva, i n P a r i s and e l s e w h e r e have f u r t h e r c l a r i f i e d the
p r i n c i p l e s of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e . The statement of
Mr. Yasser Abed Rabbo, member of the E x e c u t i v e Committee of the PLO a t t h is
European Symposium, by c o n f i r m i n g and e l a b o r a t i n g these p r i n c i p l e s , c r e a t e d a
f a v o u r a b l e atmosphere f o r t h e conduct of the m e e t i n g.
We welcome the i n i t i a t i o n of a d i a l o g u e between the U n i t e d S t a t e s of
A m e r i c a and t h e PLO as a p o s i t i v e c o n t r i b u t i o n towards a p o l i t i c a l s e t t l e m e nt
of the c r i s i s . We hope t h a t the U n i t e d S t a t e s Government w i l l not use t h is
d i a l o g u e as a reason to d e l a y the p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace
C o n f e r e n c e on the M i d d l e East under the a u s p i c e s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , which
we r e g a r d as the most e f f e c t i v e way to a c h i e v e a comprehensive s e t t l e m e n t . We
s t r e s s the s i g n i f i c a n c e of G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176 of
15 December 1988 c a l l i n g f o r t h e c o n v e n i n g of such a c o n f e r e n c e.
We a p p r e c i a t e the p o s i t i o n of those European Governments which have
r e c o g n i z e d the S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e and c a l l upon o t h e r s to f o l l o w t h e ir
example. There have been e n c o u r a g i n g developments i n t h e p o s i t i o n s o f some
European Governments and P a r l i a m e n t s . Those i n c l u d e an i n v i t a t i o n to
Mr. A r a f a t to address the European P a r l i a m e n t , and the m e e t i n g s of Mr. A r a f at
i n M a d r i d w i t h the t h r e e F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r s r e p r e s e n t i n g the European Economic
Community (EEC), l e a d i n g t o t h e D e c l a r a t i o n of M a d r i d . We s i n c e r e l y hope t h at
those w i l l l e a d t o m e e t i n g s w i t h European heads of S t a t e and Government as a
p r e l u d e to t h e f u l l r e c o g n i t i o n o f the S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e by a l l European
Governments.
D e s p i t e those p o s i t i v e developments, we f e e l t h a t s e v e r a l European
Governments are s t i l l f a i l i n g to e x e r t s u f f i c i e n t e f f o r t i n f a v o u r of a peace
-58-
s e t t l e m e n t i n the M i d d l e E a s t . Europe bears a s p e c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y towards
the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e . European Governments s h o u l d make a g r e a t er
c o n t r i b u t i o n e i t h e r through c o n c e r t e d a c t i o n or i n d i v i d u a l l y . The
c o n s t r u c t i v e m e d i a t i n g r o l e of some European c o u n t r i e s i s p r o v i d i n g an example.
We deeply r e g r e t t h a t the Government of I s r a e l has so f a r t o t a l l y f a i l ed
t o respond p o s i t i v e l y to the c l e a r l y demonstrated P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i ve
and r e l e v a n t U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s . We c o n s i d e r t h a t I s r a e l ' s c o n t i n u ed
r e f u s a l to acknowledge the most e l e m e n t a r y r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e,
i n c l u d i n g t h e i r r i g h t to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n and r i g h t to r e t u r n to t h e ir
homeland, i s u l t i m a t e l y c o n t r a r y to the b a s i c i n t e r e s t s of I s r a e l . We
c o n s i d e r , that the s o - c a l l e d "Shamir peace p l a n " i s d e s i g n e d to cover I s r a e l ' s
i l l e g a l o c c u p a t i o n and i n t e n s i f i e d r e p r e s s i o n of the i n t i f a d a h , i n order to
p e r p e t u a t e the I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n and i s thus t o t a l l y u n a c c e p t a b l e . Any
e l e c t i o n s must be p a r t of a comprehensive peace p r o c e s s l e a d i n g to an
independent P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e , must be t r u l y d e m o c r a t i c , s h o u l d take place
under i n t e r n a t i o n a l s u p e r v i s i o n , should be a c c e p t a b l e to the P a l e s t i n i a n s , and
s h o u l d i n c l u d e a l l the P a l e s t i n i a n people i n the t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d s i n ce
June 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , and should ensure the r e t u r n of the deportees
and the r e l e a s e of the d e t a i n e e s.
We are deeply concerned by the c o n t i n u e d and i n c r e a s e d v i o l a t i o n s of
human r i g h t s i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . These i n c l u d e the k i l l i ng
and i n j u r i n g of c i v i l i a n s of a l l ages, d e s t r u c t i o n of houses, imprisonment
w i t h o u t t r i a l and d e p o r t a t i o n s . We s t r o n g l y d e p l o r e the g r o s s l y inadequate
measures to c o n t r o l the v i o l e n c e of J e w i s h s e t t l e r s . The breakdown i n p u b l ic
h e a l t h s e r v i c e s i s adding to the s u f f e r i n g s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p o p u l a t i o n . We
draw p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n to the v a r i o u s measures t h a t have been taken by the
o c c u p y i n g Power to d e p r i v e the p o p u l a t i o n of t h e i r r i g h t to e d u c a t i o n by
c l o s i n g e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s , and the outrageous a c t i o n of p r e v e n t i ng
P a l e s t i n i a n s from p r o v i d i n g a l t e r n a t i v e e d u c a t i o n a l s e r v i c e s . We welcome the
a c t i o n taken by Governments, non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s and other bodies
to denounce those measures and welcome the p a r t i a l opening of s c h o o l s as a
r e s u l t of t h i s i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r e s s u r e . We demand t h a t u n i v e r s i t i e s and a l l
o t h e r e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s s t i l l c l o s e d by I s r a e l be reopened and that
t h e y be kept open w i t h o u t f u r t h e r i n t e r f e r e n c e . We condemn the acts of
r e p r e s s i o n and c l o s u r e of o f f i c e s c a r r i e d out a g a i n s t P a l e s t i n i an
a s s o c i a t i o n s , such as trade unions, and demand t h a t they be r e s c i n d e d . We
a l s o v i g o r o u s l y d e p l o r e the r e p r e s s i v e economic measures a g a i n s t the
P a l e s t i n i a n people, i n c l u d i n g the u p r o o t i n g of t r e e s , d e s t r u c t i o n of crops
w i t h c h e m i c a l s , e x p r o p r i a t i o n of land and water r e s o u r c e s and p r e v e n t i o n of
independent economic development.
The I s r a e l i acts of v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t the P a l e s t i n i a n s i n the o c c u p i ed
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s are grave v i o l a t i o n s of the Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i ve
t o the P r o t e c t i o n of C i v i l i a n Persons i n Time of War, which i s f u l l y b i n d i ng
on I s r a e l - a S t a t e p a r t y to the C o n v e n t i o n . We c a l l upon European
Governments to take e f f e c t i v e measures to ensure r e s p e c t by I s r a e l of the
p r o v i s i o n s of t h a t C o n v e n t i o n and U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s . We appeal to
the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s to take urgent measures to p r o t e ct
the l e g a l and human r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people under o c c u p a t i o n , and to
c o n s i d e r the deployment of a U n i t e d N a t i o n s peace-keeping f o r c e to s a f e g u a rd
the p h y s i c a l s e c u r i t y of the i n h a b i t a n t s . In a d d i t i o n , we express
a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r the measures taken by the U n i t e d N a t i o n s R e l i e f and Works
-59-
Agency f o r P a l e s t i n e Refugees i n t h e Near East (UNRWA) t o m a i n t a i n i t s
s e r v i c e s t o t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people and we c a l l upon i t t o expand i t s Refugee
A f f a i r s O f f i c e r Programme t o p r o v i d e i n c r e a s e d s e r v i c e s . We a l s o c a l l upon
U n i t e d N a t i o n s b o d i e s , e s p e c i a l l y the U n i t e d N a t i o n s C h i l d r e n ' s Fund, t he
World H e a l t h O r g a n i z a t i o n , the U n i t e d N a t i o n s Centre f o r Human S e t t l e m e n ts
( H a b i t a t ) and t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s Development Programme, to i n t e n s i f y the.: :
e f f o r t s to a d d r e s s the e d u c a t i o n a l , m e d i c a l and g e n e r a l s o c i o - e c o n o m i c needs
o f the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , and t o d e v e l o p c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h the P a l e s t i n i a n
p o p u l a r and g r a s s - r o o t s o r g a n i z a t i o n s independent of a l l I s r a e l i i n t e r v e n t i on
and s u p e r v i s i o n.
We r e g r e t the I s r a e l i p r o j e c t t o amend the p r e v e n t i o n of t e r r o r i s m
o r d i n a n c e , which may become law i n October, as an e x t r e m e l y grave t h r e a t t o
the w e l f a r e o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n s , s i n c e i t w i l l enable the Government of I s r a e l
t o c l o s e down any community s e r v i c e o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n I s r a e l and E a s t Jerusalem
on the p r e t e x t t h a t i t s funds are " t a i n t e d " . We c a l l f o r the p r o p o s ed
amendment and i t s o b v i o u s i n t e n t i o n s t o be g i v e n the w i d e s t p u b l i c exposure,
so t h a t i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r e s s u r e may be e x e r t e d a g a i n s t i t .
We e x p r e s s our a p p r e c i a t i o n and t h a n k s to t h e d i s t i n g u i s h e d e x p e rt
p a n e l i s t s , workshop o r g a n i z e r s and r e s o u r c e persons who have o f f e r e d t h e ir
i n v a l u a b l e i n s i g h t s to t h e s e r v i c e o f European non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s.
We thank warmly the Government of A u s t r i a f o r welcoming us a t V i e n n a and
the A u s t r i a n non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y the S o c i e t y f or
Austro-Arab R e l a t i o n s , f o r t h e i r v a l u a b l e work i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n s and the
warm h o s p i t a l i t y o f f e r e d t o us. We w i s h to thank the U n i t e d N a t i o n s Committee
on the Exercise of t h e I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n People for making
the European Symposium p o s s i b l e and t h e D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s of the
United N a t i o n s S e c r e t a r i a t , as w e l l as a l l o t h e r U n i t e d N a t i o n s bodies that
have been engaged i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n and e x e c u t i o n of t h e Symposium.
The aim o f t h e Symposium was t o d e v e l o p p r a c t i c a l o r g a n i z i n g s t r a t e g i es
and support p r o j e c t s by European non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s . The primary
work was conducted i n f i v e workshops, and we r e c e i v e d t h e i r recommendations,
and commend them to a l l non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s for t h e i r careful
c o n s i d e r a t i o n and i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . We c o n g r a t u l a t e the European Co- o r d i n a t i ng
Committee, the I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o - o r d i n a t i n g Committee for NGOs on the Q u e s t i on
of P a l e s t i n e and the Society for A u s t r o-Arab r e l a t i o n s for organizing a highly
successful I n t e r n a t i o n a l Symposium on 27 August, e n t i t l e d "The role of foreign
assistance i n m e e t i n g the economic and s o c i a l development r e q u i r e m e n t s of
P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e : from o c c u p a t i o n to independence", and a f f i r m i ts
conclusions.
-60-
ANNEX V I I
D e c l a r a t i o n adopted by the S i x t h U n i t e d N a t i o n s I n t e r n a t i o n al
NGO M e e t i n g on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i ne
( V i e n n a , 30 August t o 1 September 1989)
I n t r o d u c t i on
1. The S i x t h U n i t e d N a t i o n s I n t e r n a t i o n a l NGO M e e t i n g on the Q u e s t i o n of
P a l e s t i n e was h e l d under the a u s p i c e s of the Committee on the E x e r c i s e of t h e
I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n People at t h e A u s t r i a C e n t r e , V i e n n a , from
30 August to 1 September 1989. The m e e t i n g was convened i n p u r s u a n c e of G e n e r al
Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 42/66 В o f 2 December 1987.
2. A t o t a l of 351 non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s attended the m e e t i n g , 138 of
whom were o b s e r v e r s . Several o b s e r v e r s from Governments, i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t al
o r g a n i z a t i o n s . U n i t e d N a t i o n s bodies and P a l e s t i n e also a t t e n d e d the p r o c e e d i n g s.
The Meeting was a l s o attended by H.E. Mr. A l o i s Mock, F e d e r a l M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n
A f f a i r s of A u s t r i a and Mr. Ronald I. S p i e r s , U n d e r - S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l f o r P o l i t i c a l
and General Assembly A f f a i r s and S e c r e t a r i a t S e r v i c e s.
3. The Committee on the E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n
People was r e p r e s e n t e d by a d e l e g a t i o n c o m p r i s i n g : H.E. Mrs. Absa Claude D i a l lo
( S e n e g a l ) , Committee Chairman; H.E. Mr. A l e x a n d e r Borg O l i v i e r ( M a l t a ) , Rapporteur
H.E. Mr. Guennadi Oudovenko ( U k r a i n i a n S o v i e t S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c );
H.E. Mr. Abdul Halim A l i ( M a l a y s i a ) ; and Mr. Zuhdi L. T e r z i (Permanent Observer of
P a l e s t i n e to the U n i t e d N a t i o n s ).
4. The programme f o r t h e m e e t i n g was e l a b o r a t e d by the Committee on the E x e r c i se
of the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n People, i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the
I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o - o r d i n a t i n g Committee f o r NGOs on the Q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e . The
o v e r a l l theme was " I n t i f a d a h ; the c o n t i n u i n g s t r u g g l e of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people
f o r independence".
5. A p a n e l was e s t a b l i s h e d under the t i t l e "Two p e o p l e s , two S t a t e s : future
r e l a t i o n s " , and p r e s e n t a t i o n s were made by t h e f o l l o w i n g e x p e r t s:
Mr. Abraham Bardugo ( I s r a e l ) , Mr. F a i s a l H u s s e i n i ( P a l e s t i n i a n ) , Mr. N a b i l Shaath
( P a l e s t i n i a n ) and Mr. H i l l e l Shinker ( I s r a e l ).
e. Six workshops were a l s o held on the f o l l o w i n g t o p i c s : (a) ( i ) " P r o t e c t i o n of
the P a l e s t i n i a n p o p u l a t i o n : the r o l e of U n i t e d N a t i o n s organs i n t h e o c c u p i ed
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y " , ( i i ) " P r o t e c t i o n of the P a l e s t i n i a n p o p u l a t i o n : the r o l e
of the NGOs"; (b) "The r o l e of NGO a s s i s t a n c e i n m e e t i n g the f u t u r e economic
development r e q u i r e m e n t s of economic s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e"
(c) " M o b i l i z a t i o n f o r t h e r e l e a s e of P a l e s t i n i a n p r i s o n e r s and p o l i t i c a l
d e p o r t e e s " ; (d) " M o b i l i z a t i o n of i n t e r n a t i o n a l support f o r P a l e s t i n i a n e d u c a t i on
and c u l t u r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s " ; (e) ( i ) " B u i l d i n g support f o r an independent
P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e w i t h the J e w i s h communities"; ( i i ) " B u i l d i n g support f o r an
independent P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e among I s r a e l i s " ; and ( f ) "The p r o m o t i o n of t h e peace
process and t h e r o l e of the mass media".
7. The m e e t i n g adopted a f i n a l d e c l a r a t i o n (see b e l o w ) , as w e l l as
a c t i o n - o r i e n t e d p r o p o s a l s emanating from the workshops. The r e p o r t o f t h e S i x t h
U n i t e d N a t i o n s I n t e r n a t i o n a l NGO M e e t i n g on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e w i l l be
p u b l i s h e d i n due c o u r s e as a s p e c i a l b u l l e t i n of the D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n
R i g h t s.
D e c l a r a t i on
We, the non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s g a t h e r e d at t h e S i x t h
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Meeting of NGOs on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , t o t a l l y uphold the
i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people and f u l l y support t h e ir
c o n t i n u i n g s t r u g g l e f o r independence, as e x p r e s s e d i n t h e i n t i f a d a h and by a l l
o t h e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y l e g i t i m a t e means. We r e c o g n i z e and u p h o l d the h i s t o r i c
P r o c l a m a t i o n of t h e Independent S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e made on 15 November 1988.
We r e c o g n i z e the P r o c l a m a t i o n not o n l y as the e x p r e s s i o n of t h e w i l l of t he
h e r o i c people of the i n t i f a d a h , but a l s o as the e x p r e s s i o n of the fundamental
p r i n c i p l e of t h e s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f p e o p l e s , e n s h r i n e d i n t h e C h a r t e r of
the U n i t e d N a t i o n s . We c a l l upon a l l Governments of S t a t e s Members o f t h e
U n i t e d N a t i o n s which have not a l r e a d y done so, t o r e c o g n i z e the P r o c l a m a t i on
o f the Independent S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e , i n u n e q u i v o c a l terms and w i t h o u t delay.
We p a r t i c u l a r l y note and welcome the s t a t e m e n t made by P r e s i d e n t A r a f at
a t the m e e t i n g of t h e G e n e r a l Assembly h e l d at Geneva, on 13 December 1988, i n
w h i c h he r e c o g n i z e d the r i g h t of a l l S t a t e s i n t h e M i d d l e East r e g i o n t o e x i s t
i n peace and s e c u r i t y , i n c l u d i n g the S t a t e s of P a l e s t i n e and I s r a e l . We
u p h o l d the P a l e s t i n i a n r i g h t of r e t u r n , i n a s p i r i t of j u s t i c e and o f
r e c o n c i l i a t i o n , w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c i n g t h e s i t u a t i o n of the p e o p l e i n I s r a e l ,
d e t a i l s to be n e g o t i a t e d between the Government of I s r a e l and t h e P a l e s t i n e
L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n (PLO) on the b a s i s of a l l r e l e v a n t U n i t e d N a t i o ns
r e s o l u t i o n s .
We v i g o r o u s l y renew the c a l l f o r t h e e a r l y convening of t h e I n t e r n a t i o n al
Peace Conference on t h e M i d d l e East i n a c c o r d a n ce w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly
r e s o l u t i o n 43/176 o f 15 December 1988, w i t h the p a r t i c i p a n t s t o i n c l u d e t he
f i v e permanent members of t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , the PLO, I s r a e l , the Arab
S t a t e s p a r t y to t h e c o n f l i c t and o t h e r concerned S t a t e s , on an e q u a l basis and
w i t h e q u a l r i g h t s . The emphasis must be on r e a c h i n g a p e a c e f u l , j u s t and
comprehensive permanent s e t t l e m e n t between I s r a e l and independent P a l e s t i n e,
as d e f i n e d i n t h e A l g i e r s P r o c l a m a t i o n of t h e Independent S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e
and i n a l l r e l e v a n t U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s , f o r t h e m u t u a l advantage of
a l l the p e o p l e s of the r e g i o n and o f the w o r l d.
R e a f f i r m i n g the i n t e r n a t i o n a l consensus t h a t the PLO i s t h e s o l e and
l e g i t i m a t e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , we note the g r e at
s t r e n g t h e n i n g of the consensus by the unwavering support f o r t h e PLO by t he
p e o p l e of t h e i n t i f a d a h and by the u n i t e d n a t i o n a l l e a d e r s h i p of t he
i n t i f a d a h . We t h e r e f o r e urge a l l Governments f u l l y to r e c o g n i z e the PLO as
the s o l e l e g i t i m a t e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people and t h e S t a t e of
P a l e s t i n e , and t o p r e s s f o r i t s p a r t i c i p a t i o n on an e q u a l f o o t i n g w i t h o t h er
p a r t i e s to t h e c o n f l i c t at t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference as t h e
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people.
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We uphold the r i g h t of the p e o p l e of the P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s occupied
i n 1967, i n c l u d i n g East J e r u s a l e i p , d e m o c r a t i c a l l y to e l e c t t h e ir
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s as p a r t of the comprehensive s e t t l e m e n t , but we r e j e c t t he
s p u r i o u s p l a n f o r s o - c a l l e d e l e c t i o n s put f o r w a r d by the Prime M i n i s t e r and
Government of I s r a e l , and whose p r i n c i p a l i n t e r n a t i o n a l advocate i s the
Government of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a . The p l a n i s t h e o p p o s i t e of
democracy, d e s i g n e d not t o advance, but t o p r e v e n t independence and t o l e a d to
the a n n e x a t i o n of the t e r r i t o r i e s and the f o r c i b l e e x p u l s i o n of t h e r i g h t f u l
i n h a b i t a n t s . For f u l l and f r e e e l e c t i o n s to t a k e p l a c e as p a r t of a d e f i n i t e
p r o c e s s l e a d i n g to t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of the i n d e p e n d e n t S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e , we
c a l l f o r I s r a e l i w i t h d r a w a l from the P a l e s t i n e t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d i n 1967 and
f o r f u l l and e f f e c t i v e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s u p e r v i s i o n by the U n i t e d N a t i o n s.
R e c a l l i n g that the F i f t h I n t e r n a t i o n a l NGO M e e t i n g on the Q u e s t i o n of
P a l e s t i n e expressed i t s condemnation of a l l the numerous a c t s of I s r a e l i
r e p r e s s i o n , i n c l u d i n g k i l l i n g , wounding e s p e c i a l l y women and c h i l d r e n , mass
a r r e s t s , d e m o l i t i o n of homes, e x p u l s i o n s , s t a r v a t i o n , u p r o o t i n g of t r e e s,
c o n f i s c a t i o n of l a n d and s e x u a l harassment of women p r i s o n e r s , we note that
those a b h o r r e n t p r a c t i c e s have a c t u a l l y i n c r e a s e d . That they have l e s s media
coverage a r i s e s not from any l e s s e n i n g of r e p r e s s i o n , but because the media
are p r e v e n t e d from r e p o r t i n g and can t h e m s e l v e s be p e n a l i z e d f o r d o i n g so. We
c a l l f o r e f f e c t i v e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o l i t i c a l and economic p r e s s u r e on I s r a e l to
make i t comply w i t h i t s o b l i g a t i o n s under the f o u r t h Geneva C o n v e n t i o n of
12 August 1949 and t o a c c e p t U n i t e d N a t i o n s S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n s . We
a p p e a l to the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to e s t a b l i s h an immediate U n i t e d N a t i o ns
p r e s e n c e i n t h e post-1967 I s r a e l i o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s , to b r i n g an immediate
end to t h e e s c a l a t i n g v i o l a t i o n s of human r i g h t s , t o p r o t e c t the p e o p l e and t o
b r i n g the p e r p e t r a t o r s of those p r a c t i c e s to j u s t i c e . We s t r o n g l y recommend
an e x p a n s i o n of the Refugee A f f a i r s O f f i c e r Programme of the U n i t e d N a t i o ns
R e l i e f and Works Agency f o r P a l e s t i n e Refugees i n t h e Near East (UNRWA) as a
p r a c t i c a l e x p r e s s i o n of i n t e r n a t i o n a l concern f o r the p r o t e c t i o n of t h e
P a l e s t i n i a n people under o c c u p a t i o n . We express grave concern a t t h e
s i t u a t i o n of the P a l e s t i n i a n s i n Lebanon, c a l l for h e l p f o r them and f o r t he
s t r e n g t h e n i n g of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s presence i n Lebanon and I s r a e l i
w i t h d r a w a l , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n 509 (1982) of
6 June 1982.
G i v e n the g r a v e i n t e n s i v e and e s c a l a t i n g s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i ed
P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e , i n c l u d i n g the complex of emergency and development needs
and the g r a d u a l c o l l a p s e of I s r a e l i - c o n t r o l l e d s e r v i c e s , we c a l l upon a l l
U n i t e d N a t i o n s bodies (UNRWA, the U n i t e d N a t i o n s Development Programme, t he
World H e a l t h O r g a n i z a t i o n , the U n i t e d N a t i o n s C h i l d r e n ' s Fund, the U n i t e d
N a t i o n s Conference on Trade and Development, the U n i t e d N a t i o n s I n d u s t r i al
Development O r g a n i z a t i o n , the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Labour O r g a n i s a t i o n and o t h e r s)
where c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y p o s s i b l e , to admit the S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e to membership
and to g e n e r a t e a c r e a t i v e and i n t e n s i v e d i a l o g u e w i t h the PLO and w i th
P a l e s t i n i a n non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s for a w i d e , e f f e c t i v e and
comprehensive U n i t e d N a t i o n s involvement i n t h e h e a l t h and s o c i o - e c o n o m ic
f i e l d s , independent of I s r a e l i c o n t r o l.
There i s now an o r g a n i z e d attempt by the Government of I s r a e l t o d e s t r oy
P a l e s t i n i a n s o c i e t y , of w h i c h one o f the most p e r n i c i o u s m a n i f e s t a t i o n s i s the
d e n i a l of e d u c a t i o n to P a l e s t i n i a n c h i l d r e n through the permanent c l o s u r e of
s c h o o l s and o t h e r e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s , accompanied by t h e p e n a l i z i n g of
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p a r e n t s for t r y i n g to teach t h e i r c l i i l d r e n i n t h e i r own homes, even i n such
b a s i c s k i l l s as r e a d i n g and w r i t i n g . Tliis c a l c u l a t e d attempt to t r y to
produce an i l l i t e r a t e g e n e r a t i o n of P a l e s t i n i a n s i s not o n l y c o n t r a r y to every
r e l e v a n t a r t i c l e of the f o u r t h Geneva C o n v e n t i o n of 1949, but an a f f r o n t to
a l l c i v i l i z e d v a l u e s . We note t h a t i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o t e s t f o r c e d the reopening
of c e r t a i n j u n i o r s c h o o l s , but a l s o note t h a t t h i s a f f e c t e d o n l y a s m a l l p a rt
of the e d u c a t i o n system, much the g r e a t e r p a r t of which remains permanently
c l o s e d . We c a l l upon Governments, e d u c a t i o n a l and c u l t u r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s,
p r o f e s s i o n a l a s s o c i a t i o n s , t r a d e unions and i n d i v i d u a l s w o r l d wide, to u t i l i ze
a l l c u l t u r a l r e l a t i o n s to p r e s s u r e I s r a e l ( i n c l u d i n g s a n c t i o n s ) , to cease
t h e s e p r a c t i c e s.
W h i l e n o t i n g changing a t t i t u d e s i n the U n i t e d S t a t e s of America towards
I s r a e l , we c o n s i d e r the changes by the A d m i n i s t r a t i o n to be inadequate and we
condemn t h e i r c o n t i n u i n g support for the Government of I s r a e l d e s p i t e the
l a t t e r ' s p e r s i s t e n t and f l a g r a n t v i o l a t i o n s of P a l e s t i n i a n human and n a t i o n al
r i g h t s . We c o n s i d e r these to be u n h e l p f u l f o r the achievement of progress
towards the convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference.
N o t i n g w o r l d - w i d e e f f o r t s f o r the r e d u c t i o n of n u c l e a r weapons, we
d e p l o r e t h a t I s r a e l i n t r o d u c e d n u c l e a r weapons i n t o the M i d d l e East and we
d e p l o r e the e s c a l a t i o n i n r e s e a r c h i n t o n u c l e a r weapons and the p r o l i f e r a t i on
of c h e m i c a l weapons t h a t t h i s has c r e a t e d . We c a l l upon I s r a e l and a l l o t h er
S t a t e s i n the r e g i o n to s i g n the T r e a t y on the N o n - P r o l i f e r a t i o n o f Nuclear
Weapons, t o d i s m a n t l e i t s n u c l e a r weapons and to open i t s n u c l e ar
i n s t a l l a t i o n s to i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n s p e c t i o n and to observe i t s t r e a t y
o b l i g a t i o n s , such as those i t has w i t h Norway f o r i n s p e c t i o n to ensure the
p r o p e r use of n u c l e a r m a t e r i a l s u p p l i e d s p e c i f i c a l l y for p e a c e f u l use. We
d e p l o r e the growing use by I s r a e l and other S t a t e s i n the r e g i o n of chemical
weapons a g a i n s t people and a g a i n s t c r o p s . We c a l l for the r e l e a s e of the
p r i s o n e r of c o n s c i e n c e , Mordechai Vanunu.
We s t r o n g l y uphold the f o r c e s of peace i n I s r a e l that support the
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference and an independent P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e . We
s t r o n g l y condemn the p e n a l i z i n g of I s ' " a e l i peace a c t i v i s t s . We express
s u p p o r t for those growing numbers who refuse m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e i n occupied
P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s and other o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s of Arab c o u n t r i e s , and
we c a l l upon the Government of I s r a e l to r e c o g n i z e the r i g h t of I s r a e l i s to
c o n s c i e n t i o u s o b j e c t i o n . We urge the I s r a e l i p a r l i a m e n t to r e p e a l the
s o - c a l l e d " a n t i - t e r r o r i s m " law of August 1986, which p r o h i b i t s c o n t a c t between
I s r a e l i c i t i z e n s and r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of P a l e s t i n i a n o r g a n i z a t i o n s.
We s t r o n g l y condemn the proposed new amendment number 3 and urge the
I s r a e l i p a r l i a m e n t not to pass i t , as i t would p r o v i d e a r b i t r a r y and
d i c t a t o r i a l powers of c o n f i s c a t i o n o f the a s s e t s of c h a r i t a b l e and educational
non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s and c l o s e to them a l l avenues to a i d from
i n t e r n a t i o n a l s o u r c e s . We c a l l f o r an urgent i n t e r n a t i o n a l campaign against
the amendment by Governments, non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s and a l l
p e a c e - l o v i n g peoples.
We note the s t r o n g d e s i r e e x p r e s s e d at the European N u c l e a r Disarmament
C o n v e n t i o n i n S p a i n i n J u l y 1989 for peace and j u s t i c e i n the M i d d l e E a s t . We
f u l l y support the C o n v e n t i o n p r o p o s a l f o r a n o n - v i o l e n t march f o r peace in
I s r a e l and P a l e s t i n e on 29, 30 and 31 December 1989. We urge a l l
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non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s w o r l d wide to o r g a n i z e t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h i s
i m p o r t a n t event.
Much o f our work i n t h i s meeting was c o n d u c t e d i n workshops and i n
meetings of s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t groups. We endorse t h e i r c o n c l u s i o n s and
recommendations. We draw a t t e n t i o n to t h e f a c t that non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n o p i n i o n has c o n s i s t e n t l y been more p r o g r e s s i v e and c r e a t i v e than
o f f i c i a l governmental t h i n k i n g and we urge a l l Governments, i n t h e i n t e r e s t of
peace and j u s t i c e , s e r i o u s l y to c o n s i d e r the o p t i o n s d e f i n e d by
non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t h i s D e c l a r a t i o n and e l s e w h e r e.
I t i s i m p o r t a n t f o r the e f f e c t i v e n e s s of non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o ns
t o be i n c r e a s e d . We commend the a c t i v i t i e s and work of t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l
C o - o r d i n a t i n g Committee f o r NGOs on the Q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e (ICCP) and i t s
s e c r e t a r i a t at Geneva. We c a l l upon the U n i t e d N a t i o n s to o f f e r every
p o s s i b l e a s s i s t a n c e to ICCP and i t s s e c r e t a r i a t . We urge the U n i t e d N a t i o ns
to convene an i n t e r n a t i o n a l meeting i n t h e f i r s t week of September 1990, the
venue and f o r m a t to be d e c i d e d , and t o m a i n t a i n i t s programme of r e g i o n al
symposia.
We r e q u e s t the Chairman of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s Committee on t h e E x e r c i s e
of the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n People t o convey t h i s D e c l a r a t i on
to the G e n e r a l Assembly at i t s f o r t y - f o u r t h s e s s i o n as p a r t of t h e Committee's
r e p o r t . R e c o g n i z i n g the v i t a l importance of i n f o r m a t i o n , we urge that records
of this meeting be d i s s e m i n a t e d as w i d e l y as p o s s i b l e , to non-governmental
o r g a n i z a t i o n s . Governments and t h e media.
We thank the Committee on the E x e r c i s e o f t h e I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s o f the
P a l e s t i n i a n People f o r c o n v e n i n g t h i s meeting and we g r e a t l y a p p r e c i a t e t he
presence of the members and observers of the Committee. We thank the D i v i s i on
for Palestinian Rights and a l l of the members of the United Nations
Secretariat, including the interpreters, who assisted i n the meeting. We also
express our appreciation to the distinguished experts who spoke here. A l l
those mentioned herein contributed greatly to the success of our meeting. We
warmly thank the Government of Austria for welcoming us to Vienna and for the
excellent f a c i l i t i e s they placed at our disposal.
90-00906 1264g (E) -65-
REmKr
OF THE
COhdlWlTE ON THE EXERCISE OF
THE INMNLE RIGHIS
OF THEPDPEOPLE
OFFICIAL RECORDS: FORTYFIFTH SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (AhW3S)
UNITED NATIONS
I:.
v
..’
OENERAL ASSEffiBLV
R
OF THE
C O - O N THE EXERCISEl O F
THE INALIENBm RIGHTS
OFTHEP~PNWLE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: FORTVFIFTH SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 36 (#45/36)
UNITED NATIONS
NW Wk, 1801
NOTE
Symbols of United Nation8 documents arc compo8ed of capital letter8 combined with
figurc8. Mendon of euch a symbol indicates a reference to a llnitcd Nation8 document.
ISSN 0255-2035
(Original: English]
[24 January 19911
CONTENTS
LETTBR OF TRABSMITTAL I............................,..,..~...................
I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
II. MANDATE OF THE CmImE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
III. ORQANIZATION OF WORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A. Election of officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . .
C. Re-establishment of the Working Qroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COWITTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 44/41 A . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . ... ... .. . . ... ...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Review of the situation relating to the question
of Palestine and efforts to implement the
recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reactions to developments affecting the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Action taken by the Committee to promote the
convening of the International Peace Conference
on the Middle East in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 44/42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Attendance at international conferences aud
meetings . . . * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Action taken by United Nations bodies, the Movement
of Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental
organisations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. Action taken by the Committee in accordance with
General Assembly resolutions 44/41 A and B .,.,........
1. Regional seminars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Co-operation with non-governmental organi-ations . .
3. Standard of travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1 - 7
6 - 10
11 - 16
11 - 13
14 - 15
16
17 - 79
17 - 51 5
17 - 29
30 - 46
5
6
47 - 49
50
12
13
51 13
52 - 79 14
52 - 62 14
63 - 74 16
75 18
-iiiV.
VI.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
CONTENTS ( continued)
4. Information activities .,..,.*.,..,,...,,..,..,....... 76 - 78
5. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People .,..........I............,..................... 79
ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 44141 C . . . . . . 80 - 93
RECCIMENDATIONS OF THE CGMdITTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 - 103
Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly
at its thirty-first session ,.,,,..*.......,...,......................
Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Twenty-third United
Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, Kuala Lumpur,
13 to 22 December 1909 .,.....,L.....,.,..............................
Declaration adopted by the Third United Nations Asian Regional NO0
Symposium on the Question of Palestine, Kuala Lumpur,
18 to 21 December 1989 . I , . . , . . . . . , , , . . . . . . . , . . , . . . . . . . . . . . ~ . . . . . . . . . .
Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Twenty-fourth United
Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, Buenos Aires,
5 to 9 February 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..~.............
Declaration adopted by the First United Nations Latin American and
Caribbean Regional NO0 Symposium on the Question of Palestine,
Buenos Aires, 5 to El February 1990 . , . . . . . . I , . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ”
Conclusions and reconnnendations adopted by the Twenty-fifth United
Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, Freetown,
2 to 6 April 1990 ..~.~..~....~~.~..~.~..~.~~.......................~.
Declaration adopted by the Third United Nations African Region61 NO0
Symposium on the Question of Palestine, Freetown, 2 to 5 April 1990 . .
Conclusions and recommendations edopted bg the Twenty-sixth United
Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, Stockholm,
7 to 11 Way 1990 ,..,.......,....,.......,.,..,~......................
Conclusions 6nd recommendations adopted by the Twenty-seventh United
Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, New York,
25 and 26 June 1990 ,.......,.........................................
Declaration adopted by the Seventh United Nations North American
Regional NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine, New York,
27 to 29 June 1990 .,,......,....,....................................
-iv-
19
19
20
23
28
31
38
42
49
53
60
64
71
75
CONTRNTS (continued)
XI. Declaration adopted by the Fourth United N6tiO66 Europe66 Regional NW
Symposium on the Question of Palestine, Geneva, 27 to 26 August 1990 ‘. . 60
XII. Declaration adopted by the Seventh United Nations International NO0
Meeting on the Question of Palestine, Qeneva, 29 to 31 August 1990 . . . . 86
-v25
October 1990
Sir.
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with parsgraph 4 of resolution 44141 A of
6 December 1989.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(-1 Absa Claude DIALLO
Chairman of the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inslienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Javier Peres de Cuellar
Secretary-General of the United Nations I
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Conueittec on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People wss established by the General Assembly in its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, in whioh the Assembly requested the Cosnnittee to aonsider end
recommend to it a progrenne designed to enable the Palestinian people to exercise
its,inalienable rights as recognised by the Assembly in resolution 3236 (XXIX)’ of
22 November 1974. During the reporting period, the Committee was composed of thr
following 23 Member States: AfghaL9Wm, Cuba, Cyprus, Germss Demoaratic
Republic, 1/ Guinea, hyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Demoaratic
Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan. Romssia, Senegal,
Sierra Leota, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian SOViOt Sooialist Republia ssd YUgOSlSViS.
2. The recosmnendations made by the Conmitteo in its first report to the
Assembly 21 were first endorsed by the Assembly in resolution 31120 of
24 November 1976 as a basis for the solution of the question of Palestine. Those
recommendations were reaffirmed by the Comnittee in its subsequent reports 91 and
wbre endorsed by the Assembly with overwhelming support on each ocassion. The
Assembly also continued to renew 8, 68 necessary, expand the mandate of the
Committee.
3. Despite the repeated and urgent appeals of the Conrnittee, the Security Council
has not yet been able to act on or implsment the recannendations of the Comittee.
The Committee is of the view that positive consideration and action by the Security
Council on these recommendations would contribute to promoting a peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli aonflict in
the Middle East.
4. The Cosmeittee has also reiterated its appeals to the Seaurity Council to take
action urgently to convene the International Peace Conference on the Middle East,
in accordance with the principles reaffirmed by the General Assembly in its
resolution 44142 of 6 December 1969. The Coeveitteo remains convinaod that ths
Conference would provide the most comprehensive, practiaal and universally aaosptsd
framework for peace and it has repeated&y stressed the urgent need for an
intensification of efforts by all concerned in order to convene the Conference
without further delay.
5. During the year under review, the Committee was increasingly aoncerned at the
dangerous stalemate that had developed, notwithstanding the efforts to promote
peace, and at the further deterioration of the situation in the occupied
Palestinian territory. The Comnitteo strongly deplored Israel’s continued relitmao
on military force to duppress the Palestinian uprising, the m, now in its
third ye6r, and its rejection of the Palestinian peace initiative as proclaimed at
the plenary meeting of the General Assembly at Geneva in December 1986 by the
Chairman of the Executive COImeittOe of the Palestine Liberation Orgsnisation. The
Conunittee considered that the steps proposed by Israel were inadequate since they
did not recognise the national rights of the Palestinian people and did not include
interim measures of protection. The Conn\ittee also associated itself with the
international protests over the likelihood of increased settlement by new Jewish
inmeigrants in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, which would
further violate the rights of Palestinians and jeopardise international efforts to
progress towards peace, The Committee repeatedly condemned the mounting casualties
and suffering inflicted on the Palestinian people, particularly’women and children,
and warned th6t failure to break through the current impasse would exacerbate the
situation and lead to an intensification of tension end violence with unforeseeable
consequences for peace and security in the region. The Committee reaffirmed th6t
Israel's continued occupetion of the Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem.
and the other 'occupied Arab territories and its denial of the exercise of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in Palextine, including those to
self-determination without external interference, to national independence and
sovereignty, snd to return to its homes 6nd property, constituted the principal
obstacle to the achievement of a just pesue.
6. The Committee deeply regrets the decision of the Government of the United
States of America to suspend its dialogue with the Palestine Liberation
Orgenisation, the representative of the Palsstinian people. Tho Committee felt
that such a dialogue was a positive step that contributed to redressing the
imbalance between the parties and could lead to the removal of obst6cles to the
convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. The Committee
expressed ths firm hope%thet ways would soon be found of resuming the di6lOgUO and
of expanding its scope to include the consideration of substantive issues in a
constructive way, which could serve the great purpose of achieving peace in the
Middle East. Alarmed at the deepening impasse in the peace efforts and the
increase in dangerous incidents of vio1ex.b Fgainst unarmed civilians, the
Committee continued to intensify its efforts to promote 6 meaningful and
constructive dialogue among responsible political leaders and to stimulate action
towards ensuring international protection of the Palestinians living under
occupation and achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the
question of Palestine In accordance with United Nations resolutions.
7. The Committee's efforts acquired an even greater urgency in the lignt of the
growing crisis in the Gulf regi- since August 1990 and the serious risks of armed
confrontation, which would have Bite repercussions for the Paleetini6n cause and
for peace and security throughout the Middle Eest region and beyond. The Committee
is firmly of the view that the Security Council should show the same resoluteness
in deeling with the questiou of Palestine as it did in the case of the crisis in
the Gulf. It must be recoguised that a prompt and just solution of the qIXMtiOn of
Palestine is of fundament.61 importance to the achievement of lesting peace and
security in the entire Middle E6st.
-2-
II. MANDATE OF THE CCWITTEE
8. The Committee’s mandate for the year 1990 is contained in paragraphs 3 to 5 of
General Assembly resolution 44141 A of 6 December 1989, in which the Assembly:
(a) Requested the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation
releting to the question of Palestine 68 well as the implementation of the
Programme of Action for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights 91 6nd to report and
make suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriatel
(b) Authorised the Committee to continue to exert 611 sfforts to promote the
implementation of its recommendations, including representation at conferencea and
meetings and the sending of delegations, to make such adjustments in its approved
programme of seminars and of symposia and meetings for non-governmental
organisations as it may considrJr necessary, and to report thereon to the Assembly
6t its forty-fifth session a& thereafterr
(c) Also requested the Committee to continue to extend its co-operation to
non-governmental organisations in their oontribution towards heightening
international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Pslestino end in
creirting a more favourable atmosphere for the full implementation of the
Committee’s recommendatioos, and to take the necessary steps to expand its contacts
with those organisations.
9. In its resolution 44/41 B of the same date, the General Assembly requested the
Secretery-General, malia, to provide the Division for Psleetinian Rights of
the Secretariat with the nsaessary resources and to ensure that it continued to
discharge the tasks detailed in earlier resolutions, in cnasultstion with the
Committee and under its guidance.
10. In its resolution 44/41 C of the same date, the Goner.*1 Assembly requested the
Department of Public Information, in full co-operation and co-ordination with the
Committee, to continue its special information programme on the question of
Palestine, with particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and North America.
-3-
III. ORQANIZATION OF WORK
11. At its 168th meeting, on 9 January 1990, the Committee re-elected the
following officer68
WI Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo (Senegal)
Vice-Chairmen: Mr. Oscar Oremas-Olive (Cuba)
Mr. Noor Ahmad Noor (Afghanistan)
m% Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier (Malta)
12. At its 169th meeting, on 2 March 1990, the Committee elected
Mr. Ricardo Alar&n de Quesada (Cuba) at3 Vice-Chairman in place of
Mr. Oscar Oremax-Oliva (Cuba), who had departed from New York.
13. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted its programme of work for 1990 in
implementation of its mandate.
B. Binthe of t h e CoMnittee
14. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of the
United Nations and Permanent Observers to the United Nations desiring to
participate in the work of the Committee as observers wera welcome to do so.
Accordingly, in a letter dated 7 March 1990, the Chairman of the Committee 80
informed the Secretary-Qeneral , who subsequently transmitted the letter, on
21 March 1990, to the States Members of the United Nation6 and membera of the
specialised agencies and to intergovernmental organisations. The Committee also
decided to invite Palestine, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organisation,
to participate in the work of the Committee ae an observer, to attend all its
meetings and to make observations and proposals for the consideration of the
Committee.
15. During 1990, the Committee again welcomed ae observer6 all the States and
organieations that had participated in its work in the preceding year. 11
c. Be-esteblishment of the Workina
16. At fte 168th meeting, the Committee re-established its Working Group to assist
in the preparation and expedition of the work of the Committee OEI the understanding
that any Committee member or observer could participate in its proceedings. 61 The
Working Qroup was conetituted as before under the r:hairmanship of
Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier (Malta). Mr. Dinesh Kumar Jain (India) was re-elected
Vice-Chairman of the Working Group.
-4-
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COWITTEE
A.
17. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee continued to keep under review
the situation relating to the question of Paleetine and to exert all efforte to
promote the implementation of its recommendation6 as repeatedly endorsed by the
General Assembly.
18. In response to urgent developments affecting the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, the Chairman of the Committee, on a number’of ocaaaions,
brought such developments to the attention of the Secretary-General and the
President of the Security Council, urging the adoption of appropriate measures in
accordance with United Nations reeolutions (see paras. 30-32 below).
19. The Committee, with the assistance of the Division for Palestinian Rights,
continued to monitor the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory on an
ongoing basis through the media, the reports of United Nations organs and agencies,
and information collected by Governments , non-governmental organisations,
individual experts and persons from Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory
who participated in meetings held under the auspices of the Committee and other
sources.
20. The Cosunittee noted that the inrifti, the uprising of the Palestinian people
for the termination of the Israeli occupation and for the achievement of its
national right6 in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including
Jerusalem, had entered its third year despite continued violent repression and
great economic hardships. Moreover, the intifadah had led to a process of
irreversible psychological and political transformation that had affected not only
the Palestinian people but also the Israeli political syetem itself. New
autonomous Palestinian civil institutions were being created, which fortified the
determination of the people to become independent. The process of economic
disengagement from Israel had been strengthened. International groups snd foreign
Governments had increased their financial commitmeat to the occupied Palestinian
territory. Israel was being forced to recognise that the i,~tiraaah represents a
confrontation with a genuine national movement. This had led to a growing debate
and a political crisis within Israel and increasing criticism of the intransigent
stance towards peace adopted by successive Israeli Qovernments.
The Committee noted with deep concern that in its efforts to suppress the
tLAd3ll , Israel had continued to resort to the use of often excessive and
indiscriminate force, including shooting at demonstrators, intensive use of
tear-gas and severely beating detainees. Fear was expressed that the Israeli
Government was condoning and even encouraging extrajudicial executions of
Palestinians as a meana of controlling the i&i&&d& through permissive guidelines
on the use of firearms and the inadequate investigation of abuses.
22. As at 31 August 1990, according to the DataBase Project on Palestinian Human
Rights, the total number of Palestinians killed since the beginning of the
-5-
i&U&d&l through direct responsibility of the Israeli forces, armed settlers,
civilians and collaborators, was 856 identified cases. Of those, 704 had died from
gunfire, 63 from beatings and other actions, and 89 in tear-gas-related incidents.
Another 104 Palestinians had died under suspicious circumstances. In addition, it
was estimated that 99,150 Palestinians had been injured. The Committee noted with
indignation that Israeli forces had indiscriminately used firearms against
Palestinians in the precinct of the Haram al-Sharif, in Jerus8lem, on
8 October 1990, which resulted in the death of over 20 Paleetiniane and the
wounding of over 125 others, as well as the ensuing intensified repression of
Palestinians throughout the oacupied territory, which caused additional casualties.
23. An alarming and rapid deterioration of the situation of children was nc?ted.
The casualty toll among children was extremely high: 217 children under 16, or
about 25 per cent of the total number cf victims, were killed in the m. All
children were being subjected to a range of punishing collective measures, and
femilies were reporte: to be experiencing grave difficulties in fulfilling primary
functions of child protection and care.
24. The Committee noted that Israeli occupation authorities continued tc resorb Y.o
a variety of harsh measurea and collective punishment in their efforts to suppress
the intifadah and considered it a serious violation of the relevant principles and
provisions of international law. Those measures included deportations, large-scale
arrests, detentions, raids on homes and villsges, prolonged curfews, confiscation
of property and destruction of trees and crops. It was reported that over
13,000 Palestinians remained in prisons or detention centres at the end of 1909,
and there were numerous allegations of torture and systematic ill-treatment of
political detainees. The DataBase Project reported that, since the beginning of
the intifa8ah, and until 31 August 1990, a total of 10,200 Palestinians had been in
administrative detention without charges or trial for varying periods. The West
Bank and Qara had experienced a total of 7,755 days of curfews, affecting hundreds
of thousands of Palestinians. A total of 1,557 houses and other etructures had
been demolished or sealed during the intifaeak, about one fifth of them for
“security” rea8ons. The Committee was particularly concerned at the lawless and
violent actions of Israeli settlers, in violation of the Geneva Convention relative
to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, 11 including 8ttacks on
individuals, raids on Palestinian villages and neighbourhoods, vandalism,
confiscation of property, the desecration of Muslim religious sites and activities
against Christian religious property.
25. The Committee noted with great concern the reports by the Director-General and
the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (UNESCO) indicating that the entire Palestinian educational system was
in a etate of paralysie owing to the prolonged closure of educational institutions
since the beginning of the Mu. While noting the formal steps taken for the
gradual reopening of primary and secondary schools as a positive gesture in
response to internationsl concerns, the Committee deplored that the Israeli
occupation authorities persisted in seriously disrupting the normal functioning of
the schools as a form of collective punishment. Interference by soldiers,
including raids, shootings and arrests of students, arbitrary closures, closures
due to curfews imposed on the areas and other actions such as surrounding schools
with barbed-wire fencing continued to be reported. The United Nations Works and
Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) had stated, in this
regard, that the Israeli interventions were preventing the Agency from providing an
appropriate education service to Palestine refugee children and from making the
, -6-
most effective use of public funds donate& for the purpose. The Committee also
noted with concern that all Palestinian universities and institutions of higher
education had been closed since the beginning of the &aRif&&. Some community
collegee’were allowed to reopen in the spring, and Yethlehem University in :he fall
of 1990. The Committee strongly deplored that 25,000 Palestinian students had
thereby been denied their right to education for t ree years, that thousands of
high school graduates had been barred from continuing their education and that
severe restrictions continued to be imposed on the functioning of the system of
higher education,
2 6 . The Committee took note with concern of reports to the effect that the health
situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in Gas& remained
deplorable and had continued to deteriorate since the beginning of the inClf*
The availrbility of medical care, water, sewage disposal and other needed services
were subject to restrictive controls by the occupation authorities and the
situation was further aggravated by the repeated and extensive.imposition of
curfews, The vast number of injuries inflicted during themwere reported
to have totally overwhelmed the already inadequate medical facilities. It was also
reported that the wounded were very often denied care for hours while being
detained on police or army premises. Attacks by Israeli troops against clinics had
again been reported. The Committee deplored that the Government of Israel had
again refused to co-opcrate with the Special Cosxxittee of Experte set up by tho
World Health Assembly to study the heaith conditions of the inhabitants of the
occupied Arab territories. The Committee noted with appreciation that a number of
international organisations, non-governmental organisations and private
institutions had provided humanitarian assistance to Palestinians living in the
occupied Palestinian territory and had implemented projects concerned with
sanitation, training of medical manpower, establishment of rehabilitation and
primary health care centres , medical laboratories and others.
2 7 . The Committee further noted that the Director-General of the Internstionsl
Labour Organisation (ILO) in hie annual report B/ had stated that there had been no
improvement in the conditions of work and life of the workers of the occupied Arab
territories and their families. Continued military occupstion anU msseive
constraints placed on agriculture, industry and ether sectors prevented the
endogenous economic development of the territories. The development of human
resources was in jeopardy as long as schools and univeroitioo remained closed. The
continued pursuit of the settlements policy remained a matter of serious concern 8s
it had given rise to a dual legal and social system that was the source of serious
inequality and tension, hsd created a discriminatory situation in the field of
social benefits and ha0 a detrimental effect on the Pslestinian economy. Almost
40 per cent of Palestinians in the territories went to work in Israel but the
majority of them enjoyed no legal or social protection. Recognition by Iorael of
Palestinian trade union organisations , which had recently been unified, would
ensure respect for the fundamental principles of freedom of association and lead to
the Palestinian workers’ interests being better defended.
2 8 . The Committee noted with satisfaction that the SecretaryGeneral had
repeatedly expressed concern at the situation in the occupied Palaetinian territory
and had eont his personal representative to the area in June 1990. In hi8 initial
raport to the Secretary-General, the personal representative had conveyed the fears
expressed by Palestinians throughout the occupied territory and their profound
feelings of vulnerability resulting from lack of protect-ion as well as the need to
ensure their basic economic and human rights.
-7-
29. Taking into account the continuing intolerable situation in the occupied
Palestinian territory, the Committee wishes to urgently draw once again the most
urgent attention of the General Assembly and the Security Council to the policies
and practices of Iurael, the occupying Power, which are in violation of the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of
12 August 1949. The Committee reiterate6 its most urgent appeal to the Gecurity
Council, to the High Contracting Parties to the fourth Qeneva Convention and to all
conceraed to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and international
protection of’ tha Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory pending the
withdrawal of Israeli forces and the achievement of a just settlement. The
Committee further wishes to express appreciation to the Secretary-General for his
personal efforts In this regard. Above snd beyond protective and emergency relief
measures, the international community must take all possible measures to halt the
xapid doteriaration in the living conditions of the Palestinian people and to
develop socio-economic structures that will lead to the genuine development of the
occupied Palestinian territory in preparation for independent nationhood. The
Committee noted that tl!e United Nations Development Programme WNDP) had undertaken
the implementation of a number of development projects in the occupied Palestinian
territory.
30. The Chairman of the Committee on a number of occasions drew the attention of
the Secretary-General and of the President of the Security Council to urgent
developments in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Chairman reported on
actions by the Israeli armed forces and settlers that had resulted in loss of life
and injuries among Palestinians and to other measures taken by the Israeli
authorities to suppress the m She pointed out that those policies and
practices were in contravention of th; fourth Geneva Convention, international
human rights instruments and United Nations resolutions, and posed further
obstacles to international efforts to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting
soiution to the Palestine question. The Chairman reiterated the Committee’s
appeals to the Secretary-Qeneral and to the President of the Security Council to
take all possible measures for ensuring the safety and protection of the
Palestinian civilians under occupation and to intensify all efforts towards the
achievement of a peaceful settlement.
31. The following letters by the Chairman were circulated as official documents of
the General Assembly, under the agenda item entitled “Ques’cion of Palestine”, and
of the Security Councilr (a) letter dated 6 December 1989 (A/44/851-S/21009);
(b,) letter dated 15 January 1990 (A/44/914-S/21089); (c) letter dated
15 February 1990 (A/44/920-6/21151); (8) letter dated 1 May 1990
(A/44/943-6/21281)1 (e) letter dated 21 May 1990 (A/44/947-S121303)r (f) letter
dated 15 June 1990 (A/44/955-S/21362); and (g) letter dated 19 September 1990
(A/45/528-S/21802).
32. The Chairman also drew attention to documents adopted by the National
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USA) and the Canadian Council of Churches, in a
letter dated 16 January 1990 (A/45/86), and to the chapter relating to the occupied
-8-
Palestinian territory in the country reports on human rights practices for 1969
published by the Department of State of the United States of America, in a letter
dated 20 March 1990 (A/45/175-6/21199).
(b) Aetionawithin
33. The Committee followed closely the activities of the Security Couaoil on
matters relating to the Committee’s mandate and participated in Council debates as
necessary.
34. In a letter dated 12 February 1990 (S/21139), the Permanent Pspresentativs of
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to the United Nations requested a meeting
of the Security Council “to consider unlawful Iaraeli moves to settle the occupied
territories”. In the letter the Permanent Representative reguested the Counail to
call upon the Israeli Government “not to permit any action which might alter the
demographic structure of the occupied territorice”. The Security Council
considered the item at five meetings, held between 15 and 29 Kirch 1990.
35. The Chairman of the Committee intervened in the debate at the 2911th meeting,
on 15 March 1990, (S/W.29111 and stated that the Conanittee was deeply aoncerned at
recent developments in Israel’s settlements policy in the occupied Palestinian
territory. Recent statements by Israeli leaders showed onto again Israel’8
obstinacy in denying the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people and
refusing to admit the applicability of the fourth Qeneva Convention to the
Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, despite the relevant Security Council
and General Assembly resolutions. The settlements policy in the occupied
territory, carried out by Israel since 1967, had been unanimously Iejected and
condemned by the international coannunity. Iteferrlng to the work of the Commission
established by the Security Council in resolution 446 (19791, she said that,
unfortunately, the Council was not able to take up the Connsission’s third report,
and hence its recommendations could not be implemented. The Comnittee had
repeatedly expressed concern at the Israeli policy of creeping annexation, which
was accompanied by acts of violence by the settlers and r*praosive measures against
Palestinians. The Committee shared the concern expressed by various Qoversments
and intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations at the new wave of
immigration of Jews from the Soviet Union and elsewhere, and it urged all the
parties concerned to ensure that the imigrants would not be used to perpetuate the
occupation of Palestinian territory, to hinder the peace ptiocess and to deny the
Palestinian people the exercise of its inalienable national rights.
36. On 12 April 1990, a draft resolution was circulated that was sponsored by
Colombia, C&e d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Yemen, Ethiopia, Malaysia and Sairo
(S/21247). By that draft resolution, the Council wouXd have reaffirmed the
applicability of the fourth Geneva Convention to the Palestinian and other Arab
territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalunr would have considered that
Israel’s policies and practices of settling parts of its population and new
immigrants in the occupied territories are violations of the fourth Geneva
Convention and of the rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the
other Arab territoriesr would have considered thar: the settlement of Jewish
immigrants and the Israeli settlement policy in thr: occupied tarritories aonstitute
an obstacle to achieving peace in the bliddle Eastr would have called upon Israel,
the occupying Power, to abide by its international legal obligations in this
regardr would have called upon all States not to provide Israel with any assistance
to be lieed in connection with such settlements; and would have reguested the
-9-
Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the implementation of the
resolution not later than 31 May 1990. ,The draft resolution was not acted upon by
the Council.
37. In a letter dated 21 May 1990 (S/21300), the Permanent Representative of
Bahrain, in his capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of May 1990,
requested the convening of an immediate meeting of the Security Council “to
consider the crime of collective murder committed by Israel against the Palestinian
people”. The Security Council considered the matter at two meetings, held on
25 and 31 May 1990.
36. The first meeting of the Council on this matter took place at the United
Nations Office at Geneva on 25 May 1990. At that meeting, the Council heard a
statement by the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organisation (WPV.2923).
39. The Chairman of the Committee intervened in the debate at the -ame meeting and
stated that the occupying Power continued its climate of terror and violence, in
complete defiance of international public opinion, numerous United Nations
resolutions and the provisions of the 1949 Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. She hoped the Council’s
deliberations would lead to energetic and immediate measures that would assure
protection to the civilian population in the occupied Palestinian territory and
permit that people to recover its national inalienable rights, including its right
to self -determination and independence. Israel was refusing to participate in
United Nations efforts to convene an international peace conference on the Middle
East, where a serious threat to peace existed. At a time when the Palestinian
people was open to the process of fruitful dialogue, Israel had resorted to
violence and confrontation. The Council must. face up to the challenge and ensure
that Israel protected the civilians in the occupied territories. The Committee
called upon the Security Council to meet its obligations and to sbnd a miSSiOn to
the area. The credibility of the Organisation was at stake. Israel must be made
to understand that its violence and arbitrary measures would not detract from the
establishment of a Palestinian State.
40. At its 2926th meeting, on 31 May 1990, the Council had before it a draft
resolution (S/21326) submitted by Colombia, C&e B’Ivofre, Cuba, Ethiopia,
Malaysia, Yemen and Zaire, By that draft resolution, the Council would have
established a Commission consisting of three of its members to be dispatched
immediately to examine the situation relating to the policies and practices of
Israel, the occupying Power, in the Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem,
occupied by Israel since 19671 would have requested the Commission to submit its
report to the Council by 20 June 1990, containing recommendations on ways and means
for ensuring the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians under Israeli
occupation, and would have decided to keep the situation in the occupied
territories under constant and close scrutiny and to reconvene to review the
situation in the light of the Commission’s findings.
41. The draft resolution was voted upon at the same meeting. The result of the
vote was 14 to 1, with no abstentions. The draft resolution was not adopted, owing
to the negative vote of the United States of America, a permanent member of the
Council.
-lOOn
19 June 1990, following consultations, the Precident of the Seourity
:~;ncil ieeued a statement on behalf of the members of the Counail (S/21363). They
strongly Peplored the incident, which had occurred on 12 June 1990 in a clinic
belongiug to UNRWA and located near to Shati camp in Oasa, in which several
innocent Palestinian women and children had been wounded by a tear-gas grenade
thrown by an Israeli soldier. The members of the Security Counail expressed their
dismay at finding that the penalty impooed on that offioer had been aommuted. They
reaffirmed that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, was appliaable to the Palestinian and
other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, and
requested the High Contracting Parties to ensure respect for the Convention. They
also called upon Israel to abide by its obligations under that Convention.
43. Xa a letter dated 26 September 1990 (S/21830), the Permanent Representative of
Yemen requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council to conaider the aurrent
situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.
44. The Chairman of the Committee intervened in the debate at the 2945th meating
of 5 October 1990 (WPV.2945) and expressed the Committee’8 deep ooncera at the
increasing armed repression by the Israeli ocoupying forcer. She provided the
Council with detailed information on casualties, detentions and other human rights
violatione eince the beginning of the Intlisdah. She alro elated that the Council
had so far not adopted measure6 to ensure the protection of Paleetinianer it had
not acted on the constructive report of the Secretary-Qeneral of January 1988 and
had not adopted several draft resolutiono propoced by the non-aligned group. She
called on the Council to take adequate and firm etspr to ensure lerael’e tWpli8noe
with its obligations under the fourth Qeneva Convention and to Bet up urgently an
appropriate system capable of ensuring the effective proteotion of the Palestinian
population in the occupied territory. She further urged the Council to consider
the question of Palestine with the sexne sense of urgency and determination thet it
had ahown in the case of the Gulf crisis in order to achieve a just and lasting
solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
45. At its 2948th meeting, on 12 October 1990, the Council adopted unanimously
resolution 672 (1990), in which it expreered alarm at the violenae that had taken
place on 8 October at the Haram al-Sharif and other Holy Places of Jerusalem
resulting in over 20 Palestinian deaths and the injury of more than 150 people,
including Palestinian civilians and innocent worshipperst condemned especially the
acts of violence committed by the Israeli security forces resulting in injuries and
lose of human life; called upon Israel, the oacupying Power, to abide carupulouely
by its legal obligations and responeibilitiee under the fourth Qeneva Convention,
which ie applicable to all the territories occupied by Israel since 19671 and
requested, in connection with the decision of the Secretary-General to eend a
mission to the region, which the Council welcomed, that he oubmit a report to it
before the end of October 1990 containing his findings and conclusione and that he
use as appropriate all of the resource8 of the United Nations in the region in
carrying out the mireion.
46. Subsequently, on 24 October 1990, the Council adopted unanimously resolution
673 (1990), in which it deplored the refusal of the Israeli Oovermnent to receive
the mission of the Secretary-Qeneral to the region; urged the Israeli Ooverament to
reconsider its decision and insisted that it comply fully with rerolution
672 (1990) and permit the mission of the Secretary-general to proceed in keeping
with its purpoeer requested the Secretary-general to submit to ths Council the
-llreport
requested in resolution 672 tlPQO)r and affirmed its determination to give
full and expeditious aonaideration to the report.
47. In its resolution 44/42, the General Assembly reaffirmed the urgent need to
achieve a just and comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the core
of which is the question of Palestine. It aallea once again for the convening of
the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, under the auspices of the
United Nations, with the participation of all parties to the conflict, including
the Palestine Liberation Organisation, on an equal footing, and the five permanent.
members of the Seaurity Council, baaea on Security Council resolutiona 242 (1967)
and 338 (1973) and the legitimate national rights of the Paleatinian people,
primarily the rignt to’aelf-determination. It reaffirmed the following principles
f’or the achievement of comprehensive peace: the withdrawal of Israel from the
Yaleatinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and from the other
occupied Arab territoriear guaranteeing arrangements for security of all States in
the region, including those rimed in Assembly resolution 181 (II) of
29 November 1947, within secure end internationally recognised boundariea;
resolving the problem of Palestine refugees in conformity with Assembly resolution
194 (III) of 11 December 1948, and subsequent relevant reaolutionar diamantling the
Israeli aettlementa in the territories occupied since 1967; and guaranteeing
freedom of access to Holy Places, religious buildings and sites. The Assembly also
noted the expressed desire and endeavours to place the Palestinian territory
oacupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, under the auperviaion of the United
Nations for a limited period, as part of the peace proaeaa; once again invited the
Security Council to consider measures needed to convene the International Peace
Conference on the Middle Fast, including the eatabliahment of a preparatory
conmittee, and to consider guarantees for security measures agreed upon by the
Conference for all States in the regionr and requested the Secretary-Qeneral to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, to facilitate the convening of the Conference, and to submit
progress reports on developments in this matter.
48. The Coaaaittee noted with aatiefaction that the resolution had received an
unprecedented vote of 151 votes in favour , with only 3 against and 1 abstention,
and therefore expressed the overwhelming conaenaua of the international
ooaanunity . In adopting its programme of work, the Coaanittee once again decided to
continue to give the utmost priority in all its activities during 1990 to promoting
the early aonvening of the Conference. The Committee also decided to stress the
urgent need for ensuring the safety and protection of Paleatiniana under Israeli
occupation, in accordance with the proviaiona of the fourth Qeneva Convention.
49. The Committee was greatly encouraged by the overwhelming international support
for its objectives and by the intensification of efforts among the international
comnunity in favour of a just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine,
as reflected in particular by the recommendations adopted by the regional seminars
and by symposia and meetings of non-governmental organiaationa on the question of
Palestine organised under the Coaxnittee’a auspices (see pares. 52-79 below).
-12-
4 . mat-
50. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee was represented at the fOllOwing
international conferences and meetings during the period since its previous report
to the General Assembly:
(a) Regional Seminar for the Caribbean area, held in observance of the
thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to
Colonial Countries and Peoples, held at Bridgetown from 19 to 21 June 19901
(b) Fifty-second ordinary aeaaion of the Council of Ministers, held at
Addia Ababa from 3 to 7 July 1990, and twenty-sixth Assembly of Heads of State and
Government of the Organisation of African Unity, held at Addle Ababa from 9 to
11 July 1990 (see A/45/482)r
(c) Nineteenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Miniatera, held at Cairo from
31 July to 4 August 1990 (see A/45/421-6/21797) J
(d) Third Conference of Minietera of Information of the Non-Aligned Movement,
held at Havana from 24 to 29 September 1990.
5 . Action
ofNan
clxsdkw
51. The Cmittee continued to follow with great interest the activities relating
to the question of Palestine of United Nations bodiea, the Movement of Non-A’ligned
Countries and intrrgovernmeatal organisations. The Committee noted especially the
growing concern at all levels of the international community about the
deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian tekritory and in the
region as a whole and the increasing sense of urgency with which the international ’
community addreaaed the need to ensure the safety and protection of the Palestinian
people under occupation and to advance towards a comprehensive, just and lasting
settlement of the question of Palestine. The Comittee welcomed the growing
sentiment and momentum in favour of the convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Ddiddle East in accordance with Qeneral Assembly resolution
44/42. The Committee took particular note of the following do’cumentat
(a) Connuniqu6 of the Co-ordination Meeting of the Miniatere of Foreign
Affaira of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, held at United Nations
Headquarters on 4 October 1989 (A/44/700-W20934)~
(b) Conclusions adopted by the Heads of State or Qovernment of the Twelve
Statea members of the European Consnunity at the meeting of the European Council
held at Straabourg, France, on 8 and 9 December 1989 (A/45/74-S/21068),
(c) Final connuniqud adopted by the tenth Summit of the Supreme Council of
the gulf Co-operation Council, held at Muscat from 18 to 21 December 1989
(A/45/73-W21065)r
(d) Resolutions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its forty-sixth
aeaaion, held at Geneva from 29 January to 9 March 1990 (resolutions 199011,
199012 A and B and 1990/6)r
-13-
(e) Joint declaration of the Eighth ASEAN-EC Yinieterial Meeting held at
Ruching, Malayaia, on 16 and 17 Februaty 1990 (A/45/138-S/21161)1
(I) Final communiqui of the Ministerial Meeting of the Committee of Nine on
Palestine of the Moverlent of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Tunis on 11 March 1990
(A/45/166-8/21192))
(g) Resolutions adopted by the Economic and Social Council during its first
regular aeaaion of 1990 held in New York from 1 to 25 May 3.990 (resolution 1990/11)
and during its 8eCona regular aeaaion of 1990 held at Qeneva from 4 to 27 July 1990
(reaolutionb 1990153 and 1990/59)1
(h) Statement by the Twelve States members of the European Community on
Palestinian deaths in Israel and the occupied territoriea since 20 May 1990
(A/45/288-6/21332))
(1) Concluaiona’adopted by the Heads of State or Qovernment of the Twelve
States members of the European Community at the European Council, held at Dublin on
25 and 26 June 1990 (~145/336-~121385);
(j) Final connnuniqui adopted at the Thira Ministerial Conference of the
Mediterranean Non-Aligned Countries, held at A:diera on 25 and 26 June 1990
(A/45/357)1
(k) Resolutions of the fifty-second ordinary session of the Council of
Mi.niatera of the Organisation of African Unity, held at Addle Ababa from 3 to
7 u’ci!y 1990, (0VRES.1276 and 1277 (LII)) and declaration of the Assembly of Heads
of State and Qovernment of the Organieation of African Unity, held at Addle Ababa
from 9 to 11 July 1990 (see A/45/482)1
(1) Joint communiqui of the Twenty-third ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, held at
Jakarta on 24 and 25 July 1990 (h/45/389-W2i455);
(m) Final cormnmiqu8 and resolutions adopted by the nineteenth Islamic
Conference of Foreign XinJ Dtera, hela at Cairo from 30 July to 5 August 1990
(A/45/421-6/21797) J
(a) Final conmuniqu6 and recommendations adopted by the Al-Quda Committee of
the Organisation of the Islamic Conference at its thirteenth aeaaion, held at Rabat
on 15 October 1990 (S/ :1890).
B.--in-
52. During the period under review, the Division for Palestinian Right.* continued
to organise regional seminars in consultation with the Cormnittee and under its
guidance, in accordance with its mandate under General Assembly reaolut;.,n 34/65 D
and subsequent reaolutione.
53. The Committee was pleased by tho participation in the seminars of prominent
political peraonalitiea, parliamentariana, policy-makers and other experts,
-14-
including Iaraelia and Paleatiniana. The Committee expressed ratiefaction that the
seminars had made a positive contribution to peace efforts by providing a forum for
a balanced and constructive discussion of the issues. It noted that the seminar
participants had adopted conclusions and reconxnendationa exprerring eupport for the
Committee’s objectives for a peaceful settlement of the question of Paleetine,
particularly through the “two peoples, two States” formula and tkx convening of the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East. It further noted the request
that the Committee continue to eneure that reg1ona.l aeminara provide an opportunity
for diverse points of view to be expressed so that a meaningful dialogue could be
held among people of goodwill on all aides.
54. The Asian Regional Seminar was held at Ruala Lumpur from 18 to
22 December 1989. The Conxxittee greatly appreciated the deaision of the Qoverament
of Malaysia to provide a venue for this Seminar, which was held jointly with the
Asian NGO Symposium.
55. The Seminar considered the topics of three panels: panel I: (a) “The urgenay
of couvening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East**# (b) “The
il&i&d& in the occupied Palestinian territory and its impact on the aahiavernent
of a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East confliot”~ panel IIt “The role of
the Palestine Liberation Organixation in the social, cultural, eaonomia Md
political development of the Paleotinian people”) and panel III: “The mobilisation
of public opinion in the Asian region for the realisation of the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people”. Further details on the Seminar and the text of the
conclusions and recommendations adopted by participants are contained in annex 111
(b) .AmeLLcan
56. The Latin American and Caribbean Regional Seminar, which had been postponed
from 1989 for reasons beyond the Coxnnittee’n control, was held at Buenos Airec from
5 to 9 February 1990. The Committee was particularly grateful to the Goverment of
Argentina for providing a venue for this Seminar , which was held jointly with the
Latin American and Caribbean NO0 S~pooium.
57. The Seminar considered the topics of three panels: panel II (a) “The urgenoy
of convening the International Peace Conferenae on the Middle Eaat”# (b) “The
intiiadah in the occupied Paleetinian territory and its impact on the achievement
of a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East conflict”J panel 111 “The role of
the Palestine Liberation Organixation in the social, cultural, eoonomio and
political development of the Palestinian people”) and panel III: “The nrobilisation
of public opinion in the Latin American and Caribbean region for the realir&ion of
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people”, Further detail8 on the Semiaar
and the text of concluaiona Md recoxxxendatione adopted by participants am
contained in annex IV.
58. The African Regional Seminar was held at Freetown from 2 to 6 APti 1990. The
Committee greatly appreciated the offer of the Government of Sierra Leone to
provide a venue for this Seminar , which was held jointly with the African NO0
Symposium.
-15-
59. The Seminar considered the topics of three panelal panel II (a) “The urgency
of convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East”1 (b) “The
m in the occupied Palestinian territory and its impact on the achievement
of a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East conflict”, panel 111 “The role of
the Palestine Liberation Organiaation in the social, cultural, economic and
political development of the Palestinian people”) and panel 1111 “The mobilisation
of public opinion in the African region for the realisation of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people”. Some details on the Seminar and the text of
concluaiona and recommendations adopted by participants are contained in annex VI.
60. The European Regional Seminar waa held at Stockholm from 7 to 11 May 1990.
The Committee was deeply grateful to the Government of Sweden for providing
financial assistance and a venue for this important Seminar.
61. The Seminar considered the topics of three panelar panel II ‘The iRLit.aBaln :
its impact on and significance for advancing towards a just solution baaed on the
principle of two peoples, two States”, panel 111 “Rredking the impasse - the
urgent need for a just and lasting settlement of the question of Paleatiner the
International Peace Conference and the role of Europe” and panel III: “The role of
the Palestine Liberation Organisation in the political, economic, social and
cultural development of the Palestinian people”. Soms details on the Seminar and
the text of conclusions and recommendations adopted by participants are contained
in annex VIII.
62. The North American Regional Seminar was heid at United Nations Headquarters in
New York on 25 and 26 June 1990. The Seminar considered the topics of two panels:
panel II “The role of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in the economic,
cultural and social development of the Palestinian people, and its political
progranune to achieve statehood for the Palestinian people”) and panel II: “The
i&l&d&, the urgency of convening the International Peace Conference on the
Middle East”. Some details on the Seminar and the text of conclusions and
recoaunendationa adopted by participants are contained in annex IX.
2 . g
63, The Committee, in accordance with its mandate under Abaembly re8OlUtiOn
44141 A, continued to extend its co-operation to non-governmental organisations
(NGOa) active on the question of Palestine and to expand its contacts with them.
The Division for Palestinian Rights, in consultation with the Committee and under
its guidance, organiaed regional and international activii;ies for NO08 during 1990
in implementation of the Committae’a objectives.
64. The Coaunittee was greatly encouraged by the intensification of activities and
progrernmea of the non-governmental organizations, including the sending of
fact-finding misaiona to the area, the promotion of joint activities between
Israelis and Paleatiniana, the provision of aaaiatcrnce and various other activities
aimed at heightening public awareness and promoting a peaceful Isettlement. The
Conunittee noted with satisfaction the continuing and growing involvement of Israeli
organiaationa and Jewish organisations in North America and Western Europe in these
-16-
efforts. It also noted that the regional symposia and the international meetings
had adopted declarations expressing the full eupport of the non-governmental
organisations for the objectives and activities of the United Nations towards a
peaceful eettlement of the tIuestioa and reaffirming the commitment of tts
non-governmental organisatione to intensify further their efforts in thie direction.
(a)Q
65. The Asian Regional NQO Sympoeiwn was held at Ruala Lumpur from 18 to
21 December 1959 together with the Asian Regional Seminar. The NO0 Symposium
considered the topics of three panels jointly with the Seminar. Two workshops were
errtablished for non-governmental organiratior i in order to consider the
mobilisation of suah organisations in Asia and their role in providing assistanae
to the Palestinian people, Some details on the Sympoeium and the text of the final
declaration are contained in annex III.
(b)>
66. The Latin American and Caribbean Regional NO0 Symposium, poetponed from 1989,
was held at Euenoe Aires from 5 to 5 February 1990, together with the Latin
American and Caribbean Regional Seminar. The NO0 Symposium considered the topics
of three penele jointly with the Geminar. -0 workshops were established for
representatives of non-governmental organisations to coneider the mobilisation of
euch orgauiratione for the protection of and aseistanae to the Palextinian people
under occupation and the role of organisations in the mobilisation of public
opinion. Some detail6 on the Symposium and the text of the final declaration aro
contained in annex V.
67. The African Regional NO0 Symposium was held at Freetown Prom 2 to
5 April 1990, together with the African Regional Seminar. 310 NO0 Symposium
considered the topics of three panels jointly with the Seminar. IA addition, two
workshops were established for repreeeatativee of non-governmental organisations to
consider the mobilisation of their otganiratonc for the protection of and
aseietance to the Palestinian people under osaupation ant; the role of these
organisations in the mobilisation of public opinion. Some detail6 on the Sympoeium
and the text of the final declaration are contained in annex VII.
(d) Natth
68. The North American Regional NO0 Symposium was held at United Nations
Headquarters from 27 to 29 June 1990, inmediately following the North knerican
Regional Seminar, in accordance with the practice followed in previous years. The
programme for the Symposium was elaborated in coneultations between the Cormmitts
and the North American Co-ordiaating Committee for NQOx on the Question of
Palestine within the framework of a preparatory meeting held in New York on 22 and
23 January 1990.
69. The programme for the Symposium provided for two main panelo: panel II
“Breaking the impasse: Moving towards Ioraeli-Palectinian peace and convening the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East”1 and panel 111 “Intiiadah
update”. The programme alxo included 12 action-oriented workshopo aimed at
identifying future tasks for organising non-governmental organisation
-17-
constituencies in the North American region. Some details on the Symposium and the
text of the final declaration are included in anne? X.
70. The European Regional NO0 Symposium was held at Qeneva on 27 and
28 August 1990, and was followed by the International NO0 Meeting, which took place
from 29 to 31 August 1990.
71. The programmes for the Symposium and the International Meeting were elaborated
by the members of the European Co-ordinating Committee for NQOe on the Question of
Palestine and the International Co-ordinating Committee for NQOs on the Oueetion of
Palestine in consultation with the Committee within the framework of a preparatory
meeting held at Qeneva on 26 and 27 March 1990.
72. The Symposium considered the topics of three panels: panel I: “Urgent
priorities to stop settlements in tte occupied territory and protect the
Palestinian people. What can Europe and European non-governmental organisations
do7”; panel 111 “1990: Time for peace - evaluation and follow-up”! and
panel III: “Two peoples-two States. Europo’e contribution to achieving peace”.
The progrmo for the Symposium also included four action-oriented workshops.
(f) I n t e r n a t i o n a l
73. The International NJ0 Meeting had as a main theme “Palestine and Israel:
Prerequisites for peace”. The Zollowing panels were established: panel I:
“Rreaking the impasse in the peace process through the convening of the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East8 The influence of Palestinian,
Israeli and international NO0 co-operation”) paAe1 111 I’- update”t
panel III: “The changing role of non-governmental organisationell; and panel IVz
“Movement of populations: The law and the politicsO’. Six action-oriented
workshops also mot within the frsmewark of the Meeting.
74. Some details on the European Symposium and the International NO0 Meeting and
the texts of the final declarations are contained in annexes XI and XII,
respectively.
75. At its 171et meeting, held on 25 October 1990, the Committee considered the
question of travel entitlements and related arrangements for members of the
Committee attending regional seminars and non-governmental organisation symposia
and meetings held away from Headquarters. The Committee heard clarifications given
on behalf of the Office of Progrenune Planning, Budget and Finance in that regard.
The Committee also considered the matter at its 173rd meeting, held on
28 November 1990. The Committee stressed that members of the Committee serving on
delegations to such meetings are to be accorded the statue of officials on special
assignment for the Committee to promote the aims and objectives of the mandate
entrusted to it by the Qeneral Assembly.
-18-
76. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Division for Palestinian
Rights, in accordance with its mandate, continueU to prepare the following
publicatione, under the guidance of the Committee8
(a) Monthly bulletins covering action by the Committee, other United Nations
organs, and intergovernmental and non-goverrrmental organisations concerned with the
question of Palestine;
(b) Reports of regional eeminare, regional symposia and international
meetings of non-governmental organisatione~
(c) Monthly and bi-monthly reports on developments relating to the qUeStiOn’
of Palestine, monitored from the Arabic, English and Hebrew preee for the use of
tt5 Committee.
77. The Committee noted that the Division had published two studies, namely,
in the G and The
~~~+~~i~ Prw 1917-1988 Two updated issues (February and
June 1990) of the information note on the work’of the Committee and of the Division
were also prepared. Another information note, entitled “The United Nations and
non-governmental organisation aativitiee on the queetion of Palestine”, was updated
in October 1999 and February 1990. Both information notes were issued in the six
official United Nations languages, a5 well as in German and Japanese. The
following publications were also ioeued by the Division during the period Under
review: Reealutione of the V the Bllcuritv
to the e of PA&&.&: 1909 (A/AC.193/L.2/Add.l0) aAdw
with tha
Ealestinian*
78. The following studies are currently being prepared by the Di~i510~: Xkn
o f Pw: 1979-19Bp arrdw o f win_PalastineI
on the EBankrrm A compilation of seminar
papers on legal aspects of the question of Palestine 15 nearing its completion.
5. fntstnstionel with the PV
79. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
on 29 November 1999 at United Nations Headquarter5 in New York and at the United
Nations Offices at Qeneva and Vienna. The Committee noted with appreciation that
the International Day had also been commemorated in many other cities throughout
the world in 1989.
-19-
V. ACTIM TAKEN RY TIiE DEPARTMRNT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH QENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 44/41 C
80. The Conaittee noted with appreciation that, during the past year, the
Department of Public Information of the Searetarirrt continued its information
programme on the question of Palestine with a view to LUrtheciAg the world-wide
di5SeminatiOA Of accurate, objective and campreheneive iAfOrm&iOA on the
question. The DepartmeAt’S continuing mandate on the area derived from Qeneral
Assembly resolution 44141 C. in which the Assembly requested it to continue its
special information programme on the question of Palestine during the biennium
1990-1991.
81. Ia response to the Aoeembly’o request, the Department has disseminated press
releases, publication5 and audio-visual material and has also organised
fact-finding news mi55iOAS and regional and AatiOAal encounters for journali5te.
92. Full coverage by press releaoee was provided of the forty-fourth session of
the Qeneral Aooembly, the meeting5 of the Seaurity Council, including its meetings
at Qeneva, the Cosxni5eion on Ruman Rights, the Special Committee to Investigate
Israeli Practices AffeOtiAg the Numan Rights of the Palretinian People and Other
Arabs of the Occupied Territories, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Right5 of the Palestinian People aAd other intergoverAmenta1 bodies as they dealt
with the question of Palestine.
53. The Department’s coverage of the question of Palestine during the past year
focused increasingly on news items and information concerning the situation in the
occupied territories and efforts to convene an international peace conference on
the Middle Eaat radar United Nations auspices.
8 4 . IA publication activities, the Department actively die5eminated information
through articles, press relea586, brochures and booklets. meVN
reported extensively on the COAEideratiOA given to the question of Palestine aAd
other related item5 by the Assembly at its forty-fourth eeeeion and by the Security
Council, particularly since the beginning of the uprising in the occupied
territoriee. The commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the
Paleetinian People by the Conxnittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Right6 of
the Paleetinian People at Headquarters with other United Nations offices was fully {
covered. The Department also covered snd disseminated information on the eeminare
and symposia held in different world capitals by the Cosunittee on the Exerciee of
the Inalienable Right5 of the Pale5tinian People.
8 5 . The Department continued to distribute its publications on the qUeEJtiOn of
Palestine, such as a revised version of the booklet entitled “The United Nations
and the Oueetion of Palestine” in Arabic, Englieh, French, Qerman and Spaniehl the
booklet entitled “For the Rights of Paleetinianer Work of the Committee on the I
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People”# the booklet entitled i
‘Wnnan Rights for the Paleetiniane~ The Work of the Special Committee to
Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Populetion of the
Occupied Territories”r the brochure entitled “The International Day of Solidarity
with the Palestinian People” in English, which is currently being translated into
French and Spanish. All publications have been given wide circulation through all
available channels.
-2o86.
All acpecto of the question of Palestine, inaluding the Security Council
meetings held at Qeneva, Pale5tinian refugee@, Pale5tiAian rights, the w,
the situation of the oaaupied territoriee, the work o.f UNRWA, the meetinga of the
Comittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Right5 of the Palestinian People and
the prospects for an international peace oonferenae on the Middle East, were
covered extensively in both official and non-official language5 in new5, current
affairs magasinee, and other radio progremmee of the Department of Publia
Information.
87. In addition to short item5 in news 0Ad current affairs radio prOgramme5, the
Department of Public Information produced 12 special feature radio prograannerr
including one on “The question of Palestine: The continuing search for a peace
5ettlement’, which was adapted into ChiAeSe, Hindi, Turkioh and Urdu aAd
distributed to some 350 radio etatione world wider two edition5 on “PalestineI
search for a just and durable eo1ution” and "Que5tion of P5155tiAe: i5u5igration of
Soviet Jews to Israel” in French; and “The COAtribUtiOA of international OemiAar5
and S~pOSi0 POCUS on P0155tiA5' iA AiSWahili. The “UWCTAD ac5ictance to the
Palestinian people” and “The question of Paleetine’1 were featured in two edition6
of the weekly programme in Arabic, Afakon Alamiya. The Caribbean Unit produced two
editions on “The question of Palestine and the Caribbean media (1) the root of the
problem and (2) the Caribbean journalist perspectives” in two parto, whiah were
distributed to all countries and territoriee in the Caribbean region. *‘The Work of
UWRWA” was featured in the weekly English magasine &9ga. All regional’5eminare
and non-governmental organisation symposia on the question of Palestine SpOAeOred
by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Right5 of the Paleotinian
People were covered extensively in weekly regional magaainee.
88. A 15-minute educational video for high-school-age etudente, with an
accompanying study pamphlet for teacher5 on the question of Palestine, was produced
in three languages for distribution world wide.
89. Full televieion coverage was provided of Qeneral Assembly and Security Council
meetings an the question of Palestine. Television coverage wee alro provided of
meetings of the Co#mnittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Pale5tinian People and its sponsored eeminare as well as other official events.
The commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Paleotinian
People and the opening ceremony of the photo exhibit on the inalienable right5 of
the Pale5tinian people were aleo fully covered. A large number of video news
package5 on the variou5 aspects of the question of Palestine were di55eminated
world wide through international eyndicatoro. Member0 of delegatiOA5 were al50
provided with video cassette dubs 0Ad excerpt5 on the question of Paleetine 0Ad
other related items. Cassette copies and line feeds were made available to major
televioion Aetworke.
90. As in previoue yoare, the Department once again organiled activitieo to
acquaint the media with the facts and developments pertaining to the quertion of
Paleetine. A team of 14 high-level jouraali5t5 participated in the news miarion to
the Uiddle East organised by the Department, Between 13 and 31 Yay 1990. they
visited Tuni5, Damaecu5, Amman and Cairo. A formal request to the Permanent
Mission of Israel for the news mission to visit Irrael and the West Rank went
unanswered. The news mieeion provided the participantr with an opportunity to gain
first-hand knowledge and impreocionc on variouo arpectr of the Palertine qUe5tiOA.
During the mission, the journalists met and interviewed a large number of leaderr
and senior officiale of Egypt, Jordan, the Syrian Arab Republic, TUnisi and the
-2lPalestine
Liberation Organisation. Numerous field visits, particularly to
Palestinian refugee camps, were aleo.organiaed. The mission received extensive
media coverage in all the countries visited. Numerous articles were later
published and radio and television progremmee broadcast by the participants on the
basis of their experience and interviews conducted during the mission.
91. The Department also organised two regional encounters for journalists on tho
question of Palestine, bringing high-level journalists together with experts in the
field for brief, in-depth, informal and candid diecueeione of the various aspects
of the Palestinian problem. The first encounter was held at Buenos Aires from
12 to 14 February 1990 and was attended by 24 journalists from many North and Latin
AmariCM and Caribbean Countries, representing the print, radio 0Ad television
media. The second encounter was held in Singapore from 26 to 28 March 1990. About
23 journalists from Aeia and the Pacific participated.
92. The Department also organised three series of national encounters in which
small, balanced panels of experts held meetings, in the form of in-depth press
conferencee. IA Latin America and the Caribbean, national encounters uith local
journallets and foreign correspondents were held at Mexico City, Santiago and
Port-of-Spain between 2 0Ad 15 February. National encounters for Europe were held
between 9 and 16 March at Oslo, London and Belgrade. Asian national encounters
were held at Tokyo, Manila, Bangkok and Now Delhi between 19 and 30 March.
93. United Nations information centres throughout the world continued to carry out
information activities in connection with the question of Palestine and made
available to the public United Nations information materials on the subject. These
activitiee included public lectures and briefings, screening of United Nations and
UNRWA films on the question of Palestine, photo exhibits and the production and
diseamiAation of newsletters, press releases and leaflets on the various aspects of
the question. The information centres undertook various activities in observance
of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
They made available publications prepared for, and under the guidance of, the
Connnittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of tha Palestinian People and
distributed information circulars in official and local languages. Exhibitions
were held, films screened and events organised in various centres in co-operation
with the diplomatic corps, UNRWA and national parliaments.
-22-
VI. RECCWENDATICNS OF THE CCRQdIREE
94. The year.under review was one in whiah great hopes gave way to increasing
anxiety over the prospects for a comprehensive, jurt and lasting settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East.
The new and favourable opportunities for concerted international action towards
this end created by the Paleetiaian peace initiative of November 1989 end by the
international trends towards democratisation and relaxation of teA8iOA8 were
thwarted by Israel’s continued intraneigence and policy of armed repreorion of the
i&i.f&h. The Qulf crisis in the latter part of 1990 ha8 heightened tensions and
has brought inetability to an already troubled region. There is a serious threat
of armed confrontation that could have grave repercueeion8 for the entire region
and for the question of Palestine.
95. The Committee considers that despite these disquieting events, international
attention must remain focused on the imperative necessity to oirercome the political
and diplomatic stalemate that hae hitherto blocked progrece towards a settlement of
the question of Palestine. The Committee reiterate8 once again its firm belief
that such a settlement, in accordance with internationally recognised priACiple8,
is of fuAdament01 importance for the aahievament of peace and stability in the
Middle East region. Noting the successful efforts to achieve coneensue within the
Security Council and particularly the conetructive manner in which its permanent
members are acting together to resolve regional conflicts, the Committee appeal8 to
the Council to take concrete aAd effective action to pursue with renewed
determination the peace process aud endeavours to resolve the Arab-Israeli
conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine.
96. As the i&if&&b is about to enter it8 fourth year, the Committee raluter the
brave Palestinian people, in particular its women and children, for the heroic
struggle to end Ieraeli occupation and implement the proclamation of the
independent Paleetinian State of November 1918. The ~ ha8 affirmed clearly
the determination of the Paleetinian people to bring the occupation of their ISAd
to an end and to achieve the exercise of their inalienable rights and has also
affirmed that the Palestine Liberation Organieation is the sole legitimate
representative of the Pale8tinian people. The Committee reaffinna the
international coneeneu8 that the participation of the Palestine Liberation
Organisation on an equal footing with other pettier to the Arab48raeli conflict ir
indispensable in any efforts and deliberation8 aimed at the achievement of a
lasting peace in the Middle East. It also calls once again for Palestine to be
accorded its rightful place within the internatioAal community and the United
Nations Organisation. While the Committee notes with ratirfaction that the
intitadah had helped the progressive force8 in Irrael to intenrify their effort8
for a just peace, the Qovernment of Israel has remained adamant. The Cosaxittee
affirms that the continuing denial of the Pale8tinian people’8 right to
self-determination and independence 18 entirely unacceptable and conrtituter a
major danger to peace. It calls upon Israel to recognise and rerpect the n0tiOA01
aspiration8 and rights of the Palestinian people and to recognise as well the
desire of its own people to a future based on peace and justice.
97. In the 15 years since the establishment of the Committee, an international
coneeneus has gradually been adieved on the es8ential principle8 for a 8OlUtiOA ol
the question of Palest2de based on the attainment of the inalienable right8 of the
Paleetinian people. The Cosunittee recalls that in it8 firrt report to the QeAeral
-23-
Assembly, it had rscomneaded modalities for the attainment of thoee rights (eee
annex I), later complemented by the Declaration and Progrmne of Action adopted by
the International Conference on the Question of Paleetine held at Qeneva in 1983.
Developments since the beginning of the intiLadsh led to an even widar consensue,
a8 shown by the near-unanimous adoption of Qeneral Assembly resolution 44142. In
that resolution the Assembly called once again for the convening of the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East, under the auspices of the United
Nations, with the partiaipation of all parties to ye conflict, including the
Palestine Liberation Organisation, on an equal footing, and the five permanent
members of the Security Council, based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967)
and 338 (1973) and the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination. The Coxanittee reaffirms the principle6
for the achievement of a comprehensive peace contained in that resolution, nemely,
the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967,
including Jeru llem, and from the other occupied Arab territories, guaranteeing
arrangements for security of all States in the region, including those named in
Qeneral Assembly resolution 161 (II) of 29 Yovember 1947, within secure and
internationally recognised boundaries, rt .ving the problem of the Palestine
refugees in conformity with General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of
11 December 1946, and subsequent relevant resolutions, dismantling the Israeli
settlemente in the territories occupied since 1967, and guaranteeing freedom of
access to Holy Places, religious buildings and sites.
96. The Committee deeply regrets Israel’s continued rejection of the constructive
proposals contained in that resolution, which have been explicitly accepted by the
Palestine Liberation Organisation. Further, the Connnittee calls upon those States
which have thus far prevented the implementation of General Aseembly resolution
44/42 to reconsider their position and to join the international conaenauu.
Concerned that the continued stalemate will further exacerbate tensions and
encourage resort to extremism, the Committee recommends that the General Assembly
should urge the Security Council, and in particular its permanent members, to
consider measures needed to convene the International Peace Conference on the
Uiddle East, including the eetablisbment of a preparatory committee, to consider
guarantees for eeaurity measures for all States in the region, and to renew the
mandate of the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned
and, in consultation with the Security Council, to facilitate the convening of the
Conference. The Committee expreeoes its support for every effort by the permanent
members of the Security Council to bring the positions of the parties to the
conflict closer to each other, to create a climate of confidence between them, and
to facilitate in this way the convening and successful outcome of the International
Peace Conference. Recent experience in the Security Council indicates that, given
the necessary political will, the Council is able to achieve consensus on important
matters of concern to the international ctnmnunity in the area of international
peace and security. The Conxxittee urges the Council to address the question of
Palestine with the same urgency and determinatioil with a view to finding a just and
lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict and its core, the question of
Palestine.
99. For its part, the Committee intends to continue to .intensffp its efforts
towards this essential objective and to make it once again the focal point of its
work programme in the coming year. The Conunittee considers that future regional
seminars and non-governmental organisation symposia and international
non-governmental organisation meetings organised under its auspices could make a
Vb’ ‘14 contribution by examining, with the assistance of experts from all
-24-
regions, in partiaular Palestinian8 and Israelis, some of the more important nad
complex substantive issues that need to be addressed by the Coaferenae.
100. Pending progress towards a politiaal ~nttlement,‘howeverr the Comittee urger
once again that all necessary measures be taken isxnediately to protect the
Palestinian people ia the Palestinian territory oooupied rinse 1967, Including
Jerusalem.
j
The Committee has repeatedly drawn the attention of the
Secretary-General, the Qeneral Assembly and the Seaurity Counail to Israel’s
non-acceptance of the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 Augurt 1949 and to the
persistent violation by Israel of its obligation8 as the oaaupying power under that
Convention. In the past year, those Israeli poliaiss and practices have led to
increasing casualties and the deterioration of already insufferable living
c o n d i t i o n s . A matter of special concern is the suffering inflicted on Palestinian
women and children as a result of Israeli practices. The deportation8 of
~ Palestinians, the increased restriction on freedom of movement and association, and
the restrictions on educational institutions, health and soaial welfare
organixations, as well a8 constant daily obstacles and harassments, have produced
inhuman and intolerable conditions. The Committee aonsiders that it is now
imperative for the High Contracting Parties to the fourth Qeneva Convention and for
the United Nation8 system as a whole to ensure that Israel abide by its
o b l i g a t i o n s . The Committee calls upon the Security Counail to establish urgently
an effective United Nation8 presence in the occupied territory with a legal mandate
to protect the Palestinians therein. In this regard, the Committee endorses the
proposed establishment by the Security Council of a United Nation8 observer force.
~ 101. The Committee is deeply concerned at the process of Israeli colonimation of
the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, inolud’ing Jeruselem, as manifested
in the continued establishment of settlementor usurpation of land and water
rssources, and settler vigilantism. The growing influs of new inxnlgrants
exacerbate8 the situation. The Comnittee noted that the international comnunlty
had vigorously opposed the Israeli policy of establishing settlement8 in the
Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, whiah was in
; contravention of the fourth Geneva Convention, had dealared thore aations null and
1 void and had demanded that Israel dismantle the settlement0 and withdraw from the
occupied territory. The Committee aallc upon the Seaurity Council to aonrider the
matter again urgent&2 and te undertake appropriate measures, ia aonfotmity with the
fourth Geneva Convention and the relevant principle8 of the Charter of the United
Nations, to deal with the situation.
102. The Committee wishes to reaffirm that the United Nation8 has a duty and
responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the social and
economic development of the Palestinian territory oaaupied rinoe 1967, inaludlng
Jerusalem, in preparation for the full exercise of national sovereignty in
accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions. The Camnittee accordingly
reiterates its call upon the organisation8 of the United Natioxr system, as well a8
on Government8 and on intergovornmentrl and non-governmental organisations, to
sustain and increase their economic and soaial aosirtanae to the Palestinian
people, in close co-operation with the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
1 103. The Committee noted with satiofaction the increased awareness and mobilisation
of international public opinion in support of the attaian\ent of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people and of United Nation8 reaonunendationr for a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the quertion of Palestine. The
-2%
Conxnfttee believes that its programme of regional eeminare and meetings and 1
eymposia of non-governmental argani?atione, a8 well a8 the journalista encounters 1
and other informational activities sponsored by the Committee, have played a
valuable role in thie process, and it will continue to strive to achieve maximum
effectivenese in carrying out this programme and to intensify ite eleforts in the
implementation of itu mandate. Further, the Committee intends to continue and
intensify its efforts to ensure that such mestfngs provide an opportunity for
diverse points of view to be expressed 80 that a real dialogue can be held among
people of good will on all sides on the baeis of relevant Qeneral Assembly and
Security Council reeolutione. In th’o context, the Committee invites all
Qovernment8, including those of the United States of America and Israel, to
participate ir, the work of the Committee and in the events organised by it.
11 On 27 September 1990, the Prime Winieter of the Qermarc Democratic
Republic informed the Secretary-Qeneral that the prerequieite under international
law for a continued memberehip oP the Qerman Democratic Republic in the United
Nation17 and in other intergovernmental organisations ceased to apply with the
accession a8 at 3 October 1990 of the Qerman Democratic Republic to the scope of
the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Qermany 80 a8 to unite Qermany in a single
Ptate (A/45/557).
11 u., 112rittv-m (A/32/35)$ im.,
No. 35 (A/33/35)) u., Thirtv-foutth I
(A/34/35 and Corr.l)t U., w-fifth seeeion.
No. 35 (A/35/35)) M., ThirvSeesion. S~~QUW& No. 35 (A/36/35)8 ikid.,
tv-eevm (A/37/35 and Corr.l)r iu.,
(A/39/35)1 m.,6 No. 34 (A/40/3&
&&j., matmt No. 35 (A/41/35)) u., J’ortv eecgn8
Sm No. 35 (A/42/35)r w., ~~~~No.~
(A/43/3?)) and u., murth sesaian. No. 35 (A/44/35).
41 &part of the Internatiansl on the.&- of Pw,
va. 29 wt-7 Se- 19B;i (United Nations publication, Sale8
No. E.B3.1.21), chap. I, sect. B.
51 The observer6 at the Committee meetings were a8 follows: Algeria,
Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Csechoslovakia, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait,
Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Sri Lanka,
Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, the League of Arab States and
the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. Palestine, represented by the
Palestine Liberation Organisation, as the representative of the Palestinian people,
the principal party to the question of Palestine , was also an observer.
-26-
&Ufi (continued)
w Until 3 October 1990, the membership of the Working Qroup was as
follower Afghanistan, Cuba, Qerman Democrat& Republic, Quinea, Quyana, India,
Malta, Pakistan, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Soaialist Republic and
Palestine, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organisation, as the
representative of the people directly concerned.
ii/ United Nations, ZKJI&L&J&E, vol. 75, No. 973.
81 UWtnationalur ~~Zl~ULIlasrian.1990.ha
m# appendices (vol. 21, pp* 46-O’).
-27-
AWNEXI
of them bv the
& its -W-first u*
I.p.’
59. The question of Palestine ie at the heart of the Widdle East problem, and
consrlquantly, the Committee stresseo its belief that no solution in the Middle East
OM be envisaged whiah does not fully take into aaaount the legitimate aspirations
of the Palestinian people.
60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to
their homes and property and to achieve eelf-determination, national independence
and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the full
implementation of those ‘rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and
fine? settlement of the Middle East crisie.
61. The partiaipation of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, the representative
of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties, on the basis of
Qeneral Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (JUK), is indispensable in all
efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which are held under the
auspices of the United Nations.
62. The Committee reaalls the fundsmental principle of the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force and streeees the consequent obligation for
oomplete and speedy evacuation of any territory.eo occupied,
63. The Conrmittee coneiders that it is the duty and responsibility of all concerned
to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights.
64. The Committee reaonnnends an expanded and more influential role by the United
Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine
and in the implementation of such a solution. The Gecurity Council, in particular,
should take appropriate action to fncilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of
their right to return to their homes, lands and property. The Committee,
furthermore, urges the Becurity Council to promote action towards a just solution,
taking into account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter of the Ilnited
Nations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numerous
resolutions of the United Natione, after due consideration of all the facts,
proposala and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that the
Conunittee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation of
the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
o f t h e vAssembTv. wet Segs&a.n,
(A/31/35), paras. 59-72.
-28-
66. T’he’natural and inalienable right of Psl~rtinians to return to their homeo is
reaognimed by resolution L94 (III), whiah the Qeneral Aoaembly ha6 reaffirmed
almoet every year since ita. adoption. This right was aloo unanimouely reaognised
by the Soaurity Couaoil in itr rreolution 237 (1967)r the time for the urgent
implementatioa of these resolutions la long overdue.
67. Without prejudice to the right of all Paleetinianr to return to their home@,
lands and property, the Cormnittse considers that the programme of implsmrntation of
the exercise of this right may be oarried out in two phaaeal
68. The first phase involve6 the return to their homee of the Paleetiniane
displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommende thatt
(a) The Seaurity Council should request the imediate implementation of ite
resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementation rhould not be related to eny
other oonditionl
(b) The reaouraea of the International Comnittee of the Red Crow (ICRC)
and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Paleetine Refugeee in the
Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be employed to aeeiet in the
solution of any logistical problems involved in the reeettlement of those returning
to their homes. These agencies could alro aasiet’, in co-operation with the hoot
oountrieo and the Paleotine Liberation Organisation, in the identification of the
displaced PaJsstiniane.
69. The second phase deal8 with the return to their homes of the P6lestinians
displaced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee reaomnende that:
(a) While the firet phase is being implemented, the United Nations, in
co-operation with the States directly involved, and the Palestine Liberation
Orgsnixation as the interim representative of the Palestinian entity, rhould
proceed to make the neaeesary artiangemento to enable Paleotiniana dieplaced between
1948 and 1967 to exeraice their right to return to their homes and property, in
accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions, partiaularly Qeneral
Assembly resolution 94 (III)1
(b) Palestinians choosing not to return to their homes should be paid jurt
and equitable compensation a6 provided for in resolution 194 (III).
I I I . That tom
a n d -
70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to eelf-determination, national
independence and eovereignty in Palestine. The Committee coneiders that the
evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in violation of the principle6
of the Charter of the United Nations and relevant resolutiona of the United Nations
is a m for the exercioe by the Palestininn ‘people of its
-29-
inalienable rights in Palestine. The Committea considers furthermore that, upon
the return of the Palestinians to their homeo and property and with the
establishment of an independent Palestinian entity, the Palestinian people will be
able to exercise its rights to self-determination and to decide its form of
government without external Interference.
71. The Committee aleo feels that the United Nations has an historical duty and
responsibility to render all aesistanae necessary to promote the economic
developmeat and prosperity of the Palestinian antity.
72. To those ende, the Committee recommenda that;
(a) A timetable ehould be established by the Security Council for the
complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those area8 occupied in 19671
such withdrawal should be completed no later than 1 June 1977~
(b) The Security.Council may need to provide temporary peace-keeping force6
in order to facilitate the process of wCthdrawalt
(01 Israel should be requested by the Security Council to desist from the
establishment of new settlements and to withdraw during this period from
settlements established since 1967 in the OCCUQied territories. Arab property and
all essential services in those areas should be maintained intact)
(d) Israel should also be requested to abide scrupulously by the provieions
of the Qeneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 Atkguet 1949, and to declare, pending its speedy withdrawal from thoee
territories, its reaognition of the applicability of that Conventioni
(e) The evacuated territories, with all property and services intact, should
be taken over by the United Nations, which, with the co-operation of the League of
Arab States, will subsequently hand over those evacuated areas to the Palestine
Liberation Organisation as the representative of the Paleetinian people)
(f) The United Nations should, if.neceseary, assist in establishing
co~unications between Qaaa and the West Bank,
(g) Ae coon as the independent Palestinian entity has been established, the
United Nations, in co-operation with the States directly involved and the
Palestinian entity, should, taking into account Qeneral Assembly resolution
3375 (XXX), make further arrangements for the full implementation of the
1naJienable rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding
problems and the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region, in
accordance with all relevant United Nations resolutionet
(h) The United Nations should provide the economic and technicel assistance
necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity.
-JOANNEX
II
ConclueionsannracolrPnendationsmhv
on the Ouaptian of I?-
(Ruala Lumpur, 18 to 22 December 1989)
1. The Twenty-third United Nations Seminar on the Oueetion of Paleetine (818th
Aeian Regional Seminar), on the topic “The inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people”, was held jointly with the Third United Nations Asian Regional NO0
Symposium on the Oueetion of Palestine at Kuala Lumpur from 18 to 22 Deaember 1989,
in accordance with the terms of Qeneral Assembly resolution 42166 8 of
2 December 1987.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation comprising Mrs. A&sit Claude Diallo
(Senegal), Chairman of the Committee, head of the delegation and Seminar ChairmanJ
Mr. Andreas Mavrommatis (Cyprus) ) Mr. Ismail Rasali (Malaysiu’, who served a8
Rapporteur of the Seminars Mr. Tom Obaleh Kargbo (Sierra Leone)1
Mr. Quennadi Oudovanko (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic); and
Mr. buhdi Labib Terxi, Permanent Observer for Palestine.
3. Nine meetings were held and 13 paneliate presented papers on selected aapeCt8
on the question of Palestine. In addition, representatives of 38 Qovernmente,
Palestine, UNDP and the Economic and Social Coxxnission for Western Asia (SSCWA),
3 intergovernmental organ’eatione and 52 non-governmental organiaatione (NQOe)
attended the Seminar.
4. The joint event was opened by Mrs. Diallo and a welooming address waa maUe by
H.L. Datuk Abu Hassan (hat, Foreign Minister of Malaysia.
5. A message from the Secretary-Qeneral of the United Nations,
LE. Mr. Javier P&es de Cu/llar, was read out by hi8 repreeentative, the Chief of
the Division for Palestinian Rights. The Chairman of the Committee aleo addreaaed
the meeting, as did Ms. Yoshiko Tanaka of the International Co-ordinating Committee
for MGOs on the Question of Palestine, speaking on behalf of the Asian NQOa.
Mr. Ahmad Al-Farra, Observer for Paleatina, read out a message from Mr. Yaseer
Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Paleetine Liberation
Organisation.
6. Further statements were made by the following: Mr. Kargbo, representative of
the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the
Declaration on the Qranting of Indapendence to Colonial Countries and Peopleer
Mr. Oudovenko, Acting Chairman of the Special Committee against -J
Mr. Nab11 Taleb Ma”arouf, Assistant Secretary-Qeneral of the Organisation of the
Ielamic Conference; Mr. Moetafa Foroutan, Aa8ietant Secretary-Qeneral of the
Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee; and Mr. Fouad Eeaeiso, regional
representative of ESCWA.
7. The Seminar and Symposium participanta adopted a meeelrge to Mr. Arafat, and a
motion of thanks to the Qovernment and people of Malaysia.
-31-
8. The three psnele that were establishqd and their paneliete were ae followel
WI (a) “The urgency of aonvening the International Peace Conference on
the Middle Eaet”) (b) “The ineiiadah in the occupied Palestinian territory and its
impact on the achievement of a compreheneive settlemeat of the Middle Eaet
conflict”: Ms. Hanaa Wikheil Alphrawi (Paleetinian), Mr. Paul Findley (United
States of America), Tan Sri Dsto Abdul Rahman Bin Abdul Jalal (Malaysia),
Mr. Zhentang Liu (China), Mr. Ron McIntyre (NW Zealand), Mr. Yyacheelav N. Matusov
(Union of Boviet Bocialiet Pepublice), Mr. Amien Rais (Indonesia) and
Tan Sri Ed’ohd Qhaoali Shafie (Malayeia)r
PanalL: “The role of the Plrleetine Liberation Organisation in the Bocial,
cultural, economic and political development of the Palestinian people”I
Mr. Nabil Bha’ath (Palestinian)t
PsnalUI “The mobilisation of public opinion in the Asian region for the
realioation of the inalieaable rights of the Palestinian people”: Mr. Donald bets
(Internationsl Co-ordinating Committee for NO06 on the Question of Palestine),
M r . A , Radir Jasin (Malaysia), Mr. Daoud Ruttab (Paleetinian) and Mr. Miimtaa Soyeal
(Turkey).
9. The report of t.ha Seminar, including summaries of the proceedings, has been
issued as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights of the United
Nation@ Secretariat.
10. The conclusions and recommendation6 adopted by the Beminar are as followsr
(a) The participant6 in the Seminar in reviewing recent developments
concerning the question of Palestine welcomed the results of the ninetaenth
extraordinary session of the Palestine National Council (PNC) held at Algiers in
November 1988, and, in particular, the Political Communiqu6 aa well aa the
Declaration of Independence proclaiming,the State of Palestine as a positive
contribution toward8 a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the Middle East. The
decision adopted by PNC at Algiers, the position outlined by B.E. President
Yaceer Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organisation, in hia addresa to the Qeneral Assembly ut Geneva on 13 December 1988,
the debate on the quaetion of Palestine in the General Assembly seesion, the
adoption of reoolution 43/176 on 15 December 1988 became important landmarks in the
international endeavours towards achieving a juet settlement of the question of
Palestine and havo led to increased eupport by all sectors of the international
community for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle
East. The Seminar noted with satisfaction that the provision6 of that reeolution
had been reaffirmed irr Qenaral Assembly raeolution 44142 of I3 December 1989. The
participants also took note of a further qualitative improvement in the vote on
this reeolution. Even larger numbers of States, including Western Statee, cast
their votes in 1989 in favour of the International Peace Conference on the Middle
East, reflecting the pressing need to convene such a conkeranca.
(b) The participants noted that the Qovarnment of the United States of
America had opened a dialogue with the Pale&tine Liberation Organisation. In this
connection, the participants emphasised that the scope of such a dialogue should be
-32-
expanded and inalude the ooaaideration of. l ubatentive iaauea leading to meaningful
political dealsions between the two partiea with a view to arriving at a just and
lasting ,aolutiorr to the question of Palertine,
(c) They alao noted tbat the peace initiativea undertaken by the Paleatiniax
leadership aa well as the proclamation of the State of Palestine by PNC at its
nineteenth extraordinary aaaaion, have received cnjhuaiaatic l upport fromao
overwhelminq majority of State8 who have welaomad thoae development8 aa a aoncrate
contribution toward8 peace. Signiflaantly, a large number of State8 have already
recognised and acknowledged the proclamation of the State of Palertioa and many
State8 have eatabliahad diplomatic relation8 with it.
(d) The participant8 erpreaaed their aonviotion that theaa development8
relating to the quaation of Palestine have created a new momentum for bringing
about a aolution to this aomplar and dangerour confliot on the baa18 of raaolutiona
of the United Nations and within itr framework. These development8 were brought
about by the courageous and determined struggle of the Palestinian people for the
realisation of its inalienable rights, primarily the rignt to aalf-determinationr
a8 dramatically manifeetad in the continuing min the oocupied Palestinian
territory. The present international climate , whioh la characterised by increasing
co-operation Md the political will to solve regional confliot in a peaceful way
through negotiations, has created favourabllr oonditiona for a compreheaaive, juat
Md 18Etinq settlement of the queetion of Paletrtina.
(e) The participant8 noted that theta eriata a wide meaaura of agreemeat
within the international aomnunity that a oomprehensive, juat and lasting
aettlement in the Middle Eart should be based on the following principleal
withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory oaaupied since 1967, inoluding
Jerusalem, and from the other Arab territoriesi acknowledgement of end reapeat for
the eovereignty, territorial integrity and politiaal indapendanae of all the State8
in the region, including the Btatea of Israel and Palertine, and their right to
live in peace within aeoure and recognised boundariear and finally, a 8ati8faotOry
aolution of the Palestinian problem baaed on the recognition of the ina.liauable
rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to aelf-determination leading
to the eotabliahment of M indspendent gtate of Palestine in tha oacupied
Palestinian territory, including Eaat Jeruaalam,
(f) The participante expressed aerioua ooncern at the continued grave
violationa of the human rights of the aivili~ population in the occupied
Palestinian territory. The Seminar took note with utmoat concern of the aontinuing
suffering of the Palestinian people under oaaupation. the enormoua toll among the
PaleatiniMa and the far-reaahing aocio-•conomio, dfmographia and emotional
consequence8 that the Palertinian people haa to faoa, The entire iatarnational
community, ac represented at the United Nations, ha8 repeatedly declared that the
Israeli acta of violanae against the Palaatinians in the oaoupied Palertinian
territory were in blatant violation of the proviaiono of thti Qaneva Convention
relative to the Protection of Civilian Perrone in Time of War, of 12 Augurt 1949,
which is fully binding on Iorael - a party to the Convention. The Iaraeli aotionr
are also contrary to United Nations raaolutions and to the generally recogniaad
norm118 of international law. In the Gama Strip espeoially, new maaourea to oontrol
the movement of individuals produced inhumane and intolerable aonditionr. In the
Waat Bank, settler vigilantiom threatened to develop into large-scale
bloodletting. Of special conaern for the participarrts were brutal Irraeli
practices uaed against Palestinian women and children. The participanta strongly
opposed the presence of Jewish settler@ in the occupied Paleotinian territory.
-33,
(g) The process of Israeli colonisation of the West Bank and the Oars Strip,
a6 manifested in the continued establishment of aettlementa and the brutality of
eettler vigilantlam, was unequivoaally rejected and condemned by the
participants. The participants were of the view that the Israeli policy of
usurping Palestinian land and establiehing and strengthening eettlemente in that
land conotituted not only a groas disregard for the inalienable rights of the
Paleetinian people, but aleo a eerious obstacle to the solution of the Arab-Israeli
canf list. They also noted with appreciation that the entire international
community had vigorously opposed the Israeli policy of eetabliehing settlements in
the occupied Palestinian territory. The Seminar noted with concern the continuing
funding of the illegal settlement activities by Israel in the occupied Palestinian
territory. The participants stressed that all aasiatanae, financial or otherwise,
to Israel, particularly From the United States, should cease forthwith. Any aid to
Israel should be made conditional upon Israel’s compliance with relevant United
Nations resolutions and provisions of the fourth Geneva Convention. Any aseistanca
resulting in the development and consolidation of the Israeli settlement
infrastructure in the occupied Palestinian territory is considered illegal and
immoral and constitutes a serious obstacle towards achieving peace in the Middle
Eaet.
(h) The participants were of the view that the Palestinian m, a8 the
popular, democratic expression of the collective will of the Palestinian people
under Israeli occupation, has given the rrtruggle of the Paleetinians the force of
authenticity as well a8 moral ascendancy and political maturity. The mr
now in ite third year, embraces three dimensions: the overt and visible resistance
to the Israeli occupation while simultaneously expressing the Palestinian people’s
commitment to its sole and legitimate leadership, the Palestine Liberation
Organieationt the social transformation and nation-building a.8 the embodiment of
statehood through the aatabliebment of authentiti, alternative popular
infrastructure of the Palestinian eociety, and, finally, the jntifedah was
inetrumantal in bringing about a clear-cut political articulation through the PNC
reeolutione of November 1988. The participants supported the view expressed by the
Secretary-General that the messcrge of the intifadaR was direct and unequivocal,
namely, that Israeli occupation, which has now beon in effect for 22 yeara, will
continue to be rejected, and that the Palestinian people will remain committed to
the exercise of its legitimate political rights, including self-determination.
(i) The Seminar appealed to the Security Council to take urgent measure8 to
ensure physical protection of the Palestinian people unaer occupation, to guarantee
the safety and security and the legal and human rights of the Palestinian refugees
in all the territories under Israeli occupation, The participants regretted that
on 7 November 1989 a permanent member of the Council had again prevented the
Security Council from taking action on measures indispensable for ensuring the
safety and protection of Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory. T?lO
Seminar participants stressed that the repressive policies and practices of Israel
yia&!& Palestinians in the occupied territory and in l?articular the so-called
policy of “transfer” or deportation of Palestinians, a gross violation of
recognised instruments of international law, had bean repeatedly condemned by the
United Nations Security Council, the General Assembly, as wall as by an
overwhelming majority of States Member8 of the United Nations. They pointed out
that, taking into account the gravity of the acts of violence and repression by
Israeli authorities against Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory, the
Security Cou.lcil should a8swne its responsibilities and ensure protection of the
Palestinian people under occupation. The participants called on Israel, the
-34-
occupying Power, to reapaat the Qeneva Convention relative to the Ptotaction Of
Civilian Peraonc in Time of War, and aooept the dsr appliaability of the
Convention to the ~aleatinian territory and other Arab territories oaoupied ainoe
1967, indluding Jerusalem, and to aomply fully with ita obligationa under that
Convention.
Cj) The partioipantr welcomed the aourageouo steps taken by the Paleatinianr
during the intifadah to end the Israeli oaoupation and to ret up an alternative
infrastructure that can be ueed as a baaia for an indopendeat and l ovareiga State
of Paleetine. The Sbminar conaidared that intensified efforta towarda genuine
development of the oaaupied Palaatinian territory, with the cloaa involvement of
the PalestiniM people through ita representative, the Palertine Lib&ration
Organixation, must be a neoeaaary aocompaniment of renewed effort8 to achieve a
political eolution to the question. The United Nation8 system am well au
international, regional and national orgMiaationa rhould continua and rtrangthen
their humanitarian aaaiatance ta the PalertiniMa under ocoupa$ioa Md to the
Palestinian refugees. In particular, sustained and increamed aupport ohould be
channelled through the United Nations Relief and Worko Aqency for Palectine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and other United Nationa bodies and aganaiea, am
well a8 through non-governmental organiaatione working directly in the ocoupied
Palestinian territory.
(k) The participants agreed that it wau incumbent upon the Qovernment of
Israel to respond positively to the ctand taken by the Palestine Libaration
Organisation which has been welcomed and praised by ‘she international ConUnUnity.
Israel CM no longer ignore the national aspirationc of the Palestiniana Md deny
them their political rights, in particular their right ‘to relf-determination. Th8
Seminar considered that the atepe proposed by the Irraeli Government were groaaly
inadequate. Any viable peace initiative must include interim meaauraa of
protection for the Palaotinian people and meaaurea that would enable P8leEtiniME
to exercise fully their right to @elf-deterruination. The partiaipanto otreaoed
that am the eo-called Ieraeli election propoeale did not include the final
objective of the exercise by the Palestinian people of all itr inalienable right8
including ite right to self-determination and the eatabliahment of an independent
sovereign State, they are nothing but an instrument for perpetuating Iaraali
occupation.
(1) The Seminar affirmed that the denial of the ererciee of the legitimate
national rights of the Paleetinian people remained the core of the confliat in the
Middle East and that a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region cannot
be achieved without the full exercise of those righta, without the withdrawal of
Israel from the Palectinian territory ocaupied sinae 1967, including Jerusalem, and
from the other occupied Arab territories. It further affirmed that the Palestine
Liberation Organisation wao the sole legitimate representative of the Paleotinian
people, and, aa euch, warn an asrantial party to any negotiations aimed at resolving
the conflict by peaceful meana.
(m) The Seminar, in particular, rtrcesed the eignificance of Qeneral Aaaemblf
resolution 43/176 of 15 December 1988 calling for the aonvening of the
International Peace Conference on the Middle Eaat, under the auopicer of the United
Nations, with the participation of all parties to the conflict, including the
Palestine Liberation Organisation, on an equal footing, and the five permanent
members of the security Council, bared on Security Council reeolutionr 242 (1967)
and 338 (1973) and the legitimate national rights of the Paleatinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination. Cognirant of the role of the Security
-35-
Council in maintaining international peace and security, the participants in the
Seminar urged the Seaurity Council to expedite the convening of the International
Peace Conference on the Middle East, and to adopt interim maasurds including the
deployment of a United Nations peace-keeping force to safeguard the physical
security of the people of the occupied Palestinian territory and to bring about
stability in the region pending agreement on a final comprehensive settlement. The
participants considered that it was incumbent upon Israel to terminate ita
occupation in compliance with resolution 242 (1967) and to accept the term@ for a
lasting and comprehensive settlement in the region.
(n) The Seminar stated that the international community was deeply and firmly
convinced of the urgent need to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting political
eettlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict and its core, the queetion of Palestine.
This is evidenced by the growing support for the convening of the Internationsl
Pesoe Conference on the Middle East. That support is clearly reflected in the
position adopted by the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, the League of Arab
States, the Orgenioatiomof African Unity, the Organisation of tha Islamic
Conference, the European Conanunfty, the Nordic States, Japan, as well as by the
USSR, China, and other socialist countries. In that regard, the Seminar noted with
appreciation the suotained and continuing support by all States and peoples of the
Asian and the Pacific region for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its
legitimate national righ 9 and for the convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East. The position of Asian States was one of solidarity
with an support for the struggle of the Palestinian people for the exercise of its
inalienable rights. There was a broad consensus regarding the need for convening
the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with the
provisions laid down in General Assembly resolution 43/176 of 15 December 1988 and
reaffirmed in resolution 44143 of 6 December 1989. Movement towards peace in the
region was facilitated by the carefully balanced and constructive policy adopted by
the PLO. The continuing obstacle was the inflexible position of the Government of
Israel as well as the attitude of one permanent member of the Security Council.
The participants called upon Israel to abandon its negative position and to respond
positively to international efforts aimed at a just and lasting political
settlement of the question of Palestine.
(0) The Seminar took note of the continuing endeavours by the
Secretary-General to set into motion a mechanism of consultations within the
Security Council with a view to advancing the peace process, including the
’ prospects for convening the International Peace Conference on the Piddle East.
(p) The Seminar appreciated the efforts of the Cormnittee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to secure universal recognition of
the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people, and of its
recommendations, made in its report in 1976, and repeatedly endorsed by the General
Aesembly since then, for ensuring the exercise by the Palestinian people of those
r ighte. The Seminar also noted with satisfaction the increased support at the
United Nations for the programme of action undertaken by the Committee. It urged
the international community to sustain and strengthen its support for the
Conmittee’s activities and endeavours, in particular, its efforts for facilitating
the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East.
(q) The Seminar took note with apprecistion of the activities of the Dlvieion
for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations Secretariat and of its coramitment to
work, under the guidance of the Conmnittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Righta
-36-
of the Palestinian People, towards the attainment and exercise by the Pslesti:*ian
people of its inalienable rights.
(r). The Seminar viewed with appreciation the support Governments and peoples
of Asia have extended at the United Nations and in other organimatione to the
Palestinian cause and for the achievement of a just and lasting peace in the Middle
East. The Seminar participant6 agreed that efforts should be continued and
intensified to mobilise official and public opinion in Asia through NO0 activities
and the utre of the media. Participrurts expressed the view that the co-operation of
Asian organisations, trade unions, solidarity group8 and 60 on, among themrelvre as
well as between them and their counterparts in other regions, should be expanded.
The United Nations mhould undertake additional efforts to disseminate factual and
up-to-date information on the question of Palectine and the measures required for
the achievement of a just settlement to the question of Palestine. The Coxrxittee
on the Exerciee of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People has an
important role in the dissemination of such information. For its part, the
Department of Public Information of the Secretariat should make every effort to
ensure that accurate information on the question of Palestine received the widest
possible dissemination.
(8) The participants expressed their warm appreciation to the Government and
the people of Malaysia for providing a venue for the Asian Regional Seminar and NO0
Symposium on the Question of Palestine, and for the facilitiee, courtesiee and
hospitality extended to them.
-37-
ANNEX III
bv mv
of PW
(Kuala Lumpur, 18 to 21 December 1989)
1. The Third United Natione Asian Regions1 NO0 Symposium on the Question of
?aleotine, on the theme “The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people”, was
held at Kuala Lumpur from II3 to 21 December 1989. The Symposium was held in part
together wi..h the Wanty-third b..ited Nation6 Seminar on the Qutrstion of Palestine,
which took place from 18 to 22 Deaember 1989 (see annex II).
a. In sddition to the panels held jointly with the Seminar, two workshops
ePscifically related to non-governmental organisation (NO01 activities were
established to aonsider’ the following topics8
(a) “Mobilising the NGO network in Asia”#
(b) “The role of NGO assistance in meeting the needs of the Palestinian
people 8 medical, economic, and educational support”.
3, The Sympoeium participants adopted a declaration and action-oriented proposals
emanating from the workshops and elected an Asian Co-ordinating Committee for NGOs
on the Question of Palestine, The report of the Sympouium has been issued as a
publication of the Waited Nations Division lot Palestinian Rights together with
that of the Seminar.
4. The NO08 participating in the Symposim adopted the following declarationr
We, the non-goverxmental organisations (NGOs) gathered at the United
Nations Asian Regions1 Seminar and Symposium on the Question of Palestine,
totally uphold the Inslienable [email protected] o; the Palestinian people sad fully
support its continuing struggle for independence, as expreseec? in the
intifadsh and by all other internationally legitimate means. We recognise and
uphold the historic proclamation of the State of Palestine made on
14 November 1989. We recognise the proclamation not only as the expression of
the continuous struggle of the heroic Palestinian people culminating in the
n, but also as an expression of the fundsmental principle of the
self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter of the United Netions.
We call on all Governments of Asia and the Pacific region who havw not already
done so to recognise the State of Palee;ine, in unequivocal terms and without
delay.
We particularly note and welcome the declaration by President Arafat at
the General Assembly meeting held at Geneva on 14 December 1986 in which he
recognised the right ot all States in the Middle East region to exist in peace
end sscurity, incluaing the States of Palestine and Israel. We uphold the
Palestinians’ inalienable right of return to their homeland and their right to
-3afreedom
end sovereignty, in the spirit of juotics and of reconciliation,
details to be negotiated between the Iuraeli Government and the PLO on the
basis of all t.?levant United Nation6 resolutions.
We vigorouflly renew the cal 1 for the early convening of the International
Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Aesembly
resolutir,n 43/175 of 15 December 1966 and ae reaffirmed in reeolution 44142 of
6 Decwber 1969, with participentu to ioclude the five permaaent mem>Ors of
the Security Council, the Palestine Liberatfon Organisation (PLO), Israel, the
Arab Gtatee psrty to the conflict end other aonoerned Ststes on an equal basis
and with equal rights.. The emphasis muet be on reaching a peace?ul, just and
comprehensive pnlitical settlement between Israel end independent Palestine ae
defined by the Palestine N&ion&l Council in tho Algiers Declaration of
IndepeAdence and in all relevant United Nations reeolutionsr for the mutual
aclvsntage of all the peoples of the region and of the world. The need for the
international conference is further reinforced by the recognition of the Ptate
of Palestine by an overwhelming number of nationo.
Reaffirming the international consensue that the PLO is the oole and
legitimate representative of the Pslestinian people, we note the great
strengthening of the consensus by the unwavering support for the PLO by the
people of the -ah and by the uniTled national leadership of the
ai. We therefore urge all Governments fully to reaognise the PLO as
the sole legitimtate reprenentative of the Palestinian people and the Stat0 of
Paleetine, and to press for its participstion on an equal footing with other
parties to the Arab-Israeli conflict at the International Peace COnfOrenCe on
the Middle Eaut as the representative of the PaSestinian people.
We, Aeisn NGOs, call for the immediate end to the military oacupstion of
Palestine. We note with utmoet concern end indignation that the Israeli
tepreesion, including killing, wounding. especially of women end children,
ma88 arrests end detentions, d;mrolitio: of homes, expulsions, starvation,
uprooting of trees, confiscation of land, closures of educational inotitutions
and other violations of human rights continue. The fact that they have lee@
media coverage arises not f.om any lessening of repression but becsuee the
media are prevented from reporting and ten be penalised for doing so by the
Israeli authorities. We nevertheless demand that me&is from all countrieo
make every effort to cover and report events in occupied Palestine.
We cell for effectivr international political and economic preasuro on
Israel to make it comply .h its obligation6 under the Fourth Qeneva
Cowention and to accept becurity Council resolutions. We appeal to the
Security Council to ebtablish an imediate United Nations prooencr in the
Palestiniw territory occupied by Israel since 1967, to bring en immediate end
to the escalating violations of human rights, to protect the Palestinian
people and to bring the perpetrators of theee practices to juotiae. We
strongly recommend an expansion of U1ORWA’e Refugee Affairs Offiaer Programno
as a practical expreosion of internationsl concern for the protection of the
Palestinian people under occupation.
We express grave concern at the situation of the Palestinione in Lebanon,
call for help for them and for the strengthening of the United Nations
pracu-keeping activities in Lebanon nnd demand that Israel withdraw all ita
military forces unconditionally to the internationally recognised boundarie8
-JPof
Lebanon in accordance with Security Council resolution 509 (1992) of
6 June 1992. We wish to alert the world to the illegal diverrion to Israel
via subterranean channels of the waters from the Lebanese Litani and Hasbani
Rivers. The result will be the desertification of the rich farmland of South
Lebanon, the evacuation of the population and, we fear, the formal
incorporation of South Lebanon into “Qreater Israel”. We express our
appreciation for the peace efforts of the Arab League in resolving the crisis
in Lebanon and particularly in assisting the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
We strongly uphold the forces of peace in Israel that Support the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East and an independeirt
Palestinian State. We etrongly condemn the penalising of Israeli peace
a c t i v i t i e s . We express support for those growing numbers of Israeli citisens
who refuse military Service in occupied Palestine and other occupied Arab
territories, and we call upon the Israeli Qovernment to recognise the right of
Israelis ta conscientious objection. We urge the Ieraeli Parliament to repeal
Amendment No. 2 of August 1986 the So-called “anti-terrorism” law, which
prohibits contact between Israeli citisens and representatives of the PLO.
We Strongly condemn the propoued new Amendment No. 3 to the above law,
which threatens charitable institutions, an& urge the Israeli parliament not
to pass it as it would provide arbitrary and dictatorial powers of
confiscation of the assete of charitable and educational NQOS and close to
them all avenues to aid from international Sources. We call for an urgent
international campaign against that amendment by Qovernments, NQOs and all
peace-loving peoples.
We Strongly condemn the Israeli practice of closing schools and
kindergartens in occupied Palestine since the beginning of the m and
the continuous closures of Palestinian universities. We urgently call for
international pressure to bear on the Israeli Qovernment to immediately reopen
all schcols and universities and to stop this deplorable form of collective
punishment. We urge the United Nations to implement its own resolutions,
including sanctions the+ will ask the Qovernments of thoee Ifamber State6 to
reconsider their official, social, cultural and educational exchange
programmes with Israel as well as grants or other educational facilities it
gives to Israel, as long as Israel fails to respect the basic right of the
Palestinian community to provide education for ite children.
We call upon all NGOs to establish contact with and extend Support t0
fellow NO06 in occupied Palestine, especially related to human rights, women,
health, labour, children and education.
We call upon all Asian NGOs to monitor the relationships among Asian
governmental and private institutions and Israeli governmental and private
institutions, particularly in the areas of trade, labour, armaments and
intelligence-gathering. We urge NO06 to publicise these linkages and to take
collective action against them, including organising boycotts of Israeli
products regardless of exporting or mediating country.
We declare that the policies and practices of sionism and Israel are
forms of racism. We appw.1 to the United Nations to consider impositions of
mandatory sanctions against these racist policies and practices.
-4oWe
call upon all Asian NQOs to appeal to their respective Qovernmente to
bring greater pressure upon the United State8 to end ite unconditional aupport
for Israel. We exprees our eatiefaation with the.PLO/United States dialogue
at Tuni‘s although the pace of this dialogue is very 010~. We call upon the
United States to advahce the level of this dialogue to lead to early convening
of the International Peace Conferenae on the Middle Raxt. Further, we appeal
to Asian NQOs to seine any opportunity to exprees their oppoeition to the
United States Qovernment’s unqualified oupport (financial and othsrwiae) for
Israeli policies that violate Palestinian human righte. Speclflcally we call
on NQOs to organise popular campaign@, vigil6 or eit-ins directed at United
States embassies and ite other governmental institutions. Such campaigns
could also be directed at other Qovernments that lend eupport for Israeli
policies against Palestinians.
We support the Security Council resolution that condemns illegal
settlement in occupied Paleetine, and we opposb any action Py States or
individuals that lend support to illegal settlement In occupied Palestine. We
call upon all Qovernments that permit Jewish emigration to provide sufficient
guarantees to ensure that those emigrants do not settle in the territory of
occupied Palestine.
We request all Asian Qovernmente to support the important role of NQOs in
Asia in mobilising public opinion and to extend financial and other assistance
to these organisations 80 that they can more effectively support the struggle
of the Palestinian people.
We coneider the formation of the Asiat? Regional’ Co-ordinating Conunittee
of NQOs to be a significant step in the mobilioation of public opinion
throughout Asia in eupport of the righta of the Palestinian people. We ask
the United Nations to extend every eupport poesible to enaure the firm
foundation and functioning of the Co-ordinating Committee. The Asian Regional
Co-ordinating Committee looks forward to close co-operation witn the
International Co-ordinating Committee and the other regional Co-ordinating
Committees to maximise the effectiveness of the NO0 network in support of the
rights of the Palestinian people.
We thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People for convening thie meeting and we greatly appreciate the
presence of the Members and Observers of the Committee. We thank the Diviolon
for Palestinian Rights and all of the United Nations Secretariat, including
the intepretere who assisted in this meeting. Wb expresr our appreciation to
the distinguished experts who spoke here and to the preoence and contribution
of members of the International Co-ordinating Committee. All those mentioned
here contributed greatly to the xucceax of our meeting.
We sincerely thank the people and Qovernment of Malaysia for welcoming uo
to Ruala Lumpur, for their warm hospitality and for the excellent facilities
they placed at our dieposal.
-41-
ANNEX IV
(Buenos Aires, 5 to 9 February 1990)
1. The Twenty-fourth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine (Fourth
Latin American and Caribbean Regional Seminar), on the topic “The inalienable
rights of the Palestinian. people” , was held jointly with the First United Nations
Latin American and Caribbean Regional NO0 Symposium on the Question of Palestine at
Buenos Aires from 5 to 9 February 1990, fn accordance with the terms of Qeneral
Assembly resolution 44/41 B of 6 December 1969.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinan
People was represented by a delegation comprising Mr. Oscar Oramas-Olive (Cuba),
head of the delegation and Seminar Chairman1 Mr. Alexander Borg-Olivier (Malta),
who served as Vice-Chairman and Rapporteur of the Seminar) Mr. Dragoslav Pejic
(Yugoslavia), Vice-Chairman of the Seminar) and, Mr. Zuhdi Labib Tersi (Permanent
Observer of Palestine).
3. A total of 9 meetings were held and 14 panelists presented papers on selected
aspects of the question of Palestine. Representatives of 34 Qovernments,
Palestine, 2 United Nations organs, 3 United Nations specialised agencies and
bodies, 2 intergovernmental organisations and 27 non-governmental organisations
attended the Seminar.
4. The joint event was opened by Mr, Oramas-Olive and a welcoming address was
made by H.E. Dr. Alfred0 Carim Yom& Secretary of State of Special Affair6 in the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Wors).Ip of Argentina.
5. A message from the Secretary-Qcneral of the United Nations was read out by his
representative the Chief of the Division for Palestinian Rights. Mr, Orsmas-Olive
also addressed the meeting, as did Mr. Ahmad Sobeh, representative of Palestine in
Brasil, who read out a message from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).
6. Further statements were made by Mr. Oramns-Oliva on behalf of the EFecial
Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on
the Qranting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Mr. Virendra Qupta
on behalf of the Special Committee against m, Mr. Sufian Barasi on behalf
of the League of Arab States and Mr. Pejic on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned
Countries.
7. The Seminar and Symposium participants adopted a message to Mr. Arafat 6s well
as a motion of thanks to the Qovernment and people of Argentina. They also adopted
a message to the Foreign Minister of Israel deploring that two Palestinians from
the occupied territory had not been issued travel permits by the Israeli
authorities and were thus unable to attend the meeting.
6. The three panels that were established and the panelists were as fcllows8
-42-
Pan-1 (a) “The urgency of convening the International Peace Conference on
the Middle East”) (b) “The fntifadah in the occupied Palestinian territory and its
impact on the achievement of a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East
conflict”: ’ Archbishop Halarion Capucci (Palestinian), Mr. Pedro Calella
(Argentina), Mr. Amos Kenan (Israel), Mr. Luciano Osorio Rosa (Brasil),
Mr. Issm Kamel (Palestinian), Mrs. Francisca Sauquillo (Spain), Mr. Ricardo Valero
(Mexico) and H.E. Mr. Albert0 Velasco-San Jose (Cuba))
-1 “The role of the Palestine Liberation Organirstion in the social,
cultural, economic and political development of the Palestinian people”:
Mr. Wedjan Al-Born0 (Palestinian))
E!amuLL: “The mobilisation of public opinion in the Latin American and
Caribbean regions for the realisation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people”8 Mr. Thomas W. Qittens (Quyana), Mr. Jean-Marie Lambert (Office of the
International Co-ordinating Committee for Non-Qovernmental Organisations on the
Question of Palestine), Mr. Carlos Pachi (Argentina), Mr. Manual Felipe Sierra
(Venesuela) and Mr. Willism Waack (Braail).
9. The report of the Seminar, including summaries of the proceedings, has been
issued as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
10. The conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Seminar are as follows8
(a) The participants in the Seminar expressed their conviction that
recent developments regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict and its core, the
question of Palestine, have created a new monentum for bringing about a
solution to this complicated and dangerous conflict on the basis of the
resolutions of the United Nations and within its framework. These
developments are mainly due to the courageous and determined struggle of the
Palestinian people to attain and exercise its inalienable rights, primarily
the right to self-determination, as dramatically manifested by the continuing
Palestinian uprising, the intifadah, in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The present international climate, the political will to resolve regional
conflicts in a peaceful way through negotiations within the framework of the
United Nations, is especially conducive to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine. It is imperative
that this historic opportunity not be missed and that efforts be redoubled in
1990 to overcome remaining obstacles so that the process of negotiations can
be initiated without delay.
(b) The prrtlcipants in the Seminar, in reviewing developments
concerning the question of Palestine, welcomed the decisions adopted by the
Palestine National Council (PNC) at Algiers in November 1998 and the
constructive position outlined by Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the PLO, in his address to the Qeneral Assembly at Qeneva on
13 December 1988. These developments, which led to the adoption of resolution
43/176 on 15 December 1955, became important landmarks in the international
endeavours aimed at achieving a just settlement of the question of Paleetine.
The Seminar also noted with satisfaction the adoption of Qeneral Assembly
resolution 44142 of 6 December 1989. The participants were greatly encouraged
-43-
by the vote on this balanced and comprehensive resolution, which was supported
by an even larger number of States, irrcluding Latin American and Caribbean
States, and for the first time, almost all Western States, all members of the
European Community. This important development once again reflected the
overwhelming support of the international community for the convening of the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East, with the participation of
all parties to the conflict, including the PLO, on an equal footing, and the
five permanent members of the Security Council, based on Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 336 (1973) and the legitimate national right.3 of
the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination.
(c) The participants welcomed the fact that the Qovernment of the United
States of America had opened a dialogue with the PLO and emphasised that the
scope of such a dialogue should be expanded to include the consideration in a
constructive manner of substantive issues so as to enhance the process of
negotiations leading to a just and lasting solution to the question of
Palestine,
(d) The participants in the Seminar welcomed efforts by Israelis and
Palestinians to engage in direct dialogue and joint activities as a way of
promoting mutual understanding, as well as a process of reconciliation between
the two sides and the creation of a climate more conducive to negotiations.
They appreciated the recent initiative “1990, Time for Peace’: of 29 to
31 December 1969 in Jerusalem, where many persons, including Israelis and
Palestinians, demonstrated in support of peaceful negotiations, respect of
civil and human rights and in support of the two States/twl> peoples
principle. The participants considered that the United Nations should offer
its good offices and organise appropriate activities to bring together
Palestinians and Israelis under its auspices.
(0) The participants noted that there existed a wide measure of
agreement within the international community that a comprehensive, just and
lasting .jettlement in the Middle East should be based on the principles
outlined in General Assembly resolutions 431176 and 44142. namely, withdrawal
of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including
Jerusalem, and from the other Arab territoriesr acknowledgement of and respect
for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of all
the States in the region, including Israel and Palestine, and their right to
live in peace within secure and recognised boundaries! and finally, a
satisfactory solution of the Palestinian problem based on the recognition cc
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to
self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State
in the occupied Palestinian territory.
(f) The participants expressed serious concern at the continued grave
violations by Israel, the occupying Power, of the human rights of the civilian
population in the occupied Palestinian territory, causing even greater
suffering to the Palestinian people under occupation with far-reaching
socio-economic, demographic aud emotional consequences. The entire
international community, as represented at the United Nations, has repeatedly
declared that the Israeli policies and practices against the Palestinians in
the occupied Palestinian territory are in violation of the provisions of the
Geneva Convention relative to the Protection nf Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949, which is fully binding on Israel, a party to the
-44-
Ccnvsntion, and also contrary to United Nations resolutions and to the
generally recognised norms of international law. A matter of special concern
for the participants was the suffering inflicted on Palestinian women and
children as a result of the brutal Israeli practices. In the GaEA Strip,
particularly, new measurss to control the movement of individuals produced
inhumane and intolerable conditions.
(g) The process of Israeli colonisation of the Palestinian territory, as
manifested in the continued establishment of settlements, usurpation of land
and water resources, and the brutality of settler vigilantism, was
unequivocally rejected and condemned by the participants. They noted with
appreciation that the entire international community had vigorously opposed
the Israeli policy of establishing settlements in the occupied Palestinian
territory. which was in contravention of the fourth Qeneva Convention, and
stressed that Israel bore full responsibility for these illegal practices.
The participants noted the expected increase in the number of Jewish
immigrants to Israel and deplored the recent statements by the Government of
Israel regarding the settlement of those immigrants in the occupied
Palestinian territory. Any such action will be illegal and will complicate
the attainment of a just and comprehensive settlement of the question of
Palestine. The participants appealed to Governments to ensure that members of
the Jewish community emigrating to Israel were not used as a tool to
perpetuate Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.
(h) The participants were of the view that the Palestinian i&if&& was
a clear manifestation of the popular, democratic expression of the collective
will of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation that has given the
struggle of the Palestinian people its hitherto suppressed identity, moral
Ascendancy and political maturity. The intifadah, now in its third year,
embraces three dimensions: the overt and visible and fearless resistance to
the Israeli occupation and the indivisibility of the Palestinian people and
its sole and legitimate leadsrship, the PLO1 the opportunity for social
transformation and nation-building as the embodiment of statehood through the
establishment of authentic, alternative popular infrastructure of the
Palestinian societyt and, finally, the wE,eh was instrumental in bringing
About A clear-cut political articulation and direction as manifested through
the PNC decisious of November 1988. The participants suppotteU the view
expressed by the Secretary-Qeneral that the message of the m was
direct and unequivocal, nsmely, that the Israeli occupation, which had been in
effect for 22 years, was unacceptable and would continue to be rejected, and
that the Palestinian people were committed and determined to exercise their
legitimate political rights, including self-determination, no matter what the
price would be for attainment of their objective.
(i) The Seminar Appealed to the international community and, in
pnrticular, to the Security Council to take urgent measures to ensure physical
protection of the Palestinian people under occupation and to guarantee the
safety and security and the legal and human rights of the Palestinian people
in all the territories under Israeli occupation. They urged the Security
Council to take into account the gravity of the acts of viole-ce, humen rights
violations, inoludiilg the so-called policy of “transfer” or deportation of
Palestinians, which has been repeatedly condemned by the Security Council and
the General Assembly, and other forms of repression by Israeli authorities
against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory, and to
assume nnd discharge its responsibilities and ensure protection of the
Palestinian people under occupation.. The p;&icipants stressed &A~RR
applicability of the Qeneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War, and demanded that Israel abide by the Convention.
Cj) The participants welcomed the courageous steps taken by the
Palestinians during the i&if&& to end the Israeli occupation and to set up
an alternative infrastructure that could be used as a foundation for an
independent and sovereign State of Palestine. The Seminar considered that
intensified efforts towards genuine development of the occupied Palestinian
territory, with the close involvement of the Palestinian people through its
representative, the PLO, were a necessary corollary to renewed efforts to
achieve a political solution of the question of Palestine.
(k) The participants appealed to the Qovernment of Israel to respond
positively to the peace initiative by the PLO, which has been welcomed and
praised by the international community. Asrae should recognise that it could
no longer ignore the national aspirations of the Palestinians and deny them
their inalienable rights, in particvllar, their right to self-determination.
The Seminar considered that the steps proposed by the Israeli Qovernment were
inadequate, since they did not include interim measures UL protection for the
Palestinian people and measures that would ensure th:t Palestinians would be
enabled to exercise fully their right to self-determination. The participants
called upon Israel to respond positiively and with courage to international
efforts aimed at a just and lasting political settlement of the question of
Palestine, which would be of benefit to all parties concerned, including the
international community as a whole.
(1) The Seminar took note with appreciation of the continuing endeavours
by the Secretary-Qeneral to advance the peace process, including the prospects
for convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle east. The
participants in the Seminar urged the Security Council to expedite the
convening of the International Peace Conference and to adopt interim measures,
including the deployment of a United Nations peace-keeping force to safeguartl
the physical security of the people of the occupied Palestinian territory and
to bring about etability in the region pending agreement on a final
comprehensive settlement.
(m) The Seminar strongly endorsed the persistent efforts of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
to secure universal recognition of the inalienable national rights of the
Palestinian people, and urged the international community to sustain and
strengthen their support for the Committee’s activities and, in particular,
its efforts aimed at facilitating the convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East.
(n) The Seminar took note with appreciatioc of the activities of the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat and of its commitment to
work, under the guidance of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Pa?.estinian People, towards the attainment of a just,
comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, which would, i&0-,
ensure the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights.
-46-
(0) The participants in the Seminar were of the view that the United
NRtions should undertake additional efforts to disseminate factual and
up-to-date information on the question of Palestine and on the measures
required for the achievement of a just settlement to the question of
Palestine. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights have an important
role to play in the collection and dissemination of such information. For its
part, the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat should meke
every effort to ensure that accurate information on the question of Paleetine
receive6 the widest possible dissemination.
(p) The Seminar notod with appreciation the steps taken by the countries
members of the European Community in promoting the convening of the
international Peace Conference and in providing increased assistance to the
Palestinian people.
(q) The Seminar noted with appreciation the sustained and continuing
support by the Qovernments and peoples of the Latin American and Caribbean
region for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its legitimate national
rights and for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the
Middle East. The position of these States was one of solidarity with and
support for the struggle of the Palestinian people for an independent State of
Palestine and for the exercise of its inalienable rights. In this context the
Seminar stressed the importance of the establishment by Qovernments of Latin
American and Caribbean States of diplomatic representation with the PLO as the
representative of the Palestinian people or upgrading of existing
arrangements, as the case may be, as a manifestation of solidarity of the
countries of the region with the people of Paiestine. At the same time, the
participants stressed that it was of utmost importance that all States in the
Latin American and Caribbean region be unanimous in their support for the
United Nations resolutions establishing the path for a comprehensive, peaceful
solution to the question of Palestine. The participants in the Seminar, in
particular, expressed their appreciation to the Qovernment of the Republic of
Argentina for its support of the cause of the Palestinian people and for the
consistent support it has given to the question of Palestine at the United
Nations.
(r) The participants noted that Argentina way home to sireable
communities of Jews and Arabs who had arrived in various waves of
immigration. They had prospered in peaceful coexistence. practising their
religion, their traditions and their own customs, thus providing an excellent
model for the people of Israel and Palestine to live together in peace and
prosperity, The participants expressed their warm appreciation to the
Government and the people of the Republic of Argentina for providing a venue
for the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Seminar and NGO Symposium on the
Question of Palestine and for the facilities and warm hospitality entended to
them. This meeting constituted an important contribution to the peace process
related to the Middle East conflict and to the question of Palestine in
particular.
-47-
ANNEX V
Ileclaration-atUniteB.NatioasLatincan8
NGO Sm on the Ouestion of Pw
(Buenos Aires, 5 to 8 February 1990)
1. The First United Nations Latin American and Caribbean Regional NO0 Symposium
on the Question of Palestine, on the theme “The inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people”, was held at Buenos Aires from 5 to 8 February 1990, in
accordance with Qeneral Assembly resolution 44/41 B of 6 December 1989. The
Symposium was held in part together with the Twenty-fourth United Nations Seminar
on the Ooestion of Palestine, which took place from 5 to 0 February 1990.
2. In addition to the panels held jointly with the Seminar, two workshops
specifically related to non-governmental organisations (NGO) activities were
established to consider the following topics:
(&: “Mobilisation and networking by non-governmental organisations to ensure
the pro:ection of, and promote assistance to, the Palestinian people under Israeli
occupation”;
(b) “Non-governmental organisations activities to further mobilise public
opinion for the realiaation 0: the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people”.
3. The symposium participants adopted a declaration and action-oriented proposal
emanating from the workshops and elected an Interim Latin American and Caribbean
Co-ordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine. Together with that
of the Seminar, the report of the Symposium has been issued as a publication of the
Division for Palestinian Rights.
4. The NGOs participating in the Symposium adopted the following declaration:
We, the Latin American non-governmental organisations (NGOS) meeting in
the City of Buenos Aires from 5 to 9 February 1990, in the first United
Nations Latin American and Caribbean Regional Seminar and NO0 Symposium on the
Question of Palestine, on the theme “The inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people”, declare our support for the struggle of the Palestinian people for
independence and national liberation, in exercise of its rights to
self-determination, as expressed in the heroic popular uprising, the
i&i&d&, and through the diplomatic efforts deployed by the Palestine
Liberation Organisation (PLO), its sole and legitimate representative.
We welcome the declaration of independence of the State of Palestine
adopted by the Palestine National Council at its historic meeting at Algiers
on 15 November 1988. We urge all Governments of Latin America and the
Caribbean to recognise the independent Palestinian State forthright and
without delay. As a prior step, we call for the opening of diplomatic
missions of Palestine.
-4aWe
point out that despite the considerable progress achieved at the
international level in terms of peace, dialogue and co-operation, the question
of Palestine continues to be one of the key aonflicte t.hreateninq world peace
and is still awaiting a peaceful, just and lastinq solution, despite the
positive Paloetinian peace proposals.
We reaffirm our conaritment to continue working within the framework of
the relevant resolutions adopted by the United Nations, in particular Qensral
Assembly resolutions 431176 of 15 December 1988 and 44/42 of 6 December 1989,
which were adopted by an overwhelming majority of 151 Member States.
We stress the importance of the role the United Nations can play in any
peace process, recalling its contribution that culminated in the full
independence of the Namibiaa people , which can serve as a source of
inspiration for the Middle East.
We call upon the Uaited Nations to take urgently all possible measures
that will permit effect ‘to be given to the whole body of resolutions adopted
on the question of Palestine.
We support the convening of the International Peace Conference on the
Middle East, under the auspices of the United Nations, with the participation
of all parties involved in the conflict, including the PLO, on an equal
footing, and of the five permanent members of the Security Council.
We empress our appreciation of the declaration by President Ya6ser Arafat
at the meeting of the General Assembly held at Qeneva on 13 December 1988, in
which he recognised the right of all States in the region to enist in peace
and security, within secure and internationally recognised borders.
We call for the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, as well as from all other occupied
Arab territories.
We pronounce ourselves in favour of resolving the problem of the
Palestinian refuqees within the fremework of the relevant resolutions of the
United Nations and condemn any attempt to expel the Palestinians from their
land.
We call for the immediate and total dismantling of the Jewish settlements
established in the occupied territories since 1967 and condemn any policy
designed to continue establishing new settlements.
We call upon Qovernments end the competent international organisations to
take measures to prevent Israel from settling Jewish immiqrante from the
Soviet Union and other countries ii- the Palestinian territory occupied by
Israel, as the Israeli Prime Minister Y. Shamir has stated that they may be.
We warn that bringing in new settlers will have tarmful consequences for the
Palestinians in the occupied territqrriee, and recall that, inter, the
Qovernment of the United States of America and the Government of the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics have made official statements opposing it.
-49-
We firmly reject all diversionary attempts or manoeuvres by the Israeli
Qovernment and others to set obstacles in ths way of neqotiatione for the
establishment of the independent State of Palestine on Palestinian land.
We express our rejection and our strongest condemnation of the repressive
methods and practices employed by the State of Israel against the Palestinian
people. These have increased in extent and magnitude, affecting all sectors
of the Palestinian population. The killinqs, beatings, mass arrests,
expulsions, detention in concentration camps, sexual violence and imposition
of curfews especially affect women and children and must end immediately.
We call for the immediate cessation of the policy of demolition of
Palestinian housing, deforestation, confiscation of land and property, and the
banning of sowing and harvesting.
We call frrr an immediate end to the press censorship as well as the
imposition of penalties on thcso media which report the brutalities of the
repress.ion to which the Palestinians are subjected. The purpose of this
censorship is to silence and weaken the international condemnation of these
practices.
We call on the Israeli parliament not to adopt Amendment No. 3 of
August 1989 to the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, which would give the
Stat0 arbitrary powers to confiscate income and properties from the NQOs and
would reduce the possibility of their receiving aid from international sources.
We reaffirm our support for the heroic struggle of the Palestinian people
under the leadership of the PLO, its sole and legitimate representative, and
for ice unified national leadership, the protagonist of the intifa8eh, which
has entered its victorious third year.
Wo call for effective international political and economic pressure on
Israel to make it comply with its obliqations under the Qeneva Convention
relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons ii- Time of War, of
12 August 1949, and accept United Nations resolutions.
We appeal to the Security Council to take the appropriate measures to
ensure Ehe necessary United Nations presence for the protection of the
Palestinian people and to put an end to the human rights violations in the
occupied territory and to bring the perpetrators of these practices to justice.
We recommend an expansion of the Refugee Affairs Officer Programme of the
Uuited Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
as a practical expression of international concern for the protection of the
I Palestinian people under occupation.
We also request that the specialixed agencies of the United Nations pay
greater attention to the Palestinian question, including by admitting the
State of Palestine as a member, which will allow for an intensive exchange
with the PLO and Palestinian NQOs with the aim of ensuring adequate coverage
of needs in such sectors as education, health and developme&, without any
control by Israel.
-5oWe
condemn Icrael’s policy of closing Palestinian educational
establishments in the occupied territories and all attempt6 to deprive
children and young people of access to education. This practice is an insult
to those norms which should govern the workings of a aivilised eoaiety and
violates a basic human right and we call for the imediate and unconditional
reopening of all Palestinian educational establishments in the occupied
territories.
We request Latin Americen and Caribbean educational eetabliehmeate that
maintain co-operation proqrsssnee with their Israeli counterparts to reconsider
the terms of such co-operation se long as measures restricting education in
the occupied territories remain in effect.
We warmly greet all peace-loving forces in Israel, and in the Jewish
community abroad, that work vigorously in favour of the International Peace
Conference and for the independent Palestinian State, under difficult
conditions. We condemn the repression to which Israeli activists who a8VOCate
dialogue end peace have besn subjected and the punishments meted out to
Israeli soldiers who refuoed to suppress Palestinians in the occupied
territories.
We welcome and support the initiative “1990, Time for Peace” taken by the
European Peace Movement, the NQOs, Palestinians and Israeli peace-loving
forces, which demonstrated for peace from 28 to 30 December 1989, and we
deplore the repression to which the Israeli, Palestinian, European and
American Participants were subjected.
We call upon Qovernmente that co-operate with Israel in the arms field,
especially the United States of America, to cease to do so and we denounce the
danger posed to world peace and security by the collaboration between South
Africa and Israel in the nuclear sphere.
We call upon the Governments of Latin American and Caribbean countries to
consider the possibility of applying economic, cultural and other sanctions
against Israel as long as that country persists in its practice of violatinq
the human rights of the Palestinian people.
We denounce the practices of the Government af Israel in Latin America,
which take the form of indiscriminate arms sales, the training of repressive
qroupe, co-operation with dictatorial regimes ud involvement in practices
aimed at the destabilisation of democratic Governments.
We call upon NQOe to work for dialogue and understanding amonq the Arab
and Jewish communities in Latin America with a view to makinq a contribution
to the peace process in the Middle East.
We request the Governments of Latin American and Caribbean countries to
support the work of NQOe involved in promoting a just and lasting SOlUtiOn to
the question of Palestine.
We express our concern at the lack of information in Latin America on the
question of Palestine, which hampers efforts to counter the eystemat;ic
disinformation campaiqn orchestrated by pressure groups allied with the
Israeli Qovernment, and we request the United Nations to disseminate more
-51-
information. We encourage also all mass media in tie region to provide better
coverage about the Middle East probhm.
We consider that the establishment of a Latin American and Caribbean
regional NQO committee on the question of Palestine ~131 be a significant step
in the mobilieation of public opinion for the achievement of a just and
lasting solution of tbe problem under coneideration. In this connection we
seek maximum support from the United Nations and from the International
Co-ordiaating Committee and other regional coneeitteee.
We thank the Committea on the Exeraise of the Inalieaxble Rights of the
Palestinian People and the Divisioo for Palestinian Rights for having convened
this meeting. We also thank the Govermont of Argentina for the hospitality
it has shown to us and the facilitiee it placed at our disposal.
-52-
ANNEX VI
(Freetown, 2 to 6 April 1990)
1. The Twenty-fifth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine (Sixth
African Regional Seminar), on the topic “The inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people”, was held jointly with the Third United Nations African Regional NO0
Symposium on the Question of Palestine at Freetown from 2 to 6 April 1990, in
accordance with the terms of Qeneral Assembly resolution 44/41 R of 6 December 1989.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation comprisinqr Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo
(Senegal), head of the delegation and Seminar Chairman; Mr, Guennadi I. Oudovenko
(Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic); Mr. Tom Obaleh Aarqbo (Sierra Leone) who
served as Rapporteurr Mr. Chinmaya aharekhan (India); and Mr. 2uhdi Labib Tore1
(Permanent Observer of Palestine).
3. Seven meetings were held and 16 panelists presented papers on selected aSpeCt8
of the question of Palestine, Representatives of 14 Governmenter PalOStinOr United
Nations organs, United Nations specialised agencies and bodies, international
organisations as well as non-governmental orqanisatione attended the Seminar.
4. The joint event was opened by Mrs. Diallo and a welcoming address was made by
The Hon. Alhaji Dr. Abdul Karim Koroma, Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone. A
message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations was read out by his
representative, the Chief of the Division for Paleetinian Rights. Mrs. Diallo also
addressed the meeting, as did Dr. Morad Whaled, President of the Afro-Asian
People’s Solidarity Orqaniaation, on behalf of the African non-governmental
orgaaisatione. Mr. S. I?. Qerjawi, Ambassador of Palestine in Sierra Leone, read
out a meseaqe from Mr. Yaeser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the
Palestine Liberation Orqaniaation.
5. Further statements were made by the followinqr Mr. Rarqbo on behalf of the
Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Inplemeatation of the
Declaration on the Orantinq of Independence to Colonial Countries and PeOpleSJ
Mr. Oudovenko, Vice-Chairman of the Special Committee against &az&h&l
Mr. Nab11 Marouf, Assistant Secretary-Qeneral of the Organisation of the Islamic
Conference; and Mr. Nquuq Etish Mowotsh of the Orqaniaation of African Unity.
6. The participants in the Seminar and Symposium adopted a message to Mr. Arafat
as well as a mot)on of thanks to the Government and people of Sierra Leone. They
also adopted a message to the Foreign Minister of Israel deeply regretting that a
travel permit had not been issued by the Israeli authorities to a Palestinian from
the occupied territory who had been invited as a panellet.
7. The three panels that were established and their pane:iste were as followSl
-II (a) *The urgency of convening the International Peace Coqference on
the Middle Raet”# (b) “The intLiadah in the occupied Palestinian territory and its
impact on the achievement of a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East
conflict” L Mr. Vital Belle (Congo), Mr. Benjamin Beit-Hallami (Israel),
Mr. Yehia El-Gamal (Egypt), H.E. Mr. Latyr Kamara (Senegal),
Mr. Moibo Noumoudion Kouyate (Mali), Senator Michael Laniqan (Ireland),
Mr. Andrew Seleke (ANC), Mr. A. 6. Zasypkin (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
and Mr. Salah Zuheikeh (Palestinian);
Panel: “The role of the Palestine Liberation Orqauiaation in the social,
cultural, economic and political develcpment of the Palercinian people”:
Mr. Jinnies Iesa Atrash (Poiestinian);
-1 “The mobilisation of public opinion in the African region for the
realisation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people”;
Mr. Farouk Abu Eissa (Sudan), Dr. Bukar Bukarambe (Nigeria), Mr. Gipu Felix-Qeorqe
(Sierra Leone), Mr. Ahmed Gore Ebrahim (PAC), Mr. Mikko Lohikoski (Finland) and
Mr. Lamine Jawara (Gambia).
6. The report of the Seminar, including summaries of the proceedings, has been
issued as a publication of the DiViSiOn for Palestinian Rights.
9. The conclusions and tocommendations adopted by the Seminar are as follower
(a) The participants in the Seminar expressed their conviction that recent
developments reqardinq the Arab-Israeli conflict and its core, the questron of
Palestine, have created a new momentum for bringing about a solution to this
complicated and dangerous conflict on the basis of the resolutions of the United
Nations and within its framework. The courageous and determined struqqle of the
Palestinian people to attain and exercise its inalienable rights, primarily the
right to self-determination, has been dramatically manifested in the continuing and
intensified Palestinian uprising, the iatif, in the occupied Palectinian
territory as wall as in the Palestinian peace initiative proclaimed in
November 1988. The present international climate , which is characterised by the
political will to resolve regional conflicts in a peaceful way through negotiations
within the framework of the United Nations, is especially conducive to the
achievement of a comprehensive, just and lastinq settlement of the question of
Palestine. It is imperative that this historic opportunity not be missed and that
efforts be redoubled in 1990 to overcome remaining obstacles so that the process of
negotiations within the context of the International Peace Conference on the Middle
East can be initiated without further delay.
(b) The participants in the Seminar noted with appreciation the sustained and
continuing support by the Governments and peoples of the African region for the
exercise by the Palestinian people of its legitimate national rights and for the
conveninq of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. The position
of these States, as manifested in the declarations and resolutions of the
Organisation of African Unity (OAU), was one of solidarity with and support for the
struggle of the Palestinian people for an independent State of Palestine and for
the exercise of its inalienable rights. In this context, the participants stressed
the importance of intensified Afro-Arab relations both bilaterally and within the
framework of OAU and the Laaque of Arab States (LAS). They asked, in particular,
the Palestine Liberation Orqanixation to intensify and enhance the level of its
-54-
relations with the African States. The Seminar welaomed the recognition of the
State of Palestine proclaimed by the Palestine National Council (PNC) in
November .1968, by many African Qovernments as a manifestation of colidarity of the
countries of the region with the people of Paleetine. At the 8ame time, it
expressed concern about resuming diplomatic ties with Israel by some Afriaan
States.
(c) The participants in the Seminar, in reviewing development6 concerning the
question of Palestine, welcomed the decisions adopted by the PNC at Algiers in
November 1966 as reflected in its Political Communique and the constructive
position taken by Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Colnmittee of the
Palestine Liberation Organisation, in his address to the general Aarembly at Geneva
on 13 December 1966, which presented the Paleetinian peace initiative. These
developments had led to the adoption of Assembly resolution 431176 of
15 December lfB8 and have become important landmarks in the international
endeavours aimed at achieving e just settlement of the question of Palestiae. The
Seminar also noted with great satisfaction the adoption of general Aesembly
resolution 44142 of 6 December 1969. The participants were greatly encouraged by
the vote on thie balanced and comprehensive reeolution (151 vote8 in favour,
3 against and 1 abstention), which was supported by an even larger number of State6
including all member States of OAU, and for the first time, by all States membera
of the European Community. This important development once again reflected the
overwhelming support of the international community for the convening of the
International Peace Conference on the Ediddle East, with the participation of all
parties to the conflict, including the Palestine Liberation Organisation, on aa
equal footing, and the five permanent members of the Security Council. In order to
realise, M, the legitimate national right8 of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination, the Conferenoe should be convened on the
basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and other relavent
resolutions. The participants noted with regret that the negative poeition of a
permanent member of the Security Councii and another State, party to the conflict,
had obstructed the implementation of Qenetal Aesembly resolution 44/42 of
6 December 1989.
(d) The participants noted that there existed a wide measure of agreement
within the international community that a comprehensive, just and lasting
settlement in the Middle Eaet should be based on the principle6 outlined in general
Assembly resolutions 431176 of 15 December 1988 and 44142 of 6 Decwnber 1999, and
it should include the withdrawal of Ieraal from the Palestinian terfitory occupied
since 1967, including Jerusalem, and from the other Arab tertitorierr
acknowledgement of and respect for the oovereigaty, tertitorial integrity and
political independence of all the State6 in the region, including Iorael and
Palestine, and their right to live in peace within secure and reoogniwd
boundaries) and finally, d satisfsctory solution of the Paleotine problem bared oa
the recognition of the inalienable rights of the Paleetinian people, primarily the
right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinfan
State in the occupied Paleetinian territory.
(e) The Seminar received reports regarding political drvelopmante in Iorael
resulting from the m. The Palestinian uprising has had far-reaching
effecto on every aspect of Israeli politice. Specifically, it har led to a major
government crieie and has helped the progreseive force0 fighting for a juet peace
to engage in dialogue and joint activities with the Palertinianr as a way to
promote mutual understanding and reconciliation and to break down prejudice8 and
stereotypes. The participants warmly flppreciated the demonstration at Jerusalem
-55-
“1990, Time for Peace”, helU from 29 to .31 December 1909, where many persons
including Israelis and Palestinians supported peaceful negotiations, respect for
civil and human rights and the “two peoples, two States” principle. They
considered that the United Nations should offer its good offices and organise
appropriate activities to bring together Palestinians and Israelis under its
auspices.
(f) The participants expressed serious concern at the continued grave
violations by Israel, the occupying Power, of the human rights of the civilian
population in the occupied Palestinian territory, causing even greater suffering to
the Palestinian people under occupation, with far-reaching emotional,
socio-economic and demographic consequences. The entire international community, 1
as represented at the United Nations, has repeatedly declared that the Israeli
policies and practices against the Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian
territory are in violation of the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to
the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to which
Israel is a High Contracting Party, and also contrary to United Nations resolutions !
2
and to generally recognised norms of international law. The participants appealed
to the Contracting Parties to the Convention to take appropriate measures to
respect and to ensure respect for the provisions of the Convention. A matter of
special concern for the participants was the suffering inflicted on Palestinian
women and children as a result of the brutal Israeli practices. The inor,eased
restrictions of the movement of individuals, health and social welfare
organisations as well as the constant daily obstacles and harassments have produced
inhuman and intolerable conditions.
(g) The process of Israeli colonisation of the Palestinian territory be
manifested in the continued establishment of settlements, usurpation of land and
water resourcea, and the brutality of sottler vigilantism was unequivocally
rejected and condemned by the participants. They noted with appreciation that the
entire international community had vigorously opposed the Israeli policy of
establishing settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, which was in
contravention of the fourth Qeneva Convention, and stressed that Israel bore full
responsibility for these illegal practices. The participants-noted the systematic
increase in the number of Jewish immigrants to Israel and 4eplored the teceat
statements by the Government of Israel regarding the settlement of those immigrants
in the occupied Palestinian territory at a time when Israel drnied the Palestinians
the right to return to their homes. Any such action will be illegal and will
complicate the attainment of a just and comprehensive settlement of the question of
Palestine. The participants appealed to Governments to ensure that members of the
Jewish community emigrating to Israel were not used as tools to perpetustc and
strengthen the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, in conformity with the
provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which says
in article 12, malia, that the right of everyone to liberty of movement and
freedom to choose his residence and the right of everyone to leave any country,
including his own “shall not be subject to any restrictions except those which are
provided by law, are necessary to protect national security, public order
(-1, public health or morals or the rights ant3 freedoms of others, and
are consistent with the other rights recognised in the present covenant”. In this
connection, participants took note of the recent meeting of the Security Council
and its consideration of the “unlawful Israeli moves to settle the occupied
territories”. They urged the Council to condemn the settlement of immigrants in
the occupied territories, declare it illegal and consider Lhem as a new and serious
obstacle to peace and to call upon the Israeli Government to review and abandon its
obstructionist position.
-56-
(h: The participants were of the view that the intifadsh was a clear
manifestation of the popular and democratic expression of the collective will of
ths Palestinian people under Israeli occupation that has given the struggle of the
Palestinian people its hitherto suppressed identity and moral ascendancy. The
intife8ah, now in its third year, embraces three dimensions: the overt, visible
and fearless resistance to the Israeli occupation and the indivisibility of the
Palestinian people and its sole and legitimate leadership, the Palestine Liberation
Organisation; the opportunity for social transformation and nation-building as the
embodiment of statehood through the establishment of an authentic, alternative
popular infrastructure of the Palestinian society) and, finally, the dntifeaah was
instrumental in bringing about a clear-cut political articulation and direction as
manifested through the PNC decisions of November 1989. The participants supported
the view eapre;sed by the Secretary-General that the message of the i&i&&&I was
direct and unequivocal, nemely, that the Israeli occupation, which had been in
effect for 22 years, was unacceptable and would continue to be rejected, and that
the Palestinian people would remain committed to the exercise of its legitimate
political rights, including self-determination.
(i) The participants welcomed the fact that the Government of the United
States of America had opened a die: lgue with the Palestine Liberation Organisation
and emphasised that the level of the dialogue should be raised and its ucope should
be expanded to include the consideration in a constructive manner of SUbStantiVe
issues so as to enhance the process of negotiations leading to a just and lasting
solution to the question of Palestine.
(j) The Seminar participants appealed to the international community and, in
particular, to the Security Council to take urgent measures to ensure physical
protection of the Palestinian people under occupation, to guarantee the safety and
security and the legal and human rights of the Palestinian people in all the
territories under Israeli occupation. They urged the Security Council to take into
account the gravity of the acts of violence and human rights violations, including
the so-called policy of “transfer” or deportation of Palestinians, which have been
repeatedly condemned by the Security Council and the General Assembly, and other
forms of repression by Israeli authorities against Palestinian civilians in the
occupied Palestinian territory. They requested the Security Council to assume and
discharge its responsibilities and to ensure protection of the Palestinian people
under occupation. The participants am*’ treseed tha w applicability of the
Geneva Convention relative to the Prc a of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of
12 August 1949, and demanded that Israe+ abide by the Convention.
(k) The participants welcomed the courageous steps taken by the Palestinians
during the intifadah to end the Israeli occupation and to set up &n alternative
infrastructure as a foundation for an independent and sovereign State of Palestine.
The Semiuar considered that intensified efforts towards genuine development of the
occupied Palestinian territory, with the close involvement of the Palestinian
people through its representative, the Palestine Liberation Organisation, were a
necessary corollary to renewed efforts to achieve a political solution of the
question of Palestine.
(1) The participants urged tha Government of Israel to respond positively to
the peace initiative of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, which had been
welcomed and praised by the entire international community. Israel should
recognise that it could no longer ignore the national aspirations of the
Palestinians and continue to deny them their inalienable rights,. in particular,
-57-
their right- to self-determination, The Seminar considered that the steps proposed
by the Israeli Government were inadequate, since they did not include interim
measures of protection for the Palestinian paople and measures that would enable
the Palestinians to exercise fully their right to self-determination. The
participants called upon Israel to respond positively to international efforts
aimed at a just and lasting political settlement of the question of Palestine,
which would be of benefit to all parties concerned, including the international
community as a whole.
(m) The Seminar participants expressed their appreciation to the
Secretary-General for his continuing endeavours to advance the peace process,
including the prospects for convening the International Peace Conference on the
Middle East. The participants in the Seminar urged the Security Council to
expedite the convening of the Conference and to adopt interim measures including
the deployment of a United Nations force to safeguard the physical security of the
people of the occupied Palestinian territory and to bring about stability in the
region pending agreement on a final and comprehensive settlement.
(n) The participants in the Seminar endoraed.the persistent efforts of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalicable Rights of the Palestinien People to
secure universal recognition of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian
people and urged the international community to sustain and strengthen its support
for the Committee’s activities and, in particular, the Committee’s efforts aimed at
facilitating the Loi?vening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle Ea.r+.
(0) The Semiaclr participants took note with appreciation of t.he activities of
the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat and of its commitment to
work, under the guidance of 5~4 in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights VL the Palestinian People, towards the attainment of a
just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, which would, inter,
ensure the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights. The
participants noted with appreciation that a much larger number of NGOs were
participating in the regional NO0 symposia and international meetings end requested
that extra resources should be made available to cope with this work.
(p) The participants in the Seminar requested the Department of Public
Information of the Secretariat, in full co-operation with the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of tba Palestinian People and the Division for
Palestinian Rights, to continue its special infor ation programme on the question
of Paler’:ine and, in particular, to dissemina?e information on all the activities
of the United Nations system relating to the question of Palestine, to continue to
issue and update publications on the various aspects of the question of Palestine,
includin:; Israeli violations of the human rights of the Arab inhabitants of the
occupied territory, to expand its audio-visual material on the issue, to organise
iact-findinq missions to the area for journalists .?nd to organise regional and
national encounters for journalists.
(q) Participants drew parallels between the struggle of the Palestinian and
South African peoples. They expressed concern about the dangers emanating from the
policies pursued by the regimes of Israel and South Africa. In this context they
condemned the ever-increasing military and nuclear collaboration between the two
rigimes.
-58-
(r:) The participants welcomed the release of Mr. Nelson Mandela and other
political prisoners in South Africa, as well as the unbanning of the African
National Cpngress, the Pan Africanist Congress of Aeania and other organisations.
At the same time, they urged the South African regime to imploment conditions laid
down in the unanimous declaration of the Qeneral Assembly special session against
m in December 1989 so as to create a climate conducive to negotiations
aime3 at eradicating e,
(a) Participants congratulated the people of Namibia ON their indapendeace
and paid a tribute’to their supreme sacrifice in achiaving that freedom. They
noted that the independence of Namibia was the latest proof that the legitimate
yearning of a people cannot be denied or ignored forever.
(t) Participants also noted that the process of Namibia’s indepeddence under
United Nations supervision supported the proposal of the Palestine Liberation
Organisation to have a similar process in the occupied territories of Palestine.
They emphasised that there was a need to involve international supervision to
ensure that any peace plan to be implemented in the occupied territor:es was free
and fair.
(u) The participants in the Seminar took note with appreciation of the
valuable support the Government of sierra Leone had extended over the years to the
just cause of the Palestinian people as well as of the etforts aimed at a just
solution of the question of Palestine in accordance with the relevant United
Nations resolutions. They also axpressed their profound gratitude to the
Government and the people of Sierra Leone for providing a venue for the African
Regional Seminar and NO0 Symposium on the Quastion of Palestine, and for the
facilities and warm hospitality extended to them.
-59-
ANNEX VII
(Freetown, 2 to 5 April 1990)
1. The Third United Nations African Regional NO0 Symposium on the Quoetion of
Palestine on the theme “the inal!enable rights of the Palestinian people” was hold
at Freetown from 2 to 5 April 1990. The Symposium was hold in part together with
the Twenty-fifth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, which tcok
place from 2 to 6 April 1990.
2. In addition to the panels held jointly with the Seminar, two workshops
specifically related to non-governmental organisations (NGO) activities were
established to consider the following topics:
(a) Vlobilisation and networking by NGOs to ensure the protection of, and to
promote assistance to, the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation”;
(b) “Non-governmental organisation activities to further mobilise public
opinion for the realisation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people”.
3. The NGO participants in the Symposium adopted a declaration and
action-oriented proposals emanating f:om the workshop. They also decided to extend
the term of oEfice of the AErican Co-ordinating Committee for NO06 on the Question
of Palestine until the next African Regional NO0 Symposium on the Question of
Palestine and to increase its membership to include one member from Sierra Leone.
Together with the report of the Seminar, the report of the Symposium has been
issued as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
4 . The NGOs participating in the Symposium adopted the following declaration8
We, the non-governmental organisations (NWs) participating in the Third
United Nations African Regional NO0 Symposium on the Question of Palestine,
convened at the Bintumani International Conference Centre from 2 to
5 April 1990 at Freetown declare our total support and solidarity with the
Palestinian people, in their struggle for full liberation.
We take this opportunity to applaud the Palestine Liberation Organisation
(FLO), the sole and authentic representative of the Palestinian people, and
reaffirm positively and unreservedly its entreordinary efforts for the
resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict and its efforts to engender a new
conscience of direction to achieve a just and laeting peace and the
establishment of the independent State oE Palestine.
We whole-heertedly reaffirm our support for the struggle of the
Palestinian people to exercise its legitimate and inalienable rights in the
spirit and framework of the intifadah .
-6OWe
further support all the Palestinian efforts towards a solution based
on the initiative launched by the nineteenth extraordinary session oE the
Palestine National Council, hold at Algiers from 12 to 15 November 1988. In
particular, we support the declaration of independence of the State of
Palestine as a boltY and significant contribution towards the achievement of
peace in the Middle East.
We call for the immediate convening of the International Peace Conference
on the Middle East under United Nnticns auspices in accordance with the
gu!.dolines as given under the relevant United Nations resolutions,
particularly, General Assembly resolution 44142 of 6 December 1989.
We call upon all Governments to increase pressure both poli,tically and
economically on Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territory occupied
since 1967, including Jerusalem, and from the other Arab territories. We urge
them to consider seriously the possibility of the use of collective economic
sanctions as a proven and effective means of pressure.
We call for the strengthening oE Afro-Arab solidarity and co-operation in
support of the Palestinian cause and appeal to the African countries to
further intensify their efforts towards the achievement of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their own sovereign
and independent State.
We urge the Security Council to take positive concrete steps to protect
the human rights of the Palestinians within the,occupied territories and to
mobiliao all the means within its power to prevent the creation of new
settlements, the demolition of houses, the continued closure of institutions
of learning, the policy of economic strangulation as exemplified in cruel tax
raids and sieges as well as the use of administrative detention.
We sincerely and fervently hope that the outcome of the Seminar and the
NGO Symposium will contribute positively to the achievement of a just, lasting
and comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Ieraeli conflict, oE which the
question of Palestine is the core..
We reaffirm our unconditional commitment to support the Pai;stinian
people in its quest to achieve the full realisation of an independent and
sovereign State of Pnlestine.
We deplore the settlement of Jewish immigrants from the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics and other countries in the occupioU Palestinian territory,
which is in flagrant violation of international law. This will further reduce
the already limited resources available to the Palestinians of Jerusalem, the
West Bank and Gasa. What is more, by drastically changing the demographic
composition of the occupied territories, the settlement there of Soviet aad
other immigrants will push the prospect of a just and lasting solution to the
Palestinian problem yet further away and will further destabilise the already
highly volatile situation.
We call upon all Governments to take measures that would prevent the
continued brutal acts inclucting the use oE chemical weapons (“tear-gas”),
which has led to many miscarriages among the Palestinian women and, in some
-61-
cases, has led to death among the very old and very young, as well as acts of
repression against ahildren and workers in the occupied Palestinian territory.
We view with grave concern the development of the Israeli nuclear
capabilities as a threat to international peace and security, in particular in
the Middle East and parts of Africa.
We denounce the increasing economic , military and security collusion
between Israel and South Africa. This collusJ?n between the two racist
r6gimes is mainly directed against the liberation movements in both South
Africa and ocaupied Palestine as well as against the neighbouring States.
Co-operation between Israel and South Africa had extended lately to all
fields, including nuclear co-operation. The possession of nuclear weapons of
mass destruction by the two regimes remains a real danger, an eminent menace
to peace and security in the Middle East and Africa and the world at large.
We commend all Governments that have recognised the State of Palestine
and we call upon all other Governments, intergovernmental organisations and
non-governmental organisations to extend all moral, material, financial,
diplomatic and other assistance to the new State of Palestine.
We urge all African Qovernmonts that have relations with Israel to
suspencl those relations until Israel recognises the establishment of the free
and independent State of Palestine on the territory occupied by Israel since
1967.
We call upon African NO06 interested in the question of Palestine, in
addition to establishing contact and supporting the efforts of the African
Co-ordinating Committee for NGOs on the Quo&ion Palestine, to establish
direct contact with the Palestine Committee NQOs at Tunis.
We call upon the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights to establish
closer co-operation with both OAU and I,AS in enhancing their common efforts
regarding the Palestinian question.and, in particular, mobilisation had
networking among African NGOs.
In order to achieve the desired objectives of our resolution, we, the
participants in the NC?0 Symposium, consider advisedly the following progrsmmes
of action for implementation:
(a) Establish closer contact with the International Co-ordinating
Committee for NQOs on the Question of Palestine (ICCP);
(b) Consider all available assistance and facilities that could be
provided by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights, in New York, from
within the moans available to them and in accordance with the relevant rules
and procedures of the United Nationst
(c) Identify all significant days’in the struggle of the Palestinian
people such as 29 November (International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People), 15 November (Palestine National Council), 9 December
-62-
(Beginning of the J&,i,faaph) and 30 March (Land Day) for popular activities in
their respective countries and communitiosr
(ci) NQOs t o callupon their Governments to contact the Qovernmont oL the
United States to engage in a constructive and expanded dialogue with the
Palestine Liberation Organisation;
(e) Continue strengthening and supporting the African Co-ordinating
Committee for NQOs on the Question of Palestine;
(f) Encourage African NO06 to visit the occupied Palestinian territory
and to invite Palestinian NGOs from the occupied Palestinian territory to tour
African States and further mobiline African public opinion, with the emphasis
on the grass-rooto level and on actions
(g) Observe an African-Palestinian week with exhibitions containing
pictures, videos, films and posters about atrocities committed in the occupied
Palestinian torritoryr
(hl Utilixe religious and social institutions as platEorms for the
dissemination of information relating to and promoting a just and lasting
peace in Palestine;
(1) Mobilise the national and local media and involve cultural and other
groups in the dissemination oE information on the question of Palestine. This
should include the twinning of towns, villages, hospitals, schools, etc.,
between those in the occupied territories and other countries to create a more
intimate as well as a better .informed concern for the Palestinian problem1
(j) Establish exchange programmes for African NO06 to invite Palestinian
NGOs from the occupied Palestinian territory to tour the African States and
further mobilise African public opinion in support of the Palestinian cause)
(k) Invite Nobel laureates and other international and notable
personalities to take a position and lend their moral support to the cause nf
the Palestinian people.
We append the workshop reports , which will be issued in the final report
of the NO0 Symposium, to be published separately by the Division Eor
Palestinian Rights, and we urge African NGOs to work in a co-ordinate0 way to
implement the recommendations.
In conclusion, we wish to extend our unqualified profound gratitude and
support to the United Nations and to the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and, in particular, to its
indeEatigable Chairman, Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo, for her wise guidance and
direction during all of our deliberations.
We wish to express our profound appreciation to the Government and people
of the Republic of Sierra Leone for hosting the Third African Regional NO0
Symposium on the Question of Palestine in this picturesque international
Conference Hall. We thank our gracious hosts for all their kind assistance
and efforts to ensure the success of this Symposium. We thank the Division
Eor Palestinian Rights and the Department of Conference Services for
facilitating our work.
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ANNEX VIII
(Stockholm, 7 to 11 May 1990)
1. The Twenty-sixth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine (Fourth
European Regional Seminar), on the theme “Peace and justice for the Palestinian
people”, was held at Stockholm from 7 to 11 May 1990, in accordance with the terms
of Qeneral Assembly resolution 44141 B of 6 December 1969.
a. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation comprising Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo
(Senegal), ChaFtman,of the Committee and head of delegation;
Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier (Malta), Vice-Chairman and Rapporteur of the Seminar)
Mr. Hadi Thayeb (Indonesia), Vice-Chairman) and Mr. Zuhdi Labib Terai (Palestine).
3. A total of 7 meetings were held and 20 panelists presented papers on selected
aspects of the guestion of Palestine. Representatives of 47 Qovernmeuts,
Palestine, 1 United Nations organ, 1 United Nations specielimed agency,
1 intergovernmental organisation, and 17 non-governmental organisations, as
observers, attended the Seminar.
4. The event was opened by Mrs. Diallo and a welcoming address was made by
H.E. Mr. Sten Andersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden.
5. A statement on behalf of the Secretary-Qeneral of the United Nations was made
by his representative, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and General
Assembly Affairs and Secretariat Services. Mrs. Diallo also addressed the meeting,
as did Mr. Eugene Makhlouf, who read out a message from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman
of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
6. The Seminar adopted a message to Mr. Arafat and a motion of thanks to the
Government and people of Sweden.
7. The three panels that were established and their panelists were as follows8
( a ) Penel: “The intieeaahr its impact and significance for advancing
towards a just solution of the principle of two peoples, two States”:
Mrs. Hanan Ashrawi (Palestinian), Mrs. Marisa Cinciari-Rodano (Italy),
Mr. Igor Khvorostiany (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic),
Mr. Hans Peter Kotthaus (Federal Republic of Germany), Mr. Mikko Lohikoski
(Finland), Mrs. Nelly Maes (Belgium), Mr. Evert Svensson (Sweden) and
Mr. Dedi Zucker (Israel))
(b) Eenel: “Breaking the impasse - the urgent need for a just and lasting
settlement of the question of Palestine; the International Peace Conference and the
role of Europe”: Mr. Michele Achilli (Italy), Mr. Moshe Amirav (Israel),
Marie-Christine Aulas (France), Rabbi Balfour Brickner (United States of America),
Mr. Joseph Caesar (Malta), Ms. Viola Furubjelke (Sweden),
Mr. Antonio Lacerda de Queiros (Portugal), Mr. Wan Jingehang (China),
-64-
Mr. Martin Weiss (Federal Republio of Germany) and Mr. Andre1 Sakharov (Union of
Soviet Sooialist RepubliOS)J
(cl . eanelIIIl “The role of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in the
political, eoonomio, sooial and cultural development of the Palestinian people”t
Mr. Rhalid al-Hasean (Paleotinian).
8. The report of the Seminar, inoluding a summary of the prooeedlnge, hae been
issued as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights,
9. The Seminar participants adopted the following oonoluolons and reoommendationsJ
Canelusions-
The participants in the Seminar took note with appreciation of the
suetained efforts of the Europea- aounttiee to promote a comprehensive, juet
and laeting settlement of the question of Paleetine, in aooordanae with United
Nation6 resolutions. They otresoed the great importanos of the valuable
contribution that the European aountriee aould make towards the aahievemsnt of
an equitable settlement of the Arab-Israeli oonfliot in the Middle East. The
partiaipanto expressed their oonviation that negotiation6 based on the “two
peoples, two States” principle and that adequately addrareed the rights atid
concerns of both parties, Ioraello and Palestinians, would result in peso0
with justice in the region. They noted with osticfaotion that the Seminar had
made a positive aontribution to the peace prooesr by providiny a forum for a
balanced and constructive dioauseion of the relevant issues by rpeakers
representing viewpoints of the parties aoncerned, and by participants from
Europe anJ from other regions at the governmental as well as non-governmental
levels.
The participants were encouraged by the faat that reaent developments
regarding the Arab-Israeli oonfliot and its oorer the question of Palestine,
had created a new momentum for bringing about a just eolution to thir oomplex
and dangerous conflict on the basle of the reoolutlone of the United Natfon8
and within its framework. The m and the Palestinian peeur AnAtiatSve
of Nove.aber 1966 are a manifeotation of the courageour, and determined struggle
of the Palestinian people to attain and exeraise ite inalienable rlghte,
primarily the right to celf-determination, These developments and the present
international olimate, oharacterired by a new political will to rscolvo
regional conflicts in a poaoeful manner with the aesietnnce of the United
Nations, had opened new poooibilitieo for breaking the lmpauco and progreooing
towardu peaoe. Important oectora of the Israeli publia were oppooed to the
unbending policies of their Qovernment and had become active In support of the
two-State solution. It was therefore imperative that this hiotoric
opportunity not be missed and that efforts be redoubled la 1990 to overaome
remaining obstacles so that the process of nego+.iations could be initlatsd
without further delay, particularly through the convening of the International
Peace Conference on the Middle East,
The participants highlighted the important developments that had led to
the adoption of Qoneral Assembly resolution 43/176 of 16 December 1988. They
considered that these developments had given impetuc to international
endeavours aimed at achieving a comprehensive and just settlement of the
-6%
queetion of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli confliot. They noted the adoption
of Qeneral Assembly resolution 44142 of 6 Deoember 1989, the most recent
Assembly resolution on the question of Palestine , and were greatly encouraged
by the overwhelming vote in favour of this balanced and comprehensive
reaolution, which included, for the first time, all member States of the
European Community. This demonstrated the international consensus on the
necessity of convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East,
under the auspices of the United Nations , with the participation of all
parties to the conflict, including the PLO, on an equal footing, and the five
permanent members of the Security Council, based on Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 336 (1973) und the legitimate national rights of
the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination.
The participants called upon those States which had thus far prevented
the iinplementation of resolution 44142 to reconsider their position and to
join the international consensus. They further expressed their support for
every effort by the permanent members of the Security Council to bring the
position6 of the parties to the conflict closer to each othsr. to create a
climate of confidence between them and to facilitate in this way the convening
and successful outcome of the International Peace Conference.
The participants expressed their appreciation for the position adopted by
European Governments in response to the proclamation of the Stste of
Paleetine, the Palestinian Arab State to exist side by side with the State of
Israel, in conformity with the two-State prinoiple, as envisaged in Qeneral
Assembly resolution 161 (II) of 29 November 1947. The participants welcomed
in particular the r~aadinesa demonstrated by the member States of the European
Community to participate actively in the learoh for a peaceful settlement of
the conflict and to co-operate fully in the economic and social development of
the peoples of the region.
The participants notad that there existed an international consensus on
the principles for the achievement of comprehensive peace as affirmed in
Qeneral Assembly resolutions 43/176 and 44/42, namely8 the withdrawal of
Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including
Jerusalem, and from the other Arab territorleo occupied since 19671
guaranteeing arrangements for the security of all State8 in the region,
including those named in resolution 181 (II), within eeoure and
internationally recognised boundaries) resolving the problem of the Palestine
refugees in conformity with Qeneral Assembly resolution 194 (III) of
11 Decembnr 1948, and subsequent relevant resolutions) dismantling the Isrseli
settlemente in the territories occupied since 1967) and guaranteeing freedom
of access to holy places, religious buildings and sites. The participants
expressed satisfaction that all European countriee supported these principles
and had voted in favour of resolution 44142. The consensus thus achieved
among the European countries constitutes a significant contribution to the
urgently needed peaceful resolution of the question of Palesine, the core of
the Arab-Israeli conflict.
The Seminar noted that the fnw had had far-reaching eftects
including on every aepect of Israeli pol!tics. Specifically, it had led to a
major government crisis and had helped the progressive forces working for a
just peace to engage in dialogue and joint activities with the Palestinians as
a way to promote mutual understanding and reconciliation and to breek down
-66-
prejudices and stereotypes. The participants endorsed the objectivee of the
domonetrstion at Jerusalem “1990, Time for Peace”, held from 29 to
31 December 1999, id which Ierselis, a large number of Palestinians, European8
and others had expressed support for peaceful negotiations, respect for civil
and human rights and the “two peoples, two States” principle. Tbey agreed
that the United Nation8 should continue to offer its good officee and organise
appropriate activities to bring together Palestinian5 and Iarhelis under it5
auatpices.
Participants expressed seriouo concern at the continued grave violations
by Israel, the occupying Power, of the human rights of the civilian population
in the occupied Palestinian territory, which had caused increasing loss of
life, Lardships and suffering with far-reaching emotional, socio-economic and
demographic consequences. The international community had repeatedly declared
that the Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory
were in violation of its obligations as a party to the Qeneva Convention
relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of
12 August 1949, and also contrary to United Nations reeolutiono and to
generally recognised norms of international law. The participants appealed to
the High Contracting Parties to the Convention, including ite European
e~gnatorios, to take appropriate measures to ensure respect for the provisians
ol: that Convention. The Seminar noted that certain economic measures taken in
the past had produced positive results. A matter of special concern for
participants wae the suffering inflicted on Palestinian women and children a5
a result of the brutal Israeli practices. The increased restrictions on the
movement of individuals and on educational institutions, health and social
welfare organisations, as well as the constant daily obstacles and
harassments, have produced inhuman and intolerable conditions.
The participants deplored the process of Israeli colonisation of the
occupied Palestinian territory a6 manifested in the continued establishment of
settlements, usurpation of land and water resources, and settler vigilantism.
They were alarmed at the recent establishment of additional settlements and
the secret funding by the Israeli Qovernment of a new settlement in the
Christian Quarter of Jerusalem and,condemned these actions as insensitive and
provocative. The international community had vigorously opposed the Israeli
policy of establishing settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory,
which was in contravention of the fourth Geneva Convention, had declared these
actions null and void and had demanded that Israel dismantle the settlements
and withdraw from the occupied territory. The participants deplored the
recent statements by the Uovernment of Israel regarding the increased
settlement of Jewish immigrants in the occupied Palestinian territory while
Israel continued to deny the Palestinians the right to return to their homes.
They reaffirmed the international consensus that such actions were illegal and
would further jeopardise the attainment of a just and comprehensive settlement
of the question of Palestine. The part.icipants appealed to Governments to
ensure, in conformity with the provisions of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, that members of the Jewish community emigrating to
Ierael were not ueed ae a tool to perpetuate and strengthen the Israeli
occupation of Paleetinian territory. They recalled that ariticle 12 of the
Covenant states, m,that the right of everyone to liberty of movement
and freedom to choose his residence and the right of everyone to leave any
country, including his own “shall not be subject to any restrictions ercept
those which are provided by law, are necessary to protect national security,
-67-
public order(v1, public heslth or morals or the rights and
freedoms of others, end ere consistent with the other rights recognised in the
present covenant”. In this connection, yarticipsnte took note of the recent
meetings of the Security Council and its consideration of the “unlawful
Israeli moves to settle the occupied territories”. They urged the Council to
condemn the settlement of inxnigrsnts in the occupied territories, declare it
illegal end co.lsider it a new and serious obstscle to peace and to call upon
the Israeli Gov\trnment to review and abandon its obstructionist position.
The psrticipants welcomed the fsct that the Government of the United
State6 of America had opened a dialogue with the Palestine Liberation
Organisation end rmphssised that the level of the dialogue should be raised
end its scope should be expended to include the consideration in .a
constructive manner of substantive issues so es to enhance the process of
negotiations leading to a just end lasting solution to the question of
Palestine.
The Seminsr participants appealed to the international community and, in
psrtkcular, to the Security Council to assume and diecharge its
responsibilities end to take urgent measures to ensure the physical protection
and to guarantee the safety end security and the legal and human rights of the
PslestiniM people under Israeli occupation. They urged the Security Council
to take into account the grsvity of the acts of violence and human rights
violations, including the deportation of Palestinians, which have been
repeatedly condemned by the Security Council and the General Assembly, end
other actions taken by the Ieraeli authorities against Palestinians in the
occupied territory. The participants again stressed the de applicsbility
of the Qeneva Convention relstive to the Protection of Civilien Persons in
Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and demanded that Isrsel ebide by the
Convention.
The participants welcomed the courageous steps taken by the Palestinians
during the intifeaah to establish en alternative infrastructure as a
foundetion for en independent and sovereign State of Palestine and their
efforts to end the Israeli occupation. The Seminar considered that
intensified international action towsrds genuine social end economic
development of the occupied Palestinian territory, with the close involvement
of the Paleatinisn people through its representetive, the Palestine Liberation
Organisation, were a necessary corollary to renewed efforts to echieve a
political settlement of the Arab-Isrseli conflict, the core of which is the
question of Palestine. The participants welcomed the eteps alresdy taken by
the European countries in this regard aud urged them to increase further their
valuable assistance to the Pelestinian people.
The participants urged the Government of Israel to respond constructively
to the peece initiative of the Palestine Liberstion Organisation, which had
been welcomed and praised by the entire international community. They
stressed that Isreel should recognise that it could no longer ignore the
national sspirations of the Palestinians and continue to deny them their
inalienable rights, in particulsr their right to self-determination, Israel
should also acknowledge the espirations of its own people to a future of peace
and justice. The Seminsr considered that the steps proposed by the Ierseli
Government on 15 May 1989 were inadequate, since they did not include interim
measures of protection for the Palestinien people and measures that would
enable the Palestinians to exercise fully their right to self-determination.
-66-
The psrticipsnts called upon Israel to respond poSitiVely to internationsl
efforts ,aimed at a just and lasting political settlement of the Arnb-Israeli
conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine, which would ensure
peaceful co-existence between the Israeli end Palestinian peoples and bring an
end to decades of conflict in the region. The Seminar appealed to European
countries to pursue their efforts vigorously to convince Israel of the urgent
need for a positive and constructive response to peace efforts.
The perticipants emphaoiaed the urgent need for progress in efforts for
peace. They were unanimous in expressing concern that if progress were not
made soon, extremist elements on both sides would further inflame the
situation with grave consequences for international peace end security.
The Seminar participants expressed their appreciation to the
Secretary-General for his continuing endeavours to advance the peace process
and to facilitate the convening of the International Peace Conference on the
Middle East. The participants urged the Security Council to expedite the
convening of the Conference and to adopt interim measurea inClUdiAg the
deployment of a United Nations force to sefegusrd the physical security of the
people of the occupied Palestinian territory and to bring about stsbility in
the region pending agreement on a final and comprehensive settlement.
The participants in the Seminar endorsed the persistent efforts of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
to bring ahout a solutioA of the questioA of Palestine through the attsinment
of the national rights of the Palestinian people end urged the international
community to sustain and strengthen its support for the Committee’6 activities
and.. in particular, for its efforts to facilitate the convening of the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East. They noted with
appreciation that the Committee was intensifying its efforts to ensure that
the United Nations regional seminars on the question of Palestine provided en
opportunity for diverse points of view to be expressed so that a reel dialogue
could be held among people of goodwill on all sides. IA this context, the
psrticipants expressed satisfaction that there had been 8 constructive end
frr\nk exchange at the Seminar between the Israeli end Palestinisn
participants. The Seminar noted, however, thet while Palestinians
representing the Palestine Liberation Organixation had participated in the
Seminar, the official viewpoint of Israel had yet to be expressed. The
participants expressed the hope that the Government of Israel would be
represented at future meetings convened by the United Nations for this purpose
and that representatives who could reflect a broad range of political
viewpoints were given an opportunity to participate in such meetings. The
participants suggested that future seminars and NO0 symposia should consider,
within the context of the International Peace Conference, come oE the most
substantive issues that need to be addressed.
The participants appealed to all European Governments to support the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
in its effort6 end urged the same Governments to give serious consideration to
participation in the work of the Committee as members or observers. The
participante considered that increased representation by European countries in
the work of the Committee would broaden the scope of its deliberations end
increaee its effectiveness.
-69-
The Seminar participants took note with appreciation of the activities of
the Division for Palestinian Rights oE the Secretariat and of its commitment
to work, under the guidance of and in consultation with the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, towards the
attainment of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East in
accordence with the resolution6 cf t!le United Nations.
The participants in the Seminar were of the view that the United Nations
should undertake additional efforts to disseminate fectual and up-to-date
information on the question of Palestine and on measures required for the
ach1evemer.c of a just settlement to the question of Palestine. The Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the
Division for Palestinian Rights had an important role to play in the
collection aud dissemination of such information. For its part, the
Department of Public Information of the Secretariat should continue to make
every effort to ensure that accurate information on the question of Palestine
received the widest~possible dissemination and should continue its special
information programme on the question of Palestine in full co-operation with
the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Paleetinien
People, with particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and North America.
The participants in the Seminar took not ! with appreciation of the
valuable humanitarian and other support the Qovernment of Sweden had extended
over the years to the just cause of the Palestinian people as well as its
efforts towards a just solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of
which is the question of Palestine, in accordance with the relevant United
Nations resolutions. They also expreesed their profound gratitude to the
Government and the people of Sweden for providing a venue for the European
Req&onal Seminar on the Question of Palestine and for the facilities and warm
hospitality extenJed to them.
-7oANNEX
IX
(New York, 25 and 26 June 1990)
1. The Twenty-eeventh United Nations Seminar on the @restion of Palestine
(Seventh North American Regional Seminar), on the theme “Peace and juetice for the
Palestinian people - an imperative for the 1990~“~ wae held at United Nation8
Headquarters, New York, on 25 and 26 June 1990, in accordance‘with Qeneral Aeeembly
reeolution 44141 El of 6 December 1969.
2. Mrs. Ahsa Claude Diallo, Chairman of the Committee on the Exerci~ of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, acted a.8 Chairman of the Seminar and
H.E. Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier, Rapporteur of the Committee, rc:ved a.(I RappOrteUr.
3. Four meetings were held and 12 panelists presented papers on aelected aapecte
of the question of Palestine. Representatives of 47 Qovertnneata, PaleStine,
1 non-member State, 2 United Nations organs, 7 United Natione epecialised agencies
and bodies, 3 intergovernmental organisations, 1 national liberation movement and
15 non-governmental organisations attended the Seminar.
4. The Seminar was opened by Mrs. Dial10 mnd waa dddremed by the representative
of the Secretary-Qeneral, the Under-Secretery-Qeneral for Political and Qaneral
Assembly Affairs and Secretariat Services. A message from Mr, Yasaer Arafat,
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organiration, wao
read out by the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations.
5. At the opening meeting, further statements were made by
Mr. Ricardo Alar& de Queaada, Vice-Chairman of the Speaial Comnittee on the
Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration oa the Granting of
Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Mr. Quennadi Oudoveoko,
Vice-Chairman of the Special Committee against m, Mr. Clovifb Makaoud,
Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States, l4r. Ahmed Engia Annay, Permanent
Ohssrver of the Organisation of the Islemic Conference and Mr. Count Pietersen,
Chief Repreeentative of the Pan Africaniet Congress of Asania.
6. The Seminar participants adopted a message to Mr. Arafat.
7. The two panels that were established and their panelists were a8 follows:
Panel8 “The role of the Palestine Liberation Organiration in the economic,
cultural and social development of the Palestinian people, and its political
programme to achieve statehood for the Palestinian people”: Mr. Ibrahim Abu-Lughod
(Palestinian)t
Psnel: “The intiradah, the urgency of convening the InternaLional Peace
Conference for a ‘two peoples, two States’ solution, and the role of North
America”8 Mr. Mahdi Abdul-Hadi (Palestinian)) Mr. Faisal Husseini (Palestinian);
H.E. Mr. Latyr Rcunara (Senegal); Mr, Amos Kenan (Israel); Mr. Hans Peter Kotthaus
(Federal Republic of Qermany)] Mr. Michael Lanigan (Ireland); .
Mrs. Margaret McCormack (United States of America)1 Rabbi Marshall Meyer (United
-71-
States of America)) The Most Reverend Michael J. Peers (Canada), Mr. Chaim Shur
(Israel); and Mr. Andrei Zakharov (Vnion’of Soviet Socialist Republics).
0. The report of the Seminar, including a summary of the proceedings, has been
issued as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
9. The Seminar adopted the following conclusion6 and recommendationst
(a) The participants expressed appreciation once again for the
opportunity to have a full and candid discussion of aspects of the question of
Palestine and the Arab-Israeli conflict under the auspices of the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. They
expressed satisfaction that the Seminar had made a positive contribution to
the peace process by providing a forum for a balanced and constructive
discu6sion of the issues.
(b) The participant6 reaffirmed the view that negotiations based on the
“two peoples, two States” principle , which adequately addressed the rights and
concerns of both thrr Israelis and Palestinians, would result in peace and
justice in the region, as envisaged in Qeaeral Assembly resolutions 161 (II)
and 194 (III). Statements were made indicating that important sectors of the
Israeli public have become active in suPport of the "two States” solution.
Appreciation was srpreseed for the position adopted by a large number of
Governments and NGOe in response to the proclamation of the State of
Palestine, the Palestinian Arab State, to exist side by side with the State of
Israel. The participants urged that negotiations should be based on the “land
for peace” formula embodied in Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
339 (1973), which provide a foundation for an eventual settlement, and the
legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, including primarily the
right to self-determination.
(c) They noted the adoption of General Assembly resolution 44142 of
6 December 1999 and were encouraged by the overwhelming vote in favour of this
balanced and comprehensive resolution which, for the first time, was supported
by all members of the European Community. This resolution reaffirmed the
necessity of convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East
under the auspices of the United Nations with the participation of all parties
to the conflict, including the PLO and the five permanett members of the
security Council. Regret was expressed that to date thfre has been no
progress in that regard. The PLO has explicitly accepted these resolutions
whereas some recent statement6 on the part of the newly formed Government of
Israel seemed to cast doubt on its adherence to Security Council resolutions
242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
(d) Participants expreooed deep concern at the continued loss oP life in
the occupied territories and at the continued violations by Israel oL’ the
human rights of the civilian population in the occupied Palestinian
territnry. The international community has repeatedly declared that the
Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory were 1~
violation of its obligations as a party to the Qeneva Convention relative to
the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and contrary to United
I -72-
Nations resolutions and generally recognised norms of international law. The
participants appealed to the parties to the Convention to ensure respect for
its provisions. They deplored recent statement? by the Israeli Government
implying the prospect of increased settlement of immigrants in the occupied
Palestinian territory, while Israel aontinues to deny Palestinians the right
to their homes. The participants supported the r’ght of freedom of n;ovement
and the right of everyone to leave any country and the right to return to
one’s own country. However, those rights could not be used as a pretext to
settle immigrants or Israeli civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory,
including Jerusalem. They urged the Security Council to prevent such illegal
settlements.
(e) Participants viewed with grave concern the tragic incidents that
have taken plaae recently in Israel and in the occupied Palestinian
territory. They deplored the attack in Israel on the Palestinian workers from
Qaaa leading to several deaths and 10 wounded, which sparked demonstrations
throughout the occupied territories that resulted in 7 additional Palestinian
deaths by Israeli army gunfire and in the wounding of hundreds of others.
Further, the participants expressed their concern over the recent incursion of
the Israeli Defence Forces into the VNRWA Health Centre in Qasa town in which
many aivilians and, in particular, infants and young children, were injured.
At the same time, participants expressed deep concern at the aborted raid on
Tel Aviv beaahes by Palestinian guerrillas and noted that the Palestine
Liberation Organisation dissociated itself from that attack.
(f) The participants supported the intiLaaah and the Palestinian peace
initiative of November 1988 as efforts by the Palestinian people in its
struggle to attain and exercise its inalienable rights. The participants
considered that the steps proposed by the Israeli Government on 14 May 1999
were inadeguate, since they did not include interim measures of protection for
the Palestinian people nor other measures that would enable the Palestinians
to fully exerciue their right to self-determination. It was noted that the
intitsdah had far-reaching implications, which included effects on aspects of
Ierneli p o l i t i c s . Specifically, it had led to a major government crisis and
helped the forces working for a juet peaae to engage in dialogue and joint
activities with the Palestinians as a waf to promote mutual underetandlng.
They agreed that the United Nations should continue to offer its good offices
and crganise activities to bring together Palestinisas and Israeliu under its
auspices. Participants appealed to all Qovernmente with influence, including
the United States, Weotern European countries and Israel, and the Palestinians
to pursue more vigorous efforts towards 6 fair and just solution to the Middle
East dispute,
(g) Participants appealed to the Security Council to assume and
discharge its responsibilities and to take urgent measures to ensure the
physical protection and to guarantee the safety and security of the
Palestinian people under Israeli occupation, including prevention of
deportation of Paleetinians , which had been repeatedly condemned by the
Security Council and the Qeneral Assembly. They urged the Security Council,
particularly its permanent members, to undertake every ef!fort to facilitate
the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East and to
adopt interim measures, inaluding the deployment of a United Nations force to
safeguard the physical security of the people of the occupied Palestinian
territory, including Jerusalem,
-73-
(h) The participante noted with appreciation that the Secretary-General
had taken the initiative to send a Perronal Bepreeeatative to Ierael and the
occupied territories to look into the situation and report back to him. The
participants expressed appreciation for the Seoretary-Qeneral’s continuing
endeavours to advanae the pesos proaess and to faoilitata the convening of the
International Pease Conference.
(i) The participants osllad upon the Committee to ewure that United
Nations regional seminars on the question of Palestine provided an opportunity
for diverse points of viawe to be expressed 80 that a meaningful dialogue
could be held among people of goodwill on all sides. Satisfaction was
expressed with the constructive and frank exchange that had taken place at
that seminar between the Israeli and Palestinian participants, as well as
nationals of other aountrias, including those of Jewish faith. It was noted,
however, that while Palestinians representing the PLO had participated, the
Qovarnment of Israel had yet to agree to be represented in such forums. The
hops was expressed that the Qovarnment of Israel would be represented at
future meetings. Participants suggested that future seminars and NO0 symposia
related to the question of Palestine should consider some of the substantive
issues that needed to be addressed.
(j) Participants called upon all countries and particularly the United
States and other Western aountries to support the Committee’s activities and
its objective of expandi*& uialogue among opinion shapers and responsible
political leaders. Those Qovsrnments as well as other Members of the United
Nation6 were urged to particiyute in the work of the Committee as members or
observers. The participants expressed the view that the Committee could make
a significant aontribution through the convening of seminars and symposia to
widen the exchange of views ultimately leading to areao of common approval.
It wae noted with aonoern that the United States Qovernment had, for the
present, suspended its dialogue with the Palestine Liberation Organieation.
Participants considered that that action constituted a serious setback for the
paste process. The participants expressed the hops that the dialogue would be
re-established as soon as pooeible and its scope expanded to include the
consideration in a constructive manner of substantive issues so as to enhance
the process of negotiations leading to a just and lasting solution to the
question of Palestine. Adversaries muet speak together if peace was to be
achieved.
-74-
ANNEX X
(New York, 21 to 29 June 1990)
1, The Seventh United Nations North American Regional NQO Symposium on the
Question of Palestine, on the theme “The inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people’*, was held at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 27 to
29 June 1990.
2. The Symposium was attended by representatives of 110 North American
non-governmental organisations (NQOS), 43 of them as observers. NO06 from other
regions ware also present, as were a number of governmental and iatargovernmental
observers.
3. Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo opened the meeting on behalf of the Comaittee on the
Er ircise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. The opening session
was also addressed by the Permanent Observer of Palestine, who read out a message
from Mr. Yassar Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Coxunittee of the Palestine
Liberation Organisation, and by Ms. Jeanne Butterfield, Chairman of the North
American Co-ordinating Committee for NQOs on the Quaetion of Palestine (NACCP), who
served as Moderator of the Symposium.
4. The progrsmne for the Synpoeium was drawn up by the Committee in consultation
with the NACCP. The panels and panelists were as follorc~
Panel: “Breaking the impasse: moving towards Israeli-Palestinian peace and
convening the International Peace Conference” t Mrs. Absa Claude Dialler
Ms. Mahdi Abdul-Hadi (Palestinian)) Mrs. Maha Wuetaklem Nassar (Palestinian);
Mr. Edward Said (Palestinian)) Mr. Sbmual Amir (1erael)t Yr. Jack O’Dell (United
States of America)) and Mr. Joel Beinin (United Btates of America).
Panel: “&&if&& update”: Mrs. Chaya Amir (Israel); Nr. Hillel Bardin
(Israel)) and Mrs, Zahira Ksmal (Palestinian).
5. malva workshops were also orgaaiaed under the general theme “Mileetonee and
future tasks for organising NQO constituencies”.
6. The NQOe participating in the Symposium adopted a declaration, together with
action-oriented proposals emanating from the workshops and elected a new North
American Co-ordinating Committee for NQOs on the Question of Palestine.
7. The report of the Symposium, including a summary of the proceedings, will be
issued as a publication of the Division for Paleetinian Rights.
0. The declaration adopted by the participating NQOs reads as followsr
-75-
1
!
We, the non-governmental organisations (NQO6) participating in the
Seventh United Nations North American Regional NQO Symposium on the Question
c.f Palestine, wish to thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalisnable
/
Rights of the Palastinian People for making this meeting posaible. We are
indeed honoured by the reception and the presence of the members and observers
!
of this distinguished United Nations body.
I
We wish also to thank the Chief of the Division for Paleatinian Rights
and are especially grateful for his enthusiastic support throughout our
daliberationa. We wish to thank also the liaison officers, the staff of the
Division and of the Department of Conference Services for their invaluabla
assistance in the preparation and execution of this meeting.
We honour the victims of Israel’s brutal and senseless repression of the
heroic Palaetinian uprising, with specific homage to the childran of the
atones and the sufferings and agonies they have endured. We commit ourselves
to provide moral, political and material support to all the Palestinian people
in their struggle for self-determination and freedom.
We are heartened by the substantive contributions of the expert
panelists, workshop organiaars, resource persons and f&cilitators, as wall as
the insightful input of the record number of NQOs that garticipatad in and
observed this Symposium.
We resolutely reaffirm the overwhelming international majority decision
that the PLO is the sole and legitimate rapresentativa of the Palastinian
people. We affirm the inalianabla rights of the Palestinian people in
conformity with all relevant United Nations resolutions, including the right
to seif-determination without external interference, the right to establish an
indapandant Palestinian State on its own national territory under the
leadership of the PLO and the right of return. We absolutely reaffirm the
position of an overwhelming international majority aa expraaaad through
Qenaral Assembly resolution 43/177 of 15 December 1988 acknowledging the
proclemation of the State of Palastina by the Palestine National Council and
the decision that the designation ‘*Palestine” should be used in place of the
designation “Palastina Liberation Organisation” in the United Nations system,
without prejudice to the observer status and function6 of the Paleatina
Liberation Organisation within the United Nations system, in conformity with
relevant United Nations resolutions and practice.
We condamn the persistent attempts by the United States Government to
prevent Palestine’s full participation in United Nations agencies and
affiliated bodies.
We welcome the Palestinian peace initiative as a practical means towards
the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region. We call upon the
Governments of the United States and Israel to respond positively to this
initiative by supporting the immediate convening of the International Peace
Conference in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 431176 of
15 December 1986 and 44/42 of 6 December 1989, which demonstrated for the
first time the support of all members of the European Community. The PLO has
explicitly accepted these resolutions, whereas Borne recant statements on the
-76-
part of the newly formed Qovarnment of Israel cast doubt on its adherence to
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 336 (1973).
.Wa deplore the decision of the United States Qovernmsnt to suspend
dialogue with the PLO. We consider such suspension to encourage Israel’s
occupation and confiscation of and expanded settlement on Palastinian land.
We undertake to intensify our efforts to complement international efforts
to allaviate the suffering of those who have been the targets of Iaraali
violence, espacially the children, maxy thousands of whom have been maimed,
permanently disabled and emotionally traumatised. We call upon the United
Nations system, agencies, organisations and progrenunaa, aapecially the United
Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the World Health Organiaation, the United
Nations Centre for Human Settlements, the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the International Labour Organisation
and the United Nations Development Programme, to intensify their effort8 to
address the educational, medical, housing and general economic and social
needs of the Palaatinian people in co-operation with Palestinian communities,
popular committees and grass-roots organisations. We call upon States Members
of the United Nations to increase their contributions arrd support for such
efforts, We once again call for an expansion of the refugee affairs
programme, and call for the Refugee Affairs Officer Programme of UNRWA to be
encouraged to take a pro-active role, and not merely a paaeiva observer role.
We welcome greater co-ordination among United Nations agencies on the
Palestine question and particularly encourage their co-ordination with NQOe
whose work complement6 United Nations programmes. We are gratified by the
first United Nations-sponsored meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean
NQOs at Buenos Aires, this year, and by their formation of a co-ordinating
committee on the question of Palestine. We look forward to interacting with
NQOs in that region and support the euccaaaful convening of the .lext meeting
in 1991.
We racognira and express our continued concern for the role that Be
and a racism plays in Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian people, both
those in the occupied territory and those citizens of Israel who - without the
benefit of “Jewish nationality” - are denied most basic rights under Israeli
law. Actions by the State of Israel directed against Palestiniana, supported
by United states aid in violation of United States law, demonatrats how racism
forme an element of Israel’s state ideology, which denies the Paleetinian
people their inalienable rights. This is of continued concern as the
damolition of Palastinian homes and villages, as well as the confiscation of
Palastinian land and water, are accalarating, both within Israel and in the
occupied territory undor cover of the intifadah.
We deplore the United States veto of the Security Council proposal for a
United Nations force to be dispatched to the occupied territory that would
protect the Palaatinian civilian population. We encourage the General
Aaeembly to invoke the “Uniting for Peace” resolution, which would legally
empower it to act in such a critical situation in accordance with the inherent
right of collective and self-defence in customary intarnational law. We
further call upon all States parties to the fourth Qeneva Convention to fulfil
their obligations under common article 1 of that Convention to “ensure
-77-
respect” for the Convention by monitoring, reoording of and intervnning in
Israeli human rights violations agaipat Paleatiniana in the occupied territory.
We are aonvinoed that Soviet Jewish immigration to Israel presents a
further assault on all segments of the Palestinian community in every part of
hiatorio Palestine. More Palestinian lands are alateti for aonfiaaation,
existing Jewish settlements are being expanded and the planning and building
of new aettlementa continue unabated on Palestinian land with Israeli
Qovernment aubaidiea, in spite of offiaial statements to the uontrary. This
is true whether it is within the “green line”, where the last phases of
“Judaixation~~ are in progress , or in the territory ocaupisd since 1967,
inaludinq Jeruaalemm. We, therefore, call for an immediate ban on all Israeli
aonYiaaation of and settlement on Palestinian land. We further call for a ban
on United States Qovernment funding of Soviet Jewish iexnigration to Israel
until Iaraeli oaaupation of the West Bank, Qaea Strip and East Jerusalem has
ended. We further aall upon the United States and Ca-adian Qovernments to
open their doors to~loviat Jewish immiqration.
We applaud this year’s NO0 aonoern at United States aid to Israel and we
aonrider auah a foaua as essential to breaking the present impassa created by
the United States and Israeli intransigence and obstructionism to the peace
initiative of the Palestine National Counail at its nineteenth session. W0
believe that the aontinuation of United States aid to Israel under current
circumstances is morally, politically and legally wrong. We insist that the
United States Qovernment enforaa its own laws ragulating military and economic
aaaistanaa, particularly considering Israel’e violations of United States
human rights provisions and armo export reatriationa, and further insist that
the United States apply to Israel the principles embodied in the Comprehensive
A&i-m Aat of 1986. We call upon the Canadian Qavermant to impose
economic and other sanctions against Israel in view of the persistent,
ayatematia and maaaive violence in contravention of the fourth Geneva
Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on
the Rights of the Child.
We denounce Israeli laws that prohibit contacts between Israeli citiaans
and the PLO. Such laws explicitly obstruct dialogue between Israeli and
Palestinian individuals, given that virtually all Paleetiniana stand by the
PLO.
We join the anti-m community in its deep concern over the
continued military collaboration between Israel and South Africa. We take
note also of Qeneral Aaaambly resolution 44/113 of 15 December 1989, which
calls for an investigation of Israeli-South African collaboration in the
development of medium-range nuclear missiles, and we look forward to the
upcoming report of the United Nations Institute for Disarmement Research.
We applaud Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress for their
position that black South Africans and Paleatiniana both suffer under a
“unique form of colonialism”. We further commend Mr. Mandela for his
principled retuaal on numerous occasions during his visit to the United State6
to distance himself from and sever solidarity with the Palestinian struggle
and the PLO. We take inspiration from the anti-m movement in North
America in its successful sanctions campaign against South African ~p~.r&b~iP.
We endeavour to take aimilar action vie-a-vie Israel. We believe our efforts
-76
a n d t h o s e o f t h e a n t i - m movement are complementary, reciprocal and
together advance the cause of world justice and peace.
The aim of this meeting is to develop practiaal organising strategies and
support projects for concerted action by North American NQOs. Our primary
work wao aonduated in workshops and we receive their recommendations and
aommend them to all NO08 for their careful consideration and implementation.
-79-
ANNEX XI
DeclaretionedoDtedbv_the
iGeneva, 27 and 28 August 1990)
1. The Fourth United Nations European Regional NO0 Symposium on the Question of
Palestine was held under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise oZ the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, on
27 and 28 August 1990. The Symposium was convened in response to Qeneral Assembly
resolution 44141 B of 6 December 1989.
2. The Committee on the Exercioe of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a &legation compri, ‘%g Mrs. Absa Cl.aude Dial10
(Senegal), Committee Chairman8 Mr. Alexander ..-rg Olivier (Malta), Committee
Rapporteurl Mt. Samuel R. Insanelly (Guyana); Mr. Ismail Rasali (Malaysia)1 a n d
Mr. Zuhdi Labib Terai (Palestine).
3. A total of 141 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) attended the Symposium,
72 of them as observers. Several observers from Governments, intergovernmental
organisations and United Nation6 bodies also participated.
4. The opening meeting was addressed by the Chairman of the Committee,
Mrs. Absa Claude Dial10 (Senegal), by the Chairman of the European Co-ordinating
Committee for NQCs on the Question of Palestine (ECCP), Mr. Mikko Lohfkoski
(Finland), and also by the Permanent Observer of Palestine, Mr. Zuhdi Labib Tersi.
5. The programme of the Symposium was drawn up by the Committee in consultation
with ECCP. The three panels and the panelists were as followsl
P&nut “Urgent priorities to stop settlements in the occupied territory and
protect the Palestinian people. What can Europe and European NGOs do?“l
Mrs. Marie-Christine Aulas (France), Dr. Boshir Al-Khairi (Palestinian),
Dr. Ruchama Martan (Israel), Mrs. Carla Pecis (Italy) and Mr. Maxim Ghilan (France)#
P-1 “1990r Time for Peace. Evaluation and follow-up”,
Mr. Flavio Lotti (Italy), Mm. Rana Nashaxhebeh (Palestinian) und
Ms. Tamar Gosansky (1srael)y
EaJABLxuI. Two peoples - Two States”r Mrs. Maria Gaai (Greece),
Dr. Mustafa Barghouti (Palestinian), Mrs. Tamar Goeansky (Israel),
Ms. Salwah Hdeib (Palestinian) and Mr-. Nabeel Sha’at% (Palestinian).
6. Four workshops also took place on the following topics; (a) rerugees;
(b) culture! (c) involving Jewish communities in Europe1 and (d) trade with the
occupied territory (export and import).
7. The NGOs participating in the Symposium adopted a final declaration as well as
action-oriented proposals emanating from the workshops and elected a new
nine-member European Co-ordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of
Palest The report of the Symposium, including summaries of the proceedings,
will 1s a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
-8O8.
The NGOs participating in the Symposium adopted the following declaration1
The participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity once again to
discus5 various aspects of the question of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli
conflict under the auspices of the Committee on the Exeraise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. They considered that the
Symposium, by providing a forum for an exchange of opinions a6 well as
experience5 abouL concrete actions, had made a positive contribution to tha
peace process.
The participants reconfirmed their support for the intifadah and the
Palestinian peace initiative of November 1988, These were seen by the
participants as genuine proofs of tbe willingness of Palestinian people and
their sole legitimate representative, the PLO, to search for a mutually
acceptable, just peace. They appealed to the European Governments to support
unequivocally these decisions and to establish official relations with the
PLO, and to recognise the State of Palestine if they had not yet done so.
The participants deeply regretted that the United States had decided to
suspend its dialogue with the PLO and expressed the hope that it would be
re-established as soon as possible and its scope expanded to include the
consideration of substantive issues in a constructive way so as to enhance the
process of negotiations leading to a just and lasting solution of the question
of Palestine.
The participants reaffirmed their conviction that negotiations baeed oa
the two States, Palestine and Israel, priaciple , which addresses the basic
rights and concerns of both the Palestinians and the Israelis would result in
peace and justice in the Middle East, based oa the principles embodied in
General Assembly resolutions 181 (II) and 194 (III). Reports from the “1990#
Time for Peace” initiative, held at Jeruealem from 29 to 31 December 1989, and
various other peace initiatives indicated that important sectors of the
Israeli public had become active in support of the “two States” solution.
Appreciation was expressed for the poaition adopted by a large number of
European and other Governments and NO08 in response to the proclamation of the
State of Palestine to exist side by side with the State of Israel. The
participants stressed that peace negotiations ehould be based on the formula
embodied in the Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and oa
the implementation of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian
people, primarily their right to self-determination, and should provide a
foundation for a just and lasting peace settlement..
The participants welcomed the adoption of General Assembly resolution
44142 of 6 December 1989 by an overwhelming vote in favour of this balanced
and comprehensive resolution, which, for the first time, was supported by 811
European States, In this resolution, the Assembly reaffirmed the neaessity of
convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East under the
auspices of the United Nations with the participation of all partieo to the
conflict, including, the PLO, on an equal footing, and the five permaaeat
members of the Security Council. Tbe participants deeply regretted that there
-8lhad
been no progress in that regard. The PLO has explicitly accepted these
re6olution6. However, the Qovermnent.of Israel has by its recent statements
and practical action6 demonstrated that it continues to violate the Security
Council resolutions.
The Sympoeium was organised while an extremely dangerous situation was
gaining momentum in the Qulf, threatening to draw the whole region into a
catastrophe of immense dimensions.
The participant6 reaffirmed their respect for international law and
United N‘ations principlee. Accordingly they considered that the acquisition
of territory by fc ‘ce was illegal. The participant6 called upon Iraq to
comply with the Security Council resolutions demanding the withdrawal of Iraqi
forces from Kuwait. Only the strict observanae of the Security Council
resolution6 can prevent the crieis from spilling over into a military
confrontation, which would harm the intereete of all peoples in the region.
Therefore, the partialpants urged all Governments to refrain from any militarI~
actione, which should be undertaken - if necessary - exclusively under the
authority of the Security Council, with all armed forces, including those of
the United States, being placed under United Nations command.
The participant6 noted that diplomatic effort6 were being undertaken by
the Secretary-Qeneral and by others including members of the League of Arab
States and expressed the hope that these endeavours would contribute towards a
peaceful eolution of the ~~1~16.
The participants, noting the near unanimity attained by the Security
Council in dealing with this crisis and welcoming the higher profile of the
United Nations and it6 Security Council, called upon its permanent members,
especially the three European States - France, the United Kingdom and the
Soviet Union - to show the 661118 resolutenese in solving the Arab-Israeli
conflict and its core question of Palestine a.ld in securing the implementatio,.
of it6 resolution6 concerning this question.
Participants emphasised that the current crieis in the Qulf should not in
any way drtract from the urgent attention that need6 to be given to a solution
of the quest’.on of Palestine , without which there cannot be lasting peace and
stability in the region.
The participants strongly denounced the continued violations by Israel of
the hunan rights of the Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory,
which has led to continued lose of life. The European NGOs, as part of the
international community, have repeatedly declared that the Ieraeli policies
and practice6 in the occupied Palestinian territory are in gross violation of
its obligations as a party to the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection
of Civilian Persons in Time of War and contrary to United Nations resolutions
and generally recognised norms of international law.
The participant6 requested the European Governments parties to the
Convention to fulfil their duty by ensuring that Israel stops the violations
of 1;s provisions.
The participants expressed in particular their grave concern at the
continued closure of Pale6tinian universities since 1988 and callec! for their
-82-
immediate reopening, They further called upon the Qovernments of Europe and
upon the European Community to restrict educational and cultural contacts with
Israel until such time as all Palestiniaa educational establishments are
reopened.
The participants viewed with grave coacern the consequences of continued,
maosive immigration to Israel from Eastern European countries while at the
same time the Qoversment of Israel was increaeiag its settlements in the
occupied Palestinian territory and especially in Jerusalem, contrary to
principles of international law and repeated Seaurity Council resolutions.
More Palestiniau lauds are slated for coaflscatioa, existing Jewish
settlements are being oxpsndod and the planning and building of new
settlements continue unabated. At the same time, tho Israeli Government
refuses to rscognixr the right of Palestinians to return to their homes.
The participants stroagly requested the European governments to undert:lko
reso.lute actions collectively and individually to ensure that Israel ceases
all settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory, in conformity
with Security Council resolution 465 (1980).
The participants supported the right of freedom of movement and the right
of everyone to laave any country and the right of retura to oae’s own
country. However, these rights cannot be used as a pretext to settle
immigrants or Isrreli civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory,
including Jerusalem. They urged the European Qoverments to undertako any
necessary efforts to ensure that the Security Council would act to prevent
such illegal settlements.
Tbe participants called upon States concerned with Jewish immigration,
particularly the Soviet Union, to seek guarantees that such immigration will
not lead to settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories, thereby
infringing upon the right of the Palestinian people, and will be in conformity
with relevant United Nations resolutioas and legal instruments of human rights.
They also requested the European and other Governments to help the plight
oE Soviet Jews and other emigrants by enabling those who wish to settle in
Europe to do so.
Participants expressed concern that the idea of expulsion (transfar) of
Palestinians out of their country had gained further political legitimacy in
Israel when new extremist parties such us Maledet and B&mat entered the
Israeli Parliament on the basis of transfer programmes.
Since then, more and more voices withia the Israeli establishment and
public opinion have been openly calling for the further mass expulsion of
Palestinians from their homeland as a means of solving the Palestinian
question and m. ,?ng room for the new massive Soviet Jewish immigration to
Israel.
In the light of the growing danger of war in the Middle East and the
possible participation of Israel in this war, concern was expressed that the
Israeli establislx~ant might foster and use the atmosphere of war to carry out
this plan of further msss oxpuleion of the Palestinian people..
-83-
1
The participants called upon the international community and Europe in
particular to exercise due diligenoe in that regard to prevent lsrael from
carrying out such plans.
The participants expressed their grave concern about the violence against
Palestinians that hed taken plaae reaently in Iorael and In the oaaupied
Palestinian terribory, such a8 the unprovoked attack on Palestinian workers
PrDm Qaxa and incursion of Israeli army into the UNRWA Health Centre in Qase
trwn. These and similar continued actions by the Israeli (jlovernment, the
occupying Power, and individuals, as well as the lack of effective meaeuree by
the international community to put an end to thile policy, have seriously
eroded the truet of many Pblestinions in the aapaaity or willingness of the
international oommuaity to help bring about a peaceful settlement. The
participants were deeply worried about the proopeat that Ieraeli intransigence
and aggression would further deepen frustration among the Pelestinians and
that a cycle of violetrae would render more difficul t the search for a peaceful
settlement.
The participants expressed their resolute support for the Palestinian
people struggling against the Israeli oocupation and defending the Palestinian
society and its social, economic ana political institutions against the
illegal onslaught of settlers and of the Israeli occupation forces.
The participants expressed their support to the Israeli peace forces, who
are working under difficult conditions, especially after the coming into power
of an entremiet Government. They callea upon European NGOs end institutions
to support the Israeli peace forces ana to give them their full support and
co-operation.
Participants appealed to the Security Council to assume and diecharge its
reeponsibilities and to take urgent measures to eneure the physical protection
and to guarantee the safety ana security of the Palestinian people under the
Israeli occupation, Including prevention of deportation of Palestinians, which
has been repeatealy oonaemnea by the Security Council ana Qeneral Assembly.
The participants were encouraged that the European Qovernmente, indeed all
Qovernments except that of the United States, supported the proposal for
taking practical measures for the protection of the Paleetinian people ancl
urged all Governments to traneform their statea will into practical action
without aelay. In this respect, the participante welcomea the decision of the
European Community to eena a representative to Jerusalem a8 a step in the
right direction.
The participants stresses the urgent need to ensure a permanent presence
of European NO08 in the occupied Palestinian territory in order to monitor the
human rights situation there and to provide any possible protection to the
civilians. They further urged the European Parliement, other European
institutions and all European Qovernments to undertake all necessary measures
in that respec,.
The participant8 also urqetl the Security Council, particularly the
permanent members, which include three European Governments, to make every
effort to facilitate the convening of the International Peace Conference on
the Midale East and to arlopt interim measures, ixluding the cleployment of a
United Nations force to safeguard the physical security of the people of the
-04-
occupied Palestinian territory, inoluding Jerusalem, and the people in other
oacupied Arab territories.
The participants celled upon European NGOs to continue their co-operation
and joint activities together with Israeli peace force6 and Paleetiniane in
the spirit of the “1990, Time for Peace” initiative, ana to participate in the
planned follow-up aationa during 1990-1991. They aleo supported initiativea
to engage broader participetion of pesce forces from Arab countries in this
ao-operation, whiuh should also aim at curbing the aontinuing dangerous
military buildup in the Middle East.
The participants requested the Committee on the Exercise af the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to provide every esaistanee
through the newly elected European Co-ordinating Committee for NQOs on the
Oueetion of Palestine to European NO08 in implementing their reeolutions on
the question of Palestine. Such support could include eponsoring effective
meetinge on special iaauea, etc., and the promotion of a better understanding
of the iesuee of apeoial concern to the Palestiniaae and Israelis.
The participants also called upon the Committee to ensure that the United
Nations regional and international NW meetings should continue to provide an
opportunity for cliverse pointe of views to be sxgreesed 80 that a meaningful
dialogue might continue to be held among people of good will on all siaes.
Phe participants callea on all European countries to intensify their support
for the Committee’s activities. European Qovernmsnts were urqea to
participate in the work of the Committee a8 members or observers.
The ai? of the Symposium was - in aitaition to a meaningful aialogue - to
Develop practical aotivities for concerted action by European NQOs. That part
of the work was therefore conducted in workshops, ana the Symposium recelvecl
their recommendations. The participants commend them to all European NQOs for
their careful consideration and implementation.
-85-
ANN&x XII
bv tha_leventhOnitea
the QU&&UI of PW
(Qeaeva, 29 to 31 August 1990)
1. The Seventh United Nations International NO0 Meeting on the Question of
Paleotine wae held under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, at the United Nations Office at
Geneva from 29 to 31 August 1990. The Meeting was convened in response to Qeneral
Aesembly resolution 44/41 B of 6 December 1990.
2. The Committee on the Exsrcise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation comprising Mre. Absa Claude Diallo
(Senegal), Committee Chairman, Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier (Malta), Rapporteurr
Mr. Samuel R. Insanally (Quyaaa)! Mr. Ismail Resell (Malaysia)l and
Mr. Zuhdi L. Terri (Palestine).
3. A total of 229 non-governmental organiratione (NO061 attended the Meeting,
64 of them as obeervere. Several observers from Governments, intergovernmental
organisations and United Nations bodies also attended the proceedings.
4. At the opening meeting, the Director-Qeneral of the United Nations Office at
Qeneva made a statement on behalf of the Secretary-General. The Chairman of the
ExecuLlve Comrlittee of the Palestine Liberation Organiention sent a mesaage, which
was read out by Mr. Nabil Ramlawi, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United
Natione Off ice at Geneva. Other opening statements were made by
Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo and by Mr. Don Betx, Chairman of the International
Co-ordinating Committee of NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ICCP).
5. The programme for the Meeting was prepared by the Committee on the Exercise of
tf.e Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in consultation with ICCP. The
overall theme was “Palestine and Israel: prerequisites for peace”. The four
panels and panelists were a6 follows:
-1 Wreaking the impasse in the peace process through the convening of
the International Peace Conference on the Middle Eastr the influence of
Palestinian, Israeli and international NO0 co-operation”r Mrs. Tamar Qoxaneky
(Israel), Mr. Mattityahu Peled (Israel), and Mr. Nabeel Sha’ath (Palestinian11
PB&ml-u 8 “Inliftiab update” I Dr. Mustafa Barghouti (Palestinian),
Mr. Ibrahim Dakkak (Palestinian), Mr. Hashem Mahameed (Israel) and
Dr. Haider Abdel Shafi (Palestinian);
Panel! “The changing role of NGOs”t Mr. Jean-Marie Lambert (ICCP),
Mr. Qhassan Abdallah (Palestinian), Mr. James Graff (Canada),
Mrs. Maha Muskalem-Nassar (Palestinian) and Mr. Amnon Zichroni (Israel)r
Panel: “Movement of populations I the law and politics”:
Mr. Ibrahim Abu-Lughod (Palestinian), Mr. Amnon Zichroni (Israel) and
Mr. Bashir Al-Kairi (Palestinian).
-66-
6. Six workshops were also held on the following topics! (a) women) (b) peace
orgaaisations) (c) Christian, Jowish and Muslim communities) (d) healthJ
(8) edUCatiOnJ and if) agriculture. A number of special interest groups were al80
organised by the participating NGOs.
7. The NO08 participating in the Meeting adopted a final declaration as Well as
action-oriented propoaals emanating from the workshops. The report, iacludiag
summaries of the proceedings, will be issued as a publication of the Division for
Palestinian Rights.
8. The declaration adopted by participant NO08 reads as follows:
We, the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) gathered at the Seventh
International NGO Meeting on the Question of Palestine, are meeting at a Limo
when the Middle East situation is more serious and more threatenlag to world
peace than for many years. Ths need for the International Peace Conference in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 44142 of 6 December 1959 and
earlier resolutions, for which we have called repeatedly at previous
International Meetings, has never been more urgent. We now call SOr Steps by
the Secretary-General to prepare for the International Peace Conference as a
matter of urgency. As the sole legitimate representative of the Ralestinian
people, the PLO should participate in the International Peace Conference on an
equal basis with all other parties to the conflict, as called for in
resolution 44142. We remind all signatories to the fourth Geneva Convention
of their contracted obligation to ensure respect in all circumstances for the
Convention and to bring to justice persons committing or crdering to be
committed grave breaches of the Convention.
Meeting after almost 1,000 days of the iatifadah, we commend the
Palestinian people of the intitaaah in their heroic struggle to end the
occupation and to implement the proclamation of 15 November 1958 of the
independent State of Palestine. We call upon all Governments to recognise the
State. We call for full iateraational support for the intifadah. We strongly
uphold the support of the people of the intiPaaeh for the PLO as the sole,
legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. We strongly affirm that
the continuing denial of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination
is entirely unacceptable and c-’ etitutes a major danger to peace.
We are appalled at the continuing, bloody repression of the Palestinian
people by the Government of Israel and its endless violations of human rights,
both in Israel and in occupied Palestine. As well as conflemalng the
repression in occupied Palestine we condemn the official and escalating
discrimination by both legalistic and “iron-fist” methods against the
Palestinian citisens in Israel. We are gravely concerned with the increasing
and deliberate destruction of Palestinian culture and identity and call for
strcJg international pressure for the reopening of all schools and
universities in occupied Palestine. Noting the refusal of the Israeli
Government to respond to the demands of the intoraational community, we call
for the application of effective international political and economic
sanctions against Israel to make it respect the rights of the Palestinian
people and comply with its obligations under the fourth Geneva Convention of
-6?-
12 August 1949. We note that Israel is designated as an occupying Power in
Security Council resolutions 607 (1985) and 608 (1965) of 5 and 6 January 1956
and in other resolutions. We call for the urgent establishment by the
Security Council of an effective United Nations presence with a legal mandate
to protect the population of occupied Palestinian territory.
We condemn as unjust and unacceptable the actions of the Government of
the United States of America in vetoing on 31 May 1990 the otherwise
unanimously approved Security Council draft resolution for a United Nations
fact-\!indSng mission to the occupied territories. We view with concern the
unwarranted suspension by the United States of its dialogue with the PLO on
20 June. We call for the immediate resumption of a serious and constructive
United States of America/PLO dialogue that would contribute to the convening
of the International Conference on Peace in the Middle East. We also condemn
the United States record of continuing congressioaal and executive actions
that hsve helped to make possible Israel’s repression of Palestinian human
rights I
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by force, we call upon Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait in accordance
with Security Council resolution 660 (19901, as we continue to call upon
Israel to withdraw from the territory it occupies.
We note the power the United Nations has exercised to enforce Security
Council resolution 660 (1990) and call upon it to exert equal efforts to
enforce all other United Nations resolutions concerning the acquisition of
territory by force as part of a comprehensive Middle East peace settlement.
We call for all Middle East issues to be dealt with on an equal basis and in
accordal.ce with international law. We welcome the peace initiative by the
Secretary-General of the United Nations and also other iaitiatives by members
of the League of Arab States.
We call for the end of the massive military buildup in the Middle East,
with the withdrawal of all foreign forces, and for any military presence to be
under United Nations control. We note that for many years, the policies of
successive United States Governments have helped and encouraged Israeli
occupation and annexation of Arab territory with gross violations of human
rights, even though United States law specifically stipulates that countries
engaged in gross violations of human rights are not eligible to receive United
States foreign aid. In this context, we condemn the double standards of the
United States Government.
We condemn the Israeli Government’s policy of settling Jews in the
occupied Palestinian territory, and other Arab territories, including
Jerusalem. We call upon all States concerned with Jewish emigration,
particularly the Soviet Union, to seek guarantees that such emigration will
not lead to settlement in the occupied territories, will not infringe the
rights of Palestinians either in Israel or occupied Palestine, and will not
infringe upon the Palestinian right of return. Noting from past experience
that the overwhelming majority of Jewish emigrants from the Soviet Union do
not wish to go to Israel, let alone to occupied Palestine, we call upon all
countries to which they might wish to immigrate to facilitate such immigration.
We call upon the Government of Israel to cancel the so-called
“anti-terrorism law”, which prohibits Palestiniaas and Israelis from meeting
with official representatives of the Palestiaian people. Furthermore, we call
upon the Governmoat of Israel and its legislature to stop all proceedings to
deprive Mr. Mohasaned Uiari of his parliamentary immunity and also to stop all
legal procedures to prosecute him for his par* icipation in the campaign of the
“boat of return”.
Recognising the extreme gravity of the present sltuation, we recognise
and stress the important role of the forces of peace lo Israel which support
the International Peace Conference and an indepsadent Palestinian State and wo
strongly uphold them in all their efforts Por peace and justice for all
peoples.
Much of our work in this Meeting was conducted in workshops. We endorse
their conclusions and recommendations. We urge all Governments seriously to
consider the options del’ined by NO06 in this Declaration.
We urge the United Nations to convene an international meeting of NO06 in
the late summer of 1991, the venue and format to be decided in consultation
with the International Co-ordinating Committee for NO06 on the Question of
Palestine (ICCP), and to maintain its programme of regional symposia. We
commend the work of ICCP and its secretariat st Geneva and call upon the
United Nations to offer every possible assistaace to the Committee and its
sscretariat.
We request the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestiniaa People to convey this Declaration to the
General Assembly at its forty-fifth session cs part of the Committee’s
report. We urge that records of this meeting be dissemiaated widely by the
United Nations to NGOs, Governments and the media.
We thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People for convening this Meeting and we greatly appreciate the
presence of the Chairman, members and observers of the Committee. We thank
the Di~i810n for Palestinian Rights and all others of the Secretariat,
including the interpreters who assisted in this Meeting. We express our
appreciation to the distinguished experts who spoke here, and we regret that
some of our invited panelists and resource persons were prevented from
attending by Israeli authorities. The success of this Meeting was greatly
contributed to by all those herein mentioned.
91-02405 2070-71s (E) -89-
_ -.-.~II___
Litko fn United Natiwtsr He: York CIlOOO 02405-February 1991-3r365
ISSN 0255-2035
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL RECORDS: FORTY-SIXTH SESSION
SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/46/35)
New York, 1992
NOTE
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
[Original: English]
[3 March 19921
CONTENTS
Paraorap&
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..~...
I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
II. MAWDATE OF TRE COMMITTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..*.............
III. ORGAEIZATION OF WORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A. Election of officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . .
C. Be-establishment of the Working Group . . . . . . . . . . . .
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 45167 A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. Review of the situation relating to the
question of Palestine and efforts to implement
the recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . .
2. Reactions to developments affecting the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people .
3. Action taken by the Committee to promote the
convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East in accordance
with General Assembly resolution 45168 . . . . . . .
4. Attendance at international conferences and
meetings . . . ..a................................
5. Action taken by United Nations bodies, the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and
intergovernmental organisations . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions 45167 A and B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. Regional semiaars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Cooperation with non-governmental
organizations .,,.............................
-Ill*- * .
l-8
9 - 11
12 - 18
12 - 15
16 - 17
18
19 - 74
Lza!2
V
1
3
4
4
19 - 52 5
19 - 33 5
34 - 47 9
48 - 50 12
51 13
52 13
53 - 74
54 - 59
15
15
60 - 67 16
CONTENTS (continuea)
3. Information activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 - 72
4. International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
5. Proposal for establishing a computerfzed
database .,...,.............a*................ 74
V. ACTION TARRN BY THE DEPARTMBNT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RBSOLUTION 45/67 C 75 .- 86
VI. RBCOMMBNDATIONSO F THE COMMITTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 - 96
Annexes
I. Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General
Assembly at its thirty-first session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
II. Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Twenty-eighth
United Nations European Seminar on the Question of Palestine,
Madrid, 27 to 30 May 1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..*........................
III. Eighth United Nations North American Regional NGO Symposium
on the Question of Palestine, Montreal, 28 to 30 June 1991 . . . . . . .
IV. Declaration adopted by tbe Fiftb United Nations Regional UGO
Symposium on the Question of Palestine, Vienna,
26 to 27 August 1991 s...................,........................
V. Declaration adopted by the Eighth United Nations International
NGO Meeting on the Question of Palestine, Vienna,
20 to 30 August 1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
?8
18
19
20
23
27
30
35
37
40
-iVLETTER
OF TNANMETTAL
15 November 1991
Sir,
I have the honour to encloss herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Bights of the Palestinian People for submission to
the General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 4 of resolution 45/67 A of
6 December 1990.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(&&ld) Absa Claude DIALLO
Chairman of the Comnittee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Javier Pkez de Cudllar
Secretary-General of the Unitea Nations
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable RiJhts of the
Palestinian People was established by the General Assembly in its resolution
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, in which the Assembly requested the Committee
to consider ana recommend to it a programm& ciesignerl to enable the Palestinian
people to exercise its inalienable rights as recognised by the Assembly in
resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974. During the reporting period, the
COmittee Was Composed of the following 23 Member States; Afghanistan,
Relarus. Cuba, CYPWS~ Guinea. Guyana, Hungary, Tndia, Indonesia, Lao People's
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Ralta, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Yugoslavia. JJ
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the
General h'sembly 21 were first endorsed by the Assembly in its resolution
31/20 of 24 November 1976 as a basis for the solution of the question of
Palestine. Those recommendations were reaffirmed by the Committee in its
subsequent reports 91 and were endorsea by the Assembly with overwhelming
support on each occasion. The Assembly also continued to renew and, as
necessary, expand the mandate of the Committee.
3. Despite the repeated an8 urgent appeals of the Committee, the Security
Council has not yet been able to act on or implement the recommendations of
the Committee. The Committee is of the view that positive consideration and
action by the Security Council on these recommendations would contribute to
promoting a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. The Committee has also reiterated
its appeals to the Security Council to take action urgently to convene the
International Pesce Conference on the Middle East, in accordance with the
principles reaffirmed by the General Assembly in its resolution 45160 of
6 December 1990, which provides the most comprehensive, practical and
universally accepted framework for peace.
4. The Committee believes that, with the recent manifestation of a renewed
international determination to ensure equity, justice and consistency in the
application of the principles of international law, it is of the utmost
importance to intensify efforts to bring about a comprehensive, just and
lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli
conflict. In this regard, the Committee has continued to stress the
importance of implementation of all General Assembly and Security Council
relevant resolutions on the question of Palestine and the Midale East
situation.
5. During the past year, an& particularly in the aftermath of the conflict
in the Gulf, the Committee expressed its most serious concern at the further
deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and at
the continued imposition of harsh repressive measures by the occupying Power,
Israel. The Committee decided to do everything possible to strengthen its
role in monitoring the situation of Palestinians Under Occupation and
promoting the adoption of concrete measures by the High Contracting Parties t0
the yourth Geneva Convention &/ to ensure respect by Israel, the occupying
Power, of the Convention in all circumstances, in conformity with their
obligation under article 1 of the Convention. In this regard, the Committee
-lexpressed
full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General regarding t:he
convening of a meeting of the Sigh Contracting Parties in accordance with
Security Council resolution 681 (1990).
6. The Committee strongly deplored Israel's continued re?iance on military
force to suppress the Palestinian uprising. the intifadah, which had continued
for a fourth year against overwhelming odds. The Committee further deplored
Israel's rejection of the Palestinian peace initiative of December 1988, of
the United Nations resolutions aimed at advancing the peace process, and of
all other efforts to promote peace. The Committee also condemned the
intensification of land confiscation and of the settlements policy and
practice pursued by Israel in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967,
including Jerusalem, the imposition of a prolonged general curfew in the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip during and after the conflict in the Gulf, and the
increasing restrictions on freedom of movement aa economic activity of
Palestinians, which greatly jeopardised their livelihood.
7. The Committee reaffirmed that Israel's continued occupation of the
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab
territories and its denial of the exercise of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people in Palestine, including those to self-determination without
external interference, to national independence and sovereignty, and to return
to its homes and property, constitute the priacipal obstacle to the
achievement of a just peace.
8. The Committee was concerned that the continued stalemate in the peace
process, together with the ongoing repression of the intifa8ah and the
creeping annexation of the occupied Palestinian territory, and the worsening
economic and other living conditions of Palestinians in the entire region,
might lead to disastrous consequences for the Palestinian people as a whole.
The Committee believed that a solution was urgently needed in the aftermath of
the Gulf War, taking into account the new opportunities that now exist, on the
basis of international law and in conformity with the principles ana purposes
Of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant United Nations
resolutions, which must be applied in an even-haided manner.
-2-
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
9. The Committee's mandate for the year 1991 is contained iu peragraphs 3
t0 5 Of General Assembly resolution 45/67 A of 6 December 1990, in which the
Assemblyr
(a) Requested the Committee to continue to keep under review the
I3itUatiOU relating to the question of Palestine as well as the implementation
of the Programme of Action for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights) 5/ and
to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security
Council, as appropriate2
(b) Authorized the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote
the .nplementation of its recommendations, including representation at
conferences and meetings and the sending of delegations, to make such
adjustments in its approved programme of seminars ana symposia aa meetings
for non-governmental organisations as it may consider necessary, and to report
thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-sixth session and thereafter]
(c) Also requested the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation
to non-governmental organisations in their contribution towards heightening
international awareness of tie facts relating to the question of Palestine and
creating a more favourable atmosphere for the full implementation of the
Committee's recommendations, and to take the necessary steps to expand its
contacts with those organisations.
10. In its resolution 45/67 B of the same date, the General Assembly also
requested the Secretary-General, ,hnter alia, to provide the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources and to
ensure that it continues to discharge the tasks detailed in earlier
resolutions, in consultation with the Committee and under its guidance.
11. In its resolution 45/61 C of the same date, the General Assembly
requested the Department of Public Information, in full Cooperation and
coordination with the Committee, to continue its special information programme
on the question of Palestine, with particular emphasis on public opinion in
Europe and North America.
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
?. . Flectio n of officer&
12. At its 175th meeting, on 6 February 1991, the Committee re-elected the
following officers:
ar Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo (Senegal)
hairman: Mr. Ricardo Alar&n de Quesada (Cuba)
RauoorteuE: Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier (Malta)
13. At its 178th meeting, on 16 July 1991, the Committee also elected
Mr. Khodaidad Basharmal (Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairman.
14. At its 180th meeting, on 7 October 1991, the Committee elected
Mr. Victor Camilleri (Malta) as Rapporteur in place of
Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier (Malta).
15. At its 177th meeting, on 8 April 1991, the Comwittee adopted its programme
of work for 1991 (A/AC.183/1991/CRP.l/Rev.l) in implementation of its mandate.
B.
16. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members
of the United Nations and Permanent Observers to the United Nations desiring
to participate in the vork of the Committee 88 observers were welcome to do
50. Accordingly, in a letter dated 10 April 1991, the Chairman of the
Committee so informed the Secretary-General , who subsequently transmitted the
letter, on 19 April 1991, to the States Members of the United Nations and
members of the specialixed agencies and to intergovernmental organixations.
The Committee also decided to invite Palestine, represented by the Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO), to participate in the work of the Committee as
an observer, to attend all its meetings and to make observations and proposals
for the consideration of the Committee.
17. During 1991, the Committee again welcomed as observers all the States and
organisations that had participated in its work in the preceding year. a/ The
Connnittee also welcomed the additional participation of Qatar as from
22 February 1991.
18. At its 175th meeting, the Committee re-established its Working Group to
assist in the preparation and expedition of the work of the Committee on the
understanding that any Committee member or observer could participate in its
proceedings. I/ The Working Group was constituted as before under the
chairmanship of Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier (Malta). Mr. Dinesh Kumar Jain
(India) was re-elected Vice-Cbrirman of the Working Group.
Mr. Victor Camilleri (Malta) was elected Chairman of the Working Group as from
7 October 1991.
-4-
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
A. m
resolution 45/61 A
1. Review of the situation relating to the guestion
9f Palestine and efforts to implement the
recommendations of the Cornmitteg
19. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee continued to keep under
review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to exert all
efforts to promote the implementation of its recommendations as repeatedly
endorsed by the General Assembly.
20. In response to urgent developments affectin the inalienable rights of
the Palestinian people, the Chairman of the Committee, on a number of
occasions, brought such developments to the attention of the Secretary-General
and the President of the Security Council, urging the adoption of appropriate
measures in accordance with United Nations resolutions (see paras. 34 and 35
below).
21. The Committee, with the assistance of the Division for Palestinian
Rights, continued to monitor the situation in the occupied Palestinian
territory on an ongoing basis through the media, the reports of United Nations
organs and agencies, as welr as information collected by Governments,
non-governmental organisations, individual experts and persons from Israel and
the occupied Palestinian territory who participated in meetings held under the
auspices of the Committee, ind other sources.
22. The Committee expressed its support for the Intifadah, the uprising of
the Palestinian people for the end of Israeli occupation and for the
achievement of the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people. The
Committee noted that the intifadah had continued for a fourth year despite
overwhelming odds and increAsed repressive measures, and that it had pursued
its efforts to maintain the structure and well-being of Paiestinian society
through organising popular and civil committees for Self-defence, medical
relief, information and public education, as well as provisions and supplies.
The Committee received repeated appeals from Palestinians living under
occupation urging the United Nations to do all in its power to ensure the
safety and protection of the Palestinian people, to meet emergency needs, and
to bring about the impartial and comprehensive implementation of all United
Nations resolutions, and expressing their determination to remain on their
land and to maintain and consolidate their resistance to Israeli occupation.
23. The Committee noted with deep concern that, in its efforts to suppress
the intifadah, Israel had continued to resort to the use of often excessive or
indiscriminate force, including shooting at demonstrators, the misuse of
tear-gas and punitive beati.rgs. It was reported that the Israeli authorities
were effectively condoning, if not encouraging, extrajudicial executions as a
means of controlling unrest. In June 1991, a Palestinian human rights group
published the names of 47 pjrsons who were said to have been killed in Israel
Defence Forces (IDF) undercover operations since January 1989. As at
31 July 1991, according to the Palestine Human Rights Information Centre, the
-5-
total number of paleatiniana killed since the beginning of the intifadah
through direct responsibility on the part of the Israeli forces* armed
settlers, civilians and collaborators. amounted to 966 identified cases. Of
these, 812 had died from gunfire. 91 in tear-gas-related incidents and 63 from
other causes. In addition, it was reported that 116,118 Palestinians had been
injured. up alarmingly high proportion of children. about 25 Per tout of the
total, were victims of the repression of the Wifadah .
24. The Committee noted that Israeli occupation authorities continued to
resort to a variety of harsh measures and collective punishments against
Palestinians. These measures Fncluaea deportations, large-scale arrests#
detentions, raids on homes and villages, prolonged curfews which culminated
during the Gulf War, and the destruction of trees and crops. According to the
Israeli military prosecutor, since the beginning of the intifadah until
February 1991, 75,000 Palestinians were detained, 14,000 of whom under
administrative detention orders, i.e. without charges or trial. A human
rights organisation reported that the incarceration rate for the occupied
territories is by far the highest known anywhere in the world, i.e. close to
1,000 prisoners per lOOI inhabitants. The Committee noted with concern
reports that the Israeli General Security Service continued to use torture as
an interrogation bih0a against Palestinians. Ill-treatment and deteriorating
conditions, including a reduction in food rations, had prompted hunger strikes
at several Israeli prisons and detention centres in June 1991.
25. It was also reported that, through July 1991, the West Bank and Gaza had
experienced a total of 10,391 days of curfews, affecting hundreds of thousands
of Palestinians. A total 0: 2,017 houses and other structures had been
demolished or sealed and 116.735 trees had been uprooted. The Committee noted
with particular concern the continued lawless and violent actions of Israeli
settlers, including attacks on individuals, raids on Palestinian villages and
vandalism.
26. The Committee was alarmed at the further increase in Israeli settlement
activity in the OCCUpiea Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and in
the confiscatton Of PnleStiniM lands in the period under review, in
contravention Of the provisions of the aforesaid Fourth Geneva Convention and
several Security Council resolutions. &/ It was estimated that, between the
beginning of the -fadah and 31 July 1991. a total of 504.120 dunums of land
(ldunum = 1,000 m2) had been confiscated by the Israeli authorities. Over
230,000 Israeli settlers were reported to reside in some 170 settlements,
rural and urban, in the occupied Palestinian territory, including expanded
East Jerusalem. The settler population had increased by 9,000 to 10,000 in
the West Bank in 1990; it was estimated that 4 per cent of the Soviet
immigrants who had arrived in 1990 had settled in the occupied territories.
several new Settlements were established and others were expanded in the West
Bank iu the first half of 1991. Furthermore, it was reported that the Israeli
Government had budgeted more than $500 million during the lggO/gl fiscal year
for settlements in the occupied territory and related expenS*s, and that the
Housing Minister had drawn up Plans to build 36,000 housing units in the
Occupied territories, including Jerusalem. In this connection, the Committee
also noted with great concern the continued exploitation by Israel of
Palestinian water resources for the benefit of the Israeli population and
settlers, to the detriment of Palestinian farmers and residents of the
occupied territory.
-6-
27. The Committee expressed the greatest concern at the intensification of
controls and restrictions against the Palestinian people in the occupied
territory duriuy and after the war in the Gulf. The longest-running
comprehensive curfew in the territories since they were first occupied in 1967
was imposed for several weeks from mid-January 1991 and was enforced with the
use of firearms and summary trials of curfew violators. Palestinians in the
occupied territory were confined to their homes, on a &%-hour basis, and
curfew breaks would be allowed only every three to four days, for a couple of
hours in different areas and at different times, primarily to enable women and
young children to shop for food. It was reported that the curfews had caused
extreme hardships such as denial of medical care, food and medicine shortages,
crop and livestock losses, and had had devasting consequences for the
Palestinian economy as a whole.
28. In addition, it was reported that a ban was imposed on Palestinians from
the West Bank and Gaaa entering Israel or Jerusalem without a special permit
issued by the military authorities. The new permit was the latest, and most
restrictive, in a series of pass systems which tightly control the movements
of Palestinians living under occupation, and was continued after the end of
the war. One third of the total Palestinian labour force from the occupied
territory was thereby preve:lted from earning an income for an extended period
of time; by April 1991, it was estimated that 75,000 to 100,000 Palestinians
had lost their jobs with Israeli employers.
29. It was also reported that these new restrictions were accompanied by
punitive measures affecting the Palestinian economy, such as the imposition of
fines on a vast scale by the military personnel for stone-throwing, curfew
violations and other security offences8 severe restrictions on Palestinian
capital transfers, imports, exports and business licences; an oppressive
system of taxation, including the excessive use of force in the collection of
taxes) and collective punishments in the form of bans on Palestinian
commercial activity.
30. The new pass regulations were also reported to have had damaging
consequences for education, culture and freedom of worship. Large numbers of
Palestinians from the West Bank were prevented from praying at the holy sites
in Jerusalem or from participating in the city's cultural ana intellectual
life. Many students and teachers, as well as employees of research centres,
newspapers and other institutions, were negatively affected by the
restrictions. Moreover, as of June 1991, it was reported that nearly
70 per cent of university students - those at Najah, Birseit, and the Islamic
University at Gasa - continued to be denied the right to enter their
universities, ana there was no indication as to when they might be allowed to
reopen.
31. The Committee was disturbed by the imposition of additional measures
restricting access to proper health care services for Palestinians. Measures
continued to be taken to prevent those wounded in the .intifadah from receiving
the hospital care they required, including delay and blocking of the transport
of the injured, repeated attacks on hospitals and detention Of the injured
inside hospitals and clinics. Measures were also taken against the operat:on
of the primary health-care programmes carried Out by Palestinian CliniCS and
health-care committees, including the closing or demolition of clinics and the
confiscation of equipment. Fees for government health services were
-7-
increased, ca=iPg psticdar hardship to poor Sections of the Population.
Increased restrictions on t avel to Jerusalem resulted in further reductions
in the availability of ediual care for Palestinians as the new regulations
interfered vitb transporting of patients and medical person=1 to el-Mukased
and other hospitals in East Jerusalem. which serve those with serious health
problm ubo cannot find suitable treatment in the West Sank and Gasa Strip.
The CoPPittee further deplored that, during the Gulf War and despite the many
urgent appeals, tha military authorities had not taken adequate measures to
epIIure the aafety of the Palestinian population living under occupation
through the distribution of gas masks and other protective gear. and the
installation of warning systems. In view of the grave deterioration of health
conditions in the occupied territory. the Committee deplored that Israel had
continued to refuse to cooperate with the Special Committee of Experts
est&lished by the World Health Assembly and to allow it access to the area.
32. Tbe Committee further noted that the Director-General of the
International Labour Organisation (ILO). in his annual report &/ had stated
that there had been no improvement in the conditions of work and life of the
vorkers of the occupied Arab territories and their families and in fact, as a
consequence of t&e Gulf War and measures taken by the Israeli authorities, the
vorkers of the territories and their families had been put into a more
precarious position than they had known for some time. The consequences of
those events had served to aggravate an already difficult economic situation
caused by various constraints on agriculture, industry and other sectors of
the economy. In addition, the relatively poor efforts that had previously
been made to promote development and employment opportunities in the
territories, commensurate vith the requirements of a rapidly growing labour
force, had resulted in lover living standards, disturbing social conditions,
increasing unemployment and general tension.
33. Taking into aCcoW.It tha continuing intolerable situation in the occupied
Palestinian territory, the Committee wishes to draw once again the most urgent
attention of the General Assembly and the Security Council to the policies and
practices of Israel, the occupying Power, which are in violation of the
aforesaid Fourth Geneva Convention. The Committee reiterates its most urgent
appeal to the Security Couxil, to the High Contracting Parties to the
Convention and to all concerned to take all necessary measures to ensure the
Safety and international protection of the Palestinians in the occupied
Palestinian territory pending the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the
achievement of a just settlement. The Committee further wishes to express
appreciation to the Secretary-General for his personal efforts in this
regard. Above and beyond protective and emergency relief measures, the
international community must take all possible measures to halt the rapid
deterioration in the living conditions of the Palestinian people and to
develop Socio-economic structures that will lead to the genuine development of
the occupied Palestinian territory in preparation for independent nationhood,
The Committee noted that the United Nations Development Programme (mp) had
undertaken the implementation of a number of development projects in the
occupied Palestinian territory.
-a2.
actions tc developments affectina the inalienable
mt'ah.o f
to the SecretarV-General and the President of the Se curity
34. The Chairman of the Committee on a number of occasions drew the attention
of the Secretary-General and of the President of the Security Council to
urgent developments in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Chairman
condemned the resumption by Israel of its policy of deportations as well as
the indiscriminate shooting of demonstrators by the army, and the
intensification and expansion of collective punishment such as the imposition
of curfews and mass detention of Palestinian civilians, including minors. She
drew attention to urgent appeals received by the Committee from Palestinians
in the occupied territory requesting immediate action by the United Nations to
ensure their safety and protection. She also deplored the intensification of
the settlement policy and practice in the occupied Palestinian territory. The
Chairman pointed out that those policies and practices were in violation of
the Fourth Geneva Convention and requested that Israel accept the dm
applicability of that Convention to all the territories occupied since 1967
and abide scrupulously by the provisions of that Convention and relevant
Security Council resolutions. The Chairman appealed urgently to the
Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council and to all parties
concerned, in particular the High Contracting Parties to the Convention, to
take all necessary measures for ensuring the safety and protection of the
Palestinian civilians under occupation and to intensify all efforts towards
the achievement of a peaceful settlement.
35. The following letters by the Chairman of the Committee were circulated as
official documents of the General Assembly, under the agenda item entitled
**Question of Palestine", and of the Security Council: (a) letter dated
18 December 1990 (A/45/881-3/22012); (b) letter dated 14 January 1991
(A/45/925-S/22073); (c) letter dated 6 February 1991 (A/45/915-S/22207);
(d) letter dated 1 March 1991 (A/45/968-6/22294); (e) letter dated
26 March 1991 (A/45/985-S/22388); and (f) letter dated 18 April 1991
(A/45/998-S/22511).
(b) Action taken within the Securitv Council
36. The Committee followed closely the activities of the Security Council on
matters relating to the Committee's mandate and participated in Council
debate& as necessary.
37. The Security Council resumed its consideration of the situation in the
occupied Palestinian territory at its 2953rdr 2954th and 2957th meetings, on
7, 9 and 16 November 1990, and at its 2965th to 2968th, and 2970th meetings,
on 5, 8, 10, 12 and 20 December 1990, respectively, having before it the
report submitted to the Security Council by the Secretary-General (S/21919 and
Corr.1 and S/21919/Add.l-3) in accordance with resolution 672 (1990).
38. The Chairman of th8 Committee spoke in the debate at the 2954th meeting
of the Security Council, on g November 1990, and praised the report submitted
by the Secretary-General as a Vary useful and Valuable document that had
provided a better understanding Of the imperative need to meet the challenge
-9-
issued by Israel and to take all steps necessary to accelerate the process of
reaching a peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict and, thereby. the
question of Palestine. She recalled the Assembly's repeated call for an
international peace conference on the Middle East, under the auspices of the
United Nations, with the participation of all parties to the conflict,
including the PLO, on an equal footing, and the five permanent member5 of the
Security Council, based on Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and
the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right
to 3elf-determination. She urged the Council to set up a system of protection
for the Palestinian civilian5 in the occupied Arab territory. The High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention should find the necessary
means of ensuring respect for that Convention by Israel, as the occupying
Power. She hoped that the debate would lead to the adoption of a resolution
that would guarantee the Pazstinian population effective protection and
represent a decisive step to a comprehensive solution of the crisis in the
Middle East.
39. At its 2970th meeting. on 20 December 1990, the Council unanimouSlY
adopted resolution 681 (1990). in which it deplored the decision by the
Government of Israel, the occupying Power, to resume the depmrtation of
Palestinian civilians, urged the Government of Israel to accept the de
applicability of the aforesaid Convention, ot 1949, to all the territories
occupied by Israel since 1967: called upon the High Contracting Parties to the
Convention to ensure respec: by Israel, the occupying Power, for its
obligations under the Conveltion in accordance with article I thereof:
requested the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the International
Committee of the Red Cross, to develop further the idea expressed in his
report of convening a meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the
Convention and to discuss possible measures that might be taken by them under
the Convention and for this purpose to invite the Parties to submit their
views on how the idea could contribute to the goals of the Convention, as well
as on other relevant matters, and to report ther-eon to the Council; also
requested the Secretary-Genrral to monitor and observe the situation regarding
Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation , making new efforts in this
regard on an urgent basis, and to utilize and designate or draw upon the
United Nations and other personnel and resources present there, in the area
and elsewhere, needed to accomplish this task and to keep the Security Council
regularly informed; further requested the Secretary-General to submit a first
progress report to the Council by the first week of March 1991 and every four
months thereafter, and decided to remain seized of the matter as necessary.
40. The Committee noted that, prior to the adoption of Security Council
resolution 681 (1990), the ?resident of the Council made a statement
(S/22027), on behalf of its members, by which the members of the Council
reaffirmed their determination to support an active negotiating process in
which all relevant parties would participate leading to a comprehensive,
and lasting peace to the Arab-Israeli conflict through negotiations which
just
should be based on Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and which
should take into account the right to security of all State5 in the region,
including Israel,
people.
and the l!$.timate political rights of the Palestinian
The members agreed that an international conference, at an
appropriate time, Properly structured, should facilitate efforts to achieve a
negotiated settlement and listing peace in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
However, the members were of the view that there was no unanimity as to when
-lOwould
be the appropriate time for such a conference, The statement further
said that, in the view of the members of the Council, the Arab-Israeli
conflict was important and unique and must be addressed independently, on its
own merits.
41. At the 2973rd meeting of the Security Council, on 4 January 1991, the
President of the Council made a statement (S/22046) on behalf of its members,
expressing deep concern about recent acts of violence in Gaza, especially
actions by Israeli security forces against Palestinians, which had led to
scores of casualties. The members of the Council deplored those actions,
particularly the shooting of civilians. They reaffirmed the applicability of
the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to all the Palestinian territories
occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem. and requested that Israel,
the occupying Power, fully comply with the provisions of the Convention.
42. The President made a further statement (S/22408), on behalf of the
Council, at its 2980th meeting on 27 March 1991, by which the members of the
Council expressed grave concern at the continued deterioration of the
situation in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel
since 1967, including Jerusalem, and especially by the serious situation
resulting from the imposition of curfews by Israel. The members of the
Council deplored the decision of 24 March 1991 by the Government of Israel to
expel four Palestinian civilians in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention,
and called upon Israel to desist from deporting Palestinians and to ensure the
safe return of those deport&
43. In a letter dated 23 May 1991 (S/22634), the Permanent Representatives of
C&e d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Cuba, India, Zaire and the Charge d'affaires a.i. of
Yemen requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council to examine the
situation created by the deportations by Israel of four Palestinians from the
occupied territories.
44. At its 2989th meeting, on 24 Kay 1991, the Security Council adopted
unanimously resolution 694 (1991), in which it declared that the action of the
Israeli authorities of deporting four Palestinians on 16 May was in violation
of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which is applicable to all the
Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem:
deplored this action and reiterated that Israel, the occupying Power, refrain
from deporting any Palestinian civil&n from the occupied territories and
ensure the safe and immediate return of all those deported.
(c) Visit by the President at f h he Palestin
refuuees in the OCCUDiea territories end in Jordan
45. Professor Guide ae Marco. President of the forty-fifth session of the
General Assembly, visited the Palestinian refugees in the occupied territories
and in Jordan from 2 to 7 January 1991. He was accompanied by the
Commissioner-General of the United Rations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Mr. Giorgio Giacomelli. and
staff. The President met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Of Israel,
Mr. David Levy, and other Israeli officials. He visited the Jabalia, Beach
and Nuseirat refugee camps in the Gaza Strip. and the Jalasone refugee camp in
the West Bank. Re also vis:ted a number of clinics and other installations
and met with prominent Palestinians as well as with representatives from
-llPalestinian
wom~n’s organisationti, WRWA officials and others. who briefed him
on the current situation with regard to the ;ntLfadf!b. xn Jordan, the
President met with Crown Prince Bassan, w. mdar Badran the Prim8 Minister,
Mr. Taher al-Masri the Minister for Foreign Affairo, 5nd other senior
government officials. Be also met with Mr. Farouk Qaadoumi. head of the
Political Department of the PLO, ana other PLO officials. Be visited the
Baqa'a. Wadi Seer and Jerash refugee camps and met with URRWA. UNDP and other
United Bations officials an11 diplomats.
46. At its 176th meeting, on 22 February 1991, the Committee was briefed by
Professor de Marco on his visit to the Palestinian refugees in the occupied
territories and in Jordan. in view of the importance of the President's
report and its relevance to the work of the Committee, the Committee decided
that the report ehould be widely disseminated as a United Nations document.
47. III a letter dated 22 April 1991, addressed to the Secretary-General, the
Chairman of tile Committee tansmitted the comprehensive report of the
President of the General Assembly and requested its circulation as a document
of the General Assembly under the item on the question of Palestine
~A/45/1000).
3. 1 ‘n kn he c nin
the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in
accordance with General AssemhTv resolution 45/68
48. By its re5oluc:ion 45/6# of 6 December 1990, thhe General Aseembly
reaffirmed the urgent need ;o achieve a just and comprehensive Settlement of
tbe Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine. It
called once again for the cmvening of the International Peace Conference on
the Middle East, under the auspices of the United Nations, with the
participation of all parties to the conflict, including the PLO, on an equal
footing, and the five permanent members of the Security Council, based on
Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and the legitimate national
rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination.
It reaffirmed the following principles for the achievement of comprehensive
peace: the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including Jerusalem, and from the other occupied Arab territories;
guaranteeing arrangements for security of all States in the region, including
those named in General Assembly resolution 161 (II) of 29 November 1947,
within secure and internationally recogni58d boundaries; resolving the problem
of Palestine refugees in conformity with Assembly resolution 194 (III) of
11 December 1946, and subsequent relevant resolutions; dismantling the Israeli
settlements in the territories occupied since 1967; and guaranteeing freedom
Of aCC855 t0 BOly P1eC8s, religious buildings and sites. The Assembly also
noted the expressed desire and endeavours to place the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, Under the supervision of the United
Nations for a limited period, a5 part of the peace process; once again invited
the Security Council to Consider measures needed to convene the International
Peace Conference on the Middle East, including the establishment of a
preparatory committee, and to consider guarantees for security measures agreed
UpOn by the Conference for a11 Stat85 in the region; and requested the
Secretary-General t0 Continue his effort5 with the parties concerned, and in
-12-
consultation with the Security Council, to facilitate the convening of the
Conference. and to submit progress reports on developments in this matter.
49. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee decided to continue to
give the utmost Priority to promoting the early convening of the International
Peace Conference on the Middle East. The Committee decided to take an active
role in all aspects relating to the convening of the Conference and the search
for peace, and to initiate a process of interaction with all concerned for the
regular exchange of information ana views.
50. The Committee was greatly encouraged by the overwhelming international
support for its objectives and by the intensification of efforts among the
international community in favour of a just and lasting settlement of the
question of Palestine, as reflected in particular by the recommendations
aaoptea by the regional seminar and by symposia and meetings of
non-governmental organizations on the question of Palestine organized under
the Committee's auspices (see paras. 54-67 below).
4. Attendance at intemconferencesg9
51. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee was represented at the
following international meetings during the period since its previous report
to the General Assembly:
(a) Fifty-fourth ordinary session of the Council of Ministers, held at
Abuja, Nigeria, from 27 May to 1 June 1991, and twenty-seventh Assembly of
Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, held at
Ahuja from 3 to 5 June 1991;
(b) Tenth Ministerial Meeting of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries,
held at Accra from 2 to 7 September 1991.
5. Action taken bv United Nations bodies. the Movement
D g n- li n
graanizationg
52. The Committee continued to follow with great interest the activities
relating to the question of Palestine of United Nations bodies, the Movement
of Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental organizations. The Committee
noted especially the growing concern at all levels of the international
community about the further deterioration of the situation in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the increasing sense of
urgency with which the intecnational community a&dressed the need to ensure
the safety ana protection of the Palestinian people under occupation and to
advance towards a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question
of Palestine. The Committee took particular note of the following documents:
(a) Final communiqu& of the annual meeting of Ministers for Foreign
Affairs of the States members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference,
held in New York, on 1 0cto:er 1990 (see A/46/113-S/22345):
-13-
(b) co~~iqu& of the Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Movement
of Non-Aligned Countries on the situation in the occupied Ral.estinian
territory, held in New York, 0~ g October 1990 (A/45/603-S/21858):
(c) Resolution on the Israeli act of aggression against the Boll Al-Aqsa
Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, adopted by the Council of the League of Arab
States at its extraordinary session, held at Tunis on 17 and 18 October 1990
(S/21897);
(d) Declaration on the Middle East by the European Council,
30 October 1990 (A/45/700-S/21920);
(e) Communiqud of the Grganization of the Islamic Conference on the
Situation in Jerusalem, issued at the United Nations on 14 December 1990
(A/45/887-S/22017);
(f) Declaration on the Middle East issued by the 12 States members of
the European Community at the meeting of the European Council, held in Rome on
14 and 15 December 1990 (A/45/888-S/22018);
(g) Communique of the eleventh session of the Supreme Council of the
States members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, held at Doha, Qatar, from
22 to 25 December 1990 (A/45/948-S/22191, p. 7);
(h) Resolutions adopted by the Commissiono n HumanR ights at its
forty-seventh session (resolutions 1991/l A and B, 199113 and 199116 of
15 February 1991)s
(i) Declaration on the Gulf crisis issued on 19 February 1991 by the
12 States members of the European Community (see A/45/960-S/22247);
(j) Closing statement issued after the joint meeting of the Ministers
for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Bureau of the Fifth Islamic
Summit Conference and the Nineteenth Conference of Islamic Foreign Ministers
and of the States members chairing the standing committees of the Organisation
of the Islamic Conference, held at Cairo, on 21 February 1991 (see
A/46/94-S/22256);
(k) Resolution 13/6 adopted by the Commission on Human Settlements on
8 May 1991 (A/46/8):
(1) Economic and Social Council resolutions 1991/19 of 30 May 1991 and
1991/69 Of 26 July 1991, and deCi8iOnS 1991/279 and 1991/280 of 26 ~~~~ 1991;
(m) Resolutions of thtt fifty-fourth ordinary session of the Council of
Ministers of the Organisation of African Unity, held at auja from 3 to
5 June 1991 (A/46/390, CWres. 1334 and 1335 (LIV));
(n) Declaration on the peace process in the Middle East issued on
29 June 1991 by the European Council (A/46/285-~/22766);
(0) Joint CoIMIunique Of the twenty-fourth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting,
issued at Kuala LumpUr on 20 July 1991 (A/46/323-5/22836, paras. 29-31);
-14-
(p) Final document of the Tenth Ministerial Meeting of the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries, held at Accra from 2 to 7 September 1991
(A/46/659-S/23223):
(q) Statement on the Middle East peace process issued by the European
Community and its member States on 10 October 1991 (h/46/573).
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian 1 i h 'n
Assemblv resolutions 45167 A and B
53. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights, pursuant to their
respective mandates, organixed a number of regional seminars and
non-gov8rnmental organisation symposia and meetings in 1991. In adopting its
programme of work for the year, the Committee decided that in these
activities, it would focus on the following priority issues:
(a) The need for conv&ning with urgency the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions for the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in
the region:
(b) The intifadah of the Palestinian people, the situation in the
occupied Palestinian territory and the need for international support and
assistance;
(cl International protection of the Palestinian people under occupation,
including measures that could be taken by the High Contracting Parties to the
Fourth Geneva Convention in order to ensure respect for the Convention by
Israel, the occupying Power, in all circumstances;
(a) The increasing Jewish immigration - Israel's settlement policy in
the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem - the adverse impact
on the achievement of a just settlement of the question of Palestine.
1. Reaional seminar-a
54. In accordance with the programme of work for the 1990-1991 biennium,
European and Asian regional seminars were included in the calendar of meetings
to be held under the auspices of the Committee in the period under review.
(a) Se
55. The European Regional Seminar on the Question of Palestine was held at
Madrid from 27 to 30 May 1971. The Committee was deeply grateful to the
Government of Spain for agr.teing to provide the venue for this important
seminar and for providing the conference facilities free of charge.
56. The Seminar considered the topics of two panels: Panel I: "The
$.i; the safety and protection of the Palestinian people in the occupied
Palestinian territory": Panel If: "The urgency of the implementation of the
United Nations resolutions on the question of Palestine and the situation in
-15-
the Middle East". Some details 0~ the Seminar and the text of the conclusions
ana recommendations adopted by the participants are contained in annex II to
the present document.
57. The Committee was pleased by the participation in the Seminar of
prominent political personalities, parliamentarians, policy makers. and other
experts, including Israelis and Palestinians. The Committee expressed
satisfaction that, for the first time, a seminar on this issue had met in a
country member of the European Community at a moment characterised by new
opportunities, as well as by a rapidly deteriorating situation in the occupied
Palestinian territory. The Committee noted that the Seminar participants had
adopted conclusions and recommandations expressing support Sor the Committee's
objectives for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
particularly through the '*land for peace" formula and the "two peoples, two
States" principle and tha convening of the International Peace Conference on
the Middle East. Participants had also expressed deep concern at the
violations of Palestinian human rights by Israel and had called for measures
to be taken to ensure respect by the occupying Power for the Fourth Geneva
Convention.
(b) Pther reaional semSnare
58. At its 177th meeting, held on 8 April, the Committee accepted with
gratitude the kind offer of the Government of Cyprus to provide the venue for
the Asian Regional Seminar. The Seminar is scheduled to be held at Nicosia
from 20 to 24 January 1992.
59. In accordance with established practice, the North American Seminar would
have been held in New York immediately preceding the North American
Non-governmental Organizatian (NGO) Symposium. As the Symposium, however, was
held in Montreal, Canada, financial and logistical considerations led the
Committee to decide not to hold the Seminar in 1991 a& instea& to consider
organising another appropriate activity at a suitable time.
2. aoperation with non-aovernmental oraanizationg
60. The Committee, in accordance with its mandate under General Assembly
resolution 45/67 A, coutinud to extend its cooperation to non-governmental
organisations active on the question of Palestine and to expand its contacts
with them. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in consultation with the
Committee and under its guidance, organised regional symposia and an
international meeting for non-governmental organisations during 1991 in
implementation of the Committee's objective. The Committee noted that
non-governmental organisations had further intensified their activities to
assist the Palestinia?; peopie and to promote a just and comprehensive peace.
(a) worth American ReaionalQ Svmnosium
61. The North American Regisnal NGO Symposium was held at Montreal, Canada,
from 28 to 30 June 1991. The Committee expressed its deep gratitude to the
Government of Canada for providing the venue for this important event. The
programme for the Symposium was elaborated in consultation between the
Committee and the North American Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the
-16-
Question of Palestine within the framework of a preparatory meeting held in
New York on 11 and 12 February 1991.
62. The Programme for the Symposium provided for two main panels: Panel I:
"Palestiner Protecting lives and promoting peace - the impact of the Gulf
war"; and Panel II* . WPalestine: Responding to current developments". The
programme Ski0 included 20 action-oriented workshops on various topics related
to the question of Palestine. Some details on the Symposium are included in
annex III to the present document.
63. The Committee expressed its satisfaction that for the first time, a
SppOSiUm Of North American NGOs on the Question of Palestine had been held
away from United Nations Hendguarters, thereby enabling the Committed to reach
out to a wider constituency The Committee noted that the NGOs tdd adopted a
variety of concrete proposals and action programmes to guide their future
work, and had elected a new coordinating committee for the region.
(b) Surooean Reaional NGO Svmoosium
64. The European Regional NGO Symposium was held at Vienna, on 26 and
27 August 1991, and was folLowed by the International NGO Moeting, which took
place from 28 to 30 August -991. The Committee expressed its gratitude to the
Government of Austria for hiving kindly provided the venue for these two
activities at the Austria Centre, free of charge.
65. The programmes for the Symposium and the International Meeting were
elaborated by the Committee in consultation with the European Coordinating
Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine and the International
Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine within the
framework of a preparatory meeting held at Geneva on 25 and 26 March 1991.
66. The Symposium had as i:s main theme "Time for Palestine: The role of
Europe in securing Palestinian rights" and considered the topics of two panels
entitled: **Implementation of United Nations resolutions on Palestiner
European collective responsibility and strategies following the Gulf war"; and
*'International protection of the Palestinian people: The responsibilities Of
European States as co-signatories of the Fourth Geneva Convention". The
programme for the Symposium also included seven action-oriented workshops.
The Committee noted that thu Symposium participants had adopted a declaration
and action-oriented proposals, and had elected a new coordinating committee
for the region. Further de:ails on the Symposium are contained in annex IV to
the present document.
(c) International NGO Meet i ng
67. The International NGO Meeting had as its main theme "Palestine NOW" and
considered the topics of three panels as follows: "United Nations protection,
united Nations resolutions, from the Gulf to Palestine"; "Palestine update">
and "NGO Forum - A call to action. What have we accomplished? What remains
to be done7 How shall we proceed?" Six action-oriented workshops also met
within the framework of the Meeting. The Committee noted that the Meeting
participants had adopted a declaration and action-oriented proposals, and had
elected a new international coordinating committee. Some additional details
on the Meeting are containei in annex V to the present document.
-17-
3. Information
68. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Division for Palestinian
Rights, in accordance with its mandate, continued to prepare the following
publications, under the guidance of the Committee:
(a) Monthly bulletins covering action by the Committee, other United
Nations organs, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations
concerned with the question of Palestine;
(b) Reports of regional seminars, regional symposia and international
meeting3 of non-governmental organisations;
(c) Monthly and bimonthly reports on developments relating to the
question of Palestine, monitored from the Arabic, English and Hebrew press for
the use of the Committee.
69. The Committee noted that the Division had issued a study entitled "The
question of Palestine: 1979-1990". This publication updated an earlier
brochure on the question of Palestine prepared in the late 1970s. The work on
the update of a study entitled "Acquisition of land in Palestine" is nearing
completion. The study entitled "Water resources in the occupied Palestinian
territory" is being finalised. A compilation of seminar papers entitled
"Question of Palestine: leIa1 aspects" is being prepared for publication.
70. An updated issue (April 1991) of the information note entitled **The
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
and the Division for Palestinian Rights" was also prepared. Another
information note, entitled "The United Nations and non-governmental
organisations activities on the question of Palestine", was updated in
October 1991. Both information notes were issued in the six official United
Nations languages, as well as in German.
71. In response to a decision of the Committee , the Division prepared monthly
issues of the publication entitled "Approaches towards the settlement of the
Arab-Israeli conflict". These compilations of the relevant statements,
declarations and proposals regarding the settlement of the Arab-Israeli
conflict, including the question of Palestine and the convening of the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East, were prepared for the use
of the Committee.
72. The following publications were also issued by the Division during the
period under review: Resoltions and decisi onssf n
tg in h n
w AC.183/L.2LAt18.11) and Soecial bulletin on the cojjmgmpration of the
International Dav of Solr&. )ritv . w ith the Palestinian Peoph.
4. InternatiOnal Dav Of Solidaritv with the
73. The International Day Jf Solidarity with the Palestinian People ~2~s
observed on 29 November 1993 at United Nations Readquarters in New York and at
the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienrn?. The Committee noted with
-10-
appreciation that the International Day had also been commemorated in many
other cities throughout the world in 1990.
5. pronosal for establishing a computerizod database
74. In its programme of wo;k for 1991, the Committee included a request to
the Division for Palestinian Rights to study the feasibility of establishing a
computerised database relating to the question of Palestine. The Committee
noted that steps were taken by the Division to initiate such a study, in
cooperation with the relevant departments of the Secretariat.
-19-
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCOBDAUCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 45167 C
75. The Department continued to provide press coverage of all meetings of
relevant United Nations bodies, including the Security Council and the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People. Press releases were issued on regional seminars and symposia
organised by the Committee, including those held in Madrid and Montreal.
76. All regional seminars and NGO symposia on the question of Palestine
sponsored by the Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
were covered extensively in weekly regional magazines.
77. Additional press releases were issued containing the texts of the
Secretary-General's statements relating to the question of Palestine and the
situation in the occupied A:ab territories, and press releases issued by UNRWA
on its activities were reissued and disseminated by the Department of Public
Information of the Secretariat.
70. The Departmbnt of Public Information responded to almost 200 inquiries on
the question of Palestine between January and June 1991. Additionally, this
issue is integrated into the presentation given visitors during the guided
tours conducted by the Public Services Section of the Department.
79. The Department of Public Information continued to distribute its
publications, including a revised version of the booklet The United Nation9
mnd the Ouestion of Palesti. in Arabic, English, French, German and Spanish:
the booklet For the Riahts ,f Palestinians: Work of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Riahts of the Palestinian Peop&; the booklet
entitled Bmtinians: The Work of the Special Committee
t; :$e;t$%aelt PfzcFices Affectina the Human Riahts of the PowlatioR
c I A total of 13,703 of these publications, in
Arabic, English, French, Ge:man and Spanish were distributed.
00. The World Chronicle produced a video entitled "Visit of the General
Assembly President to the Occupied Territories". PrOfeSSor Guido de Marco,
Deputy Prime Minister of Malta and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Justice,
and President of the forty-fifth session of the General Asse&ly, stresses the
human dimension of the question of Palestine and the need to solve this
problem through United Nations efforts. The Audio Visual Promotion and
Distribution Unit disseminated worldwide to its film and video libraries and
to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation the
video entitled "About the UN: Palestine".
61. Fifty-nine radio progr%nnies of varying lengths on the question of
Palestine and related topics were Produced between 1 January and 30 June 1991.
62. The Department co-sponsored two national encounters for journalists on
the question of Palestine, held at Brussels, on 22 May, and at Bonn, on
24 May 1991. Those two events were hosted at Brussels in cooperation with the
Parliamentary Association far Euro-Arab Cooperation and with the support of
the Commission of the Europaan Communities, and at Bonn in cooperation with
the German Association for :he United Nations. The theme of the two
-2oenCOUnter
was the protectitin of Palestinian civilians under Israeli
occupation. Two Palestiniar and two Israeli panelists addressed that theme in
each of the two cities with brief opening remarks, followed by a substantive
dialogue between the four panelists and about 40 senior media representatives
who had been invited to participate. The two Palestinian panelists were
Nasser Al-Kidwa, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, and
Sa'ab Erekat, Professor of Political Science at An-Najah University, Nablus,
West Bank. The two Israeli panelists were Y'ael Bayan, Labour Party activist
and author, and Avigdor Feldman, an attorney who co-founded the Israeli human
rights documentation centre. *'Betselem", and who had appeared in a number of
landmark civil rights cases in Israel. The two encounters were moderated by
the Chief of the Anti-Apartheid, Decolonisation and Palestine Programmes
Section of the Department of Public Information.
83. From 3 to 5 June 1991, the Department sponsored in Helsinki, with the
support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, an international
encounter for European journalists on the question of Palestine. It explored
the prospects for an international peace conference on the Middle East, and
was moderated by the Under-iecretary-General for Political and Security
Council Affairs. There wers nine panelists: Yasir Abed Rabbo, member of the
Executive Committee of the ?LO; Hanan Mikhail-Ashrawi, Dean of the Faculty of
Arts, Bir Zeit University, Pamallah, West Bank; Haim Ramon, Member of the
Israeli Knesset, Labour Parcyp Elazar Granot, Chairman, United Workers Party,
Israel; Fuchang Yang, Deputy Foreign Minister of China: Simon James Fraser,
Middle East Policy Planner, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, United Kingdom;
Anatoly Ivanovich Philyov, First Deputy Head, Directorate for the Middle East
and North Africa, USSR$ William Quandt, Senior Fellow at the Brookings
Institution, Washington, D.3., United States of America: and
Mohammed El-Shafei Abdel Hanid, former Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs
of Egypt. There were 62 media participants, including columnists, senior
editors and editorial writers. They represented the following news
organisations:
ari I Ponulit (Albania)r Die Pra (Austria); De Standaard, L.&%%&
(Belgium)3 DemokratzrQ &z (Bulgaria)t Xinhua (China)8 CTK, Naroani
Obroda. RefleXQ (Czech&lovakia): Information, Politiken (Denmark);
Belsinuen Sanomat, Hufqudstadsbladet, Oy Gig Films Ab, Uusi Suomi
(Finland): Le Monde (France)# Berliner Zeitung, Westdeutscher Rundfunk
(Germany); plessimvrini, Ta Nea (Greece); Hungarian Radio, Nenszabadsag
(Hungary): &I&id (Iceland); The IrishJ&6& TheSunaav
Indenendent (Irelaid)? 11 Corriere della Sera, La Reou@&&9 (Italy);
Ha'aretz, Davar, New Outlook (Israel); Al-Fair (Jerusalem): Luxemburaer
w (Luxembourg); The Sundav Times of Malta (Malta)) Elsevier, &9N!!!
(Netherlands); NQK (Norway)) Palestine News Agency - "WAFA" (PLO); (%2!2!3
Wyborcxa PolitykQ (Poland); $xpressQ, PublicQ (Portugal): A2I. pomlnia
Libera (Romania): El VJ&, El Pai&, TVE (Spain): Sve ska Baobladet
(Sweden); La Tribune de Gen&Q, 24 (SwitxerlanI)t Cumhurivet
willi ye& (Turkey)j Izvestia, ;Nezavis'maya &3zQ!3, Novosti, povove Viemva
(USSR)) The Guardian, The Timea (United Kingdom): Borba, 8edielia,
Gslobodienie (Yugoslavia).
04. DpI is in the process of completing preparations for a news mission to
the Middle East which will take place during the end of October and early
November 1991. The mission is conceptua-ized as a follow-up to the Helsinki
-21-
Encounter which had as its theme: "Prospects for an International Peace
Conference on the Middle East". It i5 intended to provide journalists an
opportunity to acquaint themselves firsthand with the facts of the question of
Palestine. To this end, meetings will be arranged with the leadership of the
PLO. senior government officials of Tunisia, Jordan, the Syrian Arab Republic
and Egypt, as well es individual Palestinians in the re*ugee camps. Twelve
senior journalists from Europe will participate in the mission. They
represent the following papers:
Le Sok (Belgium); &&G&&&R (Denmark); m (Finland);
b . MOndQ . (France); && iner Zeitunq (Germany); Messimvzini, (Greece); mea (Ireland)* ~ (Italy); &Q,W
(Netherlands); p6bliCQ (Porti%al)r El PaiS (Spain): The Guardian (United
Kingdom).
65. The United Nations information centres/United Nations information
services have taken an active role in disseminating information on the
question of Palestine. All European UNICs/UNISs played a part in the
selection of journalists, and in some cases panelists, who participated in the
International Encounter for European Journalists on the Question of Palestine;
UNIC Brussels en& UNIC Bonn assisted Headquarters in organizing two national
encounters, in Brussels and Bonn. respectively. Other UNICs/UNISs have also
undertaken specific programmes with respect to the question of Palestine,
e.g. Bogota, Cairo, Tokyo.
66. The Department held two briefings at Headquarters for NGO representatives
relating to the question of Palestine. The first was entitled “A UN
perspective on Palestinian rights", and the second, "Prospects for the
establishment of e nuclear-reapon-free zone in the Middle East". Total
participation wa5 1,000 NGO representatives. The Department also transcribed
and edited summaries of the briefings mentioned above and distributed them to
UN1c5/UN1s5, and to the healquarters of over 1,200 NGOs associated with the
Department. Additionally, the Department regularly features and distributes
United Nations information materials, documents and press releases to NGO
representatives, including all documents disseminated by the Division for
Palestinian Rights, the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices
Affecting the Human Right5 ,f the Palestinian and Other Arabs of the Occupied
Territories, edi the Conunit:ee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People.
-22-
.
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
81. The year under review was one of great change, marked by the tragic
events of war, but also by renewed hopes for peace with justice in the region,
as the international community expressed its determination to ensure equity
and consistency in the application of the principles of international law ena
of United Nations resolutions. Solidarity with the Palestiniau people became
an even more urgent task in the aftermath of the conflict arising from the
situation between Iraq and Kuwait, as their suffering increased manifold and
their existence as a people appeared increasingly threatened. Israel's
stepped-up colonisation and economic strangulation of the occupied Palestinian
territories, its increasing violations of human rights, and the growing
numbers of Palestinian refugees made it imperative that a just and
comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine be finally achieved. At
the same time, the new spirit of international cooperation in resolving
regional conflicts peacefully and the current initiatives in this regard have
given rise to hope that a concrete peace process can be initiated.
08. The Committee expresses its continued and full support for the intifadah,
the courageous struggle of the Palestinian people, to end Israeli occupation
and implement the proclamation of independence of November 1966. Through the
jntifadah, the Palestinian people has clearly expressed its national purpose
and its determination to bring about the exercise of its inalienable rights
and has affirmed that the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) is its sole
legitimate representative. The Committee reaffirms the international
consensus that full respect for , and the realisation of, the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people are indispensable for the solution of the
question of Palestine. The Committee calls once again upon Israel to
recognize and respect the national aspirations and rights of the Palestinian
people and to acknowledge as well the desire of its own people for a future
based on peace with justice. The Committee appeals to all progressive forces
in Israel to intensify further their efforts to bring about this essential
objective.
09. The Committee welcomes the convening by the United States of America and
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of a conference for the achievement of
a comprehensive peace based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
338 (1973) and on the land-for-peace principle, to ensure security and
recognition for all States in the region, including Israel, as well as the
legitimate political rights of the Palestinian people. The Committee
expresses the earnest hope that such a conference will bring about a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine based on
internationally recognised principles and United Nations resolutions. The
Committee hopes that the role of the United Nations will be generally
intensifiad in this process.
90. The Committee recalls that an international consensus has already been
achieved on the essential principles for such a solution. In its first report
to the General Assembly, the Committee had recommendedm odalities for the
attainment of Palestinian rights (see annex I), later complemented by the
Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the International Conference on
the Question of Palestine, held at Geneva in 1983. The intifadah ena the
Palestinian peace initiative of 1968 lea to an even wider consensus8 as shown
-23-
once again by the near-unanimous adoption ef General Assembly resolution 45168
of 6 December 1990. In that resolution the Assembly called once again for the
convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, under the
auspices of the United Nations, with tho participation of all parties to the
conflict, including the PLO, on an equal footing, and the five permanent
members of the Security Council, based on Security Council resolutions
242 (1967) and 333 (1973) and the legitimate national rights of the
Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination.
91. The Committee recalls the principles for the achievement of comprehensive
peace contained in that resolution, namely:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied
since 1967, including Jerusalem, and from the other occupied Arab territories;
(b) Guaranteeing arra$rgements for the security of all States in the
region, including those named in General Assembly resolution 181 (II) of
29 November 1947, within se%re and internationally recognised boundaries;
(c) Resolving the proolem of the Palestine refugees in cclnformity with
General Assembly resoiution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and subsequent
relevant resolutions;
(d) Dismantling the Israeli settlements in the territories occupied
since 1967;
(e) Guaranteeing freedom of access to the Holy Places. rsligious
buildings and sites.
92. Pending progress towards a political settlement, however, the Committee
considers it is of the utmost urgency that all necessary measures be taken to
protect the Palestinian people in the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including Jerusalem, in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protectiou of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of
12 August 1949, and numerous resolutions of the Security Council and the
General Assembly. In the past year, Israel's continued violation of the
Convention has led to increasing casualties and the deterioration of already
unbearable living conditions. A matter of special concern is the suffering
inflicted on Palestinian women and children as a result of Israeli practices.
The Committee considers that it is now all the more urgent for the High
Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention and for the United Nations system
as a whole to ensure that Israel abide by its obligations as the occupying
Power and, in particular, t3 implement Security Council resolution 681 (1990)
of 20 December 1990 and subsequent resolutions.
93. The Committee is deeply concerned at the growing Israeli colonization of
the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, as
manifested in the intensified establishment and expansion of settlements,
confiscation of land and water resources and settler vigilantism, in violation
of the Fourth Geneva Convention and United Nations resolutions.
influx of new immigrants exacerbates the situation.
The growing
The Committee considers
that it is incumbent upon the Security Council to review the matter urgently
and to undertake appropriata measures, in conformity with the Fourth Geneva
-24-
Convention and the relevant principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
to deal with the situation.
94. The Committee wishes to reaffirm that the United Nations has a duty and
responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the social and
economic development of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967,
including Jerusalem, in preparation for the full exercise of national
sovereignty in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions. The
Committee accordingly reiterates its call upon the organisations of the United
Nations system, as well as on Governments and on intergovernmental and
non-governmental organisations, to sustain ana increase their economic and
social assistance to the Palestinian people, in close cooperation with the PLO.
95. The Committee noted with satisfaction the increased international support
for the attainment of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the
question of Palestine in the year under review. The Committee believes that
its programme of regional seminars, NGO meetings and other informational
activities has played a valuable role in this process and it will continue to
strive to achieve maximum effectiveness in the implementation of its mandate.
The Committee will continue and intensify its efforts to ensure that those
meetings provide a useful forum for an in-depth consideration of the
substantive issues to be addressed in any peace process, with the assistance
of experts from all regions and representing diverse points of view, including
Palestinians and Israelis. The Committee once again extends an invitation to
all Governments, including those of the United States of America and Israel,
to participate iu its work and in the events organixed under its auspices.
11 At the 59th meeting of the forty-fifth session of the General
Assembly, the President of the General Assembly informed the Assembly that in
accordance with its resolution 3376 (XXX), of 10 November 1975, the members of
the Committee are appointed by the Assembly and following consultations with
the regional groups, it has been agreed that the Byelorussian SSB (later
renamed Belarus) should be Appointed to fill the vacancy created as a result
of the accession of the Gerran Democratic Republic to the Federal Republic of
Germany with effect from 3 October 1990.
21 Official Re o ds of the General Assemblv. Thirty-first Session,
Suonlement No. 35 (A/il;35).
21 Ibid., Thir tv_ - second Session. SuDDlement No. 35 (A/32/35); ibid.,
tv-third Session. SuDDlement No.~ (A/33/35); ibid., B
Session. Sunolement No. 35 (A/34/35 and Corr.1): ibid., Thirtv-fifth Session,
lement No. a (A/35/35)$ ibid., Thirty-sixth Session. Suoolement NO. 35
(A/36/35); ibid., Thirty-smupplement Nd (A/37/35 and
Corr.l)r ibid., Thirtv-eiqhthDDlement No. 35 (A/38/35); ibid.,
Thi rtv-ninth Session. SuDDlement No. 35 (A/39/35): ibid., FESsssion,
SuDDlement No. 35 (A/40/35); ibid., &&v-first Session. SuDDlement No. 35
(A/41/35); ibis., I?s!aksecondSession.plemanW :i (A/42/35): ibid.,
Fort? - thira " Sess ion. SW Dlement No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Fortv-fourth Session,
lement No. 39 (A/44/35): and ibid., Fortv-fifth Session, Sumdement t:o. 35
(A/45/35).
-25-
&&GS (continued)
41 Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of . Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949. United Nations Treatv Series , vol. 75, No. 973.
51 Biaortofnal Coni ence on the --of
va. 29 Auuust-7 Sentember 1983 (United iations publication, sales
n ,
NQ. E.83.1.21), chap. I, sect. B.
P/ The observers at ,ae Committee meetings were as follows: Algeria,
Bangladesh, Bulgaria. China. Caechoslovakia, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua,
Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Kmirates. Viet Barn.
the League of Arab States and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
Palestine, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organisation, as the
representative of the Palestinian people, the principal party to the question
of Palestine, was also an observer.
u The membership of the Working Group was as follows: Afghanistan.
Belarus, Cuba, Guinea, Guyara, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal, Tunisia,
Turkey, Ukraine and Palestiae, represented by the Palestine Liberation
Organisation, as the repres*+ntative of the people directly concerned.
81 Ipternational Labour Conference. 78th Sess'on. 1991. Report of the
+- 9~9~9.l , appendices (vol. 2), pp. 41 and 42:
-26-
ANNEX I
Becommendations Of the Committee endorsed bv the General
Assembly at its thirtv-first session*
I. Basic considerations and auidelines
59. The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and
consequently, the Committee stresses its belief that no solution in the Middle
East can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate
aspirations of the Palestinian people.
60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return
to their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national
independence and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction
that the full implementation of those rights will contribute decisively to a
co.mprehensive and final settlement of the Middle East crisis,
61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), the
representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other
parties, on the basis of General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and
3375 (XXX), is indispensable in all efforts, deliberations and conferences on
the Middle East which are held under the auspices of the United Nations.
62. The Committee recalls the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of
the acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligation
for complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so occupied.
63. The Committee considers that it is the duty and responsibility of all
concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights.
64. The Committee recommen& an expanded and more influential role by the
United Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of
Palestine and in the implementation of such a solution. The Security Council,
in particular, should take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by
the Palestinians of their r'ght to return to their homes, lands and property.
The Committee, furthermore, urges the Security Council to promote action
towards a just solution, taKiag into account all the powers conferred on it by
the Charter of the United Wations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numerous
resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideration of all the facts,
proposals and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that
the Committee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the
implementation of the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people.
Gfficial Records of the General Assembly. Thirtv-first Session,
Suonlzment No. 35 (A/31/35), paras. 59-72.
-27-
II. Theoht of return
66. The natural and inalienable right of Palestinians to return to their
homes is recognised by resolution 194 (III), which the General ASSemblY has
reaffirmed almost every year since its adoption. This right was also
unanimously recognised by the Security Council in its resolution 237 (1967)s
the tima for the urgent implementation of these resolutions is long overdue.
67. Without prejudice to the right of all Palestinians to return to their
homes, lands ana property, the Committee consiaers that the programme of
implementation of the exercise of this right may be carried out in two phases.
68. The first phase involves the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommendsth at:
(a) The Security Council should request the immediate implementation of
its resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementation should not be related
to any other condition;
(b) The resources of :he International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in
the Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be employed to assist in
the solution of any logistical problems involved in the resettlement of those
returning to their homes. These agencies could also assist, in cooperation
with the host countries and the PLU, in the identification of the displaced
Palestinians.
phase twQ
69. The second phase deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommendsth atr
(a) While the first phase is being implemented, the United Nations, in
cooperation with the States directly involvbZ!. and the PLO as the interim
representative of the Palestinian entity, should proceed to make the necessary
arrangements to enable Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967 to
exercise their right to return to their homes and property. in accordance with
the relevant United Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly
resolution 94 (III):
(b) Palestinians choosing not to return to their homes should be paid
just ana equitable compensation as provided for in resolution 194 (III).
III. *T 'h f- a
grid sovereiqw
70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to self-determination,
national independence and sovereignty in Palestine. The Committee considers
that the evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in violation of
the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and relevant resolutions
of the United Nations is a condition sine aua non for the exercise by the
-28-
Palestinian people Of it5 inalienable rights in Palestine. The Committee
consider5 furthermore that, upon the return of the Palestinians to their homea
and property and with the establishment of an independent Palestinian entity,
the Palestinian people will be able to exercise its rights to
self-determination and to decide its form of government without external
interference.
71. The Committee also feels that the United Nations has an historical duty
and responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the economic
development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
72. To those ends, the Committee recommends that:
(a) A timetable should be established by the Security Council for the
complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in
1967; such withdrawal should be completed no later than 1 June 1977:
(b) The Security Council may need to provide temporary peace-keeping
forces in order to facilitate the process of withdrawal;
(c) Israel should be requested by the %curity Council to desist from
the establishment of new settlements and to withdraw during this period from
settlements established sin:e 1967 in the occupied territories. Arab property
and all essential service5 in those areas should be maintained intact;
(d) Israel should also be requested to abide scrupulously by the
provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1919, and to declare, pending its speedy
withdrawal from those territories, its recognition of the applicability of
that Convention;
(e) The evacuated territories, with all property and service5 intact,
should be taken over by the United Nations, which, with the cooperation of the
League of Arab States, will subsequently hand over those evacuated areas to
the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people;
(f) The United Nations should, if necessary, assist in establishing
communications between Gasa and the West Bank;
(g) As soon as the inllependent Palestinian entity has been established,
the United Nations, in cooperation with the States directly involved and the
Palestinian entity, should, taking into account General Assembly resolution
3375 (XXX), make further arrangements for the full implementation of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding
problems and the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region, in
accordance with all relevant United Nations resolutions;
(h) The United Nation5 should provide the economic and technical
assistance necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity.
-29-
ANNEX II
usions and matrons adopted bv the Tueutv-eiohth
1 n . n min r n h i
(Madrid, 27 to 30 May 1991)
1. The Twenty-eighth United Nations Seminar on the Question Of Palestine
(Sixth European Seminar) was held at Madrid from 21 to 30 May XW1.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was represented by a delegation comprising%
Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and head of the
delegation; Mr. Alexander BJrg Olivier (Malta), Vice-Chairman and Rapporteur
of the Seminars Mr. Nana Sucresna (Indonesia), Vice-Chairman:
Mr. Ren6 Juan Mujica Cantelar (Cuba); and Mr. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
From 29 May, Mr. Borg Olivier acted as Chairman of the Seminar.
3. A total of 7 meetings were held and 17 panelists presented papers on
selected aspects of the question of Palestine. Representatives of
50 Governments, Palestine, three United Nations organs, one United Nations
specialised agency, one intergovernmental organization, as well as
23 non-governmental organizations, as observers, attended the Seminar.
4. A welcoming address was made by Mr. Francisco Fernandes Ordoiiee, Minister
for Foreign Affairs of Spain. A statement on behalf of the Secretary-General
of the United Nations, Mr. Javier P6ree de Cubllar, was made by his
representative, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and General Assembly
Affairs and Secretariat Services, Mr. Ronald I. Spiers. Mrs. Diallo also
addressed the meeting on behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Mr. Isaam Kamel el Salem, the
representative in Madrid of the Palestine Liberation Organixation (PLO), read
out a message from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of
the PLO.
5. The Seminar participants adopted conclusions and recommendations and a
motion of thanks to the Government and people of Spain.
6. The two panels which were establishea and their panelists were as follows:
1. "The Wifadah; the safety and protection of the Palestinian people
in the occupied Palestinian territory":
Mr. Freih Abu-Midain (Palestinian); Mr. Roberto Mesa (Spain);
Mr. Mikko Lohikoski (Finland); Mr. Hans Peter Kotthaus (Germany);
Mr. Moshe Amirave (Israel); and Mr. Chawki Armali (Palestinian).
2. "The urgency of the implementation of the United Nations resolutions
on the question of Palestin ? and the situation in the Middle East":
* These panelists iaformed the United Nations Secretariat that they
were attending the Seminar as experts and not as participants.
-3oMr.
Michele Achilli (Italy); Rabbi Balfour Brickner (United States of
America)8 Mr. Rafael Estrella (Spain)3 Mr. Yilmaz Altug (Turkey);
Mr. Leonard Doyle (United Kingdom); Mr. V. J. Gogitidze (USSR)8
Mr. Richard Murphy (United States)r Mr. Viktor V. Pashfouk
(Ukrainian SSR); Ms. Inger Lise Gjarv {Norway); Mr. Izhar Beer* (Israel);
and Mr. Saeb Erekat (Pelestinian).
7. The report of the Semixar, including summaries of the proceedings, has
been issued as a publicatiou of the United Nations Division for Palestinian
Rights.
8. The conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Seminar participants
are as follows:
(a) The participants loted that the Seminar was being held at a time
when fundamental changes were taking place in the international political
sicene with increased international cooperation and greater respect for norms
and principles of internatfsnal law and morality, including the right of
peopPes to enjoy peace and their political, civil, social and economic rights;
(b) The participants considered that recent events in the Persian Gulf
had heightened tensions and brought instability to an already troubled region
and focused even more the attention of international public opinion on the
urgent need for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the Middle East, the
core of which is the question of Palestine. A solution was urgently needed in
the aftermath of the Gulf War, taking into account the new opportunities that
now exist, on the basis of international law and in conformity with the
principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and relevant
United Nations resolutions, which must be applied in an even-handed manner;
(c) The participants urged the Security Council, particularly its
permanent memberu, to undertake every effort to facilitate the convening of
the International Peace Conference on the Middle East under the auspices of
the United Nations and with the participation of all parties concerned,
including the Palestine Liberation Organisation. In this regard, the
participants expressed appreciation for all efforts being made to initiate the
peace process;
(d) The participants etressed that the peace process and related
negotiations must be based ,n Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
336 (lg73), and the legitimrte national rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination* The participants expressed their
conviction that the "land fX peace" formula and the "two peoples, two States"
principle adequately addressed the rights and concerns of both Parties,
Israelis and Palestinians, and their acceptance and implementation would
result in a comprehensive and just Peace in the region;
(e) participants aimmea the intifadah and the Palestine peace
initiative of November 1966 awl acknowledged these and other efforts by the
Palestinian people in its struggle to obtain and exercise its inalienable
rights, The participants Evprwsed deep concern at the continued loss of life
ia the Palestinian aud Aral: territories Occupied by Israel and at the
-31-
continued violations by Israel of the human rights of the civilian PoPulation
in these territories. The international community had repeatedly deplored the
Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, which
were in violation of its obligations as a party to the Geneva Convention
relative to the protection of civilian Persons in Time of War and ContrarY to
United Nations resolutions and generally recognixed norms of international
law. The participants noted that the United Nations StWUritY Council, in its
resolution 681 (1990). urged the Government of Israel to accept the de
applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention, of 1949. to all the territories
occupied by Israel since 1961 and to abide scrupulouslY by the Provisions of
the said Convention and asked the States parties to the Fourth Geneva
Convention to ensure that Israel, as occupying Power, fulfilled its
obligations under the Convention. The participants expressed full Support Of
the Security Council's request to the Secretary-General. in cooperation with
the International Committee of the Red Cross, to pursue the idea of convening
a meeting of the States parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention in order to
examine measures that might be taken by them under the Convention. They noted
that the Secretary-General was requested to monitor and observe the situation
regarding Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation, and to make new
efforts in this regard on an urgent basis, and to utilize and designate or
draw upon the United Nations and other personnel and resources present there,
in the area and elsewhere, needed to accomplish this task and to keep the
Security Council regularly informed. Many participants appealed to the
Security Council to assume and discharge its responsibilities and to take
urgent measures, including the deployment of a United Nations force to ensure
the physical protection and to guarantee the safety and security of the
Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. The participants noted also the
recent adoption by the Security Council of its resolution 694 (1991) on
24 May 1991, deploring, as it had done cn previous occasions, Israel's
deportation of Palestinians in violation of its international obligations;
(f) The participants deplored the process of Israeli colonisation of the
occupied Palestinian territory as manifested in the continued establishment of
settlements and usurpation of land and water resources. They were alarmed at
the recent establishment of additional settlements and condemned these actions
as insensitive and provocative, which created yet another most serious
obstacle to peace. The international community had vigorously opposed the
Israeli policy of establishing settlements in the occupied Palestinian
territory, which WaS in contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention and
security Council resolutions which had declared these settlements to be
illegal and that they had to be dismantled;
(9) The Serious deterioration in the economic situation in the occupied
territory was a source of great concern to the participants. They stressed
that the United Nations has a duty and responsibility to render all assistance
necessary to promote the social and economic development of the Palestinian
People in the occupied territory in preparation for the full exercise of
national sovereignty in accordance with the relevant United Nations
resolutions;
(h) The participants, cognizant of the provisions of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which recognises the right of freedom
of movement and the right Of everyone to leave any country and the right to
return to one's own country, condemned the settlement of immigrants and
-32-
Israeli civilians in the occupitid Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem,
and urged the Security Council to take appropriate measures to address this
new and serious obstacle to peace)
(i) The Participants expressed appreciation for the sustained efforts of
the international community to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting
settlement of the question of Palestine, in accordance with United bations
resolutions. They stressed the great importance of the valuable contribution
which the European countries have made and could continue to make towards the
achievement of an equitable settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the
Middle East. The Participants welcomed the steps already taken by the
European countries in this regard and urged them to increase further their
valuable assistance to the Palestinian people. In this connection, the
participants noted with appreciation the doubling of the aid by the European
Community t0 the occupied territory and the efforts for facilitating and
increasing the trade between the territory and the Community, both decided by
the Council of Ministers of the European Community. The participants
expressed their appreciation for the position adopted by European Governments
in responst to the proclamation of the State of Palestine, the Palestinian
Arab State, to exist side by side with the State of Israel, in conformity with
the two-State principle, and in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
The participants considered that the European Community could play a valuable
role in the peace process and should be an active participant in this process;
(j) The participants took note with appreciation of new initiatives
proposed recently by a number of European countries aimed at enhancing
security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region;
(k) The participants appealed to all European Governments to support the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
in its efforts and urged the same Governments to give serious consideration to
participation in the work of the Committee as members or observers. The
participants considered that increased representation by European countries
and the European Commission in the work of the Committee would broaden the
scope of its deliberations and increase its effectiveness;
(1) The participants expressed appreciation for the Secretary-General's
continuing endeavours to advance the peace process and to facilitate the
convening of the International Peace Conference. The participants expressed
deep appreciation to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for the invaluable work being carried out
under difficult circumstances for the benefit of the Palestine refugees. They
appealed to Governments to increase their contribution to the UNRWA budget and
to other organixations and potential donors to contribute generously to the
activities of UNRWA. They took note with appreciation of the activities of
the Division for Palestiniaa Rights of the United Nations Secretariat and Of
its commitment to work, under the guidance of and in COUSUltatiOU with the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,
towards the attainment of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the
Middle East in accordance with the resolutions Of the United Nations:
(m) Tne participants noted with appreciation that the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalie;lable Rights of the Palestinian People was intensifying
its efforts to ensure that the United Nations regional seminars on the
question of Palestine proviled an opportunity for diverse points of view to be
-33-
expressed so that a real dialogue could be held among people of good will on
all sides. 1n that context the participants expressed satisfaction that there
had been a constructive and frank exchange at the Seminar between the Israeli
and Palestinian participants. They acknowledged the efforts Of the IIIOder%te
elements within the Isreeli community who are contributing constructively to
the peace process and to a better informed public opinion in their country.
The Seminar noted, however, that while Palestinians representing the PLO had
participated in the Seminar, the official viewpoint of Israel had yet to be
expressed;
(n) The participants in the Seminar took nots with appreciation of the
valuable support the Government of Spain had extended over the years to the
just cause of the Palestinian people. The participants attributed particular
significance to the fact that the Seminar was held in Madrid, the capital of
Spain, a country which had, throughout its history, accommodated people of
different faiths and cultures including Moslems, Christians and Jews who were
able to coexist peacefully and in harmony. The participants expressed their
prOfOund gratitude to the Government and people of Spain for providing a venue
for the European Seminar on the Question of Palestine, and for the excellent
facilities and warm hospitality extended to them.
-34-
ANNEX III
b.z .r rhth Unite- ions . ~!s+ix$ca~ymDQS3.Um On
t&d&7&&n of PalestinQ
(Montreal, 28 to 3ll June 1991)
1. The Eighth United Nations North American Regianal NGO Symposium on the
Question Qf Palestine was held in Montreal, Canada, from 28 tQ 30 June 1991.
2. The CQmmitteQ on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights Qf the
Palestinian People was represented by a delegation CQmpoSed Qf
Mrs. iibsa Claude Diallo (Senegal), Committee Chairman and leader Qf the
delegation, and Dr. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
3. The Symposium was attended by 104 non-gQvernrr,ental organiaations (64
participants and 40 observers); three non-governmental organisation
Coordinating committees (North American, African, International); the
Palestine Committee fQr non-gQVerXImenta1 Qrganieations; 19 GQV0rnmeutS;
one intergovernmental Qrganizatfon, and Palestine. The formal opening session
was addressed by Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo on behalf of the Committee. A
message was received from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Palestine Liberation Orgnnieation (PLO) and was read QUt by
the representative Qf Palestine in Canada. A statement: was also made by
Ms. Jeanne Butterfield, Chairperson of the NACC and moderator of the Symposium.
4. The theme of the SympQSiUm was "Palestine - Protecting Lives and
Promoting Peace - Impact of the Gulf War". The programme of WQrk for the
Symposium was CQmpOSed of two panels and 20 workshops, as follows:
panel I: "Palestine - Protecting Lives and Promoting Peace - Impact of
the Gulf War":
panelisti: Us. Hanah Mikhail Ashrawi (Palestinian)#
Mr. Michel Warshawski IIsrael);
panel II: "Palestine: Responding to Current Developments'*:
Bnelist: Ms. Louise Cainkar (United States of America).
The workshops were organised under three general sub-themes:
"Special Protection Needs": Palestinian children; prisoners2 Palestinian
women; Palestinians in the Middle East region; and Palestinian
educational and cultural institutions:
"Critical Issues for NGO Work": land, settlements and immigration:
ending Israeli occupation - suspending aid and imposing sanctions;
strategies for raising the Palestine question in the context of
grassroots initiatives for a resolution of the Gulf War; delegations
(short and long-term); twinn<ng/sister relations; and international law
and strategies to encourage the United States and Canada to develop
measures to ensure respect for the Fourth Geneva COnVentiQnt
-35-
"Organising Strategies for Canadian ana United States Constituencies for
Protection ena Peace”8 unions; religious communities - Christian,
Jewish, Mualimt women1 universittest educators - elomentary and
secondary; and Canadian-Arab and American-Arab communities.
5. Among the reconunendatitins of the workshops, North American W&i were
urged to intensify their mobilisation effort and continue to raise public
awareness in the region to the desperate situation of the Palestinian
children; to draw attention to the plight of the Palestinians in Kuwait: to
work for the re-opening of Palestinian universities; to launch an offensive
against human rights abuses, against Palestinian prisoners and the Palestinian
population in general in the occupied Palestinian territory. Other proposals
included sanctions against lsrael; support for the Israeli peace movement; the
creation of e permanent str,tcture to lobby the United States and Canada to
accept the tWO-state SOhtiJU and the facilitating of a greater linkage
between women in North America and Palestinian women.
6. A teach-in was also held on the general topic *The Israeli/Palestinian
Conflict.** Further, the Symposium elected a new ll-member NGO Coordinating
Committee for the region composed of three members from Canada and nine
members from the United States.
7. The report of the Symposium was issued es a publication of the Division
for Palestinian Rights.
-36-
ANNEX IV
. adopted the Fifth U i.t ed Nab 'ens
-w Svmoosiu?& the A of Palestine
Reaional
(Vienna, 26 to 27 August 1991)
1. The fifth United Nations Regional NGO Symposium on the Question of
Palestine was held at Vienna, on 26 and 27 Auyust 1991.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was represented by a delegation composed of
Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo (Senegal), Committee Chairman and head of delegation:
Mr. Khodaidad Basharmal (Afghanistan), Committee Vice-Chairman: and
Dr. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
3. The symposium was attended by 125 NGOs (50 participants and
75 observers)r 21 member States. one non-member State, one special agency of
the Unitea Nations, two intergovernmental organisations, and the delegation of
Palestine, The opening session was addressed by Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo on
behalf of the Committee; by Mr. Mikko Lohikoski, Chairman of the European
Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine; and Ambassador
Faisal Aweidah, head of the Palestine Mission to Austria and Permanent
Observer of Palestine to the United Nations Office and International
Organfzations at Vienna.
4. The Symposium haa for its theme; "Time for Palestine - The role of
Europe iu securing Palestinian rights". Two panels were established, as
follows:
Panel-
Panel:
"Implementation of United Nations resolutions on Palestine:
European collective responsibility and strategies following the
Gull War":
Mr. Uri Avneryr
Mr. Hael El Fahoum:
OOInternational protection of the Palestinian people8 the
responsibility of European States as co-signatories of the
Fourth Geneva Convention":
Panelisb2.r
Mr. Bernard Mills:
MS. Khalea Muhammed Batrawi.
5. Seven workshops were also organised on the following topics;
(0) Effective lobby work in Europer review of past experience and future
initiatives; (b) Mobilising public opinion in Europe: end the occupation now;
(c) Contributing to fair and factual reporting on Palestinian issues in the
mass media) (d) New initiatives for securing international protection for the
-37-
Palestinian people; (e) Economic effects of the Gulf War on Palestinians: NGO
actions; (f) Jewish immigration and its impact on Palestinian rightsr
responsibilities of European States and public opinion; and (g) Development
projects ou Palestine: how to cooperate with governmental and
intergovernmental institutions.
6. The NGOs participating in the Symposium adopted a final declaration as
well as action-oriented proposals emanating from the workshops. and elected a
new European Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine.
The report of the Symposium, including summaries of the proceedings, will be
issued as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
7. The NGOs participating in the Symposium adopted the following declaration:
Declaration
We, the non-governmental organisations, gathered at the Fifth United
Nations European Regional NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine, meeting
at Vienna on 26 and 27 August 1991, are very conscious of meetiug at a time
when it is crucially important for the Governments of all European countries
to play a much more active role in securing a settlement of the conflict in
the Middle East. Such a settlement must be based on the exercise of
Palestinian rights, including the right to return, to self-determination and
to an independent Palestinian State on the currently and illegally occupied
territories, including Jerusalem. We remind all European Governments that
they have repeatedly suppor:ed Palestinian rig&s in words. We now call upon
thorn to implement their words without further delay by action based on all
existing United Nations resolutions.
We call upon all European Gcvernments to support the International Peace
Conference repeatedly called for in General Assembly resolutions since 1983
and supported by all European Governments. We affirm strongly that the
Palestinian people must be :epresented in thin- and all conferences, whether
international or regional u.ider whatever auspices, by their chosen
representative, the Palestiae Liberation Organization. This meeting calls
upon all concerned to support the Palestine Liberation Organisation in
participating in all regional and international forums on the Middle East with
all parties to the conflict on an equal footing.
We are of the view that all European Governments should play a major role
in this process towards the International Peace Conference under United
Nations auspices. Since three European countries, the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland, France and the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics are permanent members of the Security Council we call upon their
Governments in particular t) play a significant role in securing peace.
We note the proposal cJrreutly under discussion to hold a peace
conference under the auspices of the United States of America and the Soviet
Union. We regard this conference as one possibility to open the way to the
peace conference under United Nations auspices, which we continue to see as
the most effective means to achieve. peace.
-3aWe
reject the Israeli and all non-Palestinian attempts to decide which
Palestinians should be involved in international gatherings concerned with
peace. We call upon all European Governments to oppose and reject such
attempts, reaffirming the right of the Palestine Liberation Organisation to be
present on an equal footing with all other parties.
We are appalled at the continuing repression of the Palestinian people by
the Israeli Government and by its endless and accelerating violations of human
rights, both in Israel and in occupied Palestine. We fully support the
Palestinian struggle for self-determination expressed in the Intifadah. From
the repeated statements of certain members of the Israeli Government, we
recognise its ultimate policy to drive the Palestinians out of the West Bank
and Gaza Strip and to replace them with settlers, including immigrants from
the Soviet Union.
We call upon all European Governments to exercise effective political and
economic measures upon Israel, to make it respect the rights of the
Palestinian people eBd comply with its obligations under the Fourth Geneva
Convention. We remind all EUropeaxI Governments of their obligations as High
contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention to take measures to ensure
respect for the Convention. In that respect, we draw attention to the fact
that the European Community is Israel's largest export market and that these
exports are made on privileged term8 not afforded to other countries. We,
therefore, note that the European Community is in an especially strong
position to exert pressure, as it has to e limited extent in the past, in
support of Palestinian rights. We call for positive European Community
actions. We aIso call for Security Council action to take active measures for
the enforcement of all united Nations resolutions on the Middle East 82X% on
the question of Palestine.
Much of our work in this Symposium was conducted in workshops. 'Iheir
conclusions and recommendations are appended to this declaration.
We urge the United Nations to convene a European Regional Symposium of
NGOs in 1992. We request the Chairman of the United Nations Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to convey this
declaration to the General bssembly at its forty-sixth session as part of the
Committee's report.
We warmly thank the Committee for convening this SppOSim and we greatly
appreciate the presence of the Committee Delegation. We thank the Division
for k'alestinian Rights and all others of the United Nations Secretariat,
including the interpreters who so valuably assisted Us- We express OUr
appreciation to the distinguished experts who spoke here and added valuably to
our deliberations. We exprsss our strongest protest against the action of the
Israeli Government in preve*.ting the distinguished expert. Mr. Sa'eb Erakat of
An-Najah University, from eltending. We express our thanks to the Austrian
Government for making available the Austria Centre for our GYmPosium.
-39-
ANNRKV
n adooted . bv the &&&&JDited @&i~D8 InteWJ&iGDfd IGO Meet-o on the Ouesth of Pslestine
(Vienna, 28 to 30 August 1991)
1. The Eighth United Nations International NGO Meeting on the Question of
Palestine was held at Vienna on 20 to 38 August 1991.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People UOB represeoted by a delegation composed of
Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo (Senegal), Committee Chairman ana head of delegation;
Mr. Khodaidad Basharmal (Afghanistan), Committee Vice-Chairman: and
Dr. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
3. The Meeting was attended by 207 NGOs (143 participants and 64 observers);
28 member States, one non-member State, three agencies of the United Nations.
two intergovernmental organisations, ana the delegation of Palestine. The
opening session was addressed by Professor Guido de Marco, President of the
forty-fifth session of the General Assembly; Mr. Helmut Tiirk, Deputy
Secretary-General and Legal Counsel of the tiinistry of Foreign Affairs Of
Austria1 Mr. Naseem Mirza, Chief of the Division for Palestinian Rights. on
betialf of the Secatary-General of the United Nations;
Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo. on behalf of the Committee; Mr. Don Bets, Chairman of
the International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of
Palestine; and Ambasaedor Faisal Aweidah, head of the Palestine Mission to
Austria aad Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations Office and
International ~rganizations at Vienna, who read out a message from
Yoeeer Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organisation.
4. The Meeting had for its theme: "Palestine Now!" Three panels were
established, as fol+owsr
Panel* "Unitsd Nations protection, United Nations resolutionsr Prom
the Gulf to Palestine":
panelista:
Mr. Ladwan Abu-Ayyashs
Mr. Mattityahu Peledr
-2. "Palestine upt!iate"i
Panelists:
Mr. Haim Baram;
Ms. Rana Nashashibij
Ms. Rima Tarazi:
Mr. Nabeel Sha'ath;
-4oPanel*
"NGO Forum - A call to action. What have we accomplished?
What remains to be done? Bow shall we proceed?":
?anells.t :
Mr. Don Beto
5. The six workshops were also organised on the following topics: (a) The
protection of the Palestinian people arul its independent infrastructure in
occupied Palestine: focus on educatioar (b) Human rights in the occupied
territories: the reunification of Palestinian families) (c) Soviet Jewish
immigration and its effect on Talestinian human and national rights) (d) NGO
methods and strategies for lobbying Government5 on behalf of Palestinian
national rights and strategies for mobilisation for the International Peace
Conference; (e) Regional demilitarization and disarmsmentr establishment of a
zone free of weapons of mass destruction; and (f) Land, water and settlements.
6. The NGOs participating in the Meeting adopted a final declaration as well
a5 action-oriented proposals emanating from the workshops, and elected a new
International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine.
The report of the Meeting, including summaries of the proceedings, will be
issued a5 a publication of :he Division for Palestinian Rig&s.
I. The NC08 participating in the Meeting adopted the following declaration:
We, the non-governmental organisations, gathered at the Eighth United
Nationc International NO0 Meeting on the Question of Palestine, representing
million5 of people concerned with a peaceful resolution of that question,
believe that the situation has acquired great urgency subsequent to the Gulf
War. We are aware that we have convened at an historic moment of great
challenge and great opportunity. We :eaffirm our conviction that the conflict
can only be solved through an internation conference under United Nations
auspice5 at which all parties to the conflict, including Israel and the
Palestine Liberation Organisation on an equal footing, are represented. Such
an international conference should be convened with the utmost urgency.
We unconditionally affirm the rights of self-determination, statehood and
return of the Palestinian p%oplc as guaranteed by the Charter of the United
Nations and all relevant United Nations resolutions.
We are motivated by the genuine desire to establish a aurabible and just
peace in the Middle East on the basis of international legitimacy as provided
by all relevant United Nations resolutions, and mutual recognition of the
right of both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples for self-determination and
the right to 3ive in soverergn independent States alongside each other.
We note with utmost coxern the continuous systematic policy of violating
the right5 of the Palestinian paople in the occupied Palestinian territories
conducted by the Israeli occupation authorities. We deplore and aenounce the
continuation of the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian and Arab territories
including East Jerusalem, the Golan Height5 and southern Lebanon, and Israel's
Albrutal
measures against the Palestinians, inchaing the current policy
designerl to dismember the West Bank by restricting movement of Palestinian
individual5 ana goods through the City of Jerusalem. We condemn the use of
torture an8 brutality in the interrogation of Palestinian prisoners, including
women and children.
We observe with great concern the simultaneous occurrence of the illegal
colonising settlement of Israelis in the occupied Palestinian territories with
the escalation of the continuing process of the alienation of the indigenous
Palestinians and the annexation of their land, and attempts to expel them out
of their national homeland. We demand the immediate cessation of the
construction and expansion of all Israeli settlements in occupier3 Palestine as
a pre-condition to any peace process.
We draw attention to the fact that Jewish immigration poses a great
threat to Palestinian survival on their land and is an obstacle to the
resolution of the Palestinian problem due to the ensuing demographic changes.
This is especially true while the Palestinian5 continue to be denied their
right to return. We call upon new immigrant5 to Israel and all Israelis to
refuse to settle in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and thus contribute
to the effort5 for a just settlement of the question of Palestine. We
furthermore call upon the Soviet Union to refrain from facilitating Jewish
immigration to Israel.
We denounce the double standard of the United States Government,
characterised by its attitude with respect to the Palestinian right of
self-determination as compared to that of Israel. We also condemn the United
States Government's attempt to evade the need to convene the International
Conference on the Middle East under the auspices of the United Nations, and
its reluctance ts take the necessary measures in order to overcome Israel'5
refusal to accept the principle of "land for peace" and bring a halt to its
settlement activities in th3 occupied 'srritories of the Golan, West Bank,
including East Jerusalem an1 the Gasa Strip.
We oppose the massive and unconditional aid to Israel provided by the
United State5 and other States which underwrites the continuing occupation,
We call upon all Governments to condition all aid, loan5 and guarantee5 to
Israel on the cessation of Israeli settlement construction and expansion in
the occupied Pale5tinian and Arab territories, including East Jerusalem, the
Golan Heights ana southern Lebanon. We call upon all Governments and the
United Nations Security Council to institute sanctions against Israeli
occupation.
We unanimously recognise and support the intifadah as a national
liberation struggle for the achievement of the State of Palestine and the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
We condemn the American and Israeli endeavour5 to bypass the Palestine
Liberation Organisation, the sole and legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people, in the proposed regional conference on the Arab-Israeli
conflict. We insist that Ealestinians as all other peoples have full right to
choose their own political representntives in any peace process. It is
unacceptable and illogical that Israel be permitted to choo5e both the Israeli
and the Palestinian delegations. Israel should have no say in naming or
-42-
vetoing any representative chosen by the Palestinians - whether on the basis
of hi5 or her political views, place of birth, present whereabouts or for any
other reason.
'Ihe issue of the status of Jerusalem should not be excluded from
negotiations, nor should Palestinian residents of that city be excluded from
participation in the negotiations.
We Consider it mO5t urgent that the United Nations provide immedicte and
Sustained DrotQCtipn for the Palestinians under occupation, and that the
United Nations Security Council establish in East Jerusalem an authority
responsible for the monitoring of human rights violations in contradiction
with the Fourth Geneva Convention. We urge the establishment of a
5llbCO5UlliS5iOn Of the Security Council to facilitate the exercise by the
Palestinians of their inalienable rights. We call for the establishment of a
United Nations force to protect the Palestinian nation and to stop Israel's
attempts to destroy it.
We also observe that the Palestinian5 in Israel are subjected to a policy
of legal and political discrimination. We further demand that Israel apply
the principles of justice and individual and national equality to the
Palestinian5 in Israel. We condemn the Israeli policy of continued
confiscations of Arab lands and destruction of Arab homes for the purpose of
settlement of Soviet immigrants inside Israel. We alert the NGO network to
monitor and publicise these injustices.
We condemn the actions of the Government of Kuwait in forcibly relocating
more than 300,000 Palestinian5 who had lived in Kuwait prior to
2 August 1990. We further condemn the collective punishment of an entire
community based on the alleged actions of some of its members. Furthermore,
we remain concerned about the fate of the 50,000 Palestinian5 still residing
in Kuwait, especially the 25,000 who carry Egyptian rafugee documents. It is
incumbent upon the Governme.lt of Kuwait either to allow these Palestinians to
stay and work in Kuwait and to cease treating them in a discriminatory manner,
or to secure their admission to a country of their choice, including the
country in which they or their families were born. We NGOs hereby notify the
Government of Kuwait that we are monitoring its actions concerning these
Palestinians and those still detained in Kuwaiti prisons and detention
centres. We NGG5 will bring violations of their rights to the immediate
attention of the international community through all possible means.
We conducted work together in workshops and specific recommendations for
action5 are appended here. We consider these practical, action orientated
propo5als to be the central focus of our collective agenda for the coming
year. To enhance our effectiveness we are organizing task force5 among NGOs
worldwide to concentrate out energies on specific projects. A number of
special interest group meeting5 were also convened within the context of the
international meeting and their proposals Ear actions are also appended. We
believe that the implementation of these projects by NGOS worldwiae is a Step
on the path to a just and realistic peace in the Middle East.
We express our strongest protest against the action of the Israeli
Government in preventing the distinguished experts, Mr. Sa'eb Krakat of
h-Naj& University and Mr, Kaji Gourani of Gaza, from attending. We know Of
-43-
other Palestinians living under occupation who were denieU the possibility of
participating in this meeting by the Israeli Government, such as Muned Hatibbi
and Rezeq Shuqeir, and we most forcefully denounce this action.
We warmly thank the Committee for convening this international meeting
and we greatly appreciate the presence of the Committee delegatiou. We thank
the Division for Palestinian Rights end all others of the United Nations
Secretariat, including the interpreters who so valuably assisted us. We
express our appreciation to the distinguishes experts who spoke here ana ad&a
valuable information to our deliberations. We express our thanks to the
Austrian Government for making availuble the Austria Centre for our meeting.
We wish to express a special note of thanks and appreciation to
Mr. Guide de Marco, President of the General Assembly, for his important end
insightful comments. We all consider his participation in our meeting to be a
distinct honour.
92-09696 299Ei (E) -44-
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Litho in United Nations, New York ISSN 0255-2035 09698-March1992-2,900
Report ofthe
Committee on the Exercise of
tlle Inalienable Rights
ofthe Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records . Forty-seventh Session
SupplementNo. 35 (Af47/35)
UnitedNations •NewYork, 1994
A147/35
Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library
NOTE
Symbols 0 fUnited Nations documents are composed 0 f capital le tters combined with
figures. Mention ofsuch a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library
[Original: English]
[22 April 1993]
CONTENTS
Chapter Paragraphs
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL .............................................. v
I. INTRODUCTION .
B. Participation in the work of the Committee •••••••
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group ••••••••••••
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE ••.•••••••••••••••••••••
4
4
1
3
5
4
5
4
1 - 9
10 - 12
13 - 18
13 - 15
16 - 17
18
19 - 65
19 - 40
A. Election of officers
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 46/74 A •.•••.••••.....•..•••.••..•..••
11. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
I I I • ORGANI ZATI ON OF WORK •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
1. Review of the situation relating to the
question of Palestine and efforts to implement
the recommendations of the Committee •• ~ •••••• 19 - 30 5
2. Reactions to developments affecting the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people • 31 - 35 8
3. Action taken by the Committee to promote the
convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East •••••••••••••••• 36 - 38 9
4. Attendance at international conferences and
meetinqs ~ . 39 10
5. Action taken by United Nations bodies l the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and
intergovernmental organizations •.•••••••••••• 40 10
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions 46/74 A and B ••••••••••••••• 41 - 65 12
1. Regional seminars .•..•..•.....•......•.•..•.• 44 - 51 12
2. Cooperation with non-governmental
organizations I' ••••.•.• 52 - 59 14
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CONTENTS (continued)
Paragraphs ~
3. Information activities •••••••••••••••••••.••• 60 - 63 15
4. International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 64 16
5. Computer-based information system ••••••••••• 65 16
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION
46/74 C .
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE •••.••...•.•••...••.
Annexes
66 - 84
85 - 94
17
21
r. Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the
General Assembly at its thirty-first session ••.••••••••••• ••••• 25
11. Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Twenty-ninth
United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, Nicosia,
20 to 24 January 1992 ..•.•..................................... 29
Ill. Declaration adopted by the Fourth United Nations Asian Regional
Non-Governmental Organization Symposium on the Question of
Palestine, Nicosia, 20 to 24 January 1992 •••••••••••••••••••••• 35
IV. Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Thirtieth United
Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, New York,
2 2 and 23 June 19 92 ....•........•.............................. 3 9
V. Ninth United Nations North American Regional Non-Governmental
Organization Symposium on the Question of Palestine, New York,
24 to 26 June 1992 •....•....................................... 42
VI. Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Thirty-first
United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, Qawra,
Malta, 27 to 29 July 1992 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 44
VII. Declaration adopted by the Sixth United Nations European
Regional Non-Governmental Organization Symposium on the Question
of Palestine, Geneva, 24 and 25 August 1992 49
VIII. Declaration adopted by the Ninth United Nations International
Non-Governmental Organization Meeting on the Question of
Palestine, Geneva, 26 to 28 August 1992 •••••••••••••••••••••••• 54
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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
5 November 1992
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to
the General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 4 of resolution 46/74 A of
11 December 1991.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Keba Birane CISSE
Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Secretary-General of the United Nations
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I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was established by the General Assembly in its resolution
3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, in which the Assembly requested the Committee
to consider and recommend to it a programme designed to enable the Palestinian
people to exercise its inalienable rights as recognized by the Assembly in
resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974. During the reporting period, the
Committee was composed of 23 Member States as follows: Afghanistan, Belarus,
Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People's
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Yugoslavia.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the
Assembly 11 were first endorsed by the Assembly in resolution 31/20 of
24 November 1976 as a basis for the solution of the question of Palestine.
Those recommendations were reaffirmed by the Committee in its subsequent
reports 1/ and were endorsed by the Assembly with overwhelming support on each
occasion. The Assembly also continued to renew and, as necessary, expand the
mandate of the Committee.
3. Despite the repeated and urgent appeals of the Committee, the Security
Council has not yet been able to act on or implement the recommendations of
the Committee. The Committee is of the view that positive consideration and
action by the Security Council on those recommendations would contribute to
promoting a peacefUl settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. The Committee has also continued to
promote the convening of an International Peace Conference on the Middle East,
in accordance with the guidelines and principles reaffirmed by the General
Assembly in resolution 46/75 of 11 December 1991, which provides the most
comprehensive. practical and universally accepted framework for peace.
4. The Committee believes that, with the fundamental changes in the
international political scene, the shift from confrontation to cooperation in
international affairs and the renewed determination to work towards the
resolution of longstanding regional conflicts, it is of the utmost importance
to intensify efforts to bring about a comprehensive, just and lasting
. settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli
conflict. In this regard, the Committee has continued to stress the
importance of the application of the principles of international law and the
implementation of relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.
5. The Committee has welcomed the convening, under the sponsorship of the
United States of America and the former Soviet Union, of the Peace Conference
on the Middle East at Madrid, on 30 October 1991, and the subsequent bilateral
and multilateral talks, as a significant step towards the establishment of a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region. The Committee noted that
the peace process is based on Security counci.l resolutions 242 (1967) of
22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and on the land-far-peace
formula, and expressed the hope that the role of the United Nations would be
generally intensified in the process. The Committee called on the present
Government in Israel to respond positively to the Palestinian peace initiative
of 1988 and subsequent Palestinian proposals, and to recognize the inalienable
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national rights of the Palestinian people, particularly the right to
self-determination.
5. The Committee expressed its most serious concern at the continued
deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and the
imposition of repressive measures by the occupying Power, Israel, in violation
of its obligations under the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949, ~/ and in disregard of
ongoing peace efforts. The Committee decided to assign high priority to
promoting the adoption of concrete measures by the High Contracting Parties to
that Convention in order to ensure respect by Israel, the occupying Power, of
the Convention in all circumstances, in conformity with their obligation under
article 1.
7. In particular, the Committee strongly deplored Israel's continued
reliance on military force to suppress the Palestinian uprising, the
intifadah, now in its fifth year, and called for intensified international
support for the Palestinian people at this time of great importance in their
history. The Committee also condemned the intensification of land
confiscation and of the settlements policy and practice pursued by Israel in
the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, the .
continued imposition of curfews and collective punishment, and the increasing
restrictions on freedom of movement and economic activity of Palestinians,
which greatly jeopardized their livelihood and their development, and posed a
serious threat to the chances for a just peace.
8. The Committee condemned the fact that the Israeli occupation had lasted
for 25 years, despite international efforts to bring a comprehensive, just and
lasting peace to the region, and called for the withdrawal of the Israeli
armed forces from the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories,
including Jerusalem, in accordance with United Nations resolutions. The
Committee reaffirmed that Israel's continued occupation of those territories
and its denial of the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, including those to self-determination·without external interference,
to national independence and sovereignty, and to return to their homes and
property, constituted the principal obstacle to the achievement of a just
peace.
9. The Committee was greatly concerned that the lack of progress in the
peace process, together with the continuation of repressive measures against
the Palestinians living under occupation, the creeping annexation of the
occupied Palestinian territory, and the worsening economic and other living
conditions of Palestinians, would jeopardize the chances of achieving a just
peace and lead to disastrous consequences for the Palestinian people as a
whole. The Committee believed that a solution was urgently needed, taking
into account the new opportunities that now exist, on the basis of
international law and in conformity with the principles and purposes of the
United Nations Charter and the relevant United Nations resolutions, which must
be applied in an even-handed manner.
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II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
10. The Committee's mandate for the year 1992 is contained in paragraphs 3 to
5 of General Assembly resolution 46/74 A of 11 December 1991, in which the
Assembly:
(a) Requested "the Committee to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine as well as the implementation
of ,the Programme of Action for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights i/ and to
report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council,
as appropriate";
(b) Authorized "the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to
promote the implementation of its recommendations, including representation at
conferences and meetings and the sending of delegations, to make such
adjustments in its approved programme of seminars and symposia and meetings
for non-governmental organizations as it may consider necessary, to give
special emphasis to the need to mobilize pUblic opinion in Europe and North
America, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh
session and thereafter";
(c) Also requested "the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation
to non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening
international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and
creating a more favourable atmosphere for the full implementation of the
recommendations of the Committee, and to take the necessary steps to expand
its contacts with those organizations".
11. In its resolution 46/74 E, also of 11 December 1991, the General Assembly
requested the Secretary-General, inter alia, "to provide the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources, including
a computer-based information system, and to ensure that it 'would continue' to
discharge the tasks detailed in 'earlier resolutions', in consultation with
the Committee ••• and under its guidance".
12. In its resolution 46/74 C, of 11 December 1991, the General Assembly
requested "the Department of Public Information, in full cooperation and
coordination with the Committee ••• , to continue ••• its special information
programme on the question of Palestine ••• , with particular emphasis on p~lic
opinion in Europe and North America".
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Ill. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A. E1ectiQn Qf Qfficers
13. At its 185th meeting, Qn 15 January 1992, the CQmmittee elected
Mr. Keba Birane Cisse (Senegal) as Chairman, re-elected
Mr. RicardQ A1arcon de Quesada (Cuba) and Mr. KhQdaidad Basharma1
(Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairmen and Mr. VictQr Cami11eri (Malta) as RappQrteur.
14. At its 190th meeting, Qn 5 OctQber 1992, the CQmmittee elected'
Mr. A1cibiades J. Hida1gQ Basulto (Cuba) as Vice-Chairman in place Qf
Mr. RicardQ Alarcon de Quesada (Cuba).
15. At its 186th meeting, Qn 18 March 1992, the CQmmittee adQpted its
prQgramme Qf wQrk fQr 1992 (A/AC.183/l992/CRP.1/Rev.1) in imp1ementatiQn Qf
its mandate.
B. Participation in the wQrk of the CQmmittee
16. As in previQus years, the CQmmittee recQnfirmed that all States Members
Qf the United NatiQns and Permanent Observers tQ the United Nations desiring
to participate in the work Qf the Committee as observers were welcome to do
so. Accordingly, in a letter dated 6 April 1992, the Chairman of the
Committee so informed the Secretary-General, who subsequently transmitted the
letter, on 16 April 1992, to the States Members of the United Nations and
members of the specialized agencies, and to intergovernmental organizatiQns.
In accordance with established practice, the CQmmittee also invited Palestine,
represented by the Palestine LiberatiQn Organization (PLO), to participate in
the work of the Committee as an Qbserver, to attend all its meetings and to
make observations and proposals for the consideration of the Committee.
17. During 1992, the Committee again welcomed as observers all the
States and organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding
year. 5/
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group
18. At its 185th meeting, the Committee re-established its Working Group to
assist in the preparation and expedition of the work of the Committee on the
understanding that any Committee member or observer could participate in its
proceedings. Q/ The Working Group was cQnstituted as before under the
chairmanship of Mr. Victor Camil1eri. Mr. Dinesh Kumar Jain (India) was
re-elected Vice-Chairman of the Working Group.
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IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
A. Action taken in ,accordance with General Assembl~
resolution 46/74 A
1. Review of the situation relating to the question
of Palestine and efforts to implement the
recommendations of the Committee
19. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee continued to keep under
review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to exert all
efforts to promote the implementation of its recommendations as repeatedly
endorsed by the General Assembly.
20. In response to urgent developments affecting the inalienable rights of
the Palestinian people, the Chairman of the Committee, on a number of
occasions, brought such developments to the attention of the Secretary-General
and the President of the Security Council, urging the adoption of appropriate
measures in accordance with United Nations resolutions (see paras. 31 and 32
below) •
21. The Committee, with the assistance of the Division for Palestinian
Rights, continued to monitor the situation in the occupied Palestinian
territory on an ongoing basis through the media, the reports of United Nations
organs and organ,izations, and information collected by Governments,
non-governmental organizations, individual experts and persons from Israel and
the occupied Palestinian territory who participated in meetings held under the
auspices of the Committee, and other sources.
22. In a letter dated 5 June 1992 from its Chairman to the Secretary-General
(A/46/933-S/24045), and at a special meeting held on 17 June 1992, the
Committee reviewed the effects of the Israeli occupation on the Palestinian
people in the 25 years since the war of 1967. The Committee noted with deep
concern that the Palestinian people have paid dearly for the occup'ation with
.loss of life, loss of land and natural resources, and severe restrictions on
their political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights. The Israeli
military operations of 1967 were accompanied by systematic and deliberate
destruction of Palestinian villages and homes and the renewed dispersal of
Palestinians, almost half a million of whom were displaced, one third of them
becoming refugees for the second time since 1948. The Israeli authorities had
continued to deny Palestinians their fundamental right to return and to refuse
to allow the reunification of families, imposing ever more stringent and
restrictive policies on Palestinian families, including summary deportation of
women and children considered to be living "illegally" with their immediate
families in the occupied territory.
23. The Committee recalled that, shortly after the war, Israel had annexed
Jerusalem over the unanimous opposition of the international community, and
had begun the confiscation of Palestinian land and the building of settlements
in a process of gradual de facto annexation which had continued under
subsequent Governments. The Committee noted that over 60 per cent of the West
Bank and Gaza had been confiscated between 1967 and 1992 under various
pretexts sanctioned by military orders. Some 230,000 Israeli citizens had
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been moved permanently to about 212 settlements throughout the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem; an increase of 25 per cent had
taken place in the year under review alone. Leaders of the Government of
Israel had repeatedly voiced their intention to remain in permanent control of
the occupied territory, for either ideological, strategic or security
reasons. The Committee expressed particular concern at the continuous efforts
since the beginning of the occupation to change the demographic composition of
the old city of Jerusalem and its surroundings and to destroy its Palestinian
identity. The Committee reaffirmed that those policies of Israel were in
clear violation of article 49 of the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, which the Security Council had
declared to be applicable de jure to all the territories occupied by Israel
since 1967, and of numerous Security Council resolutions.
24. The Committee was concerned that, through this illegal process of
colonization, Palestinian towns, villages and agricultural areas were being
increasingly encircled, their development restricted and the unity of the
Palestinian homeland was being shattered. Regional land-use and road plans
had been devised and implemented to serve the Israeli settlements and to tie
them more closely to Israel, bypassing Palestinian towns and villages. The
Committee noted with particular concern that the Israeli Housing Ministry had
recently allocated vast funds to the so-called "Seven Stars Plan" linking
metropolitan areas just inside .the "green line" to settlements in the West
Bank, thus aiming to erase the border between Israel and the occupied
territory. The fragmentation of the West Bank was also being reinforced
through travel restrictions which denied Palestinians free transit through
annexed East Jerusalem.
25. The Committee further noted that Israel had continued to appropriate and
control Palestinian water resources and drastically to restrict Palestinian
use of water for farming and other needs. Moreover, discriminatory taxation
and other administrative measures stifled the economic development of the
occupied territory and made it more dependent on the economy of the occupying
Power.
26. The Committee also noted that, since 1967, a dual legal system had been
established which extended the protection of Israeli civilian law to the
Jewish settlers, while imposing a separate harsh n~J discriminatory military
law on the Palestinians. Every aspect of Palestinian life was controlled by
the military authorities through some 2,000 military orders enacted during the
25 years of occupation. The Israeli authorities had also continued to use
emergency powers to deny and restrict civil and political liberties.
27. The Committee noted with the greatest concern that the Israeli armed
forces had continued to use unjustified force in suppressing the intifadah and
exerting control over the Palestinian popUlation living under occupation.
Human rights organizations had reported that, from December 1987 to
September 1992, at least 1,102 Palestinians were killed, most of them by
shooting, and over 124,600 were injured by Israeli forces. They also reported
that open-fire regulations for Israeli soldiers had been increasingly relaxed
and that undercover units of the army had engaged in summary executions of .
Palestinian militants. Studies of conditions in Israeli prisons had
documented systematic ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian prisoners, and
t~e death of at least 32 Palestinians in detention since the beginning of the
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intifadah. During the same period, over 17,300 Palestinians were placed under
administrative detention for periods of up to six months without charges or
trial; 12,000 political prisoners were reported to be held under appalling
conditions as of September 1992. Moreover, in the period since 1987,
70 Palestinians were expelled for "security reasons" (more than 1,300 since
June 1967). In the same period, towns and villages in the occupied
Palestinian territory experienced a combined total of over 11,600 days of
curfew, the demolition or sealing of approximately 2,300 homes, and the .
uprooting of approximately 146,300 trees.
28. The Committee noted that the fabric and well-being of Palestinian society
had suffered great additional damage reSUlting from arbitrary mass arrests,
prolonged school closings, disruption of the health care system, raids by
troops and attacks by armed settlers, denial of freedom of movement, loss of
employment opportunities in Israel and the like. The plight of the
Palestinians had been further compounded by the repeated actions which the
occupying forces had taken against the facilities and personnel of the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA), in disregard of the agency's humanitarian mandate. The Committee
also noted that the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation
(ILO), in his annual report on the situation of workers in the occupied
territories, had concluded that the continuing state of military occupation
rendered impossible a situation in which the ILO standards and principles
could be fully respected.
29. The Committee noted that, in October 1991, Israel had ratified the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Convention against
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and
called on the relevant supervisory bodies to take all measures in their power
to ensure that Israel abides by its obligations under those treaties.
30. Taking into account the continuing intolerable situation in the occupied
Palestinian territory, the Committee wishes to draw once again the most urgent
attention of the General Assembly and the Security Council to the policies and
practices of Israel, the occupying Power, which are in violation of the
aforementioned Fourth Geneva Convention. The Committee reiterates its most
urgent appeal to the Security Council, to the High Contracting Parties to the
Convention and to all concerned to take all necessary measures to ensure the
safety and international protection of the Palestinians in the occupied
Palestinian territory pending the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the
achievement of a just settlement. The Committee further wishes to express
appreciation to the Secretary-General for his efforts in this regard in
accordance with Security Council resolution 681 (1990) of 20 December 1990.
Above and beyond protective and emergency relief measures, the international
community must take all possible measures to halt the rapid deterioration in
the living conditions of the Palestinian people and to develop socio-economic
structures that will lead to the genuine development of the occupied
Palestinian territory in preparation for independent nationhood. The
Committee noted that various United Nations organizations and bodies had
undertaken the implementation of a number of development projects in the
occupied Palestinian territory, and called for the intensification of efforts
in this regard.
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(a) CQmmunications to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council 31. The Chairman of the CQmmittee on a number of occasions drew the attention
of the Secretary-General and of the President of the Security Council to
urgent developments in the Qccupied Palestinian territory. The Chairman
condemned the resumption by Israel of its pQlicy of deportations, as well as
the indiscriminate shooting of demonstrators by the 'army, and the
intensification and expansiQn of collective punishment such as the imposition
of curfews and mass detention of Palestinian civilians, including minors. The
Chairman pointed out that those policies and practices were in violation of
the Fourth Geneva Convention Qf 12 August 1949 l/ and requested that Israel
accept the de jure applicability of that ConventiQn to all the territories
Qccupied since 1967 and abide scrupulQusly by the provisiQns of that
Convention and relevant Security Council resolutiQns. The Chairman appealed
urgently to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council
and to all parties concerned, in particular the High Contracting Parties to
the CQnvention, to take all necessary measures for ensuring the safety and
protection of the Palestinian civilians under occupation and to intensify all
efforts towards the achievement of a peaceful settlement.
2. Reactions to developments affecting the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people
32. The following letters from the Chairman of the Committee to the
Secretary-General were circulated as official documents of the General
Assembly, under the agenda item entitled "QuestiQn of Palestine", and of the
Security Council: (a) letter dated 16 December 1991 (A/46/788-S/23291);
(b) letter dated 6 January 1992 (A/46/837-S/23374); (c) letter dated
11 February 1992 (A/46/875-S/23570); (d) letter dated 5 June 1992
(A/46/933-S/24045); (e) letter dated 16 July 1992 (A/46/947-S/24304);
(f) letter dated 13 August 1992 (A/46/958-S/24436); and (g) letter dated
8 October 1992 (A/47/522-S/24648).
(b) Action taken within the Security CQuncil
33. The Committee followed closely the activities of the Security Council on
matters relating to the Committee's mandate and participated in CQuncil
debates as necessary.
34. At its 3026th meeting, on 6 January 1992, the Security Council adopted
unanimously resolution 726 (1992), in which it stronglycQndemned the decision
of Israel, the Qccupying Power, tQ resume deportations of Palestinian
civilians; reaffirmed the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention of
12 August 1949 ~/ to all the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since
1967, including Jerusalem; requested Israel, the occupying PQwer, to refrain
from deporting any Palestinian civilian from the occupied territories; also
requested Israel, the occupying Power, to ensure the safe and immediate return
tQ the occupied territQries of all those deported; and decided tQ keep the
matter under review.
35. At the 3065th meeting of the Security Council, Qn 4 April 1992, the
President of the Council made a statement on behalf of the members of the
Council (S/23783), expressing grave concern at the cQntinued deterioration of
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the situation in the Gaza Strip, especially at the serious situation in Rafah,
in which several Palestinians had been killed and many more injured. The
members of the Counc~l condemned all those acts of violence at Rafah, and
urged maximum restraint in order to bring the violence to an end. The members
of the Council urged Israel to abide at all times by its obligations under the
Fourth Geneva Convention and to respect and to act in accordance with the
relevant resolutions of the Security Council. The members of the Council were
concerned that any escalation of violence would have serious implications for
the peace process, especially at a time when negotiations to achieve a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace are under way. The members of the
Council requested the Secretary-General to use his good offices, in accordance
with Council resolution 681 (1990) of 20 December 1990, regarding this
situation concerning Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation.
3~ Action taken by the Committee to promote the convening of
the International Peace Conference on the Middle East
35. The General Assembly, by its resolution 46/75, reaffirmed the urgent need
to achieve a just and comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict,
the core of which is the question of Palestine. It considered that the
convening of an International Peace Conference on the Middle·East, under the
auspices of the United Nations, with the participation of all parties to the
conflict, including the PLO, on an equal footing, and the five permanent
members of the Security Council, based on Council resolutions 242 (1967) of
22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and the legitimate national
riqhts of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination,
would contribute to the promotion of peace in the region. It reaffirmed the
following principles for the achievement of comprehensive peace: the
withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967,
including Jerusalem, and from the other occupied Arab territories;
guaranteeing arrangements for security of all States in the region, including
those named in General Assembly resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947,
within secure and internationally recognized boundaries; resolving the problem
of the Palestine refugees in conformity with Assembly resolution 1'94 (III) of
11 December 1948, and subsequent relevant resolutions: dismantling the Israeli
settlements in the territories occupied since 1967; and guaranteeing freedom
of access to Holy Places, religious buildings and sites. The Assembly also
welcomed the convening at Madrid, on 30 October 1991, of the Peace Conference
on the Middle East, which constituted a significant step towards the
estab1ishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region. It
noted the expressed desire and endeavours to place the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, under the supervision of the United
Nations for a transitional period, as part of the peace process; and requested
the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and
in consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in the
region, and to submit progress reports on developments in this matter.
37. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee, taking into account the
ongoing efforts to advance the peace process, decided to continue to give the
utmost priority to the promotion of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in
the region based on internationally recognized principles and United Nations
reSOlutions, and the convening of an International Peace Conference on the
Middle East under the auspices of the United Nations.
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38. The Committee was greatly encouraged by the overwhelming international
support for its objectives and by the intensification of efforts in the
international community in this regard, as reflected in particular in
decisions adopted by United Nations bodies and intergovernmental
organizations, and recommendations adopted by the regional seminars and by
meetings of non-governmental organizations on the question of Palestine
organized under the Committee's auspices.
4. Attendance at international conferences and meetings
39. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee was represented at the
following international meetings during the period since its previous report
to the General Assembly:
(a) Sixth Islamic Summit Conference, held at Dakar from 9 to
11 December 1991;
(b) Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries, held at Bali, Indonesia, from 14 to 16 May 1992;
(c) Fifty-sixth ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the
Organization of African Unity, held at Dakar from 22 to 28 June 1992, and
twenty-eighth ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and
Government of that organization, held at Dakar from 29 June to 1 July 1992;
(d) Tenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned
Countries, held at Jakarta from 1 to 6 September 1992.
5. Action taken by United Nations bQdies. the MQyement
of Non-Aligned Countries and intergQyernment~
organizations
40. The Committee continued to follow with great interest the activities
relating to the question of Palestine of United Nations bodies, the Movement
of Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental organizations. The Committee
noted especially the support of the international community for the ongoing
peace process and the hope that it would result in a comprehensive, just and
lasting settlement in accordance with United Nations principles and
resolutions. It also noted the great concern about the continuing violations
of human rights by Israel, the occupying Power, and about its settlements
policy, and the sense Qf urgency with which the international community
addressed the need to ensure the safety and protection of the Palestinian
people under occupation. The Committee tOQk particular note of the following
dQcuments:
(a) Declaration of the European Council on the peace process in the
Middle East, issued on 9 December 1991 (A/46/779, annex);
(b) Dakar Declaration, final communique and resolutions of the Sixth
Islamic Summit Conference, held at Dakar from 9 to 11 December 1991
(A/47/88-S/23563, annexes I, 11 and Ill, and resQlutions 1/6-P(IS), 2/6-P(IS)
and 3/6-P(IS»;
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(c) Statement on the deportation of 12 Palestinians from the occupied
territories issued by the European Community and its member States on
4 January 1992 (A/46/839-S/23381, annex);
(d) Resolutions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its
forty-eighth session (resolutions 1992/2 A and B, 1992/3 and 1992/4 of
14 February 1992); 1/
(e) Statement by the Presidency of the European Community on the Middle
East, issued at Lisbon on 17 February 1992 (A/47/l10, annex);
(f) Resolution 5159 of the Council of the League of Arab States meeting
in extraordinary session on 20 February 1992, concerning Israeli settlement
activity in the occupied Arab territories (A/46/883, annex);
(g) Resolution adopted by the World Health Assembly at its forty-fifth
session, held at Geneva on 14 May 1992, concerning health conditions of the
Arab population in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine
(WHA 45.26);
(h) Press communique issued by the Ministerial Meeting of the
Coordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Bali,
Indonesia from 14 to 16 May 1992 (A/47/225-S/2399S, annex, paras. 17 and 18);
(i) Resolution adopted at the Fifth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers, held at Istanbul on 17 and 18 June 1992,
entitled, liThe cause of Palestine and AI-Quds AI-Sharif and the Arab-Israeli
conflict" (A/47/592-S/24718, annex);
(j) Resolutions adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization
of African Unity at its fifty-sixth ordinary session, held at Dakar from 22 to
28 June 1992 (A/47/558, annex I, CM/Res.1393 (LVI) Rev.l and 1394 (LVI) Rev.l),
(k) Final communique of the Annual Coordination Meeting of the Ministers
for Foreign Affairs of the Organization of the Islamic Conference,' he~d at
United Nations Headquarters on 23 September 1992 (A/47/483-S/24604, annex);
(1) Declaration of the European Council of Ministers of the European
Economic Community on the Middle East peace process. issued at Lisbon on
25 June 1992 (A/47/309, annex);
(m) Resolutions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its
substantive session of 1992, held in New York from 29 June to 3~ July
(1992/16, 1992/57 and 1992/58);
(n) Communique adopted by the twenty-fifth Ministerial Meeting of the
Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), held at Manila on 21 and
22 July 1992 (A/47/35l-S/24357, annex, paras. 26 and 27);
(0) Final documents and the Jakarta Message adopted by the Tenth
Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at
Jakarta from 1 to 6 September 1992 (see A/47/675-S/248l6, annex);
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(p) Statement issued by the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation
Council at its forty-fourth session, held at Jeddah on 8 and 9 September 1992
(A/47/441-S/24559, annex).
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions 46/74 A and B
41. In adopting its programme of work for the year, the Committee decided to
focus on the following priority issues:
(a) The imperative need to end human rights violations and to ensure the
international protection of Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian
territory, including Jerusalem, in accordance with the Fourth Geneva
Convention and Security Council resolutions, and the promotion of measures to
be taken by the High Contracting Parties to the Convention to ensure respect
for its provisions;
(b) The adverse impact of Israel's settlement policy and practice on the
exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the
achievement of a just settlement of the question of Palestine;
(c) The deteriorating economic situation of the Palestinian people and
the urgent need for international assistance to promote the independent social
and economic development of the occupied Palestinian territory, including
Jerusalem;
(d) The promotion of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the
region based on internationally recognized principles and United Nations
resolutions, and the convening of an International Peace Conference on the
Middle East under the auspices of the United Nations.
42. The Committee also decided to organize meetings focused on one theme in
order to examine in depth those priority issues and to exert a direct and
effective influence on the course of action of Governments and
intergovernmental bodies in that regard.
43. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights, pursuant to their
respective mandates, organized a number of regional seminars, symposia and
meetings for non-governmental organizations in 1992, as set out below.
1. Regional seminars
44. In accordance with the programme of work for 1992, Asian, North American
and European regional seminars were included in the calendar of meetings to be
held under the auspices of the Committee during the period under review.
(a) Asian Regional Seminar
45. The Asian Regional Seminar was held at Nicosia from 20 to 24 January 1992,
jointly with the Asian Non-Governmental Organization Symposium. The Committee
greatly appreciated the decision of the Government of Cyprus to provide the
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venue for the Seminar and Symposium and to make a financial contribution
thereto.
46. The Seminar considered the topics of three round tables: round table I,
"A just settlement of the question of Palestine"; round table Il, "Safety and
protection of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory";
and round table Ill, "International and regional issues". Presentations were
made by 20 eminent experts from Asia and the United States of America, as well
as Palestinians and Israelis. The Committee noted that the participants had
adopted conclusions and recommendations in which they expressed deep concern
at the violations of Palestinian human rights by Israel and called for
measures to be taken to ensure respect by the occupying Power for the Fourth
Geneva Convention. The participants also welcomed the convening of the Peace
Conference on the Middle East at Madrid on 30 October 1991 and the subsequent
bilateral talks between the parties in Washington, D.C., and expressed their
earnest hope that the talks would be successful in establishing a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region. They noted in this
connection that this process had the support of the parties concerned and had
as its basis Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), which had
long been recognized as the cornerstone of a comprehensive settlement. They
stressed the essential need for an active role by the United Nations, the
Secretary-General and the Security Council, for a successful outcome of the
peace process. Further details on the Seminar and the text of the conclusions
and recommendations adopted by the participants are set forth in annex 11
below.
(b) North American Regional Seminar
47. The North American Regional Seminar was held at United Nations
Headquarters in New York on 22 and 23 June 1992. In accordance with the
priorities established in its programme of work, the Committee decided to
focus the Seminar on a single theme of particular urgency, namely, "Enforcing
the Fourth Geneva Convention for ensuring the protection of the Palestinian
people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem".
48. Seven eminent experts from North America, as well as Palestinians and
Israelis, presented papers on this issue. In their conclusions and
recommendations the participants reiterated that the Fourth Geneva Convention
applied de jure to all the territories occupied by Israel since 1967 and noted
with serious concern numerous and persistent violations of the Convention by
Israel. They declared that it was the duty of the High Contracting Parties to
the Convention to ensure respect by Israel for its obligations under the
Convention. In order to use the mechanisms contained in the Convention
itself, participants suggested that the High Contracting Parties should
utilize their consular presence more fully and effectively for monitoring
purposes, and that a United Nations monitoring organization should also be
established. Participants recommended that the idea of seeking an adviso,ry
opinion from the International Court of Justice on the matter be developed
further. Some details on the Seminar and the text of the conclusions and
recommendations adopted by the participants set forth in annex IV below.
(c) Eurgpean Regional Seminar
49. The European Regional Seminar was held at Qawra, Malta from 27 to
29 July 1991. The Committee was grateful to the Government of Malta for
agreeing to provide the venue for this important Seminar.
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50. The Seminar considered the topics of two round tables: round table I,
"International action to ensure the safety and protection of the Palestinian
people in the occupied Palestinian territory", and round table 11, "Efforts to
promote the implementation of United Nations resolutions on the question of
Palestine and the situation in the Middle East".
51. Fifteen prominent experts from Europe, as well as Israelis and
Palestinians, presented papers at the Seminar. The Committee noted that the
Seminar participants had adopted conclusions and recommendations expressing
support for the implementation of United Nations resolutions on the question
of Palestine and had also expressed deep concern at the violations of
Palestinian human rights by Israel and had called for measures to be taken to
ensure respect by the occupying Power for the Fourth Geneva Convention. Some
details on the Seminar and the text of the conclusions and recommendations
adopted by the participants are set forth in annex VI below.
2. Cooperation with non-governmental organizations
52. The Committee, in accordance with its mandate under General Assembly
resolution 46/74 A, continued to extend its cooperation to non-governmental
organizations active on the question of Palestine and to expand its contacts
with them. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in consultation with the
Committee and under its guidance, organized regional symposia and an
international meeting for non-governmental organizations during 1992 in
implementation of the Committee's objective. The Committee noted that
non-governmental organi.zations had further intensified their activities to
assist the Palestinian people and to promote a just and comprehensive peace.
(a) Asian Regional Non-Goyernmental Organization Symposium
53. The Asian Regional Non-Governmental Organization Symposium was held at
Nicosia from 20 to 24 January 1992 together with the Asian Regional Seminar.
The participants considered the topics of the ·three round tables mentioned
above (para. 46) jointly with the Seminar participants. Three workshops were
organized separately for the Symposium on the theme "Developing solidarity
activities by Israeli and other organizations with Palestinian women,
physicians, health workers and students". The Committee noted that the
participating organizations had pledged to undertake new activities and to
expand further the network of non-governmental organizations in the Asian
region, and had elected a coordinating committee for that purpose. Some
details on the Symposium and the text of the final declaration are set forth
in annex III below.
(b) North American Regional Non-Governmental Organization Symposium
54. The North American Regional Non-Governmental Organization Symposium was
held at United Nations Headquarters from 24 to 26 June 1992 immediately
following the North American Regional Seminar, in accordance with the practice
followed in previous years. The programme for the Symposium was elaborated in
consultations between the Committee and the North American Coordinating
Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine
within the framework of a preparatory meeting held in New York on 3 and
4 February 1992.
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55. The programme for the Symposium provided for two main panels, on the
themes "Twenty-five years of occupation: overcoming the obstacles" and
"Preparing the way for Palestine". The programme also included a teach-in, a
resource fair, eight workshops and four skills-training workshops. The
Committee noted that the North American Symposium had adopted a variety of
concrete proposals and action programmes to guide their future work, details
of which are set forth in annex V below.
(c) European Regional Non-Governmental Organization Symposium
56. The European Non-Governmental Organization Symposium was held at Geneva
on 24 and 25 August 1992, and was immediately followed by the International
Non-Governmental Organization Meeting, which was held there from 26 to
28 August 1992.
57. The programmes for the Symposium and the Meeting were elaborated by the
Committee in consultation with the European Coordinating Committee for
Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine and the
International Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the
Question of Palestine within the framework of a preparatory meeting held at
Geneva on 30 and 31 March 1992.
58. The theme for the European Symposium was "Working for peace: European
coordination". The programme included two plenary sessions, which considered
the responsibilities of European governmental and non-governmental bodies
towards the Palestinian people, and the report of the members of the European
Coordinating Committee on their Committee's activities during the period
August 1991 to August 1992. Two workshops were also held. The Symposium
heard three reports on ongoing projects by non7governmenta1 organizations
initiated at the 1991 Symposium. The Symposium adopted a declaration and
reports of the workshops. Details on the Symposium and the text of the
declaration are set forth in annex VII below.
(d) International Non-Governmental Organization Meeting
59. The theme for the International Non-Governmental Organization Meeting was
"Protection and statehood". The programme consisted of three panels, which
dealt with protection, statehood and the non-governmental organization
process, respectively. Arrangements were also made for 12 action-oriented
working groups and task forces. The Committee noted that the Meeting had
adopted a declaration and action-oriented proposals emanating from the
workshops. Further details on the Meeting and the text of the declaration are
set forth in annex VIII below.
3. Information activities
60. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Division for Palestinian
Rights, in accordance with its mandate, continued to respond to information
requests and to prepare the following pUblications, under the guidance of the
Committee, for dissemination:
(a) Monthly bulletins covering action by the Committee, other
United Nations organs, and intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations concerned with the question of Palestine;
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(b) Monthly and bi-month1y reports on developments relating to the
question of Palestine, monitored from the Arabic. English and Hebrew press for
the use of the Committee;
(c) Compilations of relevant statements. declarations and proposals
regarding the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the question of
Palestine;
(d) Reports of regional seminars. regional symposia and international
meetings of non-governmental organizations.
61. The Committee noted that the Division had issued a study entitled "Water
resources of the occupied Palestinian territory" updating an earlier brochure
on the question of Palestine prepared in the late 1970s. and a compilation of
papers presented by experts at seminars organized by the Committee. entitled
"Question of Palestine: legal aspects". The Division was also preparing an
updated version of a study entitled "Acquisition of land in Palestine".
62. An updated issue of the information note entitled "The Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division
for Palestinian Rights" (May 1992) was prepared and was issued in the six
official languages. as well as in German and Japanese.
63. The following documents were also issued by the Division during the
period under review: resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and
the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine: 1991
(A/AC.183/L.2/Add.12). and a special bulletin on the commemoration of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
4. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
64. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was
observed on 29 November 1991 at United Nations Headquarters in New York and at
the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna. The Committee noted with
appreciation that the International Day had also been commemorated in 1991 in
many other cities throughout the world.
5. Computer-based information system
65. In its programme of work for 1992. the Committee stressed the importance
it attached to the establishment in the Division for Palestinian Rights of a
computer-based information system. as requested by the Committee in its
programme of work for 1991 and approved by the General Assembly in resolution
46/74 B. The Committee noted that a feasibility study of the proposed system
had been prepared by the Secretariat. initial hardware components of the
system had been acquired and that development work for the system was
proceeding.
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v. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 46/74 C
66. The Department of Public Information continued to provide press coverage
of all meetings of relevant United Nations bodies, including the Security
Council and the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People. Press releases were issued on regional seminars and
symposia organized by the Committee, including those held in Malta and
New York.
67. Additional press releases were issued containing the texts of the
Secretary-Generalis statements relating to the question of Palestine and the
situation in the occupied Arab territories, and press releases issued by UNRWA
on its activities were reissued and disseminated by the Department. A total
of forty-seven press releases were issued on the question of Palestine.
68. All regional seminars and non-governmental organization symposia on the
question of Palestine sponsored by the Committee were covered extensively in
weekly regional magazines.
69. The magazine UN Chronicle continued to publish stories relating to
Palestinian issues, including Security Council actions and results of special
meetings and seminars.
70. The Public Inquiries Unit of the Department responded to 290 requests for
information on Palestine. In addition, the subject was included in the
presentation made to visitors taking the guided tour at United Nations
Headquarters; for the first half of 1992, visitors numbered 230,623.
71. The Group Programme Unit of the Department arranged briefings on
Palestine, given by Secretariat officials and delegation members, for 21
groups visiting Headquarters.
72. The Department continued to distribute its publications, including
revised versions of the following booklets: The United Nations and the
Question of Palestine; For the Rights of Palestinians: Work of the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; and ~
Rights for the Palestinians: The Work of the Special Committee to Inyestigate
Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied
Territories. A total of 14,639 of those publications were distributed in
Arabic, English, French, German and Spanish.
73. The Department initiated the distribution of the following new
pUblications: Prospects for Peace in the Middle East: an Israeli-Palestinian
Dialogue, published in English and French, which reflects the debate which
took place at the International Encounter for European Journalists on the
Question of Palestine, organized by the Department at Helsinki in 1991; ~
of the Palestinians under Israeli Occupation, which chronicles the plight of
the Palestinian people since the beginning of the occupation, with particular
emphasis on the years of the intifadah, iss~ed in English and French (with
other languages scheduled for a later date); and a poster by renowned French
artist Michel Granger, which promotes the right of self-determination of the
Palestinian people, published in various languages, inclUding English, French
and Arabic.
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74. World ChrQnicle, the 30-minute panel discussiQn videQ prQgramme, featured
AmbassadQr Ilter Turkmen, CQmmissiQner-General Qf the United Nations Relief
and WQrks Agency fQr Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). He spoke
about the gradual adjustment of the Agency's programmes to meet the needs of
refugees in a changing global political and economic climate, and also
stressed the continued efforts of the Agency to care for more than 2 million
refugees in the Qccupied Palestinian territory and in neighbouring Arab
countries.
75. The Department covered various aspects of the question Qf Palestine and
related issues in news bulletins and current affairs radio programmes in
various languages. Some of the topics covered included: "Escalation of
violence in the Middle East", "Deportation of Palestinian civilians from the
occupied territories", "Proceedings of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights Qf the Palestinian PeQple", "Promotion and safety of
Palestinian civilians" and "New hospital for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip".
In addition, the Department produced five radio feature programmes devoted
exclusively to the question of Palestine, namely, "Expulsion of 12
Palestinians", "Palestinian questiQn", "The situation in the occupied
territories" and "A resolution revQking the General Assembly's determination
that ziQnism is a form of racism and racial discrimination". Those programmes
were produced in Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, Hindi,
Indonesian, Turkish and Urdu for world-wide dissemination. In addition, a
radio officer travelled to Cyprus tQ cover the five-day Asian regional seminar
and non-gQvernmental organization sympQsium on the question of Palestine. His
repQrts were incorporated in the daily news bulletins and all regional
magazines and feature programmes.
76. On 5 May 1991, at Dublin, the Department sponsored an encounter for Irish
journalists on the question Qf Palestine. On the advice of the Government of
Ireland, the.encounter was hQsted in cooperation with the Centre for European
Economic and Public Affairs, University College, Dublin. The theme of the
encounter was "Preparing for peace: the imperative for interim relief in the
occupied Palestinian territory". Three panelists spoke on this theme: two
Palestinians and an Israeli, as well as an expert on the Middle East from the
CQmmission of the European Communities. A second Israeli panelist, who was
nQt able tQ attend, submitted a paper, which was read to the encounter. The
panelists, media representatives and Qther Irish experts held a substantive
dialogue.
77. The panelists included the following: Afif Safieh, head of the PLO
delegatiQn to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
Charles Anthony Shamas, member of the board of al-Haq, West Bank affiliate of
the International Commission of Jurists and Director of the Mattin Centre for
Production Development at Ram~llah; and ArnQld Spaer, partner in the law firm
of Spaer, SittQn and Co. in Jerusalem, whose clients include Bir Zeit
University in the West Bank, the Palestinian human rights association al-Haq
and the Hebrew University. Absent was David Kretzmer, Chairman of the
NatiQnal Board of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and Professor of
Law at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Representing the Commission of the
European Communities was Bettina Muscheidt, from its Occupied TerritQries
Desk. The encQunter was moderated by the Chief of the Anti-Apartheid,
DecQlonization and Palestine Programmes Section of the Department of Public
InfQrmation.
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78. From 16 to 17 September 1992, at Lisbon, the Department sponsored, with
the support of the Government of Portugal and the Portuguese newspaper
PUblico, an international encounter for European journalists on the question
of Palestine. It explored, from a European perspective, and, after reviewing
the peace process launched on 30 October 1991 at Madrid, ways and means to
build peace in the Middle East. During the meeting, a number of issue~ were
recognized as important and various points of agreement were reached.
79. Three issues were repeatedly advanced during the discussions at Lisbon:
the welcoming of Europe as a significant player, economically and politically,
in the ongoing peace process; the renewed recognition of the United Nations
role in constructive peace-building and the necessity of the consensus of the
international community, as the ultimate legitimate framework for a successful
outcome to the negotiations; and the evolution of dialogue between the parties
to the conflict.
80. The following panelists attended the encounter: Jamil Hilal, Director of
the Information Department of the PLO and member of the Palestine National
Council (PNC); Hisham Mustapha, Department of Arab and International Affairs
of the PLO and member of the PNC; Ziad Abu Zyyad, Adviser to the Palestinian
Negotiating Team; Avraham Burg, Member of the Knesset, Israel; Naomi Chazan,
Member of the Knesset, Israel; Walid Al-Sa'adi, Personal Representative of
H.R.H. Crown Prince Hassan, Jordan; Hans Stercken, Chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee of the Bundestag, Germany; Francisco Henriques da Silva,
Director for Middle East and Maghreb Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Portugal; and·William B. Quandt, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution,
Washington, D.C. The encounter was moderated by the Director-General of the
United Nations Office at Vienna. Fifty-two news organizations from Europe,
Israel and Palestine were represented.
81. The Department prepared for a news mission to the Middle East, which will
take place in early December 1992. The mission will provide European
journalists an opportunity to acquaint themselves firsthand with the facts of
the question of Palestine. To that end, meetings will be arranged with the
leadership of the PLO, senior government officials of Egypt, Jordan, the
Syrian Arab Republic and Tunisia, as well as individual Palestinians in the
refugee camps. Twelve to 15 senior journalists from Europe will also
participate in the mission.
82. Several United Nations information centres and information services
undertook special publicity campaigns on the question of Palestine. The
United Nations Information Centre in London assisted in the planning for the
encounter for Irish journalists on the question of Palestine held at Dublin
and helped secure the participation of 55 journalists and experts in the
encounter. Additionally, numerous European information centres - especially
that of Lisbon - assisted in the planning of the international encounter held
there for European journalists on the question of Palestine. The United
Nations Information Centre in Lisbon assisted with government and media
liaison, and provided administrative support for the encounter. The
information service at Geneva provided coverage, media liaison and
administrative support for the Sixth United Nations European Regional
Non-Governmental Organization Syrnposi~. The United Nations Information
Centre in Brussels reported on an exhibit of drawings by Palestinian and
Israeli children, attended by over 200 people, including the Queen of Belgium,
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the Belgian Foreign Minister and the representative of the PLO. The
Department, both at Headquarters and through the relevant information centres,
also publicized and assisted the 1992 mission to the Middle East of the
Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights
of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories.
83. The network of information centres provides, on a continuous basis,
coverage for United Nations activities on the subject of Palestine. The
centres produce newsletters, send out press releases and fax news, and also
brief media representatives on a regular basis. The staff organize film
screenings and disseminate pUblications and posters produced both by the
Department of Public Information and the Division of Palestinian Rights.
84. During this reporting period, 120 representatives of non-governmental
organizations attended a briefing on the work of UNRWA given by the Director
of the UNRWA Liaison Office in New York with the assistance of the
Department. The briefing included a screening of "Partners in change", an
UNRWA video about women. In addition, the Department featured and distributed
United Nations information materials, documents and press releases to
representatives of non-governmental organizations, including all documents
disseminated by the Division for Palestinian Rights, the Special Committee to
Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian
People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and UNRWA. The
Department also oversaw an active re-dissemination programme of United Nations
information materials through non-governmental organizations such as the
Presbyterian Church.
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VI. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
85. The year 1992 marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Occupation by
Israel of the Palestinian and other Arab territories, including Jerusalem.
While welcoming the peace process initiated at Madrid in October 1991 and
expressing the hope that it will lead to substantive results, the Committee
draws once again the attention of the international community to the fact that
the occupation continues, buttressed by harsh and repressive measures, causing
serious SUffering and hardship among Palestinians and an unending cycle of
violence in the region. The Committee considers that the permanence of
occupation and the denial of Palestinian rights, in particular the right to
self-determination, are the major obstacles to the attainment of peace.
86. The Committee expresses its continued and full support for the intifadah,
the courageous struggle of the Palestinian people, to end Israeli occupation
and implement the proclamation of independence of November 1988. Through the
intifadah, the Palestinian people has clearly expressed its determination to
bring about the exercise of its inalienable national rights and has affirmed
that the Palestine Liberation Organization is its sole legitimate
representative. The Committee reaffirms the international consensus that the
attainment and exercise of Palestinian rights, in accordance· with United
Nations resolutions, are indispensable for the settlement of the Arab-Israeli
conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine. The Committee calls
once again upon the international community as a whole to intensify further
its efforts to bring about this essential objective.
87. The Committee recalls that the Peace Conference on the Middle East
convened under the co-sponsorship of the United States and the former Soviet
Union has the support of all the parties and has for its frame of reference
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and the principle of
~and for peace. The Committee expresses its earnest hope that this process
will bring about a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement to the question
of Palestine based on internationally recognized principles and United Nations
resolutions. The Committee stresses the essential need for an active role by
the. United Nations, the Security Council and the Secretary-General, for a
successful outcome of the peace process.
88. The Committee reaffirms that the United Nations has a permanent
responsibility with respect to the question of Palestine until the question is
resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with
international legitimacy.
89. The Committee recalls that an international consensus has been reached
over the years on the essential principles for the achievement of
comprehensive peace, as recommended initially by the Committee (see annex I)
and subsequently elaborated by the International Conference on the Question of
Palestine, held at Geneva in 1983, and relevant General Assembly resolutions,
the latest of which was resolution 46/75 of 11 December 1991. The Committee
reaffirms that these principles include the withdrawal of Israel from the
occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, including Jerusalem; respect
for the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and
internationally recognized boundaries; and the recognition and exercise of the
inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to
se1 f -determination.
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90. The Committee considers that, in the recent elections, a majority of the
Israeli pUblic has voted for peace and expresses the earnest hope that the new
Israeli Government will recognize and respect the national aspirations and
rights of the Palestinian people, in particular the right to
self-determination, and institute radical changes in Israel's policies in
favour of peace. The Committee urges the Government to take immediate
measures for the restoration of the fundamental human rights and freedoms of
Palestinians living under occupation, in accordance with Israel's obligations
under international law. The Committee notes with concern reports from
various sources that initial goodwill statements and measures by the new
Government have failed to improve the, situation in the occupied Palestinian
territory, and have been followed by increased repression of demonstrations
during the prisoners' hunger strike in October 1992. The Committee calls on
the Government to act immediately to end extrajudicial killings; to cease all
land confiscation and settlement activities; to release political prisoners;
to end deportations, administrative detention, ill-treatment and torture of
prisoners; to restore freedom of movement and other civil liberties; and to
repeal the military orders through which it controls every area of Palestinian
daily life. The Committee calls once again on Israel to recognize the
applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War to the occupied Palestinian territory and to implement
its provisions and those of the various human rights instruments to which it
is a party. The Committee considers that the fact that a peace process is
under way does not detract in any way from Israel's obligations in this regard.
91. Pending progress towards a political settlement, the Committee considers
it is of the utmost urgency that all necessary measures be taken to protect
the Palestinian people in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967,
including Jerusalem, in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, and
numerous resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly. The
Committee considers that it is now all the more urgent for the High
Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention and for the United Nations system
as a whole to take action to ensure that Israel abides by its obligations as
the occupying Power, in accordance with Security Council resolution 681 (1990)
of 20 December 1990. The Committee draws attention in this regard to the
relevant recommendations made by the participants in the North American
Regional Seminar, the theme of which was "Enforcin~ the Fourth Geneva
Convention for ensuring the protection of the Palestinian people in the
occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem" (see annex IV below).
92. The Committee wishes to reaffirm that the United Nations has a duty and
responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the social and
economic development of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967,
including Jerusalem, in preparation for the full exercise of national
sovereignty in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions. The
Committee accordingly reiterates its call upon the organizations of the United
Nations system, as well as on Governments and on intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations, to sustain and increase their economic and
social assistance to the Palestinian people, in close cooperation with the
Palestine Liberation Organization. Mindful of the importance of this issue
and of the need to increase its own efforts to promote international action,
the Committee has decided to devote its 1993 European Seminar to the question
of assistance to the Palestinian people, in accordance with the proposal made
by the Economic and Social Council in resolution 1992/58 of 31 July 1992.
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93. The Committee notes with satisfaction the increased international support
for the attainment of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the
question of Palestine in accordance with international principles and United
Nations resolutions in the year under review. The Committee believes that its
programme of regional seminars, non-governmental organization meetings and
other informational activiti~s has played a valuable role in this process and
it will continue to strive to achieve maximum effectiveness in the
implementation of its mandate. The Committee will continue and intensify its
efforts to ensure that those meetings provide a useful forum for promoting a
constructive debate and a concrete and action-oriented analysis of the most
important issues relating to the question of Palestine. The Committee once
again extends an invitation to all Governments, including those of the United
States of America and Israel, to participate in its work and in the events
organized under its auspices.
94. The Committee considers that the programme of research, studies and
publications of the Division for Palestinian Rights is an essential resource
for information, analysis and promotion of international action, and calls for
its strengthening through the establishment of an adequately staffed and
equipped computerized system.
1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
1/ Ibid., Thirty-second Session. Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35); ibid.,
Thirty-third Session. Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35); ibid., Thirty-fQurth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35 and Corr.l); ibid., Thirty-fifth SessiQn,
Supplement No. 35 (A/35/35); ibid., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/36/35); ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/37/35 and
Corr.l); ibid., Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35); ibid.,
Thirty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/39/3S); ibid., Fortieth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/40/35); ibid., FQrty-first Session, Supplement NQ. 35
(A/41/35); ibid., Forty-second SessiQn, Supplement No. 35 (A/42/35); ibid.,
Forty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/45/35), and ibid.; Forty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35).
1/ Geneva Convention relative tQ the Protection Qf Civilian Persons in
Time of War of 12 August 1949 (United NatiQns, Treaty Series, VQl. 75,
No. 973).
i/ Report of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine,
Geneva, 29 August-7 September 1963 (United Nations publication, Sales
No. E.83.I.2l), chap. I, sect. B.
~/ The observers at the Committee meetings were as fQllows: Algeria,
Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Czechoslovakia, Ecuador, Egypt; Irag, Jordan,
Kuwait; Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jarnahiriya, Mauritania, MoroccQ, Nicaragua,
Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Vlet Nam,
the League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Palestine, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, as the
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~ (continued)
representative of the Palestinian people, the principal party to the question
of Palestine, was also an observer.
~/ The membership of the Working Group was as follows: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Guinea, Guyana, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal, Tunisia,
Turkey, Ukraine and Palestine, represented by the Palestine Liberation
Organization, as the representative of the people directly concerned.
2/ See Qfficial Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1992,
Supplement No. 2 (E/1992/22), chap. 11.
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ANNEX I
RecOmmendations of the Committee endorsed by the General
Assembly at its thirty-first session AI
"I. Basic consideratiQns and guidelines
"59. The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East
problem, and consequently, the Committee stresses its belief that nQ
sQlutiQn in the Middle East can be envisaged which does not fully take
into account the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.
"60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to
return to their homes and property and to achieve self-determination,
natiQnal independence and sQvereignty are endQrsed by the CQmmittee in
the conviction that the full implementatiQn of those rights will
contribute decisively to a comprehensive and final settlement of the
Middle East crisis.
"61. The participation of the Palestine LiberatiQn Organization (PLO),
the representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with
Qther parties, on the basis Qf General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX)
and 3375 (XXX) is indispensable in all effQrts, deliberatiQns and
conferences on the Middle East which are held under the auspices of the
United Nations.
"62. The Committee recalls the fundamental principle of the
inadmissibility of the acquisition Qf territory by force and stresses the
consequent Obligation for complete and speedy evacuatiQn of any territQry
SQ Qccupied.
"63. The CQmmittee considers that it is the duty and respQnsibility Qf
all concerned to enable the Palestinians tQ exercise their i~alienable
rights.
"64. The CQmmittee recommends an expanded and more influential role by
the United Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the
question of Palestine and in the implementation of such a solution. The
Security Council, in particular, should take appropriate action to
facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of their right to return to
their homes, lands and property. The Committee, furthermore, urqes the
Security CQuncil to promote action towards a just solution, taking into
account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter of the United
Nations.
"65. It is with this perspective in view and Qn the basis of the numerous
resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideratiQn of all the
facts, prQposals and suggestions advanced in the CQurse of its
deliberatiQns, that the Committee submits its recommendatiQns on the
mQdalities for the implementatiQn of the exercise of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people.
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"IL The right of return
"66. The natural and inalienable right of Palestinians to return to their
homes is recognized by resolution 194 (Ill), which the General Assembly
has reaffirmed almost every year since its adoption. This right was also
unanimously recognized by the Security Council in its resolution
237 (1967); the time for the urgent implementation of these resolutions
is long overdue.
"67. Without prejudice to the right of all Palestinians to return to
their homes, lands and property, the Committee considers that the
programme of implementation of the exercise of this right may be carried
out in two phases:
"Phase one
"68. The first phase involves the return to their homes of the
Palestinians displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The
Committee recommends that:
"(a) The Security Council should request the immediate
implementation of its resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementation
should not be related to any other condition;
"(b) The resources of the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be
employed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved in
the resettlement of those returning to their homes. These agencies could
also assist, in cooperation with the host countries and the Palestine
Liberation Organization, in the identification of the displaced
Pales tinians;
"Phase two
"69. The second phase deals with the return to their homes of the
Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends
that:
"(a) While the first phase is being implemented, the United Nations,
in cooperation with the States directly involved, qnd the Palestine
Liberation Organization as the interim representative of the Palestinian
entity, should proceed to make the necessary arrangements to enable
Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967 to exercise their right to
return to their homes and property, in accordance with the relevant
United Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly resolution
194 (III);
"(b) Palestinians choosing not to return to their homes should be
paid just and equitable compensation as provided for in resolution
194 (III).
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~III. The right to self-determination, national independence
and sovereignty
"70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to self-determination,
national independence and sovereignty in Palestine. The Committee
considers that the evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in
violation of the principles of the Charter and relevant resolutions of
the United Nations is a conditio sine qua non for the exercise by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights in Palestine. The Committee
considers, furthermore, that, upon the return of the Palestinians to
their homes and property and with the establishment of an independent
Palestinian entity, the Palestinian people will be able to exercise its
rights to self-determination and to decide its form of government without
external interference.
"71. The Committee also feels that the United Nations has an historical
duty and responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the
economic development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
"72. To those ends, the Committee recommends that:
"(a) A timetable should be established by the Security Council for
the complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas
occupied in 1967; such withdrawal should be completed no later than
1 June 1977;
"(b) The Security Council may need to provide temporary
peace-keeping forces in order to facilitate the process of withdrawal;
"(c) Israel should be requested by the Security Council to desist
from the establishment of new settlements and to withdraw during this
period from settlements established since 1967 in the occupied
territories. Arab property and all essential services in those areas
should be maintained intact;
"(d) Israel should also be requested to abide scrupulously by the
provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and to declare,
pending its speedy withdrawal from those territories, its recognition of
the applicability of that Convention;
"(e) The evacuated territories, with all property and services
intact, should be taken over by the United Nations, which, with the
cooperation of the League of Arab States, will subsequently hand over
those evacuated areas to the Palestine Liberation Organization as the
representative of the Palestinian people;
"(f) The United Nations should, if necessary, assist in establishing
communications between Gaza and the West Bank;
"(g) As soon as the independent Palestinian entity has been
established, the United Nations, in cooperation with the States directly
involved and the Palestinian entity, should, taking into account General
Assembly resolution 3375 (XXX), make further arrangements for the full
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implementation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the
resolution of outstanding problems and the establishment of a just and
lasting peace in the region, in accordance with all relevant United
Nations resolutions;
"(h) The United Nations should provide the economic and technical
assistance necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity."
AI Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35), paras. 59-72.
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'"'
ANNEX 11
Conclusions and ~ecQmmendatiQns adopted by the Twenty-ninth
United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine
(Nicosial 20 to 24 January 1992)
1. The Sixth United Nations Asian Regional Semina~ (Twenty-ninth Unit d
Nations S~m.1na)r on t h e Q~est1. 0n Qf Pales:-ine and the Fourth United Nateions
Asian Reglona1 NGO SymPOSIum on the Quest10n of Palestine were held at the
Cyprus InternatiQnal Conference Centre, Nicosia, from 20 to 24 January 1992
in accQrdance with General Assembly resolution 46/74 B of 11 December 1991 '
The Seminar and NGO Symposium took place for the most part as a combined e~ent.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was represented by a delegation comprising
Mr. Keba Birane CisSEt (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and Chairman of the
Seminar; Mr. Victor Camil1eri (Malta), RappQrteur of the Committee,
Vice-Chairman and Rapporteur of the Seminar; Mr. Andreas Mavrommatis (Cyprus),
Vice-Chairman of the Seminar; Mr. Dinesh Kumar Jain (India); and
Mr. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
3. A tQta1 of nine plenary meetings were held and 20 experts presented
papers Qn various aspects of the question of Palestine. Representatives of
22 Governments, Palestine, 1 specialized agency, 3 United Nations organs,
1 intergovernmental organization and 48 non-governmental organizations
attended the Seminar and NGO Symposium.
4. The Seminar adopted conclusions, recommendations and a motion of thanks
to the Government and people Qf Cyprus.
5. At the opening meeting of the Seminar and NGO Symposium statements were
made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, the representative of the
Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the
representative of Palestine, who read out a message from the Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and by the
representative of the Asian Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental
Organizations on the Question of Palestine.
6. Three round tables were established. The topics addressed and the
panelists were as follows:
(a) Round table I. A just settlement of the question of Palestine
(i) The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people
Mr. Muhammad Hallaj (Palestinian)
Mr. He Yafe! (China)
Mr. Don Betz (United States of America)
(ii) Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territory
Mr. Hashim Mahamid (Israel)
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(iii) Israeli settlements
Mr. Ian S. Lustick (United States of America)
(iv) Palestinian refugees
Mr. Ron Macintyre (New Zealand)
(v) Jerusalem
Mr. Moshe Amirav (Israel)
Mr. Albert Aghazarian (Palestinian)
(vi) Security arrangements in the region
Mr. Mattityahu Peled (Israel)
Mr. Yezid Sayigh (Palestinian)
(vii) Presentations on the round table as a whole
Mr. Radwan Abu-Ayyash (Palestinian)
Ms. Yael Dayan (Israel)
(b) Round table 11. Safety and protection of the Palestinian people in
the occupied Palestinian territory
The current situation in the occupied Palestinian territory as
regards the need for humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian
people
Dr. Abroad Yaziji (Palestinian)
(c) Round table Ill. International and regional issues
(i) International responsibility for advancing the peace process
Mr. A. H. Rizavi (India)
(ii) Nuclear and conventional armament in the region
Mr. Omran El-Shafie (Egypt)
(iii) International economic assistance to the Palestinian people and to
the region
Mr. Ryoji Tateyama (Japan)
Mr. Vassos Lyssarides (Cyprus)
Mr. Mohamad Amerah (Jordan)
(iv) Jewish immigration
Dr. Muhammad Hallaj (Palestinian)
Mr. Ian S. Lustick (United States of America)
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7. The summary of the proceedings has been issued as a pUblication of the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations Secretariat.
Conclusions and recommendations
8. The following conclusions and recommendations were adopted by the Seminar
participants:
"(a) The participants welcomed the convening of the Asian Seminar
and NGO Symposium as an important contribution to continuing efforts to
bring about a just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine.
They emphasized the significance of the role that the Asian region had to
play, and could continue to play, towards this objective. They
particularly welcomed the holding of the meeting in Cyprus because of its
traditional friendly ties with the peoples in the region and its
geographical proximity to the Middle East.
"(b) The participants noted that the fundamental changes in the
international political scene created fresh opportunities for renewed
efforts to resolve outstanding problems. In this connection they
stressed the importance of equal applicability of the purposes and
principles of the United Nations Charter and the norms of international
law.
"(c) The participants expressed their appreciation to the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and
the Division for Palestinian Rights for having once again provided a
forum for an in-depth exchange of views on key aspects of the Palestine
question. They reaffirmed their determination to continue to work for a
just and peaceful settlement. They felt that their discussions had been
useful and constructive and had covered a wide range of topics, thereby
contributing to better understanding of the positions of the parties to
the conflict, and helping to identify important issues for further
discussion.
"(d) The participants reiterated the essential elements of a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine
which include: withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian
territory occupied since June 1967, including Jerusalem, and other
occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in the
region to live in peace within secure and internationally recogni2ed
boundaries; and the recognition and exercise of the legitimate national
rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to
self-determination, in accordance with the pertinent resolutions of the
United Nations.
"(e) The participants welcomed the convening of the Peace Conference
on the Middle East at Madrid on 30 October 1991 and the subsequent
bilateral talks between the parties in Washington, D.C., and expressed
their earnest hope that the talks would be successful in establishing a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region. They noted in this
connection that this process had the support of the parties concerned and
had as its basis Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973),
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which had long been recognized as the cornerstone of a comprehensive
settlement. They stressed the essential need for an active role by the
United Nations, the Secretary-General and the Security Council, for a
successful outcome of the peace process.
"(f) The participants expressed the utmost concern at the continuing
settlement activity and land confiscation in the occupied Palestinian
territory, including Jerusalem, which had come to pose an existential
threat to the Palestinian community never experienced by previous
generations. They stressed the illegal nature of those settlements and
the imperative need for the immediate halt of settlement activity for the
success of the peace process. Furthermore, they expressed concern at the
provocative actions of Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians.
They underlined the obligation of Israel to respect fully the provisions
of the Fourth Geneva Convention and relevant Security Council
resolutions. They urged the peace forces in Israel to strengthen their
activities in opposition to further settlements and in favour of
withdrawal. The participants expressed the view that economic assistance
to Israel should be made conditional upon the termination of the
settlement policy.
"(g) The participants condemned the settlement of immigrants and
Israeli citizens in the occupied Palestinian territory, including
Jerusalem, and urged the Security Council and other relevant
international bodies to take appropriate measures to address this serious
problem.
"(h) The participants stressed the fundamental linkage between an
overall political settlement based on the principle of Palestinian
self-determination and a solution of the continuing plight of the
Palestinian refugees in accordance with relevant United Nations
resolutions, in particular General Assembly resolution 194 (Ill). They
pointed out that such a solution would greatly contribute to the
achievement of peace and stability and economic development in the
region. They expressed deep appreciation to UNRWA for its work carried
out under difficult circumstances, and called on all Governments to
contribute generously to its activities and to the activities of other
United Nations agencies active in the region.
"(i) The participants expressed the most serious concern at the
continued threat of a wider conflict in the region, which was aggravated
by the increasing arms race. They stressed that arms control measures in
both conventional arms and weapons of mass destruction can only be
effective if they are structured as an integral part of a political and
territorial settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict. They also
emphasized the necessity for the Governments in the region to consider·
seriously the establishment of a nuclear-arms free zone in the region as
requested by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its various
resolutions.
"(j) The participants recognized that the intifadah is the
expression of the national will of the Palestinian people and of its
determination to remain on its land and to attain its inalienable
national rights. They reaffirmed the right of the Palestinian people to
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choose its own leadership, the Palestine Liberation Organization. They
voiced deep concern that, in its efforts to repress the intifadah, Israel
continued to violate the fundamental human rights of Palestinians, in
violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and generally recognized norms
of international law, as well as numerous United Nations resolutions.
The Security Council, in resolution 681 (1990) had urged once again the
Government of Israel to accept the de jurQ applicability of that
convention and had asked the High Contracting Parties to ensure that
Israel fulfilled its obligations as the occupying Power. The
participants stressed that Israel be required to abide fully with
international law in its treatment of tens of thousands of Palestinian
prisoners and detainees. Participants appealed to the Security Council
to persevere in its responsibility to ensure the physical protection and
to guarantee the safety and security of all Palestinian people living
under Israeli occupation by, inter alia, strengthening the United Nations
presence in the occupied territory. They noted that the Security Council
in resolution 726 (1992) of 6 January 1992 had strongly condemned
Israel's deportation of Palestinians, and called for an end to that
policy and the return of all those deported.
"(k) The participants expressed great concern at the negligence and
indifference of the Israeli authorities to public health in the occupied
territory, particularly with regard to water supply and quality,
sanitation, and the provision of medical care. They condemned reported
abuses by Israeli forces of Palestinian patients. They called on the
international community as a whole to intensify its assistance to meet
the health needs in the occupied territory, and called for the cessation
of measures shutting down educational institutions as a form of
collective punishment. They also emphasized the need for protection of
Palestinian trade union organizations and their activities.
"(1) The participants noted with great concern that the current
situatibn in the occupied Palestinian territory was characterized by
economic collapse and massive and dangerous levels of poverty. The
participants strongly deplored the continued constraints imposed by
Israel on Palestinian economic development and recognized the important
interconnections between economic advancement and the promotion of
peace. They called for long-term developmental measures to liberate the
Palestinian economy from its subordination to, and dependence on, the
Israeli economy, as well as for short-term immediate humanitarian
assistance to the Palestinian people. They stressed that the
international community has a duty and responsibility to render all
assistance necessary to promote the social and economic development of
the Palestinian people in the occupied territory in preparation for the
full exercise of national sovereignty, and called on all United Nations
organizations concerned to intensify their efforts in this regard.
"(m) The participants expressed their appreciation to the
Secretary-General of the United Nations for his constant efforts to bring
about a peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and for his
support for the programme of work of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for
Palestinian Rights. They expressed confidence that the Committee and the
Division would continue and increase their activities to promote a
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constructive debate and a concrete and action-oriented analysis of the
most important issues relating to the question of Palestine.
n(n) The participants expressed their warm appreciation to the
Government and the people of Cyprus for providing a venue for the Asian
Seminar and NGO Symposium on the question of Palestine and for the
excellent facilities, courtesies and warm hospitality extended to them."
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ANNEX III
Declaration adopted by the Fourth United Nations Asi~n
Regional Non-Governmental Organization Symposium on
the Question of Palestine
(Nicosia, 20 to 24 January 1992)
1. The Fourth United Nations Asian Regional Non-Governmental Organization
Symposium on the Question of Palestine was held in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 46/74 B of 11 December 1991, under the auspices of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People. The Symposium was held from 20 to 24 January 1992, in part together
with the Twenty-ninth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine
(Sixth Asian Regional Seminar).
2. The Symposium was attended by the representatives of 43 non-governmental
organizations as participants and five such organizations as observers.
Governments, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental organizations also
attended as observers.
3. In addition to the round tables held jointly with the Seminar, three
workshops specifically related to non-governmental organization activities
were established to consider the following topics: Developing solidarity
activities by Israeli and other organizations with:
(a) Palestinian women
Ms. Zahira Kamal (Palestinian)
Ms. Hanna Knaz (Israel);
(b) Physicians, health workers, health services
Dr. Abroad Yaziji (Palestinian)
Dr. Ruchama Marton (Israel);
(c) Educational institutions, students
Mr. Albert Aghazarian (Palestinian).
4. The non-governmental organizations participating in the Symposium adopted
a declaration and action-oriented proposals emanating from the workshops, and
elected an Asian Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on
the Question of Palestine. The report of the Symposium has been issued as a
special bulletin of the Division for Palestinian Rights, together with that of
the Seminar.
5. The declaration adopted by the participants reads as follows:
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D~claration
We, the non-governmental organizations gathered at the United Nations
Asian Regional Seminar and NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine,
representing millions of people concerned with a peaceful solution of that
question, believe that the situation has acquired great urgency following the
Gulf war. We totally uphold the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people. We recognize and uphold the historic proclamation of the State of
Palestine made on 15 November 1988. We recognize the proclamation as the
expression of the continuous struggle of the heroic Palestinian people
culminating in the intifadah. We unconditionally affirm the rights of
self-determination, statehood and return of the Palestinian people as
guaranteed by the Charter of the United Nations and all relevant United
Nations resolutions. We call on all Governments of Asia and the Pacific
region which have not already done so to recognize the State of Palestine in
unequivocal terms and without delay.
We are motivated by the genuine desire to establish a durable and just
peace in the Middle East on the basis of international legitimacy as provided
by all relevant United Nations resolutions, and mutual recognition of the
right of both the Palestinian and Israeli people to self-determination and the
right to live in sovereign independent States alongside each other.
We draw attention to the peace process initiated by the Palestine
National Council in compliance with all relevant United Nations resolutions.
We note and welcome the resolutions of the Council to the effect that any
international peace conference be based on the implementation of all United
Nations resolutlons and the right of the Palestine Liberation Organization as
the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. We fully
support the objectives of the Palestine Liberation Organization in the peace
process, and therefore urge all Governments to follow suit.
We note with utmost concern the continuous systematic policy of violating
the rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories
conducted by the Israeli occupation authorities. We deplore and denounce the
continuation of the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian and Arab
territories, inclUding East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and southern Lebanon,
and Israel's brutal measures against the Palestinians, inclUding the current
policy designed to dismember the West Bank by restricting movement of
Palestinian individuals and goods through the City of Jerusalem. We condemn
the conditions of Palestinian prisoners in the administrative detention camps
and the use of torture and brutality during their interrogation, inclUding
women and children. Furthermore, we condemn the Government of Israel's policy
of the systematic expulsion of Palestinians from the national homeland as a
clear violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, g/ and affirm Security
Council resolution 726 (1992), in which the Council strongly condemned the
decision of Israel to resume the deportation of Palestinians.
Therefore, we call upon all Israeli authorities to permit the return of
all deportees to their homeland.
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We observe with great concern the illegal colonization by Israel of the
occupied Palestinian territory. We demand the immediate cessation of the
construction and expansion of all Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine,
which undermine the current peace process.
We draw attention to the fact that Jewish immigration poses a great
threat to the Palestinian survival on their land and is an obstacle to the
resolution of the Palestinian problem. owing to the ensuing demographic
changes. This is especially true while Palestinians continue to be denied
their right of return. We call upon new immigrants to Israel and all Israelis
to refuse to settle in the occupied Palestinian territories. We also call
upon the international community to mobilize in all ways for the return of the
Palestinians to their homeland. thus contributing to the efforts for a just
settlement of the question of Palestine.
We call upon the United States to recognize the right to selfdetermination
of the Palestinian people as they have done in the case of
Israel. We also call upon the United States to apply pressure upon Israel to
comply with all relevant United Nations resolutions.
We oppose the massive and unconditional aid to Israel provided by the
United States and other States which underwrite the continuing occupation. We
call upon all Governments to condition all aid, loans and guarantees to Israel
on the cessation of Israeli settlement construction and expansion in the
occupied Palestinian and Arab territories. including East Jerusalem. the Golan
Heights and southern Lebanon. We call on all Governments and the Security
Council to institute sanctions against Israeli occupation •
We unanimously recognize and support the intifadah as a national
liberation struggle for the achievement of the State of Palestine and the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
We condemn the American and Israeli endeavours to bypass the Palestine
Liberation Organization. the sole and legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people. in the current peace talks. We call upon the American
administration to re-establish dialogue with the PLO. We insist that
Palestinians. as do all other peoples. have full right to choose their own
political representatives in any peace process. We call for direct
participation of the PLO and the effective participation of the United Nations
in the peace process.
The issue of the status of Jerusalem should not be excluded from
negotiations, nor should Palestinian residents of that city be excluded from
participation in the negotiations currently under way.
We consider it most urgent that the United Nations provide immediate and
sustained protection for the Palestinians under occupation. and that the
Security Council establish in East Jerusalem an authority responsible for the
monitoring of human rights violations in contravention of the Fourth Geneva
Convention. We urge the Security Council to take all necessary measures to
facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of their inalienable rights. We
call for the establishment of a United Nations force to protect the
Palestinian people and to stop Israel's attempts at uprooting and destroying
it.
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We observe that Palestinians in Israel are subjected to a policy of legal
and political discrimination and demand that Israel apply the principles of
justice and equality to Israeli Palestinians in accordance with their status
as a national minority in Israel. We condemn the Israeli policy of continued
confiscations of Palestinian lands and destruction of Palestinian homes for
the purpose of settlements of immigrants inside Israel.
We express our strongest protest against the action of the Israeli
Government in preventing the distinguished expert, Mr. Omar Abdel-Razeq, of
AI-Najah University, from attending this Seminar and Symposium.
We call upon all non-governmental organizations to establish contacts
with and extend support to fellow non-governmental organizations in occupied
Palestine, especially those related to human rights, women, health, labour,
children and education." Furthermore, we call upon all Asian non-governmental
organizations to monitor the relationships among Asian governmental and
private institutions and Israeli governmental and private institutions. We
urge non-governmental organizations to publicize those linkages and to take
collective action against them, including organizing boycotts of Israeli
products regardless of the exporting or intermediary country.
We request all Asian Governments to support the important role of
non-governmental organizations in Asia in mobilizing public opinion and to
extend financial and other assistance to those organizations so that they can
more effectively support the struggle of the Palestinian people.
We warmly thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People for convening this Asian Seminar and
Non-Governmental Organization Symposium on the Ouestion of Palestine. We
greatly appreciate the presence of the Committee delegation and its guidance
at this meeting. We wish to convey our deep appreciation to the
Secretary-General of the United Nations for his message, which was read by the
Under-Secretary-General for Political and General Assembly Affairs and
Secretariat Services, whose presence at our meeting was most highly
appreciated. We thank the Division for Palestinian Rights and all others of
the United Nations Secretariat, inclUding the interpreters, who made such a
valuable contribution to our deliberations. We express our heartfelt
appreciation to the Government of Cyprus for being our gracious host and for
all the excellent facilities so generously provided. We particularly wish to
express our gratitude to the Acting President of the Republic of Cyprus,
Mr. Vassos Lyssarides, for his presence at our meeting. We also extend our
appreciation to Mrs. Androulla Vassiliou, the First Lady of the Republic of
Cyprus, for her very inspiring message. In addition, we extend our
appreciation to Mr. George Iacovou, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cyprus,
for addressing the opening session. We also wish to express our appreciation
to President Yasser Arafat for his message.
~/ Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949 (United Nations, Treaty Series,
vol. 75, No. 973.
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ANNEX IV
Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Thirtieth
United Nations Seminar on the Ouestion of Palestine
(New York, 22 and 23 June 1992)
1. The Eighth United Nations North American Regional Seminar (Thirtieth
United Nations Seminar) on the Question of Palestine, on the theme "Enforcing
the Fourth Geneva Convention for ensuring the protection of the Palestinian
people in the occupied Palestinian territory, inclUding Jerusalem", was held
at United Nations Headquarters on 22 and 23 June 1992. The Seminar had been
mandated by General Assembly resolution 46/74 B of 11 December 1991.
2. Mr. Victor Camilleri (Malta), Rapporteur of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, was Chairman and
Rapporteur of the Seminar.
3. Four meetings were held and seven experts presented papers on the theme
of the Seminar. Representatives of 51 Governments, 9 specialized agencies and
United Nations bodies, 3 intergovernmental organizations and 14
non-governmental organizations attended the meeting.
4. The invited experts were: Mr. Haider ADdel Shafi (Palestinian),
Ms. Jeanne A. Butterfield (United States of America), Mr. Tom Farer (United
States of America), Mrs. Felicia Langer (Israel), Mr. John Ouigley (United
States of America), Mr. Charles Shammas (Palestinian) and Mr. Raj! Sourani
(Palestinian) .
5. The full text of the proceedings will be published in due course as a
publication of the United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights.
Conclusions and recommendations
6. The conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Seminar participants
are as follows:
(a) Participants took note with serious concern of numerous and
persistent violations of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, which the Security Council
has declared to be applicable de jure to all the territories occupied by
Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem. Such violations included the unlawful
use of deadly force, including selective summary executions; punitive
beatings; torture; deportation; unlawful destruction of property; collective
punishments, including the demolition of houses; curfews; and the closing of
educational institutions and other measures proscribed under international
humanitarian law.
(b) Participants expressed their utmost concern at the continuing and
intensified illegal settlement activity and land confiscation in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, which posed a threat to the very
existence of the Palestinian community. This policy was in clear violation of
article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and threatened the peace process.
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They stressed the imperative need for the immediate halting of such
activities. Participants also expressed grave concern at the failure of the
Israeli authorities to protect the Palestinian population against the unlawful
violent actions of Israeli nationals in the occupied Palestinian territories.
(c) Participants expressed the view that the Government of Israel, by
rejecting its international accountability over its practices in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, had unilaterally and illegally
denied the Palestinian people living under military occupation for over 25
years the status of protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention and
had denied them the protection of customary and conventional international law.
(d) Participants declared that it was the duty of the international
community, in particular the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva
Convention, to ensure respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for its
obligations under the Convention. They stressed that the Convention's
provisions were minimum standards, and that falling below them was a breach of
international law.
(e) Participants appealed to all High Contracting Parties to the
Convention to fulfil their own responsibilities under the Convention. They
emphasized the importance of article 1 of the Convention, which requires the
High Contracting Parties to respect and to ensure respect for the Convention
in all cir~umstances. They drew particular attention to article 146 of the
Convention, under which the High Contracting Parties undertook to seek out and
prosecute persons accused of being involved in the perpetration of grave
breaches.
(f) The participants welcomed the suggestion made by the
Secretary-General in his report submitted in accordance with Security Council
resolution 672 (1990) to convene a special meeting of the High Contracting
Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention. They noted that the Security
Council, in its resolution 681 (1990), had requested the Secretary-General, in
cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, to develop
further the idea of convening such a meeting, and had also requested the
Secretary-General to monitor and observe the situation regarding Palestinian
civilians under Israeli occupation, and to report periodically. The
participants urged further action pursuant to the provisions of that
resolution. Such a meeting would facilitate an exchange of views with the
focus on measures outlined in the Convention, such as the appointment of a
Protecting Power (article 9), conciliation (article 12) and the inquiry
procedure (article 149). They expressed the hope that such a meeting would
take place at an early date.
(g) Participants drew attention to the fact that the mechanisms of the
Convention itself, which was designed to be enforced by a system of Protecting
Powers and formally appointed substitutes, had never been implemented.
However, in accordance with the Convention, the High Contracting Parties could
nominate either an intergovernmental or a non-governmental organization to
monitor the situation in the territory under occupation. They suggested that
High Contracting Parties to the Convention should utilize their consular
presence more fully and effectively for monitoring purposes. A United Nations
monitoring organization should be established through which High Contracting
Parties would carry out their responsibilities under article 1 of the
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Convention. They expressed their deep appreciation for the efforts of the
International Committee of the Red Cross to' implement the Convention and
called upon Israel to cooperate with it.
(h) The plight of the Palestinian people under occupation had been
compounded by the repeated action which the Israeli occupying forces had taken
against the personnel of UNRWA engaged in the discharge of that Agency's
mandate to provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people under
occupation. Participants expressed their appreciation to UNRWA for its
invaluable work being carried out under difficult circumstances for the
benefit of the Palestine refugees and Palestinians under Israeli occupation
and called for the expansion of the scope and mandate of the UNRWA Refugee
Affairs Officer programme.
(i) Participants recommended that. in the light of previous experience.
the General Assembly or the Security Council should seek an advisory opinion
from the International Court of Justice with regard to the policies and
practices of Israel. the occupying Power. in the occupied Palestinian
territory, including Jerusalem. On this matter a suggestion was made to
convene a seminar for the further developme~t of this idea.
(j) Participants considered that it was imperative for all concerned to
take necessary me~sures to ensure the physical protection and the safety and
security of the Palestinian people in the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967. including Jerusalem. They appealed in particular to the Security
Council to help achieve this objective by, inter alia, strengthening the
United Nations presence in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Security
Council should take all possible action to ensure respect by Israel. the
occupying Power. for its relevant resolutions.
(k) participants further recommended that the international community of
non-governmental organizations should support activities to ensure protection
by increasing and expanding its efforts at public education, advocacy and
direct involvement to provide protection. Such efforts could include actions
of non-governmental organizations to promote concrete international measures
aimed at ending unlawful policies and practices and to provide civilian
volunteer observers and monitors who could" by their very presence, provide a
certain measure of protection.
(1) Participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to have a
full and candid discussion of the aspects of the application of the Fourth
Geneva Convention to the occupied Palestinian territories, inclUding
Jerusalem, during the Seminar under the auspices of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. They hoped that
the Seminar would result in effective action by the United Nations and the
international community to ensure the protection of the Palestinian people
under occupation and that it would pave the.way for the achievement of a just.
comprehensive and lasting settlement of the;question of Palestine.
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, I
ANNEX V
Ninth United Nations North American Regional Non-Governmental
Organization SympQsium on the' Question of Palestine
(New YQrk, 24 to 26 June 1992)
1. The Ninth United Nations NQrth American Regional Non-GQvernmental
OrganizatiQn Symposium on the Question of Palestine was held at United NatiQns
Headquarters frQm 24 to 26 June 1992, in accordance with General Assembly
resolutiQn 46/74 B of 11 December 1991, under the auspices of the Committee on
the Exercise Qf the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
2. The Symposium was attended by the representatives of 87 nQn-governmental
organizatiQns from Canada and the United States of America, and 21 such
organizatiQns participated as observers. Six panelists and 32 workshop
facilitatQrs and resource persons made presentations. Representatives of
several Governments, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental organizations
also attended the Symposium as observers. Mr. Victor Camilleri (Malta),
Acting Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People, chaired the opening and closing sessions of the
SympQsium. The opening session was also addressed by the Permanent Observer
Qf Palestine to the United NatiQns, who read out a message from
Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee Qf the Palestine
Liberation Organization, and by Ms. Jeanne Butterfield, Chairman of the North
American CQQrdinating Committee fQr Non-Governmental Organizations on the
QuestiQn Qf Palestine, who served as Moderator of the SympQsium. The
Reverend Ibrahim Ayyad, President Qf the Palestine Committee for
~Qn-Governmenta1 Organizations, addressed the closing sessiQn of the Symposium.
3. The prQgramme for the Symposium, on the theme "Peace is the fruit of
justice: twenty-five years of occupation - overcoming the obstacles,
preparing the way for Palestine", was drawn up by the Committee in
consultation with the North American Coordinating Committee as fQllows:
(a) Panel 1. Twenty-five years of occupation: overcQming the Qbstacles
Mr. Raider Abdel Shafi (Palestinian)
Mr. Raji Sourani (Palestinian)
Mrs. Michal Schwartz (Israel)
Mr. Richard Curtiss (United States of America)
(b) Panel 2. Preparing the way for Palestine
Mr. Elia Zureik (Canada)
Dr. Ruchama Marton (Israel)
4. Eight workshops and four skills training workshops were organized. The
wQrkshops were organized under the fQllowing general sub-themes:
(a) "Overcoming obstacles, providing protection": defining hwnan rights;
children, prisQners, expellees; ending United States aid for Qccupation; land,
water and settlements; and misinformation and disinformation;
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(b) "Preparing the way for Palestine": supporting Palestinian
institution-building; supporting Israeli peace projects; Gulf war aftermath:
needs of Palestinians in hardship areas; and implementing United Nations
resolutions.
5. The four skills-training workshops considered lobbying; letter-writing;
media; fund-raising and educating the public.
6. A teach-in was held under the general theme of the Symposium during which
panels 1 and 2 were discussed. Further, the Symposium elected a new 12-member
Non-Governmental Organization Coordinating Committee for the region composed
of three members from Canada and nine members from the United States.
7. The report of the Symposium will be issued as a publication of the
Division for Palestinian Rights.
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ANNEX VI,
Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Thirty-first
United Nations Seminar on the Ouestion of Palestine
(Qawra, Malta, 27 to 29 July 1992)
1. The Seventh United Nations European Regional Seminar (Thirty-first United
Nations Seminar) on the Question of Palestine was held at the Conference
Centre of the New Dolmen Hotel, Qawra, Malta, from 27 to 29 July 1992, in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 46/74 B of 11 December 1991.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was represented by a delegation comprising
Mr. Keba Birane Cisse (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and Chairman of the
Seminar; Mr. Victor Camilleri (Malta), Rapporteur of the Committee,
Vice-Chairman and Rapporteur of the Seminar; Mr. Victor Batiouk (Ukraine),
Vice-Chairman of the Seminar; and Mr. Nasse;r Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
3. A total of six plenary meetings were held and 15 experts presented papers
on various aspects of the question of Palestine. One United Nations organ,
one specialized agency, one intergovernmental organization and nine
non-governmental organizations attended the Seminar as observers.
4. Two round tables were established and their panelists were as follows:
(a) Round table I. International action to ensure the safety and
protection of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian
territory
(i) Measures that could be taken by the High Contracting Parties to
ensure respect for the Fourth Geneva Convention
Mr. Victor Nagaychuk (Ukraine), Head of Department, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs
(ii) Action by the international community and non-governmental
organizations
Mr. Pol Marck (Belgium), Member of the European Parliament
Mr. Bernard Mills (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland), Chairman, European Coordinating Committee for
Non~Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine
(iii) Measures to alleviate the SUffering and to promote the independent
economic development of the occupied Palestinian territory: the
role of Europe
Mr. Gunter Weiss, Ambassador and Representative of the Commission of
the European Communities to Malta
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(iv) Presentation on the panel as a whole
Monsignor Hilarion Capucci (Palestinian), Archbishop of the Melkite
Catholic Church of Jerusalem
Mrs. Amina Hass (Israel), journalist
(b) Round table 11. Efforts to promote the implementation of United
Nations resolutions on the question of Palestine and the situation
in the Middle East
(i) The current peace process
(ii)
(iii)
Mrs. Helene Cobban (United States of America), Research Director of
the initiative for peace and cooperation in the Middle East,
columnist
Mr. V. Y. Gogitidze (Russian Federation), Chief of Section, Ministry
for Foreign Affairs
The role of the United Nations
Mr. Evarist V. Saliba (Malta), Ambassador, Advisor to the Minister
for Foreign Affairs
The role of Europe
Mr. Patrick Cooney (Ireland), Member of the European Parliament and
former Defence Minister
Mr. Richard Balfe (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland), Member of the European Parliament
Mr. Jean-Michel Dumont (Belgium), Secretary-General, Parliamentary
Association for Euro-Arab Cooperation
(iv) The problems posed by Israel's settlement policy and Jewish
immigration
Mr. Hanna Ibrahim (Israel), Spokesman of the Arab Democratic Party,
editor
(v) Presentation on the panel as a whole
Mr. Abdulatif Abu Hejla, Director-General of the Political
Department, Palestine Liberation Organization
Mr. Gadi Yatsiv (Israel), Former Knesset member
5. The expert members of the panels agreed on summaries of the presentations
and the discussion of the two topics. The full text of the proceedings will
be published in due course as a pUblication of the Division for Palestinian
Rights.
6. The Seminar adopted conclusions and recommendations as well as a motion
of thanks to the Government and people of Malta.
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Conclusions and recommendations
7. The conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Seminar participants
are as follows:
"(a) The participants in the Seventh United Nations European
Regional Seminar on the Question of Palestine welcomed the convening of
the Seminar as an important contribution to continuing efforts to bring
about a just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. They emphasized
that the European countries had played, and could continue to play, a
constructive and active role towards that objective. They particularly
welcomed the holding of the meeting in Malta, whose steadfast and
consistent support for the Palestinian national struggle and whose
geographical location and active involvement in Mediterranean and
European affairs made it an ideal venue for deliberations on how Europe
can further contribute to the ongoing peace efforts.
"(b) The participants noted that the fundamental changes in the
international political scene, the shift from confrontation towards
cooperation in international affairs, had brought the possibility of
meaningful interaction of the international community in the search for
efficient ways of resolving the Middle East conflict. They stressed that
those opportunities should not be missed for lack of goodwill or inaction
and warned of the persistent dangers of continued instability and of the
resulting unabated arms race in the region, which threatened not only the
peoples of the Middle East, but also neighbouring Europe.
"(c) The participants reiterated that there was a European as well
as an international consensus concerning the essential elements of a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine,
which include: withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian
territory occupied since June 1967, including Jerusalem, and other
occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in the
region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized
boundaries; and the recognition and exercise of the legitimate national
rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to selfdetermination,
in accordance with the pertinent resolutions of the United
Nations.
"(d) The participants, noting that the Peace Conference on the
Middle East, convened at Madrid on 30 October 1991, was entering into a
particularly significant stage, expressed their earnest hope that the
talks soon to be resumed would be serious and productive and would be
crucial for establishing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the
region. They noted in that connection that the process had the support
of the parties concerned and had as its basis Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), which had long been recognized as
the cornerstone of a comprehensive settlement. The participants stressed
the essential need for an active role by the United Nations, the Security
Council and the Secretary-General, for a successful outcome of the peace
process. They were of the opinion that a more active European
contribution to the peace conference on the Middle East was welcomed.
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"(e) The participants considered that, in the recent elections, a
majority of the Israeli public had voted for peace and expressed the
earnest hope that the new Government of Israel would institute radical
changes in its pOlicies in favour of peace. The participants called on
the new Government to declare its agreement with the principle of 'land
for peace', to compl~ with the United Nations resolutions, including
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), and to
acknowledge the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.
They also called on the Government to take immediate measures for the
restoration of the fundamental human rights and freedoms of Palestinians
living in the occupied territories, including Jerusalem, in accordance
with Israel's obligations under international law.
"(f) The participants stressed that, while the peace process is
taking place, it is of the utmost importance to ensure the safety and
protection of the Palestinian people living under occupation, and that
measures in this regard would help create an environment more conducive
to peace and co-existence between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.
In particular, they called for the immediate cessation of all settlement
activity, land and water confiscation in the occupied Palestinian
territory, including Jerusalem, which posed a threat to the very
existence of the Palestinian community and which were in clear violation
of article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and were detrimental to the
peace process under way.
"(g) The participants recognized that the intifadah is an expression
of the national will of the Palestinian people for liberation, of its
resistance to the occupation and of its determination to remain on its
land and to attain its inalienable national rights. They reaffirmed the
right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and national
independence. They also reaffirmed that the Palestine Liberation
Organization is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian
people. They welcomed free democratic elections in the Palestinian
occupied territories under effective international supervision. They
voiced deep concern that the military occupation had now lasted for over
25 years and that Israel h~d continued to reject the applicability of the
Fourth Geneva Convention to the occupied territory and to violate its
provisions. They called for appropriate measures to be taken to
implement Security Council resolutions 672 (1990) and 681 (1990), in
which the Council asked for action by the High Contracting Parties and by
the Secretary-General to ensure observance of the Convention. The
participants considered that the fact that a peace process was under way
did not detract in any way from Israel's obligations to respect the
Fourth Geneva Convention and to abide by the relevant Security Council
resolutions. They called on the High Contracting Parties to the
Convention, on the Security Council and on the United Nations system as a
whole to take all necessary measures to ensure that Israel abides by its
obligations as the occupying Power.
"(h) The participants noted in this connection that the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People had
given priority to the promotion of measures for the protection of the
Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation. The participants
also recalled that the European Community had taken measures which had
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been successful in ensuring the reopening of Palestinian schools and the
export of Palestinian agricultural commodities. and called on the
Community and on European non-governmental organizations to continue to
devise means of applying pressure on Israel in order to restore respect
for Palestinian human rights. including tying all agreements to human
rights considerations. They also called on the Community and European
non-governmental organizations to insist that Israel abide by its duty to
ensure fair and equal treatment for Palestinian workers. They urged the
Government of Israel to terminate all military and administrative
obstacles to the employment of Palestinians. as well as their efforts to
develop an independent economy of their own.
"(i) The participants further recommended that the European and
international non-governmental organization community continue and
intensify its activities to ensure protection such as public education,
health and information. campaigns on specific issues. visiting missions
to the occupied territory and others. They called on non-governmental
organizations to continue to press upon their respective Governments
their duty to secure the compliance of the Government of Israel with the
provisions of the Convention. They recommended that non-governmental
organizations present in the occupied territory as witnesses to the
behaviour of the occupying Power should report infringements to their
embassies and consulates-general. thus drawing their Governments'
attention to the situation in a very real way. Participants also
recommended that European non-governmental organizations should seek to
support, strengthen and coordinate the work of non-governmental
organizations active in promoting the independent development of the
occupied territory.
"(j) The participants expressed their appreciation to the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and
to the Secretary-General for their constant efforts in promoting a
comprehensive. just and lasting settlement of the Palestine question.
They expressed confidence that the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights would adapt their programmes to meet the current
situation and continue to increase their activities to promote a
constructive debate and a concrete and action-oriented analysis of the
most important issues relating to the question of Palestine.
"(k) The participants expressed their warm appreciation to the
Government and the people of Malta for providing a venue for the European
Seminar and for the excellent facilities, courtesies and generous
hospitality extended to them."
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ANNEX VII
QQc1aration adoptQd by thQ Sixth United Nations EuroPQan
Regional Non-GQvernrnQnta1 Organization Symposium on the
QUQstion of Palestine
(Geneva, 24 and 25 August 1992)
1. The Sixth United Nations European Regional Non-Governmental Organization
Symposium on the QuestiQn of Palestine was held at the Palais des Nations,
Geneva, on 24 and 25 August 1992.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was represented by a delegation composed of
Mr. Keba Birane Cisse (Senegal), Committee Chairman and head of delegation;
Mr. Victor Cami11eri (Malta), Committee Rapporteur; Mr. Victor H. Batiouk
(Ukraine); and Mr. Nasser A1-Kidwa (Palestine), Permanent Observer for
Palestine to the United Nations.
3. The Symposium was held in pursuance of General Assembly resolution
46/74 B of 11 December 1991, under the auspices of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
4. The Symposium was attended by the representatives Qf 99 non-governmental
organizations (47 as participants and 52 as observers). A number of
representatives from Governments, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental
organizations also attended the Symposium as observers. The opening session
was addressed hy Mr. Keba Birane Cisse (Senegal) on behalf of the Committee,
by the Chairman of the European Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental
Organizations on the Question of Palestine, Mr. Bernard Mills, and by
Mr. Nasser A1-Kidwa.
5. The Symposium had for its theme: "Working for peace: European
coordination". Eight pane1ists and resource persons made presentations at the
Symposium. There were two plenary sessions, as follows:
(a) P1Qnary session 1. The responsibilities of European and
non-governmental bodies towards the Palestinian people
Radwan Abu Ayyash (Palestinian)
Maria Gazi (Greece)
Meir Pail (Israel)
Roger Stott, M.P. (United Kingdom)
(b) PlQnary sessiQn 2. RepQrt by the members Qf the European
Coordinating Committee on their Committee's activities during the period
August 1991 to August 1992.
Hans Nebel (Denmark)
Blandine Destremeau (France)
6. Two workshops were also organized on the following topics:
(a) Lobbying of Governments and parliamentarians;
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(b) Raising of public awareness of the Palestine issue by European
non-governmental organizations.
7. The Symposium heard three reports on ongoing projects by non-go,rernmental
organizations initiated at the 1991 Symposium, on olive trees, Palestinian
family reunification, and protection of Palestinian children.
8. The non-governmental organizations participating in the Symposium adopted
a final declaration, as well as action-oriented proposals emanating from the
workshops. The report of the Symposium, including the summaries of the
proceedings, will be issued as a publication of the Division for Palestinian
Rights.
9. The declaration adopted by the participants is set forth below.
Declaration
We, the non-governmental organizations participating in the Sixth United
Nations European Regional Non-Governmental Organization Symposium on the
Question of Palestine, held at the Palais des Nations at Geneva on 24 and
25 August 1992, reaffirm our commitment to a just, comprehensive and lasting
peace in the Middle East and to support the right of the Palestinian people to
self-determination, right of return and the right to a Palestinian State.
At the same time, we are conscious that we are meeting at a time when the
Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of which is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
has entered a new phase owing to two significant events: the peace talks,
which have been going on since October 1991, and the recent Israeli elections,
which have brought to government the Labour Party.
We note with dismay that, although 10 months have passed since the peace
process was initiated at Madrid, no concrete progress has been made, not least
because of the then Israeli Government's intransigence and stalling tactics,
during both the bilateral and the multilateral talks. We are furthermore
concerned even about the position of the present Government of Israel on
settlements. On this very day when we are meeting here the talks are being
resumed in Washington. The current Israeli delegation is under obligation to
the Palestinians and the whole international community to show its good faith
in negotiating on the basis of all United Nations resolutions, including
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the specific terms of
reference contained in the letters of invitation to the Peace Conference.
We consider the current peace talks to be a step towards the settlement
of the Middle East issue. We are dissatisfied with the marginalization of
Europe and the United Nations during the peace process and stress the need for
active participation by the United Nations and European countries. We believe
that the official participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization as
the sole legitimate representative and guarantee of the unity of the
Palestinian people in the present peace process is essential. We believe
that, in the end, a just, comprehensive and lasting peace can be fully
achieved through the convening of the International Peace Conference, as
stated in relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly. We request
the Palestine Liberation Organization to continue to provide relevant
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information on the current negotiations to help alert and mobilize European
public opinion.
We welcome the declaration of intent of the Government of Israel, on the
eve of the present Washington talks, to release 800 prisoners and to stop (for
the time being) deportation of Palestinians from the occupied territories. At
the same time, however, we point out that the policy of arbitrary arrest and
detention without trial and of deportation of individuals from the Occupied
territories has not been abrogated, and is contrary to human rights and the
specific prohibitions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. We deplore the
continuing repression of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian
territories. The killing and injuring of civilians, collective punishment and
the sealing and demolition of houses, arbitrary arrest, detention and
imprisonment without trial, expropriation of land and water resources,
curfews, and restrictions on the free movement of Palestinians are not in line
with the spirit of any peaceful solution. Such practices can only continue to
create a climate of frustration and pessimism instead of one of confidencebuilding.
We once more strongly voice the need for international protection
of the Palestinian people and request our respective Governments to initiate
action now. The Security Council cannot continue to ignore its responsibility
in this matter, particularly after the recent decisions taken concerning other
areas in the world. The violation by Israel of principles of the Charter of
the United Nations must be handled in a comparable way. The protection of the
population in the occupied Palestinian territories obviously demands the
sending of United Nations monitors and the replacement of the Israeli army of
occupation with a United Nations peace-keeping force. We shall press our
Governments to promote such a decision in the United Nations. It is the prime
duty of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention which,
under article 1, are required to ensure that there is compliance therewith.
We denounce the Israeli settlement policy in the West Bank and Gaza and
the increased settlement activities in East Jerusalem as illegal and in
violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and, specifically, of
Security Council resolution 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980. We strongly protest
against the United States Administration's decision to grant Israel the
$10 billion housing loan guarantees without, apparently, any pledge from the
Government of Israel that it will cease building settlements in the occupied
Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. All settlements are
illegal under the Geneva Convention. These actions by the Governments of the
United States and of Israel, particularly during the current peace talks,
represent a serious challenge to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people and to the international community, which reject all attempts at
demographic change and the transfer of population by the occupying Power to
the territory it occupies. We call upon European Governments not to donate or
pledge any financial or other support to Israel until it officially pledges to
cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories,
Jerusalem included.
We invite all non-governmental organizations to campaign for a just
solution of the Palestinian refugee problem based on the right to return, the
principles of which are embodied in General Assembly resolution 194 (Ill) of
11 December 1948, which derives its force from the consensus behind it, since
even the United States voted in favour at the time. Moreover, Israel was
admitted to the United Nations only after having accepted resolutions 181 (II)
of 29 November 1947, concerning the partition of Palestine, and 194 (Ill). In
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the latter resolution, the General Assembly resolved that the refugees wishing
to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be
permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation
should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return. At the
recent multilateral talks at Ottawa even the United States reaffirmed its
agreement on this.
We are concerned about the concentration of weapons in the region,
including chemical and nuclear weapons, and deplore the lack of progress made
in the first multilateral meeting on security in the Middle East, where
Israel's nuclear potential was not even addressed. We express our resolute
support to the Israeli peace forces who are fighting for the dismantling of
nuclear weaponry in their country. We urge all European non-governmental
organizations to support and assist all Israeli non-governmental organizations
in favour of a Palestinian State beside Israel.
In concentrating on the occupied Palestinian teritories, we at the same
time call attention to the ongoing discrimination against Arab Israelis.
Present practices of the State of Israel deprive them of their full human and
civil rights.
We wish to reaffirm our stand and proposals regarding all aspects of the
Palestinian issue as expressed in the final declarations of our five previous
symposia, and express our frustration that, during the 25 years of Israeli
occupation, few concrete measures have been taken by the European Governments
to address this issue, despite the numerous activities of European
non-governmental organizations which contributed to creating a greater
awareness of the situation and to mobilizing indispensable support for the
Palestinian cause.
While we commend the activities and initiatives undertaken since last
year's Symposium by the European Coordinating Committee on the Ouestion of
Palestine and its secretariat at Brussels, we consider that it needs stronger
moral and material support from all European non-governmental organizations in
order to carry out its work with more success during the second year of its
mandate. We also call upon the United Nations to offer every possible
assistance to the Coordinating Committee and its secretariat.
We are firmly convinced that actions are stronger than words, thus, on
returning to our countries, we shall disseminate this declaration in the
widest way possible, but, most inlportantly, we shall present it to the
competent people in our own Governments and request them to take effective and
concrete measures for the implementation of our proposals. Today more than
ever before the Palestinian people need our support and we shall spare no
efforts to meet their aspirations through concerted and coordinated actions
between our non-governmental organizations. Immediately after the end of the
Brussels Conference on Palestine: Development for Peace, the European
Coordinating Committee will submit another project to the Commission of the
European Communities concerning the establishment of a database in our office
at Brussels. We believe that such a project will facilitate the receiving and
dissemination of information in an up-tO-date and professional way, with the
aim of better monitoring the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories
and coordinating common action.
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We deeply regret that, in spite of various declarations issued by the
European Economic Community in favour of a just settlement of the Palestinian
issue, no move has been made towards the recognition of the Palestinian
state. Such a move would give a boost to the peace process and allow Europe
to carry out a policy other than that of the United States. We urge all
European Governments to put pressure to bear on the Government of Israel to
comply with all United Nations resolutions relevant to the Arab-Israeli
conflict. We also urge them to support the transitional arrangements
presented by the Palestinian side in Washington on 3 March 1992. Israel's
dependence on the European markets and European assistance can make such
pressure effective. Such a policy would serve the interests of both the
European Governments and the European peoples.
We thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People for convening this Symposium and we extend a warm welcome
to Mr. Keba Birane Cisse as the new Chairman of the Committee. We seize this
opportunity to pay a tribute to the hard work of his predecessor,
Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo (Senegal), and wish her full success in her new
endeavour. We thank the Division for Palestinian Rights, the United Nations
Secretariat and the interpreters for having contributed to the success of our
meeting.
We request the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to convey this Declaration to the
General Assembly at its forty-seventh session as part of the Committee's
report. We also urge the Committee to convene the next European Regional
Non-Governmental Organization Symposium in the first week of September 1993.
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ANNEX VIII
Declaration adopted by the Ninth United Nations International
Non-Governmental Organization Meeting on the Question of
Palestine
(Geneva, 26 to 28 August 1992)
1. The Ninth United Nations International Non-Governmental Organization
Meeting on the Question of Palestine was held under the auspices of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 26 to 28 August 1992. The Meeting
was convened in response to General Assembly resolution 46/74 B of
11 December 1991.
2. The Committee was represented by a delegation composed of
Mr. Keba Birane Cisse (Senegal), Committee Chairman and head of delegation;
Mr. Victor Camilleri (Malta), Committee Rapporteur; Mr. Victor H. Batiouk
(Ukraine); Mr. Mohamed Ennaceur (Tunisia); and Mr. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
3. The Meeting was attended by 235 non-governmental organizations (176
participants and 59 observers) and representatives of 41 Governments, 6 United
Nations bodies and 3 intergovernmental organizations.
4. At the opening session, the Director-General of the United Nations Office
at Geneva made a statement on behalf of the Secretary-General.
Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine
Liberation Organization, and Mr. Oliver R. Tambo, National Chairman of the
African National Congress of South Africa, addressed the opening session.
Other opening statements were made by Mr. Keba Birane Cisse and by
Mr. Don Betz, Chairman of the International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on
the Question of Palestine.
5. The programme for the Meeting was prepared by the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in consultation
with the Coordinating Committee. The overall theme was "Protection and
statehood". Twenty-eight panelists and resource persons made presentations on
the panels and in the workshops. The programme consisted of three panels
which dealt with protection, statehood and the non-governmental organization
process, as follows:
(a) Panel 1. Protection
Mr. Albert Aghazarian (Palestinian)
Mr. Mohammed Fa'eq (Egypt)
Mr. Meir Pail (Israel)
(b) Panel 2. Statehood
Mr. Radwan Abu Ayyash (Palestinian)
Mr. Samih Al Qassem (Israel)
Mr. Michael Lanegan (Ireland)
Mr. Abdul Kaujum Nashter (India)
Mr. Abie Nathan (Israel)
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(c) Panel 3. The non-governmental organization process
Ms. Jeanne Butterfield (United States of America)
Mr. Don Betz (United States of America)
6. Arrangements were made for 12 working groups and task forces, which
considered the following questions: land, water and settlements; protection
needs of children; human rights (especially deportations); family
reunification campaign; protection needs of women; arts and culture:
supporting education; demilitarization and regional security: mobilizing
United Nations support; housing rights; water planning; and Jerusalem. A
number of special interest groups were also organized by the participating
non-governmental organizations.
7. The participating non-governmental organizations adopted a final
declaration, and action-oriented proposals emanating from the workshops. The
report, including summaries of the proceedings, will be issued as a
publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
8. The declaration adopted by the participants reads as follows:
Declaration
We, the non-governmental organizations gathered at the Ninth United
Nations International Non-Governmental Organization Meeting on the Question of
Palestine, are aware that we have convened at a moment of great challenge and
great opportunity.
We unconditionally affirm the rights of self-determination, statehood and
return of the Palestinian people as guaranteed by the United Nations Charter
and all relevant United Nations resolutions, especially General Assembly
resolutions 181 (11) and 194 (III).
We express our full support for the ongoing intifadah, the struggle of
the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories for
self-determination, freedom and independence, which has already played a vital
role in underlining the urgency of the need to reach a just and peaceful
solution in the region.
We are motivated by the genuine desire to establish a just and lasting
peace in the Middle East on the basis of international legitimacy, as provided
by all relevant United Nations resolutions. We call upon the Israeli people
to recognize the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, to
return, and to a sovereign and independent State, so that a mutual recognition
for. the rights of both peoples can be achieved. We demand the immediate and
unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Palestinian and Arab
territories, including East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and southern Lebanon.
We reaffirm that general principles of international law offer a sound
and appropriate basis for any long-term, comprehensive solution to the
conflict in the region. The Government of Israel is obligated to the
Palestinians and the whole international community to negotiate on the basis
of all United Nations resolutions, including Security Council resolutions
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237 (1967), 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the specific terms of reference
contained in the letters of invitation to the Peace Conference, which embody
the principle of land for peace.
While we are meeting at Geneva, peace negotiations are being resumed in
Washington, D.e. We note with dismay that, although 10 months have passed
since this peace process was initiated at Madrid, no concrete progress has
been made in securing the protection of the Palestinian people and their
legitimate national rights. We reiterate that we believe that an
international conference under the auspices of the United Nations, at which
all parties to the conflict, including Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization on an equal footing, are represented, is the best guarantee for
the implementation of a just peace. The Palestine Liberation Organization is
the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and the guarantor
of Palestinian unity. We call for its official participation in the entire
peace process.
We consider it most urgent that the United Nations provide immediate and
sustained protection for the Palestinians under occupation. We call for the
establishment of a United Nations force to protect the Palestinians. We shall
urge our Governments to promote such a decision in the United Nations. It is
the prime duty of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention
of 1949 which, under article I, are required to ensure adherence to its
precepts. Further, non-governmental organizations concerned with protection
for the Palestinians should establish permanent monitoring and witness groups
in the occupied territories in order to enhance public awareness and to
pressure Governments to urge Israel to end the occupation.
We call upon Israel, as an important "confidence-building measure", to
recognize immediately the de jure applicability of the Fourth Geneva
Convention, to all the territories occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem. The
protections and guarantees of the Convention must be recognized and
implemented without delay.
We denounce the Government of Israel's settlement pOlicy in the West Bank
and Gaza and the increased settlement activities in East Jerusalem. Those
settlements are illegal and i~ violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention,
Security Council resolution 465 (1980) and other relevant Security Council
resolutions and should be dismantled. W~ strongly protest against the United
States Administration's decision to grant Israel $10 billion in loan
guarantees without any pledge from the Government of Israel that it will cease
building settlements which are illegal in the occupied Palestinian
territories, including East Jerusalem. We do not accept the distinction
between political and strategic settlements offered by this Government of
Israel as it appears to be a tactic to avoid returning all the Palestinian
territories occupied in 1967, and remains an obstacle to peace. We call upon
all Governments not to donate or pledge any financial or other support to
Israel until it officially pledges to cease all settlement activities in the
occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
We demand an end to the Israeli policy of arbitrary arrest, detention
without trial and expulsion, and urge the return of all deportees, including
those whose permits expired while they were outside their homeland. We
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further call for an immediate halt to all summary deportations and transfer of
Palestinians without residence rights, for the immediate provision for
Palestinian re-entry into occupied Palestinian territories, and for the
immediate granting of residence status to all members of Palestinian families.
We also call upon Israel to recognize the rights of Palestinians in
Israel to full equality, rights for which they have been fiqhtinq since 1948.
We denounce the ongoing discrimination against Palestinian citizens of
Israel. We condemn the Israeli confiscation of their lands which has recently
accelerated. Their national and human rights must be considered in any
further comprehensive solution of the Palestinian problem.
We strongly condemn the continuing Israeli policy of systematic iron-fist
repression against the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian
territories. We point out that, in spite of Israel's announced intention to
release 800 administrative detainees, at least 14,000 Palestinians remain
imprisoned. We note that, in spite of the cancellation of deportation orders
against 11 Palestinians, those orders have been changed to an additional six
months' imprisonment under new administrative detention orders. We call on
Israeli authorities to stop the killing and injuring of civilians, collective
punishment, the sealing and demolition of houses, detention, torture and
imprisonment without trial, expropriation of land and water resources, the
closing of educational institutions, and curfews and restrictions on the free
movement of Palestinians. Those measures must end immediately.
We call upon Israel to stop immediately using the British Emergency
Defence Regulations of 1945, under which major human rights violations, such
as expulsions and sealings, extended curfews and other collective punishments,
are perpetrated.
We call upon Israel to rescind all standing military orders that have
codified human rights abuses and legalized them, partiCUlarly military orders
that sanction administrative detention, restrictions of fundamental freedoms
and rights, such as free speech, freedom of assembly and association, freedom
of movement and travel, academic freedom, excessive taxation and other severe
restrictions on the free development of the economy and the society of the
occupied Palestinian territories •
We demand that all operations, as well as all standing orders and
regulations relating to the undercover army units, called "sarnson" and
"cherry", among others, be cancelled and that the so-called "special units" be
disbanded immediately in order to put a stop to summary executions in the
occupied Palestinian territories.
We believe that massive Jewish immigration to Israel continues to pose a
great threat to Palestinians' survival on their land and is an obstacle to the
resolution of the Palestinian problem, owing to the ensuing demographic
changes. We point out that this immigration is being supported, funded and
encouraged even as 90 per cent of the 370,000 Palestinians deported from
Kuwait (as well as other Palestinians from the Gulf) continue to be denied
re-entry to their homeland; while thousands of Palestinian families continue
to be forcibly separated and their members administratively deported; while
thousands of Palestinian children continue to be born, even inside the
occupied territories, with no legal status or right to residence; and while
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the Palestinian right to return is still denied. We call upon new immigrants
to Israel and all Israelis to refuse to settle in the occupied Palestinian
territories, and thus contribute to the efforts for a just settlement on the
question of Palestine. We call upon all States to facilitate immigration of
Jews who wish to move to countries other than Israel and the occupied
Palestinian territories.
We expect each and every State party to the Geneva Conventions and every
Member of the United Nations to do all in their power, pursuing all legal
means at their disposal, including sanctions, to bring Israeli practices and
law in the occupied Palestinian territories into compliance with international
law and standards as a matter of legal contractual obligations by Israel as a
State party to the Geneva Conventions and other applicable conventions and
instruments of international law. Each non-governmental organization accepts
its responsibilities to exert pressure on its own Government on this matter.
We demand the extension of the protection of life and human rights to the
P~lestinians in neighbouring countries, especially Lebanon. The creation and
expansion of Palestinian non-governmental organizations in Jordan, Lebanon and
the Syrian Arab Republic should be integrated with the work of the
international non-governmental organization movement.
We support comprehensive measures to control and eliminate weapons of
mass destruction worldwide, but especially in the Middle East. The
international community should strongly urge Israel to sign and ratify the
nuclear non-proliferation treaty. In this context non-governmental
organizations are urged to support the campaign for Mordechai Vanunu's
immediate release from the brutal and inhumane confinement he is suffering for
alerting the world to the Israeli nuclear threat.
We conducted some of our deliberations in workshops, each devoted to a
relevant issue. The reports of those workshops include suggested strategies
and actions for the non-governmental organization network to coordinate and
pursue over the next year.
We warmly thank the Committee for convening this international meeting
and we greatly appreciate the presence of the Committee delegation. We extend
a warm welcome to Mr. Keba Birane Cisse as the new Chairman of the Committee.
We also pay tribute to the excellent work of Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo, his
predecessor, and wish her full success in her new endeavour. We thank the
Division for Palestinian Rights and all others of the United Nations
Secretariat, including the interpreters, who assisted us in such a valuable
way. We express our appreciation to the distinguished experts who spoke here
and added to our deliberations. We request, in keeping with recent practice,
that the 1993 Non-Governmental Organization Symposium be convened at Vienna.
We wish to express a special note of thanks and appreciation to
Mr. Yasser Arafat, President of the State of Palestine, and Mr. Oliver Tambo,
leader of the African National Congress of South Africa, for their important
and insightful comments. We all consider their participation in our meeting
to be a distinct honour.
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We request the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to convey this declaration to the
General Assembly at its forty-seventh session as part of the Committee's
report.
93-23429 (E) 3904j -59-
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UNITED NATIONS A
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/48/35
23 November 1993
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
Forty-eighth session
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE
INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE*
________________________
* The present document is a mimeographed version of the report of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,
which will be issued in final form as Official Records of the General Assembly,
Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/48/35).
93-57160 (E) 261193 /...
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ................................................ 4
I. INTRODUCTION ......................................... 1 - 8 5
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE ............................. 9 - 11 6
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK ................................. 12 - 17 7
A. Election of officers ............................. 12 - 14 7
B. Participation in the work of the Committee ....... 15 - 16 7
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group ............ 17 7
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE ........................ 18 - 70 8
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 47/64 A ............................... 18 - 45 8
1. Review of the situation relating to the
question of Palestine and efforts to implement
the recommendations of the Committee ......... 18 - 31 8
2. Reaction to developments affecting the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people . 32 - 38 11
3. Action taken by the Committee to promote a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in
accordance with United Nations resolutions ... 39 - 43 12
4. Attendance at international conferences
and meetings ................................. 44 14
5. Action taken by United Nations bodies, the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, and
intergovernmental organizations .............. 45 14
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions 47/64 A and B ............... 46 - 70 16
1. Seminars ..................................... 47 - 56 16
2. Cooperation with non-governmental
organizations ................................ 57 - 65 18
3. Research, monitoring and publications ........ 66 - 68 20
4. United Nations information system on the
Question of Palestine (UNISPAL) .............. 69 21
5. International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People ........................... 70 21
-2-
CONTENTS (continued)
Paragraphs Page
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
RESOLUTION 47/64 C ................................... 71 - 84 21
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ..................... 85 - 96 24
Annexes
I. Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly
at its thirty-first session ...................................... 29
II. United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People,
UNESCO headquarters, Paris, 26 to 29 April 1993 .................. 32
III. Ninth United Nations North American Seminar on the Question of
Palestine, New York, 28 to 29 June 1993 .......................... 36
IV. Tenth United Nations North American Regional Non-Governmental
Organizations Symposium on the Question of Palestine, New York,
30 June to 2 July 1993 ........................................... 38
V. Seventh United Nations European Regional Non-Governmental
Organizations Symposium on the Question of Palestine, Vienna,
23 and 24 August 1993 ............................................ 40
VI. Tenth United Nations International Non-Governmental Organizations
Meeting on the Question of Palestine, Vienna, 25 to 27 August 1993 44
VII. United Nations African Seminar and Non-Governmental Organizations
Symposium on the Question of Palestine, Dakar, Senegal,
30 August to 3 September 1993 .................................... 49
-3-
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
18 November 1993
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to
the General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 4 of its resolution 47/64 A of
11 December 1992.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Kéba Birane CISSE
Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Secretary-General of the United Nations
-4-
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly in its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, in which the Assembly requested the Committee to consider and
recommend to it a programme designed to enable the Palestinian people to
exercise its inalienable rights as recognized by the Assembly in resolution
3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974. During the reporting period, the Committee
continued to be composed of 23 Member States as follows: Afghanistan, Belarus,
Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic
Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Yugoslavia. 1/
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the
General Assembly 2/ were first endorsed by the Assembly in resolution 31/20 of
24 November 1976 as a basis for the solution of the question of Palestine. In
its subsequent reports 3/ the Committee has continued to stress that a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the question of Palestine, the core
of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East, must be based on the relevant
United Nations resolutions and the following essential principles: withdrawal
of Israel from the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem; respect
for the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and
internationally recognized boundaries; and the recognition and exercise of the
inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to
self-determination. Each year, the Assembly has endorsed the Committee’s
recommendations with overwhelming support and has renewed its mandate and
expanded it as necessary.
3. The Committee considers that the principled position adopted by the
international community with regard to the question of Palestine is beginning to
bear fruit at this time of fundamental changes on the international political
scene which have brought about a shift from confrontation to cooperation and a
renewed determination to resolve long-standing regional conflicts.
4. Having welcomed the peace process initiated at Madrid in 1991, and having
followed the subsequent rounds of talks in the year under review, the Committee
continued to express concern at the prolonged stalemate and to stress that
progress in the negotiations could only be achieved within the framework of
respect for international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions.
5. In September 1993, the Committee welcomed the exchange of letters of mutual
recognition between the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO), and the subsequent signing by representatives of the two
sides of the "Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements", providing for initial steps towards Palestinian self-government,
the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Jericho and the Gaza Strip and a framework
for negotiations leading to a permanent settlement based on Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). The Committee considers this evolution
to be an important step towards the attainment of a comprehensive, just and
lasting settlement. It is also the beginning of a difficult transition process
which will necessitate the continued vigilance and support of the international
community as a whole, and the United Nations in particular, in order to ensure
that it will lead to the exercise of the inalienable national rights of the
Palestinian people, in line with the Committee’s recommendations.
6. At the same time, the Committee remained greatly concerned at the continued
grave situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and called on Israel, the
occupying Power, to recognize henceforth the applicability of the Fourth Geneva
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Convention to the occupied Palestinian territory and to take immediate measures
to implement the provisions of the Convention and to restore respect for human
rights. The Committee called in particular on Israel to end the shooting of
unarmed demonstrators by the Israeli Defense Force and its undercover
activities, which have resulted in summary executions; to release all political
prisoners and detainees; and to end all imposition of collective punishments
such as curfews, closure of the occupied territory, the destruction or sealing
of houses, and deportation of Palestinian civilians; and called for the return
of all those deported since 1967.
7. The Committee further called on Israel, pending complete withdrawal from
the occupied territory, including Jerusalem, to end immediately its confiscation
of Palestinian land and settlement activities, including the building of roads
and control over water resources, and to repeal military orders restricting
political, social and economic activity by Palestinians. The Committee called
upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 4/ and upon
the United Nations system as a whole, to ensure that Israel abides by the
provisions of the Convention and of relevant United Nations resolutions in this
regard.
8. The Committee firmly believes that the United Nations has a permanent
responsibility with respect to the question of Palestine until it is resolved in
all its aspects in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions and
calls on the United Nations and the international community as a whole to
intensify its efforts to assist the Palestinian people in building the
foundations for the exercise of national sovereignty and thereby ensure a
successful outcome of the agreements that have been reached. For its part, as
the United Nations organ specifically mandated to promote the attainment of the
exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, the Committee
intends to further strengthen its own efforts in this regard.
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
9. The mandate of the Committee for the year 1993 is contained in paragraphs 3
to 5 of General Assembly resolution 47/64 A of 11 December 1992, in which the
Assembly:
(a) Requested the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation
relating to the question of Palestine, as well as the implementation of the
Programme of Action for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights 5/ and to report
and make suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as
appropriate;
(b) Authorized the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote
the implementation of its recommendations, including representation at
conferences and meetings and the sending of delegations, to make such
adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and
necessary, to give special emphasis to the need to mobilize public opinion in
Europe and North America, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its
forty-eighth session and thereafter;
(c) Also requested the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation to
non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening
international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and
creating a more favourable atmosphere for the full implementation of the
recommendations of the Committee, and to take the necessary steps to expand its
contacts with those organizations.
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10. In its resolution 47/64 B, also of 11 December 1992, the General Assembly
requested the Secretary-General, inter alia, to provide the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources to strengthen
its programme of research, studies and publications, through the establishment
of an adequately staffed and equipped computer-based information system on the
question of Palestine, and to ensure that it continues to discharge its tasks,
as detailed in previous resolutions, in consultation with the Committee and
under its guidance.
11. In its resolution 47/64 C, of 11 December 1992, the General Assembly
requested the Department of Public Information, in full cooperation and
coordination with the Committee, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as
may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special
information programme on the question of Palestine for the biennium 1992-1993,
with particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and North America.
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A. Election of officers
12. At its 195th meeting, on 27 January 1993, the Committee re-elected
Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé (Senegal) as Chairman, Mr. Alcibiades J. Hidalgo Basulto
(Cuba) as Vice-Chairman and Mr. Victor Camilleri (Malta) as Rapporteur.
13. At its 199th meeting, on 26 July 1993, the Committee elected
Mr. Ravan Farhadi (Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairman and Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta)
as Rapporteur following the departure of Mr. Camilleri.
14. At its 196th meeting, on 3 March 1993, the Committee adopted its programme
of work for 1993 (A/AC.183/1993/CRP.1) in implementation of its mandate.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
15. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of
the United Nations and Permanent Observers to the United Nations desiring to
participate in the work of the Committee as observers were welcome to do so.
Accordingly, in a letter dated 15 March 1993, the Chairman of the Committee so
informed the Secretary-General, who subsequently transmitted the letter, on
26 March 1993, to the States Members of the United Nations and members of the
specialized agencies, and to intergovernmental organizations. In accordance
with established practice, the Committee also invited Palestine, represented by
the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), to participate in the work of the
Committee as an observer, to attend all its meetings and to make observations
and proposals for consideration by the Committee.
16. In 1993, the Committee again welcomed as observers all the States and
organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding year. 6/
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group
17. At its 195th meeting, the Committee re-established its Working Group in
order to assist in the preparation and expedition of the work of the Committee,
on the understanding that any Committee member or observer could participate in
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its deliberations. 7/ The Working Group was constituted as before under the
chairmanship of Mr. Victor Camilleri and later Mr. Joseph Cassar.
Mrs. Mitra Visisht (India) was elected Vice-Chairman of the Working Group.
IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 47/64 A
1. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
and efforts to implement the recommendations of the Committee
18. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee continued to keep under
review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to exert all
efforts to promote the implementation of its recommendations as repeatedly
endorsed by the General Assembly.
19. In response to urgent developments affecting the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, the Chairman of the Committee, on a number of occasions,
brought such developments to the attention of the Secretary-General and the
President of the Security Council, urging appropriate action in keeping with
United Nations resolutions (see paras. 32-38 below).
20. Assisted by the Division for Palestinian Rights, the Committee continued to
monitor the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including
Jerusalem, through the media, the reports of United Nations organs and
organizations, as well as through information collected by Governments,
non-governmental organizations, individual experts from Israel and the occupied
Palestinian territory who participated in meetings held under the auspices of
the Committee and other sources.
21. The Committee noted with serious concern that the situation in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, which had been previously reported
as grave and volatile, continued to deteriorate alarmingly during the period
under review. The reports reaching the Committee left no doubt that the
continuation of the occupation, buttressed by armed force, increasingly
endangered the very fabric of the Palestinian society and of its livelihood, and
resulted in grave human rights violations. In that regard, the Committee
welcomed the appointment by the Commission on Human Rights of a Special
Rapporteur mandated to investigate Israel’s violations of the principles and
bases of international law, international humanitarian law and the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of
12 August 1949, in the occupied Palestinian territory.
22. Reports reaching the Committee detailed the continuation in the reporting
period of harsh repressive measures by the occupation forces and armed settlers,
despite the hopes initially engendered by the continuation of the peace process
and the election of a new Government in Israel in 1992. The Committee was
greatly concerned that the number of Palestinians killed through actions of the
armed forces or their agents had risen sharply in the year under review,
following attacks in which Israelis had been killed. Since the beginning of the
intifadah the total number of Palestinian casualties by shooting, beating or
tear gas had risen to 1,240 by August 1993, and the total number injured to an
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estimated 130,000. Approximately one fourth of the fatalities continued to be
children under 16.
23. The Committee also noted with concern that approximately 14,000 Palestinian
political prisoners were still being held in Israeli prisons and detention
camps, many of them in administrative detention without having been brought to
trial. There continued to be reports of inhuman conditions in the jails and
mistreatment of prisoners, including beatings and torture. The Committee noted
with alarm that 14 Palestinians had died in custody since the beginning of the
intifadah, six of them in Gaza Central Prison.
24. The Committee noted reports that in the period under review there had been
an intensification of the previous Government’s campaign to pursue persons
declared as "wanted" by the authorities, primarily through increased harassment
of their families; an increased use of large-scale military operations which
utilize excessive force; the use of Military Order No. 1076, issued in
April 1992, which permits a seven-year prison term without trial for failure to
respond to a summons; and the widespread use of undercover units which have
engaged in extra-judicial killings. Military assaults against the homes of
fugitives, using large-calibre machine-gun ammunition, anti-tank missiles and
dynamite took place in February and April 1993 in the Gaza Strip, rendering
hundreds of Palestinians homeless. The Committee deplored the fact that in
early October 1993, after the signing of the Declaration of Principles, another
similar attack took place, in which the homes of another 18 families in the Gaza
Strip were destroyed. Human rights organizations reported that from the
beginning of the intifadah to August 1993, over 2,400 homes had been demolished
or sealed, over 166,000 trees uprooted, and curfews had been imposed in over
12,000 instances.
25. The Committee has been extremely concerned by the deportation, on
17 December 1992, of over 400 Palestinian civilians from the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem. In a statement adopted on
21 January 1993, the Committee strongly condemned this action by the occupying
Power as contrary to the Fourth Geneva Convention and numerous Security Council
resolutions. Having taken note of the fact that the Israeli Government allowed
some of the deportees to return to their homes, the Committee remains of the
view that Israel has yet to implement Security Council resolution 799 (1992) in
its entirety.
26. The Committee was also alarmed by the fact that in July 1993 the persistent
Israeli air, navy and ground artillery assaults against vast areas in Lebanon
caused the displacement of and high number of casualties and suffering among the
Palestinians living in refugee camps of Beddawi and Nahr el-Bared in northern
Lebanon, and Ein el-Hilweh, Mieh Mieh and Rashidieh in southern Lebanon.
27. The Committee noted that the settlement activity in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, had continued. In an important
policy change, the Government had made an effort to prioritize settlement
objectives with respect to some areas in the occupied territory. Construction
in the critical region of Greater Jerusalem, however, proceeded apace, with
ambitious plans considered by the Government to link the city centre with the
southern bloc of settlements. It was reported that among those plans is the
completion of construction of the Jerusalem-Efrat highway, an estimated
$42 million project, intended to link the Jerusalem suburb of Gilo with the
Etzion bloc of settlements and benefit the economic development of the so-called
"bedroom suburbs" of Jerusalem. In this regard, the Committee reaffirmed that
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the settlement policies and practices of the occupying Power are in violation of
article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and resolutions of the Security
Council, which have declared the settlements illegal and have called for an end
to such activities.
28. Further, the Committee noted with concern that the closure, in March 1993,
of the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip had a particularly
negative effect on the Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem, who became
almost totally isolated and deprived of any freedom of movement. This measure
has also divided the occupied Palestinian territory into four parts, separating
the southern and northern parts of the West Bank and isolating the Gaza Strip
and Jerusalem. In some areas, road blocks have created enclaves, depriving the
Palestinians living in them of access to their families, places of work,
schools, medical care facilities, places of worship in Jerusalem and utility
services.
29. The Committee also noted with the greatest concern the rapid worsening of
the environmental situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. The
ecological problems of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip stem mostly from the
over-exploitation by the Israeli authorities and the settlers of the available
water resources, the lack of adequate waste management system and the
destruction of thousands of olive and fruit trees. The contamination and
degradation of the environment is especially severe in the Gaza Strip, where the
environmental problem has acquired crisis dimensions. It has been described as
representing a direct health threat to the population, the children in
particular. In addition, the poor condition of water distribution networks, and
considerable water losses hindered the economic development of the Palestinian
households and affected their livelihood.
30. The economic and social situation in the occupied territory has been a
source of great concern to the Committee. The Palestinian economy, which has
witnessed significant structural changes over 26 years of Israeli occupation,
was made dependent on and inferior to the highly capitalized and technologically
advanced Israeli economy. The Committee noted that continued human rights
violations by the Israeli authorities in the occupied territory, control of
water resources, the demolition of houses and other property, and the
destruction of olive trees and crops have further exacerbated the living
conditions of the Palestinian population.
31. The Committee noted the economic assistance and development programmes and
projects undertaken by the organizations and agencies of the United Nations
system. These endeavours are acquiring special significance in the anticipation
of a full-fledged Palestinian statehood. With a view to contributing to ongoing
efforts, the Committee organized a Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian
people. The Committee wishes to draw particular attention to the report and
recommendations of the Seminar (see paras. 48-50). The Committee is of the view
that the international assistance programme would be enhanced by greater and
more effective coordination among the organizations of the United Nations system
and between them and other donors, as well as by the elaboration of an overall
strategy framework to guide their work. In this connection, the Committee
welcomed the statement made by the Secretary-General, on 1 September 1993, that
the United Nations is prepared to offer the parties every assistance within the
context of the agreement between them with the aim of contributing to the
establishment of peace in the Middle East in accordance with United Nations
resolutions, as well as the subsequent appointment of a high-level task force to
focus on the economic and social development of Jericho and the Gaza Strip and
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to prepare proposals for the Secretary-General before the start of the fortyeighth
session of the General Assembly. The Committee welcomed the recent
pledging conference that took place on 1 October 1993 in Washington, D.C., on
assistance to the Palestinian people, and stressed the importance of an
effective role by the United Nations in this regard. The report of the task
force, entitled "Supporting the transition: an immediate response of the United
Nations to the interim period in the West Bank and Gaza Strip" was made
available to participants at this meeting.
2. Reactions to developments affecting the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people
(a) Communications to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security
Council
32. The Chairman of the Committee on a number of occasions drew the attention
of the Secretary-General and of the President of the Security Council to urgent
developments in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem. The
Chairman condemned the mass deportations and the indiscriminate shooting of
demonstrators by the army, as well as the intensification and expansion of
collective punishment such as the imposition of curfews, the closure of the
occupied territory and mass detentions of Palestinian civilians, including
minors. The Chairman pointed out that those policies and practices were in
violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and requested that Israel accept the
de jure applicability of the Convention to all the territories occupied since
1967 and abide scrupulously by the provisions of that Convention and relevant
Security Council resolutions. The Chairman appealed urgently to the Secretary-
General and the President of the Security Council and to all parties concerned,
in particular the High Contracting Parties to the Convention, to take all
necessary measures for ensuring the safety and protection of the Palestinian
civilians under occupation and to intensify all efforts towards the achievement
of a peaceful settlement.
33. The following letters from the Chairman of the Committee to the Secretary-
General were circulated as official documents of the General Assembly, under the
agenda item entitled "Question of Palestine", and of the Security Council:
(a) letter dated 17 December 1992 (A/47/793-S/24974); (b) letter dated
21 January 1993 (A/47/874-S/25136); (c) letter dated 18 February 1993
(A/47/893-S/25311); (d) letter dated 23 March 1993 (A/47/911-S/25464); and
letter dated 28 May 1993 (A/47/959-S/25862).
(b) Action taken within the Security Council
34. The Committee followed closely the activities of the Security Council on
matters pertaining to the Committee’s mandate and participated in Council
deliberations as necessary.
35. In his letter dated 18 December 1992, the Permanent Representative of
Lebanon to the United Nations requested a meeting of the Security Council to
discuss the grave situation, which had occurred as a result of the deportation
of more than 400 Palestinians into Lebanese territory. Following this request,
at its 3151st meeting, on 18 December 1992, the Security Council unanimously
adopted resolution 799 (1992), in which, inter alia, it strongly condemned the
action taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to deport hundreds of Palestinian
civilians, and expressed its firm opposition to any such deportation by Israel;
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reaffirmed the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949
to all the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including
Jerusalem, and affirmed that deportation of civilians constitutes a
contravention of its obligations under the Convention; demanded that Israel, the
occupying Power, ensure the safe and immediate return to the occupied
territories of all those deported; and requested the Secretary-General to
consider dispatching a representative to the area to follow up with the Israeli
Government with regard to this serious situation and to report to the Security
Council.
36. Pursuant to the request contained in Security Council resolution
799 (1992), the Secretary-General, on 25 January 1993, submitted a report to the
Council, 8/ outlining his efforts in that regard, including three missions to
the region by his special representatives, Mr. James O. C. Jonah and
Mr. Chinmaya Rajaninath Gharekhan, aimed at achieving a solution of the
situation with respect to the Palestinian deportees. As the efforts were
inconclusive and Israel refused to ensure the safe and immediate return of the
deportees as demanded in resolution 799 (1992), the Secretary-General
recommended that the Council take whatever measures were required to ensure that
its unanimous decision, as set out in the resolution, was respected.
37. Following the issuance by the Secretary-General of the aforementioned
report, the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, in a
letter dated 9 February 1993 addressed to the President of the Security Council,
outlined the decision taken by the Government of Israel, at a special session of
the Cabinet held on 1 February 1993, regarding the Palestinian deportees. 9/
38. In a letter dated 22 March 1993 addressed to the President of the Council,
the Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations in his capacity as
Chairman of the Arab Group and on behalf of its members requested a meeting of
the Council to consider the serious situation in the occupied Palestinian
territories, including Jerusalem. 10/ In view of the lack of action by the
Security Council on the Secretary-General’s report, the Bureau of the Committee
felt compelled to take action to register their concern and met with the
President of the Council on 24 March 1993. The Committee noted that concern in
this regard was also expressed by, inter alia, the Group of Arab States, the
Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Movement of Non-Aligned
Countries. These requests, however, did not result in a meeting of the Council.
3. Action taken by the Committee to promote a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement in accordance with United
Nations resolutions
39. By its resolution 47/64 D of 11 December 1992, the General Assembly
reaffirmed the urgent need to achieve a just and comprehensive settlement of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine. It
welcomed the ongoing peace process, which started at Madrid in October 1991, and
expressed the hope that it would lead to the establishment of a comprehensive,
just and lasting peace in the region. The Assembly also expressed the need for
the United Nations to play a more active and expanded role in the current peace
process. It considered that the convening, at a certain stage, of an
International Peace Conference on the Middle East, under the auspices of the
United Nations, with the participation of all parties to the conflict, including
the Palestine Liberation Organization, on an equal footing, and the five
permanent members of the Security Council, based on Council resolutions
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242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian
people, primarily the right to self-determination, would contribute to the
promotion of peace in the region. The Assembly reaffirmed the following
principles for the achievement of comprehensive peace: the withdrawal of Israel
from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and
from the other occupied Arab territories; guaranteeing arrangements for peace
and security of all States in the region, including those named in resolution
181 (II) of 29 November 1947, within secure and internationally recognized
boundaries; resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with
General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and subsequent
relevant resolutions; dismantling the Israeli settlements in the territories
occupied since 1967; and guaranteeing freedom of access to Holy Places,
religious buildings and sites. It noted the expressed desire and endeavours to
place the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, under
the supervision of the United Nations for a transitional period or,
alternatively, to provide international protection for the Palestinian people
there, as part of the peace process; and requested the Secretary-General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, for the promotion of peace in the region, and to submit
progress reports on developments in this matter.
40. Taking into consideration that resolution, the Committee, in adopting its
programme of work for 1993, decided to continue to give priority to the
promotion of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli
conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine, including the
convening, at a certain stage, of an international peace conference on the
Middle East, under the auspices of the United Nations.
41. During the period under review, the Committee continued to express support
for the Arab-Israeli negotiations within the framework of the Madrid peace
process and to call on the parties concerned to intensify their efforts to
overcome the obstacles and achieve positive results. The Committee reiterated
that the United Nations has a role to play in the process, as those negotiations
are based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), which have
long been regarded as cornerstones for a comprehensive settlement in the Middle
East. The Committee noted that the United Nations had been invited by the
sponsors of the Madrid process to participate in the multilateral negotiations
on Middle East regional issues and that the Secretary-General had appointed a
special representative. The Committee expressed its appreciation to the
Secretary-General for his efforts to make a concrete contribution to those
negotiations.
42. On 16 September 1993, as it was completing its programme of work for the
year, the Committee was apprised of the new developments culminating in the
signing of a declaration of principles by representatives of Israel and the
Palestine Liberation Organization, providing for initial steps towards
Palestinian self-government, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Jericho and
the Gaza Strip and a framework for negotiations leading to a permanent
settlement based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) (see
A/48/486-S/26560, annex, signed by the United States, the Russian Federation,
Israel and the Permanent Observer of Palestine). The Committee welcomed and
supported this evolution as an important first step towards a just and
comprehensive peace in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions
and pledged to intensify its efforts in that direction in the coming year. The
Committee also welcomed other significant and concrete steps, including the
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Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in Taba and Cairo, Egypt, and the recent
partial release by the Israeli Government of Palestinian political prisoners.
43. The Committee was encouraged by the continued international support for its
position and objectives, as reflected in decisions adopted by United Nations
bodies, other intergovernmental organizations, and in the documents adopted at
United Nations seminars and meetings of non-governmental organizations on the
question of Palestine held under the auspices of the Committee.
4. Attendance at international conferences and meetings
44. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee was represented at the
following international meetings during the period since its previous report to
the General Assembly:
(a) Twenty-first Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held at Karachi,
Pakistan, from 24 to 29 April 1993;
(b) Fifty-eighth ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the
Organization of African Unity (OAU), held at Cairo from 21 to 26 June 1993, and
the twenty-ninth ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and
Government of OAU, held at Cairo from 28 to 30 June 1993.
5. Action taken by the United Nations bodies, the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental organizations
45. The Committee continued to follow with great interest the activities
relating to the question of Palestine of United Nations bodies, the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental organizations. The Committee noted
especially the support of the international community for the ongoing peace
process and for the declaration of principles of September 1993, and the hope
that it would result in a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in
accordance with United Nations principles and resolutions. The Committee also
noted the great concern about the continuing violations of human rights by
Israel, the occupying Power, and about its settlements policy, and the sense of
urgency with which the international community addressed the need to support the
Palestinian people in the difficult transition period ahead and to provide the
necessary financial and other assistance for the exercise of Palestinian
national sovereignty. The Committee took particular note of the following
documents:
(a) Final communiqué of the sixth extraordinary session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers, held at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 1 and
2 December 1992 (A/47/765-S/24930, annex);
(b) Declaration on the Middle East Peace Process, adopted by the Council
of Ministers of the European Communities at its meeting held at Edinburgh on
11 and 12 December 1992 (A/47/790-S/24968, annex);
(c) Statement on the situation in Israel and the occupied territories,
issued by the European Community and its member States on 18 December 1992
(A/47/841-S/25005, annex);
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(d) Final communiqué adopted by the Supreme Council of the Gulf
Cooperation Council at its thirteenth session, held at Abu Dhabi from 21 to
23 December 1992 (A/47/845-S/25020, annex);
(e) Final declaration adopted at the Arab Coordination Meeting, held at
Cairo, on 24 December 1992 (S/25018);
(f) Statement adopted by the Committee on Palestine of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference at its meeting held in New York on 30 December 1992
(A/47/850-S/25043, annex);
(g) Final declaration adopted by the Bureau of the Sixth Islamic Summit
enlarged to the Chairmen of the Standing Committees at its meeting held at Dakar
on 11 January 1993 (A/47/866-S/25096, annex, paras. 1-16);
(h) Resolutions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its fortyninth
session (resolutions 1993/2 A and B, 1993/3, and 1993/4); 11/
(i) Final communiqué and resolutions adopted by the 21st Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers held at Karachi, Pakistan, from 25 to
29 April 1993;
(j) Declaration adopted by the Committee on Palestine of the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries at ministerial level on 12 May 1993 at Bali, Indonesia
(A/47/957-S/25858, annex);
(k) Statement of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council
at its forty-seventh session, held at Riyadh on 7 and 8 June 1993 (A/48/205-
S/25923, annex);
(l) Resolutions adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of
African Unity at its fifty-eighth ordinary session, held at Cairo from 21 to
26 June 1993 (A/48/322, annex I, CM/Res. 1452 (LVIII) and 1453 (LVIII));
(m) Resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council
at its substantive session of 1993, held at Geneva from 28 June to 30 July 1993
(resolutions 1993/15, 1993/52 and 1993/78 and decision 1993/253);
(n) Statement issued on 13 September 1993 by the Presidency of the
European Community on the peace process in the Middle East (A/47/1019-S/26447,
annex);
(o) Communiqué issued by the Chairman of the Sixth Summit of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference and President of Senegal (A/47/1017,
annex);
(p) Communiqué adopted by the Ministerial Council of the League of Arab
States at its second regular session, held at Cairo from 19 to
21 September 1993;
(q) Statement of the Committee on Palestine of the Non-Aligned Movement at
its Ministerial Meeting, held at New York on 28 September 1993
(A/48/455-S/26502, annex);
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(r) Final communiqué adopted by the annual Coordination Meeting of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference at the ministerial level, held in
New York, on 29 September 1993.
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division
for Palestinian Rights in accordance with
General Assembly resolutions 47/64 A and B
46. In its programme of work for the year 1993, the Committee decided to
continue organizing regional seminars and symposia and meetings of
non-governmental organizations and its programme of studies and publications in
accordance with existing mandates and budgetary provisions. The Committee, as
in the past, decided to invite Palestinian and Israeli personalities to
participate in all events organized under its auspices with a view to promoting
a constructive debate, mutual understanding and a concrete and action-oriented
analysis of the most important issues relating to the question of Palestine.
The Committee also decided to focus on the following priority issues:
(a) The urgency of promoting measures by the Security Council, the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention and all other parties
concerned to ensure the full implementation of Security Council
resolution 799 (1992);
(b) The imperative need to end human rights violations and ensure the
safety and international protection of Palestinian civilians in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, in accordance with the Fourth
Geneva Convention and Security Council resolutions, in particular
resolution 681 (1990);
(c) The adverse impact of Israel’s confiscation of Palestinian land and
settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including
Jerusalem, on the achievement of Palestinian rights and of a just settlement of
the question of Palestine, and the urgent need to take measures in this regard;
(d) The deteriorating economic situation of the Palestinian people and the
need for international assistance to promote the independent social and economic
development of the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, in
preparation for the full exercise of national sovereignty in accordance with
relevant United Nations resolutions;
(e) The promotion of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine, including
the convening, at a certain stage, of an international peace conference on the
Middle East, under the auspices of the United Nations in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 47/64 D of 11 December 1992.
1. Seminars
47. Regional seminars in Europe, North America, Africa and Latin America and
the Caribbean were included in the calendar of meetings to be organized under
the auspices of the Committee. For reasons beyond its control, the Committee
was unable to hold an event for the Latin American and Caribbean region in the
period under review.
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(a) United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People
48. The Committee decided to devote its Seminar for the European region to the
theme of "Assistance to the Palestinian People", in response to the request made
by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/170 of 22 December 1992. The
Seminar was held at United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) Headquarters in Paris from 26 to 29 April 1993.
49. The Seminar considered five topics: (a) Assistance to the Palestinian
people: priorities and needs; (b) The role and experience of the United Nations
system; (c) The role and experience of regional organizations; (d) The role and
experience of countries involved in assistance projects in the occupied
Palestinian territory; and (e) The role and experience of Palestinian and
international non-governmental organizations. Presentations were made by
experts and representatives of organizations of the United Nations system,
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and donor countries.
50. The Committee noted that the participants in the Seminar were of the view
that a comprehensive Palestinian national development plan would be a major
factor in achieving the independent development of the Palestinian people. They
stressed the importance of undertaking coordination between the various donors
and organizations and agencies of the United Nations system, and the Palestinian
central authority. They were of the view that the international assistance
programmes would be enhanced, among other things, by the elaboration of an
overall strategy framework to guide their work. They were also of the view that
international assistance should be targeted and delivered so as to meet
Palestinian priorities, to help loosen the grip of the occupation and to promote
the independent development of the Palestinian people. Participants stressed
that the question of coordination of international assistance needed to be
discussed urgently by all concerned and requested the Committee to convey to the
Secretary-General their recommendation that he convene a meeting of
organizations of the United Nations system, together with PLO officials, to
consider appropriate mechanisms to coordinate and channel assistance and to
decide on priorities. The request was conveyed by the Chairman in a letter
transmitting the report of the Seminar, which was issued as a document of the
General Assembly and of the Economic and Social Council (A/48/168-E/1993/62).
Further details on the Seminar are contained in annex II.
(b) North American Regional Seminar
51. The North American Regional Seminar was held at United Nations Headquarters
in New York on 28 and 29 June 1993. Mindful of the need to intensify the role
of the United Nations in the various aspects of the question of Palestine, the
Committee decided to devote the Seminar to the general theme "Priorities for
United Nations action".
52. The participants in the Seminar discussed three topics: (a) The United
Nations and the implementation of international human rights instruments and
relevant Security Council resolutions; (b) The United Nations and the promotion
of the economic development of the occupied Palestinian territory, including
Jerusalem; and (c) The United Nations and the peace process.
53. The Committee noted that Seminar participants deplored the fact that
Israel, the occupying Power, continued to reject the jurisdiction of the
international community with regard to its treatment of Palestinian civilians.
The Seminar also addressed the current and future economic needs of the occupied
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territory. The participants exchanged views on the current economic situation
in the occupied territory, as well as on ways of promoting sustainable
development in the course of and after the transitional period. Special
emphasis was laid on the importance of an active role of the United Nations, the
Security Council and the Secretary-General in ensuring a successful outcome of
the peace process. Further details on the Seminar are contained in annex III.
(c) The African Regional Seminar
54. The African Regional Seminar was held at Dakar, Senegal, from 30 August to
3 September 1993, jointly with the African Non-Governmental Organization
Symposium. The Committee expressed its deep appreciation to the Government of
Senegal for having provided the venue for these important events and for its
unstinting support for the work of the Committee.
55. The theme of the Seminar was "Africa, the Middle East, and the Question of
Palestine". The participants in the Seminar discussed the following four
topics: (a) Towards a just solution of the question of Palestine; (b) Building
peace in Jerusalem - the Holy City of three religions; (c) Towards selfdetermination
and statehood; and (d) The need to revive the economy in the
occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem.
56. Participants were apprised of the turning point in the peace process, which
took place while the meeting was in progress, and accordingly devoted
considerable discussion to analysing the situation on the ground in light of new
developments and to making recommendations for the difficult transition process
ahead. They expressed concern at the Israeli policy of annexation and
judaization of Jerusalem and its separation in recent months from the rest of
the occupied territory, and stressed that a solution to the problem of Jerusalem
was essential for the achievement of a lasting peace. The participants
emphasized that a revival of the Palestinian economy and its independent
development were essential underpinnings for the full exercise of the right to
self-determination of the Palestinian people and the building of an independent
State. They stressed the need for the creation of an appropriate mechanism to
undertake coordination between various donors and the United Nations system
organizations and agencies, and the PLO. It was suggested that the Committee
organize under its auspices round-tables on economic revitalization of the
occupied Palestinian territory, which would be of particular importance in the
transitional period. The participants also reaffirmed the permanent
responsibility of the United Nations towards a just and comprehensive solution
of the question of Palestine and stressed the essential role of the Committee.
Details on the Seminar and its Conclusions and recommendations are contained in
annex VII.
2. Cooperation with non-governmental organizations
57. The Committee, in accordance with its mandate under General Assembly
resolution 47/64 A, continued to cooperate and expand contacts with
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) active on the question of Palestine.
During 1993, the Division for Palestinian Rights, in consultation with the
Committee and under its guidance, organized regional non-governmental
organization symposia in North America, Africa and Europe, and an international
meeting of non-governmental organizations. The Committee noted that
non-governmental organizations had continued their efforts to provide assistance
and support to the Palestinian people under occupation and to promote a just and
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comprehensive peace. The Committee affirmed the importance of the contribution
by the NGO community to international efforts on behalf of the Palestinian
people and considered that their support would become even more necessary during
the future transition period.
(a) North American Regional Non-Governmental Organization Symposium
58. The North American Regional Non-Governmental Organization Symposium was
held at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 30 June to 2 July 1993,
immediately following the North American Regional Seminar, in accordance with
the practice established by the Committee in previous years. The programme for
the Symposium was elaborated in consultations between the Committee and the
North American Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the
Question of Palestine at a preparatory meeting held at United Nations
Headquarters in New York, on 25 and 26 January 1993.
59. The theme of the Symposium was "Building for peace and Palestine:
priorities for the second decade of the NGO movement". The programme included
four panels: "Building for peace and Palestine: priorities for the second
decade of the NGO movement"; "Rights, resources, refugees: the need for
protection"; "Ending the occupation: a prelude to peace and security"; and "NGO
priorities for the second decade". The programme also included several
workshops.
60. The Committee noted that the North American non-governmental organizations
had taken steps to strengthen the organizational framework for their activity
and that six Standing Committees had been created and had met to discuss ways
and means for coordinating the efforts of NGOs in the coming year. The Standing
Committees had drawn up programmes of action to serve as guidelines for the
future and to be brought to the next annual symposium for evaluation.
Additional details on the Symposium are contained in annex IV.
(b) European Regional Non-Governmental Organization Symposium
61. The European Regional Non-Governmental Organization Symposium was held at
Vienna, on 23 and 24 August 1993 and was followed by the International
Non-Governmental Organization Meeting, which was held from 25 to 27 August 1993.
The Committee expressed its appreciation to the Government of Austria for having
provided the facilities of the Austria Centre for the two meetings and for the
important contribution it had made to the successful holding of these events.
62. The programmes for the Symposium and the Meeting were elaborated by the
Committee in consultation with the European Coordinating Committee for
Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine and the
International Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the
Question of Palestine at a preparatory meeting held at the United Nations Office
at Geneva on 5 and 6 April 1993.
63. The Symposium had for its theme "The Middle East peace process:
Palestinian rights and development - a challenge to Europe". The topic of the
plenary session was "Palestine - the current situation". Two workshops were
organized, one dealing with Palestinian national and human rights, and the other
with Palestinian development. Details on the Symposium and the Declaration
adopted are contained in annex V.
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(c) International Non-Governmental Organization Meeting
64. The theme of the International NGO Meeting was "Renewing the United Nations
NGO commitment to Palestinian national and human rights". The participants
focused on five topics: (a) Political update: obstacles to peace; (b) Urgent
quest for independence: protection and end of occupation; (c) Back to the
future - a decade of United Nations/NGO networking; (d) NGO forum: who is doing
what?; and (e) Future strategies and the role of NGOs. Further details on the
Meeting and the Declaration adopted are contained in annex VI.
(d) African Regional Non-Governmental Organization Symposium
65. The African Regional NGO Symposium was held at Dakar, Senegal, from
30 August to 3 September 1993, together with the Seminar (see para. 58) and
shared with it the main theme "Africa, the Middle East and the Question of
Palestine", the round-table discussions and the adoption of the final concluding
document. Additionally, the following two workshops were organized for
non-governmental organizations: "Action by African non-governmental
organizations to promote efforts to put an end to Israel’s violation of human
rights of the Palestinian people" and "Mobilization and networking by
non-governmental organizations to promote a just, comprehensive and lasting
solution to the question of Palestine". The Committee noted that the
participating non-governmental organizations had taken steps to strengthen their
regional coordination. Further details on the symposium are contained in
annex VII.
3. Research, monitoring, and publications
66. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Division for Palestinian
Rights, in accordance with its mandate, continued to respond to information
requests and to prepare and disseminate the following publications:
(a) Monthly bulletins covering action by the Committee, other United
Nations organs, organizations and agencies, as well as intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations concerned with the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly monitoring reports on developments relating to the question of
Palestine, as reflected in the Arabic, English, and Hebrew press, for the use of
the Committee;
(c) Reports of seminars, regional NGO symposia and the international NGO
meetings;
(d) Compilations of statements, declarations, documents and other material
regarding the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the question of
Palestine, for the use of the Committee.
67. The Committee noted that the Division was working on updating a 1980
publication entitled "Acquisition of land in Palestine". The Division was also
updating a 1979 publication on the observance of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
68. The following publications were also issued by the Division: Resolutions
and decisions of the General Assembly and the Security Council relating to the
question of Palestine: 1992 (A/AC.183/L.2/Add.13) and a special bulletin on the
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commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
in 1992.
4. United Nations information system on the
question of Palestine (UNISPAL)
69. During 1993, in order to strengthen its programme of research, monitoring
and publications, the Division, in cooperation with relevant technical services
of the Secretariat, continued the work on the establishment of a computer-based
information system on the question of Palestine (UNISPAL), as requested by the
Committee and endorsed by the General Assembly in resolution 47/64 B of
11 December 1992. The Committee noted with appreciation that the initial
equipment and technical staff would be available in the Division by mid-October
and called for intensified efforts to make the system operational as soon as
possible. The Committee also requested that necessary provision for the further
development of the system be made in the 1994-95 budget. The Committee stressed
the importance and usefulness of UNISPAL for the work of the Committee and of
the United Nations, as well as of other members of the international community.
5. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
70. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was
observed on 29 November 1992 at United Nations Headquarters in New York and at
the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna. The Committee noted with
appreciation that the International Day had also been observed in 1992 in many
other cities throughout the world.
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 47/64 C
71. The Department of Public Information continued to provide press coverage of
all meetings of relevant United Nations bodies, including the Security Council
and the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People. Additional press releases were issued containing the texts of the
Secretary-General’s statements relating to the question of Palestine and the
situation in the occupied Arab territories. A total of 47 English and 43 French
press releases were issued on the subject.
72. The UN Chronicle quarterly magazine continued to publish stories relating
to Palestinian issues, including Security Council actions and results of special
meetings and seminars.
73. The Department’s Public Inquiries Unit responded to 324 requests for
information on Palestine. In addition, the subject was included in the
presentation made to visitors taking the guided tour of Headquarters. From
January through August 1993, visitors numbered 330,000. The Group Programmes
and Community Liaison Unit of the Department arranged briefings on Palestine by
Secretariat officials and delegations members for groups visiting Headquarters.
74. The Department continued to distribute its publications, including Building
for Peace in the Middle East: An Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue, a booklet based
on the proceedings of the International Encounter for European Journalists on
the Question of Palestine, organized by the Department at Lisbon, in
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September 1992; and a revised edition of For the Rights of the Palestinians:
The Work of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People. In the first eight months of the year, the Department
distributed a total of 17,994 copies of these and other publications on the
question of Palestine in Arabic, English, French, German, Russian and Spanish.
75. The Department initiated the production of several new publications:
Jerusalem: Visions of Reconciliation, resulting from the Athens Encounter for
Greek Journalists (April 1993); Promoting a Culture for Peace in the Middle
East, based on the London International Encounter for European Journalists (June
1993); and a UN Focus on the above-mentioned London Encounter.
76. The Department cooperated with Point du Jour, a French production company,
in producing a two-hour video documentary on the history of Palestine from the
end of the Ottoman Empire to the present time. The Department is currently
producing a 30-minute version of that documentary to highlight United Nations
involvement in the question of Palestine as well as the struggle of the
Palestinian people to achieve its rights.
77. The Department covered various aspects of the question of Palestine and
related issues in weekly radio news magazines and feature programmes.
Highlights of topics covered included the deportation of 400 Palestinians, on
17 December 1992, from the occupied Palestinian territory and related action by
the Security Council and the Secretary-General, as well as initiatives taken by
Arab States and non-aligned countries in that respect. Other programmes covered
appeals by the Chairman of the Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People for protection of the population in the occupied territories
and the debate of the Human Rights Commission on Israel’s decision to deport the
Palestinians. The Department also produced a number of feature programmes
devoted to the question of Palestine, including: "Assistance to the Palestinian
People"; "International Protection of Palestinian Refugees"; and "An Arab
Position for the 1994 World Conference on Population and Development: What
about Women?". These programmes were produced in Arabic, Bangla, English,
French, Hindi, Indonesian, Kiswahili, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Urdu.
78. In cooperation with the Government of Greece, the Department sponsored an
Encounter for Greek Journalists, held at Athens from 27 to 28 April. The theme
was "Jerusalem: visions of reconciliation". The issues of sovereignty over the
city of Jerusalem, municipal responsibilities and tangible confidence-building
measures were addressed. The dialogue was part of ongoing efforts of the
international community to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in
the Middle East. The Encounter was opened by the Minister for Foreign Affairs
of Greece and moderated by the Chief of the Anti-Apartheid, Decolonization and
Palestine Programmes Section of the Department.
79. The Athens Encounter brought together 11 international expert panellists.
The Palestinian and Israeli panellists were: Sami Musallam, Director of the
Office of the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO); Yael Dayan, member of the Israeli Knesset; Moshe Amirav,
member of the City Council of Jerusalem; Sari Nusseibeh, member of the Steering
Committee of the Palestinian Negotiating Team of Jerusalem; Albert Aghazarian,
adviser to the Palestinian Negotiating Team and Director of Public Relations,
Bir Zeit University, Ramallah, West Bank; Hanna Seniora, publisher of Al Fajr,
Jerusalem; Ruth Lapidoth, Professor of International Law, Hebrew University of
Jerusalem; and Idith Zertal, Columnist, Ha’aretz Network. Attending the
Encounter were some 60 representatives of Greek media organizations and the
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Athens-based foreign corps, as well as 20 expert observers and members of the
diplomatic corps.
80. In cooperation with the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland and with the support of The Guardian, the Department
sponsored an International Encounter for European Journalists on the Question of
Palestine, held in London from 9 to 11 June 1993. The theme of the Encounter
was "promoting a culture for peace in the Middle East". Issues related to
cultural obstacles to peace, the role of national authorities, the media and
intellectuals in promoting mutual recognition and respect and confidencebuilding
measures were explored. The Encounter was opened by the Minister of
State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland and moderated by the Director-General of the United
Nations Office at Geneva. Prominent Palestinian and Israeli personalities and
European and other experts served as panellists.
81. The Palestinian and Israeli panellists participating in the London
Encounter were: Avigdor Feldman, Member of the Board of Directors of Betselem,
a human rights advocacy group in Israel; Major-General Shlomo Gazit, former
Director of Israeli Military Intelligence and Senior Fellow at the Jaffee Centre
for Strategic Studies; Khalil Hindi, Palestinian representative at the
Multilateral Negotiations on Economic Development and Professor of Economics at
Manchester University, United Kingdom; Asa Kasher, Professor of Philosophy, Tel
Aviv University; Yossi Olmert, former Director of the Israeli Government Press
Office; Afif Safieh, Head of the PLO Delegation in the United Kingdom; Hanna
Seniora, Publisher of Al-Fajr, Jerusalem; Nabeel Shaath, Adviser to the Chairman
of the Executive Committee of the PLO; and Ephraim Sneh, Member of the Israeli
Knesset. Joining in the discussion were senior journalists and other media
representatives from the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle East. Taking
place on the eve of the resumption, in Washington, D.C., of the tenth round of
the Middle East peace talks, which opened on 15 June 1993, the encounter
received extensive international press coverage.
82. Coverage of United Nations activities related to the question of Palestine
was provided on an ongoing basis by the network of United Nations information
centres (UNICs). The centres produced and distributed newsletters, press
releases and television news programmes, and regularly briefed media
representatives. The staff organized film screenings, gave lectures and
translated and disseminated publications and posters produced both by the
Department of Public Information and the Division for Palestinian Rights.
Several United Nations information centres and services organized seminars,
commemorative meetings and round-tables on the question of Palestine. The
information centre at Manila, in cooperation with the Embassy of Palestine at
Manila, formed a special organizational committee for the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which decided, among other things, to
hold a national art competition on Palestinian rights. The information centre
in Paris assisted the Division for Palestinian Rights in organizing a seminar on
assistance to the Palestinian people. The information centres in London and
Athens provided full support services to the Department of Public Information
for the above-mentioned Encounters.
83. The Department continued to feature and distribute United Nations
information materials, documents and press releases on the question of Palestine
to representatives of non-governmental organizations. These included all
documents disseminated by the Division for Palestinian Rights, the Special
Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the
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Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
84. Additionally, and as foreseen in paragraph 31.13 of the programme budget
for the biennium 1992-1993, 12/ preparations were under way for a Fact-Finding
News Mission for Journalists to the Middle East and an Encounter for
Journalists, designed to reinforce the Secretary-General’s efforts to support
the momentum in the Middle East peace process.
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
85. The Committee welcomed the peace process started at Madrid in October 1991.
In September 1993, the Committee welcomed the exchange of letters of mutual
recognition between the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO), and the subsequent signing by representatives of the two
sides of the "Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements", as an important step towards the attainment of a comprehensive,
just and lasting peace in accordance with Security Council resolutions
242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and other relevant United Nations resolutions. The
Committee calls for intensified support and assistance by the international
community to the Palestinian people under its recognized leadership, the
Palestine Liberation Organization, in order to ensure the successful
implementation of the agreements reached.
86. The Committee reaffirms once again the permanent responsibility of the
United Nations with respect to the question of Palestine until it is resolved in
all its aspects. The Committee believes that the United Nations, which is
playing a central and increasing role in helping to solve many of the world’s
conflicts, has an essential contribution to make to building peace in the Middle
East region. The Committee stresses the need for the full engagement of the
United Nations in the peace process and in the process of building the
forthcoming Palestinian National Authority as well as in providing broad
assistance to the Palestinian people in all needed fields.
87. As the organ of the General Assembly dealing with the question of
Palestine, the Committee believes that it can make a valuable and positive
contribution to United Nations endeavours during the transitional period by
mobilizing international opinion and action for its successful outcome and in
support of the Palestinian people until a final settlement is achieved. The
Committee, accordingly, proposes to devote a major part of its future programme
of work to making a concrete contribution in this regard with the assistance of
the Division for Palestinian Rights. The Committee calls on the General
Assembly to express its support for the work of the Committee and the Division
in order to facilitate their task, and would welcome a consensus in this regard.
88. The Committee considers that a broadening of its membership to include
countries that support its objectives but have not hitherto participated in its
work, would greatly enhance the contribution of the General Assembly to the
efforts to promote peace at this important stage.
89. The Committee considers that the following priority tasks require immediate
and sustained attention in its programme of work for the coming year:
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(a) Promoting support for the ongoing peace process and for the
"Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-government Arrangements", and
following closely the developments and monitoring the situation on the ground in
order to promote the effective implementation of the agreements reached and the
full realization of Palestinian rights;
(b) Promoting intensified assistance to the Palestinian people by the
United Nations system as a whole, as well as other donors, for immediate relief
and for nation-building;
(c) Encouraging constructive consideration and debate of the major issues
to be negotiated at a later stage with a view to promoting a final settlement
based on international legitimacy in accordance with Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and other relevant United Nations
resolutions.
90. The Committee believes that the collection, exchange and dissemination of
accurate and timely information are of great importance in these endeavours, and
reaffirms the essential role of the Division for Palestinian Rights as a focal
point in this regard. The Committee welcomes the initial establishment in the
Division of the computer-based United Nations Information System on the Question
of Palestine (UNISPAL) and attaches great importance to the early and effective
implementation of the system in all its aspects and its further development to
meet evolving needs. The Committee requests the Division to include in the
system all relevant documentary, analytical and statistical information and to
cooperate with other users and sources of information with a view to making the
system as comprehensive and useful as possible.
91. The Committee considers that non-governmental organizations have played a
significant and constructive role over the years in solidarity with the
Palestinian national struggle and in support of the work of the Committee. The
Committee attaches the greatest importance to the continued and intensified
mobilization of NGOs throughout the transitional period in order to monitor the
relevant developments, to promote the full exercise of Palestinian rights in
accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions and to provide the
needed economic and other assistance for institution-building. The Committee
will seek to encourage participation in these endeavours by additional
non-governmental organizations, particularly those active in the general fields
of development and human rights. In consultation with the Division for
Palestinian Rights and the non-governmental organization coordinating
committees, the Committee will explore ways to enhance the effectiveness and
impact of United Nations-sponsored non-governmental organization meetings and to
promote intensified action by the non-governmental organization network.
92. The Committee is of the view that its programme of regional seminars and
non-governmental organization meetings has provided a useful forum for a
concrete and constructive analysis and debate of the most important issues
concerning the question of Palestine, in particular thanks to the regular
participation of Palestinian and Israeli personalities, together with experts,
political and religious figures, media representatives and others, and has
helped in educating public opinion and facilitating dialogue. The Committee
intends to continue this programme in the light of the new situation, and
considers that in the period ahead these meetings can provide a useful mechanism
for in-depth consideration of the most important issues relevant to the process
of transition of powers. Attention will be paid to structuring the format of
the meetings for maximum usefulness, including the possibility of co-sponsoring
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them with academic institutions, non-governmental organizations or others. The
Committee is also of the view that as soon as conditions permit, one such
meeting could be held in Gaza or Jericho. The Committee has also taken note of
the proposal that it consider convening a seminar on Palestinian needs in the
light of the new developments, and will organize such a seminar as soon as
possible at an appropriate venue.
93. The Committee considers that the publications and studies prepared by the
Division for Palestinian Rights have performed a valuable function by providing
accurate information on the various aspects of the question of Palestine and a
record of the activities sponsored by the Committee. The Committee considers
that this aspect of the programme of work will be enhanced by the establishment
of UNISPAL and will be of great usefulness to the Committee and to other users
in the time ahead. In particular, the Committee considers that the bulletins of
the Division should be expanded and restructured as follows:
(a) The monthly bulletin on activities of the United Nations system,
intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations will be
enhanced to provide a comprehensive coverage of all relevant resolutions,
statements and decisions, as well as summaries of the most significant
activities;
(b) The bulletin entitled "Approaches towards the settlement of the Arab-
Israeli conflict and the question of Palestine" will contain a compilation of
statements, reports and developments related to the ongoing bilateral and
multilateral peace negotiations;
(c) The bulletin monitoring developments in the occupied Palestinian
territory will become a chronology, in summary form, of all relevant
developments in the occupied territory and outside, based on press reports.
94. The Committee also considers that the studies, information notes, reports
and other material published by the Division should focus specifically on the
main issues to be addressed by the Committee in order to enhance their
usefulness at this important stage.
95. The Committee also considers that the Special Information Programme on the
Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has been useful in
raising the awareness of the international community concerning the complexities
of the question and the situation in the Middle East in general. The Committee
believes that the Programme has also contributed to an atmosphere conducive to
dialogue and supportive of the peace process. As the road to the establishment
of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East remains a long
one, the Committee believes that the work of the United Nations in the field of
information related to the Question of Palestine will become even more
important. The Programme should follow and reflect realities related to the new
experiences of the Palestinian people, provide assistance in the field of
Palestinian media development and continue to disseminate information about the
just cause of the Palestinian people, in addition to continuing its support of
dialogue in the effort to build peace. During its forty-seventh session, the
General Assembly adopted resolution 47/64 C by an overwhelming majority. It is
the Committee’s hope that this year, in the light of the new situation, the
Assembly will be able to adopt the resolution on the Special Information
Programme on the Question of Palestine by consensus.
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96. The Committee will continue to strive to achieve maximum effectiveness in
the implementation of its mandate and to adjust its work programme in the light
of developments, in order to contribute, to the extent possible, to the
realization of the common United Nations objective of achieving a just and
lasting solution of the question of Palestine.
Notes
1/ Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 47/1 of 22 September 1992, the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) did not participate in
the work of the Committee.
2/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
3/ Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35); ibid.,
Thirty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35); ibid., Thirty-fourth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fifth Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/35/35); ibid., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/36/35);
ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/37/35 and Corr.1); ibid.,
Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35); ibid., Thirty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/39/35); ibid., Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/40/35); ibid., Forty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); ibid.,
Forty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/42/35); ibid., Forty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/45/35); ibid.,
Forty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35); and ibid., Forty-seventh
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/47/35).
4/ Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in
Time of War, of 12 August 1949, United Nations Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
5/ Report of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine,
Geneva, 29 August-7 September 1983 (United Nations publication, Sales
No. E.83.I.21), chap. I, sect. B.
6/ The observers at the Committee meetings were as follows: Algeria,
Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Czechoslovakia*, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger,
Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, the
League of Arab States, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Palestine, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, as the
representative of the Palestinian people, was also an observer.
_______________________
* Czechoslovakia (or the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic), an observer
at the Committee meetings, ceased to exist on 31 December 1992. As of
1 January 1993, the membership of Czechoslovakia in the United Nations,
including its subsidiary organs, ceased as well.
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7/ The membership of the Working Group was as follows: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Guinea, Guyana, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey,
Ukraine, and Palestine, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, as
the representative of the people directly concerned.
8/ S/25149.
9/ S/25258.
10/ S/25460.
11/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1993,
Supplement No. 2 (E/1993/22), chap. II.
12/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-sixth Session,
Supplement No. 6 (A/48/6), vol. II.
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ANNEX I
Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General
Assembly at its thirty-first session*
I. Basic considerations and guidelines
59. The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and
consequently, the Committee stresses its belief that no solution in the Middle
East can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate
aspirations of the Palestinian people.
60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return
to their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national
independence and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction
that the full implementation of those rights will contribute decisively to a
comprehensive and final settlement of the Middle East crisis.
61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the
representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other
parties, on the basis of General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and
3375 (XXX), is indispensable in all efforts, deliberations and conferences on
the Middle East which are held under the auspices of the United Nations.
62. The Committee recalls the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of
the acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligation for
complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so occupied.
63. The Committee considers that it is the duty and responsibility of all
concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights.
64. The Committee recommends an expanded and more influential role by the
United Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of
Palestine and in the implementation of such a solution. The Security Council,
in particular, should take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the
Palestinians of their right to return to their homes, lands and property. The
Committee, furthermore, urges the Security Council to promote action towards a
just solution, taking into account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter
of the United Nations.
65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numerous
resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideration of all the facts,
proposals and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that the
Committee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation
of the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
II. The right of return
66. The natural and inalienable right of Palestinians to return to their homes
is recognized by resolution 194 (III), which the General Assembly has reaffirmed
almost every year since its adoption. This right was also unanimously
________________________
* Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35), paras. 59-72.
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recognized by the Security Council in its resolution 237 (1967); the time for
the urgent implementation of these regulations is long overdue.
67. Without prejudice to the right of all Palestinians to return to their
homes, lands and property, the Committee considers that the programme of
implementation of the exercise of this right may be carried out in two phases.
Phase one
68. The first phase involves the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(a) The Security Council should request the immediate implementation of
its resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementation should not be related to
any other condition;
(b) The resources of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in
the Near East, suitably financed and mandated, may be employed to assist in
returning to their homes. These agencies could also assist, in cooperation with
the host countries and the PLO, in the identification of the displaced
Palestinians.
Phase two
69. The second phase deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians
displaced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends that:
(a) While the first phase is being implemented, the United Nations, in
cooperation with the States directly involved, and the PLO as the interim
representative of the Palestinian entity, should proceed to make the necessary
arrangements to enable Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967 to exercise
their right to return to their homes and property, in accordance with the
relevant United Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly resolution
194 (III);
(b) Palestinians choosing not to return to their homes should be paid just
and equitable compensation as provided for in resolution 194 (III).
III. The right to self-determination, national independence
and sovereignty
70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to self-determination,
national independence and sovereignty in Palestine. The Committee considers
that the evacuation of the territories occupied by force and in violation of the
principles of the Charter of the United Nations and relevant resolutions of the
United Nations is a condition sine qua non for the exercise by the Palestinian
people of its inalienable rights in Palestine. The Committee considers
furthermore that, upon the return of the Palestinians to their homes and
property and with the establishment of an independent Palestinian entity, the
Palestinian people will be able to exercise its rights to self-determination and
to decide its form of government without external interference.
71. The Committee also feels that the United Nations has an historical duty and
responsibility to render all assistance necessary to promote the economic
development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity.
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72. To those ends, the Committee recommends that:
(a) A timetable should be established by the Security Council for the
complete withdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in
1967; such withdrawal should be completed no later than 1 June 1977;
(b) The Security Council may need to provide temporary peace-keeping
forces in order to facilitate the process of withdrawal;
(c) Israel should be requested by the Security Council to desist from the
establishment of new settlements and to withdraw during this period from
settlements established since 1967 in the occupied territories. Arab property
and all essential services in those areas should be maintained intact;
(d) Israel should also be requested to abide scrupulously by the
provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and to declare, pending its speedy
withdrawal from those territories, its recognition of the applicability of that
Convention;
(e) The evacuated territories, with all property and services intact,
should be taken over by the United Nations, which, with the cooperation of the
League of Arab States, will subsequently hand over those evacuated areas to the
PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people;
(f) The United Nations should, if necessary, assist in establishing
communications between Gaza and the West Bank;
(g) As soon as the independent Palestinian entity has been established,
the United Nations, in cooperation with the States directly involved and the
Palestinian entity, should, taking into account General Assembly resolution
3375 (XXX), make further arrangements for the full implementation of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding
problems and the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region, in
accordance with all relevant United Nations resolutions;
(h) The United Nations should provide the economic and technical
assistance necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity.
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ANNEX II
United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People
(UNESCO headquarters, Paris, 26 to 29 April 1993)
1. The United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People was held
at UNESCO headquarters, Paris, from 26 to 29 April 1993 in response to the
request made to the Committee by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/170
of 22 December 1992.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation comprising: Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé
(Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and head of delegation, who acted as
Seminar Chairman; Mr. Alcibiades J. Hidalgo Basulto (Cuba), Vice-Chairman of the
Committee and of the Seminar; Mr. Victor Camilleri (Malta), Rapporteur of the
Committee and Vice-Chairman and Rapporteur of the Seminar; and
Dr. Nasser Al-Kidwa, Permanent Observer for Palestine to the United Nations.
3. A total of eight meetings were held. Representatives of 67 Governments,
including a number of donor countries, 17 United Nations bodies, organs and
programmes involved in the programme of assistance to the Palestinian people, as
well as 15 experts, accepted the Committee’s invitation to participate in the
Seminar, as did 19 non-governmental organizations as observers.
4. At the opening session, a statement was made on behalf of the Director-
General of UNESCO, by Mr. K. Nhouyvanisvong, Assistant Director-General, a.i.,
for External Relations. A message from the Secretary-General of the United
Nations was read by his representative, Mr. Hassen M. Fodha, Director of the
United Nations Information Centre, Paris. Statements were also made by
Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; and by Mr. Ahmed Abu Ala,
Director-General of the Department of Economic Affairs and Planning of the
Palestine Liberation Organization. Statements were also made by representatives
of intergovernmental organizations.
5. In the plenary sessions, the general themes addressed and the experts that
took part were as follows:
(a) Assistance to the Palestinian people - priorities and needs:
(i) Programme for development of the Palestinian national economy for the
years 1994-2000:
Mr. Yusif Sayigh (Palestinian)
(ii) The current situation in the occupied Palestinian territory:
Mr. Mahmoud Okashah (Palestinian)
Mr. Mohamed Shtayyeh (Palestinian)
(b) The role and experience of the United Nations system:
Mr. Samir Abdullah Saleh (Palestinian)
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(c) The role and experience of regional organizations:
Mrs. Roselyne Bachelet (France)
Mrs. Ingbritt Irhammer (Sweden)
(d) The role and experience of countries involved in assistance projects
in the occupied Palestinian territory:
Mr. Ibrahim Dakkak (Palestinian)
Mrs. Sarah Roy (United States of America)
Mrs. Suzette Verhoeven (Belgium)
(e) The role and experience of Palestinian and international
non-governmental organizations:
Mr. Khaled Haidar Abdel Shafi (Palestinian)
Mr. Fritz Fröhlich (Austria)
Mr. Moath Al-Nabulsi (Palestinian)
Mr. Yousef Mahmoud Najem (Palestinian)
6. The report of the Seminar was issued in United Nations document
A/48/168-E/1993/62 on 14 May 1993. The full text of the proceedings will be
published in due course as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
7. The highlights of the discussions were summarized in the following
concluding points circulated on the last day of the meeting:
(a) Participants commended the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for convening the Seminar on
Assistance to the Palestinian People at a time of great importance for their
future. They expressed their firm desire to make a concrete and useful
contribution to helping the Palestinian people exercise its right to
self-determination and development and to achieve a just peace. They considered
that the wide and constructive participation in the Seminar by Governments,
United Nations system organizations and agencies and intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations and agencies had greatly contributed to its
success;
(b) It was felt that the Seminar had been useful in identifying the nature
and extent of existing assistance programmes. Appreciation was expressed for
the efforts already made by Governments, intergovernmental and regional
organizations, United Nations system organizations and agencies, as well as
non-governmental organizations in this regard, and for their readiness to
continue and increase their financial and technical assistance in the fields of
emergency, relief and development programmes;
(c) It was also felt that the Seminar had been useful for discussing the
current and future needs of the Palestinian people, as articulated by the
Palestinian representatives themselves, and for highlighting the importance of
continued and increased assistance to the Palestinian people by the
international community as a whole. Appreciation was expressed for the
opportunity offered by the Seminar for a candid and constructive analysis of the
experience of various donors and United Nations system organizations and
agencies and of the problems encountered on the ground;
(d) Deliberations showed a growing expectation by the international
community that a threshold had been reached in the long history of the Palestine
question, and that the Palestinian people would soon be able to take charge of
its own future and to exercise its economic, as well as political, decision-
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making. Participants were of the view that a comprehensive Palestinian national
development plan would be a major factor in achieving the independent
development of the Palestinian people. They felt the need for undertaking
coordination between various donors and United Nations system organizations and
agencies and the Palestinian central authority. In this connection they
welcomed the introduction of the Palestine Development Programme prepared by the
Department of Economic Affairs and Planning of the PLO and the explanations
given about it;
(e) Serious concern was expressed about the grave and deteriorating
economic and social situation in the occupied Palestinian territory as a
consequence of recent developments. Participants underlined that Israeli
policies were principally responsible for the current situation. Israel, the
occupying Power, had an obligation to respect the provisions of the Fourth
Geneva Convention, Security Council resolutions and international human rights
instruments which it had ratified;
(f) It was pointed out that the Israeli economic policy towards the
occupied Palestinian territory had resulted in its underdevelopment and
dependence on the Israeli economy. It was also stated that Israel had used its
control over the occupied territory to prevent, or put obstacles in the way of,
assistance projects aimed at promoting the independent development of the
Palestinian people;
(g) Participants called on the international community as a whole to press
Israel to lift the current siege in the occupied territory, to remove all
barriers to development and to permit the free operation on the ground of United
Nations system organizations and agencies and others delivering assistance to
the Palestinian people;
(h) Participants were of the view that the international assistance
programmes would be enhanced by greater and more effective coordination among
United Nations system organizations and agencies and between them and other
donors, and by elaboration of an overall strategy framework to guide their work;
(i) Participants discussed various courses of action that should be
followed by the international community in order to make its contribution more
effective. The view was expressed that international assistance should be
targeted and delivered so as to meet Palestinian priorities and to help loosen
the grip of the occupation and promote the independent development of the
Palestinian people. It was noted with appreciation that certain Governments and
organizations had been successful in delivering their assistance outside of
Israeli control;
(j) The Seminar participants noted the experience of various organizations
in the area of coordination and suggestions as to possible mechanisms made by
speakers. There was general agreement that this question needed urgently to be
discussed further at an appropriate level by all concerned in order to develop
ways of using the limited resources of the international community as
efficiently as possible. The Committee was therefore asked to recommend to the
Secretary-General the convening of a meeting of representatives of United
Nations system organizations and agencies and PLO officials to consider
appropriate mechanisms to coordinate and channel assistance and to decide on
priorities;
(k) Participants called for urgent action by the international community
to meet the emergency needs of the Palestinian people living under occupation
and identified a number of specific areas requiring such action, particularly in
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the Gaza Strip, as the current grave conditions threatened to exacerbate tension
and violence in the area;
(l) It was also stressed that significant assistance projects that could
help promote Palestinian development could and should be undertaken immediately,
particularly in areas relating to development of production, employment
generation and training, in the light of the strategies and priorities
established in the Palestine Development Programme as explained in the course of
the seminar. A call was made for increased assistance by the international
community in order to enable the Palestinian people to achieve
self-determination and self-reliance and thereby promote a just peace in the
region.
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ANNEX III
Ninth United Nations North American Seminar on the Question
of Palestine
(New York, 28 and 29 June 1993)
1. The Ninth United Nations North American Seminar on the Question of
Palestine, on the theme "Priorities for United Nations action", was held at
United Nations Headquarters on 28 and 29 June 1993. The Seminar had been
mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 46/74 B of 11 December 1991.
2. Mr. Alcibiades Hidalgo Basulto (Cuba), Vice-Chairman of the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, was Chairman
and Rapporteur of the Seminar.
3. Three meetings were held, chaired by 3 moderators, and 10 experts presented
papers on the theme of the Seminar. Representatives of 43 Governments, 7 United
Nations specialized agencies and bodies, 2 intergovernmental organizations, as
well as 10 non-governmental organizations, attended the meeting.
4. At the opening session, a statement was made by the Representative of the
Secretary-General, Mr. Chinmaya R. Gharekhan, Under-Secretary-General and
Special Political Adviser to the Secretary-General.
Mr. Alcibiades Hidalgo Basulto, Vice-Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and Chairman of the Seminar,
also made a statement. A message from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), was read out
by Dr. Nasser M. Al-Kidwa, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United
Nations.
5. Three panels were established. The panels, their moderators and panellists
were as follows:
(a) Panel I. The United Nations and the implementation of international
human rights instruments and relevant Security Council
resolutions
Moderator: Mr. Andrew Whitley (United States)
Panellists: Ms. Daphna Golan (Israel)
Mr. Muhammad Hallaj (Palestinian)
Ms. Lynn Welchmann (United Kingdom)
(b) Panel II. The United Nations and the promotion of the economic
development of the occupied Palestinian territory,
including Jerusalem
Moderator: Mr. S. Kazemi (UNCTAD)
Panellists: Mr. Alcibiades Hidalgo Basulto
(Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People)
Mr. Roger Guarda (UNDP)
Ms. Lee O’Brien (UNRWA)
Mr. Ephraim Ahiram (Israel)
Mr. Fadle Naqib (Palestinian)
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(c) Panel III. The United Nations and the peace process
Moderator: Mr. Richard Curtiss (United States of America)
Panellists: Mr. Johan Nordenfelt (United Nations)
Mr. Richard Curtiss (United States of
America)
Dr. Nabil A. Elaraby (Egypt)
Mr. Nabil Qassis (Palestinian)
Mr. Shibley Telhami (United States of
America)
6. The report summarizing the papers and the discussion will be published in
due course as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
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ANNEX IV
Tenth United Nations North American Regional Non-Governmental
Organizations Symposium on the Question of Palestine
(New York, 30 June to 2 July 1993)
1. The Tenth United Nations North American Regional Non-Governmental
Organizations Symposium on the Question of Palestine was held at United Nations
Headquarters from 30 June to 2 July 1993 in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 46/74 B, under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
2. The Symposium was attended by representatives of 56 non-governmental
organizations from Canada and the United States of America, and 7 such
organizations participated as observers. Nine panellists and 20 workshop
facilitators and resource persons made presentations. Representatives of
several Governments, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental organizations
also attended the Symposium as observers. Mr. Alcibiades Hidalgo Basulto
(Cuba), Vice-Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People, chaired the opening and closing sessions of the
Symposium. The opening session was also addressed by the Permanent Observer of
Palestine to the United Nations, who read out a message from Mr. Yasser Arafat,
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Mr. Larry Ekin, Chairman of the North American Coordinating Committee for NGOs
on the Question of Palestine served as moderator of the Symposium. The Reverend
Ibrahim Ayyad, President of the Palestine Committee for NGOs, addressed the
closing session of the Symposium.
3. The programme for the Symposium, on the theme "Building for peace and
Palestine: priorities for the second decade of the NGO movement", was drawn up
by the Committee in consultation with the North American Coordinating Committee
as follows:
(a) Panel 1. Building for peace and Palestine: priorities for the second
decade of the NGO movement
Mr. Don Betz (United States of America)
Mr. Paul Findley (United States of America)
Mr. Asmi Bishara (Palestinian)
(b) Panel 2. Rights, resources, refugees: the need for protection
Mr. Jonathan Kuttab (Palestinian)
Mr. Mohammad Hallaj (Palestinian)
Mr. Atif Kubursi (Canada)
(c) Panel 3. Ending the occupation: a prelude to peace and security
Ms. Roni Ben Efrat (Israel)
Mr. Mohammad Hallaj (Palestinian)
(d) Panel 4. NGO priorities for the second decade
Mr. Don Betz (United States of America)
Ms. Mia Adjali (United States of America)
Mr. Jim Graff (Canada)
-38-
4. Seven standing committees of non-governmental organizations were organized
to develop NGO networking and action on the following issues: government and
public policy; human rights and international law; material aid and economic
development; media and public education; mobilizing religious organizations;
mobilizing labour; and mobilizing women’s organizations.
5. Five workshops were held on the following themes: Media: skills and
stereotypes; The Clinton Administration and the U.S. Congress: assessing the
new opportunities; Assuring protection: United Nations resolutions and the
Fourth Geneva Convention; Seeds of a new society: the welfare of women and
children under occupation; and Exiles, refugees and "invisible transfers".
6. The report of the Symposium will be issued as a publication of the Division
for Palestinian Rights.
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ANNEX V
Seventh United Nations European Regional Non-Governmental
Organizations Symposium on the Question of Palestine
(Vienna, 23 and 24 August 1993)
1. The Seventh United Nations European Regional Non-Governmental Organizations
Symposium on the Question of Palestine was held at the Austria Centre, Vienna,
on 23 and 24 August 1993 in accordance with General Assembly resolution 46/74 B,
under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation comprising Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé
(Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and head of delegation;
Mr. Alcibiades Hidalgo Basulto (Cuba), Vice-Chairman; Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhadi
(Afghanistan), Vice-Chairman; Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta), Rapporteur of the
Committee; and Dr. M. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
3. The Symposium was attended by the representatives of 38 non-governmental
organizations from the European region, and 15 such organizations participated
as observers. Eight panellists and workshop resource persons made
presentations. Representatives of a number of Governments, United Nations
bodies and intergovernmental organizations also attended the Symposium as
observers. Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, chaired the
opening and closing sessions of the Symposium. The opening session was also
addressed by the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations at
Vienna, Mr. Faisal Aweidah, who read out a message from Mr. Yasser Arafat,
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization,
and by Mr. Bernard Mills, Chairman of the European Coordinating Committee for
NGOs on the Question of Palestine, who served as moderator of the Symposium.
4. The programme for the Symposium, on the theme "The Middle East peace
process: Palestinian rights and development - a challenge to Europe", was drawn
up by the Committee in consultation with the European Coordinating Committee as
follows:
Plenary Session. Palestine - the current situation
Dr. Haider Abdel Shafi (Palestinian)
Mrs. Naomi Chazan (Israel)
Mr. Johan Nordenfelt (United Nations)
5. Two workshops were held on the following topics:
(a) Palestinian national and human rights
Mr. Fateh Azzam (Palestinian)
Mrs. Luisa Sirvent (Spain)
Mrs. Maria Gazi (Greece)
(b) Palestinian development
Mr. Khalil Hindi (Palestinian)
Rev. Paul Hoffman (Germany)
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6. The non-governmental organizations participating in the Symposium adopted a
final declaration as well as action-oriented proposals and elected a new
11-member European Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine
and one honorary member. The report of the Symposium will be issued as a
publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
7. The non-governmental organizations participating in the Symposium adopted
the following declaration:
Declaration
We, the representatives of the non-governmental organizations
participating in the Seventh United Nations European Regional
Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium, held at the Austria Centre at
Vienna on 23 and 24 August 1993, reaffirm our support to the Palestinian
people and their courageous intifadah and their just and incessant struggle
for self-determination and the establishment of their own independent
sovereign State of Palestine.
The experience of the two years that have passed since the launching
at Madrid of talks between Arabs and Israelis has reinforced our conviction
that peace will not come until the Palestinian people, through their
representative, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), are enabled to
determine their own future. Serious negotiations have yet to begin and the
terms of reference of these talks, particularly Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), have yet to be honoured.
Worse, despite the ongoing peace talks, the situation has further
deteriorated in the occupied Palestinian territory. This has been
documented in the reports and papers presented by eminent panellists and
resource persons.
(a) From the beginning of the peace talks to this day an ever-growing
number of civilians is being killed and injured by the Israeli occupying
military forces and undercover units;
(b) The continuing arrests and torture of Palestinians exacerbate the
already intolerable human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian
territories;
(c) In December 1992, 415 Palestinians were deported to the Israeli-
Lebanese border, and, in spite of the world-wide outcry, Israel has refused
to comply with Security Council resolution 799 (1992) calling for their
immediate return, and 396 deportees are still encamped on the Lebanese
border as we are meeting;
(d) The recent closure of the territories is the latest manifestation
of illegal collective punishment. It has divided Palestine into four
parts, separating the south and the north of the West Bank, isolating the
Gaza Strip and Jerusalem, and severely restricting the movement of the
Palestinian population of 2 million people. The road blocks have created
enclaves, depriving the people living in them of access to family, work,
schools and medical care. This has been the most damaging and disruptive
policy of the occupying Power since 1967;
(e) In spite of the Israeli Government’s announcement of a settlement
freeze, there are at the moment more than 19,500 housing units under
-41-
construction, and highways and roads are continuously being built to link
settlements with one another and with the State of Israel;
(f) House demolitions have increased; in the Gaza Strip more than 50
houses have been blown up by anti-tank rockets.
We condemn all the above-mentioned Israeli policies and practices
which violate the Fourth Geneva Convention. We urge the Secretary-General
of the United Nations to convene the High Contracting Parties to the
Convention to decide ways and means to ensure Israel’s compliance with the
aforesaid Convention, in accordance with Security Council resolution
681 (1990) of 20 December 1990.
We call upon the European Governments and the European Community to
take all necessary political and economic measures in order to impose on
Israel the respect of the Fourth Geneva Convention. We demand that the
European Community freeze all economic and scientific protocols and
preferential agreements with Israel until it complies.
We are deeply concerned about the stalemate in the Palestinian-Israeli
talks. Without Palestinian-Israeli agreement, there can be no real
movement in either the bilateral or multilateral talks. We note that
concessions to facilitate negotiations have been made by the Palestinians
with no meaningful response from the Israelis.
We note with dismay the biased attitude of the current Administration
of the United States of America, which came into the open during the ninth
and tenth rounds of talks. We believe the United States has a
responsibility, now that it is effectively the only sponsor, to respect the
terms of reference of the Madrid process, which require full implementation
of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
We support the call in successive United Nations resolutions for an
international peace conference with the participation of the five permanent
members of the Security Council and all parties to the conflict, including
the Palestine Liberation Organization on an equal footing and with equal
rights in order to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region.
We reiterate our support for all Israeli non-governmental
organizations and peace forces, which have undertaken the hard task of
raising the awareness of Israeli society in support of Palestinian national
and human rights.
At the same time, we call attention to the ongoing discrimination by
the Israeli Government and local authorities against the Palestinian
citizens of Israel.
We strongly condemn Israel’s military raids against Lebanese villages
and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, which have caused the death of
150 civilians and the injury of hundreds, and made thousands homeless. We
urge the Security Council to ensure that Israel fully complies with
Security Council resolution 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978, which provides for
the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon.
We, as European non-governmental organizations, call upon our
Governments, and particularly upon the European members of the Security
Council, to lend their full support to efforts aimed at achieving a just
and comprehensive peace in the Middle East and to take action to end a
situation which perpetuates injustice and threatens the security of Europe.
-42-
Peace cannot prevail in the area until Israel complies with all United
Nations resolutions and withdraws from the occupied Palestinian
territories, Lebanon and the Golan Heights.
We, European non-governmental organizations, welcome the Palestine
Development Plan and pledge ourselves to sustain and encourage all
Palestinian efforts in the field of development. We shall urge European
and other Governments, United Nations bodies, etc., through all channels
and all levels to respond to Palestinian needs.
We, European non-governmental organizations, aware of the urgency of
the situation, pledge to intensify our concerted efforts for the
achievement of our objectives as outlined in this declaration.
We express our appreciation to the International Coordinating
Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine
and the North American Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental
Organizations on the Question of Palestine for their Peace Conference
Information Project; to the Coordinating Committee of International
Non-Governmental Organizations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for
their reports on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian
territories, and for the services rendered by the Network for European
Non-Governmental Organizations in the Occupied Territories in the field of
development. All these information services have facilitated the work of
the European Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on
the Question of Palestine and individual non-governmental organizations.
We warmly thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People for convening this Symposium and for its
relentless and continuous efforts to enable the Palestinian people to
achieve their inalienable rights. We request its chairman Mr. Kéba Birane
Cissé to convey this declaration to the General Assembly at its fortyeighth
session as part of the Committee’s report and we request the
convening of a European Symposium in 1994.
We extend our thanks to the Division of Palestinian Rights, its
secretariat, the various departments and offices of the United Nations
Office at Vienna and the interpreters who assisted us.
We wish to thank the Austrian Government for hosting this Symposium at
Vienna and making available the Austria Centre for our deliberations.
-43-
ANNEX VI
Tenth United Nations International Non-Governmental Organizations
Meeting on the Question of Palestine
(Vienna, 25 to 27 August 1993)
1. The Tenth United Nations International Non-Governmental Organizations
Meeting on the Question of Palestine was held at the Austria Centre, Vienna,
from 25 to 27 August 1993 in accordance with General Assembly resolution
46/74 B, under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation comprising Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé
(Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and head of delegation;
Mr. Alcibiades Hidalgo Basulto (Cuba), Vice-Chairman; Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhadi
(Afghanistan), Vice-Chairman; Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta), Rapporteur of the
Committee; and Dr. M. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
3. The Meeting was attended by representatives of 79 non-governmental
organizations from all regions of the world, and 6 such organizations
participated as observers. Nineteen panellists made presentations.
Representatives of a number of Governments, United Nations bodies and
intergovernmental organizations, as well as the representatives of the regional
coordinating committees, also attended the Meeting as observers.
4. Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, chaired the opening and closing
sessions of the Meeting. The opening session was also addressed by
Mr. Wolfgang Wolte, Deputy-Secretary-General and Director-General for European
Integration and Economic Policy in the Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Don Betz, Chairman of the International Coordinating Committee of
Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine, acted as moderator
of the Meeting.
5. The programme for the Meeting, on the theme "Renewing the United Nations -
NGO commitment to Palestinian national and human rights", was drawn up by the
Committee in consultation with the International Coordinating Committee as
follows:
(a) Panel 1. Political update: obstacles to peace
Dr. Haider Abdel Shafi (Palestinian)
Mrs. Naomi Chazan (Israel)
Mr. Naseer Aruri (United States)
(b) Panel 2. Urgent quest for independence: protection and end of
occupation
Mr. Pablo de la Vega (Ecuador)
Mr. Raji Sourani (Palestinian)
Mr. Avigdor Feldman (Israel)
Mr. Mohammed Ali Taha (Palestinian)
Mr. Hussein Abu Hussein (Israel)
-44-
(c) Panel 3. Back to the future - a decade of United Nations/NGO
networking
Mr. Jean Marie Lambert (France)
Ms. Adrien Wing (United States of America)
Mr. Hans-Peter Kotthaus (UNRWA)
Mr. Romesh Chandra (India)
Mr. Akira Uriu (UNIDO);
(d) Panel 4. NGO Forum: who is doing what?
Mrs. Samiha Khalil (Palestinian)
Mr. Fritz Froelich (Austria)
Mrs. Ruth Cohen (Israel)
Mr. Jim Graff (Canada);
(e) Panel 5. Future strategies and the role of NGOs
Mr. Don Betz (United States of America)
Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi (Palestinian)
6. The non-governmental organizations participating in the Meeting adopted a
final Declaration, as well as action-oriented proposals, and elected a new
International Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the
Question of Palestine. The report of the Meeting will be issued as a
publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
7. The Declaration adopted by participant non-governmental organizations reads
as follows:
Declaration
We, the Non-Governmental Organizations gathered at the Tenth United
Nations International Non-Governmental Organizations Meeting on the
Question of Palestine are aware that we have convened at a critical moment
in the struggle of the Palestinian people for freedom and statehood.
We unconditionally affirm the right of the Palestinian people to
return, self-determination and statehood. We affirm our conviction that
the establishment of an independent Palestinian State alongside Israel is
the most suitable means for securing a just and lasting peace in the Middle
East.
We call upon the Israeli Government and people to recognize the rights
of the Palestinian people to self-determination, statehood, and security
within their homeland, and the right of Palestinian refugees to return,
thereby assuring the mutual recognition of the equal rights of both
peoples. We demand the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and other occupied Arab
territories.
We support the peace process which began at Madrid in 1991 under the
sponsorship of the United States of America and the former Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics as an attempt to reach a just and comprehensive
settlement in the Middle East on the basis of Security Council resolutions
242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and the principle of land for peace. However,
many obstacles have inhibited the success of this process. We affirm that
any negotiating process leading to peace requires not only the recognition
-45-
of the principles found in these resolutions as the basis for negotiation,
but also the direct participation of the PLO as the sole legitimate
representative of the Palestinian people, the effective participation of
the United Nations and the inclusion of the European Community as
co-sponsor. It is our conviction that the principles embodied in the call
for the United Nations Peace Conference on the Middle East must be honoured
in order to establish a just and lasting peace. We believe the lack of
progress to date of the peace process is the direct responsibility of the
Government of Israel with the support of the United States.
We consider it most urgent that the United Nations provide immediate
and sustained protection for the Palestinians under occupation. We call
upon Israel immediately to recognize the de jure applicability of the
Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to all the territories occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem. The protections and guarantees of the
Convention must be recognized and implemented without delay. We call upon
the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to apply
sanctions to ensure Israel’s compliance with provisions of that Convention.
We express our full support for the ongoing intifadah, which
constitutes the Palestinian people’s inherent right to resist colonization
and military occupation. Consequently, Israel’s efforts to suppress the
intifadah are illegitimate:
(a) Further, we urge that non-governmental organizations concerned
with protection for the Palestinians should establish permanent monitoring
and witness groups in the occupied territories in order to enhance public
awareness and to pressure governments to urge Israel to end the occupation.
(b) We condemn Israel’s occupation and colonization of the Golan
Heights, its continuing brutal occupation of southern Lebanon and its
flagrant violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention in those regions.
We denounce the settlements policy of the Government of Israel in the
West Bank, Gaza and Golan Heights and the increased settlement activities
in occupied East Jerusalem. These settlements are illegal and in violation
of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, Security Council resolution
465 (1980) and other relevant Security Council resolutions and should be
dismantled. We strongly protest against the decision of the United States
Administration to grant Israel 10 billion dollars in loan guarantees
without any pledge from the Israeli Government that it will cease building
settlements which are illegal in the occupied territories, including East
Jerusalem. We do not accept the distinction between political and security
settlements offered by the Israeli Government, as it appears to be a tactic
to avoid returning all the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 and
remains an obstacle to peace. We call upon all Governments not to donate
or pledge any financial or other support to Israel until it officially
pledges to cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian
territories, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan
Heights.
We demand the implementation of the right of the Palestinians
displaced since 1967 to return to their homes. In this context, we affirm
the right of families to be reunited and to remain together in their
homeland. We also call for the immediate return of all Palestinian
deportees.
We note that in spite of Security Council resolution 799 (1992), the
expellees of December 1992 remain in exile in Lebanon. We condemn this
-46-
arrogant refusal to observe this demand by the Security Council for their
return. We call upon the Security Council to implement this resolution by
taking all necessary measures to ensure the immediate and safe return of
the expellees and their protection against arbitrary arrest and detention.
We also call upon Israel to recognize the rights of Palestinians who
are citizens of Israel to full equality, rights for which they have been
struggling since 1948. We denounce the ongoing discrimination against
Palestinians who are citizens of Israel. We condemn the Israeli
confiscation of their lands, which has recently accelerated, and the denial
of legal municipal recognition to many Palestinian villages and communities
in Israel. The national and human rights of the Palestinians who are
citizens of Israel must be considered in any further comprehensive solution
to the Palestinian problem.
We express our solidarity with Israeli peace forces struggling for the
equality of all citizens of Israel and for an end to Israeli occupation of
Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and for the realization
of the right of self-determination for the Palestinian people.
We strongly condemn the continuing Israeli policy of systematic
iron-fist repression against the Palestinian people in the occupied
Palestinian territory. We point out that at least 14,000 Palestinians
remain imprisoned, although some have fully served the terms of their
sentences.
We condemn the summary executions carried out by the undercover army
units in the occupied Palestinian territory. We demand that all
operations, as well as all standing orders and regulations relating to the
undercover army units, be cancelled and that the so-called "special units"
be disbanded immediately.
We demand that Israel rescind all standing military orders that have
codified human rights abuses and legalized them, particularly military
orders that sanction administrative detention, restrictions of fundamental
freedoms and rights such as free speech, freedom of assembly and
association, freedom of movement and travel, academic freedom, excessive
taxation and other severe restrictions on the free development of the
economy and the society of the occupied Palestinian territories:
(a) We demand that Israeli authorities stop the killing and injuring
of civilians, collective punishment, the sealing and demolition of houses,
detention, torture and imprisonment without trial, expropriation of land
and water resources, the closing of educational institutions, curfews and
restrictions on the free movement of Palestinians;
(b) We further call upon Israel to rescind its illegal closures of
the occupied Palestinian territory and to permit the freedom of movement of
Palestinians within those territories with free access to occupied East
Jerusalem. We call for the support of all believers for whom Jerusalem is
a living centre of their faiths to protect the presence of Muslims and
Christians against Israeli efforts to annex Arab East Jerusalem.
We condemn Israel’s recent massive aggression against Lebanon. We
deplore the failure of the international community to take appropriate
actions to protect the Lebanese and Palestinian civilians subjected to
massive bombardment, displacement and dispossession. We call upon the
Security Council to implement its resolution 425 (1978) requiring Israel’s
withdrawal from Lebanon.
-47-
We support comprehensive measures to control and eliminate weapons of
mass destruction worldwide, especially in the Middle East. The
international community should strongly urge Israel to sign and ratify the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We are concerned about
the risks to the natural environment which Israel’s continued nuclear
weapons programme poses. In this context, non-governmental organizations
are urged to support the campaign for Mordechai Vanunu’s immediate release
from the brutal and inhumane confinement he is suffering for alerting the
world to the Israeli nuclear threat.
We address a call to all the countries, especially the Gulf countries,
that have drastically reduced their support to Palestinian organizations to
re-examine their position and renew their support to the Palestinian people
and its sole legitimate representative, the PLO.
We warmly thank the Committee for convening this international
meeting, and we greatly appreciate the presence of the Committee
delegation. We extend a warm thanks to Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé, Chairman of
the Committee. We thank the Division for Palestinian Rights and all others
of the United Nations Secretariat, including the interpreters, who so
valuably assisted us. We express our appreciation to the distinguished
experts who spoke here and added to our deliberations. We also address our
appreciation to the Government of Austria for having generously hosted this
Meeting.
We request the Chairman of the United Nations Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to convey this
Declaration to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session as part of
the Committee’s report.
-48-
ANNEX VII
African Seminar and Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium
on the Question of Palestine
(Dakar, Senegal, 30 August to 3 September 1993)
1. The Seventh United Nations African Seminar on the Question of Palestine
(Thirty-fourth United Nations Seminar) and the Fourth United Nations African
Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium on the Question of Palestine were held
at Dakar, Senegal, from 30 August to 3 September 1993, in accordance with the
provisions of General Assembly resolution 46/74 B of 11 December 1991. The
Seminar and the NGO Symposium took place for the most part as a combined event.
2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation comprising Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé
(Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and Chairman of the Seminar;
Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta), Rapporteur of the Committee and Vice-Chairman and
Rapporteur of the Seminar; Mr. Nouhoum Samassekou (Mali), Vice-Chairman of the
Seminar; Mr. Utoyo Yamtomo, Ambassador of Indonesia to Senegal; and
Dr. Nasser Al-Kidwa, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations.
3. At the opening of the Seminar and NGO Symposium a statement was made by
Mr. Ousmane Tanor Dieng, Minister of State and Minister for Presidential Affairs
and Services of Senegal. Statements were also made by Joseph Verner Reed,
representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations; the Chairman of
the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People; the representative of Palestine to Senegal, who read out a message from
the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organization; and the representative of the African Coordinating Committee for
NGOs on the Question of Palestine.
4. A total of nine plenary meetings were held, and 19 experts from the African
continent, as well as Palestinians and Israelis, presented papers on various
aspects of the question of Palestine. Representatives of 23 Governments,
6 United Nations specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations, as
well as 18 non-governmental organizations, attended the Seminar and NGO
Symposium.
5. Four panels were established. The panels and their experts were as
follows:
(a) Panel I. Towards a just solution of the question of Palestine
(i) The current situation in the occupied Palestinian territory,
including Jerusalem
Dr. Ahmad Yaziji (Palestinian)
Mr. Eitan Felner (Israel)
(ii) The role of Africa in promoting a just, comprehensive and lasting
solution of the question of Palestine
Mr. Hedi Ben Nasr (Tunisia)
Mr. Chitsaka Chipaziwa (Zimbabwe)
Mr. Dianguina dit Yaya Doucouré (Mali)
Mr. Latyr Kamara (Senegal)
Mr. K. B. S. Simpson (Ghana)
-49-
(iii) Regional organizations and the political, economic and human
rights dimension of the question of Palestine
Mr. Khaled Mohammed Khaled (League of Arab States)
(b) Panel II. Building peace in Jerusalem - the Holy City of three
religions
Rev. Father Bishara Al-Lahham (Palestinian)
Sheikh Ekrema Sabri (Palestinian)
Rabbi David Forman (Israel)
(c) Panel III. Towards self-determination and statehood
(i) Palestine - dynamics of State-building
Mr. Latif Dori (Israel)
Mr. Essa Moosa (South Africa)
Mr. O. R. Kaakunga (Namibia)
(ii) The role of the media and public opinion in nation-building
Mr. Bara Diouf (Senegal)
Mr. Mohamed Larbi Messari (Morocco)
(d) Panel IV. The need to revive the economy in the occupied Palestinian
territory, including Jerusalem
(i) Mobilization of international assistance to promote self-reliance
and sustainable development
Mr. Ibrahim Dakkak (Palestinian)
Ms. Kathy Bergen (Canada)
6. In addition to the panels held jointly with the Seminar, two workshops
specifically related to non-governmental organizations activities were
established to consider the following topics:
(a) Actions by African non-governmental organizations to promote efforts
to put an end to Israel’s violations of human rights of the
Palestinian people
Mr. Ousmane Camara (Guinea)
(b) Mobilization and networking by non-governmental organizations to
promote a just, comprehensive and lasting solution of the question of
Palestine
Ms. Kathy Bergen (Canada)
The NGO participants adopted action-oriented proposals emanating from the
workshops. They also decided to extend the term of office of the African
Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of
Palestine until the next African Regional Symposium on the Question of Palestine
and to increase its membership.
7. The Seminar and NGO Symposium adopted conclusions and recommendations as
well as a motion of thanks to the Government and people of Senegal. The report
-50-
containing the summaries of the presentations will be published in due course as
a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
Conclusions and recommendations
8. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People convened the African Seminar and
NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine at Dakar, Senegal, from 30 August to
3 September 1993. A number of African, Palestinian and Israeli experts, as well
as representatives from Governments, intergovernmental organizations and
non-organizations, were invited to participate. The Seminar and NGO Symposium
had for its main theme "Africa, the Middle East and the question of Palestine",
and met in various panels relating to: a just solution of the question of
Palestine; Jerusalem; self-determination and statehood; and the need to revive
the economy of the occupied territory. Non-governmental organization workshops
were also held to promote action by African non-governmental organizations on
the question of Palestine. During the meeting, participants were also informed
of new developments relating to the peace process and held an exchange of views
thereon.
9. Participants reviewed the current situation in the occupied Palestinian
territory, including Jerusalem. They expressed grave concern at the continuing
human rights abuses in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. They called on Israel, the
occupying Power, to recognise the de jure applicability of the Convention to the
occupied territory and to implement it immediately and fully. They considered
that this was a fundamental obligation under international law and the relevant
Security Council resolutions. They called upon the international community, and
the High Contracting Parties in particular, to assume their obligations under
the Convention to ensure respect for its provisions in all circumstances and to
provide international protection for the Palestinians until the end of the
occupation.
10. Participants called on the Israeli Government to take a number of immediate
measures as a step towards peace and reconciliation between the two peoples, in
particular the release of all political prisoners and administrative detainees,
the return of deportees, an end to the activities of undercover units and other
repressive actions of the military forces and an end to the destruction of
houses; as well as to take other measures to restore respect for human rights
and lighten the burden of occupation during the transition period.
11. Grave concern was expressed at the continued closure of the occupied
territory and the separation of East Jerusalem from the West Bank, which had
resulted in dividing the occupied territory into four separate areas.
Furthermore, this had caused loss of employment and hardships for large numbers
of Palestinian workers and had drastically limited access by Palestinians to
places of worship, schools, health care facilities, and utility services.
Participants were especially alarmed at reports of the dramatic situation in
Gaza, in particular the grave aggravation in the health condition of the
population, the environmental deterioration and the lack of water. The
participants called for closer cooperation between non-governmental
organizations and the Palestine Health Council to identify needs and assistance
programmes. Israel was urgently called upon to end the blockade of the occupied
territory and to restore full access to Jerusalem.
12. Participants engaged in a frank and constructive debate on the role of
Africa in promoting a just, comprehensive and lasting solution of the question
of Palestine, as well as the role of regional organizations in this respect.
-51-
13. It was pointed out that African countries, which were still for the most
part under colonial rule at the time of the partition of Palestine in 1947, felt
a fundamental kinship with the Palestinian people. Their solidarity was rooted
in a moral and ethical position and a clear understanding of the historical and
political situation. Following their independence and the establishment of the
Organization of African Unity (OAU), the African countries had been able to lend
increasingly concerted and coordinated support to the Palestinian struggle at
the United Nations and in other international forums. Participants acknowledged
Africa’s continued principled position and steadfast support for the achievement
of Palestinian rights.
14. Past experience and future possibilities in the relations between African
and Arab countries were also reviewed. It was stressed that it was of the
greatest importance to strengthen cooperation, economic and otherwise, between
African and Arab countries, in order to stimulate mutually beneficial
development.
15. Participants appreciated and affirmed the continuing work and involvement
of the African and international non-governmental organizations working on the
question of Palestine. The importance of consolidating active channels of
communication between Palestinian and African organizations was emphasized.
16. Participants examined the problem of how to build peace in Jerusalem, Holy
City of three religions and of great spiritual value, without monopoly by any
quarter. The Israeli policy of annexation and judaization of Jerusalem, its
encirclement with Jewish settlements and its separation from the rest of the
occupied territories in recent months, caused the most serious concern.
Participants stressed that a just solution regarding Jerusalem was indispensable
for a settlement of the question of Palestine and called for an end to the
policy of settlement, the reopening of the city, freedom of access to the holy
places and respect for religious liberties, pending negotiations on a final
settlement. Support was expressed in this regard for the work of the Al-Quds
Committee of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Calls were also made
for an effective involvement by leaders from the three religions in promoting a
peaceful solution to the problem of Jerusalem.
17. Participants discussed the achievement of the right to self-determination
and independence of the Palestinian people and the dynamics of State and nationbuilding,
including the role of the media and public opinion. It was emphasized
that the right to self-determination was an inalienable right recognized in
international law. Participants expressed support for the intifadah, through
which the Palestinian people had expressed its national consensus in rejection
of the occupation and for the establishment of a Palestinian State. The
intifadah had also helped strengthen the institutional mechanisms and the social
and political foundations for future statehood, under the leadership of the
Palestine Liberation Organization.
18. It was pointed out that there were many parallels between the struggle of
the Palestinian people and that of the oppressed people of South Africa and that
use could be made of their experience. The importance of providing information
and mobilizing international sympathy and support for the Palestinian cause was
stressed in this regard.
19. It was also emphasized that the Palestinian information media, both in the
occupied territories, and in the diaspora, were playing an indispensable role in
expressing the concerns and national personality of the Palestinian people and
in keeping the national consciousness alive. The occupying Power was called
upon to cease all harassment of Palestinian journalists and foreign journalists
attempting to provide information on the situation in the occupied territory to
-52-
the outside public. It was suggested that the Committee organize a seminar with
the participation of mass media from the African and other regions and
representatives of the Palestinian media to discuss strategies and means of
practical cooperation in order to advance the cause of the Palestinian people.
20. Participants emphasized that a revival of the Palestinian economy and its
independent development were essential underpinnings for the full exercise of
the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people and the building of an
independent State. Israel was called upon to end its policy of control and
subordination of the Palestinian economy and resources, in particular water
resources and land, and to remove the obstacles to development projects of
non-governmental organizations and other international donors. It was concluded
that while immediate and substantial economic and financial assistance was
desirable, only the end of occupation and the restoration to the Palestinian
people of complete control over its national resources would ensure the
realization of self-reliant and sustainable development.
21. Participants called for unimpeded access of United Nations bodies and
specialized agencies to the occupied Palestinian territory in order to carry out
their programmes and studies. The need was felt for the creation of an
appropriate mechanism to undertake coordination between various donors and
United Nations system organizations and agencies and the Palestine Liberation
Organization. It was suggested that the Committee organize, under its auspices,
round-tables on economic revitalization of the occupied Palestinian territory,
which would be of particular importance in the transitional period. Various
practical measures to assist the Palestinian people living in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, were suggested, such as twinning of
towns and institutions like universities, hospitals and others, to provide for
exchange of staff, students, teachers and various technical assistance.
Participants called upon the international community, particularly the
industrial countries, to increase their contribution to the budget of UNRWA to
enable it to fulfil its responsibility towards the Palestinian people.
22. Participants were apprised of the turning point in the peace process which
took place while the meeting was in progress, and the draft declaration of
principles by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization providing for
initial steps towards Palestinian self-government, the withdrawal of Israeli
forces from Jericho and the Gaza Strip and a framework for negotiations leading
to a permanent settlement. In welcoming and supporting this evolution, they
considered that courage and leadership were required at this crucial stage in
the peace process. This development was viewed as a first step to a just and
comprehensive peace based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
338 (1973), and the realization of the legitimate national rights of the
Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination.
23. They stressed that it was essential for the international community as a
whole to intensify further its support for the Palestinian people and its
legitimate representative, the PLO, during the difficult transition process
ahead. They called for effective help to be given to the Palestinian people in
constructing its future institutions and rebuilding its social infrastructure
and economy, which were indispensable foundations for the full exercise of its
inalienable rights.
-53-
24. Participants reaffirmed the permanent responsibility of the United Nations
towards a just and comprehensive solution of the question of Palestine. In this
regard, they stressed the importance of the role of the United Nations in
providing every assistance with the aim of contributing to the establishment of
peace in the Middle East.
-----
-54-
[Original: English]
[16 November 1994]
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL .................................................. v
I. INTRODUCTION ......................................... 1 - 6 1
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE ............................. 7 - 10 3
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK ................................. 11 - 15 5
A. Election of officers ............................. 11 - 12 5
B. Participation in the work of the Committee ....... 13 - 14 5
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group ............ 15 5
IV. REVIEW OF THE SITUATION RELATING TO THE QUESTION OF
PALESTINE AND EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT THE COMMITTEE’S
MANDATE .............................................. 16 - 28 6
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE ........................ 29 - 69 10
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 48/158 A .............................. 29 - 34 10
1. Reaction to developments affecting the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people . 29 - 32 10
2. Attendance at international conferences and
meetings ..................................... 33 11
3. Action taken by United Nations bodies, the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and
intergovernmental organizations .............. 34 11
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions 48/158 A and B .............. 35 - 37 13
1. Seminars ..................................... 38 - 44 14
2. Cooperation with non-governmental
organizations ................................ 45 - 64 15
3. Research, monitoring and publications ........ 65 - 66 20
4. United Nations information system on the
question of Palestine ........................ 67 20
5. International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People ........................... 68 - 69 21
-iiiCONTENTS
(continued)
Paragraphs Page
VI. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION
48/158 C ............................................. 70 - 83 22
VII. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ..................... 84 - 92 26
-ivLETTER
OF TRANSMITTAL
15 November 1994
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to
the General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 5 of its resolution 48/158 A
of 20 December 1993.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Kéba Birane CISSÉ
Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Secretary-General of the United Nations
-vI.
INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly in its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, in which the Assembly requested the Committee to consider and
recommend to it a programme designed to enable the Palestinian people to
exercise its inalienable rights as recognized by the Assembly in resolution
3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974. During the reporting period the Committee
continued to be composed of 23 Member States, as follows: Afghanistan, Belarus,
Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic
Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Yugoslavia. 1/
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the
General Assembly 2/ were endorsed by the Assembly in its resolution 31/20 of
24 November 1976 as a basis for the solution of the question of Palestine. In
its subsequent reports 3/ the Committee has continued to stress that a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the question of Palestine, the core
of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions and the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel
from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and
from the other occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in
the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized
boundaries; and the recognition and exercise of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination. In its 1993
report to the Assembly at its forty-eighth session, 4/ the Committee welcomed
the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements on 13 September 1993 in Washington, D.C. (A/48/486-S/26560, annex)
by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as an important step
towards the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement and the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The Committee
stated that it would continue to strengthen its efforts to promote the
attainment of those rights and the full implementation of the Declaration of
Principles and mobilize international assistance to the Palestinian people
during the transitional period. Each year, the Assembly has endorsed the
Committee’s recommendations with overwhelming support and has renewed its
mandate and expanded it as necessary.
3. During the year under review, the Committee noted with great hope the
further development of the peace process initiated at Madrid in October 1991,
despite the repeated delays and the violent incidents in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem. The Committee welcomed the signing
at Cairo on 4 May 1994 of the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area
and the subsequent withdrawal of Israeli troops from those areas, the deployment
of Palestinian police, the return of Mr. Yasser Arafat, chairman of the
Executive Committee of the PLO, and other Palestinian leaders to Gaza, the
establishment of the Palestinian Authority and the partial release of prisoners
by Israel (see A/49/180-S/1994/727, annex). The Committee was also pleased to
note the signing of the Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and
Responsibilities at Erez on 29 August 1994. The Committee considered that these
were steps of major significance in the implementation of the Declaration of
Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements and expressed the hope that
negotiations would proceed speedily and successfully for its full
implementation. The Committee also noted the conclusion of the Washington
Declaration on 25 July 1994 by Israel and Jordan (A/49/300-S/1994/939, annex)
and the signing of the Treaty of Peace between the State of Israel and the
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Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on 26 October 1994, and expressed the hope that it
would lead to rapid progress in the negotiations with the other parties to the
conflict.
4. Notwithstanding these encouraging developments, the Committee remained
greatly concerned at the continuation of repressive activities by Israeli troops
and attacks by armed settlers, exemplified most tragically by the massacre of
Palestinian worshippers at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron in February 1994. The
Committee reaffirmed that Israel’s continuing occupation constituted the
principal obstacle to the achievement of peace. The Committee also expressed
concern at the continued Israeli policy of settlement and land confiscation and
stressed that during the transitional period Israel remains duty-bound, as the
occupying Power under the Fourth Geneva Convention, 5/ to respect the provisions
of the Convention in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories,
including Jerusalem.
5. The Committee affirmed once again the permanent responsibility of the
United Nations with respect to the question of Palestine until it was resolved
in all its aspects. It stressed the need for the full engagement of the United
Nations in the peace process and in the process of building the Palestinian
Authority as well as in providing broad assistance to the Palestinian people in
all needed fields. Expressing concern over the deteriorating economic situation
in the occupied Palestinian territory and the overwhelming problems of poverty,
unemployment and ruined infrastructure faced by the Palestinian Authority, the
Committee called for the urgent provision of international assistance to help
build the foundations for peace.
6. The Committee firmly believes that as the organ of the General Assembly
dealing with the question of Palestine, it can make a valuable and positive
contribution to United Nations endeavours during the transitional period by
continuing to mobilize international opinion and action for its successful
outcome and in support of the Palestinian people until a comprehensive, just and
lasting settlement is achieved. The Committee intends to continue to devote a
major part of its programme of work to this objective.
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II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
7. The mandate of the Committee for the year 1994 is contained in paragraphs 2
to 6 of General Assembly resolution 48/158 A of 20 December 1993, in which the
Assembly:
(a) Considered that the Committee could make a valuable and positive
contribution to international efforts to promote the effective implementation of
the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements and to
mobilize international support and assistance to the Palestinian people during
the transitional period, endorsed the Committee’s recommendations and requested
it to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of
Palestine, and to report and make suggestions to the Assembly or the Security
Council, as appropriate;
(b) Authorized the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote
the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to make such
adjustments in its approved programme of work as it might consider appropriate
and necessary in light of developments, to give special emphasis to the need to
mobilize support and assistance for the Palestinian people and to report thereon
to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session and thereafter;
(c) Requested the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation to
non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening
international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and
promoting support and assistance to meet the needs of the Palestinian people,
and to take the necessary steps to involve additional non-governmental
organizations in its work.
8. In its resolution 48/158 B, also of 20 December 1993, the General Assembly
requested the Secretary-General to provide the Division for Palestinian Rights
of the Secretariat with the resources required, including the continuing
development of the computer-based information system on the question of
Palestine, and to ensure that it continues to discharge the tasks detailed in
the pertinent Assembly resolutions, in consultation with the Committee and under
its guidance.
9. In its resolution 48/158 C, of 20 December 1994, the General Assembly
requested the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, in full
cooperation and coordination with the Committee, to continue, with the necessary
flexibility as might be required by developments affecting the question of
Palestine, its special information programme on the question of Palestine for
the biennium 1994-1995, with particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and
North America.
10. In carrying out its programme of work, the Committee also took into account
General Assembly resolution 48/158 D of 20 December 1993 in which the Assembly
reaffirmed the need to achieve a peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects. The
Assembly expressed its support for the ongoing peace process, which had begun at
Madrid, and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements, and expressed the hope that the process would lead to the
establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
The Assembly stressed the need for the United Nations to play a more active and
expanded role in the current peace process and in the implementation of the
Declaration of Principles. It urged Member States to provide economic and
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technical assistance to the Palestinian people. The Assembly also stressed the
upcoming negotiations on the final settlement, and reaffirmed a number of
principles for the achievement of a final settlement and comprehensive peace.
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III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A. Election of officers
11. At its 204th meeting, on 27 January 1994, the Committee re-elected
Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé (Senegal) as Chairman, Mr. Fernando Remirez de Estenoz
Barciela (Cuba) and Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhadi (Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairmen and
Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta) as Rapporteur.
12. At its 205th meeting, on 23 March 1994, the Committee adopted its programme
of work for 1994 in implementation of its mandate.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
13. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of
the United Nations and Permanent Observers to the United Nations desiring to
participate in the work of the Committee as observers were welcome to do so.
Accordingly, in a letter dated 18 April 1994, the Chairman of the Committee
informed the Secretary-General, who subsequently transmitted the letter, on
27 April 1994, to the States Members of the United Nations and members of the
specialized agencies and to intergovernmental organizations. In accordance with
established practice, the Committee also invited Palestine, represented by the
PLO, to participate in the work of the Committee as an observer, to attend all
its meetings and to make observations and proposals for consideration by the
Committee.
14. In 1994, the Committee again welcomed as observers all the States and
organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding year. 6/
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group
15. At its 204th meeting, the Committee re-established its Working Group in
order to assist in the preparation and expedition of the work of the Committee
on the understanding that any Committee member or observer could participate in
its deliberations. 7/ The Working Group was constituted as before under the
chairmanship of Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta) and Mrs. Mitra Vasisht (India) as
Vice-Chairman.
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IV. REVIEW OF THE SITUATION RELATING TO THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE
AND EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT THE COMMITTEE’S MANDATE
16. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee continued to keep under
review the situation relating to the question of Palestine in the light of the
new significant developments that have taken place and to exert all efforts to
promote the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The
Committee endeavoured to contribute to international efforts to promote the
effective implementation of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-
Government Arrangements and to mobilize international support and assistance to
the Palestinian people.
17. The Committee noted the signing by Israel and the PLO, as the
representative of the Palestinian people, of a series of important bilateral
agreements in implementation of the Declaration of Principles. In the Protocol
on Economic Relations between the Government of the State of Israel and the PLO,
Representing the Palestinian People, of 29 April 1994, the parties considered
the economic domain as one of the important factors in their relations with a
view to enhancing their interest in the achievement of a just, lasting and
comprehensive peace. The parties undertook to cooperate in that field in order
to establish a sound economic base for those relations, to be governed by the
principles of mutual respect of each other’s economic interests, reciprocity,
equity and fairness. The Protocol laid the groundwork for strengthening the
economic base of the Palestinian side and for its exercising its right of
economic decision-making in accordance with its own development plan and
priorities. The Protocol was subsequently incorporated into the Agreement on
the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. 5/
18. On 27 May 1994, the Permanent Representatives of the Russian Federation and
the United States of America to the United Nations, as well as the Permanent
Representative of Israel and the Permanent Observer of Palestine, transmitted
the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, with its annexes and maps,
to the Secretary-General. In the Agreement the parties reaffirmed their
determination to live in peaceful coexistence, mutual dignity and security,
while recognizing their mutual legitimate and political rights; and they
reaffirmed their desire to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace
settlement through the agreed political process and their adherence to the
mutual recognition and commitments of 9 September 1993. They reaffirmed their
understanding that the interim self-government arrangements contained in the
Agreement were an integral part of the whole peace process and that the
negotiations on the permanent status would lead to the implementation of
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of
22 October 1973. They expressed their desire to put into effect the Declaration
of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, and agreed on a number of
arrangements regarding the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. These included the
scheduled withdrawal of Israeli military forces, the establishment of the
Palestinian Authority and the transfer to it of various areas of authority
specified in the Agreement, arrangements for security and public order,
including the establishment of a strong Palestinian police force, provisions for
safe passage between the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and for the
international crossings at the Egyptian and Jordanian borders, as well as
confidence-building measures, in particular the release by Israel of 5,000
Palestinian prisoners and detainees, and other provisions for cooperation
between Israel and the PLO.
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19. The Committee noted with satisfaction that the nature of the Israeli
occupation of the Gaza Strip had dramatically changed as the agreement for the
transfer of authority had begun to be implemented. As at 18 May 1994, the
Israeli occupying forces had completed their withdrawal from the Gaza Strip,
home to almost 1 million Palestinians. An estimated 4,000 to 4,500 Israeli
soldiers remained in the Gaza Strip in the areas of Israeli settlements,
military installations and in security zones. The Committee noted reports that
6,000 to 7,000 Palestinian police had been deployed as of early September 1994,
many of them former exiles. The Committee was pleased at reports that the
transfer of internal security arrangements had had an immediate positive effect
on the safety of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and that the number of
casualties had dropped substantially.
20. The Committee welcomed the return of Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the PLO, to the Gaza Strip to assume the leadership of
the Palestinian Authority, and noted with satisfaction that a number of other
well-known Palestinian leaders and longstanding deportees had been allowed to
return. The Committee noted that the popular reception they had received
reflected the popular support for the peace process and the Palestinian
leadership. The Committee noted that the Palestinian Authority had been
established and was functioning in a normal manner and was increasing its
activities and programmes on a daily basis, and it sought to involve the
Authority’s members in the meetings organized under the Committee’s auspices.
21. The Committee further noted that, on 29 August 1994, Israel and the PLO had
signed the Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities
regarding the West Bank. The Agreement provides for assumption by the
Palestinian Authority of powers and responsibilities from the Israeli military
Government and its Civil Administration in the following spheres: education and
culture, health, social welfare, tourism, direct taxation and value added tax on
local production. The parties also undertook to explore the possible expansion
of the transfer of powers and responsibilities to other spheres. The Committee
also noted the start of negotiations between Israel and the PLO on the issue of
Palestinian elections and on the extension of the self-government arrangements
to the rest of the West Bank.
22. While welcoming these positive developments and expressing the earnest hope
that the agreements reached would be fully and effectively implemented, the
Committee considered that the situation on the ground remained a matter of
serious concern. In particular, the Committee was seriously concerned at the
delay in the implementation of the agreements reached thus far, as well as the
lack of compliance with the provisions of these agreements. The Committee was
also alarmed by reports of the continued Israeli settlement activities in the
occupied territory and in particular in and around Jerusalem.
23. The Committee was particularly alarmed by the killing, on 25 February 1994,
by an armed Jewish settler of over 50 Palestinian worshippers at Ibrahimi Mosque
in Hebron. At least 100 Palestinians had been wounded as a result of that act.
The Committee condemned the massacre in the strongest terms and expressed
concern at reports of subsequent shootings by Israeli soldiers of Palestinian
demonstrators elsewhere in the occupied territory. Following the adoption by
the Security Council of resolution 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994, the Committee
noted that, on 2 May 1994, a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of
a temporary international presence in Hebron had been agreed by Israel and the
PLO at Copenhagen and signed by representatives of Denmark, Italy and Norway,
the contributing countries. Observers were subsequently deployed in Hebron from
May to July 1994. The Committee is of the view that resolution 904 (1994)
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should be implemented in full, especially in the light of reports of continuing
tension with the settlers in the area, including the uncovering and arrests of
an underground network ready to carry out attacks against Palestinians.
24. Further, the Committee expressed concern at the fact that Israel was still
holding thousands of Palestinian prisoners inside Israel, in violation of
international law. While noting that in implementation of the Agreement on the
Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area a number of Palestinian prisoners had been
released, the Committee noted that this release was partial and conditional.
The Committee was particularly alarmed by continued reports of systematic
ill-treatment and torture by Israeli interrogators of Palestinian detainees.
The Committee was also concerned at reports that, despite the redeployment from
populated areas, Israeli patrols had carried out operations in the self-rule
areas which had resulted in injury to Palestinians.
25. The Committee was particularly concerned by the continued settlement
activities, by the Israeli Government’s plans to expand a series of settlements
in and around Jerusalem and in and around the town of Qalqilya in the West Bank,
as well as by the large-scale housing development by the Israeli authorities in
the area in and around Jerusalem. Also, declarations by Israeli officials with
respect to the eastward expansion of the Jerusalem settlements remained a cause
for serious concern of the Committee.
26. The Committee noted with concern the Israeli Government policy with regard
to the closures of the city of Jerusalem and of the Gaza Strip, for security
reasons, denying its inhabitants freedom of movement to other areas of the
occupied territory, preventing worshippers from travelling to Jerusalem, denying
patients essential medical care and preventing students from resuming their
studies. The strict controls imposed on Palestinian workers from the Gaza Strip
entering Israel, combined with catastrophic unemployment at home and the
disastrous state of the economy after 27 years of occupation, had caused a
dramatic increase in tension. The Committee deplored the use of lethal force by
Israeli troops against Palestinian workers at the Erez checkpoint in July 1994
and warned that urgent measures were needed to improve Palestinian living
conditions.
27. The Committee believes that for the Declaration of Principles and
subsequent Israeli-Palestinian agreements to succeed, it is absolutely essential
to promote economic and social development in the occupied Palestinian
territory, and has repeatedly called for the urgent provision of the necessary
funding by the international community. In this regard, the Committee noted the
declaration issued at Oslo on 13 September 1994 by Mr. Yasser Arafat and the
Foreign Ministers of Norway and Israel, in which a number of principles and
needs were agreed to. The Committee welcomed the concerted effort undertaken by
the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system in providing the
much-needed economic, technical, and development assistance to the Palestinian
people. The Committee noted that agreements in that regard had been reached
between the Palestine Liberation Organization, the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) and other agencies.
28. The Committee also took note with appreciation of the important and timely
steps taken in that regard by the Secretary-General, in particular the
appointment of a Special Coordinator in the occupied territory, to act as focal
point for all United Nations economic, social and other assistance to the
Palestinians in the occupied territory, and to provide guidance to and
facilitate coordination among the United Nations programmes and agencies
-8-
operating there. The Committee stressed that the activities of the United
Nations as well as the activities of the Special Coordinator should normally be
extended to the whole occupied territory, and expressed its readiness to
contribute to those important endeavours. With that objective in mind, the
Committee organized at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, in June 1994, a seminar on
Palestinian trade and investment needs. It also continued to address related
issues in the various meetings of non-governmental organizations organized under
its auspices.
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V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 48/158 A
1. Reaction to developments affecting the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people
Communication to the Secretary-General
29. In a letter dated 25 February 1994, the Chairman of the Committee drew the
attention of the Secretary-General to the massacre of Palestinian worshippers by
an Israeli settler at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron (A/48/883-S/1994/220).
Action taken within the Security Council
30. The Chairman also participated in the meeting of the Security Council on
this issue convened at the request of the Permanent Representative of Egypt to
the United Nations, on behalf of the members of the Arab Group of States, and
the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, on behalf of the
States members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. 8/
31. In his statement on behalf of the Committee at the 3342nd meeting, on
2 March 1994, the Chairman strongly condemned the massacre in Hebron. He stated
that the Committee wished to remind the international community that as long as
Israeli forces occupy the Palestinian territory, Israel bore full responsibility
for the protection of Palestinians, as the occupying Power, in accordance with
the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949. The Committee, therefore, fully supported the
Palestinian requests for an international presence to be established in the
occupied territory and for measures aimed at disarming the settlers and limiting
their presence and activities in Palestinian towns and villages. The Committee
urged the Security Council to take the necessary measures in that regard.
32. At its 3351st meeting, on 18 March 1994, the Security Council, without a
vote, adopted resolution 904 (1994), in which, inter alia, it strongly condemned
the massacre in Hebron and its aftermath which took the lives of more than 50
Palestinian civilians and injured several hundred others; called upon Israel,
the occupying Power, to continue to take and implement measures, including,
inter alia, confiscation of arms, with the aim of preventing illegal acts of
violence by Israeli settlers; called for measures to be taken to guarantee the
safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians throughout the occupied
territory, including, inter alia, a temporary international or foreign presence,
which was provided for in the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-
Government Arrangements, within the context of the ongoing peace process;
requested the co-sponsors of the peace process, the United States of America and
the Russian Federation, to continue their efforts to invigorate the peace
process, and to undertake the necessary support for the implementation of the
above-mentioned measures; reaffirmed its support for the peace process currently
under way, and called for the implementation of the Declaration of Principles
without delay.
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2. Attendance at international conferences and meetings
33. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee was represented by its
Chairman at the following international meetings during the period since its
previous report to the General Assembly:
(a) Conference on the Prospects for an Arab-Israeli Peace, organized by
the Wilton Park Conferences at Steyning, West Sussex, United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland, from 3 to 7 May 1994;
(b) Eleventh Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned
Countries held at Cairo from 31 May to 3 June 1994;
(c) Sixtieth ordinary session of the Council of Ministers and the
thirtieth session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the
Organization of African Unity held at Tunis from 6 to 11 and 13 to 15 June 1994,
respectively.
3. Action taken by United Nations bodies, the Movement
of Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental
organizations
34. The Committee continued to follow with great interest the activities of
United Nations bodies, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and
intergovernmental organizations relating to the question of Palestine. The
Committee noted especially the support of the international community for the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements and for its
implementation, as important steps towards a comprehensive, just and lasting
settlement in accordance with United Nations resolutions. The Committee also
noted the great concern about the human rights situation in the occupied
Palestinian territory, and the sense of urgency with which the international
community had addressed the need to provide assistance to the Palestinian people
in the difficult transition period ahead. The Committee took particular note of
the following documents:
(a) Communiqué issued at the meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs and
Heads of Delegation of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries to the General
Assembly at its forty-eighth session, held at United Nations Headquarters on
4 October 1993 (A/48/484-S/26552, annex, para. 3);
(b) Declaration of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77
adopted at its seventeenth annual meeting, held in New York on 5 October 1993
(A/48/485, annex, paras. 74 and 75);
(c) Communiqué adopted at the meeting of the Heads of Government of the
Countries of the Commonwealth, held at Limassol, Cyprus, from 21 to
25 October 1993 (A/48/564, annex);
(d) Final Communiqué adopted by the Supreme Council of the Gulf
Cooperation Council at its fourteenth session, held at Riyadh from 20 to
22 December 1993 (A/49/56-S/26926, annex);
(e) Resolutions CM/Res.1491 (LIX) on the situation in the Middle East and
CM/Res.1492 (LIX) on the Palestine question, adopted by the Council of Ministers
of the Organization of African Unity at its fifty-ninth ordinary session, held
at Addis Ababa from 31 January to 4 February 1994;
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(f) Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1994/1 to 1994/5 of
18 February 1994; 9/
(g) Statement issued on 25 February 1994 by the President of the Sixth
Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (A/48/890-S/1994/242, annex);
(h) Statement adopted by the States members of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference in New York on 25 February 1994; 8/
(i) Resolution No. 5362 adopted by the League of Arab States at its
emergency meeting, held at Cairo on 27 February 1994, concerning the Israeli
massacre of Palestinians in the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron; 10/
(j) Declaration issued on 28 February 1994 by the European Union on the
events in Hebron (A/48/886-S/1994/231, annex);
(k) Communiqué of the Committee on Palestine of the non-aligned movement
adopted on 1 March 1994 in New York; 11/
(l) Statement adopted by the States members of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference, held in New York on 7 March 1994, regarding the situation in
the occupied Palestinian territory; 12/
(m) Statement issued by the Arab Group on 25 March 1994 in New York on the
voting on Security Council resolution 904 (1994) (A/48/910-S/1994/353);
(n) Resolution 5366 (CI) of 27 March 1994 on the situation in the City of
Jerusalem, adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its one
hundred and first regular session, held at Cairo (A/48/923-S/1994/403, annex);
(o) Communiqué issued at Riyadh on 3 April 1994 by the Ministerial Council
of the Gulf Cooperation Council (A/49/125-S/1994/434, annex);
(p) Decision 1994/R.2/7 of 29 April 1994 on assistance to Palestinian
children and women adopted by the Executive Board of the United Nations
Children’s Fund at its second regular session, held in New York; 13/
(q) Resolution WHA47.30 of 12 May 1994 adopted by the forty-seventh World
Health Assembly on health conditions of the Arab populations in the occupied
Arab territories, including Palestine;
(r) Final document adopted at the Eleventh Ministerial Conference of the
Movement of the Non-Aligned Countries held at Cairo from 31 May to 3 June 1994
(A/49/287-S/1994/894, annex);
(s) Resolutions CM/Res.1523 (LX) and CM/Res.1522 (LX) adopted by the
Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its sixtieth
ordinary session, held at Tunis from 6 to 11 June 1994;
(t) Economic and Social Council resolutions 1994/29 of 27 July 1994 and
1994/44 and 1994/45 of 29 July 1994;
(u) Declaration by the European Union issued on 11 July 1994 concerning
the visit by Chairman Arafat to the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area
(A/49/230-S/1994/822, annex);
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(v) Concluding observations adopted by the Committee on Elimination of
Racial Discrimination at its forty-fifth session, held at Geneva from 1 to
19 August 1994 (CERD/C/45/Misc.14/Rev.1);
(w) Resolution adopted by the Subcommission on Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities at its forty-sixth session, held at
Geneva from 1 to 26 August 1994 (1994/13);
(x) Resolution adopted at the seventh extraordinary session of the Foreign
Ministers of the Islamic Conference, held at Islamabad from 7 to
9 September 1994 (A/49/448, annex II);
(y) Final Communiqué issued by the Ministerial Council of the Gulf
Cooperation Council at its fifty-second ordinary session, held at Riyadh on
17 September 1994 (A/49/412-S/1994/1078, annex);
(z) Statement issued on 29 September 1994 by the Ministers for Foreign
Affairs of the five permanent members of the Security Council (S/1994/1122,
annex);
(aa) Declaration adopted at the eighteenth annual meeting of the Ministers
for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77, held in New York on 30 September 1994
(A/49/462, annex);
(bb) Declaration adopted at the Middle East/North Africa Economic Summit,
held at Casablanca, Morocco, from 30 October to 1 November 1994 (A/49/645,
annex).
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions 48/158 A and B
35. In its programme of work for the year 1994, the Committee decided to
continue organizing regional seminars and meetings of non-governmental
organizations and preparing studies and publications in accordance with existing
mandates and budgetary provisions. The Committee, as in the past, decided to
invite Palestinian and Israeli personalities to participate in all events
organized under its auspices with a view to promoting a constructive debate,
mutual understanding and a concrete and action-oriented analysis of the most
important issues relating to the question of Palestine and the peace process.
36. The Committee considered that the following priority tasks required
immediate and sustained attention in its programme of work for 1994:
(a) Promoting support for the ongoing peace process and for the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, and following
closely the developments and monitoring the situation on the ground, in order to
promote the effective implementation of the agreements reached and the full
realization of Palestinian rights;
(b) Promoting intensified assistance to the Palestinian people by the
United Nations system as a whole, as well as other donors, for immediate relief
and for nation-building;
(c) Encouraging constructive consideration and debate of the major issues
to be negotiated at a later stage with a view to promoting a final settlement
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based on international legitimacy in accordance with Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and other relevant United Nations
resolutions.
37. In view of the massacre that was committed on 25 February 1994 against
Palestinian worshippers in the Ibrahimi Mosque at Hebron, the Committee decided
to intensify its efforts to promote international action to provide for the
protection of Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory,
including Jerusalem. In this regard, the Committee also considered that the
full implementation of Security Council resolution 904 (1994) would be an
important step in that direction.
1. Seminars
38. Regional seminars in Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean were
included in the calendar of meetings to be organized under the auspices of the
Committee in the year under review. The Committee acknowledged with
appreciation the offer of the Government of Brazil to host the Latin American
and Caribbean seminar, together with a symposium of non-governmental
organizations, in the first quarter of 1995.
39. The Committee decided to devote its Seminar in the European region to the
theme "Palestinian trade and investment needs", in accordance with its mandate
to mobilize international support and assistance to the Palestinian people
during the transitional period, and taking into consideration the suggestion
made by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/213 of 21 December 1993,
entitled "Assistance to the Palestinian people". The seminar was held at UNESCO
headquarters in Paris from 20 to 22 June 1994.
40. The Committee was represented by a delegation comprising
H.E. Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and head of
delegation and Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta), Rapporteur of the Committee, who
served as Chairman and Rapporteur of the Seminar, respectively; and
Mr. M. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations).
41. The seminar was attended by 16 experts, representatives of 39 Governments,
nine organizations of the United Nations system, as well as representatives from
10 non-governmental organizations. A delegation of Palestine and a
representative of the League of Arab States also took part in the seminar.
42. The programme for the seminar began with a plenary session on the theme
"Building a Palestinian economy - challenges and prospects". Statements were
made by donor countries and other Governments, intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations and organizations of the United Nations system.
43. Subsequently, three round-table discussions, moderated by experts, were
conducted, as follows:
(a) "Laying the foundation for Palestinian economic development":
Ms. Irene Jillson, President of Policy Research Inc. of Bethesda, Maryland,
United States of America (Moderator); Mr. Hisham Awartani, Professor, Al-Najah
University; Mr. George Abed, Economist and senior staff member, International
Monetary Fund (IMF); Mr. Kamal Kassouneh, entrepreneur from Jerusalem;
Mr. Antoine Zahlan, member of the Palestine Economic Council for Development and
Reconstruction; and Mr. Tayseer Abdel Jaber, Director of the Arab Consulting
Centre at Amman, Jordan.
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(b) "Investment for development: Palestinian needs and policy options":
Mr. George Abed, Economist and senior staff member, IMF (Moderator);
Mr. Ibrahim Dakkak, member of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development
and Reconstruction; Ms. I. Jillson, President of Policy Research Inc. of
Bethesda, Maryland; Ms. Hind Salman, Associate Professor at Bethlehem
University; Mr. Bassim Khoury, owner of a West Bank pharmaceutical company;
Mr. Hussam Hijjawi, member of the Nablus Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Stephen Day,
Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding and Chairman of the
European Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine; and
Mr. Simcha Bahiri, Israel-Palestine Centre for Research and Information.
(c) "Trade for development: Palestinian needs and policy options":
Mr. Tayseer Abdel Jaber, Director for the Arab Consulting Centre at Amman
(Moderator); Mr. Hazem el Beblawi, Chairman of the Export Development Bank of
Egypt; Mr. Ala’edeen Shawa, Director of the Development Resource Centre, Gaza;
and Mr. Ezra Sadan, Agricultural Research Organization, Israel.
44. Participants in the seminar engaged in an analysis and discussion of the
recent developments and the prospects for peace in the area, as well as of the
current economic situation and the imperative necessity of its rapid
amelioration in order to provide a solid foundation for peace efforts. The
experts gave a serious analysis of current and future needs in the fields of
trade and investment and constructive proposals were made to meet the current
emergency situation and to promote sustainable development of the Palestinian
economy during and after the transitional period. The final report of the
Seminar was submitted to the President of the Economic and Social Council in a
letter from the Chairman of the Committee for circulation to the members. 14/
It has also been issued as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
2. Cooperation with non-governmental organizations
45. In accordance with its mandate under General Assembly resolution 48/158 A,
the Committee continued to cooperate and expand contacts with interested
non-governmental organizations. During 1994, a regional non-governmental
organization symposium for North America and a combined meeting for European and
international non-governmental organizations were held. The Committee noted
that non-governmental organizations had continued their efforts to provide
assistance and support to the Palestinian people in light of the new situation
following signing of the Declaration of Principles and Interim Self-Government
Arrangements and subsequent agreements. The Committee affirmed the importance
of the contribution by non-governmental organizations to international efforts
on behalf of the Palestinian people and considered that their support would
continue to be essential during the transitional period.
46. The Eleventh United Nations North American NGO Symposium on the Question of
Palestine was held at Toronto, Canada, from 6 to 8 July 1994 in cooperation with
the North American Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on
the Question of Palestine and in accordance with a programme elaborated in
consultation with it at a preparatory meeting held in New York on 31 January and
1 February 1994. The Committee expressed its appreciation to the Government of
Canada for having provided the venue for the Symposium and for its active
participation in its deliberations.
47. The Committee was represented by a delegation comprising
Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and head of
delegation; Mr. Ravan Farhadi (Afghanistan), Vice-Chairman of the Committee;
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Mr. Fernando Remirez de Estenoz Barciela (Cuba), Vice-Chairman of the Committee;
Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta), Rapporteur of the Committee; and
Mr. M. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations).
The Government of Canada was represented by Mr. Mac Harb, Parliamentary
Secretary to the Minister of International Trade; other high-level officials
participated in the Symposium deliberations.
48. The Symposium was attended by representatives of 58 non-governmental
organizations and 15 Governments. In four plenary sessions, 19 experts
presented papers and statements on the reconstruction and nation-building
process during the transition period in the light of the Declaration of
Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements and subsequent agreements.
Six workshops were held with twenty experts discussing issues relevant to the
question of Palestine.
49. The theme of the Symposium was "Palestine - towards a just and lasting
peace: focus on support by non-governmental organizations for cooperation and
development". The expert panels were as follows:
(a) "The Declaration of Principles: taking stock of the situation":
Mr. Nasser Al-Kidwa, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations;
Mr. Mervyn Dymally, retired United States Congressman; and Mr. Aaron Back,
B’Tselem, Israeli Centre for Human Rights In the Occupied Territories;
(b) "The Declaration of Principles: United Nations involvement and the
North American non-governmental organization movement": Mr. Jawad Squili,
Chairman of the Board, Centre d’études arabes pour le développement;
Mr. Anis Al-Qaq, Director, Health Services Council and Chairman of the
Palestinian Theatre; Ms. Phyllis Bennis, Journalist; and Mr. Larry Ekin,
Chairman of the North American Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental
Organizations on the Question of Palestine;
(c) (i) "Strengthening civil and social structures": Mr. Eyad El Sarraj,
Director, Gaza Community Mental Health Programme; Ms. Zahira Kamal,
Coordinator for Women’s Affairs Technical Committee; and
Mr. Norman Cook, Director of Non-Governmental Organizations, Canadian
Partnership Branch, Canadian International Development Agency;
(ii) "Development and the United Nations system": Ms. Janice Abu Shakrah,
Director of the Palestine Human Rights Information Centre, Jerusalem;
and Ms. Zahira Kamal, Coordinator for Women’s Affairs Technical
Committee;
(d) "Looking ahead: key issues": Ms. Janice Abu Shakrah, Director,
Palestine Human Rights Information Centre, Jerusalem; Ms. Sarah Kaminer,
Planning Consultant for neighbourhood organizations in West and East Jerusalem;
Mr. Naseer Aruri, Professor of Political Science at the University of
Massachusetts, Dartmouth, Massachusetts; and Mr. Marc Perron, Assistant Deputy
Minister, Ministry of External Relations of Canada.
50. The workshops addressed the following topics: economic development; health
and educational needs; promoting coexistence (citizen to citizen diplomacy);
defending human rights; working with the media; and the Palestinian women’s
experience in development.
51. The Symposium was marked by intensive and fruitful discussions and served
as an occasion for non-governmental organizations in North America to coordinate
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and intensify its efforts and activities aimed at assisting the Palestinian
people in the political, social and economic spheres. At the final session, the
participating non-governmental organizations elected a new Coordinating
Committee for the North American region to follow up on the decisions taken and
to assure cooperation with the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights.
52. The United Nations International NGO Meeting and European NGO Symposium on
the Question of Palestine was held as a combined event at Geneva from
29 August to 1 September 1993. The theme of the meeting was "Building on the
Declaration of Principles towards the independent State of Palestine".
53. The Committee was represented by a delegation composed of
Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and head of the
delegation; Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhadi (Afghanistan), Vice-Chairman;
Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta), Rapporteur of the Committee; and
Mr. M. Nasser Al-Kidwa, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations.
54. The meeting was attended by the representatives of 100 non-governmental
organizations, 15 of them as observers. It was also attended by 30 Governments,
8 United Nations agencies and bodies, 4 intergovernmental and other
organizations, 5 non-governmental organization coordinating committees, a
delegation of Palestine and 27 panelists and workshop leaders.
55. The programme for the meeting was formulated by the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in consultation
with the International Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations
on the Question of Palestine and the European Coordinating Committee for
Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine at a preparatory
meeting held at Geneva on 21 and 22 February 1994.
56. Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé (Senegal) chaired the opening and closing sessions of
the meeting. Mr. Ibrahima Fall, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights,
read a message from the Secretary-General. Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi, Senior Advisor
on International Organizations to Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, made a statement on his
behalf. Other opening statements were made by Mr. Stephen Day, Chairman of the
European Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the
Question of Palestine and Don Betz, Chairman of the International Coordinating
Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine.
57. The following panelists made presentations in the six panels:
(a) "Implementation of the Declaration of Principles":
Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi, Senior Advisor on International Organizations to
Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee for the PLO;
Mr. Stephen Day, Director, Council for the Advancement of Arab-British
Understanding and Chairman of the European Coordinating Committee for
Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine; and
Mr. Romesh Chandra, President of Honour of the World Peace Council;
(b) "Elements of the final Settlement":
(i) "Jerusalem": Mr. Ibrahim Shaaban, Director, Palestinian Housing
Council;
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(ii) "Refugees": Mr. Muhammad Hallaj, Executive Director, Centre for
Policy Analysis on Palestine;
(iii) "Settlements": Mr. Khader Shkirat, Director, Land and Water
Establishment, West Bank;
(c) (i) "The Palestinian people’s reality today":
"In the occupied Palestinian Territory": Mrs. Maha Shawa, Economist,
Head of the International Cooperation Division, Health Department,
Palestinian Authority; Mr. Marai Abdelrahman, Secretary-General,
Palestine Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations; and
Mr. Victor M. Kashkoush, Director-General, Welfare Association;
(ii) a. "Israeli society and the peaceful settlement with the Palestinian
People": Mr. Peretz Kidron, freelance journalist and writer;
b. "Role of the Israeli peace forces in support of the Palestinian
people": Mr. Dan Leon, Managing Editor, Palestine Israel
Journal;
c. "Arab societies in the Middle East and the Declaration of
Principles": Mr. Nouri Abdul Razzak, Secretary-General,
Afro-Asian People’s Solidarity Organization;
(d) (i) "Social and Economic Development of Palestine":
Mr. Samir Othman Houlaileh, Palestinian Economic Council for
Development and Reconstruction; and Mr. Ahmed Saad, economist, writer,
researcher and manager of the Emil Tuma Institute (Haifa);
(ii) "The role of non-governmental organizations in the social and economic
development of Palestine": Mr. Stephen Day, Executive Director of the
Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding and Chairman
of the European Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental
Organizations on the Question of Palestine; Mr. Fritz Froehlich,
Society for Austro-Arab Relations; Dr. Anis Al Qaq, Health Services
Council, West Bank; and Mr. Bruce Stanley, representative, Association
for International Development Agencies;
(e) "The role of non-governmental organizations in supporting the work of
the United Nations": Dr. Anis Al Qaq, Health Services Council, West Bank;
Mr. Larry Ekin, Chairman, North American Coordinating Committee for
Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine;
Mrs. Elaine Hesse Steel, Director, World Young Women’s Christian Association
(Geneva); Mrs. Maria Gazi, Greek Committee for International Democratic
Solidarity; and Mr. Don Betz, Chairman, International Coordinating Committee for
Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine.
(f) "Campaigning for Palestinian National and Human Rights: how to
campaign; and evaluation of the campaign on the release of Palestinian
prisoners, re-launching of the campaigns on refugees, rights of return, and
settlements in the light of recent developments": Mrs. Janice Abu Shakrah,
Director, Palestine Human Rights Information Centre, Jerusalem; Mr. Larry Ekin,
Chairman, North American Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental
Organizations on the Question of Palestine; and Mr. Ilan Halevi, Special Advisor
to the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO.
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58. The following topics were discussed in the workshops: health, women, and
education.
59. The non-governmental organizations participating in the meeting adopted a
final communiqué in which they expressed the view that the Declaration of
Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements was a turning-point opening a
new chapter in Middle East relations and an avenue to a just and lasting peace.
They also stated that the unequivocal support of the non-governmental
organizations for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and
the establishment of an independent Palestinian State in accordance with all
relevant United Nations resolutions remained at the centre of the
non-governmental organizations’ commitment. Further, they considered that the
United Nations continues to have a role in reaching a negotiated settlement on
the question of Palestine and is the most appropriate body that could guarantee
a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East.
60. The non-governmental organizations noted that the information presented at
the meeting and the discussion that followed confirmed that the peace process
was in its initial stages. The implementation of the initial stages of the
Palestinian interim self-government was an important achievement, but must not
be permitted to obscure the reality that, during the transitional period,
Israel, as the occupying power, remained obligated to observe the Geneva
Conventions until such time as the Palestinian people achieved full sovereignty.
61. They considered that although resolution of the questions related to
Jerusalem, Israeli settlements and the right of return had been deferred to the
permanent status negotiations, their importance demanded a clear and constant
affirmation from the non-governmental organization movement. Of immediate and
major concern to them was the continued Israeli imprisonment of Palestinian
political prisoners and detainees. The non-governmental organizations called
for their unconditional release in compliance with the Agreement on the Gaza
Strip and the Jericho Area signed at Cairo.
62. They confirmed that under occupation, local and international
non-governmental organizations had played crucial roles in the development of
the Palestinian economy and society. They anticipated that non-governmental
organizations would continue to play those roles and that support should be
provided based upon their competence and quality of service. They sought ways
to increase the involvement of non-governmental organizations, including those
involved in economic and social development and in humanitarian service and
looked forward to, and encouraged cooperation between non-governmental
organizations and the Palestinian Authority.
63. In consultations between the representatives of the international and
European coordinating committees for non-governmental organizations and the
delegation of the Committee, it was agreed that a "task force" of seven to nine
representatives would be appointed from within the International Coordinating
Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine in
order to ensure more cost-effective and incisive cooperation between the
non-governmental organization coordinating structures, the Committee and the
Division.
64. In order to encourage a wider and more active participation by
non-governmental organizations in the activities and meetings under its
auspices, in particular those whose work encompasses humanitarian ends and
programmes, including development, benefiting the Palestinian people, the
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Committee, at its 206th meeting, established a revised set of criteria for such
participation.
3. Research, monitoring and publications
65. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Division for Palestinian
Rights, in accordance with its mandate, continued to respond to information
requests and to prepare and disseminate the following publications:
(a) Monthly bulletins covering action by the Committee, other United
Nations organs, organizations and agencies, as well as intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations concerned with the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronological review of events relating to the question of
Palestine, as reflected in the Arabic, English and Hebrew media, for the use of
the Committee;
(c) Reports of seminars and non-governmental organization meetings;
(d) Periodic compilations of statements, declarations, documents and other
material generated by the peace process;
(e) A compilation of the resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly
and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine adopted in
1993); 15/
(f) A special bulletin on the commemoration of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People in 1993.
66. The Committee also noted that the Division continued its programme of
research and preparation of studies and information notes, in close cooperation
with the Bureau of the Committee.
4. United Nations information system on the question
of Palestine
67. The Committee noted that the Division, in cooperation with relevant
technical services of the Secretariat, had completed the initial stage of the
establishment of a United Nations computer-based information system on the
question of Palestine (UNISPAL), as requested by the Committee and endorsed by
the General Assembly. The Committee noted that on a trial basis, Committee
members and observers and other relevant users within the United Nations
Secretariat and organizations of the United Nations system, as well as
coordinating committees for non-governmental organizations, had been given
access through a Bulletin Board Service, to selected United Nations documents
and reports on the question of Palestine, both current and historical. The
Committee stressed the importance and usefulness of UNISPAL for the work of the
Committee and of the United Nations, as well as of other members of the
international community, and called for intensified efforts to advance towards
full operation of the system and its further expansion as needed.
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5. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
68. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was
observed on 29 November 1993 at United Nations Headquarters in New York and at
the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna. The Committee noted with
appreciation that the International Day had also been observed in 1993 in many
other cities throughout the world. Details on the observance are contained in
the special bulletin issued by the Division.
69. On the occasion of the observance of the Day an exhibit of Palestinian
traditional costumes, entitled "Palestine: a glimpse of the past, an
inspiration for the future" was provided by the Permanent Observer of Palestine
to the United Nations and presented under the auspices of the Committee.
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VI. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 48/158 C
70. The Department of Public Information continued to provide press coverage of
all meetings of United Nations bodies dealing with Palestinian issues, including
the Security Council and the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People, and all meetings, seminars and symposia of the latter
body convened away from Headquarters. Additional press releases were issued
containing the texts of the Secretary-General’s statements relating to the
question of Palestine and on the activities of the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). A total of 90
press releases were issued on the subject in English and French.
71. The Department cooperated at United Nations Headquarters with the Division
for Palestinian Rights in media promotion and other arrangements for the Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The event was covered by a broad
spectrum of media, including CNN, World Television News, Reuters, American
Middle Eastern Television, United Press International and publications including
Academic File, American Craft and Magazine Antiques.
72. The quarterly magazine UN Chronicle continued to publish stories relating
to Palestinian issues, including Security Council actions and results of special
meetings and seminars. Special coverage in 1994 reflected the historic
agreements on self-government.
73. The Department’s Public Inquiries Unit responded to 165 requests for
information on the Middle East and/or the question of Palestine in the year
under review. The Group Programmes Unit arranged a total of 15 briefing
programmes by Secretariat officials during the same period on the question of
Palestine. In addition, the subject was included in the presentation made to
visitors taking guided tours of United Nations Headquarters.
74. The Department continued to distribute its publications, including
Promoting a Culture for Peace in the Middle East: An Israeli-Palestinian
Dialogue, based on the proceedings of the International Encounter for
Journalists on the Question of Palestine, organized by the Department in London
in June 1993, as well as the new, revised edition of The United Nations and the
Question of Palestine, published in October 1994. The Department also undertook
the preparation of a new publication based on the proceedings of the
International Encounter for Journalists on the Question of Palestine, on the
subject "Prerequisites for peace in the Middle East", held at Elsinore, Denmark,
from 15 to 17 June 1994, and distributed a "United Nations focus" feature on the
same topic.
75. In the first seven months of the year the Dissemination and Communications
Unit of the Department’s Information Centres Service distributed electronically
17 materials on the Palestine issue to 114 recipients around the world,
including Internet and four other public electronic networks as well as Reuters
and the Federal News Service agencies. The materials were comprised of the
Secretary-General’s statements and messages, press releases on encounters,
seminars and symposia in Elsinore, Paris, Toronto, etc., and were disseminated
in the English and Arabic languages. During the same period, the Unit
distributed 11,267 copies of the Department’s publications, such as
Jerusalem: Visions of Reconciliation and other United Nations documents
relating to the question of Palestine in Arabic, English, French, German,
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Spanish and Russian, and to 750 recipients-redisseminators of the United Nations
information.
76. A 30-minute historical documentary entitled Palestine 1890s to 1990s, based
on a two-hour Point du Jour production, was produced by the Media Division of
the Department and distributed in English and French versions to all United
Nations information centres and services and UNDP libraries. Spanish and Arabic
versions will be completed by November. Additionally, several UN in action
pieces on topics such as water resource management, citrus processing and the
Palestinian police force were videotaped during the fall.
77. The Radio and Video Service of the Department covered various aspects of
the question of Palestine and related items in news and current affairs radio
programmes in official and non-official languages. Some of the topics included
the Israeli-Palestine accord, violation of human rights in the occupied
territories, the massacre in Hebron, the Secretary-General’s meeting with the
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO, Yasser Arafat, summaries of the
United Nations regional seminars and symposia of non-governmental organizations
on the question of Palestine and the deteriorating economic and social situation
in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In addition, the Service produced a number
of feature programmes exclusively devoted to the question of Palestine, such as
"Palestinian refugees: caring for them and planning for change", adapted into
Arabic, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Kiswahili, Turkish and Urdu and distributed
to more than 350 radio stations worldwide; "The situation of Palestinian women",
also produced for world-wide distribution; and "International protection of
Palestinian refugees" and "The Palestinian refugees and United Nations
humanitarian assistance", produced in French. Five features, entitled "The
Palestinian-Israeli agreement: is it a first step toward peace?", "Assistance
to the Palestinian people", "Palestinian women and the right to selfdetermination",
"The Palestinian refugees: future prospects" and "Will the
Palestinians be protected at last?", were also produced in Arabic. World
Chronicle, the 30-minute panel discussion video programme featured
Timothy Rothermel, Director of the UNDP Programme of Assistance to the
Palestinian People in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He discussed issues
crucial for economic development in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank
and the Gaza Strip.
78. The NGO Section held an expanded briefing for the non-governmental
organization community entitled "The United Nations and the Middle East peace
process", featuring presentations by Mr. Arie Tenne of the Permanent Mission of
Israel to the United Nations, Mr. Muin Shreim of the Permanent Observer Mission
of Palestine to the United Nations and Mr. Mame Balla Sy of the Permanent
Mission of Senegal to the United Nations, representing the view of the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Prior to
the briefing, a 30-minute video of the Washington ceremonies was screened.
79. Coverage of United Nations activities related to the question of Palestine
was provided on an ongoing basis by the global network of United Nations
information centres. The centres produced and distributed newsletters, press
releases and television news programmes and regularly briefed media
representatives. The staff organized film screenings, gave lectures and
translated and disseminated publications and posters produced both by the
Department of Public Information and the Division for Palestinian Rights. The
United Nations information centre in Paris helped organize the United Nations
Seminar on Palestinian Trade and Investment Needs. The centres in London,
Athens and Copenhagen provided full support services to the Department of Public
Information for encounters on the question of Palestine. Many centres marked
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the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People with special
activities. These included distribution of background notes produced by the
Department and United Nations publications; translation of the Department’s
materials into local languages (Arabic, Bahasa Indonesian, Italian); organizing
special media seminars and student round-tables; placing relevant films produced
by the Department and United Nations radio presentations on local television and
radio programmes; providing radio and television interviews, and disseminating
widely the statements of the Secretary-General on the question. Additionally,
the centre at Manila, in cooperation with the Embassy of Palestine at Manila,
promoted a national art competition on Palestinian rights. The centre at Athens
helped to organize a round-table on "New perspectives of Palestinian people
after the peace agreement". The centre at Jakarta hosted a week-long exhibition
on the work of UNRWA. The centre at New Delhi organized a ceremony to
commemorate the International Day. The centre at Rio de Janeiro participated in
a television co-production on Peace in the Middle East. The centre at Rome
helped to organize a seminar on "The occupied territories: economic cooperation
and interdependence to build peace in the Middle East". The centre at Windhoek
arranged for the question of Palestine to be discussed on a popular radio
programme.
80. In cooperation with the Government of Denmark, the Department sponsored an
International Encounter for Journalists on the Question of Palestine, held at
Elsinore, Denmark, from 15 to 17 June 1994. The meeting brought together
prominent Arabs, Israelis and Middle East experts to exchange views with a group
of senior international media representatives on the Encounter’s theme
"Prerequisites to peace in the Middle East". Issues discussed included
security, development, democratization and outstanding problems such as the
status of Jerusalem and the future of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and
Gaza. Some 130 people, including 26 members of the diplomatic corps, attended
the meeting.
81. The Encounter was opened by Mr. Niels Helveg Petersen, Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Denmark. The Palestinian and Israeli panellists were:
Mr. Samir Abdallah, Chief of the Department of Economic Policies and Project
Selection, Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction;
Mr. Haider Abdel Shafi, President of the Red Crescent Society at Gaza;
Mr. M. Nasser Al-Kidwa, Permanent Observer for Palestine to the United Nations;
Mr. Mark Heller, Senior Research Associate, Jaffee Centre for Strategic Studies,
Tel Aviv; Mr. Yossi Katz, Member of the Israeli Knesset; Mr. Ron Pundik, Senior
Fellow, Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace, Tel Aviv; and
Mr. Emmanuel Sharon, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hapoalim Bank,
Tel Aviv.
82. The Department sponsored a Fact-Finding News Mission for European and
Japanese Journalists to the Middle East, which was organized in accordance with
General Assembly resolutions on the question of Palestine. The primary goal of
the Mission, which included visits to Tunis, Damascus and Amman, was to examine
the momentum in support of the peace process in the Middle East. The
journalists also investigated the economic and social needs of the Palestinian
people. The group met with senior government officials, the leadership of the
PLO and Palestinians living in refugee camps. The group of 15 journalists
represented the following media organizations: Belga News Agency (Belgium);
Berlingske Tidende (Denmark); Suomen Kuvalehti (Finland); Le Figaro (France);
Die Zeit (Germany); Eleftherotypia (Greece); Il Messaggero (Italy); Japan
Broadcast Corporation (NHK), Mainichi Shimbun, and Sankei Shimbun (Japan);
Algemeen Dagblad (Netherlands); Arbeìderbladet (Norway); Radio Nacional de
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España (Spain); Svenska Dagbladet (Sweden); and The Independent (United
Kingdom).
83. The Department has begun preparations for a "Seminar on assistance to the
Palestinian people in the field of media development", which it is sponsoring at
Madrid from 29 to 31 March 1995. The seminar will be supported by, among
others, the Spanish Foreign Ministry and UNESCO.
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VII. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
84. Over a year has elapsed since the mutual recognition between the Palestine
Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel and the signing of the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, which created
a dramatic turning-point in the search for peace in the Middle East. The
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
has welcomed these developments and expressed its commitment to support the
Palestinian people and its leadership during the difficult transition process.
The Committee congratulates the parties on the well-deserved recognition,
through the Nobel Peace Prize, of their courageous efforts in the name of peace.
The Committee is aware that the road to peace is still long and fraught with
obstacles but is encouraged by the stated commitment of the parties to pursue
negotiations despite repeated acts of violence aimed at derailing the peace
process.
85. The Committee reaffirms that the United Nations has a permanent
responsibility with respect to the question of Palestine until a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement is reached. The Committee reiterates that the
involvement of the United Nations in the peace process, both as the guardian of
international legitimacy and in the mobilization and provision of international
assistance, is essential for the successful outcome of the peace efforts. As
the organ of the General Assembly established to deal with the question of
Palestine, the Committee believes that its own role continues to be useful and
necessary during the transitional period and until a satisfactory final
settlement is achieved.
86. The Committee reaffirms that such a settlement must be based on Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the withdrawal of Israel from the
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied
since 1967, and the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
rights, in particular the right to self-determination. The Committee also
insists that, during the interim period, Israel must recognize and respect its
obligations as the occupying Power under the Fourth Geneva Convention. While
remaining firm on this position of principle, the Committee has continued to
make adjustments in its approach and programme of work in order to make a
concrete contribution to promoting the implementation of the agreements reached
and to mobilize international assistance to the Palestinian people. The
Committee invites the General Assembly once again to recognize the importance of
its role and to reconfirm its mandate with overwhelming support.
87. The Committee wishes to express its great appreciation to those States
which have supported its work and facilitated the organization of events held
under the Committee’s auspices by providing venues and participating in the
debates. The Committee believes that, in the light of the new situation and the
responsive position of the Committee reflected in its programme of work, the
time has come for all States to recognize the valuable contribution that it can
make as a forum for dialogue, analysis, exchange of expertise, mobilization of
public opinion and action in support of the peace efforts and the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people, as well as their socio-economic development.
The Committee considers that a broadening of its membership, to include
countries that support its objectives but have not hitherto participated in its
work, would greatly enhance the contribution of the General Assembly to promote
peace at this important stage.
-26-
88. The Committee considers that its seminars on economic and social issues
confronting Palestinians in the occupied territories have been particularly
useful in bringing together experts in the relevant fields, including
Palestinians and Israelis, as well as donor countries, United Nations
departments, agencies and organizations, non-governmental organizations active
in the field and others. In this regard, the Committee has noted the suggestion
made by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 1994/29 of
27 July 1994 regarding the convening of a seminar on Palestinian administrative,
managerial and financial needs and challenges in the light of the new
developments. Also, in the light of the new situation created on the ground by
the signing of the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles and Interim Self-
Government Arrangements and the subsequent implementation agreements, and noting
the recognized need for continued United Nations involvement in the question of
Palestine, the Committee is of the view that consideration should be given to
the holding of an event in the territory under the Palestinian Authority to
address aspects of the transition period.
89. The Committee also stresses the value of its role as a catalyst in bringing
together and developing a network of non-governmental organizations interested
in the question of Palestine and in promoting solidarity activities, as well as
concrete assistance. The Committee intends to continue to promote the positive
contribution of the non-governmental organization constituency to meet the
humanitarian and development needs of the Palestinian people during the
transitional period, in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority. Noting with
appreciation the increasing interest and participation of Governments,
particularly donor countries, and United Nations organizations and agencies in
non-governmental organization events organized under its auspices, the Committee
intends to continue its programme of meetings in the various regions in the
coming year. The Committee will continue to seek to structure these meetings
for maximum usefulness and to cooperate with coordinating committees for
non-governmental organizations with a view to developing effective follow-up
mechanisms. In order to encourage a wider and more active participation by
non-governmental organizations in the activities and meetings under its
auspices, in particular those whose work encompasses humanitarian ends and
programmes, including development, benefiting the Palestinian people, the
Committee established a revised set of criteria for such participation.
90. The Committee emphasizes the essential contribution of the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat as a centre for research, monitoring, the
preparation of studies and the collection and dissemination of information on
all issues related to the question of Palestine. The Committee requests the
Division to continue its programme of publications, in consultation with the
Committee, and to pay particular attention to preparing studies or updating
existing ones, on the various issues which are subject to final status
negotiations. The Committee notes that the United Nations computer-based
information system on the question of Palestine (UNISPAL) being established in
the Division will store information on the relevant activities of the United
Nations system and the non-governmental organization network, as well as other
information material, including documents related to the peace process. The
Committee further notes the positive interest and response generated by the
establishment of UNISPAL and calls for the provision of the necessary resources
by the Secretary-General and for cooperation by all concerned with the Division
for Palestinian Rights in order to make the system fully operational and to
maximize its usefulness to all users.
91. The Committee continues to consider that the Special Information Programme
on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information is very
-27-
useful in raising the awareness of the international community concerning the
complexities of the question and the situation in the Middle East in general.
The Committee believes that the Programme is contributing effectively to an
atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace process. The
Programme should continue along this path until a just solution to the question
of Palestine is achieved in accordance with international legality. The
Programme should follow and reflect realities related to the new experiences of
the Palestinian people, provide assistance in the field of Palestinian media
development and continue to disseminate information about the just cause of the
Palestinian people, in addition to continuing its support of dialogue in the
effort to build peace. During its forty-eighth session, the General Assembly
adopted resolution 48/158 C by an overwhelming majority. It is the Committee’s
hope that this year, in the light of the new situation, the Assembly will be
able to adopt the resolution on the Special Information Programme on the
Question of Palestine by consensus.
92. The Committee will continue to strive to achieve maximum effectiveness in
the implementation of its mandate and to adjust its work programme in the light
of developments, in order to continue to contribute, to the extent possible, to
the realization of the common United Nations objective of achieving a just and
lasting solution of the question of Palestine.
Notes
1/ Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 47/1 of 22 September 1992, the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) did not participate in
the work of the Committee.
2/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
3/ Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35); ibid.,
Thirty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35); ibid., Thirty-fourth Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fifth Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/35/35); ibid., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/36/35);
ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/37/35 and Corr.1); ibid.,
Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35); ibid., Thirty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/39/35); ibid., Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/40/35); ibid., Forty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); ibid.,
Forty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/42/35); ibid., Forty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/45/35); ibid.,
Forty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35); ibid., Forty-seventh Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/47/35); and ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/48/35).
4/ Ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/48/35), paras. 5-8.
5/ Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in
Time of War, of 12 August 1949, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
6/ The observers at the Committee meetings were as follows: Algeria,
Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka,
Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, the League of Arab States
and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Palestine, represented by the
-28-
Palestine Liberation Organization, as the representative of the Palestinian
people, was also an observer.
7/ The membership of the Working Group was as follows: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Guinea, Guyana, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey,
Ukraine and Palestine, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, as
the representative of the people directly concerned.
8/ S/1994/223, annex.
9/ Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1994, Supplement
No. 4 (E/1994/24), chap. II, sect. A.
10/ S/1994/233, annex.
11/ S/1994/239, annex.
12/ S/1994/275, annex.
13/ E/1994/34 (Part II)-E/ICEF/1994/13.
14/ See E/1994/96.
15/ A/AC.183/L.2/Add.14.
-----
94-47057 (E) 281194 -29-
UNITED NATIONS A
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/50/35
17 November 1995
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
Fiftieth session
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE
INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE*
________________________
* The present document is a mimeographed version of the report of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,
which will be issued in final form as Official Records of the General Assembly,
Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/50/35).
95-36059 (E) 241195 /...
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL .................................................. 3
I. INTRODUCTION ......................................... 1 - 8 4
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE ............................. 9 - 12 6
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK ................................. 13 - 17 8
A. Election of officers ............................. 13 - 14 8
B. Participation in the work of the Committee ....... 15 - 16 8
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group ............ 17 8
IV. REVIEW OF THE SITUATION RELATING TO THE QUESTION OF
PALESTINE ............................................ 18 - 28 9
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE ........................ 29 - 101 12
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 49/62 A ............................... 29 - 42 12
1. Reaction to developments affecting the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people . 29 - 40 12
2. Attendance at international conferences and
meetings ..................................... 41 13
3. Action taken by United Nations bodies, the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and
intergovernmental organizations .............. 42 14
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions 49/62 A and B ............... 43 - 101 15
1. Seminars ..................................... 45 - 67 16
2. Cooperation with non-governmental
organizations ................................ 68 - 94 21
3. Research, monitoring and publications ........ 95 - 98 26
4. United Nations information system on the
question of Palestine ........................ 99 27
5. International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People ........................... 100 - 101 27
VI. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 49/62 C 102 - 114 28
VII. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ..................... 115 - 124 30
-2-
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
15 November 1995
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to
the General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 5 of its resolution 49/62 A of
14 December 1994.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Kéba Birane CISSÉ
Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Secretary-General of the United Nations
-3-
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly in its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, in which the Assembly requested the Committee to consider and
recommend to it a programme designed to enable the Palestinian people to
exercise its inalienable rights as recognized by the Assembly in resolution
3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974. During the reporting period the Committee
continued to be composed of 23 Member States, as follows: Afghanistan, Belarus,
Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic
Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Yugoslavia. 1/
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the
General Assembly 2/ were endorsed by the Assembly in resolution 31/20 of
24 November 1976 as a basis for the solution of the question of Palestine.
In its subsequent reports 3/ the Committee has continued to stress that a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the question of Palestine, the core
of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions and the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel
from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and
from the other occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in
the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized
boundaries; and the recognition and exercise of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination.
3. The Committee has welcomed the signing in September 1993 of the Declaration
of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by Israel and the
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (A/48/486-S/26560, annex) as well as the
Gaza-Jericho Agreement of May 1994 (A/49/180-S/1994/727, annex) and other
implementation agreements, as important steps towards the achievement of a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement based on Security Council resolutions
242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and the realization of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people. The Committee has stated that it will continue to
strengthen its efforts to promote the attainment of those rights and the full
implementation of the Declaration of Principles and the subsequent agreements
and to mobilize international assistance to the Palestinian people during the
transitional period. Each year, the General Assembly has endorsed the
Committee's recommendations with overwhelming support and has renewed its
mandate and expanded it, as necessary.
4. During the year under review, the Committee noted with satisfaction that
the peace process initiated at Madrid in October 1991 had continued despite many
difficulties and that the parties had affirmed its irreversibility and their
determination to maintain, sustain and continue that process. The Committee
welcomed as an important further step in the process the signing, on
28 September 1995, in Washington, D.C., of the Israeli-Palestinian Interim
Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which supersedes the earlier
implementing agreements and provides for the establishment of Palestinian
interim self-government arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The
Committee emphasized that the transitional period had reached a crucial stage,
which required the full and effective implementation of the agreements reached,
as well as confidence-building measures and in particular an end to the policy
of settlements, land confiscation and closures, as well as an end to acts of
violence aimed at jeopardizing the peace process. The Committee expressed the
-4-
hope that further progress would soon be achieved in the other negotiating
tracks.
5. On 6 November 1995, the Bureau of the Committee condemned the assassination
of the Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin, and expressed its hope that that
criminal act would not have an adverse effect on the Middle East peace process
to which Israel and the PLO had committed themselves.
6. The Committee affirmed once again the permanent responsibility of the
United Nations with respect to the question of Palestine until it is resolved in
all its aspects. It emphasized the need for the full engagement of the United
Nations in the peace process and in the process of building the Palestinian
self-government institutions, as well as in providing varied assistance to the
Palestinian people in all needed fields.
7. Expressing concern at the continued deterioration of the Palestinian
economy and the problems of poverty, unemployment and lack of adequate
infrastructure faced by the Palestinian Authority, the Committee urged Member
States to expedite the provision of economic, technical and development
assistance to the Palestinian people in order to help build solid foundations
for peace.
8. The Committee firmly believes that, as the organ of the General Assembly
dealing with the question of Palestine, it can make a valuable and positive
contribution to United Nations endeavours during the transitional period by
continuing to promote dialogue and to educate and mobilize international opinion
and action for the successful outcome of the agreements reached by the parties
and in solidarity with the Palestinian people until a comprehensive, just and
lasting settlement is achieved. The Committee intends to continue to devote a
major part of its programme of work to this objective.
-5-
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
9. The mandate of the Committee for the year 1995 is contained in paragraphs 2
to 6 of General Assembly resolution 49/62 A of 14 December 1994, in which the
Assembly:
(a) Considered that the Committee could continue to make a valuable and
positive contribution to international efforts to promote the effective
implementation of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people during the transitional period; and endorsed the
recommendations of the Committee and requested it to continue to keep under
review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and
make suggestions to the Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate;
(b) Authorized the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote
the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to make such
adjustments in its approved programme of work as it might consider appropriate
and necessary in the light of developments, to give special emphasis to the need
to mobilize support and assistance for the Palestinian people, and to report
thereon to the Assembly at its fiftieth session and thereafter.
(c) Also requested the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation to
non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening
international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and
promoting support and assistance to meet the needs of the Palestinian people,
and to take the necessary steps to involve additional non-governmental
organizations in its work.
10. In its resolution 49/62 B, also of 14 December 1994, the General Assembly
considered that the Division for Palestinian Rights continued to make a useful
and constructive contribution through the organization of seminars and meetings
of non-governmental organizations, as well as through its research, monitoring
and publication activities, and the collection and dissemination of information
in printed and electronic form on all issues pertaining to the question of
Palestine. The Assembly requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide
the Division with the necessary resources, including the further development of
the United Nations information system on the question of Palestine, and to
ensure that it continued to discharge the tasks detailed in the pertinent
resolutions of the Assembly, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance.
11. In its resolution 49/62 C, of 14 December 1994, the General Assembly
requested the Department of Public Information, in full cooperation and
coordination with the Committee, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as
may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special
information programme on the question of Palestine for the biennium 1994-1995,
with particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and North America.
12. In carrying out its programme of work, the Committee also took into account
General Assembly resolution 49/62 D, in which the Assembly reaffirmed the
necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects; expressed its full
support for the ongoing peace process, which began at Madrid, and the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, as well as
subsequent implementation agreements, and expressed the hope that the process
-6-
would lead to the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in
the Middle East; called for the timely and scrupulous implementation of the
agreements reached between the parties towards the negotiation of the final
settlement; urged Member States to expedite the provision of economic and
technical assistance to the Palestinian people during this critical period; and
emphasized the importance for the United Nations to play a more active and
expanded role in the current peace process and in the implementation of the
Declaration of Principles.
-7-
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A. Election of officers
13. At its 212th meeting, on 3 February 1995, the Committee re-elected
Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé (Senegal) as Chairman, Mr. Ravan Farhadi
(Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairman and Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta) as Rapporteur.
At its 215th meeting, on 17 May 1995, the Committee elected
Mr. Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez Parrilla (Cuba) as Vice-Chairman of the Committee.
14. At its 213th meeting, on 22 February 1995, the Committee adopted its
programme of work for 1995 4/ in implementation of its mandate.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
15. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members and
Permanent Observers to the United Nations desiring to participate in the work of
the Committee as observers were welcome to do so. Accordingly, in a letter
dated 13 April 1995, the Chairman of the Committee informed the Secretary-
General, who subsequently transmitted the letter, on 18 April 1995, to the
States Members of the United Nations and members of the specialized agencies,
and to intergovernmental organizations. In accordance with established
practice, the Committee also invited Palestine, represented by the PLO, to
participate in the work of the Committee as an observer, to attend all its
meetings and to make observations and proposals for consideration by the
Committee.
16. In 1995, the Committee again welcomed as observers all the States and
organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding year. 5/
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group
17. At its 212th meeting, the Committee re-established its Working Group in
order to assist in the preparation and expedition of the work of the Committee
on the understanding that any Committee member or observer could participate in
its deliberations. 6/ The Working Group was constituted as before under the
chairmanship of Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta) and Mr. Sujan R. Chinoy (India) as
Vice-Chairman.
-8-
IV. REVIEW OF THE SITUATION RELATING TO THE QUESTION
OF PALESTINE
18. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee continued to keep under
review the developments relating to the question of Palestine and to exert all
efforts to promote the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
rights. The Committee also continued to contribute to international efforts to
promote the effective implementation of the Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements and to mobilize international support for and
assistance to the Palestinian people.
19. The Committee was encouraged that during the previous year the Israeli-
Palestinian negotiations had proceeded despite repeated delays and acts of
violence, which had taken many innocent victims on both sides and aroused the
concern and condemnation of the international community. On 27 August 1995, the
parties signed, at Cairo, the Protocol on Further Transfer of Powers and
Responsibilities. In a breakthrough, on 28 September 1995, the parties signed,
in Washington, D.C., the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank
and Gaza Strip, which supersedes all earlier agreements in implementation of the
Declaration of Principles. The Agreement reaffirms the parties' understanding
that the interim self-government arrangements provided therein are an integral
part of the whole peace process and that the negotiations on the permanent
status, which will start no later than 4 May 1996, will lead to the
implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). The
Agreement provides for the dissolution of the Civil Administration, the
withdrawal of the Israeli military government and a scheduled transfer of powers
and responsibilities to the Palestinian Interim Self-Governing Authority. The
Palestinian Interim Self-Governing Agreement, which will replace the Palestinian
Authority established under the Gaza-Jericho Agreement, will be composed of an
82-member Council and the Head (Ra'ees) of its Executive Authority, both elected
for a transitional period until May 1999 at the latest. The Agreement further
contains modalities for participation in the elections by the Palestinian people
of the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip; and makes provision for
international observation of the election process.
20. The Agreement further provides for a timetable for redeployment of Israeli
military forces, firstly from six cities (Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm, Kalkiliya,
Ramallah and Bethlehem) and from 450 towns, villages, refugee camps and hamlets,
to be completed prior to the holding of elections. Redeployment of the Israeli
military forces will also take place in Hebron, with special security
arrangements, including a temporary international presence. The Agreement
provides for a gradual assumption of civil powers and responsibilities by the
Palestinian Council. Further Israeli military redeployments are to take place
at 6-month intervals (for a period of 18 months) following the Council's
inauguration, with concomitant extensions of the territorial jurisdiction of the
Council except for areas subject to final status negotiations. The Agreement
further sets out arrangements for the transfer of agreed upon civil powers and
responsibilities from the Israeli Civil Administration to the Council; the
establishment of a Palestinian Police Force; and other provisions regarding
legal matters, religious sites, human rights, water, a phased release of
Palestinian detainees and prisoners, and cooperation in the areas of
environment, economics, technology and science, and in fostering dialogue and
mutual understanding.
21. The Committee considered that the new Agreement provided an opportunity for
the Palestinian people to build on the achievements of the past year and to
-9-
proceed further in the construction of its State. It was pleased to note that,
with the assistance and support of the international community and through the
committed efforts of the Palestinian population, the Palestinian Authority had
gradually established its administration and had taken a number of measures to
ensure public order and to normalize Palestinian political, social, economic and
cultural life, as well as to improve living conditions. The Committee noted
that a number of countries had established relations with the Authority and
recognized the Palestinian passports, and urged other States to do so as soon as
possible.
22. Despite these positive developments, the Committee noted that the situation
in the areas still under Israeli occupation gave reason for concern and
continued to create facts on the ground that had potential negative effects for
the future exercise of Palestinian rights and the peace process itself. Of
utmost importance was the issue of land confiscation and settlements, including
in East Jerusalem. The Committee noted, in particular, plans for the
construction of additional settler housing as well as for the construction of
roads linking settlements and leading to the fragmentation of the West Bank and
the isolation of East Jerusalem. These developments were discussed twice by the
Security Council, first in February and then in May 1995 (see paras. 30-40
below). In that regard, the Committee took note of the positive decision by
Israel, in May 1995, to suspend the planned confiscation of Palestinian land in
East Jerusalem. The Committee reaffirmed that the settlement policy was in
contradiction with Israel's obligations as the occupying Power under the Fourth
Geneva Convention and called on the Government to end that policy once and for
all.
23. The Committee also noted with concern that the presence of large numbers of
armed Israeli settlers in the immediate vicinity of densely populated
Palestinian areas generated tension often resulting in acts of violence. The
situation remained particularly tense and volatile in Hebron. The campaign
launched by the settlers in opposition to the new agreements added to the sense
of insecurity and lack of protection felt by Palestinians living near the
settlements and was also a cause for concern.
24. During the year under review, the Committee expressed profound concern at
the repeated closures, for security reasons, of the occupied territory and the
self-rule areas and at the isolation of East Jerusalem. The closures had a
devastating effect on the overall livelihood of the Palestinian population in an
economy much intertwined with that of Israel, as well as on Palestinian
education and health. They also affected trade between the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip in particular in agricultural products, a main source of income for
thousands of Palestinian households.
25. The Committee was also concerned that thousands of Palestinian prisoners
and detainees remained in Israeli prisons, under conditions that had been
repeatedly decried by human rights organizations. It called on Israel to
implement the planned releases speedily and to work to ameliorate conditions of
detention.
26. The Committee paid particular attention to issues related to Palestinian
socio-economic development and reconstruction during the transitional period.
The Committee took note of the continued multilateral effort, which culminated
in the Middle East/North Africa Economic Summit, held at Casablanca, Morocco,
from 30 October to 1 November 1994, and the adoption of the Declaration of
Casablanca (A/49/645, annex). The conference became an important first step
towards integrating the Palestinian economy into a wider regional economic
-10-
framework. The Committee is of the view that promoting and fostering
Palestinian economic development is particularly crucial as a dynamic economy
and prosperity are important underpinnings of peace and stability in the region.
These ideas were reaffirmed in a joint communiqué issued on 12 February 1995 at
Blair House, Washington, D.C., by the United States of America, Egypt, Israel,
Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. The Committee welcomed the convening of
the Second Middle East/North Africa Economic Summit, held at Amman from 29 to
31 October 1995, which will facilitate the expansion of investment in the region
and enhance regional cooperation and development, thereby promoting stability
and an atmosphere conducive to peace.
27. The Committee voiced its concern at the continued deterioration of the
living conditions of the Palestinian people in the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, and, in particular, the Gaza Strip. It stressed that the destruction
of the Palestinian economic infrastructure as a result of the prolonged
occupation required the urgent attention of the international community. In
that regard, the Committee noted with satisfaction that a coordination mechanism
for international assistance had been established and a plan of action
elaborated. The Committee called on the international donor community to
provide and increase assistance as a matter of high priority and urgency. The
Committee noted with appreciation the contribution of funds by donor countries
and the European Union (EU) to the Palestinian Police as well as to various
needed development projects.
28. The Committee took note of the diversified assistance to the Palestinian
people provided by the organizations, agencies and programmes of the United
Nations system. Over the year, there has been a significant increase in United
Nations involvement in assistance projects and programmes for the Palestinians.
The Committee expressed appreciation for the efforts aimed at mobilizing and
coordinating such assistance made at this critical stage by the United Nations
Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories. It continued to give priority
to promoting international assistance to the Palestinian people in order to meet
their socio-economic and development needs and to support the Palestinian
Authority in its institution-building efforts. The Committee structured its
programme of regional meetings so as to contribute to the debate on relevant
issues. To that end, it convened at UNESCO headquarters, Paris, in June 1995, a
seminar dealing with Palestinian administrative, managerial and financial needs
and challenges (see below, paras. 62-67).
-11-
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 49/62 A
1. Reaction to developments affecting the inalienable rights of
the Palestinian people
(a) Communication to the Secretary-General and the President of the
Security Council
29. In a letter dated 17 January 1995 (A/49/831-S/1995/50), the Chairman of the
Committee drew the attention of the Secretary-General and of the President of
the Security Council to the expansion and consolidation by the Government of
Israel of settlements in the occupied territory.
(b) Action taken within the Security Council
30. At the request of the Permanent Representative of Djibouti, in his capacity
as Chairman of the Arab Group of States for the month of February 1995, 7/ an
urgent meeting of the Security Council was held on 28 February 1995 to consider
the question of the establishment of Israeli settlements in the territories
occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and the dangerous consequences of
those activities on the Palestinian people and on the Middle East peace process.
31. The Chairman of the Committee participated in the debate on this issue on
28 February 1995 in the Security Council. In his statement on behalf of the
Committee, 8/ he stated that Israel, the occupying Power, continued to implement
the unlawful policy of establishing settlements in occupied Palestinian
territory and authorized more and more Israeli settlers to move into them, in
the most direct and serious contravention of article 49 of the Fourth Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of
12 August 1949, and also in violation of Security Council resolutions, including
resolutions 446 (1979), 452 (1979) and 465 (1980).
32. Land confiscation and settlement expansion were taking place, in particular
in and around the occupied city of East Jerusalem. Since September 1994,
several announcements by high-level Israeli officials had indicated a toughening
of Israel's position on this key issue and Israeli policies in this regard had
caused serious friction.
33. The Chairman noted that the Israeli decision came at a time when the
implementation of the second stage of the 13 September 1993 Declaration of
Principles had been delayed for seven months, including the redeployment of the
Israeli forces away from populated areas in the West Bank and the election of
the Palestinian Council. Clearly, the decision further undermined the current
peace process and exacerbated the already fragile, tense and dangerous
atmosphere in the occupied territory.
34. The Security Council concluded its general debate without adopting any
specific measures with respect to the item under consideration on
28 February 1995.
35. In a letter dated 8 May 1995 from the Permanent Representatives of Morocco
and the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, 9/ and also a letter dated
8 May 1995 from the Permanent Representative of Morocco in his capacity as
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Chairman of the Islamic Group for the month of May 1995, 10/ an urgent meeting
of the Security Council was requested to discuss the situation in the occupied
Arab territories, as well as to take the necessary measures for revocation of
the Israeli confiscation orders in respect of Palestinian land situated in the
area of East Jerusalem. The Council met between 12 and 17 May 1995.
36. The Acting Chairman of the Committee took part in the debate and stated
that the main issue at stake was Israel's continued illegal construction and
expansion of settlements on Palestinian land and its allowing more Israeli
settlers to move there, which is a direct and serious violation of international
law, the Fourth Geneva Convention and the relevant General Assembly and Security
Council resolutions.
37. This action by Israel also flagrantly violated the spirit and the letter of
the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements signed on
13 September 1993 by the Government of Israel and the PLO.
38. The Acting Chairman stated that in the Declaration of Principles it was
agreed that negotiations on the final status of Jerusalem and on other issues
would begin not later than the third year of the interim period. The recent
decision by the Government of Israel to confiscate Palestinian land in East
Jerusalem seriously undermined the peace process at a time when the
implementation of the second stage of the Declaration of Principles had been
deferred.
39. The Committee considered that the confiscation of land in East Jerusalem
and the increasing expansion and consolidation of settlements created a de facto
situation inconsistent with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
338 (1973), which the current peace process sought to implement, and seriously
compromised the agreements between Israel and the PLO.
40. At the 3538th meeting of the Security Council, a draft resolution calling
upon the Government of Israel to rescind the expropriation orders and to refrain
from such actions in the future, and expressing its full support for the Middle
East peace process and its achievements, including the Declaration of
Principles, as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, 11/ was not
adopted due to the negative vote of a permanent member of the Security Council.
2. Attendance at international conferences and meetings
41. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee was represented by its
Chairman at the following international meetings during the period since its
previous report to the General Assembly:
(a) Twenty-second Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers and Seventh
Islamic Summit Conference, held at Casablanca, Morocco, from 10 to 11 and from
13 to 15 December 1994, respectively;
(b) International Seminar on the City of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, convened by
the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the League of Arab States
(LAS) at Cairo from 12 to 14 March 1995;
(c) Commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of the Asia-Africa
Conference, 24 April 1995, and Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of
the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Bandung, Indonesia, from 25 to
27 April 1995;
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(d) Eleventh Conference of Heads of State and Government of the
Non-Aligned Countries, held at Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, from 14 to
20 October 1995.
3. Action taken by United Nations bodies, the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and
intergovernmental organizations
42. The Committee continued to follow with great interest the activities
relating to the question of Palestine of United Nations bodies, the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental organizations. The Committee noted
in particular the support of the international community for the ongoing peace
process, as well as the Declaration of Principles and the subsequent
implementation agreements, as important steps leading towards a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement in accordance with United Nations resolutions. The
Committee also expressed continued concern at the human rights situation in the
occupied Palestinian territory, and noted the sense of urgency with which the
international community addressed the need to provide assistance to the
Palestinian people in the difficult transition period. The Committee took
particular note of the following documents:
(a) Statement issued by EU on aid to the Palestinian people on
28 November 1994 (A/49/751, annex);
(b) Declaration and resolutions adopted by the Seventh Islamic Summit
Conference of OIC held at Casablanca, Morocco, from 13 to 15 December 1994
(A/50/85-S/1995/152, annexes II-VII);
(c) Excerpts from the final report adopted by the Fifteenth Session of the
Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council, held at Manamah, Bahrain, from
19 to 21 December 1994 (A/49/815-S/1994/1446, annex);
(d) Resolution 5451 adopted by LAS at a special session on 5 January 1995,
concerning settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including
Jerusalem, and other Arab territories (A/49/823-S/1995/11, annex);
(e) Final communiqué and recommendations of the fifteenth session of the
Al-Quds Committee of OIC, held at Ifrane, Morocco, on 16 and 17 January 1995
(A/50/82-S/1995/135, annex);
(f) Resolutions 1995/1 to 1995/6, on the question of Palestine, adopted by
the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-first session, held at Geneva from
30 January to 10 March 1995;
(g) Appeal by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Palestinian
health sector launched on 28 February 1995; 12/
(h) Resolution 39/3, on the integration of women in the Middle East peace
process, adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its thirty-ninth
session, held in New York from 15 March to 7 April 1995;
(i) Final communiqué of the International Seminar on the City of Al-Quds
Al-Sharif, convened by OIC and LAS at Cairo from 12 to 14 March 1995;
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(j) Communiqué adopted at the fifty-fourth session of the Ministerial
Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council, held at Riyadh on 19 and 20 March 1995
(A/50/123-S/1995/228, annex);
(k) Communiqué adopted at the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating
Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Bandung, Indonesia,
from 25 to 27 April 1995 (A/49/920-S/1995/489, annex I);
(l) Press release issued by the Ministerial Council of the Gulf
Cooperation Council at its fifty-fifth session, held at Riyadh on 10 and
11 June 1995 (A/50/255-S/1995/504, annex);
(m) Statement adopted at the G-7 Summit, held at Halifax, Canada, from
15 to 17 June 1995 (A/50/254-S/1995/501, annex II);
(n) Resolutions CM/Res.1590 (LXII) and CM/Res.1591 (LXII), on the question
of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East, adopted by the Council of
Ministers of OAU at its sixty-second session, held at Addis Ababa from 21 to
23 June 1995;
(o) Resolutions 1995/45 and 1995/52, adopted by the Economic and Social
Council at its substantive session, held from 26 June to 28 July 1995;
(p) Communiqué issued by the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation
Council at its fifty-sixth session, held at Riyadh on 18 and 19 September 1995
(A/50/466-S/1995/817, annex);
(q) Final document adopted by the Conference of Heads of State and
Government of the Non-Aligned Countries, held at Cartagena de Indias, Colombia,
from 14 to 20 October 1995.
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division
for Palestinian Rights in accordance with
General Assembly resolutions 49/62 A and B
43. In its programme of work for the year 1995, the Committee decided to
continue organizing regional seminars and meetings of non-governmental
organizations and sponsoring the preparation of studies and publications in
accordance with existing mandates and budgetary provisions. The Committee, as
in the past, decided to invite Palestinian and Israeli personalities to
participate in all events organized under its auspices with a view to promoting
a constructive debate, mutual understanding and a concrete and action-oriented
analysis of the most important issues relating to the question of Palestine, the
transition period and the peace process.
44. The Committee considered that the following priority tasks required
immediate and sustained attention in its programme of work for 1995:
(a) Promoting support for the ongoing peace process and for the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements and subsequent
implementation agreements, and following closely the developments and monitoring
the situation on the ground, in order to promote the effective implementation of
the agreements reached and the full realization of Palestinian rights;
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(b) The mobilization and promotion of international assistance to the
Palestinian people by the United Nations system as a whole, as well as by other
donors, for immediate relief and for nation-building;
(c) Encouraging constructive consideration and debate of the major issues
to be negotiated at a later stage with a view to promoting a final settlement
based on international legitimacy in accordance with Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and other relevant United Nations
resolutions.
1. Seminars
45. In the programme budget for the biennium 1994-1995, provision was made for
the organization of regional seminars in Latin America and the Caribbean,
Europe, North America, Asia and Africa in 1995. In establishing its programme
of work for the year, the Committee decided not to hold the North American
seminar and to devote some of the resulting savings to the North American
non-governmental organization symposium. It also decided to devote the
resources earmarked for a European seminar to a seminar on Palestinian
administrative, managerial and financial needs and challenges. The Committee
also initiated consultations with regard to identifying a venue for the holding
of an Asian seminar and non-governmental organization symposium. This event and
an event in Africa, however, could not be held during the year under review.
(a) Latin American and Caribbean Regional Seminar
46. The Latin American and Caribbean Regional Seminar was held at Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 23 March 1995, jointly with the Latin American and
Caribbean NGO Symposium. The Committee greatly appreciated the decision of the
Government of Brazil to provide the venue for the Seminar and Symposium.
47. The Committee was represented by a delegation comprising
Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and head of
delegation, who acted as Chairman of the meeting; Mr. Inal Batu (Turkey) and
Mr. Anatoli Maximovich Zlenko (Ukraine), who acted as Vice-Chairmen;
Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta), Rapporteur of the Committee, who acted as Rapporteur
of the meeting; and Mr. M. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
48. The Seminar and NGO Symposium were attended by 17 panellists from Latin
America and the Caribbean, as well as Palestinians and Israelis, representatives
of 17 Governments, 3 United Nations organs and intergovernmental organizations
and 16 non-governmental organizations. A number of media representatives and
faculty and students of universities and institutes also participated in the
meeting.
49. At the opening session, Mr. Adhemar Gabriel Bahadian, Chief of Staff of the
Acting Minister for External Relations of Brazil, made a statement. A message
from the Secretary-General of the United Nations was read by his representative,
Mrs. Laura Reanda, Chief of the Division for Palestinian Rights. A statement
was made by Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Mr. Musa Oudeh, Special Envoy
of Palestine, read a message from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the PLO.
50. The theme of the Seminar and Symposium was "Supporting the Peace Process -
The Contribution of Latin America and the Caribbean".
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51. Three panels were organized. The topics addressed and the panellists were
as follows:
Panel I. New developments since the signing of the Declaration of Principles
Mr. Nabil Amr, Member of the Central Council of the PLO, Editor of Al-Hayat
Al-Jadidah
Mr. Ran Cohen, Member of the Knesset, Chairperson of the Meretz faction
Mr. Hanna Safieh, Professor at Federal University, Natal, Brazil, Member of
the Palestine National Council
Mr. Uri Avnery, Israeli journalist, writer, peace activist
Statement by Mr. Saeb Erakat, Member of the Palestinian Authority (read by
Mr. Ibrahim Al Zeben, Chargé d'affaires a.i., Delegation of Palestine to Brazil)
Panel II. The Palestinian self-government - challenges and prospects for
nation-building
Mr. Sari Nusseibeh, Member of the Palestinian Economic Council for
Development and Reconstruction, Chairperson, Palestine Consultancy Group
Mr. Luis Mesa Delmonte, Director, Centre for Africa and Middle East
Studies, Cuba
Mr. Ivan Moreira, Member of the Chilean Parliament
Panel III. New opportunities for action by Latin American and Caribbean
countries and organizations
(a) Economic assistance and cooperation: the new environment for Governments
and private groups
Mr. Pedro Paulo Pinto Assumpcão, Ambassador, Head, Middle East Department,
Ministry of External Relations, Brazil
Mr. Gustavo Marcelo Marquez, businessman, Member of the Argentino-Arab
Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Jaber Omar, Professor of Economics, University of Pelotas, Brazil
(b) Cooperation of non-governmental organizations with their Palestinian
counterparts
Mr. Hussein Abdelkhalek, Representative of Palestine in Chile
Mr. Carlos Etchegoyhen, medical doctor and psychoanalyst, Uruguay, visiting
scholar at the University of North Dakota
Mr. José Félix Ferreyra, Chairman, NGO Coordinating Committee for Latin
America and the Caribbean, Argentina
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(c) The contribution of diaspora Palestinians
Mr. José Elias, President, Federation of Palestinian Organizations in
Chile; President, University of San Andrés, Chile
Mr. Juan Abugattas, Professor of Philosophy, University of San Marcos, Peru
Ms. Tilda Rabi, President, Federation of Palestinian Organizations in
Argentina
(d) Culture and the media: new possibilities for cooperation
Mr. Juan José Salinas, journalist with the TELAM news agency, Argentina
52. In the conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Seminar and NGO
Symposium, the participants welcomed the positive developments in the Middle
East peace process and the agreements reached between Israel and the PLO since
September 1993, as well as the consequent developments. They considered that
the Declaration of Principles was a historical breakthrough that had required
great courage by the parties concerned and that with perseverance and the strong
support of the international community as a whole a just and lasting peace could
be achieved. It was noted that the Latin American and Caribbean countries had a
significant contribution to make in that regard.
53. Participants, however, expressed great concern at the repeated delays in
the implementation of the agreements reached, which generated insecurity and
could disrupt the peace process. They called on the Government of Israel to
cease all settlement construction and expansion activities and land confiscation
in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, to end the closure
of the territory, to release all Palestinian prisoners and to move quickly
towards the prompt implementation of the second phase of the Declaration of
Principles, including the redeployment in the rest of the West Bank and
Palestinian elections. The Government of Israel was also called upon to respect
fully its obligations as the occupying Power under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
54. Condemnation was expressed of all acts of violence, of whatever form or
whatever source, aimed at derailing the peace process, which had resulted in
many casualties among both Palestinians and Israelis.
55. The meeting was apprised of the great challenges posed by the gradual
transfer of responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, aggravated by the
present political and economic difficulties. It was stressed that international
support for the Palestinian people and its leadership in all fields - political,
economic and social - was of paramount importance for the attainment of peace in
the region.
56. Participants appealed to the donor countries and the World Bank to
accelerate the delivery of the aid promised as an essential stimulus for
development and an ideal means of promoting peace. They commended the efforts
of the Secretary-General and his Special Coordinator in the Occupied
Territories, and welcomed the decision by the Secretary-General to transfer the
headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from Vienna to Gaza.
57. Participants encouraged those governments in Latin America which have not
yet done so to establish official relations with the PLO and to extend
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diplomatic recognition to its offices in their countries in order to streamline
and facilitate the desired cooperation.
58. Participants suggested that the traditionally harmonious relations between
the Palestinian and Jewish communities in Latin America could provide the
foundation for joint activities aimed at improving mutual understanding and
tackling difficult issues in a spirit of cooperation. They recommended that
meetings of representatives of the two communities in Latin America and their
non-governmental organizations be organized to consider common concerns,
including sensitive issues such as the Palestinian right of return and requested
the Committee to consider organizing such a meeting.
59. Non-governmental organizations in the Latin American and Caribbean region
were called upon to define action strategies responsive to Palestinian needs and
to use their positive influence on Governments in that regard. It was
recommended that direct links should be forged between the Palestinian Authority
and Latin American and Caribbean organizations in all fields of non-governmental
organization competence, and that non-governmental organizations assist their
Palestinian counterparts in their efforts to build a civil society.
60. Non-governmental organizations were called upon to disseminate reliable
information on the realities of the Palestinian people and the status of the
peace process, including through the Internet and through the establishment of a
Latin American segment of a possible Middle East news agency, which should
include participation by Palestinian and Israeli journalists.
61. The report of this event has been issued as a publication of the Division
for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat.
(b) Seminar on Palestinian Administrative, Managerial and Financial Needs and
Challenges
62. The Seminar was held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from 28 to
30 June 1995. The Committee expressed its appreciation to the Director-General
of UNESCO for the facilities put at its disposal and for his cooperation in the
holding of the Seminar.
63. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation consisting of Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé
(Senegal), Chairman; Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhadi (Afghanistan), Vice-Chairman;
Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta), Rapporteur; Mr. Alimamy Bangura (Sierra Leone); and
Mr. M. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine). The officers of the Committee served as
officers of the Seminar in their respective capacities.
64. The Seminar was attended by 20 panellists and by representatives of
50 Governments, and 9 United Nations organs and 4 intergovernmental
organizations.
65. The programme for the seminar began with a plenary session on "Palestinian
administrative, managerial and financial needs and challenges". Statements were
made by donor countries and other Governments, intergovernmental organizations
and United Nations departments, bodies and agencies.
66. Subsequently, four round-table discussions, moderated by experts, were
conducted as follows:
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(a) The Palestinian Authority - needs and challenges of administration: the
needs of the public sector for reconstruction and development; enhancing
the Palestinian Authority's institutional capability; building a legal
framework; organization of the administration at the central and local
levels; mobilizing resources effectively
Mr. Shibley Telhami, The Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.
(Moderator)
Mr. Ibrahim Al Daghma, Chief, Legal Advice and Legislation Department,
Palestinian Authority
Mr. Samir Huleileh, Palestinian Economic Council for Development and
Reconstruction
Mr. Yair Hirschfeld, Director-General, Economic Cooperation Foundation,
Senior Lecturer, University of Haifa
Mr. Alfons Calderon Riera, Assistant Professor, Escuela Superior de
Administración y dirección de Empresas, Barcelona
Mr. Amin Baidoun, Director-General for International Cooperation,
Palestinian Authority
(b) Laying the foundation for a public financial management: building
budgeting, accounting and auditing; developing an efficient
internal revenue system; building public financial investment
system; building a social security system; and establishing
conditions for transparency and accountability
Mr. Stephen B. Peterson, Research Associate, Harvard Institute for
International Development, Harvard University (Moderator)
Mr. Fouad H. Beseiso, Head, Palestinian Monetary Authority
Mr. Atef Alawneh, Deputy Head, Finance Department, Palestinian Authority
Mr. Stephen B. Peterson, Research Associate, Harvard Institute for
International Development, Harvard University
Ms. Muna H. Jawhary, economist-consultant, London/Jerusalem
Mr. Georges Capdeboscq, Counsellor, French National Audit Court, Paris
Mr. Gilles Johanet, Counsellor, French National Audit Court, Paris
Mr. Abdel Hamid Bouab, Officer-in-Charge, Public Finance and Enterprise
Management Branch, Department for Development Support and Management
Services, United Nations
(c) Supporting the development of the Palestinian municipalities and public
utilities: Improving public services and infrastructure: health,
education, communication, energy, water, public transport; improving
conditions for public service delivery
Mr. Francis Dubois (Moderator)
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Mr. Mustafa Abdel Nabi Natshe, Mayor of Hebron
Mr. Ghassan El-Shakah, Mayor of Nablus
Mr. Hussein Al-A'raj, Deputy Head, Local Government Department, Palestinian
Authority
Mr. Sameer A. Abu-Eisheh, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Al-Najah
University, Nablus
(d) Human resources development and management building institutional
capacity: building public personnel system and structures (including the
legal framework for public service); enhancing training capacities for all
levels of administration; Promoting participation of women at all
management levels
Mr. Robin Poppe, Programme Officer, National Capacity Building, ILO
International Training Centre, Turin (Moderator)
Mr. Shibley Telhami, The Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Bishara A. Bahbah, Associate Director, Institute for Social and
Economic Policy in the Middle East, Harvard University
Mr. Musa D. Ghosheh, Head, Employee's Bureau, West Bank
Mr. Alain Claisse, Professor of Public Law, University of Paris
Mr. George Jadoun, Technical Programme Manager, Training Focal Point for
Palestine, ILO International Training Centre, Turin
67. Participants in the seminar engaged in an analysis and discussion of the
recent developments and the prospects for peace in the area, as well as of the
current economic situation and the imperative necessity of its rapid
amelioration in order to provide a solid foundation for peace efforts. The
experts gave a serious analysis of current and future needs in the fields
concerned and constructive proposals were made to meet the current situation and
to promote sustainable development of the Palestinian economy during and after
the transitional period. The final report of the Seminar was submitted to the
President of the Economic and Social Council in a letter from the Chairman of
the Committee for circulation to the members of the Council
(A/50/278-E/1995/114). It will also be issued as a publication of the Division
for Palestinian Rights.
2. Cooperation with non-governmental organizations
68. The Committee, in accordance with its mandate under General Assembly
resolution 49/62 A, continued to cooperate and expand contacts with interested
non-governmental organizations in all regions. During 1995, a Latin American
and Caribbean NGO symposium was held jointly with the seminar, as well as an NGO
Symposium for the North American region and a combined meeting for European and
international non-governmental organizations. The Committee noted that
non-governmental organizations had continued their efforts to provide assistance
and support to the Palestinian people in view of the new situation following the
Declaration of Principles and subsequent implementation agreements. The
Committee affirmed the importance of the contribution by the non-governmental
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organizations to the international efforts on behalf of the Palestinian people
and considered that their support would continue to be essential during the
transitional period.
(a) Latin American and Caribbean Regional NGO Symposium
69. The Latin American and Caribbean NGO Symposium on the question of Palestine
was held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 23 March 1995, together with the
Seminar (see paras. 46-61), and shared with it the main theme "Supporting the
peace process - the contribution of Latin America and the Caribbean", the
round-table discussions and the adoption of the final document.
70. In addition, two workshops were held specifically for non-governmental
organizations on the following topics: "Mobilization of and networking by
non-governmental organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean to promote
assistance to the Palestinian people" and "non-governmental organization
activities to mobilize public opinion for a just and lasting solution of the
question of Palestine - review of actions taken since the first Latin American
and Caribbean Symposium in 1990 and future activities". The Committee noted
that the participating non-governmental organizations had taken steps to
strengthen their regional coordination and had elected a new coordinating
committee.
(b) North American Regional NGO Symposium
71. The twelfth United Nations North American NGO Symposium on the Question of
Palestine was held at New York from 19 to 21 June 1995 in cooperation with the
North American Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the
Question of Palestine and in accordance with the programme elaborated at the
preparatory meeting for the United Nations International NGO Meeting/European
NGO Symposium and the North American NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine,
held at New York from 27 to 28 February 1995.
72. The Committee was represented by a delegation consisting of
Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and head of
delegation; Mr. Bruno E. Rodriguez Parrilla (Cuba) and Mr. Ravan Farhadi
(Afghanistan), Vice-Chairmen of the Committee; Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta),
Rapporteur of the Committee; and Mr. M. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
73. The Symposium was attended by representatives of 73 non-governmental
organizations, 23 of them as observers, 18 panellists and workshop leaders,
11 Governments and 2 intergovernmental organizations.
74. The theme of the Symposium was "The United Nations on its fiftieth
anniversary and the question of Palestine". The panel topics and experts taking
part in the plenary sessions were as follows:
(a) Challenges to peace: obstacles and opportunities
(i) Jerusalem and settlements: Rev. Alex Awad, Lecturer, Bethlehem Bible
College, and Pastor, East Jerusalem Baptist Church
Mr. Michael Warshawski, founder and Director, Alternative Information
Center, Jerusalem
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(ii) The situation of the refugees
Ms. Leila Zachariah, Executive Director, Najdeh Association, Beirut
(iii) Securing respect for international humanitarian law
Mr. Avigdor Feldman, Lawyer, human rights activist and one of the
founders of B'Tselem;
(b) Working towards self-determination, promoting civil society
(i) Building civil society
Mr. Raja Sourani, lawyer and human rights activist
(ii) Advancing women's concerns
Ms. Suha Hindiyeh-Mani, Director and one of the founders of the
Women's Studies Center, East Jerusalem
(iii) Promoting social development
Mr. Shafiq Masalha, clinical psychologist and Acting Director,
Palestinian Counselling Center, East Jerusalem
(c) Continuing commitment of non-governmental organizations on the
question of Palestine
Dr. Haider Abdel Shafi, President, Red Crescent Society
Mr. Larry Ekin, Chairman, North American Coordinating Committee for NGOs on
the Question of Palestine
Ms. Maria Gazi, Vice-Chairman, European Coordinating Committee for NGOs on
the Question of Palestine
75. The workshops addressed the following topics: refugees and the displaced;
settlements; the status of Jerusalem; securing respect for international
humanitarian law; Palestinian women mobilize; promoting civil society;
development: putting people first; and labour in transition.
76. The Symposium held successful debates and discussions and offered an
opportunity for the non-governmental organizations in North America to
coordinate their endeavours and activities in order to assist the Palestinian
people in various fields. The participating non-governmental organizations
elected a new coordinating committee for the North American region to follow up
on the decisions that were taken and to assure future cooperation with the
Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights. The report of the Symposium
will be issued as a publication of the Division.
(c) European NGO Symposium and International NGO Meeting on the Question of
Palestine
77. The twelfth United Nations International NGO Meeting and Ninth European NGO
Symposium on the Question of Palestine were held as a combined event at the
Vienna International Centre from 29 August to 1 September 1995.
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78. The meeting was attended by 26 panellists and workshop leaders, and by the
representatives of 51 non-governmental organizations, 21 of them as observers.
It was also attended by representatives of 37 Governments, 10 United Nations
agencies and bodies, 3 intergovernmental organizations, 5 non-governmental
organization coordinating committees and a delegation from Palestine.
79. The Committee was represented by a delegation composed of
Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and head of
delegation; Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhadi (Afghanistan), Vice-Chairman;
Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta), Rapporteur of the Committee; Mr. Alyaksandr Sychou
(Belarus); and Mr. M. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
80. The programme for the meeting was formulated by the Committee in
consultation with the members of the International Coordinating Committee for
NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ICCP) and of the European Coordinating
Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ECCP) at a preparatory meeting
held in New York on 27 and 28 February 1995. The central theme of the combined
meeting was "The fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations Palestine,
non-governmental organizations and the implementation of United Nations
resolutions".
81. At the opening session, participants were welcomed on behalf of the
Government of Austria by Mr. Wolfgang Schallenberg, Secretary-General of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A message from Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali,
Secretary-General of the United Nations, was delivered by his representative,
Mr. Giorgio Giacomelli, Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the
United Nations Office at Vienna. Mr. Cissé spoke in his capacity as Chairman of
the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People. Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the PLO and Chairman of the Palestinian
Authority, conveyed a message through his representative, Mr. Mohieddin Massoud.
Statements were also made by Mr. Don Betz, Chairman of ICCP, and Ms. Maria Gazi,
Vice-Chairman of ECCP.
82. The invited experts made presentations in five panels, which were followed
by discussions. In the first panel, entitled "The United Nations at its
fiftieth anniversary and the question of Palestine", presentations were made by
Mr. Ilter Turkmen, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, and Mr. M. Nasser Al-Kidwa,
Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations.
83. The second panel was entitled "The present political situation".
Presentations were made by Mr. Victor Possouvaliouk, Deputy Foreign Minister of
the Russian Federation; Mr. Azimi Shuibi, Minister of Sports and Youth,
Palestinian Authority; Mr. Abdulwahab Darawshe, Chairman of the Arab Democratic
Party, Member of the Knesset; Mr. Haim Baram, journalist and founding member of
the Israeli Council for Israeli-Palestinian Peace; and Mr. Taysir Arouri,
Professor of Physics and Mathematics, Bir Zeit University and member of the
Palestine National Council.
84. In the third panel, entitled "Elements of the final peace settlement, and
obstacles to peace", presentations on various sub-topics were made as follows:
Mr. Ibrahim Matar, Deputy Director, American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA),
spoke on the issue of Jerusalem and settlements; Mr. Elia Zureik, Professor of
Sociology at Queen's College, Ontario, Canada and a member of the Palestinian
delegation to the refugee working group of the multilateral peace talks, and
Mr. Zakaria Abderahim, Director-General, Department for Returnee's Affairs, PLO,
made presentations on the issues of refugees and the right of return; and
Mr. Hashem Mahameed, Head of the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality and
-24-
Member of the Knesset, addressed the topic of Israel's violations of its
commitments under the Declaration of Principles.
85. The fourth panel, entitled "Palestine update" consisted of briefings on
social issues and living conditions facing the Palestinians on the ground.
Mr. Taysir Arouri spoke on economic and social development issues.
Dr. Imad Tarawiyeh, Ministry of Health, Palestinian Authority, addressed
health-related questions. A presentation on education and children was made by
Mr. George B. Sahhar, Director of Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Education,
Palestinian Authority. Ms. Eileen Kuttab, Lecturer in Sociology and
Anthropology and Coordinator, Women's Studies Programme, Bir Zeit University,
spoke on women's issues.
86. The fifth panel considered the issue of "Building the NGO network - NGO
strategies for action". Presentations in this regard were made by
Mr. Fathi Darwish, Director in the Ministry of International Cooperation and
Planning, Palestinian Authority; Ms. Emma Murphy, Lecturer in Middle Eastern
Politics, University of Durham, United Kingdom; Mr. José Elias, Chairman,
Federation of Palestinian Organizations in Chile, President, University of San
Andrés; Mr. John Gee, Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding;
Mr. Don Betz, Chairman of ICCP; Ms. Maria Gazi, Vice-Chairman of ECCP; and
Mr. Larry Ekin, Chairman of the North American Coordinating Committee for NGOs.
87. In addition to the panels, a number of workshops were held concurrently for
participants interested in developing specific action-oriented proposals. The
workshop topics were linked to those addressed in the panels. A demonstration
in electronic skills was also organized.
88. Participating non-governmental organizations adopted a communiqué in which
they welcomed the positive developments in the Middle East peace process as a
result of the historic Declaration of Principles. They also noted with great
concern the repeated delays in the implementation of the letter and spirit of
the agreement, which posed a threat to the achievement of a just and lasting
peace, and exhorted Israel to honour its commitments in a timely manner. They
also reaffirmed that Israel, as the occupying Power, remained obligated to
observe the Fourth Geneva Convention until the Palestinian people achieved full
sovereignty.
89. The communiqué further stated that support for the inalienable rights of
the Palestinian people in accordance with United Nations resolutions remained at
the centre of non-governmental organization commitment. The Committee was
called upon to convene a non-governmental organization meeting in Jerusalem or
another location in the region in order to demonstrate solidarity with
Palestinians on the ground.
90. Non-governmental organizations reaffirmed the fundamental importance of
questions related to Jerusalem, settlements and the right of return for the
attainment of a just and lasting peace. They expressed their opposition to
Israeli actions designed to predetermine the final outcome of the talks, and
called for concerted efforts by non-governmental organizations to publicize
violations of Palestinian human rights and to lobby Governments regarding those
concerns. Particular mention was made, in that regard, of the ongoing
incarceration of political prisoners; the closure and intimidation of
Palestinian institutions; the restrictions imposed on international and
Palestinian non-governmental organizations aimed at disrupting their work; and
the repeated closure of East Jerusalem. Israel was also urged to assure safe
passage between Gaza and the West Bank for goods and people.
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91. Further, the communiqué called on countries hosting Palestinian refugees to
preserve and observe their rights, and called for greater non-governmental
organization action on behalf of refugees, including by Palestinian grass-roots
organizations.
92. Praising the efforts of local Palestinian non-governmental organizations,
the communiqué stated that their strengthening would ensure the development of
civil society and called for cooperation with the Palestinian Authority and for
greater involvement of international non-governmental organizations. It also
called for greater cooperation between Palestinian and Israeli non-governmental
organizations.
93. Finally, the communiqué stressed the need to continue to develop the
relationship of the non-governmental organization coordinating committees with
the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in order to achieve
maximum effectiveness in assisting the Palestinian people.
94. The report of the meeting will be issued as a publication of the Division
for Palestinian Rights.
3. Research, monitoring and publications
95. The Committee emphasized the essential contribution of the Division for
Palestinian Rights as a centre for research, monitoring, the preparation of
studies and the collection and dissemination of information on all issues
related to the question of Palestine, and requested the Division to continue its
programme of publications, in consultation with the Committee.
96. The Committee considered that the studies, bulletins, information notes,
reports and other material published by the Division should focus on the
priority issues to be addressed by the Committee in 1995 in order to enhance
their usefulness at this important stage.
97. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Division for Palestinian
Rights, in accordance with its mandate, continued to respond to information
requests and to prepare and disseminate the following publications:
(a) Monthly bulletins covering action by the Committee, other United
Nations organs, organizations and agencies, as well as intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations concerned with the question of Palestine;
(b) A monthly chronological review of events relating to the question of
Palestine, as reflected in the Arabic, English and Hebrew media, for the use of
the Committee;
(c) Reports of seminars and non-governmental organization meetings;
(d) Periodic compilations of statements, declarations, documents and other
material generated by the peace process;
(e) A compilation of the resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly
and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine adopted in 1994;
(f) A special bulletin on the commemoration of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People in 1994.
-26-
98. The Committee also noted that the Division continued its programme of
research and preparation of two studies (one on Jerusalem and the other on
settlements) and information notes, in close cooperation with the Bureau of the
Committee.
4. United Nations information system on the question of Palestine
99. The Committee noted that the Division, in cooperation with relevant
technical services of the Secretariat, had advanced in the establishment of a
United Nations computer-based information system on the question of Palestine
(UNISPAL), as requested by the Committee and endorsed by the General Assembly.
The Committee noted that the UNISPAL Bulletin Board Service had continued to
provide access to United Nations resolutions on the question of Palestine and
related issues and selected United Nations reports, bulletins and other
documents to a number of users and that the Division had selected appropriate
text-management software and had done further work in expanding its document
collection and in designing the various databases that comprise UNISPAL. The
Committee stressed the importance and usefulness of UNISPAL for the work of the
Committee and the United Nations, as well as for other members of the
international community, and called for intensified efforts to advance towards
the full operation of the system and its further expansion as required.
5. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
100. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was
observed on 29 November 1994 at United Nations Headquarters in New York and at
the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna. The Committee noted with
appreciation that the International Day had also been observed in 1994 in many
other cities throughout the world. Details on the observance are contained in
the special bulletin issued by the Division.
101. On the occasion of the observance of the Day an exhibit entitled "Images
from Palestine" was provided by the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to
the United Nations at Headquarters and presented under the auspices of the
Committee.
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VI. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 49/62 C
102. The Department of Public Information continued to provide press coverage,
in English and French, of all meetings held at Headquarters of United Nations
bodies dealing with the question of Palestine, including the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; coverage in
English and French of meetings, seminars and symposia of the Committee convened
away from Headquarters, with the exception of a meeting in Rio de Janeiro where
coverage was provided in English only. One press release in English and French
was issued containing the text of a Secretary-General's statement relating to
the question of Palestine, and five press releases were issued in English on the
activities of UNRWA.
103. The Department cooperated at Headquarters with the Division for Palestinian
Rights in media promotion and other arrangements for the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
104. The quarterly publication UN Chronicle continued its comprehensive coverage
of Palestinian issues, including relevant General Assembly and Security Council
actions as well as special meetings, symposia and seminars.
105. The Public Inquiries Unit of the Department responded to 323 requests for
information concerning the question of Palestine and the Middle East issue
between September 1994 and August 1995. During the same period, the
Department's Group Programme Unit organized a total of seven briefings on the
question of Palestine for various public groups visiting the United Nations. In
addition, the subject was included in the presentation made to visitors taking
guided tours, as appropriate.
106. The Department continued to distribute its publications, including
Prerequisites for Peace in the Middle East: An Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue,
based on the proceedings of the International Encounter for Journalists on the
Question of Palestine, organized by the Department in cooperation with the
Government of Denmark at Elsinore in June 1994. The Department also continued
to distribute a "United Nations Focus" feature on the same topic.
107. From September 1994 to September 1995, the Department's Dissemination Unit
distributed 63 titles on the Palestine issue to 226 recipients around the world,
on Internet and other electronic networks. The materials consisted of
statements and messages by the Secretary-General, press releases on encounters,
seminars and symposia in Madrid, New York, Rio de Janeiro, and so on, and were
disseminated in the English and French languages.
108. A 4½-minute video with the working title, "Palestine: Fifty Years On", was
produced by the Media Division of the Department and distributed to all United
Nations information centres and services and United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) libraries. Additionally, several "UN in Action" pieces on
topics such as water resource management, citrus processing and the Palestinian
Police Force were videotaped during the fall.
109. The Radio Section covered various aspects of the question of Palestine and
related items in news and current affairs radio programmes in official and
non-official languages. Some of the topics included the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the work of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, seminars and
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symposia on the question of Palestine, and the work of the specialized agencies,
for example, UNDP, UNRWA and WHO, relating to the Palestinian people. In
addition, the Radio Section produced a number of feature programmes exclusively
devoted to the question of Palestine, such as "Palestine/Israel: new
possibilities for peace" (produced in Spanish and adapted into Portuguese);
"Socio-economic Development of the Palestinian People" (produced in English and
adapted into several languages); and "The Palestinian Question in the Middle
East" (produced in French). All programmes were distributed world wide.
110. The Department's Video Section produced four "UN in Action"/CNN World
Report segments on the following topics: the Palestinian Broadcasting
Corporation in Jericho; Training of the Palestinian Police Force; Palestinian
women set up business in the West Bank; and Agriculture in Jericho: a
UNDP-assisted banana plantation.
111. On 8 December 1994, the NGO Section held a briefing for the
non-governmental organization community entitled "Palestinian Economic
Development: The role of the United Nations", featuring a presentation by
Mr. Francis Dubois, Senior Programme Adviser, Programme of Assistance to the
Palestinian People, UNDP.
112. The global network of the United Nations information centres continued to
disseminate information on the question of Palestine by reaching out to mass
media, academics, non-governmental organizations and the general public. The
centres produced or distributed newsletters, press releases and other
information materials and regularly briefed media representatives. In
observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People,
information centres were instrumental in widely disseminating and publicizing
the Secretary-General's message in local newspapers. On that day, the
Information Centre in Prague participated in a public meeting organized by the
Czech Association for African and Arabic Friendship. The Information Centre in
Rabat mounted a special exhibit. In 1995, the Information Centre in Madrid
provided support services to the Department of Public Information's Seminar on
Assistance to the Palestinian People in the Field of Media Development.
Similarly, the Information Centre in Paris, at the request of the Division for
Palestinian Rights, provided logistical assistance for the United Nations
Seminar on Palestine in June 1995. In addition, the network of information
centres continued to send relevant press clippings and other media feedback to
Headquarters to keep senior officials of the Organization abreast of the
prevailing public opinion.
113. In cooperation with UNESCO and with the support of the Institute for
Cooperation with the Arab World of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
Department organized a Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People in the
Field of Media Development in Madrid, from 29 to 31 March 1995. Twenty-eight
Palestinian media practitioners participated, together with representatives of
international media organizations, training institutions and foundations. The
Seminar adopted recommendations aiming at strengthening Palestinian media
capability.
114. From 7 October to 22 November 1995, the Department organized a training
programme for a group of eight Palestinian media practitioners at Headquarters
to strengthen the participants' professional capacity as information media
personnel.
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VII. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
115. The year 1995 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations. On
that historic occasion, the leaders of the world solemnly reaffirmed the
purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and their
commitment to them. They expressed their determination that the United Nations
would work with renewed vigour and effectiveness in promoting peace,
development, equality and justice and understanding among the peoples of the
world. They also reaffirmed the inalienable right of self-determination of all
peoples, taking into account the particular situation of peoples under colonial
or other forms of alien domination or foreign occupation. The Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, established
20 years ago to ensure that the Palestinian people would be able to attain these
noble objectives, pledges to redouble its efforts in pursuit of this goal.
116. The signing of the Declaration of Principles in September 1993 by Israel
and the PLO created a dramatic turning-point in the search for peace in the
Middle East, leading to the emergence of a new reality on the ground, enabling
the Palestinian people to take its first steps towards independence and opening
new possibilities for cooperation among the peoples of the region. At the same
time, the peace process remains fragile and fraught with dangers. The Committee
is encouraged that during the past year the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations
have proceeded despite repeated delays and acts of violence, which have caused
many innocent victims on both sides and aroused the concern and condemnation of
the international community. Welcoming the signing on 28 September 1995, in
Washington, D.C., of the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank
and Gaza Strip, the Committee expresses its commitment to continue and intensify
its support for the Palestinian people and its leadership during the transition
process.
117. The Committee reaffirms that the United Nations has a permanent
responsibility with respect to the question of Palestine until a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement is reached. The Committee reiterates that the
involvement of the United Nations in the peace process, both as the guardian of
international legitimacy and in the mobilization and provision of international
assistance, is essential for the successful outcome of the peace efforts. As
the organ of the General Assembly established to deal with the question of
Palestine, the Committee believes that its own role continues to be useful and
necessary during the transitional period and until a satisfactory final
settlement is achieved.
118. The Committee reaffirms that such a settlement must be based on Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the withdrawal of Israel from the
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied
since 1967, and the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
rights, in particular the right to self-determination. The Committee also
believes that, during the interim period, Israel must recognize and respect its
obligations as the occupying Power under the Fourth Geneva Convention. While
remaining firm on this position of principle, the Committee has continued to
make adjustments in its approach and programme of work in order to make a
concrete contribution to promoting the implementation of the agreements reached
and to mobilize international assistance to the Palestinian people. The
Committee invites the General Assembly once again to recognize the importance of
its role and to reconfirm its mandate with overwhelming support.
-30-
119. The Committee wishes to express its great appreciation to those States
which have supported its work and have facilitated the organization of events
held under the Committee's auspices by providing venues and participating in the
debates. The Committee believes that, in view of the new situation and the
responsive position of the Committee reflected in its programme of work, the
time has come for all States to recognize the valuable contribution that the
Committee can make as a forum for dialogue, analysis, exchange of expertise,
mobilization of public opinion and action in support of the peace efforts and
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, as well as their
socio-economic development. The Committee considers that a broadening of its
membership to include countries that support its objectives but have not
hitherto participated in its work would greatly enhance the contribution of the
United Nations to promote peace at this important stage.
120. The Committee considers that its seminars on economic and social issues
confronting the Palestinian people in the occupied territory have been
particularly useful in bringing together experts in the relevant fields,
including Palestinians and Israelis, as well as donor countries, United Nations
departments, agencies and organizations, non-governmental organizations active
in the field and others, and will continue its efforts in that regard. In view
of the new situation on the ground created by the Declaration of Principles and
subsequent implementation agreements, and mindful of the measures being taken by
the Palestinian Authority to establish an effective administration, which
require continued international support, the Committee is of the view that one
of the events under its auspices should be held as soon as possible in the
territory under the Palestinian Authority to address various aspects of the
transition period.
121. The Committee also stresses the value of its role as a catalyst in bringing
together and developing a network of non-governmental organizations interested
in the question of Palestine and in promoting solidarity activities, as well as
concrete assistance. The Committee intends to continue to promote the positive
contribution of the non-governmental organization constituency to meet the
humanitarian and development needs of the Palestinian people during the
transitional period, in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority. Noting with
appreciation the increasing interest and participation of Governments, in
particular those of donor countries, and United Nations organizations and
agencies in non-governmental organization events organized under its auspices,
the Committee intends to continue its programme of meetings in the various
regions in the coming year. The Committee will continue to seek to structure
these meetings for maximum usefulness and to cooperate with coordinating
committees for non-governmental organizations with a view to developing
effective follow-up mechanisms and encouraging a wider and more active
participation by non-governmental organizations, in particular those whose work
encompasses humanitarian and development-oriented ends and programmes.
122. The Committee emphasizes the essential contribution of the Division for
Palestinian Rights as a centre for research, monitoring, the preparation of
studies and the collection and dissemination of information on all issues
related to the question of Palestine. The Committee requests the Division to
continue its programme of publications, in consultation with the Committee, and
to pay particular attention to preparing studies or updating existing ones on
the various issues that are subject to final status negotiations. The Committee
notes with satisfaction the progress made in including in UNISPAL documentation
on the relevant activities of the United Nations system and the non-governmental
organization network, as well as other information material, including documents
related to the peace process. Recalling that the Division was established at
-31-
the request of the General Assembly in 1978 and upgraded in 1982, and that its
mandate has been reaffirmed and expanded in various resolutions since then, the
Committee requests the Secretary-General to maintain the political structure and
composition of the Division in accordance with those resolutions, and to
continue to provide it with the necessary resources in order to carry out its
tasks.
123. The Committee continues to consider that the Special Information Programme
on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information is very
useful in raising the awareness of the international community concerning the
complexities of the question and the situation in the Middle East in general.
The Committee believes that the Programme is contributing effectively to an
atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace process. The
Programme should follow and reflect realities related to the new experiences of
the Palestinian people, provide assistance in the field of Palestinian media
development and continue to disseminate information about the just cause of the
Palestinian people, in addition to continuing its support of dialogue in the
effort to build peace.
124. The Committee will continue to strive to achieve maximum effectiveness in
the implementation of its mandate and to adjust its work programme in the light
of developments, in order to continue to contribute, to the extent possible, to
the realization of the common United Nations objective of achieving a just and
lasting solution of the question of Palestine.
-32-
Notes
1/ Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 47/1 of 22 September 1992, the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) did not participate in
the work of the Committee.
2/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
3/ Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35); ibid.,
Thirty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35); ibid., Thirty-fourth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fifth Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/35/35); ibid., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/36/35);
ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/37/35 and Corr.1); ibid.,
Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35); ibid., Thirty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/39/35); ibid., Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/40/35); ibid., Forty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); ibid.,
Forty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/42/35); ibid., Forty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/45/35); ibid.,
Forty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35); ibid., Forty-seventh Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/47/35); ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/48/35); and ibid., Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/49/35).
4/ A/AC.183/1995/CRP.1.
5/ The observers at the Committee meetings were as follows: Algeria,
Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka,
Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, the League of Arab States
and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Palestine, represented by the
PLO, as the representative of the Palestinian people, was also an observer.
6/ The membership of the Working Group was as follows: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Guinea, Guyana, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey,
Ukraine, and Palestine, represented by the PLO, as the representative of the
people directly concerned.
7/ See S/1995/151.
8/ See S/PV.3505 (resumption).
9/ S/1995/366.
10/ S/1995/367.
11/ S/1995/394.
12/ WHO/16.
-----
-33-
UNITED NATIONS A
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/51/35
19 November 1996
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
Fifty-first session
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE
INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE*
* The present document is a mimeographed version of the report of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,
which will be issued in final form as Official Records of the General Assembly,
Fifty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/51/35).
96-32582 (E) 211196 /...
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL .................................................. 4
I. INTRODUCTION ......................................... 1 - 9 5
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE ............................. 10 - 13 7
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK ................................. 14 - 19 9
A. Election of officers ............................. 14 - 15 9
B. Participation in the work of the Committee ....... 16 - 18 9
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group ............ 19 9
IV. REVIEW OF THE SITUATION RELATING TO THE QUESTION OF
PALESTINE ............................................ 20 - 34 10
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE ........................ 35 - 88 14
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 50/84 A ............................... 35 - 52 14
1. Reaction to developments affecting the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people . 35 - 49 14
2. Attendance at international conferences and
meetings ..................................... 50 - 51 16
3. Action taken by United Nations bodies, the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and
intergovernmental organizations .............. 52 17
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions 50/84 A and B ............... 53 - 56 18
1. Seminars and NGO meetings..................... 57 - 81 19
2. Research, monitoring and publications ........ 82 - 85 23
3. United Nations information system on the
question of Palestine ........................ 86 24
4. International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People ........................... 87 - 88 25
VI. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 50/84 C 89 - 132 26
VII. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ..................... 133 - 145 32
-2-
CONTENTS (continued)
Page
Annexes
I. United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian people,
held at Cairo from 21 to 23 May 1996 ............................. 36
II. United Nations North American NGO Symposium on the Question of
Palestine, held in New York from 24 to 26 June 1996 .............. 38
III. United Nations European NGO Symposium and International NGO
Meeting on the Question of Palestine, held at Geneva from 2 to
4 September 1996 ................................................. 39
-3-
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
15 November 1996
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to
the General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 5 of its resolution 50/84 A of
15 December 1995.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Ibra Deguène KA
Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Secretary-General of the United Nations
-4-
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly in its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, in which the Assembly requested the Committee to consider and
recommend to it a programme designed to enable the Palestinian people to
exercise its inalienable rights as recognized by the Assembly in resolution
3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974. During the reporting period the Committee
continued to be composed of 23 Member States, as follows: Afghanistan, Belarus,
Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic
Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Yugoslavia.1
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the
General Assembly2 were endorsed by the Assembly in resolution 31/20 of
24 November 1976 as a basis for the solution of the question of Palestine. In
its subsequent reports3 the Committee has continued to stress that a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the question of Palestine, the core
of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions and the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel
from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and
from the other occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in
the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized
boundaries; and the recognition and exercise of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination.
3. The Committee has welcomed the signing in September 1993 of the Declaration
of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by Israel and the
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (A/48/486-S/26560, annex), and
subsequent implementation agreements, in particular the Israeli-Palestinian
Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip of 28 September 1995,
signed in Washington, D.C., which provided for phased withdrawal of Israeli
forces and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, as important steps
towards the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the
question of Palestine based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
338 (1973). The Committee strongly believes that the settlement of the question
of Palestine can only be achieved through the realization of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination.
Each year, the General Assembly has endorsed the Committee’s recommendations
with overwhelming support and has renewed its mandate and expanded it, as
necessary.
4. During the year under review, the Committee welcomed, as important further
steps in this process, the redeployment of Israeli forces from areas of the West
Bank, the successful holding on 20 January 1996 of the first Palestinian
elections to the Legislative Council and the Presidency of the Palestinian
Authority, as well as the beginning on 5 May of the negotiations on the
permanent status of the Palestinian territory. Notwithstanding these positive
developments, the Committee was greatly concerned at the recrudescence of
tensions in the region, as a result of acts of violence inside Israel aimed at
jeopardizing the peace process, as well as the massive bombardment of Lebanon by
Israeli forces, and the prolonged closure of the occupied territory, including
Jerusalem, which had devastating consequences for the Palestinian economy.
5. The Committee expressed apprehension that the policy guidelines adopted by
the new Government of Israel and statements made by the Prime Minister appeared
-5-
to reflect a departure from the basic terms of reference of the peace process.
In that regard, the Committee was alarmed by the resumption of the settlement
activities, land confiscations and closures of the Palestinian territory, as
well as the position taken by the new Government on the issue of Jerusalem. The
Committee emphasized that the transitional period had reached a crucial stage,
which required the full and effective implementation of the agreements reached
and a speedy resumption of substantive negotiations on the basis of agreed
principles, as well as confidence-building measures.
6. The Committee expressed its great concern at the violations by the
Government of Israel of the agreements already reached, including the delay in
the redeployment of Israeli troops from Hebron, its decision to open a new
entrance to the archaeological tunnel along the Western Wall of Haram al-Sharif
in occupied East Jerusalem, which resulted in violent confrontations and deaths
and injuries of many Palestinian civilians, as well as casualties among
Palestinian police and Israeli military. The Committee believed that, if not
promptly contained, these developments could lead to a greater tension on the
ground that would seriously endanger the peace process. In this connection, it
welcomed the efforts aimed at resolving the situation and resuming the
negotiations between the parties. The Committee also believes that the Israeli-
Palestinian agreements should be implemented in full and on time, beginning with
the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Hebron and the lifting of closures of the
Palestinian territory.
7. The Committee affirmed once again the permanent responsibility of the
United Nations with respect to the question of Palestine until it is resolved in
all its aspects. It emphasized the need for the full engagement of the United
Nations in the peace process and in the process of building the Palestinian
self-government institutions, as well as in providing varied assistance to the
Palestinian people in all needed fields.
8. Expressing concern at the continued deterioration of the Palestinian
economy and the problems of poverty, unemployment and lack of adequate
infrastructure faced by the Palestinian Authority, the Committee urged Member
States to expedite the provision of economic, technical and development
assistance to the Palestinian people in order to help build solid foundations
for peace.
9. The Committee firmly believes that, as the organ of the General Assembly
dealing with the question of Palestine, it can make a valuable and positive
contribution to United Nations endeavours during the transitional period by
continuing to promote dialogue and to educate and mobilize international opinion
and action for the successful outcome of the agreements reached by the parties
and in solidarity with the Palestinian people until a comprehensive, just and
lasting settlement is achieved, in accordance with international legitimacy.
The Committee has continued to adjust its work programme in order to enhance its
contribution, in view of these priorities and keeping in mind the evolving
realities on the ground.
-6-
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
10. The mandate of the Committee for the year 1996 is contained in paragraphs 2
to 6 of General Assembly resolution 50/84 A of 15 December 1995, in which the
Assembly:
(a) Considered that the Committee could continue to make a valuable and
positive contribution to international efforts to promote the effective
implementation of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people during the transitional period; endorsed the recommendations
of the Committee; and requested it to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make
suggestions to the Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate;
(b) Authorized the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote
the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to make such
adjustments in its approved programme of work as it might consider appropriate
and necessary in the light of developments, to give special emphasis to the need
to mobilize support and assistance for the Palestinian people and to report
thereon to the Assembly at its fifty-first session and thereafter;
(c) Also requested the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation to
non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening
international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and
promoting support and assistance to meet the needs of the Palestinian people,
and to take the necessary steps to involve additional non-governmental
organizations in its work.
11. In its resolution 50/84 B, also of 15 December 1995, the General Assembly
considered that the Division for Palestinian Rights continued to make a useful
and constructive contribution through the organization of seminars and meetings
of non-governmental organizations, as well as through its research and
monitoring activities, and the collection and dissemination of information in
printed and electronic form on all issues pertaining to the question of
Palestine. The Assembly requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide
the Division with the necessary resources, including for the further development
of the United Nations information system on the question of Palestine, and to
ensure that it continued to discharge the tasks detailed in the pertinent
resolutions of the Assembly, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance.
12. In its resolution 50/84 C of 15 December 1995, the General Assembly
requested the Department of Public Information, in full cooperation and
coordination with the Committee, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as
might be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its
special information programme on the question of Palestine for the biennium
1996-1997, with particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and North
America.
13. In carrying out its programme of work, the Committee also took into account
General Assembly resolution 50/84 D, in which the Assembly reaffirmed the
necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects; expressed its full
support for the ongoing peace process, which began at Madrid, and the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, as well as
-7-
subsequent implementation agreements, and expressed the hope that the process
would lead to the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in
the Middle East; called for the timely and scrupulous implementation of the
agreements reached between the parties towards the negotiation of the final
settlement, which began on 5 May 1996; urged Member States to expedite the
provision of economic and technical assistance to the Palestinian people during
that critical period; and emphasized the importance for the United Nations to
play a more active and expanded role in the current peace process and in the
implementation of the Declaration of Principles.
-8-
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A. Election of officers
14. At its 221st meeting, on 7 May 1996, the Committee elected
Mr. Ibra Deguène Ka (Senegal) as Chairman, replacing Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé
(Senegal), former Chairman of the Committee who had been assigned by his
Government to another post, re-elected Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhadi (Afghanistan) and
Mr. Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla (Cuba) as Vice-Chairmen and
Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta) as Rapporteur.
15. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted its programme of work for 19964
in implementation of its mandate.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
16. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members and
Permanent Observers to the United Nations desiring to participate in the work of
the Committee as observers were welcome to do so. Accordingly, in a letter
dated 20 May 1996, the Chairman of the Committee informed the Secretary-General,
who subsequently transmitted the letter, on 22 May 1996, to the States Members
of the United Nations and members of the specialized agencies, and to
intergovernmental organizations. In accordance with established practice, the
Committee also invited Palestine, represented by the PLO, to participate in the
work of the Committee as an observer, to attend all its meetings and to make
observations and proposals for consideration by the Committee.
17. On 20 August 1996, the Government of South Africa, in a note verbale
addressed to the Chairman of the Committee, informed him of its decision to
participate in the work of the Committee as an observer. The Committee welcomed
the decision of the Government of South Africa and approved the request at its
225th meeting, on 15 November 1996.
18. In 1996, the Committee again welcomed as observers all the States and
organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding year.5
C. Re-establishment of the Working Group
19. At its 221st meeting, on 7 May 1996, the Committee re-established its
Working Group in order to assist in the preparation and expedition of the work
of the Committee, on the understanding that any Committee member or observer
could participate in its deliberations.6 The Working Group was constituted as
before under the chairmanship of Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta), with
Mr. Syed Akbaruddin (India) as Vice-Chairman.
-9-
IV. REVIEW OF THE SITUATION RELATING TO THE QUESTION
OF PALESTINE
20. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to keep under review
the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to exert all efforts to
promote the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights. The
Committee also continued to contribute to international efforts to promote the
effective implementation of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-
Government Arrangements and the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip of 28 September 1995, as well as to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people.
21. The Committee continued to monitor the situation in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the developments in the peace
process on an ongoing basis through the media, the reports of United Nations
organs and agencies, as well as information provided by non-governmental
organizations, individual experts and others who participated in meetings held
under the auspices of the Committee.
22. The Committee welcomed the fact that, in accordance with the agreements,
Israel had redeployed its military forces from six major West Bank towns and
over 450 villages, and that powers and responsibilities in the administrative
and civilian field, as well as in the area of security, had been transferred to
the Palestinian Authority. The Committee noted with satisfaction the continued
strengthening of the institutional capacity of the Authority. It also welcomed
the successful holding of the first Palestinian elections, on 20 January, to the
87-member legislative Council and to the Presidency of the Palestinian
Authority, and congratulated President Yasser Arafat on that historic event.
The Council was subsequently inaugurated on 7 March 1996. On 9 May, President
Arafat announced the appointment of a 21-member Executive Authority of the
Palestinian Council. The Committee was also pleased to note that, for the first
time, the Palestine National Council had been able to hold its meeting in Gaza,
from 22 to 25 April, and had decided to abrogate articles of the Palestine
National Charter that were contrary to the agreements reached between Israel and
the PLO. The Committee also noted the start, in early May, of the permanent
status negotiations between Israel and the PLO, in accordance with the timetable
contained in the Declaration of Principles of September 1993. The negotiations
were adjourned after a number of procedural decisions had been taken.
23. The Committee also noted with grave concern the exacerbation of the
situation on the ground as a result of Israeli security measures in the wake of
suicide attacks against Israeli civilians in February and March. The prolonged
and at times complete closure of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East
Jerusalem in particular further stifled the Palestinian economy and caused
immense suffering and hardship to the Palestinian people.
24. Of particular concern were the guidelines adopted by the new Government of
Israel and statements made by the Prime Minister concerning the basis of the
peace process, including the implementation of Security Council resolutions
242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and the principle of land for peace, as well as issues
related to the final settlement, in particular Jerusalem, settlements, the
return of refugees and Palestinian sovereignty, which appeared to depart from
the agreed principles and to link implementation to extraneous issues. The
redeployment of Israeli troops from Hebron, which was to have taken place in
March but was delayed until after the Israeli elections, was further postponed,
encouraging provocations by settlers and greatly aggravating tension in the
-10-
town. The continued lack of safe passage between the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip infringed on the status and integrity of the Palestinian territory as a
single territorial unit, stipulated in the agreements, hampered the Palestinian
Authority in the exercise of its responsibilities and further exacerbated the
serious economic situation. The Committee was also concerned at the
interference by Israel with activities of the Palestinian Council members
representing the Jerusalem district. The Committee also noted with concern that
further redeployments of Israeli troops, which were due to take place beginning
six months after the inauguration of the Council, had not begun on 7 September
in accordance with the agreed timetable.
25. The Committee also noted that although a number of prisoners had been
released, some 3,100 Palestinians still remained in Israeli prisons, and that
their relatives, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), had
experienced serious difficulties in visiting them owing to the prolonged closure
of the occupied territory. The Committee recalled that the agreements provided
for the phased release of Palestinian prisoners as an important confidencebuilding
measure, to establish a solid basis of mutual trust and good faith
between the two sides, and called upon Israel to release the prisoners in
accordance with the agreements. The Committee further reaffirmed that the
holding of prisoners in the territory of the occupying Power was a violation of
the Fourth Geneva Convention and called upon Israel to respect its obligations
under the Convention.
26. The imposition on 25 February of the closure of areas under Palestinian
jurisdiction in effect fragmented the territory into many small enclaves
isolated from each other and from the outside world. It was reported that the
closure, the strictest ever since the beginning of occupation in 1967, continued
as of September 1996, without any prospect of its being lifted in the near
future, and that the measures periodically announced by Israel to ease the
closure were insufficient to restore the situation. The Gaza Strip, in
particular, experienced severe restrictions and even a prolonged total ban on
the traffic of persons and goods, and limitations on access to the sea for
fishing. While the situation in Gaza was reportedly more severe, the local
economy in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip was seriously disrupted as
agricultural production could not be exported and raw materials needed for
industries and public works projects could not be imported. Some 70,000
workers dependent on employment in Israel for their livelihood were being
prevented from travelling to work. Education was also affected, as teachers and
students could not move between areas and many schools and universities had been
shut down. It was also reported that 1,200 Gazan students who attended
educational institutions in the West Bank had been ordered home in March and had
not been able to return. The closure also caused a deterioration in the health
situation, particularly in Gaza, as provision of foodstuffs and medical supplies
was restricted and many persons in need of urgent medical treatment unavailable
locally were being denied permits to travel to Israel or the West Bank. The
Committee further noted with the greatest concern that staff of international
non-governmental organizations and of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency
for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) had experienced restrictions in
their freedom of movement and that their humanitarian work had been disrupted at
a time of great crisis.
27. The Committee praised the Secretary-General and his Special Coordinator in
the Occupied Territories, and the United Nations system as a whole, for their
rapid response to the emergency situation and the efforts to promote an easing
of the closure and the creation of local employment, as well as for the
continuing programme of assistance for the development of the Palestinian
-11-
territory despite the many difficulties on the ground. However, the Committee
was gravely concerned to note, in the Secretary-General’s report, projections
that the closure would cost the Palestinian economy some $800 million by the end
of 1996 and result in average unemployment of over 30 per cent (over 50 per cent
in Gaza). The Committee expressed the view that the drastic closure amounted to
collective punishment of the 2.5 million Palestinians living in the occupied
territory, in contravention of the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention,
and could not in any way be justified by Israel’s security needs, as it
aggravated the economic hardships and insecurity of Palestinians, jeopardized
assistance projects by the international community and thus undermined the
achievements of the peace process, increasing tension and instability in the
area. The Committee called on the international community, and in particular
the donor countries, to continue to spare no effort in the pursuit of economic
and social development and the improvement of the living conditions of
Palestinians as the indispensable underpinning for peace.
28. The Committee was gravely concerned at the negative implications of the
prolonged closure for the future of Jerusalem, which is to be negotiated as part
of the final settlement as agreed in the Declaration of Principles of
September 1993. The Committee noted that the closure had practically cut off
Palestinian access to East Jerusalem, thus depriving Palestinians in Gaza and
the West Bank of their most important religious, cultural and social centre,
isolating Palestinian Jerusalemites from their natural hinterland and stifling
the economy of East Jerusalem. The Committee also noted with great concern that
the Israeli Government had intensified its efforts against Palestinian
institutions in East Jerusalem, in disregard of the letter from Prime Minister
Shimon Peres to the late Foreign Minister of Norway Johan Jørgen Holst of
11 October 1993. A number of measures were also being taken aimed at
withdrawing residency status from Palestinians living in Jerusalem. The
Committee expressed alarm at the demolition, in August, in the Old City of a
building belonging to the Burj al-Laqlaq Society, which provides services to
Palestinian children, including the physically handicapped. The Committee
considered that these measures were in violation of the Fourth Geneva
Convention, which is applicable to all the territories occupied by Israel since
1967, including Jerusalem. They were also a violation of various resolutions of
the Security Council, the General Assembly and other organs of the United
Nations, which prohibit any attempts to alter the character, demographic
composition and status of Jerusalem.
29. The Committee welcomed the relocation of the headquarters of UNRWA from
Vienna to Gaza City. The Committee took note of the signing, on 5 July 1996, of
the headquarters agreement between UNRWA and the Palestinian Authority. At the
same time, it expressed concern at the financial constraints of the Agency and
hoped that outstanding pledges and voluntary funds would be forthcoming so that
the Agency could continue to provide its vital services to the Palestinian
refugees.
30. The Committee further expressed grave concern at policy statements and
decisions by the Israeli Government portending the renewed expansion of land
confiscation and settlement construction in the Palestinian territory occupied
by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem. The Committee noted reports that, at
the end of July, Israel’s National Infrastructures Minister had announced the
resumption of plans to build two highways through the West Bank to connect
Jewish settlements with Israel. It was also reported that, on 2 August, the
Israeli Cabinet had decided to lift the restrictions on construction of
settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip imposed by the previous
Government in 1993 and to streamline approval procedures by placing them
-12-
directly under the responsibility of the Defence Minister. Subsequently, it was
reported that the Government had pledged $5 million in aid to settlers and, on
19 September, the Israeli authorities approved plans to build some 4,000 housing
units in the Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The Committee noted reports
that, despite restrictions under the previous Government, the number of settlers
in the West Bank and Gaza had already increased by 45 per cent (from 100,000 to
145,000, excluding settlers in the area of East Jerusalem) in the past four
years and it considered that the policy and practice of settlement was one of
the gravest threats facing the Palestinian people and the peace process itself.
The Committee noted that those measures were contrary to the Fourth Geneva
Convention and to the provisions in the agreements, which stipulate that the
integrity and status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip would be preserved
during the transitional period, pending the outcome of the permanent status
negotiations. Noting the great international concern over this issue, the
Committee called on all Governments, the United Nations system and the
international community as a whole, including non-governmental organizations, to
intensify their efforts against the settlements policy and for the protection of
Jerusalem.
31. In a press release issued on 10 September 1996,7 the Bureau of the
Committee expressed its satisfaction at the resumption, on 4 September, at Beit
Hanoun, Gaza Strip, of the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. The Bureau
welcomed the meeting between the President of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser
Arafat, and the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, as an important
step towards the full implementation of the agreements already reached between
the two sides. The Bureau expressed the hope that the meeting would clear the
way for the continuation of substantive discussions on matters pertaining to the
permanent status.
32. The Committee expressed its concern at the continued lack of respect by the
Israeli side for the provisions of the Israeli-Palestinian agreements reached so
far. Of special concern to the Committee in the recent months remained the
issue of delays in the redeployment of Israeli forces from the town of Hebron in
violation of the agreements.
33. Further, on 23 September 1996, the Committee noted with alarm that the
Israeli authorities, in violation of Israel’s obligations under international
law and the relevant Security Council resolutions, had opened an entrance to a
tunnel in the vicinity of Haram al-Sharif in occupied East Jerusalem, as a
result endangering the security and integrity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the
foundations of the Islamic structures existing above the tunnel. In that
connection, the Committee expressed grave concern at the escalation of violence
resulting in deaths and injuries of over 50 Palestinian civilians and casualties
among Palestinian police and Israeli military.
34. The Committee welcomed the efforts undertaken to resolve the situation and
resume the peace process. It also took note of the Middle East Summit, held at
the invitation of the President of the United States of America, which included
the participation of King Hussein of Jordan, the Prime Minister of Israel and
the President of the Palestinian Authority in Washington, D.C., on 1 and
2 October 1996 and the parties’ determination to renew and intensify
negotiations on how to carry out the provisions of the peace agreements already
reached between them. In that regard, the Committee reiterated its strong
support for the peace process and its determination to spare no effort in
promoting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right
to self-determination and statehood.
-13-
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 50/84 A
1. Reaction to developments affecting the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people
(a) Communication to the Secretary-General and the President of the General
Assembly
35. In a letter dated 26 September 1996 (A/51/418-S/1996/795), the Chairman of
the Committee expressed the greatest anxiety at the escalation of violence in
the occupied Palestinian territory following Israel’s decision to open a new
entrance to the archaeological tunnel in East Jerusalem that runs under
Palestinian property along the Western Wall of the Haram al-Sharif, the third
largest site of Islam.
36. The Chairman stated that these tragic developments follow repeated warnings
about the devastating consequences for Palestinian hopes and living conditions
of the delayed implementation by Israel of the agreements already reached, its
prolonged closure of the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem,
the resumption of land confiscation and settlement, and actions against
Palestinian property and institutions in Jerusalem. The Committee believed that
current events demonstrated the fragility of the peace process and called on
Israel urgently to reverse its measures, to promote reconciliation with the
Palestinian people and to resume substantive negotiations towards a just final
settlement in accordance with international legitimacy.
(b) Action taken within the Security Council
37. At the request of the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates,
in his capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of April 1996, dated
10 April 1996,8 an urgent meeting of the Security Council was held on
15 April 1996, to consider the serious situation in the occupied Palestinian
territory, including Jerusalem.
38. The Acting Chairman of the Committee participated in the debate on this
issue on 15 April 1996. In his statement on behalf of the Committee,9 he stated
that the decision by the Israeli Government regarding the blockade and closure
of Israeli borders with the Palestinian territory had led to economic hardships
and aggravation of tensions in the area and was of great concern to the
Committee. The action had made life for the people of the Palestinian territory
extremely difficult and that situation might increase difficulties in relations
between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
39. The Israeli policy, he added, had resulted in rapidly escalating hardships
for the entire Palestinian population. Uncertain food supplies and massive
unemployment had reached crisis levels. Patients and medical staff alike were
unable to travel from one area of the West Bank to another to reach hospitals
and clinics, even in emergency situations. Education, agriculture and business
activity had been severely disrupted. International non-governmental
organization staff, including foreign nationals, had been prohibited from moving
between population areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Committee
believed that those measures violated the relevant provisions of the Fourth
Geneva Convention of 1949, which was applicable to all the territories occupied
-14-
by Israel in 1967, including Jerusalem, as well as the relevant Security Council
and General Assembly resolutions. The policy of Israel contradicted the concept
of peacemaking on the basis of the agreements reached between the two parties.
Responses to acts of violence committed by some elements should not be directed
at the Palestinian people as a whole and should not hinder the peace process.
40. On behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People, he called upon the Security Council and the co-sponsors of
the peace process to use their strong influence to persuade Israel to end its
unjust policy of closure of Israeli borders with the Palestinian territory. The
international community must also persuade those parties to proceed rapidly with
the peace process as the only way that a lasting peace could be achieved in the
region. The Committee was also extremely worried about the negative impact on
all Palestinians of the recent armed conflicts and of Israeli shelling and air
raids in south Lebanon and in the suburbs of Beirut.
41. The Security Council concluded its general debate on 15 April 1996, without
deciding on any specific measures with respect to the item under consideration.
42. Noting a procedural decision taken by the Security Council to simplify the
list of items of which it is seized, the Chairman of the Committee, in a letter
dated 16 August 1996,10 conveyed the Committee’s objection to the decision to
delete from the list items related to the exercise of the inalienable rights of
the Palestinian people, the Palestine question and the Middle East problem. The
Committee believed that pending a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of
the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East, the core of which is the question
of Palestine, in accordance with international legitimacy, those items should
remain on the list of matters of which the Council is seized as they continue to
engage its responsibility with regard to the maintenance of international peace
and security.
43. At the request of the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia, in his
capacity as the Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of September 1996,11 as
well as in response to a letter by the Permanent Representative of Egypt,12
supporting the request for a meeting of the Security Council concerning recent
developments in the occupied Arab territories and the need to take the necessary
measures, including the closing of an entrance to the tunnel extending under the
Western Wall of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, the Council met
on 27 and 28 September 1996.
44. The Chairman of the Committee took part in the debate and stated that the
decision recently taken by the Israeli Government to open a tunnel in the Old
City of Jerusalem - the holiest of sites - following the closure of the
Palestinian territory for several months, the confiscation of Palestinian lands
to build settlements or roads around areas inhabited by Palestinians and
measures of intimidation taken against the Palestinian civilian population
showed that Israel wished to stifle the occupied territory economically and to
deny the Palestinian people its legitimate rights to self-determination and to
establish an independent State, in keeping with international legitimacy and the
relevant resolutions adopted by the Security Council.
45. It is therefore important for the international community to exert pressure
and take the measures necessary so that the inhumane closure of the Palestinian
territory and the restrictions on the movements of Palestinians imposed by the
occupying authorities are lifted; that the redeployment of Israeli troops from
the town of Hebron in the West Bank should take place as called for in the
interim peace accords signed by the former Israeli Government; that construction
-15-
and expansion of settlements should cease; that the tunnel should be closed once
and for all; and that, finally, the protagonists - in order not to prove right
the enemies of peace - should resume the peace process that had been under way
since 1993.
46. Given the Israeli attitude since June 1996, the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People continues to be very much
concerned by the situation created by Israel for reasons of its security and to
the detriment of an entire people whose legitimate aspiration is to live in
peace in its homeland.
47. The Chairman took the opportunity to make an urgent appeal to the Israeli
authorities to reconsider their present policy of scorn and confrontation, and
to commit themselves resolutely, as the international community has constantly
called for, to recreate the conditions for a climate of confidence and hope by
putting the peace process back on the right track, that of a peace that is
profitable to both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples.
48. Fifty speakers, mostly Foreign Ministers, addressed the Security Council
and at the end of the debate the Council adopted resolution 1073 (1996) on
28 September 1996, with 14 votes in favour, none against and 1 abstention.
49. In the resolution, the Security Council called for the immediate cessation
and reversal of all acts that had resulted in the aggravation of the situation
and had had negative implications for the Middle East peace process; for the
safety and protection of Palestinian civilians to be ensured; and for the
immediate resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process on its
agreed basis and the timely implementation of the agreements; and decided to
follow closely the situation and to remain seized of the matter.
2. Attendance at international conferences and meetings
50. The Committee, through its Chairman, continued to participate in relevant
meetings of intergovernmental bodies, as considered necessary. During the
period since its previous report to the General Assembly, the Committee was
represented by its Chairman at the sixty-fourth ordinary session of the Council
of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the thirty-second
session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization
held in Yaoundé from 1 to 5 July and 8 to 10 July 1996, respectively (see
A/51/524).
51. At the 222nd meeting of the Committee, on 31 July 1996, the Chairman
reported that OAU had reviewed recent events in the occupied Palestinian
territory and the Middle East, notably the deteriorating situation following the
acts of violence that had threatened the peace process. The Organization
praised the Palestinian leadership and stressed that the recent political
declarations of the new Israeli Government had created great concern among
leaders around the world. The Chairman of the Committee took part in the debate
and stressed the need to do everything possible to support the continuation of
the peace process. The Council of Ministers of OAU adopted two resolutions, one
on the question of Palestine and another on the situation in the Middle East.
-16-
3. Action taken by United Nations bodies, the Movement
of Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental
organizations
52. The Committee continued to follow with great interest the activities
relating to the question of Palestine of United Nations bodies, the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental organizations. The Committee noted
in particular the continued strong support of the international community for
the ongoing peace process and the agreements already reached between the
parties. At the same time, the international community was increasingly
concerned that developments on the ground were undermining the achievements of
the peace process and was intensifying its efforts to ensure the full and
effective implementation of the agreements reached and to promote concrete
progress in the negotiations. The Committee further noted the sense of urgency
with which the international community addressed the serious economic situation
in the Palestinian territory and the need to provide assistance to the
Palestinian people in the transition period. The Committee took particular note
of the following documents:
(a) Excerpts from the final communiqué and reports adopted at the annual
coordination meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of States members of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), held in New York on 2 October 1995
(A/50/723-S/1995/927, annexes);
(b) Excerpts from the final communiqué and Muscat Declaration adopted by
the sixteenth summit of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC), held in Muscat from 4 to 6 December 1995 (A/51/56-S/1995/1070, annex);
(c) Excerpts from the final communiqué and resolutions adopted by the
twenty-third Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers of the member countries of
OIC, held in Conakry from 9 to 12 December 1995 (A/50/953-S/1996/344, annexes);
(d) Resolution 40/2, on the integration of women in the Middle East peace
process, adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its fortieth
session, held in New York from 11 to 22 March 1996;13
(e) Statement made by the Co-Chairmen (Egypt and the United States of
America) of the Summit of Peacemakers, adopted on 13 March 1996 in Sharm
El Sheikh, Egypt (A/51/91-S/1996/238, annex);
(f) Excerpt from the press communiqué issued by the Ministerial Council of
GCC at its fifty-eighth session, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 16 and
17 March 1996 (A/51/119-S/1996/305, annex);
(g) Resolutions 1996/2 to 1996/6, on the question of Palestine and the
Middle East conflict, adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its fiftysecond
session, held in Geneva from 18 March to 26 April 1996;14
(h) Excerpts from the press communiqué issued by the Ministerial Council
of GCC at its fifty-ninth session, held in Riyadh on 1 and 2 June 1996
(A/51/158-S/1996/409, annex);
(i) Excerpts from the final communiqué of the Arab Summit Conference, held
in Cairo from 21 to 23 June 1996 (A/50/986-S/1996/474, appendix);
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(j) Excerpts from the Chairman’s final statement at the summit of seven
major industrialized countries (G-7), held in Lyon, France from 27 to
29 June 1996 (A/51/208-S/1996/543, annex I);
(k) Economic and Social Council resolutions 1996/5 and 1996/40, on
settlements and Palestinian women, respectively, adopted at its substantive
session of 1996, held in New York from 24 to 26 July 1996;
(l) Resolution CM/RES.1654(LXIV) of the Council of Ministers of OAU, on
the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East, adopted at its
sixty-fourth ordinary session, held in Yaoundé from 1 to 5 July 1996 (A/51/524,
annex I);
(m) Resolutions adopted by the League of Arab States (LAS) on
15 September 1996 in Cairo;
(n) Excerpts from the press communiqué issued by the Ministerial Council
of GCC at its sixtieth session, held in Riyadh on 7 and 8 September 1996
(A/51/387-S/1996/767, annex);
(o) Excerpts from the statement issued on 26 September 1996 by the
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the five permanent members of the Security
Council;15
(p) Letter dated 26 September 1996 from King Hassan II of Morocco, in his
capacity as President of the seventh summit of OIC and President of the Al-Quds
Committee (A/51/419-S/1996/798, annex);
(q) Declaration made on 1 October 1996 by the Council of Ministers of the
European Union on the Middle East peace process (A/51/447-S/1996/825, annex);
(r) Excerpts from the communiqué of the meeting of the Ministers of
Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation of the Movement of Non-Aligned
Countries, held in New York on 25 September 1996 (A/51/473-S/1996/839, annex).
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions 50/84 A and B
53. In accordance with the authorization given to it by the General Assembly in
paragraph 5 of resolution 50/84 A, the Committee decided to introduce a number
of adjustments in its programme of work for 1996 in order to make it more
relevant and useful to the new realities on the ground, while reducing overall
expenditure in response to the financial crisis of the United Nations. In
particular, the Committee considered that seminars and NGO meetings convened
under its auspices continued to be a useful mechanism for in-depth consideration
of priority issues and decided to continue the programme, while streamlining it
and sharpening its focus for maximum usefulness. The Committee decided, as in
the past, to invite Palestinian and Israeli personalities to participate in all
events organized under its auspices with a view to promoting mutual
understanding and a concrete and action-oriented analysis of the most important
issues relating to the question of Palestine, as well as better knowledge of the
work and objectives of the Committee. The Committee also decided to continue to
cooperate and expand its contacts with interested non-governmental organizations
in all regions, in accordance with the mandate given by the Assembly. Noting
the strong desire expressed by many such organizations, the Committee also
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decided to give consideration to holding an event in the territory under the
Palestinian Authority to address aspects of the transition period.
54. The Committee also decided on a number of new activities geared to
expanding its contacts with the Palestinian Authority and other institutions,
including non-governmental organizations, in the area under the jurisdiction of
the Palestinian Authority. Specifically, the Committee envisaged inviting
officials from the Authority and other Palestinian personalities to special
meetings of the Committee in order to apprise its members and other delegations
of the important developments on the ground and the evolving needs of the
Palestinian people to be met through international action. The Committee also
decided to consider ways and means of developing cooperation with and assistance
to Palestinian non-governmental organizations, including participation in their
meetings.
55. The Committee also requested the Division for Palestinian Rights to
explore, in cooperation with the competent offices of the Secretariat, the
possibility of introducing a training programme for young Palestinian
professionals, from the area under the Palestinian Authority, with a view to
acquiring better knowledge and understanding of the work and objectives of the
United Nations. The Committee noted with appreciation that two staff members of
the Authority had been invited by the Division to undertake a period of training
during the fifty-first session of the General Assembly.
56. In carrying out the various aspects of its programme of work and in
accordance with its mandate, the Committee continued to give the highest
priority to promoting the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people; promoting the effective implementation of the agreements reached between
the parties; and mobilizing international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people. The Committee continued to cooperate with Governments,
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and organizations of the
United Nations system in carrying out its mandate.
1. Seminars and NGO meetings
57. In the proposed programme budget for the biennium 1996-1997,16 provision was
made, as in the past, for the holding of annual seminars and NGO symposia in
Europe and North America, and biennially in the other regions, as well as for an
international NGO meeting and two preparatory meetings of non-governmental
organizations each year. The Committee decided that those events should be
combined as far as possible and that some could be deferred, with the resulting
savings redeployed in part towards the above-mentioned new activities.
Accordingly, the Committee decided on a streamlined calendar of meetings to be
held in 1996, consisting of: (a) a combined meeting of consultations with
representatives of NGO coordinating committees; (b) a seminar on assistance to
the Palestinian people; (c) a symposium for non-governmental organizations in
the North American region; and (d) a combined symposium for European
non-governmental organizations and international NGO meeting. Noting that it
had not organized an event in the Asian region for several years, the Committee
also decided in principle to convene a combined seminar and NGO symposium in
Asia in early 1997, subject to consultations with prospective host countries.
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(a) Meeting of consultations with representatives of NGO coordinating
committees
58. A meeting of consultations with 22 representatives of the International
Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ICCP), the North
American Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine (NACC),
and the European Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine
(ECCP) was held at Headquarters on 1 and 2 February 1996. The Bureau of the
Committee informed the NGO representatives of the recent developments in the
political situation, the position of the Committee and the resolutions adopted
by the General Assembly, and the programme of work envisaged by the Committee
for 1996. For their part, the NGO participants provided information on the
activities of the coordinating committees and of their member organizations, as
well as of the NGO constituency at large. The meeting considered various
aspects of the future cooperation between the Committee, the coordinating
committees and the NGO constituency as a whole, as well as relevant activities
of the Division for Palestinian Rights aimed at strengthening the NGO programme.
Participants also exchanged views with regard to the format and organizational
aspects of future NGO events to be organized by the Division under the auspices
of the Committee.
(b) Seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people
59. A seminar with the theme "Building the Palestinian economy" was held in
Cairo from 21 to 23 May 1996. The Committee expressed its great appreciation to
the Government of Egypt for its cooperation in providing the venue and in the
various arrangements needed for the holding of this important seminar.
60. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation comprising Mr. Ibra Deguène Ka (Senegal),
Chairman; Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhadi (Afghanistan), Vice-Chairman;
Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta), Rapporteur; Mr. Pedro Nuñez Mosquera (Cuba); and
Mr. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine). The officers of the Committee served as
officers of the Seminar in their respective capacities.
61. The opening session was addressed by Mr. Mohamed Adel El Safty, First
Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt. A statement on
behalf of the Secretary-General was read out by his representative and
Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Mr. Peter Hansen. Mr. Ibra Deguène Ka spoke
in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People. Statements were also made by
Mr. Zuhdi Nashashibi, Minister of Finance of the Palestinian Authority and
President of the Palestine National Fund, and Mr. Said Kamal, Assistant
Secretary-General of LAS.
62. The seminar was attended by representatives of 62 donor and other
Governments, as well as 3 intergovernmental organizations, 16 United Nations
system organizations and entities and 8 non-governmental organizations. Twentytwo
experts, including several officials of the Palestinian Authority, presented
papers.
63. During the seminar, the participants considered a wide range of issues
related to international assistance to the Palestinian people, reconstruction
and further development of the Palestinian economy and the negative effects of
the repeated closures by the Israeli authorities of parts of the West Bank and
the Gaza Strip leading to limited economic exchange between the areas under the
-20-
jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority and the disruption of Palestinian
economic activity. The final report of the seminar was submitted to the
Secretary-General for circulation as a document of the General Assembly and the
Economic and Social Council in a letter from the Chairman of the Committee
(A/51/166-E/1996/67). It will also be issued as a publication of the Division
for Palestinian Rights. (For the titles of the plenary session, round-table
discussions and names of experts, see annex I).
(c) North American Regional NGO Symposium
64. The United Nations North American NGO Symposium on the Question of
Palestine was held in New York from 24 to 26 June 1996.
65. The Committee was represented by a delegation consisting of
Mr. Ibra Deguène Ka (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and head of delegation;
Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhadi (Afghanistan) and Mr. Bruno E. Rodríguez Parrilla
(Cuba), Vice-Chairmen of the Committee; Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta), Rapporteur of
the Committee; and Mr. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
66. The Symposium was attended by representatives of 80 non-governmental
organizations, 21 of them as observers, 12 panellists and workshop leaders,
16 Governments, 2 intergovernmental organizations and 6 United Nations bodies
and agencies.
67. The theme of the Symposium was "Towards a just and comprehensive settlement
of the question of Palestine". (For the titles of the plenary session topics
and names of experts, see annex II).
68. Participants in the Symposium took the opportunity to exchange information
and experience and to develop coordinated activities and strategies in
solidarity with the Palestinian people. The participating non-governmental
organizations also elected a new coordinating committee based on a revised
structure that provides for rotation of half the membership every other year.
The report of the Symposium will be issued as a publication of the Division for
Palestinian Rights.
(d) European NGO Symposium and International NGO Meeting on the Question of
Palestine
69. In response to the wish expressed by NGO representatives participating in
the meeting of consultations with the Committee, the Committee decided to hold
the 1996 International NGO Meeting in the territory under the Palestinian
Authority. Subsequently, at the 222nd meeting of the Committee, on
31 July 1996, the Chairman informed the Committee that in a letter addressed to
Mr. Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority, he had requested that
the International NGO Meeting on the Question of Palestine be held in the
territory under the Palestinian Authority, seeking his concurrence for the
holding of the event. In his reply Mr. Arafat welcomed the convening of the
meeting in Gaza under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority and hoped that
it would have a significant and effective role to play in efforts to promote
assistance to the Palestinian people.
70. The Chairman of the Committee, in a letter addressed to the Chargé
d’affaires of the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations, after
explaining the important role of non-governmental organizations in enhancing
mutual understanding and relations between Israelis and Palestinians and in
promoting socio-economic development in the area under the Palestinian
-21-
Authority, sought the cooperation of the Government of Israel in certain
arrangements needed for the holding of the event in Gaza.
71. However, before receiving a reply from the Permanent Mission of Israel, the
Committee, having reviewed recent developments, concluded that the actual
situation prevailing in the Palestinian territory as a result of the Israeli
measures in violation of the agreements between the two sides and in particular
the restrictions imposed by the Government of Israel on freedom of movement
between the residents of Gaza and the West Bank and the isolation of the
Palestinian territory from the outside world would seriously hamper the
successful holding of the meeting and accordingly decided on 12 July 1996 to
hold it in Geneva from 2 to 4 September 1996.
72. Subsequently, on 19 July 1996 a note verbale was received from the
Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretariat
informing it of Israel’s negative position with regard to the holding of the
meeting. In its reply to the note verbale, the Permanent Observer Mission of
Palestine to the United Nations emphasized that the Israeli-Palestinian
agreements contained no provisions requiring Israeli consent to the holding of
the international non-governmental organization event in Gaza City.
73. The Committee was disappointed and even saddened by the Israeli reply,
which was not in line with the spirit of the peace process and ignored the
constructive position advanced by the Committee since the inception of that
process, as well as its efforts to promote dialogue and mutual understanding,
essential foundations for a real peace between peoples. The Committee was also
of the view that on the basis of the agreements reached thus far between the
parties, the holding of such an event in the area under the jurisdiction of the
Palestinian Authority did not require the consent of the Israeli Government,
although its cooperation in terms of ensuring free passage was needed. In view
of the importance of holding such meetings in the area under the Palestinian
Authority, the Committee hopes that cooperation by the Israeli Government will
be forthcoming in future as a significant confidence-building measure.
74. The International NGO Meeting/European NGO Symposium was attended by
21 experts and by representatives of 80 non-governmental organizations, 16 of
them as observers. It was also attended by representatives of 26 Governments,
9 United Nations agencies and bodies, 3 intergovernmental organizations, 4 NGO
coordinating committees and a delegation of Palestine.
75. The Committee was represented by a delegation composed of
Mr. Ibra Deguène Ka (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and head of delegation;
Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhadi (Afghanistan), Vice-Chairman; Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta),
Rapporteur of the Committee; Mr. Pedro Nuñez-Mosquera (Cuba); and
Mr. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
76. The programme for the meeting was formulated by the Committee taking into
account suggestions made by members of ICCP and ECCP at the consultations
between the Committee and NGO representatives held at New York on 1 and
2 February 1996 and in subsequent consultations with the chairpersons of both
ICCP and ECCP. The central theme of the combined meeting was "Building NGO
partnerships for a just and comprehensive settlement of the question of
Palestine".
77. At the opening session, a message from the Secretary-General was delivered
by his representative, Mr. Vladimir Petrovsky, Under-Secretary-General and
Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. Mr. Ibra Deguène Ka
-22-
spoke in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. A statement was made by
Mr. As’ad Abdul Rahman, Member of the Executive Committee of the PLO and
representative of Palestine. Statements were also made by Mr. Don Betz,
Chairman of ICCP, and Mr. John Gee, Chairman of ECCP.
78. The invited experts made presentations in three plenary sessions. (For the
plenary session and round-table topics and names of experts, see annex III.)
79. Participating non-governmental organizations adopted a statement in which
they welcomed the positive developments associated with the Middle East peace
process, but noted with great concern the repeated delays in the implementation
in the letter and spirit of the agreements. Certain measures by the Israeli
Government had created new, significant obstacles for the peace process, thus
undermining confidence and posing a genuine threat to securing a just and
lasting peace. The ongoing incarceration of Palestinian prisoners and detainees
was of great concern to the non-governmental organizations. They condemned the
intimidation and closure of Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem and strongly
denounced the Israeli acts of intimidation, humiliation and punishment of
Palestinians, including closures of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza,
travel restrictions, hampering the freedom of worship and preventing the free
movement of goods and people between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
80. The non-governmental organizations reiterated their support for the right
of the Palestinian people for self-determination, the right of return and to the
establishment of an independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its
capital. The United Nations should play a key role in reaching a negotiated
settlement. Non-governmental organizations requested that countries hosting
Palestinian refugees observe and preserve their civil, social and political
rights until they were allowed to exercise their right of return. The
international community should fulfil the commitments undertaken to assist the
Palestinian people’s efforts in nation-building and political, economic and
social development. The United States of America and the European Union (EU)
were requested to urge Israel to comply with the concluded agreements. The
non-governmental organizations congratulated the Palestinian Authority for the
conduct of the first elections and reaffirmed their support for the
consolidation of the rule of law, democratic values, political pluralism and the
full enjoyment of the inalienable rights by the Palestinian people.
81. The non-governmental organizations declared their obligation to lobby their
respective Governments and to register their concern regarding Israel’s
compliance with concluded agreements. Non-governmental organizations were
called upon to make concerted efforts to publicize any Israeli violation of
Palestinian human rights. The participating organizations urged the development
of Israeli-Palestinian NGO cooperation, based on mutual understanding and
commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. The non-governmental
organizations would seek to generate public support for the Palestinian people
through campaigns around the themes of the future of Jerusalem, Israeli
settlements and their expansion in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip, and the Palestinian refugees’ right of return. The report of the meeting
will be issued as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
2. Research, monitoring and publications
82. The Committee continued to attach great importance to the essential
contribution of the Division for Palestinian Rights as a centre for research,
-23-
monitoring, the preparation of studies and the collection and dissemination of
information on all issues related to the question of Palestine, and requested
the Division to continue its programme of publications, in consultation with the
Committee.
83. The Committee considered that the studies, bulletins, information notes,
reports and other material published by the Division should focus on the
priority issues to be addressed by the Committee in 1996 in order to enhance
their usefulness at that important stage.
84. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Division for Palestinian
Rights, in accordance with its mandate, continued to respond to requests for
information and to prepare and disseminate the following publications:
(a) Monthly bulletins covering action by the Committee, other United
Nations organs, organizations and agencies, as well as intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations and others on the question of Palestine,
containing the texts of the relevant resolutions, statements and decisions;
(b) The periodic bulletin, "Developments related to the Middle East peace
process", containing information on the peace process and the multilateral
negotiations on the Middle East regional issues;
(c) A monthly chronological summary of events relating to the question of
Palestine, based on media reports and other sources;
(d) Reports of seminars and NGO meetings organized under the auspices of
the Committee;
(e) A special bulletin on the commemoration, in 1995, of the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(f) A compilation of relevant resolutions, decisions and statements
adopted in 1995 by the General Assembly and the Security Council relating to the
question of Palestine.
85. The Committee noted with appreciation that, in response to the request made
by the Committee, the Division had completed the first draft of a study on
Jerusalem, and that it would continue its work on a draft study on Israeli
settlements.
3. United Nations information system on the question
of Palestine
86. The Committee noted that the Division, in cooperation with relevant
technical services of the Secretariat, had completed the initial stages and had
made substantial progress in the development of the United Nations information
system on the question of Palestine, as mandated by the General Assembly at the
Committee’s request. This included the acquisition of the necessary hardware
and software, the inclusion in the system of a comprehensive collection of
current United Nations documents and some other documentation and the
establishment of a database of accredited non-governmental organizations, and
other initiatives of the Division in making full use of this electronic facility
in its monitoring, research and other activities. The Committee also noted that
a public replica of the system had been established and was now available to
outside users, and that the Division was making efforts to place some of its
-24-
documentation on the Internet. While pleased with these developments, the
Committee noted that the initial mandate of the system had been given by the
General Assembly in 1991 and that it was now urgent to proceed to include in the
system all the major documents relevant to the question of Palestine since its
inception, with particular priority to be given to documents relating to the
final status issues, and to make the system as user-friendly and as widely
available as possible.
4. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
87. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was
observed on 29 November 1995 at Headquarters and at the United Nations Offices
at Geneva and Vienna. On the occasion of the observance, in addition to other
activities, an exhibit by Palestinian artists in the occupied territory entitled
"Generations" was provided at Headquarters by the Permanent Observer Mission of
Palestine to the United Nations and presented under the auspices of the
Committee. The Committee noted with appreciation that the International Day had
also been observed in many other cities throughout the world. Details on the
observance are contained in the special bulletin issued by the Division.
88. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee decided that a similar
commemorative programme would be organized in connection with the observance in
1996.
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VI. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 50/84 C
89. Worldwide dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information remains
of vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people.
90. The General Assembly considers the special information programme on the
question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information very useful in
raising the awareness of the international community concerning the complexities
of the question and the situation in the Middle East in general, including the
achievements of the peace process. The programme contributes effectively to an
atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace process.
91. Within this framework, the General Assembly requested the Department, in
full cooperation and coordination with the Committee, to continue, with the
necessary flexibility as may be required by developments affecting the question
of Palestine, its special information programme on the question of Palestine for
the biennium 1996-1997, with particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and
North America.
92. The resolution identifies six particular areas of activity the Department
is to focus upon in carrying out its assignment relative to the programme. It
is within those parameters that the Committee reports on the activities of the
Department.
Dissemination of information
93. The resolution requested the dissemination of information on all the
activities of the United Nations system relating to the question of Palestine,
including reports on the work carried out by the relevant United Nations
organizations.
94. The Department continued to provide press coverage of meetings held at
Headquarters of United Nations bodies dealing with the question of Palestine and
coverage of seminars and symposia of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People convened away from Headquarters.
95. Different methods were used by the Department to provide for this
dissemination. These include press releases and briefings, publications and
radio news bulletins and feature programmes. In addition, the Department’s
Dissemination Unit has responded to a number of requests for information and
utilized the Internet and e-mail to disseminate material.
96. The Department’s Public Inquiries Unit responded to 465 requests for
information concerning Middle East issues, including the question of Palestine.
During the same period, the Department’s Group Programme Unit organized eight
briefings for a total audience of 251.
97. The Department’s Dissemination Unit distributed 75 titles on the Palestine
issue to more than 200 recipients around the world, on the Internet, by e-mail
or as hard copies. The materials were disseminated in English and French.
98. The department’s NGO Section continued to disseminate information materials
through the NGO Resources Centre. The global network of United Nations
information centres and services actively promoted the central issue relating to
-26-
the question of Palestine, organizing media activities and special events and
regularly disseminating relevant information materials made available from
Headquarters.
99. Information centres and services in Amman, Cairo, Jakarta, Madrid, New
Delhi, Sana’a and Tokyo gave special attention to the question of Palestine
through articles in their newsletters, in addition to ensuring the dissemination
of press releases, backgrounders and statements by the Secretary-General and
other officials. These activities generated local media coverage and resulted
in increased requests for information on the Middle East question at some
information centre libraries.
100. The Committee has taken positive note of this effort. The continued
evolution of developments is demanding and requires an enhancement of present
structures in order to carry out the obligations as set out in resolution
50/84 C. Through such change one could assure not only wider dissemination and
better use of the electronic media available but also assure in this process the
promptness and comprehensive information the public in general and the media and
non-governmental organizations in particular are accustomed to in this day and
age.
Publications
101. The General Assembly requested the Department to continue to issue and
update publications on various aspects of the question of Palestine in all
fields, including materials concerning the recent developments in that regard
and, in particular, the achievements of the peace process.
102. The quarterly UN Chronicle has continued its comprehensive coverage of
Palestinian issues, including relevant General Assembly and Security Council
actions, as well as special meetings, symposia and seminars.
103. The publication "The United Nations and the Question of Palestine",
continues to be a comprehensive historical source of information. This
publication and the poster "Self-Determination: An Inalienable Right of the
Palestinian People" were available in Arabic, English, French, German, Russian
and Spanish. The publication was also disseminated in Chinese. The Department
has also initiated the updating for 1997 of a new edition of that brochure.
104. The Committee feels that utilization of the facilities provided by modern
electronic media in the manipulation of text could facilitate the production of
new publications, which, other than providing the historical perspective, focus
on the new avenues that are part and parcel of the success of the peace process.
Material submitted by participants in symposia and seminars organized by the
Committee, which include statesmen, parliamentarians, academics, journalists and
other key figures active in the field, could provide the raw material to produce
those materials concerning the recent developments and in particular the
achievements of the peace process which the General Assembly called for in its
resolution.
Audio-visual material
105. The Department’s Radio and Central News Service provided a wide range of
coverage on the question of Palestine and related issues in daily news
bulletins, weekly news magazines and feature programmes in official and
non-official languages for worldwide dissemination.
-27-
106. Some of the highlights covered in the news bulletins and news magazines
included the successful holding of the Palestinian elections; the Secretary-
General’s meeting with Yasser Arafat, President of the Executive Authority of
the Palestinian Council; the negative effects of the closure of the West Bank
and the Gaza Strip on the Palestinian people; the report of the United Nations
Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Palestine and the opening of UNRWA
headquarters in the Gaza Strip; the United Nations seminar focusing on building
the Palestinian economy; the new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
projects in the occupied territories; and a feature on a Palestinian woman
setting up a business in the West Bank.
107. A number of other topics given extensive coverage were the observance of
the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, seminars and
symposia of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People, as well as meetings of the Committee, the Security Council,
the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council as they dealt with the
question of Palestine.
108. In addition, the Central News Service produced five feature programmes
exclusively devoted to the question of Palestine, namely, "Challenges of Peace
in the Palestinian Question" (Arabic); "Updated Review of the Palestinian
Question in General Assembly’s discussion of the UNRWA Report" (Arabic);
"Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in the Light of
New Realities in the Current Phase of the Peace Process" (Arabic); "UNRWA:
45 Years of Service to Palestinian Refugees" (French); and "UNRWA as a Crucial
Element in the Success of the Peace Process" (Russian).
109. "World Chronicle", the 30-minute panel discussion video programme, featured
Ambassador Ilter Türkmen, Commissioner-General of UNRWA. Ambassador Türkmen
reviewed the achievements of the Agency and discussed its future in the light of
recent developments in the Middle East.
110. A Japanese language version of the video "Palestine 1890s-1990s" was
produced by the United Nations information centre in Tokyo for local screening.
111. The Committee recognizes the distinct effort made by the Department’s Radio
and Central News Service. The service provided in the audio media has been
effective and prompt. There exists a quantitative imbalance in audio and video
productions that goes beyond the disproportion that it is customary to assume in
view of the different cost of production. That imbalance is magnified by the
greater dependence world public opinion has on visual media. The Committee is
convinced that the Department will take the necessary steps in the course of the
biennium to address the imbalance in order to remedy it.
Fact-finding news missions
112. The General Assembly requested the Department as part of its special
programme to organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists to
the area, including the territories under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian
Authority and the occupied territories.
113. The Committee notes that no such missions were carried out during the
period under review contrary to previous years. Since the signing of the 1993
Declaration of Principles, this aspect of the Department’s special information
programme on the question of Palestine should be strengthened.
-28-
114. Undoubtedly the Department’s role as point of reference for the
international media in the region suffers if a vacuum is allowed to persist in
this regard. As was evident during the key events that have marked the period
under review, the international media have been present in the region and have
focused on aspects that are of immediate news value. The purpose of factfinding
missions would be that of providing accurate and comprehensive
information that is vital and conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace
process.
Encounters for journalists
115. The Department of Public Information was requested by the General Assembly
to organize international, regional and national encounters for journalists.
116. The Department organized a number of meetings for journalists, in
particular in preparation for or on the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People.
117. These meetings do not fall in any of the three types of encounters called
for by the resolution however. The General Assembly also requested the
Department to continue its specialized programme, with particular emphasis on
public opinion in Europe and North America. The Committee notes that in the
period under review, no national, regional or international encounters were
organized as had been customary in the past.
118. Noting this, the Committee emphasizes the need for all aspects of the
General Assembly resolution and its specific requests to be implemented.
Assistance in the field of Palestinian media development
119. The General Assembly requested the Department to provide, in cooperation
with specialized agencies of the United Nations system, in particular the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), assistance
to the Palestinian people in the field of media development.
120. The United Nations information centre in Paris has participated in talks
with UNESCO and the European Journalists’ Training School’s Association on the
development and organization of training courses for Palestinian journalists.
121. The Department is again organizing in the autumn of 1996 a training
programme for media practitioners along the lines of the successful one
introduced by the Department in autumn 1995.
122. The 1996 programme enabled 10 Palestinian journalists to come to
Headquarters from 15 September to 8 November 1996. Their programme included,
among other things, briefings by officials of the United Nations and its
specialized agencies, as well as by representatives of media organizations in
the United States; a skills training internship at CNN headquarters at Atlanta;
two weeks of special classes at the Columbia University School of International
and Public Affairs; and on-the-job training serving as temporary United Nations
correspondents, covering United Nations meetings and activities on behalf of
their media organizations.
-29-
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
123. The Department cooperated at Headquarters with the Department of Political
Affairs in media promotion and other arrangements for the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
124. The annual observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People provided several information centres with an opportunity to
extend their outreach efforts to include resident Palestinian communities.
125. The United Nations information centre in Moscow, in cooperation with the
Foreign Ministry, organized a meeting of high-level officials, Arab ambassadors,
non-governmental organizations and the media, and arranged for an exhibition of
UNRWA photographs and relevant public information materials. The United Nations
information centre in New Delhi disseminated the backgrounder on the annual
observance in local languages. The United Nations information centre in Lagos
organized a commemorative ceremony dealing with issues of peace and development,
in cooperation with the Arab group of ambassadors in Nigeria and with the
participation of more than 400 people. The United Nations information centre in
Tripoli, in cooperation with the Embassy of Palestine in the Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya, members of the diplomatic corps, non-governmental organizations and
the Palestinian community in Tripoli, celebrated the Day with a cultural
programme.
Media relations and logistical support
126. Three information centres provided media relations and logistical support
for major seminars dealing with the question of Palestine.
127. The United Nations information centre in Cairo lent such support for a
seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people in connection with the visit of
representatives of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices
Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the
Occupied Territories and for a three-day seminar on building the Palestinian
economy organized by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People.
128. The United Nations information centre in Paris, at the request of the
Division for Palestinian Rights, assisted with arrangements for a United Nations
seminar on Palestinian administrative, managerial and financial needs and
challenges.
Concluding remarks
129. The Committee has noted the efforts undertaken by the Department over the
past year. It appreciates the results but notes that some important aspects of
the resolution with regard to the special information programme have yet to be
implemented. The requests made by the General Assembly to the Department need
to be borne in mind in an assessment of performance.
130. A more regular and structured process of cooperation and coordination of
the Department with the Committee, as called for by the resolution, should
assist in identifying and overcoming difficulties that may be encountered in the
organization of specific events and thus ensure full implementation of the
provisions of General Assembly resolution 50/84 C.
-30-
131. In view of this need, two meetings were held during the period under review
between members of the Bureau and senior officials of the Department, in which
the officials stated that constraints imposed by diminished resources had
influenced the review of all the programmes that fall under the responsibility
of the Department, including that related to the question of Palestine.
However, it was agreed that more regular consultations between the Committee and
the Department would be beneficial in identifying the most efficient manner to
utilize existing resources in order to implement all aspects of the resolution
during the current biennium.
132. The Committee welcomes the Chairman’s report about his discussions with the
Department of Public Information and the assurance that he has already put in
place a process of full implementation of relevant General Assembly resolutions
in full cooperation and consultation between the Bureau of the Committee and the
Department to prepare the information programme for the coming year.
-31-
VII. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
133. The past year was one of great hopes and great disappointments, as the
enthusiasm generated by the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip of September 1995 and the first Palestinian election,
which followed the Israeli redeployment from six West Bank towns and a number of
villages, gave way to feelings of despair over the very future of the peace
process in view of the renewed cycle of violence in the area, delays in the
implementation of the agreements reached, the prolonged closure of the
territories, with its grave economic consequences, and the resumption of the
policy of settlements.
134. Believing that there is no peaceful alternative to the negotiations
courageously undertaken by the parties, the Committee considers it essential for
the international community to intensify its efforts in support of the historic
process of reconciliation between the two sides and for the effective
implementation of the agreements reached and for the resumption of all aspects
of the negotiations on the agreed basis. The Committee notes that the year 1997
will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the military occupation of the
Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem, an occupation that still continues
over most of the Palestinian land despite the historic achievements of the peace
process. Fifty years will have elapsed since the adoption by the General
Assembly of resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 partitioning mandated
Palestine; 10 years since the beginning of the intifada, the Palestinian
uprising, which through the sacrifice of many young people helped create the
conditions for progress in the peace efforts. These milestones in the long
history of the Palestinian struggle for the attainment of their inalienable
national rights are a measure of the long road that still remains to be
travelled and provide an impetus for intensified international action in the
year to come.
135. The Committee reaffirms that the United Nations has a permanent
responsibility with respect to the question of Palestine until a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement is reached. The Committee reiterates that the
involvement of the United Nations in the peace process, both as the guardian of
international legitimacy and in the mobilization and provision of international
assistance, is essential for the successful outcome of the peace efforts. As
the organ of the General Assembly established to deal with the question of
Palestine, the Committee believes that its own role continues to be useful and
necessary during the transitional period and until a satisfactory final
settlement is achieved.
136. The Committee reaffirms that such a settlement must be based on Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the withdrawal of Israel from the
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied
since 1967, the principle of exchange of land for peace and the exercise by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, in particular the right to selfdetermination.
The Committee also insists that, during the interim period,
Israel must recognize and respect its obligations as the occupying Power under
the Fourth Geneva Convention.
137. The Committee calls in particular for an end to the policy and practice of
settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, which is
in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, prejudges the final status
negotiations by creating facts on the ground and is therefore contrary to the
-32-
letter and the spirit of the agreements between the parties, and poses a grave
threat to the future of the peace process.
138. Noting that the tragic clashes between Palestinians and Israelis in
September 1996 began with protest demonstrations over Israel’s archaeological
excavations in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Committee reaffirms the particular
status of the City in accordance with several United Nations resolutions. The
Committee recalls that the Security Council has repeatedly affirmed that all
measures altering the geographical, demographic and historical character and
status of the Holy City are null and void and must be rescinded.
139. While remaining firm on these positions of principle, the Committee has
continued to make adjustments in its approach and programme of work, taking into
account the new realities, in order to make a concrete contribution to promoting
the implementation of the agreements reached and to mobilize international
assistance to the Palestinian people. The Committee invites the General
Assembly once again to recognize the importance of its role and to reconfirm its
mandate with overwhelming support.
140. The Committee wishes to express its great appreciation to those States
which have supported its work and facilitated the organization of events held
under the Committee’s auspices by providing venues and participating in the
debates. The Committee believes that, in the light of the new situation and the
constructive position of the Committee reflected in its programme of work, the
time has come for all States to recognize the valuable contribution that it can
make as a forum for dialogue, analysis, exchange of expertise, mobilization of
public opinion and action in support of the peace efforts and the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people, as well as their socio-economic development.
The Committee considers that a broadening of its membership to include countries
that support its objectives but have not hitherto participated in its work,
would greatly enhance the contribution of the General Assembly to promoting
peace at this important stage.
141. The Committee considers that its programme of seminars in the different
regions has played a useful role in informing and mobilizing public opinion,
promoting exchange of experience and expertise between participants from the
various regions and Palestinians and Israelis and in promoting increased
involvement by Governments in the search for a just and comprehensive solution
of the conflict. The annual convening of a seminar devoted specifically to
issues related to the economic and social challenges facing the Palestinian
people during the transitional period has proved very useful and the Committee
intends to continue this practice in order to give the international donor
community, including United Nations bodies and agencies, the opportunity to
exchange views with representatives of the Palestinian Authority and
internationally renowned experts on relevant issues.
142. In view of the current serious situation in the occupied Palestinian
territories, including Jerusalem, the Committee intends to encourage renewed,
intensified efforts by non-governmental organizations to organize and coordinate
sustained campaigns to inform public opinion and to promote national and
international action in support of United Nations resolutions and the
Committee’s objectives. It plans to continue its programme of NGO meetings in
the various regions with a view to providing the NGO constituency with periodic
analysis of political developments, a forum for an exchange of views and
experience, as well as for planning and coordinating specific NGO activities.
Encouraging mutual information and cooperation and enlarging the NGO network
remain important goals for the Committee. Noting the continued desire of
-33-
non-governmental organizations to hold a future meeting in the area under the
jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, the Committee reiterates its call to
the Government of Israel not to interfere in a negative manner in this endeavour
as an important confidence-building measure.
143. The Committee emphasizes the essential contribution of the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat as a centre for research, monitoring, the
preparation of studies and the collection and dissemination of information on
all issues related to the question of Palestine. The Committee requests the
Division to continue its programme of publications, in consultation with the
Committee, and to pay particular attention to finalizing the proposed study on
settlements during the coming year. The Committee notes with appreciation the
further progress made by the Division in developing the United Nations computerbased
information system on the question of Palestine and in making it available
to users, including the establishment of a home page on the Internet, and calls
for intensified efforts to include all relevant documentation in the system,
including, if necessary, the redeployment of funds from lower-priority
activities in the Division’s budget.
144. Noting further the successful introduction in the Division of a pilot
project for the training of staff of the Palestinian Authority in the workings
of the United Nations system, the Committee requests the Division to continue
this exercise in the future.
145. The Committee will continue to strive to achieve maximum effectiveness in
the implementation of its mandate and to adjust its work programme in the light
of developments, in order to continue to contribute, to the extent possible, to
the realization of the common United Nations objective of achieving a just and
lasting solution to the question of Palestine.
Notes
1 Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 47/1 of 22 September 1992, the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) did not participate in
the work of the Committee.
2 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
3 Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35); ibid., Thirtythird
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35); ibid., Thirty-fourth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fifth Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/35/35); ibid., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/36/35);
ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/37/35 and Corr.1); ibid.,
Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35); ibid., Thirty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/39/35); ibid., Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/40/35); ibid., Forty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); ibid.,
Forty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/42/35); ibid., Forty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/45/35); ibid.,
Forty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35); ibid., Forty-seventh Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/47/35); ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/48/35); ibid., Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/49/35); and ibid.,
Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/50/35).
4 A/AC.183/1995/CRP.1.
-34-
5 The observers at the Committee meetings were as follows: Algeria,
Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka,
Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, the League of Arab States
and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Palestine, represented by the
PLO, as the representative of the Palestinian people, was also an observer.
6 The membership of the Working Group was as follows: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Guinea, Guyana, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey,
Ukraine and Palestine, represented by the PLO, as the representative of the
people directly concerned.
7 GA/PAL/734.
8 S/1996/257.
9 See S/PV.3652 (Resumption).
10 S/1996/667.
11 S/1996/790.
12 S/1996/792.
13 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1996, Supplement
No. 6 (E/1996/26), chap. I, sect. C.
14 Ibid., Supplement No. 3 (E/1996/23).
15 S/1996/802, annex.
16 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fiftieth Session,
Supplement No. 6 (A/50/6/Rev.1), vol. I, part II, sect. 2.
-35-
ANNEX I
United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People,
held in Cairo from 21 to 23 May 1996
1. The programme for the seminar began with a plenary session on "Building the
Palestinian economy - challenges and prospects". Statements were made by a
Palestinian keynote speaker, Mr. Zuhdi Nashashibi, Minister of Finance of the
Palestinian Authority, President of the Palestine National Fund, United Nations
agencies and bodies, donor countries and other government representatives,
intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations.
2. Subsequently, four round-table discussions, moderated by experts, were
conducted, as follows:
(a) International assistance to the Palestinian people - experience and
perspective: Palestinian institutions; United Nations programmes;
Multilateral channels of assistance; Bilateral assistance;
International and regional cooperation
Mr. Robert Z. Lawrence, Professor of International Trade, Institute
for Social and Economic Policy in the Middle East, Harvard University
(Moderator)
Mr. Odin G. Knudsen, representative of the World Bank in the West Bank
and Gaza
Ms. Ghania Malhees, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of the
Economy, Trade and Industry, Palestinian Authority
Mr. Nabil El Sharif, Deputy Managing Director, Palestinian Economic
Council for Development and Reconstruction (PECDAR), Gaza, Director,
Palestinian Water Authority
Mr. Henry Siegman, Director, US/Middle East Project, and Senior
Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, New York
Mr. Geoffrey Haley, Aid Coordinator for Technical Assistance, Office
of the European Union to the West Bank and Gaza
(b) Trade sector: Implementation of the Israeli-Palestinian economic
agreements; Trade prospects with Arab countries; Bilateral trade
agreements
Mr. James Duesenberry, Professor, John F. Kennedy School of
Government, Harvard University (Moderator)
Mr. Robert Z. Lawrence, Professor of International Trade, Institute
for Social and Economic Policy in the Middle East, Harvard University
Mr. Samir Huleileh, Assistant Deputy Minister of Trade, Ministry of
the Economy, Trade and Industry, Palestinian Authority
Mr. Hanspeter Tschäni, trade policy expert, Swiss Trade Initiative for
the Middle East and North Africa (STIMENA), former Head, Trade
Division, European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
-36-
Mr. Jean-Michel Dumont, Secretary-General, Parliamentary Association
for Euro-Arab Cooperation
Mr. Taha Abdel Aleem, Deputy Director, El Ahram Centre for Strategic
Studies
Mr. Yousef Mahmoud Najem, Palestine Chamber of Commerce, Gaza Strip
(c) The role of financial institutions: Palestinian monetary
institutions; reinvesting private deposits; promotion of small
business
Mr. Hanspeter Tschäni, trade policy expert, STIMENA, former Head,
Trade Division, EFTA (Moderator)
Mr. Ahmad Mashal, Head, Research Department, Palestinian Monetary
Authority
Mr. James Duesenberry, Professor, John F. Kennedy School of
Government, Harvard University
Mr. Mahmoud Ahmed Al Takruri, Deputy Regional Manager, Cairo-Amman
Bank, West Bank
Mr. Said Hammoud, Secretary, Founding Committee, Salam International
Investment
(d) The housing sector: short-, middle- and long-term policies and needs;
role of the public sector; involvement of the private sector;
financial policies and incentives; and employment opportunities
Mr. Khaled Abdel Shafie, Head, UNDP Office, Gaza (Moderator)
Mr. Marwan Abdul Hamid, Assistant Deputy Minister of Housing and
Public Works, Palestinian Authority
Mr. James Ryan, Chairman, Shahrazad Homes
Mr. Ali Sha’at, Assistant Deputy Minister of Planning and
International Cooperation, Palestinian Authority
Mr. Walid Hasna, Chief Engineer, UNDP Programme of Assistance to the
Palestinian People (PAPP)
Mr. Milad Hanna, writer, former Chairman, Committee on Housing and
Construction, Egyptian Parliament
Mr. Mohamed M. Ziara, Director-General, Ministry of Housing and Public
Works, Palestinian Authority
-37-
ANNEX II
United Nations North American NGO Symposium on the Question
of Palestine, held in New York from 24 to 26 June 1996
1. The plenary sessions of the Symposium discussed the issues of selfdetermination
and state-building, Palestine refugees and displaced persons, and
Jerusalem. Following are the names of experts who took part in the discussions:
(a) Self-determination, state-building - opportunities and obstacles
Mr. Izzat Abdul-Hadi, Director, Bisan Centre for Research and
Development, Ramallah, West Bank
Ms. Samia Khoury, President, Rawdat Al-Zuhur Women’s Organization,
Representative of Palestinian Network of NGOs, Jerusalem
Mr. Larry Ekin, Chairman, North American Coordinating Committee for
NGOs on the Question of Palestine
(b) Palestine refugees and displaced persons
Mr. Salim Tamari, Professor of Sociology, Director, Institute of
Jerusalem Studies, Bir Zeit University, delegate to the multilateral
peace negotiations on refugees
Mr. Andrew Robinson, Director-General, Middle East Peace Process
Coordination Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade, Canada
Ms. Rosemary Sayigh, anthropologist, author, independent researcher,
Beirut, Lebanon
Mr. Don Peretz, Professor Emeritus, Binghamton University, New York
Mr. William Lee, Chief, UNRWA Liaison Office, New York
(c) Jerusalem
Mr. Ziad Abu Zayyad, Member, Palestinian Council, Jerusalem District,
journalist, editor and publisher of the Palestine-Israel Journal
Mr. Moshe Maoz, Professor in History of the Middle East, Director,
Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace,
Hebrew University
Mr. Ibrahim Mattar, Deputy Director, America Near East Refugee Aid
(ANERA), Jerusalem
Mr. Stephen Zunes, Professor of Politics, University of San Francisco,
California
2. The workshops addressed the following topics: building civil society; NGO
work and developments and the current and continuing political changes;
opportunities for development; the peace process and the diaspora community;
work and cooperation between refugees and non-governmental organizations;
Jerusalem: the closure and shifting borders; and the future of Jerusalem.
-38-
ANNEX III
United Nations European NGO Symposium and International
NGO Meeting on the Question of Palestine, held at Geneva
from 2 to 4 September 1996
1. The plenary and round-table discussions focused on the recent developments,
key issues of a just and comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine,
and building NGO partnerships for a just and comprehensive settlement. The
following experts participated in the discussions:
(a) Recent political developments
1. The status of the implementation of the concluded agreements
Mr. Ziad Abu Amr, Member, Palestinian Council
2. Israeli elections and Israeli public opinion
Mr. Azmi Bishara, Member, Knesset (National Democratic Assembly)
Mr. Yossi Katz, Member, Knesset (Labour Party)
3. Arab and international reaction to the recent political
developments
Mr. Ahmed Hamroush, President, Egyptian Committee for Solidarity
Mr. Michael Hindley, Member, European Parliament (Socialist
Party), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(b) Key issues of a just and comprehensive settlement
1. Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory
Mr. Sharif S. Elmusa, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for
Palestine Studies, Washington, D.C.
Ms. Zahaba Galón, Secretary-General, Ratz
Mr. Geoffrey Aronson, Editor, Foundation for Middle East Peace,
Washington, D.C.
Mr. Jan de Jong, geographer, planning consultant, St. Yves Legal
Resource and Development Centre, Jerusalem
-39-
2. Palestine refugees and displaced persons
Mr. Rashid Khalidi, Professor of Middle East History and
Director, Center for International Studies, Chicago University
Mr. Avishai Margalit, Professor of Philosophy, Hebrew University,
Jerusalem
Mr. Leonard Hausman, Director, Institute for Social and Economic
Policy in the Middle East, John F. Kennedy School of Government,
Harvard University
3. Jerusalem
Mr. Albert Aghazarian, Director for Public Relations, Bir Zeit
University
Mr. Gershon Baskin, Co-Director, Israel/Palestine Centre for
Research and Information, Jerusalem
Mr. David Andrews, Spokesman of Fianna Fail for Tourism and
Trade, Member of Dail Eriann, former Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Ireland
Mr. Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos, Member, European Parliament
(European People’s Party), Greece
(c) Building non-governmental organization partnerships for a just and
comprehensive settlement
1. Defining priorities and implementing action plans
Mr. Marai Abdul Rahman, Secretary-General, Palestine Committee
for Non-Governmental Organizations, Director-General, Arab and
International Relations Department, PLO
Mr. Michael Warschawski, Director, Alternative Information
Centre, Jerusalem
Mr. Mustafa Barghouthi, Director, Health Development Information
Project, Jerusalem
Mr. Don Betz, Chairman, International Coordinating Committee for
Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine
Mr. John Gee, Chairman, European Coordinating Committee for NGOs
on the Question of Palestine.
2. In addition to the plenary sessions, a number of workshops were held
concurrently for participants interested in developing specific action-oriented
proposals. The workshop topics were linked to those addressed in the plenary
sessions.
-----
-40-
A/52/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records · Fifty-second Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/52/35)
A/52/35
Report of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records · Fifty-second Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/52/35)
United Nations · New York, 1997
NOTE
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
[Original: English]
[10 November 1997]
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL .................................................. v
I. INTRODUCTION ......................................... 1 - 6 1
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE ............................. 7 - 10 3
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK ................................. 11 - 13 4
A. Election of officers ............................. 11 - 12 4
B. Re-establishment of the Working Group ............ 13 4
IV. REVIEW OF THE SITUATION RELATING TO THE QUESTION OF
PALESTINE ............................................ 14 - 30 5
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE ........................ 31 - 107 9
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 51/23 ................................. 31 - 65 9
1. Reaction to developments affecting the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people . 31 - 58 9
2. Attendance at international conferences and
meetings ..................................... 59 - 64 13
3. Action taken by United Nations bodies, the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and
intergovernmental organizations .............. 65 14
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions 51/23 and 51/24 ............. 66 - 107 15
1. Seminars and meetings of non-governmental
organizations ................................ 74 - 97 16
2. Research, monitoring and publications ........ 98 - 100 19
3. United Nations Information System on the
Question of Palestine ........................ 101 - 102 20
4. Training programme for staff of the
Palestinian Authority ........................ 103 - 105 21
5. International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People ........................... 106 - 107 21
-iiiCONTENTS
(continued)
Paragraphs Page
VI. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 51/25 . 108 - 123 22
VII. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ..................... 124 - 138 25
-ivLETTER
OF TRANSMITTAL
5 November 1997
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to
the General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 5 of its resolution 51/23 of
4 December 1996.
The report covers the period from 15 November 1996 to 5 November 1997.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Ibra Deguène KA
Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary-General of the United Nations
-vI.
INTRODUCTION
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly in its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, in which the Assembly requested the Committee to consider and
recommend to it a programme designed to enable the Palestinian people to
exercise its inalienable rights as recognized by the Assembly in resolution
3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974. During the reporting period, the Committee
continued to be composed of 23 Member States, as follows: Afghanistan, Belarus,
Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic
Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Yugoslavia.1
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the
General Assembly2 were endorsed by the Assembly in resolution 31/20 of
24 November 1976 as a basis for the solution to the question of Palestine. In
its subsequent reports3 the Committee has continued to stress that a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the core
of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions and the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel
from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and
from the other occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in
the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized
boundaries; and the recognition and exercise of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination.
3. The Committee has welcomed the signing in September 1993 of the Declaration
of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by Israel and the
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (A/48/486-S/26560, annex), and
subsequent implementation agreements, in particular the Israeli-Palestinian
Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip of 28 September 1995,
signed in Washington, D.C., which provided for phased withdrawal of Israeli
forces and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, as important steps
towards the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the
question of Palestine based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
338 (1973).
4. In the course of the year, the Committee followed closely the developments
in the region. It noted that some progress had been made early in the year on
the Protocol concerning the Redeployment in Hebron and the Note for the Record
setting out a mutual understanding by the parties in implementation of the
Protocol. The Committee welcomed the release of the Palestinian women
prisoners.
5. The Committee was, however, increasingly concerned at the ongoing
deterioration of the situation and the intensification of violence and tension
on the ground. The Committee expressed its great concern that the
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations faced serious setbacks owing to the position of
the Government of Israel on the various aspects of the peace process. In
particular, the Committee was alarmed by the position of the Government of
Israel on the question of Jerusalem, especially the establishment of a new
settlement in Jabal Abu Ghneim, the growing threat to Palestinian residency
rights in Jerusalem, the continued expansion of settlements in general, the
confiscation of Arab land, the demolition of Palestinian houses and the
prolonged closure of the Palestinian territory (see chap. IV below).
-1-
6. As the organ of the General Assembly dealing with the question of
Palestine, the Committee continued to make all efforts to promote a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question in accordance with
international legitimacy, and participated actively in meetings of the Security
Council, the General Assembly and other international forums convened for this
purpose.
-2-
II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE
7. The mandate of the Committee for the year 1997 is contained in paragraphs 2
to 7 of General Assembly resolution 51/23 of 4 December 1996, in which,
inter alia, the Assembly:
(a) Considered that the Committee could continue to make a valuable and
positive contribution to international efforts to promote the effective
implementation of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the
Palestinian people during the transitional period, endorsed the recommendations
of the Committee and requested it to continue to keep under review the situation
relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the
Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate;
(b) Authorized the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote
the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and to report
thereon to the Assembly at its fifty-second session and thereafter;
(c) Requested the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation to
non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening
international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine.
8. In its resolution 51/24 of 4 December 1996, the General Assembly considered
that the Division for Palestinian Rights continued to make a useful and
constructive contribution through the organization of seminars and meetings of
non-governmental organizations, as well as through, inter alia, its research and
monitoring activities, and the collection and dissemination of information in
printed and electronic form on all issues pertaining to the question of
Palestine. The Assembly requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide
the Division with the necessary resources, including for the further development
of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine.
9. In its resolution 51/25 of 4 December 1996, on the special information
programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information,
the General Assembly noted that several defined provisions of that programme
were yet to be implemented, and stressed the importance of implementation of all
provisions of the programme.
10. In carrying out its programme of work, the Committee also took into account
General Assembly resolution 51/26 of 4 December 1996, in which the Assembly,
inter alia, reaffirmed the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine, in all its aspects, and expressed its full support for
the ongoing peace process, which began in Madrid and the Declaration of
Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements4 of 1993, as well as the
subsequent implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim
Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip of 1995, and expressed the hope
that the process would lead to the establishment of a comprehensive, just and
lasting peace in the Middle East.
-3-
III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A. Election of officers
11. At its 227th meeting, on 19 February 1997, the Committee re-elected
Mr. Ibra Deguène Ka (Senegal) as Chairman, and re-elected
Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhadi (Afghanistan) and Mr. Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla
(Cuba) as Vice-Chairmen.
12. At its 228th meeting, on 14 April 1997, the Committee elected
Mr. George Saliba (Malta) as Rapporteur.
B. Re-establishment of the Working Group
13. At its 227th meeting, on 19 February 1997, the Committee re-established its
Working Group in order to assist in the preparation and expedition of the work
of the Committee, on the understanding that any Committee member or observer
could participate in its deliberations.5 The Working Group was constituted
under the chairmanship of Mr. George Saliba (Malta) and Mr. Syed Akbaruddin
(India) as Vice-Chairman.6 At the same meeting, the Committee adopted its
programme of work for 1997.7
-4-
IV. REVIEW OF THE SITUATION RELATING TO THE QUESTION
OF PALESTINE
14. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee continued to keep under
review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to exert all
efforts to promote the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
rights.
15. The Committee also continued to monitor the situation in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the developments in the peace
process on an ongoing basis through the media and the reports of United Nations
entities, as well as through the information provided by non-governmental
organizations, individual experts and participants in meetings held under the
auspices of the Committee.
16. The Committee followed closely the developments in the Middle East peace
process. The Committee welcomed the signing by the parties on 15 January 1997
of the Protocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron and the Note for the
Record outlining mutual undertakings by the two sides in implementation of the
Protocol. The document set a timetable for the further redeployment of the
Israeli troops. Over 80 per cent of the city was successfully transferred to
the Palestinian Authority. In a statement issued on 20 January 1997,8 the
Bureau of the Committee said it was encouraged by the signing of the Protocol.
It expressed the hope that the Protocol would lead to the full implementation of
the agreements already reached between the parties, in particular the
commencement of substantive negotiations on matters pertaining to the permanent
settlement. The Bureau reaffirmed its full support for the peace process and
the realization by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, primarily
the right to self-determination and statehood.
17. The Committee also welcomed the establishment, at the beginning of
February, of eight bilateral Israeli-Palestinian subcommittees to tackle the
outstanding issues during the transitional period, including the operation of
the Gaza seaport and airport, safe passage corridors from the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
18. The Committee welcomed the increasing contribution to the Middle East peace
process by the various international parties. In that regard, it noted the
increased involvement of the co-sponsors of the peace process, as well as the
European Union, in efforts to bring about the resumption of the bilateral
negotiations. The Committee was also appreciative of the resilient efforts with
which a number of world leaders contributed to the task of restarting the peace
process.
19. The Committee noted with extreme concern, however, that the Israeli-
Palestinian negotiations faced serious setbacks during the year as a direct
result of the position taken by the Government of Israel on the various elements
of the peace process. This year again, the Committee observed the disturbing
lack of respect by the Israeli side for the agreements already signed with the
Palestinian counterparts. In the course of the year, numerous statements and
actions on the ground by the Government of Israel created a situation in which
the peace process could not successfully move forward. Throughout the year, the
Israeli Prime Minister, members of the Government and other high-level officials
made statements that negatively affected the sensitive issues to be discussed by
the parties in the course of the permanent status negotiations. Especially
worrisome were continued Israeli statements of intent with regard to the
expansion of the existing Jewish settlements, the construction of new ones, and
-5-
the building of roads to connect those settlements. The Committee considered
those declarations not conducive to creating an atmosphere of trust and
confidence between the parties and generally harmful to the peace process.
20. The Committee deplored the decision by the Government of Israel on
26 February 1997 to approve the construction of a new Jewish settlement at Jabal
Abu Ghneim, south of East Jerusalem. In spite of the overwhelming expression of
opposition to this decision by the international community (see paras. 34-55
below), construction of the settlement began on 18 March. On the same day, the
Bureau of the Committee issued a statement9 deploring the beginning of the
construction and voiced its concern at the negative implication of this decision
for the future of the peace process. The Bureau also called for an end to the
policies of military occupation, land confiscation and settlement, and for the
resumption of the bilateral negotiations. In September, the Committee also
expressed grave concern at efforts by militant settlers to establish a permanent
presence in the Ras al-Amud district in occupied East Jerusalem.
21. In the year under review, the issue of Jewish settlements remained at the
forefront of the Committee’s attention. The Committee noted that the situation
with respect to the construction and expansion of the settlements remained a
serious concern. Statements made by representatives of the various branches of
the Israeli Government and in the Knesset, indicated that a vigorous effort was
under way to maintain and strengthen the Jewish settlers’ presence in the West
Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. In the month of March
alone, in addition to the start of construction at Jabal Abu Ghneim, several
steps were taken by Israel to that end. The Ministry of Industry and Trade
approved a US$ 30 million programme to encourage investment in a number of
settlements, including four in the West Bank and one in the Gaza Strip. The
Ministry of Defence approved the plan for the construction of 1,550 housing
units in the settlement of Givat Zeev, north of Jerusalem. The Knesset Finance
Committee approved a special allocation of US$ 16 million for the reinforcement
of settlement in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In April, a new policy of
benefits to settlers, approved in late 1996, was finalized. Purchasers of
apartments in 110 settlements throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip would
receive additional mortgages and grant payments. Also in April, the Ministry of
Construction and Housing launched a new advertisement campaign in Israeli
newspapers offering government subsidies of up to tens of thousands of dollars
to buyers of apartments in West Bank settlements. In May, Israel’s Treasury
announced the transfer of US$ 16.5 million into further development of Jewish
settlements, as part of the Government’s decision to grant favoured development
status to those areas. The Ministry of National Infrastructures proposed that
large tracts of Palestinian land in the West Bank containing water sources be
annexed. Also, the construction of a new road network began in the West Bank to
allow Jewish settlers to bypass Palestinian self-rule areas.
22. Demolition of Palestinian houses in the various parts of the West Bank and
the Gaza Strip continued during the year. From January to early September, some
100 Palestinian houses were demolished in the occupied territory. The
demolitions were carried out by the Israeli army, as well as by Jewish settlers.
The Committee noted reports that the Jewish settler population has continued to
grow. This led to numerous confrontations between armed settlers and
Palestinians and resulted in casualties, including fatalities on the Palestinian
side.
23. The Committee noted that, in February, 30 Palestinian women prisoners had
been released by the Israeli authorities. The Committee emphasized that the
release of the prisoners should have become an important confidence-building
-6-
step between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Israel, however, continues to
hold more than 3,600 Palestinian prisoners. Instances of the use of excessive
force were recorded by the Palestinian Authority and various human rights
organizations monitoring the situation on the ground. The Committee reaffirmed
that the holding of prisoners in the territory of the occupying Power was a
violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949 (the Fourth Geneva Convention),10 and
called upon the Government of Israel to respect its obligations under the
Convention. It also called upon Israel to release the prisoners, pursuant to
the bilateral agreements.
24. The Committee followed with much concern the situation with regard to the
issue of Palestinian residency rights in Jerusalem. It noted reports by Israeli
and international human rights organizations of the illegal confiscation by the
Israeli Ministry of the Interior of Jerusalem identification documents from
Palestinian residents of Jerusalem. Apart from denying residency rights to the
Palestinian residents of the city, this policy hampers their access to social
services. The Committee is also of the view that the policy is aimed at
creating a demographic reality in the city, which would pre-empt any just
solution to the question of Jerusalem and would create an eventual imbalance in
favour of the Israeli side in the course of the permanent status negotiations on
the issue.
25. The Palestinian economy in the past year faced many of the same problems as
in the previous years. The wide-scale international assistance effort
notwithstanding, the economic situation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
remained a matter of great concern to the Committee. The Palestinian economy
continued to suffer from high unemployment, especially in the rural areas and
amongst the young Palestinians.
26. During the past year, Israel continued arbitrarily to impose closures in
response to its alleged security needs. According to a report prepared by the
United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories, the Palestinian
economy lost US$ 6 billion from 1992 to 1996, mostly owing to Israeli closures
of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which prevented Palestinian workers from
reaching jobs in Israel. The result of the closures has been a 36 per cent drop
in per capita gross national product from US$ 2,700 in 1992 to US$ 1,700 in
1996.
27. According to a report of the World Bank issued in August, losses caused by
the closure could amount to 40 to 60 per cent of income and output, or
US$ 4 million to US$ 6 million a day. Some 51,000 Palestinians had been
licensed to work in Israel each day until 30 July 1997. The closure resulted in
a US$ 31.1 million loss in potential income, while restrictions on trade between
Israel and the Palestinian territories cost another US$ 29.9 million.
28. The Committee expressed grave concern at the imposition by the Israeli
authorities of a blockade of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip following the
suicide bombing incident in West Jerusalem, on 30 July 1997. The Bureau of the
Committee unreservedly condemned all acts of violence against defenceless
civilians. The Bureau, in a statement issued on 6 August 1997,11 also stated
that harsh retaliatory measures on the part of the Israeli Government would
dangerously exacerbate the state of the Palestinian economy and result in
greater hardship and despair among the Palestinian population. A closure was
reimposed by the Israeli authorities following another suicide incident in West
Jerusalem on 4 September 1997. The Committee affirmed on a number of occasions
its strong opposition to this policy, which suffocates the fledgling Palestinian
-7-
economy, interferes with the implementation of assistance projects and the
disbursement of international aid, brings hardship and suffering to Palestinian
households and exacerbates tension in the region. The Committee also reiterated
its position that the practice of closures was in direct contravention to the
provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
29. In the period under review, the Committee expressed great appreciation for
the continued efforts of the international community to provide the needed
assistance to the Palestinian people through the Palestinian Authority, despite
the growing difficulties on the ground. The Committee was of the view that the
international assistance provided by the organizations of the United Nations
system, as well as that provided by the donor community, remained vital to the
successful transition of the Palestinian people to national sovereignty and
statehood. It welcomed the appointment in February of Mr. Chinmaya R. Gharekhan
as the Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories, to serve as a focal
point for the United Nations family of organizations and to maintain ongoing
contact with the donor community, non-governmental organizations active in the
field and others.
30. The Committee noted the dedicated effort of the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which continued to
provide its much-needed services to the refugees and their families despite its
difficult financial situation. The Committee noted with appreciation the
provision by UNRWA of education, health and social services to some 3.4 million
Palestinians and considered it a valuable contribution to the alleviation of
poverty and the development of the human, social and economic potential of the
Palestinian people. The Agency’s programme of special hardship assistance,
along with the social welfare programme of the Palestinian Authority Ministry of
Social Affairs, constituted an important safety net for the Palestinian poor.
The two programmes supported some 303,000 Palestinians. The Committee called
for continued and intensified international support for the activities of UNRWA.
-8-
V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 51/23
1. Reaction to developments affecting the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people
(a) Communication to the Secretary-General and the President of the
Security Council
31. In letters dated 28 February 1997 addressed to the Secretary-General and to
the President of the Security Council (A/51/812-S/1997/172), the Acting Chairman
of the Committee expressed deep concern and strongly deplored Israel’s decision
to build a new Jewish settlement in the Jabal Abu Ghneim area, south of East
Jerusalem.
32. The Committee reaffirmed that, in accordance with Security Council
resolution 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980, and other resolutions, all measures taken
by Israel to change the physical character, demographic composition,
institutional structure or status of the Palestinian and other Arab territories
occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, or any part thereof, had no legal
validity and must be rescinded.
33. The Committee considered that the growing expansion and consolidation of
settlements created facts on the ground inconsistent with Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973,
which the current peace process seeks to implement. This situation seriously
undermined the agreements reached between Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization and jeopardized the much-needed process of confidence-building
between the parties.
(b) Action taken in the Security Council and the General Assembly
(i) Security Council meeting, 5 March 1997
34. At the request of Egypt, the Council met on 5 March 1997 to consider the
situation in the occupied Arab territories, in particular the 26 February
decision of the Israeli Government to begin construction of new Jewish housing
in the Jabal Abu Ghneim area south of occupied East Jerusalem.
35. Requests for a meeting of the Council were also made by the Acting Chairman
of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People (see A/51/812-S/1997/172); the Permanent Observer of Palestine, both in
his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of February
and on behalf of the members of the League of Arab States (see S/1997/165); and
the Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations, in his capacity
as Chairman of the Islamic Group of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(see A/51/817-S/1997/182).
36. The Chairman of the Committee participated in the debate on this issue in
the Council on 5 March 1997.12 He stated that the Committee deplored that
decision as a violation of international law, the Fourth Geneva Convention and
many relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. The decision
was particularly untimely in that the Israeli Government and the Palestine
Liberation Organization had recently reached agreement on redeployment in
Hebron, which had given new impetus to the peace process.
-9-
37. The Chairman declared that the decision of the Israeli Government ran
counter to the letter and the spirit of the Declaration of Principles on the
Interim Self-Government Arrangements and the subsequent implementation of
agreements, particularly the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip, signed in September 1995.
38. Moreover, the decision, along with the closing of Palestinian offices in
East Jerusalem, had come at a time when the Israeli army continued to seal off
Palestinian territories and was delaying its withdrawal from sectors of the West
Bank, thereby jeopardizing the continuation of the peace process. As these
measures were taken just before the new stage of negotiations on Jerusalem, they
seemed to take on the character of a fait accompli. The decision undermined the
credibility of the entire peace process and created undesirable tensions in the
region at a crucial stage of the negotiations on the final status of the
Palestinian territories.
39. In concluding his statement, the Chairman said that by convening the
meeting, the members of the Security Council had shown that the decision taken
by the Israeli Government was a source of major concern for the international
community as a whole. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People therefore expressed the hope that, at the end of the
debate, the Council would demonstrate to world public opinion its unshakable
will to annul the Israeli decision to build housing for Jewish settlers in Jabal
Abu Ghneim and to put an end to the policy of the Judaization of the Holy City
of Jerusalem, a symbol of peaceful coexistence of peoples and religions.
40. At the end of the debate, the Council failed to adopt a draft resolution
sponsored by France, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland.13 The vote was 14 in favour to 1 against (United States of
America), with no abstentions. The draft resolution was not adopted owing to
the negative vote of a permanent member of the Security Council.
41. The draft resolution would have called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to
refrain from all actions or measures, including settlement activities, which
altered the facts on the ground, pre-empting the final status negotiations, and
had negative implications for the Middle East peace process, and to abide
scrupulously by its legal obligations and responsibilities under the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Time of War of
12 August 1949, which is applicable to all the territories occupied by Israel
since 1967. It also would have called upon all parties to continue, in the
interests of peace and security, their negotiations within the Middle East peace
process on its agreed basis and the timely implementation of the agreements
reached.
42. In response to the negative vote by the United States of America, the
Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations stated that he would bring
the issue before the General Assembly.
(ii) Resumed session of the General Assembly
43. At the request of the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United
Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month
of March (see A/51/822), and the Permanent Representative of Colombia in his
capacity as Chairman of Non-Aligned Countries (see A/51/823), an urgent meeting
of the General Assembly was held on 12 March 1997.
-10-
44. At the end of the debate, the Assembly, by 130 votes in favour to 2
against, with 2 abstentions, adopted resolution 51/223 of 13 March 1997. In the
resolution, the Assembly, inter alia, called upon the Israeli authorities to
refrain from all actions or measures, including settlement activities, which
altered the facts on the ground, pre-empting the final status negotiations, and
had negative implications for the Middle East peace process; called upon Israel,
the occupying Power, to abide scrupulously by its legal obligations and
responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection
of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949, which was applicable to
all the territories occupied by Israel since 1967; and called upon all parties
to continue, in the interests of peace and security, their negotiations within
the Middle East peace process on its agreed basis and the timely implementation
of the agreements reached.
(iii) Security Council meeting, held on 21 March 1997
45. At the request of the Permanent Representative of Qatar, in his capacity as
Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of March 1997, and on behalf
of the members of the League of Arab States,14 the Security Council met on
21 March 1997.
46. A draft resolution submitted by Egypt and Qatar15 received 13 votes in
favour to 1 against (United States of America), with 1 abstention, and was not
adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the Security
Council.
47. The draft resolution would have demanded Israel’s immediate cessation of
construction of the Jabal Abu Ghneim settlement south of occupied East
Jerusalem, as well as all other Israeli settlement activities in the occupied
territories.
(iv) Tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly
48. The tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly was convened on
24 and 25 April 1997 to consider the item entitled "Illegal Israeli actions in
occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory".
The session was convened at the request of the Permanent Representative of
Qatar, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of
April 1997, and with the concurrence of a large majority of Member States, in
accordance with the provisions of Assembly resolution 377 A (V) of
3 November 1950, entitled "Uniting for Peace". On behalf of the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, its Chairman
supported the convening of the emergency special session (see A/51/876).
49. The Chairman of the Committee took part in the debate (see A/ES-10/PV.1)
and stated that, while condemning any resort to violence, in particular against
civilians, the Committee wished to recall that the peace process had made
progress because both parties accepted the principle of land for peace and of a
negotiated solution, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967)
and 338 (1973).
50. On 25 April 1997, the General Assembly, by a recorded vote of 134 votes in
favour to 3 against, with 11 abstentions, adopted resolution ES-10/2.
51. In the resolution, the General Assembly, inter alia, condemned the
construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a new settlement in Jabal Abu
Ghneim to the south of occupied East Jerusalem; reaffirmed that all legislative
-11-
and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power,
that had altered or purported to alter the character, legal status and
demographic composition of Jerusalem were null and void and had no validity
whatsoever; demanded immediate and full cessation of the construction in Jabal
Abu Ghneim and of all other Israeli settlement activities, as well as of all
illegal measures and actions in Jerusalem; called for the cessation of all forms
of assistance and support for illegal Israeli activities in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, in particular settlement activities;
requested the Secretary-General to monitor the situation and to submit a report
on the implementation of the present resolution, within two months of its
adoption; and decided to adjourn its tenth emergency special session temporarily
and to authorize the President of the General Assembly to resume its meetings
upon request from Member States.
(v) Resumed tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly
52. After the submission by the Secretary-General of the report requested under
General Assembly resolution ES-10/2, the tenth emergency session was resumed on
15 July 1997 at the request of the Permanent Representative of Egypt, in his
capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of July 1997.
The Acting Chairman of the Committee, in a letter dated 9 July 1997 addressed to
the President of the General Assembly (A/ES-10/10), supported the resumption of
the tenth emergency session of the General Assembly.
53. The Chairman of the Committee took part in the debate and made a statement
(see A/ES-10/PV.4).
54. At the end of the debate on 15 July 1997, the General Assembly, by a
recorded vote of 131 votes in favour to 3 against, with 14 abstentions, adopted
resolution ES-10/3.
55. In the resolution, the Assembly, inter alia, reiterated its demand for the
immediate and full cessation of the construction of a new settlement at Jabal
Abu Ghneim, and demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, immediately cease and
reverse all actions taken illegally, in contravention of international law,
against Palestinian Jerusalemites. It demanded that Israel, the occupying
Power, make available to Member States the necessary information about goods
produced or manufactured in the illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian
territory, including Jerusalem. It recommended that the High Contracting
Parties to the Geneva Convention convene a conference on measures to enforce the
Convention in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and to
ensure its respect, in accordance with common article 1, and requested the
Secretary-General to present a report on the matter within three months. It
decided to adjourn its tenth emergency special session temporarily and to
authorize the President of the most recent General Assembly to resume its
meetings upon request from Member States.
(c) Commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the occupation
by Israel of the Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem,
and other Arab territories
56. On 9 June 1997, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People convened a special meeting to commemorate the thirtieth
anniversary of the occupation by Israel of the Palestinian territory, including
Jerusalem, and other Arab territories.
-12-
57. The Secretary-General, the President of the Security Council, and a
Vice-President of the General Assembly took part in the special meeting and made
statements. Statements by the President of the Palestinian Authority, the
Chairmen of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, Organization of the Islamic
Conference and Organization of African Unity, the Secretary-General of the
League of Arab States and the North American Coordinating Committee of
Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine were also read out
in the meeting by their representatives.
58. A statement was adopted by the Committee on the occasion.16 The Committee
expressed its belief that the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory called for a reaffirmation of the commitments of the international
community to the objective of achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting
settlement of the question of Palestine, in accordance with international
legitimacy and United Nations resolutions.
2. Attendance at international conferences and meetings
59. The Committee, through its Chairman, continued to participate in relevant
meetings of intergovernmental bodies, as considered necessary. During the
period since its previous report to the General Assembly, the Committee was
represented by its Chairman at the sixty-fifth ordinary session of the Council
of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, held at Tripoli from 24 to
28 February 1997; the Twelfth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries, held at New Delhi on 7 and 8 April 1997; the sixty-sixth
ordinary session of the Council of Ministers and the thirty-third session of the
Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity
(OAU), held at Harare from 28 to 30 May 1997 and from 2 to 4 June 1997,
respectively.
60. The Chairman of the Committee reported on his participation in the
above-mentioned events at the 229th and 231st meetings of the Committee.17 In
his statements, he reviewed recent events in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including Jerusalem and other occupied Arab territories, in particular the
continued Israeli statements of intent to expand existing settlements and
construct new ones. In that regard, the Chairman in particular deplored the
decision of the Government of Israel to construct a new Jewish settlement at
Jabal Abu Ghneim.
61. He stated that the Ministers at the Non-Aligned Conference had issued a
special declaration, in which they had called upon member States to reconsider
the steps that they had taken to normalize relations within Israel in the
framework of the peace process, so as to ensure its compliance with the terms of
reference of the Madrid Conference, the land-for-peace principle and full
implementation of Israel’s agreements, undertakings and commitments on all
tracks of the peace talks.
62. At the OAU session, matters relating to the situation in the occupied
Palestinian territory had been taken up directly in plenary meeting. That
meeting had focused, in particular, on Israel’s settlement plans in East
Jerusalem. The Organization had expressed its grave concern at such violations
by Israel of the peace agreements and had called upon the international
community to provide the necessary assistance to the Palestinian Authority
during the current critical juncture of the peace process.
-13-
63. The Heads of State and Government of OAU had adopted two important
resolutions, one on the question of Palestine and one on the situation in the
Middle East.
64. In its resolution on the question of Palestine, it had reaffirmed the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the
establishment of an independent State on its national soil, with East Jerusalem
as its capital.
3. Action taken by the United Nations bodies, the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental organizations
65. The Committee continued to follow with great interest the activities
relating to the question of Palestine of United Nations bodies, the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental organizations. The Committee noted,
in particular, the continued strong support of the international community for
the continuation of the peace process on the basis of the agreements already
reached between the parties. The Committee took particular note of the
following:
(a) Excerpts from the final communiqué adopted by the Supreme Council of
the Gulf Cooperation Council at its seventeenth session, held at Doha from 7 to
9 December 1996 (A/51/717-S/1996/1030);
(b) Excerpts from the final communiqué of the fourteenth meeting of the
Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Damascus Declaration States, held at Cairo
on 28 and 29 December 1996 (see A/51/768-S/1997/4);
(c) Statement issued on 27 February 1997 by the Presidency on behalf of
the European Union on the decision of the Government of Israel to approve
construction plans for Har Homa/Jabal Abu Ghneim (A/52/86-S/1997/181, annex);
(d) Statement concerning the expansion of Israeli settlement on occupied
Arab land (Jerusalem), issued by the Council of the League of Arab States at its
resumed extraordinary session on 1 March 1997 (A/51/816-S/1997/175, annex);
(e) Special declaration on the cause of Palestine, Al-Quds Al-Sharif and
the Arab-Israeli conflict, adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference at the extraordinary session of the
Islamic Summit, held at Islamabad on 23 March 1997 (see A/51/915-S/1997/433);
(f) Resolutions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights on
26 March 1997, as follows: resolution 1997/1, on the question of the violation
of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine;
resolution 1997/2, on human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan;
resolution 1997/3, on Israeli settlements in the occupied Arab territories;
resolution 1997/4, on the situation in the occupied Palestine; and
resolution 1997/6, on the Middle East peace process;18
(g) Resolutions on the question of Palestine and the situation in the
Middle East, adopted by the League of Arab States at its 107th regular session
held on 31 March 1997 (A/51/858-S/1997/281, A/51/859-S/1997/282, A/51/860-
S/1997/280, A/51/881-S/1997/327 and A/51/883-S/1997/330);
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(h) Excerpts from the final document adopted by the Twelfth Ministerial
Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at New Delhi on 7 and
8 April 1997 (A/51/912-S/1997/406, annex);
(i) Resolutions on the question of Palestine and on the situation in the
Middle East, adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African
Unity at its meeting held at Harare from 28 to 30 May 1997;
(j) Economic and Social Council resolutions 1997/16 of 21 July 1997, on
Palestinian women, and 1997/67 of 25 July 1997, on the economic and social
repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the
Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem,
and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan;
(k) Statement on the aggressive and abusive decision taken by the Israeli
Government against the Palestinian people, adopted by the Council of the League
of Arab States at its extraordinary meeting, held at Cairo on 5 August 1997;19
(l) Statements on Israeli settlements and the closure of the Palestinian
territory, adopted by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
at its meeting held at Geneva, from 18 to 22 August 1997;20
(m) Statement on Israeli actions in the occupied territories, issued by
the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities
on 27 August 1997.21
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions 51/23 and 51/24
66. In carrying out its mandated programme of work, the Committee continued to
exert all efforts to promote the exercise of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people and the effective implementation of the agreements reached
between the parties, and to mobilize international support and assistance to the
Palestinian people.
67. In accordance with the authorization given to it by the General Assembly in
resolution 51/23, the Committee continued to adjust its programme of work in
order to make it more relevant and useful in light of developments on the
ground, while keeping in mind the continuing financial constraints facing the
Organization.
68. In particular, the Committee considered that its programme of seminars and
meetings of non-governmental organizations continued to be a useful mechanism
for in-depth consideration of priority issues and decided to continue that
programme, with a sharpened focus and an increased action orientation.
69. The Committee also decided to continue the other aspects of its programme
of work, including the programme of studies and publications of the Division for
Palestinian Rights; the training programme for staff of the Palestinian
Authority, launched in 1996; and the annual observance of the International Day
of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, as described below.
70. The Committee, through its Bureau, made efforts to involve additional
Member States in its programme of work. In particular, the Bureau held a useful
exchange of views with representatives of Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the
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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on behalf of the European
Union, and other representatives of the European Community, on cooperation
between the two sides. It was agreed to maintain the contact in the future.
71. The Bureau of the Committee also held consultations with representatives of
the secretariats of the League of Arab States and the Organization of the
Islamic Conference with a view to organizing jointly an event in early 1998.
72. The Bureau of the Committee agreed with the possibility of making a
contribution, from savings achieved in carrying out its programme of work,
towards the implementation of the Secretary-General’s mandate for the
modernization of the land records of Palestine refugees in the custody of the
United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine. The Bureau requested the
Division for Palestinian Rights to study the various aspects, including the
financial aspects, of the electronic conversion of the records.
73. The Bureau also held useful and constructive meetings with the
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and the Assistant
Secretary-General for Public Information regarding key elements of the
implementation of its programme of work.
1. Seminars and meetings of non-governmental organizations
74. In accordance with decisions taken in 1996 with regard to streamlining its
programme of meetings, the Committee decided to hold the following meetings in
the course of 1997: the annual meeting of consultations with representatives of
coordinating committees of non-governmental organizations; an Asian seminar and
a symposium of non-governmental organizations; a seminar on assistance to the
Palestinian people; the annual North American Symposium of Non-Governmental
Organizations; and the annual International Meeting of Non-Governmental
Organizations, combined with the European Symposium of Non-Governmental
Organizations. The Committee also decided not to hold the remaining meetings
programmed for the biennium 1996-1997, and requested the Secretariat to ensure
that the resulting savings, to the extent necessary, be used to finance new
activities and the further development of the United Nations Information System
on the Question of Palestine.
(a) Consultations between non-governmental organizations and the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
75. The meeting of consultations with representatives of the International
Coordinating Committee of Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of
Palestine, the North American Coordinating Committee of Non-Governmental
Organizations on the Question of Palestine, and the European Coordinating
Committee of Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine was
held at United Nations Headquarters on 3 and 4 February 1997. The Bureau of the
Committee informed the representatives of non-governmental organizations of
recent developments, the position of the Committee and its programme of work for
1997. The representatives of non-governmental organizations informed the
Committee of the activities carried out by the coordinating committees and of
the non-governmental organization constituency at large. Various aspects of
future cooperation between the Committee and the coordinating committees and the
non-governmental organization constituency were considered at the meeting.
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(b) Asian Seminar and Non-Governmental Organization Symposium
on the Question of Palestine
76. An Asian seminar and a symposium of non-governmental organizations, on the
theme "Achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting solution of the question of
Palestine - the role of Asia" were held at Jakarta from 4 to 7 May 1997. The
Committee expressed its deep appreciation to the Government of Indonesia for
providing the venue and for the excellent cooperation afforded the Committee and
the Division for Palestinian Rights in the preparation and conduct of that
event. The Committee was particularly honoured by the presence of
H.E. Mr. Ali Alatas, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, at the opening
ceremony.
77. In panel discussions, the participants in the Seminar dealt with issues
relating to the Middle East peace process; key issues of a just and
comprehensive settlement; and the role of Asia in promoting a comprehensive,
just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine through solidarity and
assistance.
78. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was represented by a delegation comprising Mr. Ibra Deguène Ka (Senegal),
Chairman; Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhadi (Afghanistan), Vice-Chairman of the Committee,
who acted as Vice-Chairman and Rapporteur of the meeting;
Mr. Slaheddine Abdellah (Tunisia) who also acted as Vice-Chairman; and
Mr. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
79. Presentations were made by 18 experts from Asia and other regions. Each
panel was followed by a discussion open to all participants. Representatives of
56 Governments, 5 United Nations bodies and agencies, 1 intergovernmental
organization and 22 non-governmental organizations, as well as special guests of
the Government of Indonesia, representatives of the media, of universities and
institutes attended the Seminar and the Symposium.
80. In a final document adopted at the conclusion of the meeting, the
participants at the Seminar emphasized the significance of the role that the
countries of Asia and the Pacific had played, and could continue to play, to
bring about a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of
Palestine, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions. They
emphasized that the countries of the region had an important stake in promoting
peace and stability in the Middle East. It was suggested that the Palestinian
Authority consider formulating a list of specific economic requests that might
be presented to Asian Governments to assist the Palestinian people. It was also
suggested that a fund be set up by the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries,
similar to the Africa Fund, to assist the Palestinian people. The transfer of
technology, vocational training, health and housing were mentioned as important
areas in which Asian and Pacific countries could extend meaningful support to
the Palestinian people. Non-governmental organizations were called upon to
undertake a mobilization campaign of Asian public opinion, based on the
principles of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of
Palestine.
81. The participating non-governmental organizations elected a new coordinating
committee for follow-up action in Asia. The report of the meeting was issued as
a publication by the Division for Palestinian Rights.
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(c) Seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people
82. A seminar on the theme "Palestinian human development needs" was held at
Amman from 20 to 22 May 1997. Its round-table meetings discussed sustainable
human development as the basis for nation-building; promotion of poverty
eradication and sustainable development; and promotion of gender equality and
the full participation of women in society.
83. The Committee expressed sincere appreciation to the Government of Jordan
for hosting the Seminar and for the excellent arrangements made. The Seminar
participants were honoured to hear an opening address by
H.E. Dr. Abdullah Ensour, Deputy Prime Minister of Jordan.
84. The Committee was represented by a delegation comprising
Mr. Ibra Deguène Ka (Senegal), Chairman; Mr. Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla (Cuba),
Vice-Chairman; Mr. George Saliba (Malta), Rapporteur; Mr. Alounkèo Kittikoun
(Lao People’s Democratic Republic); and Mr. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
85. Sixteen experts from various regions, including Palestinians and one
Israeli, presented papers. Representatives of 32 Governments,
3 intergovernmental organizations and 11 United Nations bodies and agencies, as
well as of 17 non-governmental organizations, participated in the Seminar.
86. The report of the Seminar (A/52/179-E/1997/76) was submitted to the
Secretary-General by the Chairman of the Committee, with the request that it be
circulated under respective items of the agendas for the regular session of the
Economic and Social Council and the fifty-second session of the General
Assembly. The report was also issued as a publication by the Division for
Palestinian Rights.
(d) North American Symposium of Non-Governmental Organizations
87. The North American Symposium of Non-Governmental Organizations, with the
theme "Thirty years of occupation: looking ahead towards self-determination and
Statehood" was held at United Nations Headquarters from 9 to 11 June 1997.
88. Its panel discussions dealt with the key issues of a just and comprehensive
settlement; the role of the international community in the transition towards
permanent status, and promoting joint action of Palestinian and North American
non-governmental organizations in support of the transition to selfdetermination
and statehood. Six workshops were held on related themes to
mobilize concrete action by the North American non-governmental organization
community.
89. The Committee was represented by its Bureau. Ten panellists presented
papers on the different issues and commented on questions and observations.
Representatives of 10 Governments, 1 intergovernmental organization and 3 United
Nations agencies participated as observers. Representatives of 65
non-governmental organizations, 55 of them accredited to the Committee,
participated in the Symposium.
90. Six members of the North American Coordinating Committee of
Non-Governmental Organizations were elected at the final session of the
Symposium. The report of the Symposium was issued as a publication by the
Division for Palestinian Rights.
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(e) United Nations International Meeting of Non-Governmental
Organizations and European Symposium of Non-Governmental
Organizations on the Question of Palestine, Geneva,
25-28 August 1997
91. The United Nations International Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations
and European Symposium of Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of
Palestine, on the theme "Ending thirty years of occupation - the role of
non-governmental organizations", was held at Geneva from 25 to 28 August 1997.
92. The Committee was represented by a delegation composed of
Mr. Ibra Deguène Ka (Senegal), Chairman; Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhadi (Afghanistan),
Vice-Chairman; Mr. George Saliba (Malta), Rapporteur; Mr. Anatoli M. Zlenko
(Ukraine); and Mr. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine).
93. The Meeting was attended by 18 panellists and workshop resource persons,
and representatives of 107 non-governmental organizations, 15 of them as
observers. It was also attended by 31 Governments, 5 intergovernmental
organizations, 12 United Nations bodies and agencies, 5 coordinating committees
of non-governmental organizations and a delegation of Palestine.
94. In the Plan of Action adopted at the Meeting, the non-governmental
organization participants concluded that campaigns by non-governmental
organizations at the national and international levels should be primarily
focused on ending the Israeli policy of establishing and expanding settlements,
supporting the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including
its own State with East Jerusalem as its capital, supporting the rights of the
Palestinian refugees to return and/or to compensation, as well as family
reunification, and on continuing and intensifying all efforts to assist the
Palestinian people in the economic and social fields.
95. The non-governmental organization participants declared, individually and
collectively, that they recognized the State of Palestine with borders in
conformity with those announced by the Palestine National Council in its
Declaration of Independence of 1988. They called upon all non-governmental
organizations throughout the world to join them in that solemn declaration and
to petition the Governments of their respective nations to recognize the State
of Palestine on that basis.
96. At the conclusion of the Meeting, the participants elected the new
International Coordinating Committee of Non-Governmental Organizations on the
Question of Palestine and the European Coordinating Committee of
Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine.
97. The report of the joint event, as well as the Plan of Action, will be
issued as a publication by the Division for Palestinian Rights.
2. Research, monitoring and publications
98. The Committee continued to attach great importance to the essential
contribution of the Division for Palestinian Rights as a centre for research,
monitoring, the preparation of studies and the collection and dissemination of
information on all issues related to the question of Palestine, and requested
the Division to continue its programme of publications, in consultation with the
Committee.
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99. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Division for Palestinian
Rights, in accordance with its mandate, had continued to respond to requests for
information and to prepare and disseminate the following publications:
(a) Monthly bulletins covering action by the Committee and other United
Nations organs, organizations and agencies, as well as intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations and others on the question of Palestine,
containing the texts of the relevant resolutions, statements and decisions;
(b) Periodic bulletin entitled "Developments related to the Middle East
peace process", containing information on the peace process and the multilateral
negotiations on the Middle East regional issues;
(c) A monthly chronological summary of events relating to the question of
Palestine, based on media reports and other sources;
(d) Reports of seminars and non-governmental organization meetings
organized under the auspices of the Committee;
(e) A special bulletin on the commemoration, in 1996, of the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(f) A compilation of relevant resolutions, decisions and statements
adopted in 1996 by the General Assembly and the Security Council relating to the
question of Palestine.
100. The Committee noted with appreciation that, in response to its request, the
Division had completed a study on the status of Jerusalem that would be
published in the near future, and that it would continue its work on a draft
study on Israeli settlements.
3. United Nations Information System on the
Question of Palestine
101. The Committee noted that the Division for Palestinian Rights, in
cooperation with relevant technical services of the Secretariat, had made
substantial progress in the development of the United Nations Information System
on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL), as mandated by the General Assembly at
the Committee’s request. This included the upgrading of its hardware and
software, the inclusion in the system of a comprehensive collection of current
United Nations documents and some older documentation, the establishment of a
database of non-governmental organizations accredited to the Committee, and
other initiatives of the Division in making full use of the electronic facility
in its monitoring, research and other activities. The Committee also noted that
a public replica of the system had been established and had been made available
to external users for the second year, and that the Division was making progress
in placing some of its documentation on the Internet.
102. While pleased with these developments, particularly the conversion of some
5,000 pages into electronic format through a vendor from outside the United
Nations system, the Committee expressed the wish that, in order to fully
implement the mandate originally given by the General Assembly in 1991, further
conversion of major relevant documents should take place so as to make the
database more comprehensive and useful.
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4. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority
103. In accordance with the decision of the Committee, two staff members of the
Palestinian Authority, one from the Ministry of Planning and International
Cooperation, the other from the Ministry of the Interior, were invited to
participate in a pilot training programme at the Division for Palestinian
Rights, from September to December 1996, in conjunction with the fifty-first
session of the General Assembly. Owing to unavoidable circumstances, one of the
trainees had to leave before completing the programme. The other was extended
through January 1997.
104. In the course of their training, the officials familiarized themselves with
the various facets of the work of the United Nations and acquired useful insight
into the functioning of various United Nations bodies and entities, the
Secretariat, as well as the United Nations information activities. The trainees
also attended meetings of selected committees and bodies of the United Nations,
and conducted research.
105. The Committee considered that the training programme was beneficial and
useful for the staff of the Palestinian Authority, in particular its young
professionals, and decided to maintain this activity, in cooperation with the
Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations. The Committee
was also of the view that the Division for Palestinian Rights provided valuable
day-to-day guidance and supervision to the officials of the Palestinian
Authority in their training programme at United Nations Headquarters.
5. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
106. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was
observed on 29 November 1996 at United Nations Headquarters and at the United
Nations Office at Geneva and at Vienna. On the occasion of the observance, in
addition to other activities, an exhibit of Palestinian handicrafts in the
occupied territory, entitled "Preserving the Legacy, A New Dawn of Hope", was
provided at Headquarters by the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the
United Nations and presented under the auspices of the Committee. The Committee
noted with appreciation that the International Day had also been observed in
many other cities throughout the world. Details on the observance are contained
in the special bulletin issued by the Division.
107. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee decided that a similar
commemorative programme would be organized in connection with the observance of
the Day in 1997.
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VI. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 51/25
108. The Department of Public Information continued to provide press coverage,
in English and French, of all meetings held at Headquarters and of United
Nations bodies dealing with the question of Palestine, including the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Coverage
in English and French was also provided to the seminars and symposia held under
the auspices of the Committee at Jakarta, Amman and Geneva. Press releases were
issued on the text of the statements by the Secretary-General.
109. From September 1996 to August 1997, the Dissemination Unit of the
Department responded to a number of information requests and utilized the
electronic mail to disseminate material.
110. The Public Inquiries Unit responded to requests for information concerning
Middle East issues, including the question of Palestine. The Group Programme
Unit organized briefings on the question of Palestine and the Middle East for
students and other groups. In addition, the subject was included in the
presentation made to visitors taking guided tours, as appropriate.
111. The non-governmental organization sections of the Department continued to
disseminate relevant information material, as well as video programmes, to the
non-governmental organization community in New York and at Geneva and Vienna.
112. The United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Library and the depositary libraries
continued to disseminate material, documents and press releases on the
activities on the Committee.
113. The quarterly UN Chronicle has continued its comprehensive coverage of
issues related to the question of Palestine, including relevant action taken by
the General Assembly and Security Council, as well as special meetings, symposia
and seminars. The publications The United Nations and the Question of Palestine
and For the Rights of the Palestinians: The Work of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People continue to be
comprehensive sources of historical information. These publications and the
poster entitled "Self-determination: an inalienable right of the Palestinian
people" were made available in all languages of the United Nations.
114. The Radio and Central News Service covered extensively all aspects of the
question of Palestine and related issues in daily news bulletins, weekly current
affairs magazines and feature programmes in official and non-official languages
for dissemination throughout the world.
115. The Media Division undertook a video taping mission to the Palestinian
territories and completed a programme on: (a) Palestinian television with
special emphasis on the broadcasters trained by the Department of Public
Information; (b) a rehabilitation project of youth centres in Gaza sponsored by
the United Nations Development Programme; and (c) training and income-generating
programmes for women, sponsored by UNRWA. Videos are being produced for "UN in
Action", "CNN World Report" and "1997 Year in Review".
116. As requested by the Committee, video footage on the question of Palestine
since 1945 to date has been researched and compiled. Work is under way to
establish a small section in the video library devoted to the question of
Palestine.
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117. The Department, in cooperation with the Government of Greece, organized an
international seminar on the theme "The peace process: the challenges ahead",
which was held at Athens on 26 and 27 May 1997. The Seminar brought together
Palestinian and Israeli media representatives. Participating in the Seminar
also were academics and experts on the political and economic development of the
Middle East, officials of the Palestinian Authority, and senior journalists
representing prominent media organizations from the United States of America,
Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Representatives of Member States and
States members of specialized agencies based at Athens participated in the
Seminar as observers. The Seminar discussed the status of the peace process and
the implementation of peace agreements. Final status negotiations and the
economic situation in the region were also discussed.
118. After the Seminar, a fact-finding news mission of eight international
journalists visited Cairo and Amman and held meetings with high-ranking
officials of the Governments of Egypt and Jordan. It also held meetings with
the local press corps.
119. From 15 September to 9 November 1996, the Department organized a training
programme at Headquarters for a group of 10 Palestinian media practitioners to
strengthen their professional capacity as information media personnel.
120. The Department, in cooperation with the Division for Palestinian Rights,
promoted the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and
provided assistance for the special exhibit mounted in the public lobby of the
General Assembly building, entitled, "Preserving the Legacy, A New Dawn of
Hope".
121. The global network of United Nations information centres and services
actively promoted the central issues relating to the question of Palestine,
organizing media activities and special events, producing newsletters and
regularly disseminating relevant information materials made available from
Headquarters. In many cases, the material disseminated was translated into
local languages.
122. The observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People presented special opportunities for cooperating with local
non-governmental organizations in organizing joint events and programmes to draw
attention to the issue of Palestinian rights. Both print and electronic media
coverage of this event in most of these countries were extensive. Panel
discussions and forums were among several activities organized by the United
Nations information centres at Harare and Prague. The centre at Harare
organized a forum on the theme "Searching for peace", in cooperation with the
Palestinian Ministry of Social Welfare, the Executive Committee of the Palestine
Liberation Organization and a panel of Zimbabwean academics. With the support
of the Czech-Arabic Friendship Society, the centre at Prague organized a panel
discussion focusing on the economic issues involved in the Middle East peace
process, the impact of border closures and the activities of the United Nations
system. The United Nations information centre at Pretoria, in cooperation with
the African National Congress and the Government of South Africa, honoured the
observance of the Day. Other activities included an exhibition of paintings
dedicated to the peace process, organized by the information centre at Rabat,
and the dedication of the weekly television programme of the information centre
at Ouagadougou to the question of Palestine. Film screenings were arranged by
the information centre at Tokyo, which produced a Japanese-language version of
the United Nations video "Palestine: 1890s-1990s", and the centre at
Brazzaville, which organized a special screening of the film "Oui, les
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Palestiniens ont des droits", for teachers in the Department of History at the
Lycée Chaminade.
123. Three United Nations meetings dealing with the question of Palestine
received special attention from select United Nations information centres. The
information centre at Cairo and the information service at Amman provided press
coverage and logistical support for the United Nations seminar on assistance to
the Palestinian People on the theme "Palestinian human development needs", which
was held at Amman. The centre at Cairo also provided logistical and information
support for visiting members of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli
Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs
of the Occupied Territories. The information centre at Athens played a key role
in the organization of a Department of Public Information seminar for
journalists on the question of Palestine on the theme "The peace process:
challenges ahead", which was held at Athens. The information centre at Jakarta
provided organizational support to the Division for Palestinian Rights and
mounted an exhibit for the United Nations Asian seminar and Non-Governmental
Organization Symposium on the Question of Palestine held at Jakarta, while the
information service at Bangkok provided press coverage.
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VII. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
124. The year 1997 marked the thirtieth anniversary of the occupation of the
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem and other Arab territories, by
Israel. The year also marked the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of
General Assembly resolution 181 (II), in which the Assembly decided on the
partitioning of Palestine and called for the establishment of independent Jewish
and Arab States and a special international regime for Jerusalem. It was also
10 years since the beginning of the intifada, the Palestinian uprising which
helped create the conditions for the peace process. Mindful of these milestones
in the history of dispossession and suffering of the Palestinian people, the
Committee urges the international community to redouble its efforts in support
of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the key to a just and
lasting peace.
125. The signing of the Declaration of Principles in September 1993 by Israel
and the Palestine Liberation Organization created a dramatic turning point in
the search for peace in the Middle East, leading to the emergence of a new
reality on the ground, enabling the Palestinian people to take its first steps
towards independence and opening new possibilities for cooperation among the
peoples of the region. The Committee considers it essential for the
international community to intensify its efforts in support of the historic
process of reconciliation between the two sides and for the effective
implementation of the agreements reached and for the resumption of all aspects
of the negotiations on the agreed basis.
126. The Committee expresses its greatest concern and anguish that the hopes
ushered in by initial positive developments were not carried through in the year
under review and that the peace process itself appeared increasingly in
jeopardy, leading to an alarming exacerbation of tension and violence on the
ground, resulting in loss of life on both sides. The Committee believes that
the harsh economic measures taken against the occupied Palestinian territory,
including the prolonged blockade, are a form of collective punishment in
contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the agreements reached, and
calls for their end in the interests of restoring mutual confidence and
promoting peace.
127. Especially worrisome were actions taken by Israel to strengthen its control
over occupied East Jerusalem, such as the opening of a new entrance to the
tunnel near Al Aqsa Mosque, the withdrawal of Jerusalem identity cards, the
destruction of buildings, and the intensified efforts to establish Jewish
settlements in the old city. The resumption of construction and expansion of
settlements throughout the occupied territory, including Jerusalem, and
statements made by the Government in that regard caused increasing fears for
future prospects of achieving a just peace and the Palestinian right to selfdetermination.
128. The Committee deplores the decision by the Government of Israel to approve
the construction of a new Jewish settlement at Jabal Abu Ghneim, south of East
Jerusalem, and its decision to begin and proceed with construction in spite of
the unanimous expression of opposition by the international community. The
Committee fully supports the recommendations made by the General Assembly in
resolutions ES-10/2 and ES-10/3, in particular for the convening of a conference
of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to consider
measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including Jerusalem, and to ensure its respect, in accordance with common
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article 1. The Committee will continue to remain engaged in the follow-up to
the recommendations of the Assembly and to promote the necessary action.
129. The Committee calls for the reinjection of momentum into the stalled Middle
East peace process and for the implementation of the agreements reached between
the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. In this
regard, it notes with appreciation the increased involvement in efforts to bring
about the resumption of the bilateral negotiations by the co-sponsors of the
peace process, as well as the European Union. The Committee is also
appreciative of the resilient efforts with which a number of world leaders
contributed to the task of restarting the peace process.
130. The Committee reaffirms that the United Nations has a permanent
responsibility with respect to the question of Palestine until a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement is reached. The Committee reiterates that the
involvement of the United Nations in the peace process, both as the guardian of
international legitimacy and in the mobilization and provision of international
assistance, is essential for the successful outcome of the peace efforts. As
the organ of the General Assembly established to deal with the question of
Palestine, the Committee believes that its role continues to be useful and
necessary during the transitional period and until a satisfactory final
settlement is achieved.
131. The Committee reaffirms that such a settlement must be based on Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the withdrawal of Israel from the
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied
since 1967, the principle of exchange of land for peace and the exercise by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, in particular the right to selfdetermination.
The Committee also insists that, during the interim period,
Israel must recognize and respect its obligations as the occupying Power under
the Fourth Geneva Convention.
132. While remaining firm on these positions of principle, the Committee has
continued to make adjustments in its approach and programme of work, taking into
account the new realities, in order to make a concrete contribution to promoting
the implementation of the agreements reached and to mobilize international
assistance to the Palestinian people. The Committee invites the General
Assembly once again to recognize the importance of its role and to reconfirm its
mandate with overwhelming support.
133. The Committee wishes to express its great appreciation to those States that
have supported its work and facilitated the organization of events held under
the Committee’s auspices. The Committee believes that, in the light of the new
situation and the constructive position of the Committee, as reflected in its
programme of work, the time has come for all States to recognize the valuable
contribution that it can make as a forum for dialogue, analysis, exchange of
expertise, mobilization of public opinion and action in support of the peace
efforts and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, as well as its
socio-economic development. The Committee considers that a broadening of its
membership to include countries that support its objectives but have not
hitherto participated in its work, would greatly enhance the contribution of the
General Assembly to promoting peace at this important stage.
134. The Committee considers that its programme of seminars in the various
regions has played a useful role in informing and mobilizing public opinion,
promoting the exchange of experience and expertise among participants from the
various regions and Palestinians and Israelis, and in promoting increased
-26-
involvement by Governments in the search for a just and comprehensive solution
to the conflict. The annual convening of a seminar devoted specifically to
issues related to the economic and social challenges facing the Palestinian
people during the transitional period has proved very useful and the Committee
intends to continue this practice in order to give the international donor
community, including United Nations bodies and agencies, the opportunity to
exchange views with representatives of the Palestinian Authority and
internationally renowned experts on relevant issues.
135. In view of the current serious situation in the occupied Palestinian
territories, including Jerusalem, the Committee intends to encourage renewed,
intensified efforts by non-governmental organizations to organize and coordinate
sustained campaigns in order to inform public opinion and to promote national
and international action in support of United Nations resolutions and the
Committee’s objectives. It plans to continue its programme of meetings of
non-governmental organizations in the various regions with a view to providing
the non-governmental organization constituency with a periodic analysis of
political developments, a forum for an exchange of views and experience, as well
as for planning and coordinating specific activities of non-governmental
organizations.
136. The Committee emphasizes the essential contribution of the Division for
Palestinian Rights as a centre for research, monitoring, the preparation of
studies and the collection and dissemination of information on all issues
related to the question of Palestine. The Committee requests the Division to
continue its programme of publications, in consultation with the Committee, and
to pay particular attention to finalizing the proposed study on settlements
during the coming year. The Committee notes with appreciation the further
progress made by the Division in developing the United Nations computer-based
Information System on the Question of Palestine and calls for continuing efforts
to include all relevant documentation in the system.
137. Noting further the successful continuation in the Division of the project
for the training of staff of the Palestinian Authority in the workings of the
United Nations system, the Committee requests the Division to continue this
exercise in the future.
138. The Committee will continue, especially during the transitional period and
until a fair, satisfactory solution is achieved, to strive to achieve maximum
effectiveness in the implementation of its mandate and to adjust its work
programme in the light of developments in order to continue to contribute, to
the extent possible, to the realization of the common United Nations objective
of achieving a just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine.
Notes
1 Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 47/1 of 22 September 1992, the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia did not participate in the work of the Committee.
2 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
-27-
3 Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35); ibid., Thirtythird
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35); ibid., Thirty-fourth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fifth Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/35/35); ibid., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/36/35);
ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/37/35 and Corr.1); ibid.,
Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35); ibid., Thirty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/39/35); ibid., Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/40/35); ibid., Forty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); ibid.,
Forty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/42/35); ibid., Forty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/45/35); ibid.,
Forty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35); ibid., Forty-seventh Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/47/35); ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/48/35); ibid., Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/49/35); ibid.,
Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/50/35); and ibid., Fifty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/51/35).
4 A/48/486-S/26560, annex; see Official Records of the Security Council,
Forty-eighth Year, Supplement for October, November and December 1993, document
S/26560.
5 The observers at the Committee meetings were as follows: Algeria,
Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Qatar, South
Africa, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, the
League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Palestine, represented by the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian
people, was also an observer.
6 The membership of the Working Group was as follows: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Guinea, Guyana, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey,
Ukraine and Palestine, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization as
the representative of the people directly concerned.
7 A/AC.183/1996/CRP.1.
8 See press release GA/PAL/739.
9 See press release GA/PAL/742.
10 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
11 See press release GA/PAL/766.
12 See S/PV.3745.
13 S/1997/199.
14 S/1997/235.
15 S/1997/241.
16 A/AC.183/SR.230.
17 See A/AC.183/SR.229 and A/AC.183/SR.231.
-28-
18 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1997, Supplement
No. 3 (E/1997/23-E/CN.14/1997/150), chap. II, sect. A.
19 S/1997/623.
20 See press releases HR/CERD/97/53 and HR/CERD/97/60.
21 See press release HR/SC/97/31.
97-30779 (E) -29-
A/53/35
United Nations
Report of theCommittee on the
Exercise of the InalienableRights
of thePalestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-third session
Supplement No. 35 (A/53/35)
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-third session
Supplement No. 35 (A/53/35)
Report of theCommittee on the
Exercise of the InalienableRights
of the Palestinian People
United Nations • New York, 1998
A/53/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
[Original: English]
[5 November 1998]
Contents
Chapter Paragraphs Page
Letter of transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–5 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–9 1
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–14 2
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–12 2
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–14 2
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15–25 2
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26–72 4
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 52/49 . . . . . . 26–38 4
1. Action in the Security Council and the General Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . 27–35 4
2. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee in international
conferences and meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36–38 6
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in
accordance with General Assembly resolutions 52/49 and 52/50 . . . . . . . . . . 39–72 7
1. Conference in Support of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43–47 8
2. Seminars and meetings of non-governmental organizations . . . . . . . . . . 48–64 8
3. Research, monitoring and publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65–67 10
4. United Nations Information Systemon the Question of Palestine . . . . . 68–69 10
5. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority . . . . . . . . . . . 70 11
6. International Day of Solidaritywith the Palestinian People . . . . . . . . . . 71–72 11
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 52/51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73–85 11
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86–94 13
iv
Letter of transmittal
4 November 1998
Mr. Secretary-General,
After more than half a century of dispossession of the Palestinian people and at the
threshold of a new millennium, it is more important than ever to promote rapid further
progress in the peace process. The question of Palestine has reached a crossroads, and many
crucial decisions will be made at the fifty-third session of the General Assembly and in the
months to come. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People and its Bureau have devoted much thought to ways in which to implement the mandate
of the Committee in the most effective and useful manner, in order not only to strengthen
international solidarity with the Palestinian people to bring about the realization of its
inalienable rights but also to revitalize the spirit of reconciliation and cooperation that is so
essential to the achievement of a lasting solution.
The Committee salutes your contribution to the promotion of a just and comprehensive
settlement and to the improvement of economic prospects and cooperation throughout the
region. The Committee pledges itself to intensify its own efforts in support of those undertaken
by the international community to bring about an end to this conflict which has bedevilled
the United Nations, cost countless lives and drained the resources of the region for such a
long time.
In the hope that our work will make a constructive contribution to the deliberations of
the General Assembly, I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the General
Assembly in accordance with paragraph 5 of Assembly resolution 52/49 of 9 December 1997.
We especially draw your attention to the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee,
contained in paragraphs 86 to 94 of its report.
The report covers the period from 5 November 1997 to 4 November 1998.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Ibra Deguène Ka
Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary-General of the United Nations
A/53/35
1
Chapter I.
Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People was established by the
General Assembly in resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10 November
1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed
to enable the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable
rights as recognized by the Assembly in resolution 3236
(XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its
first report were endorsed by the Assembly 1 as a basis for the
solution to the question of Palestine. In its subsequent
reports,2 the Committee has continued to stress that a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based
on the relevant United Nations resolutions and the following
essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel from the
Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including
Jerusalem, and from the other occupied Arab territories;
respect for the right of all States in the region to live in peace
within secure and internationally recognized boundaries; and
the recognition and exercise of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination.
The Committee’s recommendations could not be
implemented, and the Assembly each year renewed the
Committee’s mandate and requested it to intensify its efforts
in pursuit of its objectives.
3. The Committee welcomed the historic breakthrough in
the peace process in 1993 and the subsequent establishment
of new realities on the ground as important steps towards the
achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement
of the question of Palestine, based on Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). At the same time, the
Committee continued to work towards the full realization of
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the
right to self-determination and to its own independent State,
and to mobilize the needed international assistance and
solidarity during the transitional period.
4. The stalemate in the peace process, which has continued
during most of the past year despite the efforts by the
co-sponsors and other interested parties to re-inject
momentum into the negotiations, has caused extreme concern.
In that regard, the Committee welcomed the signing, on 23
October 1998, of theWye River Memorandum and expressed
the hope that it would clear the way for further progress in the
Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. The Committee,
however, has joined the international community in
condemning the intensification of the policies and practices
of occupation which are not only in violation of the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in
Time of War, of 12 August 1949 (the Fourth Geneva
Convention),3 and Security Council resolutions, but are also
contrary to the spirit and the letter of the peace process, pose
grave obstacles to its continuation and fuel mistrust, tension
and violence by extremists.
5. Despite the glimmer of hope currently on the horizon,
the Committee believes that the exacerbation of the situation
on the ground calls for the redoubling of efforts by all
concerned in order to ensure respect for international law and
United Nations resolutions, and a speedy return to full and
comprehensive negotiations and cooperation between the
parties. As the organ of the General Assembly dealing with
the question of Palestine, the Committee has supported, and
participated actively in, all recent multilateral initiatives in
this regard and intends to continue to do so to the best of its
abilities.
Chapter II.
Mandate of the Committee
6. The mandate of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was again
renewed by the General Assembly in resolution 52/49 of 9
December 1997, in which the Assembly, inter alia: (a)
endorsed the recommendations of the Committee4 and
requested it to continue to keep under review the situation
relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make
suggestions to the Assembly or the Security Council, as
appropriate; (b) authorized the Committee to continue to exert
all efforts to promote the exercise of the inalienable rights of
the Palestinian people, and to report thereon to the Assembly
at its fifty-third session and thereafter; and (c) requested the
Committee to continue to extend its cooperation to
non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards
heightening international awareness of the facts relating to
the question of Palestine.
7. In its resolution 52/50 of 9 December 1997, on the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations
Secretariat, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General
to continue to provide the Division with the necessary
resources, including those required for the further
development of the United Nations Information System on the
Question of Palestine, and to ensure that it continues to
discharge the tasks detailed in previous resolutions.
A/53/35
2
8. In its resolution 52/51 of 9 December 1997, on the
special information programme on the question of Palestine,
the Assembly requested the Department of Public Information
of the United Nations Secretariat, in full cooperation and
coordination with the Committee, to continue, with the
necessary flexibility as may be required by developments
affecting the question of Palestine, its special information
programme for the biennium 1998–1999, with particular
emphasis on public opinion in Europe and North America.
9. In carrying out its programme of work, the Committee
also took into account General Assembly resolution 52/52 of
9 December 1997, in which the Assembly, inter alia,
reaffirmed the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine in all its aspects, expressed its full
support for the ongoing peace process, and stressed the need
for the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, primarily the right to self-determination; the need for
the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967; and the need for resolving the problem
of the Palestine refugees.
Chapter III.
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
10. ByGeneral Assembly decision 52/317 of 9 December
1997, South Africa and Namibia were appointed members
of the Committee, increasing the membership to 25. The
Committee was encouraged by this expression of growing
support for its work. The Committee is accordingly composed
of the following Member States: Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba,
Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao
People’s Democratic Republic,Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali,
Malta, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and
Yugoslavia.5
11. At its 235th meeting, on 5 February 1998, the
Committee re-elected Ibra Deguène Ka (Senegal) as
Chairman, and re-elected Ravan A. G. Farhâdi (Afghanistan)
and Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla (Cuba) as
Vice-Chairmen and George Saliba (Malta) as Rapporteur.
12. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted its
programme of work for 1998.6
B. Participation in the work of the
Committee
13. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that
all States Members and Permanent Observers to the United
Nations desiring to participate in the work of the Committee
as observers were welcome to do so. In 1998, the Committee
again welcomed as observers all the States and organizations
that had participated in its work in the preceding year.7
14. In accordance with established practice, the Permanent
Observer of Palestine participated in the work of the
Committee as an observer, attended all its meetings and made
observations and proposals for consideration by the
Committee and its Bureau. In that regard, the Committee took
note with satisfaction of the adoption by the General
Assembly, by an overwhelming vote in favour, of resolution
52/250 of 7 July 1998 on the participation of Palestine in the
work of the United Nations, which conferred upon Palestine
additional rights and privileges of participation in the sessions
and work of the General Assembly and the international
conferences convened under the auspices of the Assembly or
other organs of the United Nations, as well as in United
Nations conferences.
Chapter IV.
Review of the situation relating to
the question of Palestine
15. Pursuant to its mandate, the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People continued
to keep under review the situation relating to the question of
Palestine and, in particular, to monitor the situation in the
occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the
developments in the peace process.
16. The Committee followed closely and with increasing
concern the efforts made throughout the year to restart the
peace process. In the Committee’s view, the reluctance of the
Government of Israel to abide by the existing agreements
precluded the possibility of a constructive dialogue and the
continuation of the peace process in accordance with the
agreed timetable. Essential aspects of the agreements, such
as further Israeli withdrawals from the West Bank, safe
passage between theWest Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Gaza
airport and seaport, and the release of prisoners, remained
unimplemented in the year under review. The Committee
welcomed the signing atWyeMills, Maryland, United States
of America, on 23 October 1998, of the Wye River
Memorandum and accompanying documents, which provided,
A/53/35
3
inter alia, for: further Israeli redeployment from 13 per cent Ministry of the Interior approved the construction of 58 units
of the West Bank; the steps to be taken by the parties in the in the area of the Mount of Olives. At the end of August 1998,
area of security; the renewal of negotiations on safe passage the Israeli authorities gave final approval for the construction
between theWest Bank and the Gaza Strip; the agreement to of 132 units in the Ras al-Amud neighbourhood of the city.
address without delay the issue of the Port of Gaza; and the On Jabal Abu Ghneim, the infrastructure stage of construction
commitment to resume permanent status negotiations. The of the “Har Homa” settlement has been completed and the
Committee viewed the conclusion of this agreement as an Government has declared that building is soon to begin. A
important breakthrough in the efforts to restart the peace plan for strengthening Israel’s control over Jerusalem was
process. The Committee also expressed the hope that the announced in June, with the creation of a Greater Jerusalem
Memorandum would be implemented in full and would umbrella municipality with administrative powers over an
restore the atmosphere of trust and confidence between the enlarged area encompassing nearby towns in Israel and a
parties, enabling them to move without delay to the permanent number of settlements in the West Bank, with the stated
status negotiations. purpose of linking them and strengthening the Jewish majority
17. One of the principal stumbling blocks to the peace
process has been the growth of settlements throughout the 19. Reflecting the intensification of settlement activities,
occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, in it was reported that the settler population in the West Bank
pursuance of the stated policy of the Government of Israel and the Gaza Strip grew by 3.3 per cent, to a total of 169,339
Government. To encourage settlement, prospective settlers in the first six months of 1998, with 163,173 settlers in the
are offered various incentives in the form of low-rate loans, West Bank and 6,166 in the Gaza Strip. In addition, some
favourable purchase prices and grants. In addition to the 180,000 settlers are estimated to be living in the Jerusalem
expansion of existing settlements, new ones have been or are area. The situation is further aggravated by the accelerated
being established. According to reports, these included, in pace of demolition of Palestinian houses by the Israeli
late November 1997, a new settlement known as “Oranim” authorities. Since the beginning of 1998, some 112
in the “Modi’in” block, west of Ramallah; in June 1998, a Palestinian homes have been demolished in the West Bank
new settlement known as “Hadar Betar”, south of Bethlehem, and 14 in East Jerusalem, resulting in the displacement of
as well as approval for the construction of 150 new housing over 440 Palestinians. As at August 1998, some 1,800
units in “Kiryat Arba”, east of Hebron; allocation by the Palestinian homes were reportedly targeted for demolition and
Knesset Finance Committee of some US$24 million for the were being destroyed at the rate of about one a day.
construction of 400 new units in village settlements, which
are essentially new areas on the outskirts of existing
settlements; and approval by the Ministry of Defence of the
transfer of 150 mobile homes to the settlements of “Dolev”,
“Neve Tzuf” and “Shavut Rachel”, in response to a campaign
by settlers against further Israeli redeployment in the West
Bank. In late July 1998, the Civil Administration approved
the construction of a new neighbourhood of 200 units in
“Kiryat Arba”. Further housing units, including mobile
homes, were added to a number of other settlements, in
particular near Nablus and in the area of Hebron still under
occupation, where clashes between settlers and Palestinians
have generated increasing tension. It was reported in August
1998 that 5,235 new units were under construction
throughout the occupied territory.
18. Of particular concern are settlement activities in and settlements of “Ma’ale Adumim” and “Givat Ze’ev” near
around Jerusalem, where Palestinian residency rights are also Jerusalem, and “Ariel” south of Nablus.
under increasing threat. It has been estimated that, as at
February 1998, up to 15,000 identity cards of Palestinian
Jerusalemites may have been confiscated. In June 1998, an
extremist settler group took over 4 housing units and a plot
of land in the Silwan neighbourhood. Also in early June, the
in the entire area.
20. The presence of settlements further exacerbates an
already tense situation because of the provocative actions of
extremist and armed settler groups. On numerous occasions,
settlers have moved illegally into Palestinian areas, forcefully
occupying housing or beginning the construction of new
housing under Israeli police protection. Violent
confrontations with Palestinian civilians have often ensued.
The Temporary International Presence in Hebron, the
international observer force set up in 1994, has expressed
concern at the aggressive behaviour of settlers in the city and
their increased verbal and physical attacks against
Palestinians and their property. On 11 June 1998, the Israeli
army authorized the creation of civil defence militias which
operate alongside Israeli police and security forces inside
settlements in the West Bank, beginning with the largest
21. Another issue of great concern to the Committee is the
continued imprisonment of a large number of Palestinians in
Israel (a total of 3,228 as at August 1998, to whom must be
added Palestinians held under administrative detention or
jailed in facilities run by the Israeli Defence Forces).
A/53/35
4
Information reviewed by the human rights treaty bodies 25. The Committee also welcomed the important work
indicates that the Israeli authorities have continued to use carried out by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency
psychological and physical torture against Palestinian for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in
detainees, resulting in a considerable deterioration of their providing relief and social services to Palestinian refugees in
health. In that regard, the Committee called upon Israel to the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Committee expressed
respect its obligations under human rights treaties and the great concern, however, at the considerable deficit in the
Fourth Geneva Convention and to release the prisoners in Agency’s budget and the continued decline in the level of
implementation of the bilateral agreements signed to date. service delivered to Palestinian refugees. In the light of this,
22. The Committee observed with great concern that,
during the year, the Palestinian economy continued to suffer,
in particular owing to the prolonged closures of the West
Bank and Gaza Strip and the resulting fragmentation of the
territory under the Palestinian Authority, which restricted the
movement ofworkers and goods, caused growing hardships
and led to a decline in output, exports, investment and
income. Economic conditions in the Gaza Strip were
particularly precarious, with an unemployment rate of some
30 per cent. Unemployment in the West Bank was around 20
per cent. Overall, there had been a steady deterioration of the
Palestinian economy since the signing of the 1993 agreement,
with gross national product per capita declining by at least
20 per cent in real terms.
23. The Committee also expressed concern at the reports
of water shortages in the occupied Palestinian territory, which
were seriously harming Palestinian agriculture and causing
severe difficulties, particularly in view of the fact that Israel
continues to control and utilize Palestinian water resources
freely for its own needs and those of the settlements.
Increasing industrial pollution, including groundwater
pollution, resulting from Israeli industrial activity in the
occupied territory also emerged as an issue for concern.While
noting with appreciation that some donor countries had
agreed to finance a major drilling project in the southern West
Bank, the Committee considered that ultimately only the
restoration of the rights of Palestinians to their own natural
resources would resolve this serious problem.
24. The Committee was encouraged to note that, despite the
growing difficulties faced by the Palestinian economy, the
international donor community had continued to make
sustained and determined efforts to meet emergency needs and
to promote the economic and social development of the
Palestinian people. The Committee also welcomed the
continued assistance rendered to the Palestinian people by the
United Nations family of organizations. It also noted with
appreciation the continuing essential role played by the
United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied
Territories in serving as a focal point for coordinating and
channelling the varied types of assistance provided by the
United Nations to the Palestinian people.
the Committee reiterated its call for stepped up international
support for the vital humanitarian activities of UNRWA.
Chapter V.
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 52/49
26. In pursuance of its mandate and in response to the
worsening situation with regard to prospects for a just and
comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine, the
Committee multiplied its efforts to mobilize the international
community in support of the Palestinian people, in
cooperation with United Nations bodies, intergovernmental
organizations, Governments, non-governmental organizations
and others, as indicated below.
1. Action in the Security Council and the General
Assembly
(a) Resumed tenth emergency special session of the
General Assembly
27. The Chairman and members of the Committee
participated actively in the second and third resumption of the
tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly
dealing with the item entitled “Illegal Israeli actions in
occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory”. Following the issuance of the report
of the Secretary-General (A/ES-10/16-S/1997/798 and
Add.1), pursuant to General Assembly resolution ES-10/3 of
15 July 1997, the emergency special session was reconvened
on 13 November 1997 at the request of the Permanent
Representative ofYemen, in his capacity as Chairman of the
Arab Group for the month of October 1997, the Permanent
Representative of Indonesia, in his capacity as Chairman of
the Islamic Group of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference in New York, and the Permanent Representative
of Colombia, in his capacity as Chairman of the Coordinating
Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries.
A/53/35
5
28. The Chairman of the Committee took part in the debate resolutions and stressed the necessity of the full and
and made a statement in which he called upon the Assembly immediate implementation by Israel, the occupying Power,
to express the position and will of the international of those demands; reiterated once again its recommendation
community in a clear and forthright manner, and to adopt concerning the convening of a conference on measures to
measures that would restore respect for international enforce the Fourth Geneva Convention in the Occupied
legitimacy and thus help to move the process forward Palestinian Territory; reiterated its recommendation to the
(A/ES-10/PV.6). Government of Switzerland to undertake the necessary
29. At the end of the debate, the General Assembly, by a
recorded vote of 139 to 3, with 13 abstentions, adopted
resolution ES-10/4 of 13 November 1997, in which it
condemned the failure of the Government of Israel to comply
with the provisions of two previous resolutions; reiterated its
recommendation for the convening of a conference of the
High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention on
measures to enforce the Convention in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem; recommended to
the Government of Switzerland, in its capacity as the
depositary of the Geneva Convention, to undertake the
necessary steps, including the convening of a meeting of
experts, as soon as possible and with a target date not later
than the end of February 1998; called for reinjecting
momentum into the stalledMiddle East peace process and for
the implementation of the agreements reached between the
Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization, as well as for the upholding of the principles
of the process, including the exchange of land for peace; and
decided to adjourn its tenth emergency special session
temporarily and to authorize the President of the most recent
General Assembly to resume its meetings upon request from
Member States.
30. The tenth emergency special session was again
reconvened on 17 March 1998 at the request of the Permanent
Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic in his capacity
as the Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of March
1998, and by the Permanent Representative of Colombia in
his capacity as Chairman of the Coordinating Bureau of the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. The Acting Chairman
of the Committee took part in the debate and made a statement
in which he called upon the Government of Israel to comply
with the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the
recommendations of the General Assembly, and to cooperate
fully in the preparatory work aimed at the convening of the
meeting of experts and the proposed conference of High
Contracting Parties (A/ES-10/PV.8).
31. At the end of the debate, the General Assembly, by a
recorded vote of 120 to 3, with 5 abstentions, adopted
resolution A/RES/ES-10/5 of 17 March 1998, in which it
reiterated its condemnation of the failure of the Government
of Israel to comply with the provisions of previous
resolutions; reiterated all of the demands made in those
preparatory steps with regard to the convening of such a
conference, including the convening of a meeting of experts;
decided to extend the target date for the convening of the
meeting of experts until the end of April 1998; and decided
to adjourn the tenth emergency special session temporarily
and to authorize the President of the most recent General
Assembly to resume its meeting upon request from Member
States.
(b) Security Council meeting, 30 June 1998
32. Following the decision by the Government of Israel to
further expand the boundaries of Jerusalem and create an
umbrella municipality that would include a number of
settlements in the West Bank, the Security Council, at the
request of the Permanent Representative of the Sudan, in his
capacity as the Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the
month of June 1998, held two meetings on 30 June 1998 to
consider the situation in the occupied Arab territories. The
Chairman of the Committee intervened in the debate,
expressing the hope that the Security Council would take
timelymeasures, with the support of the sponsors of the peace
process, to put an end to the unilateral decisions concerning
control over the Holy City of Jerusalem, which must remain
the living symbol of peaceful coexistence among religions and
peoples that are different yet complementary (see S/PV.3900
(Resumption)).
33. In a statement issued by its President on 13 July 1998,
the Security Council recognized the importance and
sensitivity of the issue of Jerusalem to all parties; expressed
its support for the decision of the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) and the Government of Israel, in
accordance with the Declaration of Principles, that the
permanent status negotiations should cover the issue of
Jerusalem; and called upon the parties to avoid actions which
might prejudice the outcome of those negotiations. The
Council also stated that it considered the decision by the
Government of Israel to broaden the jurisdiction and planning
boundaries of Jerusalem a serious and damaging
development, called upon Israel not to proceed with that
decision and not to take any other steps which would
prejudice the outcome of the permanent status negotiations,
and to abide scrupulously by its legal obligations and
responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
A/53/35
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Expressing support for the efforts of the Government of the the unanimous adoption by the General Assembly of a
United States of America to end the stalemate in the peace resolution in that regard.
process, the Council called upon the parties to respond
positively to those efforts; noted that the Palestinian side had
already given agreement in principle to the proposals of the
United States; and expressed the hope that the permanent
status negotiations could resume and progress could be made
towards the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace based on SecurityCouncil resolutions 242 (1967) and
338 (1973). The Council also decided to keep Israeli actions
under review.
(c) Communication addressed to the President of
the Security Council
34. In a letter dated 17 February 1998 addressed to the
President of the Security Council (S/1998/134), the Acting
Chairman of the Committee referred to proposals to
streamline the standing agenda of the Council by deleting
items that had not been considered for a certain period of
time. He indicated that the Committee objected to the deletion
of items related to the exercise of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, the Palestine question and the Arab-Israeli
conflict in the Middle East, which were of utmost concern not
only to the Committee but also to the majority of Member
States. He stated that, pending a comprehensive, just and
lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of
which was the question of Palestine, in accordance with
international legitimacy, those items should remain on the list,
as they continued to engage the responsibility of the Security
Council with regard to the maintenance of international peace
and security.
(d) Request for the inclusion of an item entitled
“Bethlehem 2000” in the agenda of the fiftythird
session of the General Assembly
35. In response to a request made by the Committee at its
237th meeting on 16 April 1998, the members of its Bureau
addressed a letter to the Secretary-General dated 15 May
1998 (A/53/141), recommending the inclusion of an item
entitled “Bethlehem 2000” in the agenda of the fifty-third
session of the General Assembly. In the explanatory
memorandum annexed to the letter, the Bureau members
stressed the significance of holding the millennial celebration
in a global vision of hope and peace for all peoples at
Bethlehem, one of the most historic and religiously significant
sites on Earth. They called for the mobilization of
international support for the undertaking by the Palestinian
Authority through financial contributions, investment,
expertise and promotion of international awareness, and for
2. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee
in international conferences and meetings
36. The Chairman of the Committee participated in a
number of high-level meetings of intergovernmental bodies
concerned with the question of Palestine and contributed to
their deliberations in support of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, as follows:
(a) Eighth Islamic Summit Conference, Tehran,
9–11 December 1997. At the 236th meeting of the
Committee, the Chairman reported on the resolutions adopted
by the Eighth Islamic Summit Conference, which had
reaffirmed support for the peace process, had expressed
concern over the unilateral actions by Israel in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and had called
upon the Security Council and the High Contracting Parties
to the Fourth Geneva Convention to take the necessary
measures (see A/53/72-S/1998/156, annex V, resolutions
1/8-P (IS), 2/8-P (IS) and 6/8-P (IS));
(b) Twenty-fifth session of the Islamic Conference
of Foreign Ministers, Doha, 15–19 March 1998. The
Chairman informed the Committee at its 236th meeting that
the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers had adopted a
communiqué calling, inter alia, upon its members to
commemorate appropriately the fiftieth anniversary of the
dispossession of the Palestinian people, and requesting
Islamic States which had established relations with Israel
within the framework of the peace process, to reconsider such
relations (see A/53/95-S/1998/311, annex);
(c) Bethlehem 2000 Participants Conference,
Brussels, 11–12 May 1998. The Chairman attended the
Bethlehem 2000 Participants Conference at the invitation of
Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the
PLO and President of the Palestinian Authority, and reported
to the Committee at its 238th meeting that the Conference had
been successful in mobilizing substantial international
support for the various aspects of the Bethlehem 2000
project, and that President Arafat had welcomed the
Committee’s engagement to do everything possible to
heighten awareness of the project within the United Nations;
(d) Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating
Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement, Cartagena de
Indias, Colombia, 18–20 May 1998. In its final
communiqué, the Ministerial Meeting, inter alia, expressed
support for the draft resolution to be submitted to the General
Assembly to enable the full participation of Palestine in the
work of the United Nations and all of its subsidiary organs,
A/53/35
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and reiterated that the participation of Israel in the work of region, and welcomed its determination to continue to make
the General Assembly must be in conformity with efforts to restart the negotiations and to achieve a just peace
international law and the Charter of the United Nations; on the basis of the agreements already reached between the
(e) Sixty-eighth ordinary session of the Council
of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity and
thirty-fourth ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads
of State and Government of the Organization of African
Unity, Ouagadougou, 4–10 June 1998. In its resolution on
the question of Palestine, the Council of Ministers of the
Organization of African Unity (OAU) reaffirmed the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right
to establish its own independent State with Jerusalem as its
capital, called for implementation of the resolutions adopted
by the General Assembly at its tenth emergency special
session and for the continuation of the peace process in
accordance with the relevant resolutions, and invited the
support of the member States of OAU for the Bethlehem 2000
project (see A/53/179, annex I, resolution
CM/Dec/413(LXVIII));
(f) Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or
Government of the Non-Aligned Countries, Durban,
South Africa, 29 August–3 September 1998. The Heads
of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Countries
reiterated their support for the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, including the right to return and to an
independent State with Jerusalem as its capital; expressed
confidence that Palestine would enjoy full membership in the
United Nations in the near future; and reiterated that the
representation of Israel in the work of the General Assembly
must be in conformity with international law and that the
credentials of Israel did not cover the territories occupied
since 1967, including Jerusalem.
37. The Chairman of the Committee also spoke on behalf
of the Committee at the meeting of the Special Committee on
the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the
Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial
Countries and Peoples, in observance of the Week of
Solidarity with Peoples of All Colonial Territories Fighting
for Freedom, Independence and Human Rights, held at United
Nations Headquarters, on 22 May 1998.
38. The Committee also continued to follow with great
interest the activities of other intergovernmental organizations
relating to the question of Palestine, in particular the
European Union, the decisions and resolutions of United
Nations bodies and agencies, notably the Economic and
Social Council, the Commission on Human Rights and the
Committee against Torture, and the positive efforts made by
many Governments. The Committee noted the increasing
concern of the international community over the stalemate in
the peace process and the aggravation of tensions in the
parties.
B. Action taken by the Committee and the
Division for Palestinian Rights in
accordance with General Assembly
resolutions 52/49 and 52/50
39. In carrying out its programme ofmeetings in the various
regions, the Committee continued to give priority to
promoting the exercise of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people and the effective implementation of the
agreements reached between the parties, and to mobilizing
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian
people.
40. In accordance with the authorization given to it by the
General Assembly in resolution 52/49, the Committee again
adjusted its programme as necessary in order to meet the
evolving situation in the most effective and constructive
manner, while keeping in mind the continuing financial
constraints facing the Organization. The Committee
expressed its great appreciation to the Governments of
Belgium, Chile and Egypt for having provided venues and
facilities for important events sponsored by the Committee.
41. In the course of the past year, the Committee, through
its Bureau, developed fruitful and mutually beneficial
cooperation on the question of Palestine with States members
of the European Union. The Bureau held periodic meetings
with representatives of Luxembourg, the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Austria, in their
capacity as holders of the Presidency of the European Union,
on furthering cooperation between the Committee and those
three members of the European Union. The Bureau was
encouraged by the exchange of views with the members of the
European Union, as well as by the growing understanding
between the two sides. The Bureau was also grateful to the
members of the European Union for their strong position in
support of the peace process and substantial economic
assistance to the Palestinian people. Both sides agreed to
continue the fruitful dialogue on issues of common interest.
42. The Bureau also held useful and constructive meetings
with the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and
the Under- Secretary-General for Public Information on key
elements of the implementation of its programme of work.
1. Conference in Support of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
A/53/35
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43. The Conference in Support of the Inalienable Rights of 2. Seminars and meetings of non-governmental
the Palestinian People was held at Brussels, on 24 and 25 organizations
February 1998, in cooperation with the Organization of the
Islamic Conference and the League of Arab States.
44. The Conference was attended by many high-level redeploy funds towards other initiatives, the Committee
participants, including Erik Derycke, Minister for Foreign decided not to hold the annual meeting of consultations with
Affairs of Belgium, who opened the meeting and spoke on the coordinating committees of non-governmental
behalf of the host country. Among the distinguished speakers organizations in 1998, and to review that decision in the
were HennadiyUdovenko, President of the General Assembly context of its programme for 1999.
of the United Nations; Carlos Lemos Simmonds,
Vice-President of Colombia; Azeddine Laraki,
Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference; and Said Kamal, Assistant Secretary-General of
the League of Arab States for Palestinian Affairs. The
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO and
President of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat, attended
the Conference and made an important statement. Statements
were also made by the representative of the Secretary-General
of the United Nations, high-level representatives of Member
States, and by representatives of OAU and the Islamic
Development Bank.
45. A number of eminent personalities from various parts
of the world, including Palestinians and Israelis, participated
in an exchange of views on the following themes: promoting
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people: a key to peace
in theMiddle East; the need to improve the living conditions
of the Palestinian people and promote economic and social
development; and theMiddle East peace process: the current
situation and prospects.
46. The organizers of the Conference issued concluding
remarks, in which they voiced concern at the stalemate in the
peace process caused by setbacks and obstacles put in place
by the Government of Israel. They referred to the violation
by Israel of the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention,
its settlement policies, attempts at altering the demographic,
historical and cultural character and status of Jerusalem and
the imposition of an economic blockade on the Palestinian
territory. The organizers emphasized the fact that, while the
world was celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the rights of the Palestinian
people continue to be denied. They underlined the fact that
the Israeli occupation of Palestinian and Arab lands, including
Jerusalem, must be brought to an end without delay. The
organizers also reaffirmed the permanent responsibility of the
United Nations towards the question of Palestine until it is
resolved in all its aspects.
47. A comprehensive report containing the proceedings of
the Conference will be issued as a publication of the Division
for Palestinian Rights.
48. In accordance with previous decisions to streamline its
programme of meetings, and in the light of the need to
49. In response to a request made bymembers of the North
American Coordinating Committee of Non-Governmental
Organizations, the Bureau of the Committee met informally
with some members of the Coordinating Committee in New
York on 2 February 1998 for an exchange of views with
regard to current priorities in the work of the Committee and
future cooperation with the North American nongovernmental
organizations.
(a) European Symposium of Non-Governmental
Organizations
50. The European Symposium of Non-Governmental
Organizations on the Question of Palestine with the theme
“Action by non-governmental organizations in support of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people”, was held at
Brussels, on 26 February 1998, after the Conference in
Support of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
The participants included representatives of European nongovernmental
organizations, Governments, United Nations
bodies and agencies, intergovernmental organizations, a
delegation of Palestine, and a number of panellists, including
Palestinians and Israelis.
51. The following topics were discussed by the participants:
the Middle East peace process: current situation and
prospects; the European position and the policy of the
European Union; and international law, world public opinion
and the role of non-governmental organizations. In their final
statement, the non-governmental organizations expressed
deep concern at the stalemate in the negotiations, resulting
in particular from the unilateral actions of the Government
of Israel. They reiterated their commitment to a just and
lasting peace based on self-determination for the Palestinian
people, an independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as
its capital and the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
52. The report of the Symposium will be issued as a
publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
A/53/35
9
(b) International Meeting of Non-Governmental themselves resolve fundamental political issues and that
Organizations political action required a favourable economic environment
53. The United Nations International Meeting of Non-
Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine,
with the theme “The question of Palestine: the international
responsibility 50 years later”, was held at Cairo, on 25 and
26 April 1998. TheMeeting was attended by panellists from
various regions, including Palestinians and Israelis, as well
as representatives of non-governmental organizations,
Governments, United Nations bodies and agencies,
intergovernmental organizations, and a delegation of
Palestine. 58. The report of the Seminar was issued as a document of
54. Panel discussions were held on the international
responsibility fifty years later, and on support by nongovernmental
organizations for international efforts to
promote a comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the
question of Palestine. In their final statement, the
participating non-governmental organizations noted with
satisfaction that the meeting had been convened in the Middle
East for the first time and urged that future events for nongovernmental
organizations also be held in the region. They
reiterated their commitment to a just and lasting peace based
on self-determination and the establishment of an independent
Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital. In support of
that goal, the non-governmental organizations reaffirmed their
recognition of the State of Palestine in conformity with the
1988 Declaration of Independence, and looked to 1999 as the
year of the State of Palestine. The participating nongovernmental
organizations also stated that they would work
with their constituents and the public to prepare them for the
declaration of the independent Palestinian State.
55. The report of the Meeting will be issued as a publication
of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
(c) Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem; and the
56. A seminar, with the theme “Facing the challenges of the
year 2000: promoting Palestinian national development”, was
held at Cairo, on 27 and 28 April 1998. The participants
included Palestinian and Israeli panellists, representatives of
Governments, including the host Government, representatives
of United Nations bodies and agencies, representatives of
intergovernmental organizations, and a delegation of
Palestine.
57. The following topics were discussed by the participants:
the Palestinian development plan; gathering information for
future planning: the results of the Palestinian census; and
overcoming obstacles: the role of the international
community. Summarizing the results of the Seminar, the
Chairman noted that economic measures could not by
in order to succeed. There was a consensus among the
participants regarding the responsibility of the international
community, including the United Nations,Member States and
intergovernmental organizations, for ending 30 years of
occupation and 50 years of dispossession of the Palestinian
people. The Committee was encouraged that many speakers
at the seminar expressed the view that the establishment of
a Palestinian State was inevitable, and expressed their support
for it as the only viable solution.
the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council
for consideration under the relevant agenda items, at the
request of the Chairman of the Committee
(A/53/152–E/1998/71). It will also be issued as a publication
of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
(d) Latin American and Caribbean Seminar and
Symposium of Non-Governmental Organizations
on the Question of Palestine
59. The Latin American and Caribbean Seminar and
Symposium of Non-Governmental Organizations, with the
theme “Achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting solution
of the question of Palestine – the role of Latin America and
the Caribbean”, was held at Santiago, from 26 to 29 May
1998. The participants included representatives of
Governments, a representative of the host Government,
representatives of United Nations bodies and agencies, and
a delegation of Palestine, as well as experts from Latin
America and the Caribbean and other regions, including
Palestinian and Israeli panellists.
60. The following issues were discussed by the participants:
the current political situation; the current situation in the
role of Latin America and the Caribbean in promoting a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the question of
Palestine through solidarity and assistance. In a final
document adopted at the conclusion of the meeting, the
participants emphasized the significance of the role of Latin
America and the Caribbean in promoting a comprehensive,
just and lasting solution of the question of Palestine in
accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions. They
particularly welcomed the holding of the meeting in Chile
because of its prominent role in the region and in international
bodies, the presence ofmany Chileans of Palestinian descent,
and its support for Palestinian rights. The participants called
upon the Governments of Latin America and the Caribbean
to play an important role in promoting Palestinian efforts to
achieve independence and sovereignty, in particular by
A/53/35
10
establishing diplomatic representation in the area under the 66. Accordingly, the Division continued to respond to
Palestinian Authority and by supporting the upgrading of the requests for information and to prepare and disseminate
status of Palestine at the United Nations. For their part, non- throughout the world the following publications:
governmental organizations decided to assign priority to
humanitarian, social and cultural assistance to the Palestinian
people, as well as the promotion of dialogue and joint
activities by the Palestinian and Jewish communities in Latin
America and the Caribbean with the objective of achieving
better mutual understanding and promoting support for the
peace process.
61. The report of the Seminar and Symposium will be
issued as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
(e) North American Symposium of Non-
Governmental Organizations
62. The North American Symposium of Non-Governmental
Organizations with the theme “Fifty years of dispossession
of the Palestinian people”, was held at United Nations
Headquarters, from 15 to 17 June 1998. Participants included
representatives of non-governmental organizations from
Canada and the United States of America, Governments,
United Nations bodies and agencies, and intergovernmental
organizations, a delegation of Palestine, and panellists,
including Palestinians and Israelis.
63. Papers were presented by the panellists on the following
topics: memory: remembering the Palestinian history;
conscience: strategies for contesting the future; and from
memory to conscience: the consequences for the work of nongovernmental
organizations in North America. In addition,
workshops were held, at which the participating nongovernmental
organizations decided on a number of activities
to be carried out in future, in particular regarding Israeli
settlements, Jerusalem, the closures, promoting respect for
the Fourth Geneva Convention, and refugees, as well as
monitoring of the media in order to ensure fairness and
accuracy.
64. The report of the Symposium will be issued as a
publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
3. Research, monitoring and publications
65. The Committee continued to attach great importance
to the essential contribution of the Division for Palestinian
Rights and requested it to continue its established programme
of work, including studies and publications, the further
development of the electronic information system United
Nations Information System on the question of Palestine
(UNISPAL), the annual training programme for staff of the
Palestinian Authority, and the annual observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
(a) Monthly bulletin covering action by the
Committee, United Nations bodies and agencies, and
intergovernmental organizations concerned with the question
of Palestine;
(b) Periodic bulletin entitled “Developments related
to the Middle East peace process”;
(c) Monthly chronology of events relating to the
question of Palestine, based on media reports and other
sources;
(d) Reports ofmeetings organized under the auspices
of the Committee;
(e) Special bulletin on the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(f) Annual compilation of relevant resolutions,
decisions and statements by the General Assembly and the
Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
67. In addition, the Division published a study entitled “The
status of Jerusalem”. It also updated and reissued its
information notes on the work of the Committee and the
Division, on the activities of the United Nations and those of
non-governmental organizations on the question of Palestine,
and on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People. The Committee expressed the wish that the Division
prepare a new pamphlet on the question of Palestine, in close
cooperation with the Department of Public Information.
4. United Nations Information System on the
Question of Palestine
68. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with
relevant technical services of the United Nations Secretariat,
continued to develop UNISPAL, as mandated by the General
Assembly in 1991. This included a further upgrading of
hardware and software, the expansion of the collection of
documents, improvement of a database relating to nongovernmental
organizations, and the establishment and further
development of the question of Palestine and UNISPAL sites,
<ht t p ://www. un.org/D ep t s /dp a/q p al> and
<http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.nsf>, respectively, on the
Internet.
69. The technical resources of the Division were also used
to assist in the electronic conversion of the records of the
United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, in
pursuance of the mandate given by the General Assembly in
resolution 51/129 of 13 December 1996 and the
understanding reached with regard to the redeployment of
A/53/35
11
funds from savings generated in carrying out the programme officials and analysts from the Palestinian Authority, Israel,
of work of the Committee. neighbouring countries and the United States of America, as
5. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian
Authority
70. Two staff members of the Palestinian Authority from,
respectively, the Ministry of Planning and International
Cooperation and the Negotiations Affairs Department,
participated in a training programme conducted by the
Division fromSeptember to December 1997, in conjunction
with the fifty-second session of the General Assembly. They
familiarized themselves with various aspects of the work of
the United Nations, attended various briefings and meetings
of relevant committees and bodies of the United Nations, and
conducted research on topics of interest to them.
6. International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
71. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People was observed, on 1 December 1997, at United Nations
Headquarters and at the United Nations Offices at Geneva and
Vienna. On the occasion of the observance at Headquarters,
in addition to a solemn meeting of the Committee and other
activities, an exhibit entitled “At home in Palestine”, was
presented by the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine,
under the auspices of the Committee. The Committee noted
with appreciation that the International Day had also been
observed in many other cities throughout the world. Details
on the observance are contained in the special bulletin issued
by the Division.
72. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee
decided that a similar event would be organized in connection
with the observance of the Day in 1998.
VI. Action taken by the Department of
Public Information in accordance
with General Assembly resolution
52/51
73. The Committee noted that, in pursuance of General
Assembly resolution 52/51, the Department of Public
Information continued its special information programme on
the question of Palestine, which included the convening of a
regional seminar and an international seminar on the theme
“Prospects for peace”.
74. In cooperation with the Government of India, the
Department convened a regional seminar at New Delhi, on
3 and 4 February 1998. Panellists included distinguished
well as the host country. Their presentations were followed
by an exchange of views with the participants in the audience,
which consisted primarily of representatives of prominent
media organizations from the Asian region, as well as the
Palestinian Authority and Israel. Representatives of Member
States and of specialized agencies based at New Delhi
participated in the seminar as observers.
75. The international seminar was held, in cooperation with
the Government of the Czech Republic at Prague, on 24 and
25 June 1998. The format of the seminar was the same as that
held at New Delhi and included the participation of
distinguished officials and analysts from the Palestinian
Authority, Israel, neighbouring countries, the United States
ofAmerica, Europe and the host country, as well as prominent
media representatives fromWestern and Eastern Europe, the
Palestinian Authority and Israel.
76. The Department provided press coverage, in English
and French, of all meetings held at United Nations
Headquarters, including those of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
Coverage in English and French was also provided to the
seminars and symposia held under the auspices of the
Committee in Belgium, Chile and Egypt. Press releases were
issued on the texts of the statements by the Secretary-General.
77. From September 1997 to August 1998, the
Dissemination and Communications Unit of the Department,
in accordance with its established pattern, distributed 9,436
hard copies of documents and, through electronic mail, 74
titles of documents related to the question of Palestine.
78. The Public Inquiries Unit of the Department responded
to 481 requests for information concerning Middle East
issues, including the question of Palestine. Its Group
Programmes and Community Liaison Unit organized nine
briefings on Middle East issues, including the question of
Palestine. One briefing was devoted exclusively to the
question of Palestine.
79. From 15 September to 7 November 1997, the
Department organized a training programme at Headquarters
for a group of 10 Palestinian media practitioners in order to
strengthen their professional capacity as information media
personnel.
80. The quarterly publication UN Chronicle has continued
to cover all important developments related to the question
of Palestine, including: action taken by the General Assembly
at its fifty-second session and at its tenth emergency special
session; action taken by the Security Council; special
coverage in the “Systemwatch” section of the publication of
A/53/35
12
the activities of UNRWA, as well as other relevant activities Sydney, in cooperation with the Human Rights and Equal
of the United Nations system. The UN Chronicle also carried Opportunities Commission of Australia, organized a public
an interview with Ibra Deguène Ka, Chairman of the forum to highlight the rights of the Palestinian people. The
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Centre at Washington, D.C., organized meetings for the 10
Palestinian People, which was conducted by a group of the Palestinian media practitioners to observe the press
Palestinian media practitioners undertaking the training conference at the White House and the Department of State
programme at United Nations Headquarters. of the United States ofAmerica, and provided administrative
81. The Radio and Central News Service of the Department
covered extensively all aspects of Palestine and related issues
in daily news bulletins and weekly current affairs magazine
programmes, in both official and non-official languages for
regional and worldwide dissemination. The Service also
produced a four-part special series in Arabic entitled “United
Nations assistance to the Palestinian People”, based on
interviews conducted in theWest Bank and the Gaza Strip by
the United Nations radio officer with United Nations officials,
personnel of the Palestinian Authority and United Nations 84. The global network of United Nations information
local staff. The Service widely covered in news magazines centres and information services actively promoted the central
United Nations-sponsored regional conferences on the issues relating to the question of Palestine, by organizing
question of Palestine held at Athens, New Delhi, Brussels and media activities and special events, producing newsletters and
Santiago, as well as the financial crisis of UNRWA. Meetings regularly disseminating relevant information materials made
of the tenth emergency special session of the General available from Headquarters. In many cases, the material
Assembly were also covered in news bulletins and news disseminated was translated into local languages. Six
magazine programmes, in various languages. information centres provided media relations and logistical
82. TheMedia Division of the Department taped on video
all the activities of the visit of the Secretary-General to the
Middle East, including the occupied Palestinian territory and
Israel. The footage and photographs were made available to
news syndicators and used in the television production “Year
in Review”.
83. The Department cooperated with the Division for
Palestinian Rights in the media promotion of the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and provided
assistance in organizing the special exhibit in connection with
the observance, entitled “At home in Palestine”. The
observance of the Day presented special opportunities for
cooperating with local non-governmental organizations in the
organization of joint events and programmes to draw attention
to the issue of Palestinian rights. Print and electronic media
coverage of the event in most of the countries concerned was
extensive. Panel discussions and forums, with the
participation of officials from Governments, delegations of
Palestine, United Nations officials and representatives of nongovernmental
organizations, were among several activities
organized by the United Nations information centres at
Mexico City, New Delhi, Ouagadougou, Rabat, Sydney,
Australia, and Tunis. The Centre at New Delhi collaborated
with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Forum of Indian
non-governmental organizations and Jawaharlal Nehru
University and the Embassy of Palestine. The Centre at
and logistical support for those journalists. The Centre in
Paris arranged interviews with the Commissioner-General of
UNRWA with Le Monde, Le Figaro, Libération and La
Croix. The Centre at Tokyo arranged interviews for the
Education Director of UNRWA, with Yomiuri Shinbun and
The Japan Times. Many centres also dealt with the question
of Palestine in their periodic newsletters and bulletins, issued
special information materials in local languages, and made
relevant documents available.
support for major seminars held on the question of Palestine.
The Centre at Cairo lent such support, including assigning the
National Press Officer to cover the Seminar on Assistance to
the Palestinian People, followed by the International Meeting
of Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of
Palestine. The centres and services at Brussels and Santiago
also provided logistical, administrative and informational
support. The Department, in cooperation with and with the
assistance of the centres at New Delhi and Prague, organized
the regional and international seminars mentioned in
paragraphs 73 to 75 above. The Centre at Cairo, the Centre
and Service at Beirut and the office of the United Nations
Development Programme at Amman provided assistance to
the visit bymembers of the Special Committee to Investigate
Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the
Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied
Territories to Egypt, Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic,
from 21 to 31 July 1998.
85. The Dag Hammarskjöld Library has initiated
cooperative arrangements with the Library and
Documentation Centre of Al-Quds University at Jerusalem.
VII. Conclusions and recommendations
of the Committee
A/53/35
13
86. A crucial stage has been reached in the long history of
the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict
in the Middle East. The dispossession of the Palestinian
people has now passed the half-century mark. Of the two
States envisaged under General Assembly resolution 181 (II)
of 29 November 1947, only the Jewish State has come into
being, while the Palestinian people still yearns for the
establishment of its own State on its national soil. Four
million Palestinians still live in refugee camps under
precarious conditions. Despite the undeniable achievements
of the peace process since 1993, most of the Palestinian and
other Arab territories occupied by Israel in 1967, including
Jerusalem, remain under occupation, vulnerable to
exploitation of resources, land confiscation and encroaching
settlements. The area under the Palestinian Authority remains
fragmented, its social and economic life jeopardized by
damaging closures, lack of free passage and access to the
outside world. Thousands of Palestinians are still in Israeli
jails.
87. The continuation of this unjust situation and the
widespread suffering it entails is unacceptable, particularly
since agreements outlining the framework for a peaceful
solution were already reached by the parties. The Committee
believes that, as humankind prepares to enter the new
millennium, it is incumbent upon the co-sponsors of the peace
process, the Security Council and the international community
as a whole to do everything within their power to achieve
peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, which is so
essential for international peace and security. In this context,
the Committee expressed the hope that the Wye River
Memorandum, signed on 23 October 1998, would be fully
implemented, provide the much-needed impetus to the Oslo
process and help the parties to move forward to the
negotiations on permanent status issues.
88. To be truly lasting, peace must be based on solid
foundations of justice, respect for human rights and
humanitarian law, and relations of equality and partnership
between neighbours. The policies and practices of
occupation, which seek to create actuality on the ground and
to permanently alter the demographic composition of the
occupied territory, violate the right of the Palestinian people
to self-determination and statehood and make the achievement
of real peace impossible. The international community, in
particular the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva
Convention, must intensify its efforts to ensure protection for
the Palestinian people, pending the achievement of a final
settlement. The Committee, accordingly, will remain fully
engaged in efforts to convene the conference requested by the
General Assembly at its tenth emergency special session.
89. The Committee reaffirms that the United Nations has
a permanent responsibility with respect to the question of
Palestine until a satisfactory settlement based on international
legitimacy is reached. The Committee reiterates that the
involvement of the United Nations in the peace process, both
as the guardian of international legitimacy and in the
mobilization and provision of international assistance for
development, is essential for the successful outcome of the
peace efforts. As the organ of the General Assembly
established to deal with the question of Palestine, the
Committee pledges itself to continue to mobilize the
international community at the governmental,
intergovernmental and non-governmental levels, in support
of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution of this question,
in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions.
90. The Committee considers that its programme of
meetings in the various regions and its cooperation with nongovernmental
organizations have played a useful role in
heightening international awareness of the relevant issues and
in achieving wider recognition of and support for the
achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people. In that regard, the Committee will continue to review
and assess its programme in order to achieve maximum
effectiveness in its programme of meetings and other
activities, and to respond adequately to developments on the
ground and in the peace process. Recommendations to that
effect will be submitted in due course.
91. In response to the call by the Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the PLO and President of the Palestinian
Authority, Yasser Arafat, for the convening of the millennial
celebration at Bethlehem in the context of a global vision of
peace and reconciliation, the Committee has requested the
inclusion of an item in the agenda of the fifty-third session of
the General Assembly in order to mobilize wide international
support for the event. It is the hope of the Committee that the
Assembly will adopt a consensus resolution on this item. The
Committee is also planning to convene a Bethlehem 2000
international conference in Rome in early 1999. The
Committee invites the greatest international participation in
this major event.
92. The Committee stresses the essential contribution of the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations
Secretariat in support of the objectives of the Committee and
requests it to continue its programme of publications and
other activities, in particular the further development of the
UNISPAL collection, and the completion of the project for
the modernization of the records of the United Nations
Conciliation Commission for Palestine. The Committee also
considers that the annual training programme for staff of the
A/53/35
14
98-33844 (E) 201198
Palestinian Authority has demonstrated its usefulness and
requests that it be continued.
93. The Committee also considers that the special
information programme on the question of Palestine of the
Department of Public Information has made an important
contribution to informing the media and public opinion of the
relevant issues, and requests that it be continued, with the
flexibility necessary in the light of new developments. The
Committee believes that strengthening cooperation and
coordination with the Department will help to enhance the
special information programme on the question of Palestine
and assist the Committee in the implementation of its
mandate. The Committee is of the view that cooperation and
coordination between the Department and the Division for
Palestinian Rights should also be strengthened. The
Committee requests the Department to give particular
attention to the preparation of audio-visual and other
informational materials aimed at the general public.
94. Wishing to make the greatest possible contribution to
the achievement of a just and lasting peace during the difficult
times that lie ahead, the Committee calls upon all States to
join in this endeavour and invites the General Assembly again
to recognize the importance of the role of the Committee and
to reconfirm its mandate with overwhelming support.
Notes
Official Records of the 1 General Assembly, Thirty-first
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35);
ibid., Thirty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35);
ibid., Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35
and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/35/35); ibid., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/36/35); ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No.
35 (A/37/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-eighth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35); ibid., Thirty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/39/35); ibid., Fortieth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/40/35); ibid., Forty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); ibid., Forty-second Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/42/35); ibid., Forty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/45/35); ibid., Forty-sixth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35); ibid., Forty-seventh Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/47/35); ibid., Forty-eighth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/48/35); ibid., Forty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/49/35); ibid., Fiftieth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/50/35); ibid., Fifty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/51/35); and ibid., Fifty-second
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/52/35).
3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
4 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/52/35), chap. VII.
5 Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 47/1 of 22
September 1992, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia did not
participate in the work of the Committee.
6 A/AC.183/1998/CRP.1.
7 The observers at the Committee meetings were as follows:
Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq,
Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,
Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka,
Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates and Viet Nam,
as well as the League of Arab States and the Organization of
the Islamic Conference. Palestine also participated as an
observer.
A/54/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-fourth Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/54/35)
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-fourth Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/54/35)
Report of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
United Nations • New York, 1999
A/54/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
Contents
Chapter Paragraphs Page
Letter of transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–5 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–9 1
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–15 2
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–12 2
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–15 2
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16–29 3
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30–74 6
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 53/39 . . . . 30–37 6
1. Action in the General Assembly and communications to the
President of the Security Council and the Secretary-General . . . . . . 31–35 6
2. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee at international
conferences and meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36–37 7
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in
accordance with General Assembly resolutions 53/39 and 53/40 . . . . . . . . 38–72 8
1. Bethlehem 2000 International Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43–48 8
2. United Nations African Meeting in Support of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49–53 9
3. United Nations International Meeting on the Convening of the
Conference on Measures to Enforce the Fourth Geneva Convention
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem . . . . . . . 54–57 10
4. Visit of the Committee delegation to Gaza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58–60 10
5. Cooperation with non-governmental organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61–64 10
6. Research, monitoring and publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65–67 11
7. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine . . . 68–69 11
8. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority . . . . . . . . 70 11
9. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People . . . . . . . 71–72 12
C. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 53/27 . . . . 73–74 12
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 53/41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75–83 12
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84–92 14
iv
Letter of transmittal
15 November 1999
Mr. Secretary-General,
As humankind approaches the dawn of the new millennium, the Palestinian people
is yet to fulfil its aspirations for the exercise of its inalienable rights — the rights it has
been denied for over five decades. The Palestinian people has now reached a crucial point
in its history, at which decisions and transformations of historic consequence for the future
of the entire region of the Middle East will be made. Since its inception in 1975, the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People has striven
to support the Palestinian people in the quest for the realization of its inalienable rights,
namely, the right to self-determination without external interference; the right to national
independence and sovereignty; and the right to return to their homes and property from
which they had been displaced. The Committee will continue to provide the necessary
support to the Palestinian people until those rights are realized.
The Committee commends your efforts at supporting the Middle East peace process
and at bringing about a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of
Palestine, providing the varied economic assistance to the Palestinian people, carrying
out the difficult task of rehabilitating the Palestinian economy, as well as making the
socio-economic development of the Palestinian society viable and sustainable. The
Committee is confident that the United Nations will continue to support the Palestinian
people, helping it advance steadily towards statehood and economic recovery.
In the hope that our work will make a constructive contribution to the deliberations
of the General Assembly, I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for
submission to the General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 5 of its resolution
53/39 of 2 December 1998. The report covers the period from 4 November 1998 to 12
November 1999.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Ibra Deguène Ka
Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
A/54/35
11
Chapter I
Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People was established by the
General Assembly in its resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10
November 1975, with the task of recommending a
programme designed to enable the Palestinian people to
exercise its inalienable rights as recognized by the
Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November
1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its
first report to the General Assembly1 were endorsed by the
Assembly as a basis for the solution to the question of
Palestine. In its subsequent reports,2 the Committee has
continued to stress that a comprehensive, just and lasting
solution to the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-
Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United
Nations resolutions and the following essential principles:
the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and from the
other occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all
States in the region to live in peace within secure and
internationally recognized boundaries; and the recognition
and exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, primarily the right to self-determination. The
Committee’s recommendations could not be implemented
and the Assembly each year renewed the Committee’s
mandate and requested it to intensify efforts in pursuit of
its objectives.
3. The Committee welcomed the historic breakthrough
in the peace process in 1993 and the subsequent important
steps towards the achievement of a comprehensive, just and
lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, based on
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
At the same time, the Committee continued to work
towards the full realization of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, including the right to selfdetermination
and to its own independent State and to
mobilize the needed international assistance and solidarity
during the transitional period.
4. Having welcomed, in October 1998, the signing of
the Wye River Memorandum, the Committee expressed
concern at the subsequent freezing of its implementation
by the Israeli Government, which resulted in a prolonged
stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.
Following the May 1999 elections in Israel, the Committee
was hopeful that the new Israeli Government would be in
a position to bring about positive changes in the peace
process, as well as on the ground. In this regard, the
Committee took note of the stated intent of the Israeli side,
as stipulated in the Basic Guidelines of the Government of
Israel of 6 July 1999, to honour and implement the
agreements signed with the Palestinians. The Committee
was of the view that the resumption in August 1999 of the
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the signing on 4
September 1999 of the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum, the
implementation of the first phase of Israel’s further
redeployment from the West Bank and the start of the
permanent status negotiations were positive and
encouraging developments. The Committee also took note
of the agreed commitment by the parties to conclude a
framework agreement within five months from the
resumption of the permanent status negotiations and a
comprehensive agreement on all permanent status issues
within one year, that is, in September 2000. The
Committee expressed the hope that those important
negotiations would progress in the spirit of trust and
understanding between the parties and would bring
tangible results. The Committee, however, reiterated its
position of principle that the policies and practices of
occupation currently in place are in violation of the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons
in Time of War, of 12 August 1949 (the Fourth Geneva
Convention),3 and Security Council resolutions, pose a
serious threat to the peace process and can destabilize the
situation on the ground.
5. The Committee strongly supported all international
endeavours aimed at bringing about a speedy resumption
of the peace process and a comprehensive, just and lasting
settlement of the question of Palestine. For its part, the
Committee, as the organ of the General Assembly entrusted
to deal with the question of Palestine, has participated in
the various international initiatives in this regard. It
intends to continue to do so until the question of Palestine
is resolved in all aspects and the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people are fully realized.
Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
6. The mandate of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was again
renewed by the General Assembly in its resolution 53/39
of 2 December 1998, in which the Assembly (a) endorsed
the Conclusions and Recommendations of the Committee4
and requested it to continue to keep under review the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report
A/54/35
22
and make suggestions to the Assembly or the Security
Council, as appropriate; (b) authorized the Committee to
continue to exert all efforts to promote the exercise of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and to report
thereon to the Assembly at its fifty-fourth session and
thereafter; and (c) requested the Committee to continue to
extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other
non-governmental organizations in order to mobilize
international solidarity with and support for the
achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine.
7. In its resolution 53/40 of 2 December 1998, on the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat, the
General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to
continue to provide the Division with the necessary
resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its
programme of work as detailed in the relevant earlier
resolutions, including, in particular, the organization of
meetings in various regions with the participation of all
sectors of the international community, the further
development and expansion of the documents collection
of the United Nations Information System on the Question
of Palestine, the preparation and widest possible
dissemination of publications and information materials
on various aspects of the question of Palestine, the
provision of assistance in completing the project on the
modernization of the records of the United Nations
Conciliation Commission for Palestine and the provision
of the annual training programme for staff of the
Palestinian Authority.
8. In its resolution 53/41 of 2 December 1998, on the
special information programme on the question of
Palestine, the General Assembly requested the Department
of Public Information of the Secretariat, in full cooperation
and coordination with the Committee, to continue, with the
necessary flexibility as may be required by developments
affecting the question of Palestine, its special information
programme for the biennium 1998-1999.
9. In carrying out its programme of work, the
Committee also took into account General Assembly
resolution 53/42 of 2 December 1998, in which the
Assembly reaffirmed the necessity of achieving a peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine in all its aspects,
expressed its full support for the ongoing peace process,
and stressed the need for the realization of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to selfdetermination;
the need for the withdrawal of Israel from
the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967; and the need
for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees.
Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
10. The Committee is composed of the following Member
States: Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea,
Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,
Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and
Yugoslavia.5
11. At its 243rd meeting, on 9 February 1999, the
Committee re-elected Ibra Deguène Ka (Senegal) as
Chairman and re-elected Ravan A. G. Farhâdi
(Afghanistan) and Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla
(Cuba) as Vice-Chairmen and George Saliba (Malta) as
Rapporteur. At its 246th meeting, on 11 August 1999, the
Committee elected Walter Balzan (Malta) as its
Rapporteur, replacing George Saliba, former Rapporteur
of the Committee, who had been assigned by his
Government to another post.
12. At its 243rd meeting, the Committee adopted the
programme of work for 1999.6
B. Participation in the work of the
Committee
13. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that
all States Members of and permanent observers to the
United Nations desiring to participate in the work of the
Committee as observers were welcome to do so. In
accordance with established practice, the Permanent
Observer of Palestine participated in the work of the
Committee as an observer, attended all its meetings and
made observations and proposals for consideration by the
Committee and its Bureau.
14. On 17 November 1998, the Government of Yemen,
in a note verbale addressed to the Chairman of the
Committee, informed him of its decision to take part in the
work of the Committee as an observer. The Committee
welcomed the decision of the Government of Yemen and
approved the request at its 243rd meeting, on 9 February
1999.
A/54/35
33
15. In 1999, the Committee again welcomed as observers
all the States and organizations that had participated in its
work in the preceding year.7
Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to
the question of Palestine
16. The Committee continued to follow closely the
developments in the peace process. It expressed much
concern at the breakdown of the peace process following
the freezing of the implementation of the Wye River
Memorandum. In that regard, the Committee emphasized
the importance of respect for, as well as the full and timely
implementation of all the Israeli-Palestinian agreements.
The Committee expressed its regret that, for the greater
part of 1999, the peace process had remained stalled owing
to the position taken by the Government of Israel. During
that period, the Israeli authorities had continued to pursue
the policy of creating illegal “facts on the ground”,
effectively undermining the peace process and pre-empting
the outcome of the permanent status negotiations.
17. At the same time, the Committee was encouraged by
a series of important developments that had a positive
impact on the peace process. The Committee viewed the
visit by the United States President Bill Clinton to Gaza
and Bethlehem from 14 to 16 December 1998 and the
important statements made by him in the course of the visit
as a positive step aimed at restarting the peace process. The
Committee took note with satisfaction of the statement on
the Middle East peace process made by the Council of the
European Union at its session on 24 and 25 March 1999
and its reaffirmation of the continuing and unqualified
Palestinian right to self-determination, including the
option of a State. The Committee also noted the important
decisions in that regard made by the Palestinian Central
Council at its extraordinary session held in Gaza from 27
to 29 April 1999 and expressed full support for the position
taken by the Palestinian political leadership on the issue
of Palestinian statehood (see para. 35).
18. The Committee was hopeful that the new Government
of Israel would honour its obligations vis-à-vis the
Palestinian side under the Wye River Memorandum,
restore the spirit of confidence between the two parties,
vital to the success of the peace process, re-engage in the
peace negotiations fully and without preconditions and
move forward towards the sensitive stage of the permanent
status negotiations. In that connection, it welcomed the
resumption in August 1999 of the Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations followed by the signing on 4 September of the
Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum on Implementation
Timeline of Outstanding Commitments of Agreements
Signed and the Resumption of Permanent Status
Negotiations. The Memorandum provided, inter alia, for
resumption of the permanent status negotiations; further
phased Israeli redeployment from the West Bank; phased
release of Palestinian prisoners; agreement on the safe
passage between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip;
beginning of the construction work on the Gaza sea port;
agreement on some issues relating to the city of Hebron;
and agreement on security-related issues. The Committee
noted with satisfaction the beginning of the
implementation of the Memorandum in September 1999
and hoped that it would be completed in good faith and in
strict compliance with the agreed timetable. The
Committee also welcomed the signing of the Memorandum
as it enabled the parties to restart, on 13 September 1999,
their negotiations on the permanent status issues. It was
hopeful that the parties would be able to conclude a
framework agreement within five months from the
resumption of the permanent status negotiations, followed
by a comprehensive agreement on all permanent status
issues within one year.
19. The Committee supported the convening on 15 July
1999 at the United Nations Office at Geneva of the
Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth
Geneva Convention on Measures to Enforce the
Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including Jerusalem, as recommended by the General
Assembly at its tenth emergency special session in its
resolution ES-10/6. In that regard, the Committee noted
the significance of the Conference as it convened to
consider for the first time a specific case of violations of
the Fourth Geneva Convention. The Committee also took
note of the statement adopted at the conclusion of the
Conference. The participating High Contracting Parties
reaffirmed the applicability of the Fourth Geneva
Convention to the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem. The Conference adjourned on
the understanding that it would convene again in the light
of consultations on the development of the humanitarian
situation in the field.
20. In the year under review, the Committee continued
to follow closely the situation on the ground, including the
illegal settlement activities carried out by the Israeli
authorities. In disregard of the position of the international
community, the construction of new and expansion of the
existing settlements in the various parts of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, continued.
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Moreover, the outgoing Israeli Government made a
determined effort to accelerate that process. The year
witnessed an unhindered continuation by the Israeli
authorities of their settlement activities. During the year,
the Israeli authorities made public their plans for further
expansion of the settlement work. The Knesset Finance
Committee, on 16 December 1998, approved US$ 6.5
million for settlement housing and infrastructure
construction. On 10 May 1999, the same Committee
allocated another US$ 3 million for infrastructure work in
32 settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, beyond
the borders of existing settlements. According to Israeli
press reports, more than 20 per cent of all land slated by
Israel’s Ministry of Construction and Housing for
marketing in 1999 was located in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem. On 5 February 1999,
the Israeli Government approved its 1999 budget, adding
US$ 38 million for settlement construction in spite of
repeated appeals by the international community to halt
settlement activity. Actual settlement construction
continued at an accelerated pace in the various parts of the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. Settlements selected for
such sales included “Ariel”, “Alfe Menashe”, “Emmanuel”,
“Betar”, “Efrat”, “Maaleh Adumim”, “Givat Ze’ev”,
“Adam” and “Har Homa”. In February, tenders were
published for the construction of housing in the settlement
of “Efrat”, south, and “Betar Ilit” west of Bethlehem, as
well as in “Ofarim”, north-west of Ramallah. On 12 April
1999, a new construction was reported near the settlement
of “Brakha”, south of Nablus. In May, the Government
approved a plan to enlarge the area of the settlement of
“Maaleh Adumim”, east of Jerusalem, by over 1,300
hectares (3,250 acres), forming a continuous strip of
settlements and virtually cutting the West Bank in half. In
June 1999, settlers of “Ariel”, south of Nablus, obtained
permission to build 1,000 new housing units. It was
estimated that, once completed, the new units would
increase the number of settler households in the settlement
by 25 per cent. Also in June, “Neveh Dekalim” settlers
confiscated land near Khan Younis and built a new
settlement of “Tal Katif”. In the course of the year, tenders
were invited by the Government or published in the press
for the construction of additional housing in a number of
West Bank and Gaza Strip settlements. In spite of the
stated position of the new Israeli Government not to build
new settlements, Israel’s Ministry of Construction and
Housing has since July 1999 reportedly issued tenders for
the illegal construction of 2,594 new residential units
slated for settlements around Jerusalem, namely “Maaleh
Adumim”, “Givat Ze’ev”, “Betar Ilit” and “Har Adar”.
21. Another disturbing feature of the settlement drive of
the past year has been the “grab and settle” policy targeting
hilltops in the various parts of the West Bank, as well as
the continued acceleration of the construction of bypass
roads to service the settlements. Since mid-November
1998, following calls from Israeli government ministers
to “grab hilltops”, settler attempts to occupy hilltops
throughout the West Bank have become increasingly
frequent. Some 42 new hilltop settlements have been
established since the signing of the Wye River
Memorandum. The Committee noted the decision of the
Israeli Government to evacuate some of the settlements
stating that they had been set up “illegally”. In that
connection, the Committee wishes to reiterate its position
of principle that all the Israeli settlements on Palestinian
land are illegal and should be dismantled.
22. Settlement activity continued in and around East
Jerusalem. It was reported on 24 January 1999 that a
30,000 sq m commercial/residential development plan had
been approved for the settlement of “Ramot”. Israel
continued to challenge and violate the internationally
recognized status of Jerusalem. In a communiqué issued
on 14 March 1999, the Israeli Cabinet challenged the legal
status of the city, by stating that Jerusalem’s position as a
corpus separatum was legally incorrect and unacceptable
to Israel. It declared further that Israel would never accept
the “division or internationalization” of the city. In order
to attract settlers to the city, the Israeli authorities on 9
May 1999 offered US$ 5,000 to any Israeli willing to settle
in “new neighbourhoods” of East Jerusalem. The
authorities also agreed to a four-year plan to develop their
infrastructure. The Committee was particularly alarmed
by the beginning of the actual construction work on 16 May
1999 at Jabal Abu Ghneim, south of East Jerusalem and,
two days later, at the Ras al-Amud neighbourhood.
23. The Committee stressed the illegality of the
continued Israeli policy of “silent transfer” of Palestinians
from East Jerusalem. During the year, Palestinian
residence rights remained in jeopardy. In the first four
months of 1999, 127 identity cards were confiscated from
Palestinian Jerusalemites.
24. The Committee also noted with great concern the
provocative activities of extremist settlers and settler
groups. In the course of the year, the settlers continued
attempts to occupy Palestinian land and property, harass
Palestinian civilians and often engage in violent
confrontations with them. On 8 January 1999, a militia
composed of right-wing settlers was created for the purpose
of assisting settlers in the Nablus and Hebron areas in their
conflicts with the Palestinian population. On 8 June 1999,
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members of the “El Ad” settler organization occupied four
buildings purchased earlier in the Silwan neighbourhood
of East Jerusalem. For the first time since 1967, a civilian
guard was established on 11 June 1999 in the West Bank
settlements, intended to operate independently from the
Israeli police or Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
25. The Committee expressed concern that Israel
continued to detain some 2,000 Palestinians. Reports
available to the Committee indicated that many Palestinian
prisoners were suffering from various kinds of illness.
Some had serious heart or kidney conditions. The
Committee noted the release, in September and October,
of 350 prisoners, in accordance with the provisions of the
Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum. However, having noted
a delay in the implementation of the second stage of the
prisoner release, the Committee expressed the hope that
the remaining stage of the release would be implemented
on time and in full compliance with the Memorandum.
Concerned about the conditions of detention of Palestinian
prisoners and reports of harsh interrogation methods and
torture used by Israel’s General Security Service (GSS), the
Committee called once again upon the Government of
Israel to respect and abide by the provisions of the Fourth
Geneva Convention. The Committee noted with
satisfaction the decision adopted by Israel’s High Court of
Justice in September 1999 stipulating that the GSS was not
authorized to employ certain investigation and
interrogation methods that involved the use of physical
pressure against detainees.
26. Although the Palestinian economy showed signs of
a slight growth in real terms in the past year, the
Committee noted that it continued to suffer from structural
imbalance as a result of the occupation and over-reliance
on the Israeli economy. The restrictions on the movement
of goods and labour force between the West Bank and East
Jerusalem and between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
imposed by the Israeli authorities and the protracted lack
of agreement on the safe passage routes had a negative
impact on the livelihood of the Palestinian economy. The
economic situation in the Gaza Strip, in particular,
remained a cause of great concern.
27. During the year under review, the Committee
observed with increasing concern that the water supply
situation was precarious, stifling the prospects of economic
development of the Palestinian population. During the
summer drought of 1999, some 200,000 Palestinians
suffered from severe water shortages. Also, there remained
a long-standing disparity in the water consumption
between the Israelis and the Palestinians. On average, the
Israelis used some 53 gallons of water per person a day,
while the Palestinians used 18.5 gallons. In the densely
populated Gaza Strip the water situation was particularly
dire, at times forcing the population to consume water
polluted by the nearby eastern Mediterranean. Palestinians
in about 180 unconnected West Bank villages, with a
population comprising approximately 20 per cent of the
Palestinian population of the West Bank, were most
detrimentally affected by the water shortage. By contrast,
Israeli settlements had free access to water supplies.
Reports indicated that the IDF regularly trucked in water
to some of the settlements. As a result of the discriminatory
and illegal Israeli water-management practices, the
Palestinian population remained deprived of the right to
its water resources. In that context, the Committee
welcomed the assistance by some donor countries in
providing Palestinian towns and villages with water-supply
facilities.
28. The Committee expressed appreciation to the
international community for its continued economic
assistance to the Palestinian people in the various fields.
The Committee viewed this much-needed assistance by the
United Nations system and by the donor community as an
important form of support for and underpinning of the
peace process. It also considered it to be a crucial
contribution to the development of a sustainable
Palestinian economy and to the Palestinian institution- and
nation-building. In that regard, the Committee called upon
the international donor community to step up its assistance
to the Palestinian people and expressed the hope that the
contributions pledged towards the development of the
Palestinian economy would be disbursed in full and as a
matter of highest priority. The Committee welcomed the
determination of the donors to assist the Palestinian people
in its economic development. It noted the signing at an Ad
Hoc Liaison Committee meeting, in Tokyo, on 15 October,
of a tripartite action plan aimed at assisting the peace
process and accelerating the disbursement of commitments
in order to expedite implementation of essential
development projects without delay. The Committee took
note of the appointment on 21 September 1999 of Terje
Rød-Larsen as the United Nations Special Coordinator for
the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative
of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation
Organization and the Palestinian Authority and expressed
the hope that he would continue to serve as a focal point
for the various forms of United Nations assistance to the
Palestinian people. The Committee also expressed
appreciation for the efforts of the outgoing United Nations
Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories, Chinmaya
R. Gharekhan, to mobilize and coordinate the various
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forms of United Nations assistance to the Palestinian
people.
29. In spite of the worsening financial constraints faced
by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) during the
year, the Committee noted the crucial role played by the
Agency in assisting Palestine refugees through the
provision of relief and social services. The Committee
called upon all Governments, including non-contributing
Governments, to contribute to the Agency’s budget
regularly in order to meet its anticipated needs and to
intensify support for its activities. The Committee was of
the view that any reduction in the levels of financing of
UNRWA would result in further exacerbation of the plight
of the refugees. In view of this, the Committee firmly
believed that the international community should continue
to support the vital activities of UNRWA until the question
of Palestine refugees was fully resolved in accordance with
relevant United Nations resolutions and international
legitimacy. In that regard, the Committee was encouraged
by the outcome of the donors’ meeting held in Amman in
September 1999, at which pledges of additional
contributions to UNRWA were made by some donors.
Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 53/39
30. In pursuance of its mandate and in response to the
difficulties experienced by the peace process and
diminishing prospects for a just and comprehensive
settlement of the question of Palestine, the Committee
stepped up its efforts to mobilize the international
community in support of the Palestinian people, in
cooperation with United Nations bodies, Governments,
intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental
organizations and others, as indicated below.
1. Action in the General Assembly and
communications to the President of the Security
Council and the Secretary-General
(a) Resumed tenth emergency special session of the
General Assembly
31. The Chairman and members of the Committee
participated in the fourth resumption of the tenth
emergency special session dealing with the illegal Israeli
actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. In pursuance of General
Assembly resolution ES-10/5 of 17 March 1998, the
emergency special session was resumed on 5 February 1999
at the request of the Permanent Representative of Jordan,
in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States
for the month of January 1999.
32. The Chairman of the Committee took part in the
debate and made a statement in which he reviewed the
situation on the ground, as well as in the peace process. He
expressed support for and stressed the crucial importance
of convening a conference of the High Contracting Parties
to the Fourth Geneva Convention (A/ES-10/PV.10).
33. At the end of the debate, on 9 February 1999, the
General Assembly, by a recorded vote of 115 to 2, with 5
abstentions, adopted resolution ES-10/6, in which it
reiterated its condemnation of the failure of the
Government of Israel to comply with the provisions of
earlier resolutions; expressed grave concern at the adoption
by the Knesset of the law of 26 January 1999 and the
legislation of 27 January 1999, and reaffirmed that all
legislative and administrative measures and actions taken
by Israel, the occupying Power, which had altered or
purported to alter the character, legal status and
demographic composition of Occupied East Jerusalem and
the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, were all null
and void and had no validity whatsoever; reiterated all the
demands made of Israel, the occupying Power, in the
earlier resolutions of the tenth emergency special session,
including the immediate and full cessation of the
construction at Jabal Abu Ghneim and of all other Israeli
settlement activities, as well as of all illegal measures and
actions in Occupied East Jerusalem, the acceptance of the
de jure applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention and
compliance with relevant Security Council resolutions, the
cessation and reversal of all actions taken illegally against
Palestinian Jerusalemites and the provision of information
about goods produced or manufactured in the settlements;
reiterated also its previous recommendations to Member
States for the cessation of all forms of assistance and
support for illegal Israeli activities in the Occupied
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Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, in particular
settlement activities and actively to discourage activities
that directly contribute to any construction or development
of those settlements; affirmed that increased efforts must
be exerted to bring the peace process back on track and to
continue the process towards the achievement of a just,
comprehensive and lasting peace in the region on the basis
of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973)
and the principle of land for peace, as well as Security
Council resolution 425 (1978); recommended that the High
Contracting Parties convene a conference on measures to
enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including Jerusalem, on 15 July 1999 at the
United Nations Office at Geneva; invited the Government
of Switzerland to undertake the necessary preparations
prior to the conference; requested the Secretary-General
to make the necessary facilities available to enable the High
Contracting Parties to convene the conference; expressed
its confidence that Palestine, as a party directly concerned,
would participate in the conference; and decided to adjourn
the tenth emergency special session temporarily and to
authorize the President of the most recent General
Assembly to resume its meeting upon request from Member
States.
(b) Communications to the President of the
Security Council and the Secretary-General
34. In a letter dated 11 February 1999 addressed to the
President of the Security Council (S/1999/151), the
Chairman of the Committee reiterated the Committee’s
objection to the deletion from the list of items related to the
exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
the question of Palestine and the Middle East problem,
which were of utmost concern not only to the Committee
but also to the majority of Member States. He stated the
Committee’s belief that pending a comprehensive, just and
lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle
East, the core of which is the question of Palestine, in
accordance with international legitimacy, those items
should remain on the list of matters of which the Council
is seized, as they continued to engage its responsibility
with regard to the maintenance of international peace and
security. He also stressed that any decision to delete those
items, in the absence of positive developments in the peace
process, would go well beyond procedural reform and
would have far-reaching negative political implications.
35. In a letter dated 4 May 1999 to the Secretary-General
(A/53/938-S/1999/512), the Chairman of the Committee
informed the Secretary-General of the Committee’s
position concerning the series of meetings held in Gaza
from 27 to 29 April 1999, within the framework of the
extraordinary session of the Palestinian Central Council
and of the final statement adopted at the conclusion of the
session. He stated that the Committee expressed its full
support for the decisions of the Palestinian political
leadership and that it was hopeful that the Council’s
statement would lead to the revitalization of the currently
deadlocked peace process. In the Committee’s view, that
constructive diplomatic initiative should enable the parties
to re-engage in the critical phase of the permanent status
negotiations on the most sensitive and far-reaching
political issues of great importance for both peoples and
for the region as a whole. In view of this, the Committee
wished to take the opportunity to call upon the Government
of Israel to stop immediately its illegal policy and actions
aimed at creating “facts on the ground”, among other
things, through establishing new and expanding existing
settlements, stifling the Palestinian economic development
and livelihood, and denying the Palestinian people of its
inalienable rights. The Committee considered that the
Israeli side should respond to the decisions of the
Palestinian Central Council by returning to the negotiating
table as soon as possible, without preconditions and in
good faith, so as to allow the permanent status negotiations
to proceed towards a comprehensive, just and lasting
settlement of the question of Palestine. The Committee
remains hopeful that the permanent status negotiations,
once resumed by the parties, would be concluded within the
agreed time-frame of approximately one year. The
Committee also reiterated its position of principle in
support of the exercise by the Palestinian people of its
inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination
and the establishment of a sovereign State.
2. Participation by the Chairman of the
Committee at international conferences and
meetings
36. During the year, the Chairman of the Committee
participated in meetings of intergovernmental and other
bodies and other meetings relevant to the question of
Palestine and contributed to their deliberations in support
of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, as
follows:
(a) Twenty-sixth session of the Islamic Conference
of Foreign Ministers, Ouagadougou, 28 June-1 July 1999.
The Chairman informed the Committee at its 246th
meeting that the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers
had adopted a communiqué calling on the international
community to avoid dealings with Israel that might be
interpreted as implicit recognition of the de facto situation
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imposed by Israel when it declared the city of Al-Quds as
its capital, requesting its members who had established
relations with Israel to reconsider such relations, and
calling on the United Nations and other forums to force
Israel to release detainees (see A/53/1044-S/1999/924);
(b) Seventieth ordinary session of the Council of
Ministers and 35th ordinary session of the Assembly of
Heads of State and Government of the Organization of
African Unity (OAU), Algiers, 8-10 July and 12-14 July
1999, respectively (see A/54/424). In its decision on the
question of Palestine, the OAU Council of Ministers
reaffirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
including its right to declare a State; called upon Israel to
halt immediately its confiscation of Palestinian land and
expansion of settlements, especially in Jerusalem and its
suburbs; called for an accurate implementation of all peace
agreements; urged the sponsors of the peace process, the
parties concerned and the entire international community
to deploy all the required efforts to revive the peace process
and ensure its success; hailed the decision of the
Palestinian Authority to hold Bethlehem 2000 celebrations
and called on all Member States to give those celebrations
the attention they deserved, so as to ensure their success
on the path to peace and hope in the Middle East;
(c) The meeting celebrating the fiftieth anniversary
of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine, United Nations
Headquarters, 25 October 1999. The Chairman made a
statement on behalf of the Committee in support of the
work done in the Middle East, since 1949, by the Pontifical
Mission for Palestine — an operating agency of the
Catholic Near East Welfare Association. He expressed
appreciation for the Mission’s humanitarian assistance to
Palestine refugees and others throughout the region. The
Chairman also referred to specific activities of the Mission,
including, among others, the medical assistance to children
of the intifada, emergency relief to needy children in
Lebanon, the rebuilding of Palestinian homes, the
establishment of the Bethlehem University, the Ephpheta
Institute for hearing-impaired children and the Notre Dame
of Jerusalem pilgrimage centre.
37. As in previous years, the Committee followed with
great interest the activities relevant to the question of
Palestine of other intergovernmental organizations, as well
as decisions and resolutions of United Nations bodies and
agencies, notably the Economic and Social Council, the
Commission on Human Rights, the Subcommission on
Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities
and the Committee against Torture, and the positive efforts
made by many Governments. In that regard, the Committee
noted the increasing concern of the international
community over the lengthy stalemate in the peace process
and welcomed its determination to continue efforts aimed
at assisting the parties in bringing the negotiations back
on track.
B. Action taken by the Committee and the
Division for Palestinian Rights in
accordance with General Assembly
resolutions 53/39 and 53/40
38. In its programme of meetings organized in the
various regions, the Committee continued to give priority
to promoting the exercise of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, supporting the peace process and
stressing the need for timely and scrupulous
implementation by the parties of the bilateral agreements.
The Committee also urged the international community to
continue to provide political support, as well as broad
economic assistance to the Palestinian people.
39. On the basis of the provision contained in General
Assembly resolution 53/39, the Committee again adjusted
this programme, as necessary, in order to meet the evolving
situation in the most effective and constructive manner,
while keeping in mind the continuing financial constraints
facing the Organization. The Committee expressed its
great appreciation to the Governments of Egypt, Italy and
Namibia for having provided venues, facilities and
financial support for the events sponsored by the
Committee.
40. During the year, the Committee, through its Bureau,
continued its cooperation on the question of Palestine with
States members of the European Union. The Bureau held
consultation meetings with representatives of the European
Union (under the Presidencies of Germany and Finland)
with a view to developing closer cooperation between the
Committee and members of the Union. The Chairman of
the Committee briefed the members of the EU delegation
on the Committee’s current and planned activities and
expressed the hope that the Committee and EU would
continue to hold consultations on issues of common
interest. Both sides were in agreement on the need to
continue the dialogue. In the course of the preparations for
the Bethlehem 2000 International Conference (see paras.
43-48 below), the Bureau of the Committee developed a
close and fruitful cooperation with the Government of Italy,
which provided assistance in the organization of the
Conference. The Committee expressed its gratitude to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy for its dedicated
involvement in all aspects and all stages of the preparations
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for the Bethlehem 2000 International Conference. The
Committee was also grateful for the financial contribution
made by the Government of Italy towards the promotion
of the Conference. The Committee expressed satisfaction
at the way partnership had developed between the
Committee and the Italian side in the course of the
preparations for the Bethlehem 2000 International
Conference and expressed the hope that that cooperation
would continue.
41. The Bureau also met with the Under-Secretary-
General for Political Affairs and discussed the situation on
the ground and in the peace process, as well as the various
aspects of the work of the Committee. The Bureau was of
the view that such meetings were useful and constructive
and should be held periodically in the future.
42. Throughout the year, the staff of the Division for
Palestinian Rights met at Headquarters with members of
the general public and student groups and briefed them on
the various aspects of the question of Palestine and the
involvement of the United Nations in the issue.
1. Bethlehem 2000 International Conference
43. The Bethlehem 2000 International Conference was
held in Rome on 18 and 19 February 1999. The Conference
was organized in response to General Assembly resolution
53/27 of 18 November 1998. It was attended by many highlevel
participants, including the Honourable Francesco
Rutelli, Mayor of Rome; Sir Kieran Prendergast, Under-
Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Representative
of the Secretary-General of the United Nations; His
Eminence Roger Cardinal Etchegaray, President of the
Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 and Head
of the Holy See delegation; Mr. Jacques Baudin, Minister
for Foreign Affairs of Senegal; Dr. Azeddine Laraki,
Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference; Ambassador Ibra Deguène Ka, Chairman of
the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People; Mr. Jacques Diouf, Director-
General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations; Mr. Lamberto Dini, Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Italy. Among the eminent personalities who
spoke at the Conference were the Honourable Luciano
Violante, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, and
the Honourable Domenico Fisichella, Senator, Vice-
President of the Italian Senate and Representative of the
Honourable Nicola Mancino, President of the Italian
Senate. The Chairman of the Executive Committee of the
PLO and President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Yasser
Arafat, attended the Conference and made an important
statement.
44. A number of eminent personalities from various parts
of the world, including representatives from different
religious denominations, addressed the following
themes: celebrating the new millennium in a global vision
of peace and reconciliation, and preparing for the
millennium celebrations.
45. During the Conference, the Committee delegation
was received by H.E. Dr. Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, President
of the Italian Republic, who expressed the readiness of his
country to continue to make every effort aimed at bringing
the peace process back on track. The Committee delegation
was also received by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, who
expressed confidence that peace was possible in the Middle
East and that the promise of peace would become a reality
when the dignity and the rights of human beings, made in
the image of God, were acknowledged and respected. His
Holiness welcomed the Committee’s endeavours and sent
his blessings for the success of the coming celebrations in
Bethlehem.
46. In preparation for the Conference and with the
financial assistance from the Government of Italy, the
Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with the
Palestinian Authority, produced a background note on the
United Nations involvement in the Bethlehem 2000
Project, entitled “The United Nations and Bethlehem
2000”.
47. At the conclusion of the Conference, the participants
adopted the Rome Declaration, in which they promoted the
Bethlehem 2000 Project launched by the Palestinian
Authority and highlighted the urgency of bringing
economic recovery and prosperity to the Palestinian people.
They welcomed the adoption by the General Assembly of
resolution 53/27 and considered it a clear reflection of the
world community’s strong desire to bring the era of
dialogue, tolerance and reconciliation to the people of
Bethlehem and the entire Middle East. The participants
also expressed the view that freedom of movement and
unhindered access to the Holy Places in Bethlehem by the
faithful of all religions and nationalities were essential to
the city’s revival.
48. A comprehensive report containing the proceedings
of the Conference was issued as a publication of the
Division for Palestinian Rights.
2. United Nations African Meeting in Support of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
49. The United Nations African Meeting in Support of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was held
at Windhoek from 20 to 22 April 1999. The participants
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included eminent political personalities from Africa, a
representative of the Secretary-General, representatives of
Governments, intergovernmental organizations, United
Nations system organizations and agencies, the Palestinian
Authority, parliamentarians, non-governmental
organizations and representatives of the media.
50. The participants discussed the following issues:
promoting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people — a key to peace in the Middle East; the role of
Africa in supporting the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people; and celebrating the new millennium in
a global vision of peace and reconciliation — the
Bethlehem 2000 Project of the Palestinian Authority.
51. In the Windhoek Declaration, the final document of
the Meeting, the participants focused on the role of African
States in supporting the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people as well as the international community’s
action in promoting the Bethlehem 2000 Project. It was
also emphasized that the establishment of a Palestinian
State remained a key element for the successful settlement
of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of which is the
question of Palestine. The participants discussed the
experience of African States in the struggle for
decolonization, independence and sovereignty, as well as
the experience of Africa in the quest for economic
independence and sustainable development. Prospects for
the promotion of bilateral economic cooperation and trade,
as well as the establishment of business partnerships with
the Palestinian counterparts, were also discussed.
52. The Committee delegation was received by H.E. Dr.
Sam Nujoma, President of the Republic of Namibia, who
welcomed the efforts of the Committee aimed at bringing
about a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement on the
question of Palestine. The delegation was also received by
The Right Honourable Hage Geingob, Prime Minister of
Namibia, who expressed his country’s strong support for
the work of the Committee.
53. The report of the Meeting was issued as a publication
of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
3. United Nations International Meeting on the
Convening of the Conference on Measures to
Enforce the Fourth Geneva Convention in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
Jerusalem
54. The United Nations International Meeting on the
Convening of the Conference on Measures to Enforce the
Fourth Geneva Convention in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including Jerusalem, was held in Cairo on 14
and 15 June 1999. The Meeting was attended by
international legal experts, as well as by a representative
of the Secretary-General, representatives of Governments,
intergovernmental organizations, United Nations system
organizations and agencies, a representative of the
International Committee of the Red Cross, the Palestinian
Authority, non-governmental organizations and
representatives of the media.
55. The following topics were discussed by the
participants: violations by Israel, the occupying Power, of
the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention; the
enforcement of the Convention; and the Conference of the
High Contracting Parties to the Convention and its possible
outcomes.
56. In their final statement at the close of the Meeting,
the participants stressed the universal character of the
Geneva Conventions and the fact that their provisions had
been accepted as norms of international customary law.
They expressed serious concern with regard to grave
breaches and violations by Israel, the occupying Power, of
the Fourth Geneva Convention. They expressed their
utmost concern at the continuing settlement activities,
which included land confiscation and transfer of Israeli
civilians to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
Jerusalem, in clear violation of article 49 of the Fourth
Geneva Convention. They strongly supported the
convening by the High Contracting Parties of the
conference on measures to enforce the Convention, on 15
July 1999, at the United Nations Office at Geneva.
57. The report of the Meeting will be issued as a
publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
4. Visit of the Committee delegation to Gaza
58. Following the Meeting in Cairo, the Committee
delegation visited Gaza from 16 to 18 June 1999. During
that visit, the first for the Committee, the delegation was
received by the Chairman of the Executive Committee of
the Palestine Liberation Organization and President of the
Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat. The Committee also
had the opportunity to meet with high-ranking Palestinian
officials, including Palestinian Authority Ministers, the
Mayor of Gaza City, the District Governor, as well as the
United Nations Special Coordinator of the Occupied
Territory and representatives of the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations
Children’s Fund and the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization.
59. The Chairman of the Committee briefed Mr. Arafat
on the various activities of the Committee, including the
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outcome of the Meeting in Cairo. Mr. Arafat and the
Chairman exchanged views on the latest developments in
the peace process, the continuing difficulties faced by the
Palestinian people and the need for international action in
support of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
60. While in Gaza, the Committee delegation visited a
number of UNDP projects in Gaza City, the Ministry of
Planning and International Cooperation and the Palestine
Red Crescent Community Centre, near the Khan Younis
refugee camp.
5. Cooperation with non-governmental
organizations
61. The Committee noted the important role played by
non-governmental organizations in mobilizing
international solidarity with the Palestinian people and
support for the achievement of its inalienable rights. With
a view to developing the most effective means of
cooperation with organizations on the question of
Palestine, the Committee has restructured its nongovernmental
organizations programme, including its
programme of meetings. The Committee held consultations
with representatives of organizations in Rome, in February
1999, during the Bethlehem 2000 International
Conference. Another consultation meeting is scheduled to
take place in November 1999 at Headquarters. In the
course of the year, representatives of non-governmental
organizations have participated in all the international
conferences and meetings organized under the auspices of
the Committee. A large number of organizations
participated actively in those meetings and showed
particular interest in supporting the Bethlehem 2000
Project of the Palestinian Authority, as well as discussing
issues relating to the enforcement of the Fourth Geneva
Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including Jerusalem.
62. In response to the Committee’s request to the
Division for Palestinian Rights to develop new and more
flexible ways of cooperating and communicating with nongovernmental
organizations, an Internet Web site, entitled
“NGO Network on the Question of Palestine”, was
launched in September 1999. It is maintained by the
Division and is part of a Web site on the United Nations
cooperation with civil society organizations established on
the United Nations home page. This Web site can be found
at: <http://www.un.org/depts/dpa/ngo>.
63. The staff of the Division participated in meetings
organized by civil society organizations in Murcia, Spain,
and Athens.
64. During the year, the Division continued to issue its
periodic newsletter entitled NGO Action News covering the
activities of non-governmental organizations on the various
aspects of the question of Palestine.
6. Research, monitoring and publications
65. The Committee continued to attach great importance
to the essential contribution of the Division for Palestinian
Rights and requested it to continue its established
programme of work, including studies and publications;
the further development of the United Nations Information
System on the Question of Palestine; the annual training
programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority; and the
annual observance of the International Day of Solidarity
with the Palestinian People.
66. Accordingly, the Division continued to respond to
requests for information and to prepare and disseminate
to its worldwide network the following publications:
(a) Monthly bulletin covering action by the
Committee, United Nations bodies and agencies, and
intergovernmental organizations concerned with the
question of Palestine;
(b) Periodic bulletin entitled “Developments related
to the Middle East peace process”;
(c) Monthly chronology of events relating to the
question of Palestine, based on media reports and other
sources;
(d) Reports of meetings organized under the
auspices of the Committee;
(e) Special bulletin on the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
and
(f) Annual compilation of relevant resolutions,
decisions and statements of the General Assembly and the
Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
67. The Committee expressed the wish that the Division
continue to work on a draft study on Israeli settlements and
on updating its information notes.
7. United Nations Information System on the
Question of Palestine
68. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation
with relevant technical services of the United Nations
Secretariat, continued to develop UNISPAL, as mandated
by the General Assembly in 1991. This included a further
upgrading of its hardware and software components, the
scanning and inclusion into the system of several hundreds
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of new and old documents, improvement of a database
relating to non-governmental organizations, improvement
of quality control and the further development and
improvement of access to the UNISPAL, as well as
question of Palestine sites on the Internet.
69. The staff of the Division coordinated and supervised
the electronic conversion of the records of the United
Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, in
pursuance of the mandate given by the General Assembly
in its resolution 51/129 of 13 December 1996 and the
understanding reached with regard to the redeployment of
funds from savings achieved in carrying out the
programme of work of the Committee. The conversion of
those records was further expanded to include additional
related documentation.
8. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian
Authority
70. Two staff members from the Ministry of Planning and
International Cooperation of the Palestinian Authority
participated in a training programme conducted by the
Division, from September to December 1998, in
conjunction with the fifty-third session of the General
Assembly. They familiarized themselves with various
aspects of the work of the Secretariat and other organs. The
programme included, among other things, attendance at
various briefings and meetings of relevant committees and
bodies of the United Nations, meetings with representatives
of delegations to the General Assembly and members of
staff of permanent missions to the United Nations. The
trainees also conducted research on specific topics of
interest to them.
9. International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
71. The International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People was observed on 30 November 1998 at
United Nations Headquarters and at the United Nations
Offices at Geneva and Vienna. On the occasion of the
observance at Headquarters, in addition to a solemn
meeting of the Committee and other activities, an exhibit
entitled “Bethlehem 2000” was presented by the Permanent
Observer Mission of Palestine, under the auspices of the
Committee. The Committee noted with appreciation that
the International Day of Solidarity had also been observed
in many other cities throughout the world. Details on the
observance are contained in the special bulletin issued by
the Division.
72. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee
decided that a similar event would be organized in
connection with the observance of the Day in 1999.
C. Action taken in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 53/27
73. In pursuance of General Assembly resolution 53/27
of 18 November 1998 and in response to the overwhelming
support the resolution had received during the fifty-third
session of the Assembly, the Committee has throughout the
year attached the greatest importance to the need to support
and promote the Bethlehem 2000 Project of the Palestinian
Authority. The Committee devoted a considerable part of
its programme of activities to that issue.
74. In a letter dated 28 September 1999 to the Secretary-
General, the Chairman of the Committee outlined the
action taken by the Committee with respect to Bethlehem
2000, including the convening of the Bethlehem 2000
International Conference in Rome; the promotion of the
Bethlehem 2000 Project at other meetings organized under
the auspices of the Committee; the promotion of the Project
at meetings with representatives of intergovernmental
organizations, namely, EU, the Organization of the Islamic
Conference and the League of Arab States; the role played
by UNDP, the World Bank and UNESCO in providing
assistance in connection with the Project; the preparation
and display at United Nations Headquarters, as well as in
Rome and Windhoek, of the Palestinian exhibit,
comprising works of art and photography from Bethlehem;
and the publication, in cooperation with the Palestinian
Authority, of a background note entitled “The United
Nations and Bethlehem 2000” (A/54/416).
Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department
of Public Information in accordance
with General Assembly
resolution 53/41
75. In pursuance of General Assembly resolution 53/41
of 2 December 1998, the Department of Public Information
continued its special information programme on the
question of Palestine, which included among its highlights
the convening of an international encounter on the theme
“Prospects for Peace” and the organization of a training
programme for Palestinian broadcasters and journalists.
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76. In cooperation with the Government of Spain, the
Department convened an international encounter in Madrid
on 23 and 24 March 1999. Panellists included
distinguished officials and analysts from the Palestinian
Authority, the Palestine Liberation Organization, Israel,
neighbouring countries, Europe and the United States of
America, as well as the host country. Their presentations
were followed by an exchange of views with the
participants in the audience, which consisted of
representatives of prominent media organizations from
Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the United States
of America, as well as the Palestinian Authority and Israel.
A large number of media organizations from the host
country were also represented.
77. From 19 October to 20 November 1998, the
Department organized a training programme at
Headquarters for a group of nine Palestinian broadcasters
and journalists in order to strengthen their professional
capacity as information media personnel. From 25 October
to 17 December 1998, the Department organized a training
programme for seven additional Palestinian broadcasters
and journalists. As was the case since the inception of the
programme in 1995, the Department included in the
planning of the programme elements such as workshops
at Columbia University’s School of International and
Public Affairs in New York and at CNN in Atlanta, as well
as briefings at international organizations and at
institutions of the Government of the United States of
America in Washington, D.C.
78. The Department provided press coverage, in English
and French, of all meetings held at United Nations
Headquarters, including those of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People. Coverage in English and French was also provided
to the conferences and meetings held under the auspices
of the Committee in Rome, Windhoek and Cairo. Press
releases were issued on the texts of the statements by the
Secretary-General.
79. From September 1998 to July 1999, the
Dissemination and Communications Unit of the
Department, in accordance with its established pattern,
distributed 1,529 hard copies of documents and, through
electronic mail, 43 titles of documents related to the
question of Palestine.
80. The Public Inquiries Unit of the Department
responded to 33 queries from the public on the question of
Palestine.
81. The quarterly publication UN Chronicle has
continued its coverage of issues related to the question of
Palestine in the period from September 1998 to July 1999.
Among articles published, one looked back on the
establishment, 50 years earlier, of the United Nations
Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) and another
provided coverage of the International Day of Solidarity
with the Palestinian People. The Bethlehem 2000 Project
to commemorate the new millennium in Bethlehem was
also covered. Issue No.1, 1999, of the quarterly included
a personal account of the early days of UNTSO by one of
its original local staff members. The UN Chronicle
provided regular coverage of peacekeeping operations in
the Middle East.
82. The Radio and Central News Service of the
Department covered extensively all aspects of the question
of Palestine and related issues in daily news bulletins and
current affairs radio programmes in various languages for
regional and worldwide dissemination. During the
reporting period, many interviews were conducted in
Arabic with Palestinian representatives and journalists
such as the Deputy Health Minister of the Palestinian
Authority, the Deputy Observer of the Permanent Observer
Mission of Palestine to the United Nations and journalists
who attended the 1998 DPI training programme for
Palestinian broadcasters and journalists. Among the topics
covered in the news bulletins and current affairs magazines
were: the question of Palestine during the fifty-third
session of the General Assembly; the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People; the Committee on
Population and Development and the health situation in
Palestine; the situation in the occupied Palestinian
territory; the current status of the peace process and the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people; the Panel of
Experts on Israeli Violations of the Fourth Geneva
Convention; and the UNDP celebration of the twentieth
anniversary of its assistance to the Palestinian people. In
addition to short items in the news and current affairs
magazines, the Service also produced 12 magazine and
feature programmes devoted exclusively to the question of
Palestine, including a four-part series entitled “UN
assistance to the Palestinian People” in Arabic.
83. The Department cooperated with the Division for
Palestinian Rights in the media promotion of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
and provided assistance in organizing the special exhibit
in connection with the observance, entitled “Bethlehem
2000”. The observance of the Day presented special
opportunities for cooperating with local non-governmental
organizations in the organization of joint events and
programmes to draw attention to the issue of Palestinian
rights. Print and electronic media coverage of the event in
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most of the countries concerned was extensive. The Day
was a major focus of the global network of United Nations
information centres and information services. Special
events were organized by the United Nations Information
System in Beirut, and the United Nations Information
Centres in Cairo, Dhaka, Harare, Islamabad, Lagos,
Lisbon, Mexico City, Moscow, New Delhi, Ouagadougou,
Pretoria, Sana’a, Bogotá and Tunis. Those activities
included briefings, media campaigns, press conferences,
interviews, lectures, seminars, television programmes and
concerts. The United Nations Information Centre in
Ouagadougou, together with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Burkina Faso and the University of
Ouagadougou, organized a lecture for an audience of 700.
The Moscow United Nations Information Centre made
arrangements for a round table on Palestine, co-sponsored
by the League of Arab States. The Pretoria United Nations
Information Centre’s commemoration, organized jointly
with the Government of South Africa, featured speeches,
poetry citations, music and dance performances. At the
United Nations Information Centre in Harare’s Concert for
Palestine, co-sponsored by the Zimbabwe-Palestine
Solidarity Committee, Zimbabwean musicians paid tribute
to the Palestinian people. Throughout the reporting period,
the centres and services also continued to disseminate
information on the question of Palestine and to organize
special outreach activities relating to this issue. The Centre
in Harare, together with the University of Zimbabwe, made
arrangements for a special model United Nations session
on the question of Palestine. That session, widely
publicized beforehand, drew an audience of 600, including
senior government officials and diplomats. The United
Nations Information Centre in Athens hosted a special
colloquium on the subject. A number of centres provided
information and logistical support to visiting officials, as
well as for conferences and seminars relating to the
question of Palestine. The Centre in Rome lent its support
to the Bethlehem 2000 International Conference. The
Centre in Windhoek assisted in organizing broad media
coverage of the United Nations African Meeting in Support
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. The
Centre in Madrid helped to organize and publicize the
international encounter for journalists on the question of
Palestine; and the Rio de Janeiro Centre assisted in the
selection of a speaker for the same event. The United
Nations Information Centre in Cairo provided support to
the members of the Special Committee to Investigate
Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the
Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied
Territories. The United Nations Information Centre in
Washington coordinated the meetings of Mr. Gharekhan,
United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied
Territories, with officials of the Government of the United
States of America.
Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of
the Committee
84. The General Assembly, in its resolution 181 (II) of
29 November 1947, stipulates that independent Arab and
Jewish States will come into existence in Palestine. After
more than five decades of suffering and dispossession, as
the world prepares to embrace the new millennium, the
Palestinian people is yet to see that provision implemented
and its aspirations for self-determination and statehood
realized. Today, recent breakthroughs in the peace process
notwithstanding, the Palestinian people still carries the
heavy burden of occupation. Millions of Palestine refugees
carry on with their lives in dismal and harsh conditions of
refugee camps. A solution to the Palestine refugee
question, in conformity with General Assembly resolution
194 (III) of 11 December 1948, is yet to be achieved.
Palestinians living under occupation are forced to grapple
with the daily violation of their rights by the occupying
Power and with the hostility of the settlers. The territory
under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority now
represents a disjointed multitude of enclaves surrounded
by a dense net of settlements, restricting the freedom of
movement of the Palestinians and severely affecting their
livelihood. Over the years, this has had a damaging effect
on the Palestinian economy and is likely to have an impact
on the sustainability of the social and economic
development of the Palestinian people, including its efforts
at nation-building.
85. In the course of the year, the Committee has
continued to reaffirm its strong support for the Israeli-
Palestinian peace negotiations and has called upon the
international community to help the parties rebuild the
trust and confidence needed to move the peace process
ahead towards the permanent status negotiations. In this
connection, the Committee welcomed the resumption of the
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on permanent status issues
and expressed the hope that they would be conducted in
compliance with the timetable agreed in the Sharm el-
Sheikh Memorandum, signed on 4 September 1999. The
Committee was encouraged by the commitment of the
parties to conclude a framework agreement within five
months from the resumption of the permanent status
negotiations and a comprehensive agreement on all
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99-34940 (E) 241199
permanent status issues within one year. In that regard, the
Committee wishes to emphasize that strong international
consensus has emerged with respect to the need to reach
the final settlement in the year 2000. The Committee also
maintained that, at this crucial juncture, the international
community, and in particular the co-sponsors of the peace
process, should spare no effort in order to bring about a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question
of Palestine, as well as peace and stability to the entire
region.
86. The Committee is appalled by the fact that, as the
parties engaged in the sensitive stage of the permanent
status negotiations, the situation on the ground remained
deplorable. In spite of some progress achieved in the
negotiating process, the occupation of a vast Palestinian
land area, the determination with which the occupying
Power creates “facts on the ground” and violates the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people seriously
jeopardizes and prejudges the outcome of the peace
negotiations. It is, therefore, of paramount importance for
the international community, including the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to
do everything in their power to protect the Palestinian
people until the parties reach a permanent status agreement
and it is fully implemented.
87. In view of the above, the Committee reaffirms the
permanent responsibility of the United Nations with respect
to the question of Palestine until a satisfactory settlement,
based on the relevant United Nations resolutions and
international legitimacy, is reached and the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people are fully realized. As the
parties embark on the sensitive stage of the permanent
status negotiations, the role of the United Nations becomes
even more critical. The Committee reiterates that the
involvement of the United Nations in the peace process,
both as the guardian of international legitimacy and in the
mobilization and provision of international assistance for
development, is essential for the successful outcome of the
peace efforts. As the organ of the General Assembly
established to deal with the question of Palestine, the
Committee pledges to continue its work aimed at
mobilizing the international community as a whole, at the
governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental
levels, in support of a comprehensive, just and lasting
solution of the question in accordance with the relevant
United Nations resolutions.
88. The Committee is of the view that the adjustments
made over the past year in the programme of meetings held
in the various regions and in its cooperation with the nongovernmental
organization community made the
programme more effective and focused. Moreover, it has
played a useful role in heightening international awareness
of the question of Palestine and in achieving wider
recognition for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its
inalienable rights. The Committee will continue to review
and assess that programme with a view to making it more
effective and responsive to the evolving situation on the
ground and in the peace process. In that regard, the
Committee, in its programme of meetings for the next year,
intends to focus on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, Palestinian nation- and institution-building, socioeconomic
development and permanent status issues.
89. In pursuance of General Assembly resolution 53/27,
the Committee, in the course of the year, placed special
emphasis in its programme of activities on supporting and
promoting the Bethlehem 2000 Project of the Palestinian
Authority. The Committee intends to continue that
important activity in order to ensure broad international
support for the Project, as well as active international
participation in the millennial celebrations in Bethlehem.
90. The Committee emphasizes the essential contribution
of the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat in
support of the Committee’s objectives and requests it to
continue its programme of publications and other activities,
including the completion of its work on the UNISPAL
collection and on the project for the modernization of the
records of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for
Palestine. The Committee also considers that the annual
training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority
has demonstrated its usefulness and requests that it be
continued.
91. The Committee believes that the special information
programme on the question of Palestine of the Department
of Public Information has continued to be an important tool
in informing the media and public opinion about issues
relating to the question of Palestine, and requests that it be
continued, with the necessary flexibility that may be
required as a result of developments affecting the question
of Palestine. The Committee wishes to reiterate its earlier
requests that, as a matter of priority, the Department
update the permanent photo exhibit on the question of
Palestine for public display at Headquarters, update its
publications on the various aspects of the question of
Palestine and prepare audio-visual and other types of
informational material for use by the general public.
92. In an effort to make its contribution to the
achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting
settlement of the question of Palestine, the Committee calls
A/54/35
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on all States to join in this endeavour and invites the
General Assembly again to recognize the importance of its
role and to reconfirm its mandate with overwhelming
support.
Notes
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35);
ibid., Thirty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35);
ibid., Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35
and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/35/35); ibid., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/36/35); ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No.
35 (A/37/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-eighth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35); ibid., Thirty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/39/35); ibid., Fortieth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/40/35); ibid., Forty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); ibid., Forty-second Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/42/35); ibid., Forty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/45/35); ibid., Forty-sixth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35); ibid., Forty-seventh Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/47/35); ibid., Forty-eighth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/48/35); ibid., Forty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/49/35); ibid., Fiftieth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/50/35); ibid., Fifty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/51/35); ibid., Fifty-second Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/52/35); and ibid., Fifty-third
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/53/35).
3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
4 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/53/35), chap. VII.
5 Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 47/1 of 22
September 1992, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia did not
participate in the work of the Committee.
6 A/AC.183/1999/CRP.1.
7 The observers at the Committee meetings were as follows:
Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq,
Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,
Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka,
Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam,
League of Arab States, Organization of the Islamic
Conference and Palestine.
A/55/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-fifth session
Supplement No. 35 (A/55/35)
Report of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-fifth session
Supplement No. 35 (A/55/35)
United Nations • New York, 2000
A/55/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters
combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United
Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
Contents
Chapter Paragraphs Page
Letter of transmittal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–5 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–9 2
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–14 3
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–12 3
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–14 3
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15–25 3
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26–71 6
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/39 . . . . . . . 26–33 6
1. Communications to the President of the Security Council and the
Secretary-General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27–28 6
2. Action in the Security Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29–31 7
3. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee at international
conferences and meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32–33 8
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in
accordance with General Assembly resolutions 54/39 and 54/40 . . . . . . . . . . . 34–69 9
1. United Nations Asian Meeting on the Question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . 38–42 9
2. International Conference on Palestine Refugees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43–46 10
3. United Nations NGO Meeting on Palestine Refugees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47–50 10
4. United Nations International Meeting in Support of a Peaceful
Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Establishment of Peace
in the Middle East. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51–55 11
5. United Nations Seminar on Prospects for Palestinian Economic
Development and the Middle East Peace Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56–59 11
6. Cooperation with non-governmental organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60-62 12
7. Research, monitoring and publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63–64 13
8. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine . . . . . . 65–66 13
9. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 13
10. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People . . . . . . . . . . . 68–69 13
C. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/22 . . . . . . . 70–71 14
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 54/41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72–83 14
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84–93 16
iv
Letter of transmittal
10 October 2000
Mr. Secretary-General,
The international community has dealt with the question of Palestine for over
five decades. For the past 25 years, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People has worked hard to implement in the most effective
way the mandate given to it by the General Assembly. The Committee devoted its
activities to the full realization by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights —
the right to self-determination without external interference; the right to national
independence and sovereignty; and the right to return to their homes and property,
from which they had been displaced. The Committee reiterates its pledge to continue
to work towards the implementation of its important mandate until those rights are
fully exercised by the Palestinian people.
Today, on the threshold of the twenty-first century, it is incumbent on the
international community to spare no effort in order to assist the Palestinian people in
its quest for justice, peace, a better future for their children and economic prosperity.
The Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, co-sponsored by the Russian Federation
and the United States of America, are now at a critical turning point. We are hopeful
that the peace process will result in a final agreement bringing peace, stability and
normalcy to the relations between the Israelis and the Palestinians and will lead to a
comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. In this regard, we, in the
Committee, highly appreciate and value your personal contribution aimed at
supporting the peace process and promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting peace
in the entire region of the Middle East.
In the hope that our work will make a further constructive contribution to the
deliberations of the General Assembly, I have the honour to enclose herewith the
report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People for submission to the General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 5 of
its resolution 54/39 of 1 December 1999. The report covers the period from 12
November 1999 to 10 October 2000.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Ibra Deguène Ka
Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People was established by the
General Assembly by resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10
November 1975, with the task of recommending a
programme designed to enable the Palestinian people
to exercise its inalienable rights as recognized by the
Assembly in resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November
1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in
its first report to the General Assembly1 were endorsed
by the Assembly as a basis for the solution of the
question of Palestine. In its subsequent reports,2 the
Committee has continued to stress that a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must
be based on the relevant United Nations resolutions
and the following essential principles: the withdrawal
of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including Jerusalem, and from the other occupied
Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in the
region to live in peace within secure and internationally
recognized boundaries; and the recognition and
exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, primarily the right to self-determination. The
Committee’s recommendations could not be
implemented, and the Assembly each year renewed the
Committee’s mandate and requested it to intensify
efforts in pursuit of its objectives.
3. The Committee welcomed the historic
breakthrough in the peace process in 1993 and the
subsequent important steps towards the achievement of
a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the
question of Palestine, based on Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). At the same
time, the Committee continued to work towards the full
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, including the right to self-determination and to
its own independent State. The Committee also
continued to mobilize the needed international
assistance and solidarity during the transitional period.
4. Following the signing in September 1999 of the
Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum, the Committee was
encouraged by steps aimed at its implementation,
namely the partial release of Palestinian prisoners, the
opening of the southern safe passage between the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip, the further redeployment of
Israeli troops from areas of the West Bank, the
resumption of the interim and permanent status talks,
and the signing of the Israeli-Palestinian agreements on
the implementation of economic issues and on the
construction work on the Gaza seaport. In March-April
2000, the Committee followed closely the discussions
on permanent status issues held by the parties at
Bolling Air Force Base near Washington, D.C. Much
hope was attached by the Committee to the Middle
East Peace Summit and negotiations that were held
under the auspices of the President of the United States
of America in July 2000 at Camp David, Maryland.
Although the Peace Summit was inconclusive, the
parties firmly committed themselves to continuing
negotiations with a view to concluding an agreement
on permanent status issues as soon as possible. The
Committee observed with much concern, however, the
failure to create the necessary momentum for the
conclusion of a final agreement on 15 September 2000,
as stipulated by the provisions of the Sharm el-Sheikh
Memorandum. In this regard, the Committee noted the
determined effort of the United States President to reengage
the two sides on specific elements of the final
settlement, in particular on the question of Jerusalem,
in the course of the meetings held on the sidelines of
the United Nations Millennium Summit in September
2000 in New York. The Committee was also
encouraged by the important decisions of the
Palestinian Central Council (PCC), held on 9 and 10
September 2000 in Gaza City, on the issue of
Palestinian statehood and other permanent status
issues. However, irrespective of the measure of
progress achieved in the peace negotiations, the
Committee reaffirmed the need for a speedy
completion of the negotiations and the conclusion of a
final settlement. In the meantime, the Committee stated
its position of principle that the policies and practices
of occupation were in violation of the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949 (the Fourth
Geneva Convention)3 and Security Council resolutions,
and could lead to an increased volatility on the ground,
putting the entire peace process in jeopardy. In this
connection, the Committee emphasized that, at the end
of the five-year interim period, Israel is yet to carry out
the third redeployment of its forces, release Palestinian
prisoners and return Palestinian displaced persons.
5. In spite of the many setbacks faced by the peace
process in the past year, the Committee remains
confident that the parties, assisted by the co-sponsors,
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will continue to make a determined effort aimed at
reaching a final settlement and putting an end to
decades of hostility and conflict. It is also the
Committee’s earnest hope that the entire international
community will stand by and support the Israelis and
the Palestinians in their quest for a comprehensive, just
and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine. As
the organ of the General Assembly entrusted to deal
with the question of Palestine, the Committee has
participated in the various international initiatives in
this regard and will continue to do so until the question
of Palestine is resolved in all its aspects and the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people are fully
realized.
Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
6. The mandate of the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was
again renewed by the General Assembly in resolution
54/39 of 1 December 1999, in which the Assembly,
inter alia: (a) endorsed the conclusions and
recommendations of the Committee4 and requested it to
continue to keep under review the situation relating to
the question of Palestine and to report and make
suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security
Council, as appropriate; (b) authorized the Committee
to continue to exert all efforts to promote the exercise
of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and
to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fiftyfifth
session and thereafter; and (c) requested the
Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and
support to Palestinian and other non-governmental
organizations in order to mobilize international
solidarity and support for the achievement by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and for a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.
7. In its resolution 54/40 of 1 December 1999, on
the Division for Palestinian Rights of the United
Nations Secretariat, the General Assembly requested
the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Division with the necessary resources and to ensure
that it continues to carry out its programme of work as
detailed in the relevant earlier resolutions, including, in
particular, the organization of meetings in various
regions with the participation of all sectors of the
international community, the further development and
expansion of the documents collection of the United
Nations Information System on the Question of
Palestine, the preparation and widest possible
dissemination of publications and information
materials on various aspects of the question of
Palestine, the provision of assistance in completing the
project on the modernization of the records of the
United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine
(UNCCP) and the provision of the annual training
programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority.
8. In its resolution 54/41 of 1 December 1999, on
the special information programme on the question of
Palestine of the Department of Public Information of
the Secretariat, the General Assembly requested the
Department, in full cooperation and coordination with
the Committee, to continue, with the necessary
flexibility as may be required by developments
affecting the question of Palestine, its special
information programme for the biennium 2000-2001;
and also requested the Department to promote the
Bethlehem 2000 Project, within existing resources and
until the Bethlehem 2000 commemoration comes to a
close, including the preparation and dissemination of
publications, audio-visual material and the
establishment of a “Bethlehem 2000” site on the United
Nations Internet home page.
9. In carrying out its programme of work, the
Committee also took into account General Assembly
resolution 54/42 of 1 December 1999 on the peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine, in which the
Assembly, inter alia, reaffirmed the necessity of
achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine in all its aspects, expressed its full support for
the ongoing peace process, stressed the necessity for
commitment to the principle of land for peace and the
implementation of Security Council resolutions 242
(1967) and 338 (1973), which form the basis of the
Middle East peace process; and also stressed the need
for the realization of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, primarily the right to selfdetermination;
the need for the withdrawal of Israel
from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967; and
the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine
refugees.
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Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
10. The Committee is composed of the following
Member States: Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Cyprus,
Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao
People’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia,
Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey,
Ukraine and Yugoslavia.5
11. At its 250th meeting, on 3 February 2000, the
Committee re-elected Ibra Deguène Ka (Senegal) as
Chairman and re-elected Ravan A. G. Farhâdi
(Afghanistan) and Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla
(Cuba) as Vice-Chairmen and Walter Balzan (Malta) as
Rapporteur.
12. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted its
programme of work for the year 2000.6
B. Participation in the work of the
Committee
13. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed
that all States Members of and permanent observers to
the United Nations wishing to participate in the work
of the Committee as observers were welcome to do so.
In accordance with established practice, the Permanent
Observer of Palestine participated in the work of the
Committee as an observer, attended all its meetings and
made observations and proposals for consideration by
the Committee and its Bureau.
14. In 2000, the Committee again welcomed as
observers all the States and organizations that had
participated in its work in the preceding year.7
Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to
the question of Palestine
15. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee
continued to keep under review the situation relating to
the question of Palestine and, in particular, to monitor
the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including Jerusalem. The Committee also continued to
follow closely the various developments in the Israeli-
Palestinian peace negotiations. On numerous occasions
in recent years, the Committee has voiced its concern
over Israeli activities on the ground carried out in spite
of the peace negotiations. In this regard, the Committee
recalls its own and other parties’ appeals to the
Government of Israel to respect the spirit and the letter
of the peace process and refrain from actions that may
prejudge the outcome of the peace negotiations and
erode trust and confidence between the parties.
16. Since November 1999, the Committee has
observed with hope a series of actions taken on the
ground in implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh
Memorandum. Those included the further
redeployment of Israeli troops from parts of the West
Bank, the agreement on the release of Palestinian
prisoners, the opening of a southern safe passage
between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and the
resumption of the negotiations on permanent status
issues. The Committee welcomed the signing, on 7
June 2000, of the Israeli-Palestinian agreement on the
implementation of economic issues, as well as the
agreement concerning the Gaza seaport, signed on 20
September 2000. The Committee also took note of the
official statement made by the PCC at the conclusion
of its session in Gaza, on 9 and 10 September 2000.
The Committee welcomed and supported the Council’s
decisions with regard to the postponement of the
establishment of a State, as well as on steps to be taken
in preparation for statehood, including the completion
of work on the constitutional declaration and laws for
presidential and parliamentary elections, and the
submission of an application by Palestine for
membership in the United Nations. In this regard, the
Committee reiterated the inalienable, natural and
historic right of the Palestinian people to selfdetermination,
national independence and sovereignty.
17. The Committee remained hopeful that efforts of
the co-sponsors of the peace process would allow the
parties to resolve their outstanding differences and
move forward towards the framework and final
settlement agreements in accordance with the agreed
timetable. In this context, the Committee observed
closely the negotiations on permanent status issues
conducted in March-April 2000 at Bolling Air Force
Base near Washington, D.C. and the intense
discussions at the Middle East Peace Summit, held
from 11 to 24 July 2000 under the auspices of President
Clinton, at Camp David, Maryland. The Committee
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was of the view that with the meetings at Camp David
the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations had reached a high
water mark. It was especially troubled, therefore, by
the failure of the parties to bridge the gaps in their
positions and reach a comprehensive agreement. It
welcomed, however, the final Trilateral Statement
made at the conclusion of the Peace Summit, in which
both parties committed themselves to continue their
efforts to conclude an agreement on all permanent
status issues as soon as possible. The Committee
expressed the hope that the meetings held by the two
sides with the United States President on the sidelines
of the Millennium Summit and afterwards would result
in a breakthrough enabling the parties to move forward
towards a final agreement. The Committee viewed the
September 2000 decisions of the PCC as a critical
stepping stone on the way to a serious consideration of
all outstanding permanent status issues.
18. The Committee was greatly disturbed by the
violent confrontations between the Israel Defence
Forces (IDF) and police and Palestinian civilians at the
Al-Haram al-Sharif compound in the Old City of
Jerusalem that erupted on 28 September 2000,
following a visit to the holy site by the Israeli
opposition leader Ariel Sharon, accompanied by a
group of Likud Knesset members and hundreds of
Israeli security personnel and police. Confrontations
also took place all across the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip, with over 90 people killed and more than 3,000
injured. Excessive force was used by IDF against the
Palestinian protesters, including rubber-coated metal
bullets, live ammunition, tanks and armoured personnel
carriers, combat helicopters, anti-tank rockets and
grenades. The Committee was shocked by the tragic
loss of life as a result of these confrontations, in
particular by the deaths of innocent Palestinian
children. The Committee reiterated that these events
were a direct result of the policies and practices of the
Israeli occupation and the failure of Israel to respect its
obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention and
the provisions of relevant Security Council and General
Assembly resolutions. The Committee firmly believed
that Israel’s continued refusal to live up to those
principles, as well as the continued lack of progress in
the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, would allow
despair and frustration to set in, put the peace process
in considerable jeopardy and lead to an increased
volatility on the ground. In an effort to stop the
violence, Chairman Yasser Arafat and Israel’s Prime
Minister Ehud Barak met in Paris, on 4 October 2000,
with the United States Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright, French President Jacques Chirac and the
Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan.
The Committee viewed these meetings and the
understandings reached on 5 October 2000 at Sharm el-
Sheikh as useful steps towards halting the violence on
the ground, lessening tension between the two sides
and resuming the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. The
Committee also welcomed the determined effort to
revive the peace process, undertaken by the United
States Secretary of State, as well as the Presidents of
France and Egypt and the United Nations Secretary-
General. The Committee followed with great attention
the deliberations in the Security Council with respect
to the outbreak of violence and welcomed the adoption,
on 7 October 2000, of resolution 1322 (2000) (see
paras. 29-31).
19. Throughout the year, the Committee followed
closely the situation on the ground, in particular the
construction and expansion of the illegal Israeli
settlements and road network in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including in and around East
Jerusalem. The Committee firmly believed that Israel’s
settlement policy and actions remained a key factor
causing great damage to the peace process. The
Committee was greatly alarmed by the fact that, in
spite of the ongoing negotiations, the settlement drive
in the course of the year under review has been as
vigorous as it had been in previous years. In fact,
according to reports available to the Committee,
between 15 October and 13 December 1999, the Israeli
Government approved building plans for the
construction of 2,575 new housing units in six West
Bank settlements, approved the “deposit” of plans for
an additional 2,139 units and for the placement of 85
mobile homes in settlements identified in October
1999. In January 2000, construction began on 39 units
in the settlement of “Betar” near Bethlehem. This
settlement, with a population of some 15,000, is fast
approaching the size of a city. On 3 January 2000, the
Israel Lands Administration issued a tender for the
construction of 122 units in the settlement of “Pisgat
Ze’ev” north of East Jerusalem. At the end of February
2000, there were more than 7,120 units in various
stages of construction. It was also reported in February
that Israel’s Ministry of Transportation would spend
US$ 100 million on roads in and around Jerusalem,
with a focus on new corridors in the West Bank and
East Jerusalem. In March 2000, Israel’s Higher
Planning Council dealing with the West Bank gave
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final approval for the construction of a high-tech
industrial park in the “Etzion” block of settlements.
The same month, 658 dunums of land belonging to the
Palestinian villages of Issawiya, At-Tur, Al-Azariya,
Abu Dis and Ras al-Amud were confiscated for the
construction of the eastern ring road, intended to cut
off East Jerusalem and its Palestinian residents from
the rest of the city, and to connect Jewish settlers to
Jerusalem. On 10 April 2000, the Knesset’s Budget and
Security Committee approved $400 million for
settlement security and construction of 12 bypass roads
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In April, initial
groundwork for a new settlement began at Olive Hill in
the settlement of “Efrat”, south of Bethlehem. A total
of 1,816 plots of land in the Israeli settlements went up
for sale in the first seven months of 2000. In the period
from 8 July 1999 to 24 August 2000, a total of 3,419
tenders were issued for settlement construction.
According to figures from Israel’s Ministry of
Construction and Housing, construction in settlements
increased by 96 per cent in the first half of 2000. Work
began on 1,067 residential units in the first six months
of the year, compared to 545 during the same period in
1999. Of the 1,067 units, 860 were located in
settlements in the Jerusalem district and 207 in other
areas. The Committee reaffirmed in no uncertain terms
that the policy of confiscation of Palestinian land,
demolition of houses and other Palestinian property
and construction of settlements constituted a serious
violation of international law, in particular the Fourth
Geneva Convention. The Committee was particularly
appalled by the intensified construction at the Jabal
Abu Ghneim and Ras al-Amud neighbourhoods of East
Jerusalem. These actions are also in violation of the
provisions of the Oslo and Wye River agreements and,
by changing the status quo, predetermine the outcome
of the permanent status negotiations.
20. On 27 July, Israel’s Ministry of the Interior
announced that the number of settlers in the occupied
West Bank and the Gaza Strip had risen in the past year
by 13,600 or 7.5 per cent and stood at some 200,000.
The Committee reiterated its concern over the
provocative and often violent actions of extremist
settlers occupying Palestinian land, erecting makeshift
houses and other structures and engaging in violent
confrontations with Palestinians. During the year,
settlers were collecting considerable donations in Israel
and abroad to purchase special military and rescue
equipment. According to the Council of Jewish
Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, the
equipment is purchased in full coordination with the
Israel Defence Forces, including the Regional Defence
Officer in the IDF Central Command. In this regard,
the Committee was alarmed by reports of increased
settler activity, especially since the Camp David Peace
Summit. This included a noticeable increase in the
number of settlers with IDF-issued weapons and
settlement fortification works in the vicinity of Hebron
and Nablus, in particular.
21. The Committee stressed the inadmissibility and
illegality of the Israeli policy of revoking the residency
rights of Palestinian Jerusalemites. Although the Israeli
Minister of the Interior declared the cessation of the
revocation-of-residency policy in October 1999, no
clear procedures have been introduced regarding the
new policy, and the rules applied by the Ministry
officials in East Jerusalem remained unclear.
22. The situation with regard to the Palestinian
prisoners was of special concern to the Committee.
Although a number of prisoners were released during
the year, some 1,650 of them remained imprisoned in
Israel. The Committee was especially alarmed by
reports of administrative detention of Palestinians
without charge or trial; overcrowded confinement
conditions; solitary confinement as a means of severe
punishment; inadequate medical care, resulting in some
instances in the death of prisoners; deprivation of basic
facilities, such as a place to practice religion and a
place to study; restricted access to legal counsel; lack
of privacy during legal consultations; and restrictions
placed on family visits, which are arbitrarily granted by
the prison administration, despite the intensive efforts
of the International Committee of the Red Cross to
facilitate and arrange such visits. The Committee,
greatly concerned about the aforementioned conditions
of detention, again called upon the Government of
Israel to abide by the provisions of the Fourth Geneva
Convention.
23. In the year under review, the Palestinian economy
has continued to experience serious difficulties,
although a measure of progress has been achieved in
some areas. The economy remained beset by a number
of restrictions on Palestinian economic transactions,
limited passage between the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip, and persistent unemployment. There was also a
pressing need to improve the physical environment and
underdeveloped infrastructure, including water, energy,
transportation and the sewage system. The Committee
was of the view that it was incumbent on the
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international community to assist the Palestinian
people in rehabilitating infrastructure, improving
natural resources management, institutional capacitybuilding,
human resources and social development, and
in developing productive sectors of the economy. In
this connection, the Committee greatly appreciated the
diversified and substantial assistance provided to the
Palestinian people during the year. It again stressed the
need and urgency of assisting the Palestinian people in
meeting their social and economic development needs
so as to create a solid foundation for future peace and
stability in the region. The contribution of donor
countries remained essential. Encouraged by the
readiness of the international donor community to
continue to assist the Palestinian people, the
Committee called upon the donors to increase their
commitments and the disbursement of funds. The
United Nations system, especially the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East (UNRWA) and the United Nations
Development Programme, continued to focus its
activities on developing Palestinian infrastructure,
enhancing institutional capacity and improving the
living conditions of the Palestinian people. The
Committee noted with satisfaction the useful role
played by the United Nations Special Coordinator for
the Middle East Peace Process and Personal
Representative of the Secretary-General to the
Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority. Along with his responsibilities for providing
political support to the parties in the region, he
continued to serve as an important focal point for all
United Nations entities operating on the ground and to
maintain contact with the donor community, NGOs and
others.
24. The water supply situation in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory remained serious, with water
shortages stifling the livelihood of hundreds of
thousands of Palestinian households. Reports available
to the Committee indicated that, while the average
Israeli consumed 348 litres of water a day, average
water consumption among Palestinians was 70 litres a
day. Therefore, Israeli water consumption for
household, municipal and industrial use was, on
average, five times higher than that of the Palestinians.
The water shortage in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory was characterized by the absence of a water
distribution network; discriminatory and insufficient
supply of water; and poor quality of water. More than
150 villages, home to some 215,000 Palestinians, were
not connected to a water network, compelling the
villagers to purchase water from private dealers at high
prices. Some municipalities in the West Bank must
rotate the water supply by areas in order to distribute
the little water available, particularly during the
summer. The town of Yatta, for example, is divided
into 14 sectors, each sector receiving water once every
45 days for two to three days. The poor water quality,
particularly in the Gaza Strip, had a severe impact on
the quality of daily life of the Palestinian population
and exposed them to serious health risks.
25. UNRWA remained a vital source of humanitarian
and socio-economic assistance to some 3.7 million
Palestine refugees. Regrettably, in spite of the
recognition given by members of the international
community to the laudable work done by UNRWA,
there was a noticeable discrepancy between that
recognition and the willingness to provide resources to
the Agency. This has caused major operational
difficulty for UNRWA in its effort to maintain an
adequate quality of service to Palestine refugees.
Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 54/39
26. In pursuance of its mandate and in response to the
difficulties experienced by the peace process and in the
search for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement
of the question of Palestine, the Committee continued
to mobilize the international community in support of
the Palestinian people, in cooperation with United
Nations bodies, Governments, intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations and others, as
indicated below.
1. Communications to the President of the
Security Council and the Secretary-General
27. In a letter dated 24 March 2000 addressed to the
President of the Security Council (S/2000/253), the
Chairman of the Committee reiterated the Committee’s
objection to the deletion from the list of items of which
the Council was seized those items that related to the
exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, the Palestine question and the Middle East
problem, and which were of special concern not only to
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the Committee but also to the majority of Member
States. He stated the Committee’s belief that pending a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Arab-
Israeli conflict in the Middle East, the core of which is
the question of Palestine, in accordance with
international legitimacy, these items should remain on
the list of matters of which the Council is seized, as
they continue to engage its responsibility with regard
to the maintenance of international peace and security.
He also stressed that any decision to delete these items,
especially at this critical point in the peace process,
would go well beyond procedural reform and would
have far-reaching negative political implications.
28. In a letter dated 2 October 2000 addressed to
the Secretary-General (A/55/440-S/2000/936), the
Chairman of the Committee drew the attention of the
Secretary-General, as a matter of urgency, to the
violent confrontations between IDF and Israeli police
and Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque and
throughout the Haram al-Sharif compound that had
erupted on 28 September 2000. He referred to reports
indicating that most of the dead and injured in the
confrontations had sustained wounds caused by rubbercoated
metal bullets and live ammunition. The
Chairman stressed that excessive force had been used
by IDF against the Palestinian protesters, including
tanks, helicopter gunships, anti-tank missiles and
grenades. On behalf of the Committee, he expressed
the gravest and growing concern at the continued
confrontations in the Old City of Jerusalem and
throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The
Chairman said the Committee was dismayed by the
loss of life as a result of the confrontations and was
particularly saddened by the tragic deaths of innocent
Palestinian children. The Committee was of the view
that the events were a direct result of the policies and
practices of the Israeli occupation. The Chairman said
Israel had continued to violate its obligations under the
Fourth Geneva Convention and the provisions of
Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.
He also alluded to the fact that the Committee had
warned on a number of occasions that Israel’s failure to
live up to those principles, as well as the continued
lack of progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace
negotiations, would allow despair and frustration to set
in, putting the peace process in considerable jeopardy
and leading to an increased volatility on the ground.
The Chairman addressed an urgent appeal to the
Secretary-General and all the parties concerned to take
the necessary steps in order to induce Israel to abide by
its obligations and responsibilities under the Fourth
Geneva Convention, to guarantee its respect for the
Holy Places, and to ensure international protection of
the Palestinian people. He said the Committee
reiterated its long-standing position that the United
Nations should continue to exercise its permanent
responsibility towards all the aspects of the question of
Palestine, including the issue of Jerusalem, until it is
resolved in a satisfactory manner, in conformity with
relevant United Nations resolutions and in accordance
with international legitimacy, and until the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people are fully realized.
2. Action in the Security Council
29. Following the events of 28 September 2000 (see
para. 18), massive protests and violent confrontations
took place in other parts of the Old City of Jerusalem
and throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. At
the request of the Permanent Representative of Iraq to
the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the
Arab Group of States for the month of October 2000,
the Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the
United Nations, on behalf of the members of the Non-
Aligned Movement Caucus, and also in his capacity as
Chairman of the Islamic Group of States, the
Permanent Representative of South Africa to the
United Nations, in his capacity as Chair of the
Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement,
and the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United
Nations, the Security Council met on 3, 4, 5 and 7
October 2000 to consider agenda item “The situation in
the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”
(S/2000/928, S/2000/929, S/2000/930, S/2000/934 and
S/2000/935).
30. The Chairman of the Committee participated in
the debate in the Security Council on 4 October 2000
and made a statement on behalf of the Committee. In
his statement, the Chairman reviewed the situation on
the ground and joined the international community in
calling on both parties to refrain from further
escalation of violence and do their utmost to defuse the
tension. He also joined the large part of the
international community, which was calling on the
Israeli Government, political parties and security forces
to desist from taking any further measures that would
undermine the peace process; to ensure respect for the
Holy Places; to guarantee the protection of the
Palestinians and their property in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem; to put an
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end to all illegal settlement activities; and to proceed
rapidly towards the full implementation of the
agreements already reached with a view to achieving a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement based on
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338
(1973). The Chairman stated that the Committee
believed that only rapid and consistent progress in the
peace process leading to a comprehensive, just and
lasting peace in the Middle East would prevent the
situation from deteriorating even further, with
unforeseen consequences for peace and stability in the
entire region. The Chairman reiterated the position of
the Committee that the United Nations should continue
to exercise its permanent responsibility towards all the
aspects of the question of Palestine, including the issue
of Jerusalem, until it is resolved in a satisfactory
manner, in conformity with relevant United Nations
resolutions and in accordance with international
legitimacy, and until the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people are fully realized.
31. On 7 October 2000, at its 4205th meeting, the
Security Council adopted resolution 1322 (2000),
which had been submitted by Bangladesh, Jamaica,
Malaysia, Mali, Namibia, Tunisia and Ukraine. In the
resolution, the Council deplored the provocation
carried out at Al-Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem on 28
September 2000 and the subsequent violence there and
at other Holy Places, as well as in other areas
throughout the territories occupied by Israel since
1967, resulting in over 80 Palestinian deaths and many
other casualties; condemned acts of violence,
especially the excessive use of force against
Palestinians, resulting in injury and loss of human life;
called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to abide
scrupulously by its legal obligations and its
responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention;
called for the immediate cessation of violence, and for
all necessary steps to be taken to ensure that violence
ceased, that new provocative actions were avoided, and
that the situation returned to normality in a way which
promoted the prospects for the Middle East peace
process; stressed the importance of establishing a
mechanism for a speedy and objective inquiry into the
tragic events of the past few days with the aim of
preventing their repetition, and welcomed any efforts
in that regard; called for the immediate resumption of
negotiations within the Middle East peace process on
its agreed basis with the aim of achieving an early final
settlement between the Israeli and Palestinian sides;
invited the Secretary-General to continue to follow the
situation and to keep the Council informed; and
decided to follow closely the situation and to remain
seized of the matter.
3. Participation by the Chairman of the
Committee at international conferences and
meetings
32. In the course of the year, the Chairman of
the Committee participated in meetings of
intergovernmental and other bodies and other meetings
relevant to the question of Palestine and contributed to
their deliberations in support of the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people, as follows:
(a) International Conference on Jerusalem,
London, 13-15 December 1999, organized by the Royal
Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), at
which the Chairman delivered a statement on the
question of Jerusalem;
(b) Seventy-first ordinary session of the
Council of Ministers of the Organization of African
Unity, Addis Ababa, 6-10 March 2000;
(c) Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, Cartagena de
Indias, Colombia, 8 and 9 April 2000 (A/54/917-
S/2000/580);
(d) The South Summit of the Group of 77,
Havana, 10-14 April 2000 (A/55/74);
(e) Twenty-seventh session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers, Kuala Lumpur, 27-30
June 2000 (A/54/949-S/2000/746);
(f) Seventy-second ordinary session of the
Council of Ministers and thirty-sixth ordinary session
of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of
the Organization of African Unity, Lomé, 6-12 July
2000 (A/55/286).
33. As in previous years, the Committee continued to
follow the activities relevant to the question of
Palestine of other intergovernmental organizations, as
well as decisions and resolutions of United Nations
bodies and agencies, including the Economic and
Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights,
and the positive efforts made by many Governments.
The Committee took note of the declarations of
concern on the part of the international community
over the degree of progress achieved in the peace
process in the course of the year. It was encouraged by
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the broad international support for the peace efforts and
the readiness of the international community to help
the parties bring the peace process to fruition.
B. Action taken by the Committee and the
Division for Palestinian Rights in
accordance with General Assembly
resolutions 54/39 and 54/40
34. In its programme of meetings organized in the
various regions, the Committee continued to give
priority to promoting the exercise of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people, supporting the peace
process and stressing the need for timely and
scrupulous implementation by the parties of the
bilateral agreements. The Committee also urged the
international community to continue to provide
political support, as well as broad economic assistance,
to the Palestinian people.
35. On the basis of the provision contained in
General Assembly resolution 54/39, the Committee
adjusted this programme, as necessary, in order to meet
the evolving situation in the most effective and
constructive manner, while keeping in mind the
continuing financial constraints facing the
Organization. The Committee expressed its great
appreciation to the Governments of Viet Nam, Greece
and Egypt for having provided venues and facilities for
the events sponsored by the Committee.
36. Following the practice of previous years, the
Committee, through its Bureau, continued its
cooperation on the question of Palestine with States
members of the European Union (EU). In July 2000,
the Bureau held an important and useful meeting of
consultations with representatives of EU (under the
presidency of France) as part of the continued effort to
build a constructive relationship with EU members on
issues of common concern. In accordance with
established practice, the Chairman of the Committee
briefed the members of the EU delegation on the
ongoing activities of the Committee, including the
project on the modernization of records of the UNCCP.
The Chairman also informed the EU delegation on the
activities planned by the Committee for the fifty-fifth
session of the General Assembly. He also expressed the
hope that the two sides would continue consultations.
37. Throughout the year, the staff of the Division for
Palestinian Rights met at United Nations Headquarters
with members of the general public and student groups
and briefed them on the various aspects of the question
of Palestine and the involvement of the United Nations
in this issue.
1. United Nations Asian Meeting on the Question
of Palestine
38. The United Nations Asian Meeting on the
Question of Palestine was held in Hanoi from 1 to 3
March 2000. The participants included representatives
of Governments, Palestine, intergovernmental and nongovernmental
organizations, United Nations bodies and
agencies, special guests from the host country and
representatives of the media, the academic community
and students.
39. The participants discussed the following topics:
the peace process and Palestinian statehood; the United
Nations and the question of Palestine; international
support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people; and the role of parliaments in achieving the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
40. At the conclusion of the Conference, the
participants adopted the Hanoi Declaration, in which
they declared their broad and determined commitment
to support the right of the Palestinian people to selfdetermination
and the establishment of an independent
and sovereign Palestinian State. They also stated, inter
alia, that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian
Territory, including Jerusalem, as well as other Arab
territories, must be brought to an end without delay and
that mutual recognition and peaceful coexistence must
be given the opportunity to flourish; Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), which
embodied the principle of land for peace and formed
the legal basis for the Middle East peace process, must
be adhered to; in view of the continued settlement
activities, the United Nations and the High Contracting
Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention should play
an effective role in reconvening the Conference of the
High Contracting Parties; the deadline of September
2000 to achieve a permanent status agreement in
accordance with the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum
and the international consensus, which had been
developed at the end of the five-year transition in May
1999, should be observed; and that the United Nations
should grant full membership to Palestine to enable it
to participate fully in the United Nations Millennium
Summit.
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41. The Committee delegation was received by H.E.
Mr. Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of the Socialist
Republic of Viet Nam, who welcomed the efforts of the
Committee aimed at bringing about a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine.
The delegation was also received by H.E. Mr. Nguyen
Dy Nien, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam.
42. The report of the Meeting was issued as a
publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
2. International Conference on Palestine Refugees
43. The International Conference on Palestine
Refugees was held at the headquarters of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), in Paris, on 26 and 27 April
2000. The Conference was organized by the Committee
in cooperation with the Organization of the Islamic
Conference and the League of Arab States. Among the
participants were eminent personalities, including highlevel
officials, experts on the Palestine refugee issue,
representatives of States Members of the United
Nations, representatives of intergovernmental
organizations and United Nations agencies,
parliamentarians, members of the academic
community, representatives of non-governmental and
other civil society organizations, as well as the media.
44. The participants discussed the following issues:
Palestine refugees — the longest-running humanitarian
problem in today’s world; the United Nations and
Palestine refugees; and Palestine refugees and the
current Middle East peace process.
45. In their concluding remarks, the organizers of the
Conference stressed that the social and economic
conditions of some 3.7 million Palestine refugees
registered with UNRWA remained difficult and
required urgent intervention on the part of the
international community. They noted that the plight of
Palestine refugees was among the permanent status
issues negotiated by the parties. It was emphasized, in
this context, that a just solution to the question of
Palestine and a lasting peace in the Middle East could
not be achieved without a just and fair solution to the
question of Palestine refugees. They stated that the
multilateral track of negotiations remained an essential
part of the peace process and that the Refugee Working
Group, chaired by Canada since 1992, continued to
play a useful supporting role. The organizers
reaffirmed that the right of return of Palestine refugees
to their homes, as stipulated by the General Assembly
in its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948,
remained a conditio sine qua non for the exercise by
the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights to selfdetermination,
national independence and sovereignty.
They also stated that the provisions of General
Assembly resolution 194 (III) and subsequent relevant
United Nations resolutions remained valid and must be
taken into full consideration in any final settlement of
the question of Palestine. The organizers reaffirmed the
inalienable right of the Palestinian people to return to
their land and property, abandoned as a result of the
1948 and 1967 hostilities. They considered the issue of
refugee compensation to be an integral element of, but
not a substitute for, their right of return. They were of
the view that the international community should
continue to support the vital activities of UNRWA until
the question of Palestine refugees is resolved in
accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions
and international legitimacy. The organizers noted with
appreciation the role played by the co-sponsors of the
peace process, the European Union and the
international donor community in creating conditions
on the ground conducive to the success of the peace
process.
46. The report of the Conference was issued as a
publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
3. United Nations NGO Meeting on Palestine
Refugees
47. The United Nations NGO Meeting on Palestine
Refugees was held at UNESCO headquarters, Paris, on
28 April 2000, immediately following the International
Conference on Palestine Refugees. The participants
included representatives of NGOs from all regions,
Governments, United Nations bodies and agencies,
intergovernmental organizations, a delegation of
Palestine and a number of panellists.
48. The participants discussed the following issues:
the role of NGOs in promoting a just settlement of the
Palestine refugee problem; the experience of NGOs in
delivering basic social services to refugee
communities; promoting stronger support to UNRWA;
promoting awareness of Palestine refugee rights
internationally; and the role of NGOs in empowering
the refugee communities.
49. In the NGO statement, the participating
organizations declared that the provisions of General
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Assembly resolution 194 (III) and subsequent relevant
United Nations resolutions remained valid and must be
taken into full consideration in any final settlement of
the question of Palestine and called upon the United
Nations to continue to protect the natural and
inalienable right of Palestinians to return to their
homes and act as its guarantor, pending a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the
question of Palestine. They expressed particular alarm
at the plight of Palestine refugees living in Lebanon
and firmly rejected any attempt to use their fate for
issues not related to the Palestine refugee problem. The
NGOs pledged to utilize their expertise and experience
in communication, education, advocacy and assistance
in locally and internationally coordinated efforts on
behalf of Palestine refugees in areas such as: increased
commitment to UNRWA services; the need to ensure
both quantity and quality of service coverage; the
development and empowerment of refugee community
structures, especially relating to women; increased
capacity of refugee communities to address their own
socio-economic needs; full refugee participation in
development aid programmes; ensuring that Palestinian
refugees are not excluded from the internationally
accepted frameworks that have guided solutions to
other refugee populations; and promoting refugee
representation in political processes regarding their
future.
50. The report of the NGO Meeting was issued as a
publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
4. United Nations International Meeting in
Support of a Peaceful Settlement of the
Question of Palestine and the Establishment of
Peace in the Middle East
51. The United Nations International Meeting in
Support of a Peaceful Settlement of the Question of
Palestine and the Establishment of Peace in the Middle
East was held in Athens on 23 and 24 May 2000. The
Meeting was attended by international experts, eminent
political personalities from Greece, representatives of
Governments, intergovernmental organizations, entities
of the United Nations system, the Palestinian
Authority, civil society organizations and the media.
52. The following topics were discussed by the
participants: final status negotiations and Palestinian
statehood; international support for a just and peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine and the
establishment of a lasting peace in the Middle East;
and civil society in support of the peace process.
53. In their Final Statement, the participants, among
other things, expressed concern that yet another target
date for the conclusion of a framework agreement had
been missed. In the light of this, the parties were urged
to do everything in their power to preserve and solidify
the accomplishments of the peace process and to make
an effort to achieve a final settlement agreement by
September 2000. The participants also stressed the
urgency of reaching an agreement on interim issues,
namely the third Israeli redeployment from the West
Bank, the release of Palestinian prisoners, the opening
of the northern safe passage between the West Bank
and the Gaza Strip, the operation of the Gaza seaport,
and economic issues. The participants noted that, in the
preceding months, the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations
had been offset on a number of occasions by Israeli
actions on the ground and Israeli Government
statements, incompatible with the spirit and the letter
of the peace process. The participants reiterated the
permanent responsibility of the United Nations with
respect to all aspects of the question of Palestine, until
a satisfactory settlement based on relevant United
Nations resolutions and international legitimacy was
reached and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people were fully realized. The participants appreciated
the contribution by EU members to the peace process.
EU’s political support and large volume of economic
assistance were viewed as vital to the efforts aimed at
rehabilitating and developing the Palestinian economy.
The participants acknowledged the important role
played by civil society in the process of transition to
Palestinian statehood, as well as in building and
developing Palestinian institutions.
54. The Committee delegation was received by H.E.
Mr. George Papandreou, Minister for Foreign Affairs
of Greece, who welcomed the efforts of the Committee
aimed at bringing about a comprehensive, just and
lasting settlement on the question of Palestine.
55. The report of the Meeting was issued as a
publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
5. United Nations Seminar on Prospects for
Palestinian Economic Development and the
Middle East Peace Process
56. The United Nations Seminar on Prospects for
Palestinian Economic Development and the Middle
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East Peace Process was held in Cairo on 20 and 21
June 2000. The Meeting was attended by
representatives of Governments, intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations, United Nations
system organizations and agencies, and experts.
57. The following topics were discussed by the
participants: Palestinian institution-building and
economic performance during the interim period —
achievements, shortcomings and future tasks;
Palestinian development objectives and strategies;
international assistance to the Bethlehem 2000 Project
of the Palestinian Authority; Israeli-Palestinian
economic relations during the interim period; and the
impact of non-economic issues on sustained Palestinian
economic and social development (Israeli settlements,
Jerusalem, Palestine refugees, water and natural
resources).
58. In his concluding remarks of the Seminar, the
Chairman of the Committee said that the Committee
had always attached great importance to social and
economic development and the improvement of living
conditions of the Palestinian people. It was for this
reason that the Committee had devoted a special place
in its annual programme of work to social and
economic issues of the transitional stage. In a
continued effort to mobilize international assistance to
the emerging Palestinian nation, the Committee had
decided to convene the United Nations Seminar on
Prospects for Palestinian Economic Development and
the Middle East Peace Process. The participants
reviewed the current status of Palestinian institutionbuilding
and economic performance during the interim
period, and the steps taken towards establishing a
better environment for sustainable economic
development, in coordination with donors,
intergovernmental organizations and other actors. The
experience gained in the past several years has been
thoroughly discussed and formed the basis for
formulating objectives and strategies of Palestinian
development. The participants were of the view that
partnership between Israelis and Palestinians in the
peace process had to be accompanied by partnership in
economic development, and that the sustainability of
Palestinian economic and social development was in
great measure influenced by non-economic issues. The
outcome of the negotiations on interim and permanent
status issues would most certainly affect the present
Palestinian economic activity and the future of the
Palestinian economy in general.
59. The report of the Seminar was issued as a
document of the General Assembly and the Economic
and Social Council for consideration under the relevant
agenda items (A/55/144-E/2000/87). It was also issued
as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
6. Cooperation with non-governmental
organizations
60. In the course of the year, the Committee has
continued to encourage NGOs in all regions to
mobilize international solidarity with the Palestinian
people and support for the achievement of its
inalienable rights. The Committee emphasized the
important role of civil society in educating the various
constituencies about the fundamental issues of the
question of Palestine and in mobilizing public support
for the Palestinian cause and the peace process. The
Committee has continued its practice of inviting civil
society organizations to all international conferences
and meetings organized under its auspices.
Participating NGOs used these events to inform the
other participants about their initiatives and campaigns
and to bring forward their views and ideas on the issues
at stake. In addition to the United Nations NGO
Meeting on Palestine Refugees, organized on 28 April
2000 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the Committee
provided NGOs participating in meetings in Hanoi and
Athens with the time and facilities to conduct their own
meetings in order to advance further cooperation and
networking among themselves. A large number of
NGOs participated actively in all these meetings and
manifested particular support for the right of return of
Palestine refugees.
61. Consultations between the Bureau of the
Committee and NGO representatives were held on 26
November 1999 in New York in order to continue the
dialogue with NGO activists on the future shape of
cooperation with civil society. The consultations were
followed up with an additional meeting in the course of
the United Nations Seminar on Prospects for
Palestinian Economic Development and the Middle
East Peace Process, held in Cairo in June 2000. The
participants reviewed the effect of the Committee’s
restructured work programme on their cooperation with
the Committee and made suggestions to further
increase its effectiveness. The Bureau urged the NGOs
to focus their initiatives on the most crucial issues at
stake and to mobilize solidarity movements in support
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of Palestine refugees and a just solution of the question
of Jerusalem.
62. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained
the Internet web site entitled “NGO Network on the
Question of Palestine”, launched in September 1999,
and, in consultation with NGOs, developed it into a
permanent tool of mutual information and cooperation
between the Committee and civil society. The web site
can be found at <http://www.un.org/depts/dpa/ngo>.
The Division also continued to issue its periodic
newsletter entitled NGO Action News covering the
activities of civil society on the various aspects of the
question of Palestine.
7. Research, monitoring and publications
63. The Committee continued to attach great
importance to the essential contribution of the Division
for Palestinian Rights and requested it to continue its
established programme of work, including studies,
information notes and other publications; the further
development of the United Nations Information System
on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL); the annual
training programme for staff of the Palestinian
Authority; and the annual observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People.
64. Accordingly, the Division continued to respond to
requests for information and to prepare and disseminate
to its worldwide network the following publications:
(a) Monthly bulletin covering action by the
Committee, United Nations bodies and agencies, and
intergovernmental organizations concerned with the
question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of events relating to
the question of Palestine, based on media reports and
other sources;
(c) Reports of meetings organized under the
auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletin on the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People;
(e) Annual compilation of relevant resolutions,
decisions and statements of the General Assembly and
the Security Council relating to the question of
Palestine.
8. United Nations Information System on the
Question of Palestine
65. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in
cooperation with relevant technical services of the
United Nations Secretariat, continued to develop
UNISPAL, as mandated by the General Assembly since
1991. This included the required ongoing upgrading of
the system’s hardware and software components; the
scanning, retyping or downloading, editing and
inclusion into the system of several hundreds of new
and old documents; the improvement of quality control
mechanisms; and the further development and
improvement of access to the “UNISPAL” and
“Question of Palestine” sites on the Internet.
66. The staff of the Division completed the
coordination and supervision of the electronic
conversion by a contractor of the records of the
UNCCP, in pursuance of the mandate given by the
General Assembly in its resolution 51/129 of 13
December 1996.
9. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian
Authority
67. Two staff members from the Ministry of Planning
and International Cooperation of the Palestinian
Authority participated in a training programme
conducted by the Division, from September to
December 1999, in conjunction with the fifty-fourth
session of the General Assembly. They familiarized
themselves with various aspects of the work of the
Secretariat and other organs. The programme included,
among other things, attendance at various briefings and
meetings of relevant committees and bodies of the
United Nations, meetings with representatives of
delegations to the General Assembly and members of
staff of permanent missions to the United Nations. The
trainees also conducted research and prepared studies
on specific topics of interest to them.
10. International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
68. The International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People was observed on 29 November 1999
at United Nations Headquarters and at the United
Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna. On the occasion
of the observance at Headquarters, in addition to a
solemn meeting of the Committee and other activities,
an exhibit entitled “Follow the Star: Images from the
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Palestinian City of Bethlehem at the New Millennium”
was presented by the Permanent Observer Mission of
Palestine, under the auspices of the Committee. The
Committee noted with appreciation that the
International Day of Solidarity had also been observed
in many other cities throughout the world. Details on
the observance are contained in the special bulletin
issued by the Division.
69. In adopting its programme of work, the
Committee decided that a similar event would be
organized in connection with the observance of the Day
in 2000.
C. Action taken in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 54/22
70. In pursuance of General Assembly resolution
54/22 of 10 November 1999 and in response to the
overwhelming support the resolution had received by
the Assembly, the Committee continued to attach great
importance to educating public opinion on the
Bethlehem 2000 Project of the Palestinian Authority
and promoting the Project.
71. In a letter dated 7 September 2000 addressed to
the Secretary-General, the Chairman of the Committee
said that the Committee had consistently reserved a
special place for the Bethlehem 2000 Project in its
various activities and in its meetings programme. The
importance of heightening awareness of and promoting
support for the Project had been highlighted at the
United Nations Seminar on Prospects for Palestinian
Economic Development and the Middle East Peace
Process, held at Cairo on 20 and 21 June 2000. The
Bureau of the Committee had also discussed this
important issue with representatives of
intergovernmental organizations, such as the European
Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and
the League of Arab States, as well as with NGOs. The
Chairman of the Committee recalled that over the year
he had consistently promoted the Committee’s
objectives and activities, including its support for the
Project, in the course of the discussions he had had at
the various intergovernmental meetings attended by
him in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee,
especially those organized by the Organization of the
Islamic Conference, the Organization of African Unity
and the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. The
Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat
continued to disseminate information about the Project
through UNISPAL, which could be accessed on the
Internet through the United Nations home page or at
<http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF>. Also, in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/41,
the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat
had established an Internet web site entitled
“Bethlehem 2000”, which could be found
at <http://www.un.org/Depts/dpi/bethlehem2000>.
Substantial contributions had been made by Member
States, intergovernmental and civil society
organizations. The Chairman stated that a lot was yet to
be accomplished within the remaining time frame of
the Project, as well as in the months and years to come,
in the City of Bethlehem and in other Palestinian
municipalities throughout the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip. The Palestinian people would require
considerable international assistance in order to deal
successfully with the enormous rehabilitation and
development tasks. Donor assistance, therefore, was
vital for the improvement of the economic and social
conditions of the Palestinian people and for creating a
viable Palestinian economy. The Committee renewed
its appeal to the international community to continue to
support and render assistance to the Bethlehem 2000
Project of the Palestinian Authority and to the
development of all other Palestinian municipalities
(A/55/370).
Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of
Public Information in accordance
with General Assembly
resolution 54/41
72. In pursuance of General Assembly resolution
54/41 of 1 December 1999, the Department of Public
Information continued its special information
programme on the question of Palestine, which
included, among other things, the organization of its
annual training programme for Palestinian broadcasters
and journalists and the production of an exhibit, in
English and French, entitled “The United Nations and
the Question of Palestine”.
73. From 25 October to 17 December 1999, the
Department organized a training programme at
Headquarters for a group of seven Palestinian
broadcasters and journalists to strengthen their
professional capacity as information media personnel.
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As was the case since the programme’s beginning in
1995, the Department arranged a series of briefings and
workshops at Columbia University’s School of
International and Public Affairs in New York and at
CNN in Atlanta. Briefings were also organized for the
participants at United Nations Headquarters and at
international organizations and at institutions of the
Government of the United States of America in
Washington, D.C. As part of their training, participants
covered meetings of the General Assembly and
transmitted radio, television and print reports back to
their news organizations in the Middle East.
74. On 16 December 1999, the Department launched
an exhibit on “The United Nations and the Question of
Palestine” containing illustrations, maps and text on
the history and situation of the Palestinian people and
tracing the search for a solution to the question of
Palestine. The exhibit is currently a permanent part of
the guided tour route at Headquarters. A Frenchlanguage
version of the exhibit was launched at
UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 29 May 2000 and
was scheduled to remain there through 15 December
2000.
75. In September 2000, the Department began
production of a colour brochure in Arabic, Chinese,
English, French, Russian, Spanish and German, entitled
“The United Nations and the Question of Palestine”.
Based on the aforementioned exhibit, the brochure will
be distributed worldwide through the network of
United Nations information centres (UNICs) and
services and will be placed on the United Nations home
page.
76. In March-June 2000, the Department launched the
English and Arabic versions of the “Bethlehem 2000”
Internet web site, which is illustrated with photos
supplied by the Programme of Assistance to the
Palestinian People of the United Nations Development
Programme.
77. The Department provided press release coverage,
in English and French, of all meetings held at United
Nations Headquarters, including those of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People. Coverage in English and French
was also provided to the conferences and meetings held
under the auspices of the Committee at locations away
from Headquarters. Press releases were also issued
concerning relevant statements by the Secretary-
General.
78. The quarterly publication UN Chronicle
continued its coverage of issues concerning the
question of Palestine between November 1999 and
August 2000. It regularly reported on peacekeeping
operations in the Middle East. In addition, Issue No. 4,
1999, featured an article by Ibrahim Abu Lughod,
entitled “In Palestine — Integration, Development,
Participation”. Issue No. 1, 2000, reported on the work
of the General Assembly’s Special Political and
Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee),
including the Committee’s action on the various
aspects of the question of Palestine.
79. At the request of the Division for Palestinian
Rights, the Dag Hammarskjöld Library cooperated with
the Division on digitizing General Assembly press
releases dating back to 1947 for the UNISPAL
documents collection.
80. The Video Section produced a World Chronicle
show with Mr. Peter Hansen, Commissioner-General of
UNRWA. World Chronicle is a half-hour television
interview current affairs programme produced by the
Department and distributed to TV broadcasters in
North America, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. DPI
also produced and distributed three “UN in Action” TV
programmes, entitled “50 Years Later and UNRWA is
Still Needed”, “Bethlehem 2000 Project” and
“UNRWA Assists Small Palestinian Entrepreneurs”.
The programmes were produced in the six official
languages and shown weekly on CNN World Report
and other networks worldwide.
81. The Radio News Unit covered extensively the
various aspects of the question of Palestine and related
issues in its news and current affairs programmes in the
official and non-official languages for regional and
worldwide dissemination. During the period under
review, the Unit conducted special interviews in Arabic
with Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, Secretary-General of
“Miftah”, and Mrs. Samia Bamia, representative of the
Palestinian Women’s Union. Some of the topics
covered in various languages included: International
Cooperation and Planning of Palestine meeting
welcoming the outcome of the Conference on the
Fourth Geneva Convention; briefing of the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People on a Cairo meeting and other
activities; debate on the agenda item “Question of
Palestine” at the fifty-fourth session of the General
Assembly; the Palestinian economy as a result of
developments in the peace operations; Palestinian
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economy suffers due to many years of occupation;
health situation of women in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory; the debate in the Fourth Committee on the
report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli
Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the
Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied
Territories; the observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People; and the General
Assembly vote on resolutions concerning Palestinerelated
issues. In addition to short items in news and
current affairs magazines, the Service produced 12
features and 13 magazines in Arabic, Bangla, Chinese,
English, French, Indonesian, Turkish and Urdu.
82. As in previous years, a major focus of the work
of the United Nations information centres was the
promotion of the International Day of Solidarity with
the Palestinian People. Special events and activities to
observe the Day were organized by UNICs Asunción,
Bonn, Cairo, Dar-es-Salaam, Harare, Lisbon, Mexico
City, Moscow, New Delhi, Rabat, Paris, Prague,
Pretoria, Sydney, Tokyo and Tunis. The activities
included briefings, press conferences, radio and
television programmes, seminars and exhibitions.
83. Throughout the year, UNICs have been involved
in a number of activities promoting better
understanding of the question of Palestine and its
various aspects. UNIC Paris assisted the UNESCO
secretariat in mounting the aforementioned DPI exhibit
entitled “The United Nations and the Question of
Palestine” at UNESCO headquarters. UNIC Tokyo, in
collaboration with Japanese NGOs active in providing
assistance to the Palestinian people, set up an exhibit
on the theme “The United Nations Works for Palestine
Refugees”. To highlight the Bethlehem 2000 Project,
UNIC Harare, in cooperation with the Embassy of
Palestine in Zimbabwe, organized an
interdenominational Zimbabwean choir to represent the
country at the Easter celebrations in Bethlehem. UNIC
Rome, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, co-sponsored a
football match between teams of famous artists and
representatives from Israel and Palestine at the Rome
Olympic Stadium to draw attention to the issue of
peace. H.E. Mr. Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres and the
Italian President were among the personalities
attending the event, which was telecast live by RAI.
UNIC Tunis produced a publication entitled
“Bethlehem 2000” for distribution to the media. UNIC
Tunis carried information on the Centre’s home page
concerning an event commemorating the Bethlehem
2000 Project. UNICs Bonn, Lisbon, Moscow, New
Delhi, Sana’a and UNO Baku translated and widely
disseminated an article written by the Commissioner-
General of UNRWA Mr. Peter Hansen, entitled
“Nurturing Palestine Refugees for Peace”. Information
outreach on the various aspects of the question of
Palestine has been further strengthened by use of the
Internet. UNIC Bonn posted the German translation of
the Secretary-General’s message for the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on the
Centre’s home page. UNIC Paris provided logistical
support and information dissemination for the
International Conference on Palestinian Refugees, held
at UNESCO headquarters in April 2000. UNIC Athens
assisted the Division for Palestinian Rights in
organizing the United Nations International Meeting in
Support of a Peaceful Settlement of the Question of
Palestine and the Establishment of Peace in the Middle
East in May 2000. UNIC Cairo undertook media
coverage for the United Nations Seminar on Prospects
for Palestinian Economic Development and the Middle
East Peace Process, held in July 2000.
Chapter VII
Conclusions and
recommendations of the
Committee
84. As humankind is preparing to enter the new
millennium, the future of peace in the region stands at
a critical crossroads. In the Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations, the two sides have travelled a long way.
The negotiating process, which began at Madrid in
1991, has been difficult and challenging. Today, the
parties are facing issues of paramount importance not
only for the Israelis and the Palestinians, but also for
peace and security in the entire region of the Middle
East. The outcome of this process will shape the future
of their relations for years to come. The Committee
will continue to support the peacemaking efforts by the
parties, assisted by the co-sponsors, until peace
prevails and the question of Palestine is solved on the
basis of justice and international legitimacy.
85. The Committee noted with much regret that,
following the signing in 1999 of the Sharm el-Sheikh
Memorandum, a considerable amount of time has been
lost. In the period under review, the situation in the
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Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations remained a cause
for serious concern, marked by frequent breakdowns
and only a few breakthroughs. For most of the year,
progress in the interim and permanent status talks has
been slow. The Committee, however, welcomed a
number of steps made in implementation of the
agreements, including the partial release of Palestinian
prisoners, the opening of a safe passage between the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the further
redeployment of Israeli troops from areas of the West
Bank, and the signing of the Israeli-Palestinian
agreements on economic issues and on the Gaza
seaport. In September 2000, the important meetings
held on the sidelines of the Millennium Summit created
expectations that a breakthrough was at hand.
86. The Committee wishes to emphasize once again
that more than 50 years after the adoption by the
General Assembly of resolution 181 (II) of 29
November 1947, the Palestinian people is yet to see the
establishment of its own independent and sovereign
State. In this context, the Committee reiterates its full
support for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its
inalienable rights, including the right to selfdetermination
and the establishment of an independent
State, and recalls the broad international support for
Palestinian statehood.
87. At a time when both sides are dealing with the
critical permanent status negotiations, the situation on
the ground remains untenable. Illegal “facts on the
ground” continue to be created in gross violation of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. This also
jeopardizes the possibility of making tangible progress
in the peace negotiations. The Committee considers it
unacceptable that, on the threshold of the third
millennium, the Palestinian people, in their daily lives,
are still carrying the heavy weight of occupation. One
of the core issues in the permanent status negotiations
is the question of Jerusalem. The Committee believes
that the issue should be resolved based on Security
Council resolution 242 (1967), other relevant United
Nations resolutions, the exercise by the Palestinian
people of its inalienable rights, and with due regard to
the universal spiritual meaning of the Holy City of
Jerusalem for all humankind. Among other permanent
status issues, the question of Palestine refugees is a
most difficult and painful one. Generations of
Palestinians have grown up as refugees, living in
dismal conditions of refugee camps or under
occupation, many away from their homeland, denied
their natural right to self-determination, with bleak
economic prospects, their freedom of movement
restricted, families torn apart, their hopes for the future
dependent on the outside world. If this problem is not
resolved with due care, patience and in accordance
with norms of international law, more Palestinian lives
will be ruined, frustration and mistrust will set in again
and the potential for peace and stability in the region
will be seriously jeopardized. The Committee reiterates
its view that the solution to the problem should be
based on General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 11
December 1948 and other relevant resolutions. Nothing
has altered the situation on the ground since 1967 more
than the illegal settlements spread around the West
Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.
They have not only changed the geography of the area,
but also had the most devastating immediate and longterm
effect on the livelihood of individual Palestinian
households and the Palestinian economy in general.
The Committee was appalled that the settlement
activity continued alongside the peace negotiations —
a policy which stands in marked contrast to the
mutually agreed ground rules of the peace process.
88. The Committee strongly believes that the United
Nations should continue to exercise its permanent
responsibility towards all the aspects of the question of
Palestine until it is resolved in a satisfactory manner, in
conformity with relevant United Nations resolutions
and in accordance with international legitimacy, and
until the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people are
fully realized. Today, the supporting role of the United
Nations in the peace process is even more crucial and
needed than ever. The United Nations should remain
the guardian of international legitimacy and play a key
role in mobilizing international assistance for
development, as an important underpinning of the
peace process. The Committee believes that the United
Nations should continue to maintain its responsibility
towards the question of Palestine and the Palestinian
people until the end of the implementation period, so
that a final agreement could be legitimized and
complemented, as necessary. In this regard, the
Committee shares the view that the important work
carried out by UNRWA should be continued. The
Committee also supports the view that the reactivation
of the work of the UNCCP, established by the General
Assembly in its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December
1948, and the use of the records of the Commission
related to land ownership in Palestine should be
considered. For its part, as the organ of the General
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Assembly established to deal with the question of
Palestine, the Committee pledges to continue its work
aimed at mobilizing the international community as a
whole, at the governmental, intergovernmental and
non-governmental levels, in support of a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the question
of Palestine, in accordance with the relevant United
Nations resolutions.
89. In the course of the past year, the Committee has
worked towards heightening international awareness of
the question of Palestine and the urgency of making it
possible for the Palestinian people to exercise its
inalienable rights. It has also continued its programme
of meetings in the various regions and cooperated with
the NGO community in order to make the programme
more effective and useful. The Committee intends to
continue to review and assess its programme of
activities with a view to making it more focused and
responsive to the developments in the peace process
and on the ground. In its programme of work for the
next year, the Committee will continue to focus on the
question of the exercise by the Palestinian people of its
inalienable rights, permanent status issues, as well as
Palestinian nation- and institution-building and social
and economic development.
90. The Committee, in its future activities, intends to
continue to promote the Bethlehem 2000 Project of the
Palestinian Authority. It is of the view that this
important undertaking will require sustained
international support not only for the period of the
millennial celebrations in Bethlehem, but also long
after the celebrations come to a close. Moreover, the
Committee wishes to draw the attention of the
international community to the urgency of providing
varied assistance to many other Palestinian
municipalities throughout the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip.
91. The Committee recognizes the essential
contribution of the Division for Palestinian Rights of
the Secretariat in support of the Committee’s objectives
and requests it to continue its programme of
publications and other informational activities. This
would include the updating of UNISPAL on a day-today
basis with relevant documents available in
electronic form and the completion of work on
UNISPAL’s collection of documents hitherto
unavailable in machine-readable form.
92. The Committee is of the view that the special
information programme on the question of Palestine of
the Department of Public Information has remained an
important and useful tool in informing the media and
public opinion on issues relating to the question of
Palestine. The Committee considers that the
programme should be continued with the necessary
flexibility, as required by developments affecting the
question of Palestine.
93. In an effort to make its contribution to the
achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting
settlement of the question of Palestine, the Committee
calls upon all States to join in this endeavour and
invites the General Assembly once again to recognize
the importance of its role and to reconfirm its mandate
with overwhelming support.
Notes
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/32/35); ibid., Thirty-third Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/33/35); ibid., Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/34/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fifth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/35/35); ibid., Thirty-sixth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/36/35); ibid., Thirty-seventh
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/37/35 and Corr.1); ibid.,
Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35);
ibid., Thirty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/39/35); ibid., Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/40/35); ibid., Forty-first Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/41/35); ibid., Forty-second Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/42/35); ibid., Forty-third Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/45/35); ibid., Forty-sixth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35); ibid., Forty-seventh
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/47/35); ibid., Fortyeighth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/48/35); ibid.,
Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/49/35); ibid.,
Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/50/35); ibid.,
Fifty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/51/35), ibid.,
Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/52/35);
ibid., Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/53/35);
and ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/54/35).
3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
4 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/54/35), chap. VII.
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5 Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 47/1 of 22
September 1992, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia did
not participate in the work of the Committee.
6 A/AC.183/2000/CRP.1.
7 The observers at the Committee meetings were as
follows: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Ecuador,
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger,
Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab
Emirates, Viet Nam, League of Arab States,
Organization of the Islamic Conference and Palestine.
00-68413 (E) 161100
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A/56/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-sixth Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/56/35)
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-sixth Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/56/35)
United Nations • New York, 2001
A/56/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters
combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United
Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
Contents
Chapter Paragraphs Page
Letter of transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–6 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–10 3
III. Organization of work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11–16 4
A. Membership and officers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11–14 4
B. Participation in the work of the Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15–16 4
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17–30 5
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31–84 11
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 55/52. . . . . . . . 31–50 11
1. Action in the General Assembly and the Security Council . . . . . . . . . . . . 32–41 11
2. Communications to the Secretary-General, President of the General
Assembly and President of the Security Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42–48 13
3. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee at international
conferences and meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49–50 17
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in
accordance with General Assembly resolutions 55/52 and 55/53 . . . . . . . . . . . 51–84 18
1. United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People . . . . . . . 55–58 18
2. United Nations Latin American and Caribbean Meeting on the Question
of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59–63 19
3. Workshop of Latin American and Caribbean NGOs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64–66 20
4. United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine . . . . . 67–71 21
5. United Nations NGO Meeting in Solidarity with the Palestinian People . 72–75 22
6. Cooperation with civil society organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76–78 22
7. Research, monitoring and publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79–80 23
8. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine. . . . . . . 81 24
9. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 24
10. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People . . . . . . . . . . . 83–84 24
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 55/54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85–97 25
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98–106 29
iv
Letter of transmittal
10 October 2001
Mr. Secretary-General,
The second half of the twentieth century was marked by the struggle of the
Palestinian people for the exercise of its fundamental and natural rights. For the past
50 years, the United Nations has been closely involved in and has remained in the
forefront of international efforts aimed at resolving the question of Palestine — the
core of the conflict in the Middle East. For its part, the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, since its inception in 1975, has
continued to work towards the exercise by the Palestinian people of their inalienable
rights, namely the right to self-determination without external interference; the right
to national independence and sovereignty; and the right to return to their homes and
property. The Committee’s many activities in implementation of the mandate given
to it by the General Assembly continue to be devoted to the achievement of this
important objective until the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people are realized
in their entirety.
The decade since the Middle East Peace Conference held at Madrid and the
beginning of the Oslo peace process has considerably altered the political
environment of the Middle East. The parties to the conflict appeared to have
succeeded in breaking out of a shell of age-old suspicion and mistrust and to have
dedicated themselves to a single goal of attaining a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace in their region. The past year, however, has witnessed yet another dramatic
and rapid deterioration of the situation on the ground and a complete halt in the
peace process. The international community was greatly appalled by the outbreak of
violence and the tragic loss of life following the events at Al-Haram al-Sharif that
took place in September 2000. The Al-Aqsa intifada has continued throughout the
year. These events have seized the attention of the international community,
including the General Assembly and the Security Council and our Committee. It was
disappointing and frustrating, after 10 gruelling years of peace negotiations, to see
the momentum of the peace process wither away.
The Committee fully supports your dedicated and hard work for peace in the
Middle East. We have welcomed your intense efforts in the course of the year aimed
at bringing the two sides together and salvaging the peace process. The Committee
remains hopeful that your leadership will enable the parties to overcome the present
difficulties and return to the negotiating table.
v
In the hope that our Committee’s endeavours will make a meaningful
contribution to the deliberations of the General Assembly, I have the honour to
enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the General Assembly in
accordance with paragraph 5 of its resolution 55/52 of 1 December 2000. The report
covers the period from 11 October 2000 to 10 October 2001.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Papa Louis Fall
Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
1
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I. Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights as recognized by the
Assembly in resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the General
Assembly1 were endorsed by the Assembly as a basis for the solution of the question
of Palestine. In its subsequent reports,2 the Committee has continued to stress that a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations resolutions and
the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian
territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and from the other occupied
Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in the region to live in peace
within secure and internationally recognized boundaries; and the recognition and
exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to
self-determination. The Committee’s recommendations could not be implemented,
and the Assembly each year renewed the Committee’s mandate and requested it to
intensify efforts in pursuit of its objectives.
3. The Committee welcomed the historic breakthrough in the peace process in
1993 and the subsequent important steps towards the achievement of a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, based on
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). At the same time, the
Committee continued to work towards the full realization of the inalienable rights of
the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and to its own
independent State. The Committee also continued to mobilize the needed
international assistance and solidarity during the transitional period.
4. In the course of the past year, the situation in the region has been marked by
the eruption of the Palestinian intifada in protest over the highly provocative visit of
the then opposition leader Ariel Sharon to the Al-Haram al-Sharif compound in the
Old City of Jerusalem. The year of violent confrontations left hundreds of civilians
dead, mostly among Palestinians, and tens of thousands of wounded and
permanently disabled, including hundreds of children. The Committee noted that the
explosive situation on the ground had been further exacerbated by the rapid
deterioration of the Palestinian economy, the dispossessing effects of the Israeli
settlement policy and protracted internal and external closures of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem. The Committee, therefore, joined the
international community in stressing the need for the Government of Israel to fulfil
its legal obligations under the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949 (the Fourth Geneva
Convention)3 and Security Council resolutions. The Committee also reaffirmed that
the continued failure on the part of Israel to live up to the provisions of the Fourth
Geneva Convention would cause even greater suffering and dispossession to the
Palestinian people and would lead to an increased volatility in the entire region.
5. The peace process has remained stalemated since the beginning of 2001. In
October-November 2000, the Committee observed with much hope the efforts by
various parties in Paris, at Taba and Sharm el-Sheikh to end the violence and resume
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the peace negotiations. The Committee noted in that regard the key role played in
these endeavours by the United States of America, Egypt, Jordan and the European
Union (EU). It welcomed, fully supported and was particularly appreciative of the
increased engagement in the course of the year of the Secretary-General of the
United Nations. The Committee was hopeful that the understandings reached by the
parties at Sharm el-Sheikh and Taba, Egypt, in October 2000 and January 2001,
respectively, would result in curbing and eventually stopping the violence and the
return of the two sides to the negotiating table. The establishment in November 2000
of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee, led by former United States
Senator George Mitchell, was a promising step aimed at resolving the crisis on the
ground. It appeared that the sensible and balanced recommendations made by the
Mitchell Committee in its report, released in late April 2001, offered a practicable
way out of the impasse. Most importantly, both sides have accepted them. However,
the Israeli insistence that all violence should cease before the cooling-off period
begins and negotiations resume prevented the two sides from breaking out of the
deadlock. Subsequent attempts at resuming security cooperation between the two
sides, notably the June 2001 proposal by the United States Director of Central
Intelligence, also remained inconclusive. A September 2001 meeting at Gaza
International Airport between the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the
Palestine Liberation Organization and President of the Palestinian Authority Mr.
Yasser Arafat and Israel’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Shimon Peres was a
welcome development and created new expectations of an imminent breakthrough.
They agreed to resume security cooperation, take measures to sustain the ceasefire
and bring the violence under control. The Committee hoped that the strict adherence
by the two sides to the agreed terms and the sustained security coordination work
would lead to positive changes on the ground, creating the necessary momentum for
the resumption of the peace process. The Committee also welcomed and was greatly
encouraged by the statement made on 2 October 2001 by the United States President
George Bush concerning the Palestinian State.
6. The aforementioned setbacks notwithstanding and as the crisis persisted, the
Committee expressed the view that a stepped-up and more involved assistance of
key international actors, including the Secretary-General of the United Nations, was
warranted in order to help the parties implement the Mitchell Committee
recommendations, stop the violence and resume the peace negotiations. As the organ
of the General Assembly mandated to deal with the question of Palestine, the
Committee during the year has strongly supported all multilateral initiatives aimed
at ensuring a de-escalation on the ground and a speedy return of the two sides to the
resumption of the peace negotiations.
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II. Mandate of the Committee
7. The mandate of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was again renewed by the General Assembly in its resolution
55/52 of 1 December 2000, in which the Assembly, inter alia: (a) endorsed the
conclusions and recommendations of the Committee4 and requested it to continue to
keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report
and make suggestions to the Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate; (b)
authorized the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the exercise of
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and to report thereon to the Assembly
at its fifty-sixth session and thereafter; and (c) requested the Committee to continue
to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other non-governmental
organizations in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the
achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and for a peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine.
8. In its resolution 55/53 of 1 December 2000, on the Division for Palestinian
Rights of the United Nations Secretariat, the General Assembly requested the
Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources
and to ensure that it continues to carry out its programme of work as detailed in the
relevant earlier resolutions, including, in particular, the organization of meetings in
various regions with the participation of all sectors of the international community,
the further development and expansion of the documents collection of the United
Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, the preparation and widest
possible dissemination of publications and information materials on various aspects
of the question of Palestine, and the provision of the annual training programme for
staff of the Palestinian Authority.
9. In its resolution 55/54 of 1 December 2000, on the special information
programme on the question of Palestine, the General Assembly requested the
Department of Public Information of the United Nations Secretariat, in full
cooperation and coordination with the Committee, to continue, with the necessary
flexibility as may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine,
its special information programme for the biennium 2000-2001; and to promote the
Bethlehem 2000 Project, within existing resources and until the Bethlehem
commemoration comes to a close, including the preparation and dissemination of
publications, audio-visual material and further development of the “Bethlehem
2000” site on the United Nations Internet home page.
10. In carrying out its programme of work, the Committee also took into account
General Assembly resolution 55/55 of 1 December 2000, in which the Assembly,
inter alia, reaffirmed the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine in all its aspects; expressed its full support for the ongoing peace
process; stressed the necessity for commitment to the principle of land for peace and
the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973),
which form the basis of the Middle East peace process; and stressed the need for the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to
self-determination; the need for the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian
territory occupied since 1967; and the need for resolving the problem of the
Palestine refugees.
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III. Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
11. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and
Ukraine.
12. At its 256th meeting, on 1 March 2001, the Committee re-elected Mr. Ibra
Deguène Ka (Senegal) as Chairman, and re-elected Mr. Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez
Parrilla (Cuba) and Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhâdi (Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairmen, and
Mr. Walter Balzan (Malta) as its Rapporteur.
13. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted its programme of work for the
year 2001.5
14. At its 258th meeting, on 18 September 2001, the Committee elected by
acclamation Mr. Papa Louis Fall (Senegal) as Chairman, replacing Mr. Ibra Deguène
Ka (Senegal), former Chairman of the Committee, who had retired from the
diplomatic service of his country.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
15. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members and
permanent observers to the United Nations wishing to participate in the work of the
Committee as observers were welcome to do so. In accordance with established
practice, the Permanent Observer of Palestine participated in the work of the
Committee as an observer, attended all its meetings and made observations and
proposals for consideration by the Committee and its Bureau.
16. In 2001, the Committee again welcomed as observers all the States and
organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding year.6
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IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
17. In accordance with its mandate, the Committee continued to follow closely the
situation relating to the question of Palestine and to monitor the situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem. The Committee also continued
to follow closely the various developments relevant to the peace process following
the breakdown in the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. The Committee has
been particularly worried by the protracted stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations, grievous difficulties experienced by the parties in trying to restore the
peace process, escalation of violence on the ground and Israel’s illegal occupation
policies and practices.
18. Throughout the year, the Committee remained hopeful that the peace talks,
which had been suspended since late January 2001, would resume. This, however,
has not happened, owing to the position on the peace negotiations taken by the new
Israeli Government and the continuing violence in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip
and East Jerusalem. The Al-Aqsa intifada, as it became known in 2000-2001, had
three distinctive characteristics: the rapid escalation of the Israel Defence Forces
(IDF) operations against the Palestinians; the introduction of a policy of targeted
extrajudicial assassinations of Palestinian leaders and activists; and the frequent
incursions into areas under full Palestinian control.
19. Since the beginning of the intifada, over 660 Palestinians have been killed by
the IDF, security forces and settlers. Some 20,000 Palestinians have been wounded,
a great number of them left permanently disabled. In monitoring the situation on the
ground on a daily basis, the Committee, on several occasions, voiced its grave
concern at the severity of the Israeli military response to the outbreak of Palestinian
protest. The Committee noted that during the year, in addition to the use of plastic,
rubber-coated metal and live ammunition, the Israeli military, in their attacks against
Palestinians, continued to rely on heavy and sophisticated weapons, using them in
an excessively harsh and indiscriminate manner. In the course of the past several
months, the Committee has noted the alarmingly frequent use by IDF of helicopter
gunships, air-to-surface and heavy anti-tank missiles, tanks and missile boats
throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory. On 18 May 2001, the Government of
Israel changed the nature and scale of the conflict by authorizing the use of fighter
aircraft against unprotected Palestinian targets. The Committee joined the
international community in condemning these and subsequent air attacks as
excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate. The Committee also expressed the
view that this policy was contrary to the accepted norms of international law. The
new policy escalated the violence threatening to expand the conflict.
20. In the course of the past several months, the Israeli security apparatus has
resorted to selective assassinations of Palestinian activists and political leaders. The
methods used in these Government-authorized operations have varied from special
undercover units and snipers to helicopter gunship-fired air-to-surface missiles and
other high-tech means. In this regard, the Committee noted with special concern the
public statements by some Israeli leaders openly calling for the “liquidation” of the
fathers of Palestinian militants. Since December 2000, more than 50 Palestinians
have been killed in targeted attacks. These political assassinations often claimed the
lives of innocent bystanders, including children. The practice has prompted the
international community’s immediate and unequivocal condemnation. The
Committee stated that the policy of targeted extrajudicial killings of Palestinian
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officials by Israeli security forces clearly violated the provisions of the Fourth
Geneva Convention and was criminal in nature. The Committee has also received
information on continued beatings and other abuse by IDF soldiers, Israeli border
police officers and security forces of Palestinian civilians, ranging in age from 3 to
58.
21. Since April 2001, the Committee has observed with great concern what
appeared to be an emerging pattern of Israeli incursions into areas under full
Palestinian control. The Committee has stated that this type of IDF operations
constituted an illegal activity and violated the letter and the spirit of the bilateral
agreements signed as part of the peace process. During these massive incursions,
IDF was supported by tanks, heavy armoured vehicles, helicopter gunships and
bulldozers. The incursions constituted a virtual reoccupation of Palestinian lands,
accompanied by the destruction of public and private property in various Palestinian
towns, villages and refugee camps, including Beit Jala, Hebron, Jenin, Jericho, Khan
Yunis, Qalqilya, Rafah, Ramallah, Tulkarm and others. The Committee considered a
blatant provocation the taking over on 10 August 2001 of Orient House in East
Jerusalem and nine other Palestinian offices in Abu Dis and Al-Eizariyeh, east of the
city. Besides being illegal and provocative, this act was aimed at accelerating the
process of Judaization of the city — the policy which Israel has been pursuing since
1967. In a simultaneous incursion that took place on 18 September 2001, in the
north and south of the Gaza Strip, Israeli tanks and a bulldozer drove into an area
south of Gaza City where a seaport was under construction, tearing down the fence
and destroying the premises of the seaport project funded by the Governments of the
Netherlands and France. The Committee was concerned about the official statements
by Israeli leaders indicating Israel’s intent to continue incursions into Areas “A”.
22. During the year, the Israeli authorities have considered “unilateral separation”
schemes aimed at further isolating Palestinian population centres from the
settlements and restricting the movement of Palestinians throughout the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem. The Committee was much alarmed by the
establishment, in late September 2001, of a 30-kilometre-long “closed military
zone” in the northern part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, stretching from
Jenin to Tulkarm. In the Committee’s view, this was an extremely provocative
unilateral measure, taken by IDF in gross violation of the signed Israeli-Palestinian
agreements. The Committee expressed much concern at the adverse implications this
development might have for future talks on permanent status issues. Also in late
September 2001, Israel’s Ministry of Public Security announced an intention to
consider physically separating the settlements of “Pisgat Ze’ev” and “Neve
Ya’akov”, north of East Jerusalem, from the Shu’fat refugee camp and the nearby
Palestinian village of Dahiyat al-Bareed, respectively. The plan of the Jerusalem
District police was to erect up to 12 kilometres of fences, a fortification that would
include night-vision equipment and other high-tech defences. The Committee
strongly opposed this policy, as it represented a new form of collective punishment
and created another obstacle to efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
23. In the period under review, as the crisis persisted, the Committee has observed
with great hope and anticipation the intensive efforts mounted by various
international parties to hold violence in check, achieve a viable ceasefire and hold it
long enough to reach a political solution. To this end, Israeli and Palestinian leaders
met with a number of world leaders and the Secretary-General of the United
Nations. A series of meetings held in Paris were followed by an important summit at
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Sharm el-Sheikh, which was not attended by the Prime Minister of Israel. A way out
of the escalating violence and towards the resumption of the peace negotiations was
offered through the setting up, on 7 November 2000, of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-
Finding Committee, headed by former United States Senator George Mitchell. At
the start of 2001, the international community made another effort to persuade the
two sides to bring about an end to violence, to protect civilians and to resume
negotiations. The two sides met at Taba in late January 2001 and agreed on a
number of understandings with respect to the situation on the ground and in the
peace process. They also achieved a measure of progress by narrowing some gaps
on core issues such as refugees, Jerusalem, borders and security. The peace
negotiations were suspended in early February, however, following elections in
Israel and the refusal of the new Israeli Government to respect the understandings
reached at Sharm el-Sheikh and Taba. As the situation continued to escalate, the
Mitchell Committee, on 30 April 2001, released a report putting forward a set of
practical recommendations the parties should comply with in order to end
confrontation and return to the negotiations. The international community expressed
renewed hope that both sides, having accepted the report’s recommendations, would
be in a position to implement them in their entirety. The position of the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was that a
confidence-building phase that would bring about a sustainable ceasefire was key to
ending the confrontation. In this context, the Committee deplored the Israeli
Government’s tactic of using isolated incidents of violence as a pretext for delaying
its compliance with the Mitchell Committee recommendations, such as the freeze on
settlement activity. The Palestinian Rights Committee has also emphasized that a
concrete framework for the implementation of the recommendations and an
independent mechanism for monitoring compliance were urgently needed. Security
cooperation between the two sides was perceived as vital for achieving a ceasefire.
Several attempts have been made during the year at resuming security cooperation
between the two sides, including the proposal made in June 2001 by the United
States Director of Central Intelligence, which the Israeli side refused to implement
by insisting on a seven-day total ceasefire. The Committee welcomed the visit of the
Secretary-General to the region in June 2001 and, in particular, the important
meetings he had with the Israeli and Palestinian leadership. The Committee also
remained hopeful that the intensified involvement of the co-sponsors of the peace
process, EU, regional leaders and the Secretary-General of the United Nations was a
most workable way to secure an end to the violence, build confidence and move
back to the peace negotiations. As the parties remained deadlocked, the Committee
called upon the wider international community to help them out of the impasse. At a
meeting between the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine
Liberation Organization and President of the Palestinian Authority Mr. Yasser Arafat
and Israel’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Shimon Peres, held on 26 September
2001 at Gaza International Airport, the parties discussed their respective actions that
would allow them to maintain the ceasefire. In particular, they reiterated their
commitment to the Mitchell Report recommendations and the understandings
reached earlier in the year with the assistance of the United States Director of
Central Intelligence. They also agreed to resume full security cooperation, exert
maximum effort to sustain the ceasefire and carry out their respective obligations
emanating from previous agreements. Israel pledged to lift closures and redeploy its
forces. The Committee welcomed the results of the meeting and the renewal of
security coordination and hoped that it would lead to a reduction of violence,
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restoration of trust between the two sides and the resumption of serious negotiations
on key political issues.
24. A major obstacle to the peace process has been the persistence with which the
Israeli authorities have been expanding the illegal settlements and infrastructure in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem. According to the reports
available to the Committee, Israel continued its settlement, outpost and road
network construction throughout the area in disregard of the strong opposition to
such activities expressed by the international community. There has been an
alarming increase in the demolitions of Palestinian houses and other property in the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Also, most of the IDF incursions into Palestiniancontrolled
areas were accompanied by the indiscriminate and often massive
bulldozing of Palestinian property, both public and private, under various securityrelated
justifications. The Gaza Strip suffered the most from these massive
demolitions. In the period from the beginning of the intifada to 12 September 2001,
IDF demolished a total of 559 Palestinian residential buildings. In East Jerusalem
alone, some 30 Palestinian houses were demolished. A total of 3,669 residential
buildings were shelled. In the same period, 112,900 olive trees were uprooted and
3,669,000 square miles of cultivated land destroyed. At least 15 settlement sites
have been established or resettled anew in the West Bank since February 2001.
Throughout the year, tenders have been issued by the Israeli authorities for the
construction of settler housing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
Jerusalem. In November 2000, tenders were issued for the construction of 131
housing units in the settlement of “Pisgat Ze’ev”, north of East Jerusalem, and for
110 units in “Har Homa”, at Jabal Abu Ghneim, south of East Jerusalem; in the
same month, Israel’s Ministry of Construction and Housing issued tenders for road
and infrastructure construction at “Betar Ilit” near Bethlehem. In December 2000,
the Israeli Minister of Housing and Construction announced that 1,400 housing units
had been started since January of that year. Half of the tenders issued by the Israel
Land Administration were earmarked for construction in settlements. For May 2001
alone, tenders were issued for the construction of more than 700 new homes in the
West Bank.
25. According to the “Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and
Gaza”, during 2001, the number of settlers in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza
Strip has increased by 17,000 and has now reached nearly 227,000. Violence against
the Palestinian population and acts of vandalism against their land and other
property perpetrated by extremist settlers remained of special concern to the
Committee. Individual armed settlers and radical settler groups continued to
terrorize and assault Palestinians. Since the start of the intifada, settlers have killed
16 Palestinian civilians. Under the protection or due to indifference on the part of
IDF, settler groups often resort to the use of firearms, hit-and-run incidents, torture
and beatings of Palestinians. The arsenal of their illegal and criminal activities
includes the obstruction of Palestinian road traffic and setting up roadblocks,
throwing stones at Palestinian cars, setting Palestinian property on fire, uprooting
trees, attacking Palestinian medical crews and journalists, and burning Palestinian
places of worship. They have routinely occupied Palestinian land, establishing
illegal temporary structures and outposts. In several areas of the West Bank, settlers
have instituted armed patrols. IDF has made its opposition to this particular activity
clear, but appears to have done nothing to stop it. In late August 2001, monitors of
the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) became the object of
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harassment and violence by Hebron settlers, who have disrupted its operation,
forcing the TIPH contingent to scale back its regular patrols of the city. The
Committee was seriously alarmed by the dramatic increase in the course of the year
of the scope and intensity of settler violence against Palestinian civilians. It has
always reiterated that the presence and the activities of the settlers in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, were illegal and violated the established
norms of international humanitarian law, including article 49, paragraph 6, of the
Fourth Geneva Convention.
26. The Committee remained much concerned about the plight of some 2,500
Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Many of the detainees are often subjected
to psychological pressure and physical torture. Forced isolation, administrative
detention, sudden night checks and interrogations, restrictions on internal movement
and overcrowding have had a highly traumatic effect on the detainees. The
Palestinian prisoners also face a lack of religious and educational facilities. The
health situation is a cause for great concern. Many suffer from various diseases and
surgical operations are frequently delayed. Palestinian prisoners under 18 are
exposed to physical assaults by Israeli criminal prisoners with whom they are often
jailed. Since the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa intifada, the Israeli authorities have
deprived the detainees of their right to family visitations. In addition, lawyers from
the areas under Palestinian Authority control have been denied access to Palestinian
prisoners since 8 April 1996. Legal assistance and advice are made unavailable to
the Palestinian prisoners as a result of this policy. On a number of occasions, the
Committee has called on the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations under
the Fourth Geneva Convention and to release the prisoners in implementation of the
bilateral agreements.
27. The Palestinian economy, in the year of the current intifada, has experienced
extreme difficulties and has shown signs of rapid disintegration as a result of the
Israeli military occupation. Months of intensive violence and military confrontation
as well as protracted closures and restrictions on the movement of goods and the
labour force have decimated practically all sectors of the economy. In contrast to
previous years, there has been a noticeable shift to emergency assistance and
humanitarian aid. Since the beginning of the crisis in September 2000, the Israeli
authorities have introduced a policy of recurrent and often prolonged closures,
which is viewed as a particularly harsh form of collective punishment. Mobility has
been severely restricted on the borders between the Palestinian Territory and Israel,
between the West Bank and Jordan, and between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The
closure of borders with Israel has resulted in the closure of the safe passage route
established as part of the peace negotiations. Internal closures within the West Bank
and Gaza Strip have led to the establishment of a dense network of Israeli
checkpoints, which, in turn, has resulted in temporary or permanent traffic
disruption and road blockages. The present crisis has considerably offset the gains
made by the Palestinian economy in the past several years. Estimates by the Office
of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and
Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation
Organization and the Palestinian Authority indicate that the total income losses of
the Palestinian economy since the start of the intifada range from US$ 1.8 to
US$ 2.5 billion. The closures have caused a dramatic rise in unemployment,
bringing the rates back to the 1996 levels. Poverty rates were expected to reach 50
per cent by the end of 2001, meaning that half of the Palestinian population would
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live on $2 or less a day. The IDF incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas have
had a destructive effect on the Palestinian physical infrastructure. Palestinian social
services have also been disrupted. The Committee was of the view that in the light
of the gravity of the economic crisis and in order to address the situation adequately,
the international community would have to renew its commitment to assist the
Palestinian people with a view to rehabilitating the economy and infrastructure and
bringing about a substantial improvement in the living conditions of the
Palestinians. Also in this connection, the Committee stressed the increasingly
important role of the United Nations system and the Office of the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative
of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority in coordinating international assistance and emergency humanitarian aid.
28. As was the case in the previous years, water in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory remained in short supply. Constant water shortages continued to have a
harmful effect of Palestinian households throughout the Palestinian territory. Israeli
authorities continued to exercise control over Palestinian water resources, with
thousands of Palestinian families deprived of connection to water networks. Almost
200,000 Palestinians were forced to rely on alternative water sources. The pervasive
restrictions on movement imposed by Israel on the Palestinian population during the
intifada, coupled with a sharp deterioration of the economy, have further impeded
access by Palestinians to sources of water supply. Restrictive and repressive Israeli
actions in the course of the year have affected the water supply situation. During the
closures of the Palestinian territory, IDF often prevented Palestinian traffic,
including water tanks, from reaching their water suppliers. Settlers have been
reported to use their bulldozers to rupture Palestinian water pipelines, whereas
Israeli snipers have targeted Palestinian roof water tanks, considered by the
Palestinians as an essential alternative to relying on water pipelines.
29. The Committee greatly appreciated and supported the substantial humanitarian
work done during the year by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). UNRWA has provided some 3.8
million Palestine refugees with social services, schooling and health care. In spite of
its important and dedicated humanitarian effort, the Agency continued to experience
serious financial difficulties. The severe decline in the Palestinian economy and the
desperate condition of Palestine refugees since the start of the intifada in particular
compelled UNRWA to launch a series of emergency appeals to the international
community for funds to be used for emergency operations. In all its activities during
the year, the Committee has consistently called for increased international support
for the Agency’s vital activities and generous financial contributions to its budget. It
has also supported UNRWA’s appeals for aid to provide food, medical supplies and
emergency work programmes for some 217,000 refugee families.
30. Since December 1978, the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People
of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP/PAPP) has provided
substantial assistance to the Palestinian people. For over two decades, UNDP/PAPP
has helped build Palestinian technical capacities, as well as project management and
administrative capacities within counterpart Palestinian institutions, including the
Palestinian Authority, local government, the private sector and non-governmental
organizations. The Committee has been grateful to UNDP/PAPP for the invaluable
and highly effective development assistance rendered to the Palestinian people
during these difficult years.
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V. Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 55/52
31. In pursuance of its mandate and in response to the difficulties experienced by
the peace process and in the search for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement
of the question of Palestine, the Committee continued to mobilize the international
community in support of the Palestinian people, in cooperation with United Nations
bodies, Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and
others, as indicated below.
1. Action in the General Assembly and the Security Council
(a) Resumed tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly
32. The Chairman, as well as members and observers of the Committee,
participated in the fifth resumption of the tenth emergency special session of the
General Assembly, convened to discuss the item entitled “Illegal Israeli actions in
occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory”. In
pursuance of General Assembly resolution ES-10/6 of 9 February 1999, the
emergency special session was resumed on 18 October 2000 at the request of the
Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman
of the Group of Arab States for the month of October 2000.
33. The Chairman of the Committee took part in the debate and made a statement,
in which he reviewed the situation on the ground and the international efforts to
resume the peace negotiations at Sharm el-Sheikh. He also welcomed the
particularly important role which the United Nations Secretary-General had played
in efforts to bring an end to the violence (A/ES-10/PV.13).
34. At the 14th meeting of the session, on 20 October 2000, the Secretary-General
made a statement on the latest developments on the item (A/ES-10/PV.14). At the
end of the debate, on 20 October 2000, the General Assembly, by a recorded vote of
92 to 6, with 46 abstentions, adopted resolution ES-10/7, in which it condemned the
violence that had taken place on 28 September 2000 and the following days at Al-
Haram al-Sharif and other Holy Places in Jerusalem as well as other areas in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, resulting in the deaths of over 100 people, the vast
majority of whom were Palestinian civilians, and many other casualties; condemned
also acts of violence, especially the excessive use of force by the Israeli forces
against Palestinian civilians; expressed support for the understandings reached at the
summit convened at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, and urged all parties concerned to
implement those understandings honestly and without delay; demanded the
immediate cessation of violence and the use of force, called upon the parties to act
immediately to reverse all measures taken in that regard since 28 September 2000,
and acknowledged that necessary steps had been taken by the parties in that
direction since the summit of Sharm el-Sheikh; reiterated that Israeli settlements in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, were illegal and were an
obstacle to peace, and called for the prevention of illegal acts of violence by Israeli
settlers; demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, abide scrupulously by its legal
obligations and its responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to
the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, which was applicable to all
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territories occupied by Israel since 1967; strongly supported the establishment of a
mechanism of inquiry into the recent tragic events, with the aim of establishing all
the precise facts and preventing the repetition of those events, and in that regard
strongly supported also the understanding reached at Sharm el-Sheikh about a
committee of fact-finding, and called for its establishment without delay; supported
the efforts of the Secretary-General, including his efforts for the establishment of the
above-mentioned committee, and requested him to report to the Assembly on the
progress made in those efforts; called upon the members of the Security Council to
follow the situation closely, including the implementation of Council resolution
1322 (2000), in fulfilment of the Council’s primary responsibility for the
maintenance of international peace and security; invited the depositary of the Fourth
Geneva Convention to consult on the development of the humanitarian situation in
the field, in accordance with the statement adopted on 15 July 1999 by the
Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Convention, with the aim of ensuring
respect for the Convention in all circumstances in accordance with common article 1
of the four Conventions; supported the efforts towards the resumption of the Israeli-
Palestinian negotiations within the Middle East peace process on its agreed basis,
and called for the speedy conclusion of the final settlement agreement between the
two sides; and decided to adjourn the tenth emergency special session temporarily
and to authorize the President of the General Assembly at its most recent session to
resume its meeting upon request from Member States.
(b) Security Council meetings
35. Following the events of 28 September 2000 and the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa
intifadah that ensued, the Security Council met on 3, 4 and 5 October 2000 to
consider the agenda item entitled “The situation in the Middle East, including the
Palestinian question”. At its 4205th meeting on 7 October 2000, the Council adopted
resolution 1322 (2000).7
36. On 22 November 2000, at the request of the Permanent Representative of the
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the United Nations in his capacity as Chairman of the
Arab Group for the month of November 2000 (S/2000/1109), the Security Council
met to discuss the agenda item entitled “The situation in the Middle East, including
the Palestinian question”.
37. The Acting Chairman of the Committee participated in the debate on the same
day and made a statement on behalf of the Committee. In his statement, the Acting
Chairman underscored the very important role played by the Secretary-General of
the United Nations in the search for a solution to the crisis. On behalf of the
Committee, he urged the Secretary-General to continue his efforts. The Acting
Chairman also emphasized that Israeli practices and policies denying the legitimate
needs and aspirations of the Palestinian people would never be compatible with a
legitimate peace process based on resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). There
could be no just and lasting peace in the Middle East until the Palestinian people
exercised their legitimate right to establish an independent State with its capital in
East Jerusalem, until all the occupied Arab territories were returned, and until Israel
withdrew from the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and the occupied Syrian Golan, to the
lines of 4 June 1967 (S/PV.4231).
38. On 18 December 2000, the Security Council met again to consider the agenda
item entitled “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”
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(S/2000/1206). At the end of the debate on the same day, the Council voted on a
draft resolution (S/2000/1171) submitted by the Non-Aligned Movement Caucus
(Bangladesh, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mali, Namibia and Tunisia). The draft received 8
votes in favour, none against and 7 abstentions. The draft resolution was not
adopted, as it did not obtain the required majority (S/PV.4248).
39. On 15 March 2001, at the request of the Permanent Representative of the
United Arab Emirates to the United Nations in his capacity as Chairman of the Arab
Group for the month of March 2001 (S/2001/216), the Security Council met to
consider the agenda item entitled “The situation in the Middle East, including the
Palestinian question”. Resumed meetings under this item were held on 19 and 27
March 2001. At the conclusion of the debate, on 27 March 2001, the Council voted
on a draft resolution (S/2001/270) submitted by the Non-Aligned Movement Caucus
(Bangladesh, Colombia, Jamaica, Mali, Mauritius, Singapore and Tunisia). The draft
received 9 votes in favour, 1 against and 4 abstentions. One Council member did not
participate in the voting. The draft resolution was not adopted, owing to the negative
vote of a permanent member of the Security Council (S/PV.4305).
40. At the request of the representatives of Mali and Qatar to the United Nations
(S/2001/797), on 20 and 21 August 2001, the Security Council resumed its
consideration of the agenda item entitled “The situation in the Middle East,
including the Palestinian question”.
41. The Acting Chairman of the Committee participated in the debate on 20
August 2001 and made a statement on behalf of the Committee. In his statement, the
Acting Chairman expressed the concern of the Committee at the dramatic escalation
of tension and violence in and around East Jerusalem and in areas under full
Palestinian control. He stated that Israel had no intentions of abiding by agreements
signed with the Palestinian side and had firmly decided on wide-scale military
operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, as well as in
areas under full control of the Palestinian Authority. The Acting Chairman
specifically referred to Israel’s takeover of Orient House and other Palestinian
institutions in East Jerusalem and Abu Dis. He added that the Security Council had
on numerous occasions failed to take any tangible action in response to the situation
on the ground. The Committee believed that the Mitchell Committee report and its
recommendations should be implemented in their entirety. A framework for their
implementation should be established within a reasonable time span and with the
international community monitoring the compliance of both parties. Negotiations on
security, as well as consideration of the interim and permanent status issues, should
be revived as a matter of urgency. The Acting Chairman said that the Committee
was of the view that a permanent status agreement, long overdue, should be finally
reached on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973)
(S/PV.4357).
2. Communications to the Secretary-General, the President of the General
Assembly and the President of the Security Council
42. In a letter dated 7 March 2001 addressed to the Secretary-General (A/55/827,
A/ES-10/62-S/2001/207), the Chairman of the Committee voiced great concern at
the continuing violence on the ground and the use of deadly force by the Israeli
army and security forces. He said that Israel continued to rely on the use of massive
armed response to individual outbreaks of Palestinian protest throughout the
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Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Chairman added that the Committee wished to
join the rest of the international community in its indignation over the Israeli
practice of extrajudicial killings by Israeli security forces of the members of the
Palestinian leadership and other Palestinian officials, stating that this policy was
contrary to the rule of international law, provoked further violence, led to a crisis of
trust and confidence between the two sides and created new obstacles to peace. The
Committee was of the view that, with the situation continuing to deteriorate, the
international community should act by stepping up its efforts to ensure the
protection of the Palestinian people. The Committee also strongly believed that the
status quo was absolutely untenable and was firmly rooted in Israel’s continued
violation of the principles of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the provisions of
relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. By its actions, Israel
had clearly demonstrated its unwillingness to respect the bilateral agreements and
understandings reached to date. The Committee viewed with particular concern the
dangerously rapid disintegration of the Palestinian economy as a result of various
restrictive policies of the Government of Israel. Protracted closures of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, tight restrictions on the movement of
people and goods, customs and tax income withholding and other measures of
collective punishment had had a disastrous effect on the Palestinian economy as a
whole, as well as on individual Palestinian households.
43. In another letter dated 7 March 2001 addressed to the Secretary-General
(A/56/59-E/2001/9, A/ES-10/63-S/2001/208), the Chairman of the Committee drew
the attention of the Secretary-General to the United Nations Seminar on Assistance
to the Palestinian People, organized under the auspices of the Committee at the
United Nations Office at Vienna. The Seminar had been convened in accordance
with General Assembly resolutions 55/52 and 55/53 of 1 December 2000. In
deciding to devote its first international meeting of the year to this critical issue, the
Committee had been guided by the overriding need to address the disastrous
situation facing the Palestinian economy after months of violent confrontations in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the dramatic
deterioration of the living conditions of the Palestinian people. The purpose of the
Seminar had been to review the state of the economy and to examine efforts by
Governments, intergovernmental and civil society organizations to alleviate the
ongoing humanitarian emergency. The Seminar had also aimed at mobilizing greater
support for the attainment of the legitimate economic rights of the Palestinian
people in the hope of contributing to the broader peace-building efforts in the
region. Given the special importance of the subject matter of the Seminar, it had
attracted a great deal of international attention and had been attended by a large
number of Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations,
as well as United Nations family entities. The Chairman also recalled the regrettable
fact that the four invited Palestinian speakers, including high-ranking officials of the
Palestinian Authority, and several NGO participants from the Occupied Palestinian
Territory had been unable to attend this important United Nations gathering owing
to the general closure and travel restrictions imposed by Israel. Among those
prevented from leaving the Occupied Palestinian Territory was Mr. Maher Masri,
Minister for Economy and Trade of the Palestinian Authority, who had been invited
as the official representative of Palestine and the keynote speaker of the Seminar.
44. In a letter dated 29 March 2001 addressed to the President of the Security
Council (S/2001/296), the Chairman of the Committee reiterated the Committee’s
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continued objection to the deletion from the list of items of which the Security
Council was seized those items that related to the exercise of the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people, the Palestine question and the Middle East problem, which
were of special concern not only to the Committee but also to the majority of
Member States. He stated the Committee’s belief that pending a comprehensive, just
and lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East, the core of
which was the question of Palestine, in accordance with international legitimacy,
those items should remain on the list of matters of which the Council was seized, as
they continued to engage its responsibility with regard to the maintenance of
international peace and security. He also stressed that any decision to delete the
items, especially at the current critical juncture in the peace process, would go well
beyond procedural reform and would have far-reaching negative political
implications.
45. In a letter dated 5 April 2001 addressed to the Secretary-General (A/ES-10/73-
S/2001/335) and in identical letters addressed on the same date to the President of
the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council (A/ES-10/74-
S/2001/336), the Chairman of the Committee reiterated that the Committee was
extremely disturbed by the continuing violence and bloodshed on the ground. The
reliance of IDF on excessive military power, including artillery, tanks, helicopter
gunships and missile boats, in recent days in particular, had resulted in many deaths
and injuries. He said that the confrontation was unequal, with a high human cost,
especially for the Palestinian people. The Chairman said that, confined to their
towns and villages because of the Israeli blockade, the Palestinians were subjected
on a daily basis to gunfire, bombardments, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests
and detention, as well as the destruction of property and infrastructure.
Compounding the desperate straits of the Palestinian people were the disastrous
state of the economy, the dispossessing effects of the Israeli settlement expansion
and repeated closures of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem.
The Chairman said that the Committee firmly believed that the international
community had a moral responsibility towards the Palestinian people, which had
been striving to exercise its inalienable rights for so long. He also said that the
Committee appreciated and strongly supported the important facilitating role that the
Secretary-General was playing in the peace process and urged him to continue to
remain actively and closely engaged with the parties, directly as well as through the
United Nations Special Coordinator, in an effort to end the violence and resume the
historic dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians.
46. In a letter dated 19 April 2001 addressed to the Secretary-General (A/ES-
10/78-S/2001/392) and in identical letters addressed on the same date to the
President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council (A/ES-
10/77-S/2001/390), the Chairman of the Committee expressed the Committee’s
concern at the violence and bloodshed on the ground. He said that the Israeli
military attacks had been taken to a new level of intensity, particularly in the Gaza
Strip. He referred, in particular, to a massive land, air and sea operation on 17 April
2001, in which the Israeli army had occupied the area, imposed a blockade on Gaza
City, dissected the Gaza Strip into three separate parts, advanced at least half a mile
into the Palestinian territory and six Palestinian police positions along the eastern
border of the Gaza Strip. In the operation, IDF had used heavy machine guns, tanks,
armoured personnel carriers, helicopter gunships, artillery and sea-launched surfaceto-
surface missiles. The letter said that the army had also closed all major roads and
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the Gaza International Airport. Palestinian Authority border police positions at Beit
Hanoun, an area under full Palestinian control, had been occupied. Rockets had hit
buildings in Deir el-Balah and Rafah in the central and southern Gaza Strip,
respectively. The Committee was extremely worried by the illegal incursion of IDF
into the areas of the Gaza Strip that were under full Palestinian control. The
Committee emphasized that the Israeli reoccupation of those parts of the Gaza Strip
constituted a clear and serious violation of the agreements signed by the parties as
part of the peace process. The Chairman added that the Committee had again urged
the Secretary-General to intensify contacts with all the parties concerned in order to
help bring the crisis to an end and restart the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. In view of
a particularly tense and volatile situation on the ground, efforts within the United
Nations to ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians had acquired special
urgency.
47. In a letter dated 22 August 2001 addressed to the Secretary-General (A/ES-
10/106-S/2001/819), the Acting Chairman of the Committee emphasized that the
Committee was extremely worried by the latest dramatic escalation of tensions and
violence in and around East Jerusalem and in areas under full Palestinian control. He
said that Israel had no intention of respecting agreements signed with the Palestinian
side and had firmly decided on continuing wide-scale military operations in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as in areas under
full control of the Palestinian Authority. The latest and most striking incidents
included the taking over of Orient House and other Palestinian institutions in East
Jerusalem and Abu Dis, and the massive IDF incursion into Jenin. Also, Israel
continued to use sophisticated weapons, including helicopter gunships, in the
extrajudicial killings of suspected Palestinian activists. The Acting Chairman
expressed the Committee’s position that the Mitchell Committee report, with its
sensible and even-handed recommendations, offered a practicable way out of the
impasse. He added that resolute steps were needed with a view to implementing the
recommendations in their entirety and without further delay. A realistic plan for
such implementation should be agreed upon within a reasonable time span and with
workable ways for its monitoring. Negotiations on security, as well as on interim
and permanent status issues, should be restarted as a matter of urgency. The
Committee was of the view that a permanent status agreement, long overdue, should
be finally reached on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338
(1973) and the principles of the Madrid Peace Conference.
48. On the first anniversary of the Al-Aqsa intifadah, in a letter dated 28
September 2001 addressed to the Secretary-General (A/ES-10/113-S/2001/920), the
Chairman of the Committee, inter alia, brought to the attention of the Secretary-
General the Committee’s position with respect to the various developments that had
taken place since the beginning of the uprising on 28 September 2000. In particular,
he stated that, during those months, over 800 people had lost their lives and
thousands had been injured, many incapacitated for life, the vast majority of them
Palestinian civilians, including children. The Chairman said that Israel had reacted
to the explosion of grievances and frustration by the Palestinians by using excessive
force, including combat helicopter gunships, fighter aircraft and other sophisticated
materiel, as well as by imposing a stifling economic blockade in order to crush the
uprising. In addition to the tragic loss of human life, large parts of the Palestinian
infrastructure had been systematically destroyed in the course of the year. Tens of
thousands of people had lost their livelihoods and hundreds of thousands had
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become dependent for their survival on emergency humanitarian assistance offered
by the international community. This had led to a virtual dismantling of the peace
process. International efforts to end the violence and bring the parties back to the
negotiating table had continued over the past year, regrettably without a lasting
effect. The Chairman recalled the intensive international efforts which had led to the
establishment of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee headed by former
United States Senator George Mitchell. He also referred to the attempts by the
United States Director of Central Intelligence to achieve a ceasefire and resume
security cooperation between the two sides. The Chairman saluted the close personal
engagement of the Secretary-General in efforts to end the violence and resume the
peace process. He expressed the hope that the September 2001 meeting between
Chairman Arafat and Foreign Minister Peres would become the first step leading to
a cessation of violence and the resumption of a sustainable dialogue. He also
emphasized that Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), along with
the principle of “land for peace”, should be the basis of any solution of the question
of Palestine. On behalf of the Palestinian Rights Committee, the Chairman called
upon the Government of Israel to abide by the principles of the Fourth Geneva
Convention and the provisions of all relevant Security Council and General
Assembly resolutions. Illegal Israeli policies such as settlement activity,
extrajudicial killings of suspected Palestinian activists, closures of and incursions
into Palestinian areas should be stopped forthwith and faits accomplis on the ground
should be reversed. In the Chairman’s view, as the crisis persisted and the parties
continued to lack mutual trust and confidence, assistance by key international actors,
including the co-sponsors of the peace process, the European Union and leaders in
the regions, remained crucial. He reiterated the position of the Palestinian Rights
Committee that, at the current critical juncture, the United Nations should continue
to maintain its permanent responsibility with respect to all aspects of the question of
Palestine.
3. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee at international conferences
and meetings
49. In the course of the year, the Chairman of the Committee participated in
meetings of intergovernmental and other bodies and other meetings relevant to the
question of Palestine and contributed to their deliberations in support of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, as follows:
(a) Joint Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Non-Aligned
Movement Committee on Palestine and the Non-Aligned Movement Security
Council Caucus, Pretoria, 3 and 4 May 2001;
(b) International Media Encounter on the Question of Palestine, UNESCO
headquarters, Paris, 18 and 19 June 2001;
(c) Seventy-fourth Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of the
Organization of African Unity and 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads
of State and Government, Lusaka, 5-11 July 2001 (A/56/457).
50. As in previous years, the Committee continued to follow the activities relevant
to the question of Palestine of other intergovernmental organizations, as well as
decisions and resolutions of United Nations bodies and agencies, including the
Economic and Social Council, the Commission on Human Rights, and the positive
efforts made by many Governments. The Committee took note of the declarations of
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concern on the part of the international community over the continuing violence on
the ground and the lack of progress in the peace process during the year. It was
encouraged by the readiness of the international community to remain engaged in
the peace efforts and to help the parties out of the crisis of 2000-2001.
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 55/52
and 55/53
51. In its programme of meetings organized in the various regions, the Committee
continued to give priority to promoting the exercise of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, supporting the peace process and stressing the need for timely
and scrupulous implementation by the parties of the bilateral agreements. The
Committee also urged the international community to continue to provide political
support as well as broad economic assistance to the Palestinian people.
52. On the basis of the provision contained in General Assembly resolution 55/52,
the Committee adjusted its programme of work, as necessary, in order to meet the
evolving situation in the most effective and constructive manner, while keeping in
mind the continuing financial constraints facing the Organization. The Committee
expressed its great appreciation to the Governments of Cuba and Spain for having
provided venues and facilities for the events sponsored by the Committee.
53. During the year, the Committee, through its Bureau, continued to maintain its
cooperation on the question of Palestine with States members of the European
Union. In February 2001, the Bureau held an important and useful meeting of
consultations with representatives of EU (under the Presidency of Sweden) as part
of the continued effort to build a constructive relationship with EU members on
issues of common concern. In accordance with established practice, the Chairman of
the Committee briefed the members of the EU delegation on the Committee’s
ongoing activities and explained the position of the Committee with regard to the
situation on the ground, the stalemate in the peace process and the state of the
Palestinian economy. He expressed the hope that the two sides would continue
consultations.
54. Throughout the year, the staff of the Division for Palestinian Rights met at
United Nations Headquarters, as well as away from Headquarters, with members of
the general public and student groups and briefed them on the various aspects of the
question of Palestine and the involvement of the United Nations in this issue.
1. United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People
55. The United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People was held
at the United Nations Office at Vienna on 20 and 21 February 2001. The Seminar
was attended by representatives of Governments, Palestine, intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations, United Nations system organizations and agencies,
and experts. Four Palestinian officials invited to speak at the Seminar and a number
of NGO participants from the Occupied Palestinian Territory were unable to travel
to Vienna owing to the general closure imposed by Israel. The Committee delegation
expressed its utmost concern and issued a statement denouncing the illegal actions
of the occupying Power in that regard.
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56. The following topics were discussed by the participants: the crisis of 2000-
2001: the impact of Israeli policies on the Palestinian economy; the role of the
United Nations system: assessment and efforts to alleviate hardships; assistance by
Arab and Islamic States and intergovernmental organizations to the Palestinian
people; and efforts by international donors and other sectors of the international
community to alleviate the economic hardships of the Palestinian people.
57. In his concluding remarks of the Seminar, the Chairman of the Committee
emphasized that the change of leadership in Israel at the beginning of February had
undercut the momentum for reaching a final and comprehensive agreement. Since
September 2000, the Occupied Palestinian Territory had been suffering under
repeated closures, tight restrictions on the movement of people and goods, customs
and tax withholding, and other measures of collective punishment imposed by the
occupying Power. As a result, the Palestinian economy had suffered greatly and had
come to the verge of collapse. The Palestinian people had been reduced to fighting
for their survival and for the satisfaction of their basic day-to-day needs rather than
working for long-term development. The consequences of that situation were
fraught with danger for peace throughout the region. The Committee requested the
donor community to contribute the funds needed to remedy the serious budgetary
crisis faced by the Palestinian Authority. The Chairman stressed that Palestinian
economic rehabilitation and development were prerequisites for peace in the Middle
East. For peace to return and take root, a comprehensive, just and lasting political
settlement must be coupled with a substantial improvement in the living conditions
of the Palestinian people.
58. The report of the Seminar was issued as a document of the General Assembly
and the Economic and Social Council (A/56/89-E/2001/89) for consideration under
the relevant agenda items. It was also issued as a publication of the Division for
Palestinian Rights.
2. United Nations Latin American and Caribbean Meeting on the Question
of Palestine
59. The United Nations Latin American and Caribbean Meeting on the Question of
Palestine was held at Havana from 12 to 14 June 2001. The participants included
representatives of Governments, Palestine, intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations, United Nations bodies and agencies, special guests from the host
country and representatives of the media, the academic community and students.
Two invited Palestinian speakers and a number of Palestinian NGO representatives
from the Occupied Palestinian Territory were unable to travel to Havana due to the
general closure imposed by Israel. The Committee delegation expressed deep regret
at their absence and, in a statement, denounced the illegal actions by the occupying
Power, which had, among their many grave consequences, a negative effect on
international efforts to find a solution to the current crisis.
60. The participants discussed the following topics: the situation in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem; upholding international legitimacy — the
path to a comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the conflict; and international
support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The coverage the
Meeting received by the Cuban and the international media was very prominent.
Some of the invited experts participated in a TV round table, which was also
attended by Fidel Castro, President of the Council of State and of the Council of
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Ministers of Cuba. On the last day of the Meeting, Cuban NGOs organized a mass
rally in support of the Palestinian people with the participation of some 10,000
Cubans, with the Cuban President among them.
61. At the conclusion of the Meeting, the participants adopted the Havana
Declaration, in which the participants, inter alia, declared their broad and
determined commitment to support the right of the Palestinian people to selfdetermination
and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian
State and the right to return to their homeland. They emphasized that the excessive
use of force by Israel, the closures and the economic blockade must be brought to an
end and that international protection, in the form of a United Nations observer force,
must be provided. Participants urged the parties to implement swiftly the
recommendations contained in the Mitchell report in their entirety as a way of
ending the violence, restoring confidence and resuming the peace talks. They
reiterated that the Latin American and Caribbean States, having had a broad
experience in the struggle for decolonization and national sovereignty, should
continue their moral, political and material support for the exercise by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights.
62. The Committee delegation met with President Fidel Castro. It was received by
Ricardo Alarcón Quesada, President of the National Assembly of Cuba, who
welcomed the efforts of the Committee aimed at bringing about a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine. The delegation also met with
Felipe Pérez Roque, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cuba, who delivered the
opening address of the Meeting.
63. The report of the Meeting was issued as a publication of the Division for
Palestinian Rights.
3. Workshop of Latin American and Caribbean NGOs
64. An NGO Workshop organized in connection with the United Nations Latin
American and Caribbean Meeting on the Question of Palestine was held at Havana
on 14 June 2001. Its theme was “Action by civil society in Latin America and the
Caribbean in solidarity with the Palestinian people”. NGO representatives and
experts reviewed regional NGO action in the light of the Plan of Action adopted at
the 1998 Meeting in Santiago de Chile and efforts by NGOs, religious groups and
the media aimed at mobilizing public opinion in support of the Palestinian people
and discussed action-oriented proposals and mechanisms for their implementation.
65. In the Plan of Action adopted at the Workshop, NGOs pledged to increase the
publication of information materials on the reality of the Palestinian situation and
denounce any double standard applied to protect Israel from international
condemnation for its human rights violations. NGOs should provide the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights with all pertinent information. The Plan
called for worldwide observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People on 29 November 2001. The United Nations should provide
effective protection for the Palestinian people and demand compliance with the
Fourth Geneva Convention. NGOs would lobby their Governments to increase their
financial contributions to UNRWA to enable it to continue its services to Palestine
refugees. Special emphasis should be given to the situation of Palestinian women
living under occupation. NGOs should monitor the information broadcast by the
mass media in their respective countries and counter disinformation campaigns that
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called into question the justice of the Palestinian cause. The Federation of Arab
Entities of the Americas (FEARAB) was called upon to establish an economic
assistance fund for the Palestinian people. NGO action in support of the Palestinian
people would be reviewed at the Second International Conference of Solidarity with
the Palestinian People to be held in Mexico City in the first half of 2002.
66. The report on the NGO Workshop is part of the report on the Havana Meeting
issued as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.
4. United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine
67. The United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine: “The
Road to Israeli-Palestinian Peace” was held at Madrid on 17 and 18 July 2001. The
Meeting was attended by international experts, eminent political personalities from
Spain and other countries, representatives of Governments, intergovernmental
organizations, United Nations system entities, the Palestinian Authority, civil
society organizations and the media.
68. The following topics were discussed by the participants: the Israeli-Palestinian
peace efforts: an overview; the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including Jerusalem; and the road to peace.
69. In the General Remarks of the Meeting, participants expressed their strong
conviction that the recommendations contained in the Mitchell Committee report
and the subsequent United States-brokered ceasefire agreement should be swiftly
implemented as a whole; that the excessive use of force by Israel, the closures and
the economic blockade of Palestinian population centres, the incursions into
Palestinian-controlled areas and all other illegal measures of collective punishment
against the Palestinian people should be brought to an end immediately; that, in
view of the excessive use of force against Palestinian civilians and continued Israeli
illegal settlement activity, the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva
Convention should expedite the reconvening of the Conference of the High
Contracting Parties; and that an international presence must be established to protect
innocent civilians and to monitor the implementation of agreements and
understandings reached, with the United Nations Security Council fully discharging
its responsibilities under the Charter in this respect. Participants also discussed the
role played in the peace process by the co-sponsors, the European Union, the United
Nations, regional organizations and other interested international actors and stressed
that the role of all those States and multilateral institutions in support of the Middle
East peace process remained crucial and had to be closely coordinated for better
results, particularly in the current critical period.
70. The Committee delegation was received by Josep Piqué, Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Spain, who stressed the importance of supporting the Middle East peace
process and the rights of the Palestinian people. The Committee delegation
expressed its deep appreciation of the active and constructive role played by Spain
in the search for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region.
71. The report of the Meeting was issued as a publication of the Division for
Palestinian Rights.
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5. United Nations NGO Meeting in Solidarity with the Palestinian People
72. The United Nations NGO Meeting in Solidarity with the Palestinian People
was held on 19 July 2001 in Madrid, immediately following the International
Meeting on the Question of Palestine: “The Road to Israeli-Palestinian Peace”. The
participants included representatives of NGOs from all regions, Governments,
United Nations bodies and agencies, intergovernmental organizations, a delegation
of Palestine and a number of panellists.
73. In the course of the Meeting, the participants considered action by
international civil society in solidarity with the Palestinian people; mobilizing public
opinion in support of the Palestinian people — efforts by NGOs, other civil society
organizations and the media; also reviewed NGO action worldwide, and developed
action-oriented proposals as well as mechanisms for their implementation.
74. In the NGO Statement and Plan of Action, the participants urged the United
Nations Security Council to place an international protection force in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory and decided to undertake advocacy steps in that regard. In
addition, public awareness campaigns should focus on crucial elements of the
occupation and the situation of the Palestinians on the ground. NGOs would explore
the possibility of establishing an International Civil Society Corps of volunteers,
including universities, academics as well as Palestinian and Israeli NGOs, to express
solidarity with the Palestinian people, to monitor events on the ground and to
participate in appropriate actions opposing the occupation. The participants
expressed their conviction that the relevant United Nations resolutions offered the
clearest pathway to a true and just peace for all in the region.
75. The report of the NGO Meeting was issued as a publication of the Division for
Palestinian Rights.
6. Cooperation with civil society organizations
76. The Committee continued to emphasize throughout the year that the role of
civil society in educating their respective constituencies about the fundamental
issues of the question of Palestine and in mobilizing public support for the
Palestinian cause remained very important. NGOs continued to participate in all
meetings organized by the Committee away from Headquarters and in the
observance of the International Day of Solidarity in New York and elsewhere. Aware
of the challenges of the current circumstances, the Committee was particularly
appreciative of those NGO contributions that were focused on mobilizing
international solidarity with the Palestinian people and support for the achievement
of its inalienable rights, as well as supporting the peace process and the work and
objectives of the Committee. The Committee highly appreciated the work of those
NGOs that provided concrete emergency relief at a difficult time for the Palestinian
people. It appealed to the Israeli NGOs and activists that are part of the peace camp
and encouraged them to continue and to invigorate their crucial activities to inform
public opinion and to provide an alternative to the dangerous course embarked upon
by the Israeli Government. The Committee stressed that there was a greater need for
sustained campaigns aimed at informing public opinion about the root causes of the
conflict and promoting national and international action in support of the peace
process, the effective implementation of the Israeli-Palestinian agreements, and of a
just and lasting peace in the region.
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77. The Committee encouraged cooperation, coordination and networking among
civil society organizations. It maintained and developed its liaison with national,
regional and international coordinating mechanisms accredited to it, in addition to
the already established liaison with a large number of individual NGOs.
Consultations between the delegation of the Committee and representatives of
coordinating committees of NGOs were held on 22 February 2001 at the United
Nations Office at Vienna, following the United Nations Seminar on Assistance to
the Palestinian People. The Palestinian NGO representatives were unable to
participate due to the general closure imposed by Israel on the Occupied Territory.
The participating NGO representatives provided information about their initiatives,
campaigns and projects and stressed the need for close cooperation with the
Committee. The delegation of the Committee asked the NGOs to focus their current
work on the mobilization of emergency relief and other assistance by the
international donor community; and lobbying their Governments to live up to their
responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention and to support initiatives at the
United Nations and elsewhere to establish a protection force to be deployed in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory.
78. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained the Internet web site entitled
“NGO Network on the Question of Palestine” as a permanent tool of mutual
information and cooperation between civil society and the Committee. The web site
can be found at www.un.org/depts/dpa/ngo. The Division also continued to issue its
bimonthly newsletter entitled NGO Action News covering the activities of civil
society on the various aspects of the question of Palestine.
7. Research, monitoring and publications
79. The Committee continued to attach great importance to the essential
contribution of the Division for Palestinian Rights and requested it to continue its
established programme of work, including studies, information notes and other
publications; the further development of the United Nations Information System on
the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL); the annual training programme for staff of the
Palestinian Authority; and the annual observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
80. Accordingly, the Division continued to respond to requests for information and
to prepare and disseminate to its worldwide network the following publications:
(a) Monthly bulletin covering action by the Committee, United Nations
bodies and agencies, and intergovernmental organizations concerned with the
question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of events relating to the question of Palestine, based
on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of meetings organized under the auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletin on the observance of the International Day of Solidarity
with the Palestinian People;
(e) Annual compilation of relevant resolutions, decisions and statements of
the General Assembly and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine;
(f) Update of a study entitled “Origins and Evolution of the Palestine
Problem, 1917-1988”.
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8. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
81. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and
library services of the United Nations Secretariat, continued to develop UNISPAL,
as mandated by the General Assembly since 1991. This included the required
ongoing upgrading of the system’s hardware and software components; the
scanning, retyping or downloading, editing, reformatting and inclusion in the system
of new and old documents; the improvement of quality control mechanisms; and the
further development and improvement of access to the “UNISPAL” and “Question
of Palestine” sites on the Internet, in particular, as requested, to enhance the userfriendliness
of the system.
9. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority
82. Two staff members from the Ministry of Planning and International
Cooperation of the Palestinian Authority participated in a training programme
conducted by the Division from September to December 2000, in conjunction with
the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly. They familiarized themselves with
various aspects of the work of the United Nations Secretariat and other organs. The
programme included, among other things, attendance at various briefings and
meetings of relevant committees and bodies of the United Nations, meetings with
representatives of delegations to the General Assembly and members of the staffs of
permanent missions to the United Nations. The trainees also conducted research and
prepared studies on specific topics.
10. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
83. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
on 29 November 2000 at United Nations Headquarters and at the United Nations
Office at Geneva and the United Nations Office at Vienna. On the occasion of the
observance at Headquarters, in addition to a solemn meeting of the Committee and
other activities, an exhibit entitled “The Land” was presented by the Permanent
Observer Mission of Palestine, under the auspices of the Committee. The Committee
noted with appreciation that the International Solidarity Day had also been observed
in many other cities throughout the world. Details on the observance are contained
in the special bulletin issued by the Division.
84. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee decided that a similar event
would be organized in connection with the observance of the Day in 2001.
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VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 55/54
85. In pursuance of General Assembly resolution 55/54 of 1 December 2000, the
Department of Public Information continued its special information programme on
the question of Palestine, which included, among other things, the organization of its
annual training programme for Palestinian broadcasters and journalists and the
organization of an international media encounter on the question of Palestine at the
headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) in Paris.
86. In October-November 2000, the Department organized a training programme
at United Nations Headquarters for a group of nine Palestinian media practitioners
with a view to strengthening their professional capacity as information media
personnel. As was the case since the beginning of the programme in 1995, the
Department arranged a series of briefings and workshops at the Columbia University
School of International and Public Affairs in New York and at CNN headquarters in
Atlanta. Briefings for the participants were also organized at United Nations
Headquarters, at international organizations and at institutions of the Government of
the United States of America in Washington, D.C. As part of their training, the
participants covered meetings of the General Assembly and transmitted radio, TV
and print reports back to their news organizations in the Middle East.
87. Since January 2001, the Department has been displaying at the United Nations
Office at Geneva, on a semi-permanent basis, the French-language version of the
exhibit entitled “The United Nations and the Question of Palestine”, containing
photographs, maps and text on the history and situation of the Palestinian people and
tracing the search for a solution to the question of Palestine. Its English-language
version is a permanent part of the guided tour route at United Nations Headquarters.
88. In April 2001, the Department produced a poster entitled “Palestine: Selfdetermination
— An Inalienable Right of the Palestinian People” in Arabic,
Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. The poster has been distributed
worldwide through the network of the United Nations field offices.
89. On 18 and 19 June 2001, the Department organized at UNESCO headquarters,
Paris, the International Media Encounter on the Question of Palestine designed as a
forum, at which international media representatives and experts discussed the status
of the peace process and ways and means of breaking the deadlock. The Encounter
discussed the role of the United Nations in the question of Palestine and in the
overall search for peace in the Middle East. The Chairman of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, among other
participants, addressed the Encounter. It attracted international media coverage,
including daily dispatches by major wire services and contributions by participating
correspondents. A separate web site created on the occasion was posted on the
Department’s home page. The Encounter was the ninth in a series launched by the
Department in 1991 to support the search for peace in the Middle East and raise
international awareness about the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
90. In its PeaceWatch section, the quarterly publication UN Chronicle (issue No. 3,
2000) reported on the resumed tenth emergency special session of the General
Assembly; the Secretary-General’s trip to the Middle East in October 2000 and his
reports to the General Assembly and the Security Council; and meetings and
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resolutions of the Security Council on the subject. It also reported on the three-day
special session of the Commission on Human Rights on the Middle East. In its issue
No. 4, 2000, it reported on the reaffirmation by the General Assembly’s Special
Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) of the importance of
UNRWA. The issue also contained an article on how UNRWA, through its various
projects, had helped both men and women take steps towards achieving sustainable
development, along with a summary of the achievements of UNRWA for the past 50
years. An article reviewing peacekeeping events in 2000 reported on Security
Council meetings on the situation in the Middle East. The PeaceWatch section
contained an account of the Secretary-General’s visit to the Middle East in June
2001 and the recommendations of the international Fact-Finding Committee as well
as an appeal by UNRWA for funds to bring food, medical supplies and other
assistance to the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza.
91. The Department produced and distributed one “UN in Action” TV programme
entitled “Palestine Football Makes its Mark with United Nations Support”. It was
broadcast on the CNN World Report programme and on other networks worldwide.
92. The Radio News Unit continued to cover extensively various aspects of the
question of Palestine and related issues in its daily broadcasts and current affairs
magazines in various languages. Also, the Middle East Radio Unit continued to
cover all United Nations activities related to the question of Palestine in its 15-
minute daily broadcast in Arabic. Some of the topics covered included: the
extraordinary special session of the General Assembly and its subsequent resumed
sessions on the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the Occupied
Palestinian Territory; the Secretary-General’s three visits to the area, two to the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and one to the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit; the visit of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, to the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and the follow-ups to her report; the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People; the Security Council debate on
agenda item entitled “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian
question”; the Arab summit calling for a protection force for the Occupied
Palestinian Territory; the United Nations reaction to the developments in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular, the emergency measures adopted by
UNRWA, UNDP, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food
Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO); the effects of
violence on refugees, children and women in the Occupied Territory; and the
analysis of the situation by think tanks, scholars and experts on both sides. A twopart
series of an English-language feature programme entitled “The Question of the
Right of Return for Palestinian Refugees” was adapted into Hindi, Indonesian and
Urdu. A magazine entitled How has the violence in Israel and Palestine affected the
children? was produced in English.
93. As has been the case in recent years, the activities of United Nations
information centres (UNICs), information services (UNIS) and other United Nations
offices have primarily focused on the observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The UNICs in Athens, Beirut, Bonn, Cairo,
Dar es Salaam, Dhaka, Harare, Islamabad, Kathmandu, Lisbon, New Delhi,
Ouagadougou, Prague, Pretoria, Rabat, Rome, Tehran, Tripoli, Tunis, Vienna and
Warsaw observed the Day with wide range of activities. Among other activities
undertaken by UNICs was UNIC Harare’s launch of the UNESCO Bethlehem 2000
roving photo exhibit in May 2001. The Director of the Centre and the Ambassador
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of Palestine delivered welcoming statements at the three-week event, which was
officially opened by the Vice-President of Zimbabwe. In Colombo, the UNIC
Director delivered a speech on the theme of “The United Nations and the Question
of Palestine” to a group of university students in an event organized in cooperation
with the Department of International Relations Studies of the University of
Colombo. UNIC Madrid provided assistance to the Commissioner-General of
UNRWA during his two-day visit to Spain and arranged for interviews with two
main dailies, El País and El Mundo. The Centre also assisted the Division for
Palestinian Rights and conference services in their planning mission to Madrid in
preparation for the United Nations International Meeting on the Question of
Palestine: “The Road to Israeli-Palestinian Peace”. UNIC Panama City arranged for
the publication of a supplement entitled “The United Nations and the Question of
Palestine” in the international section of a monthly newsmagazine. In March 2001,
UNIC Sana’a translated and disseminated to the local media an appeal by UNRWA
for humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people. The Director of UNIC Tehran
gave an interview to the national radio of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the
outbreak of violence between Israelis and Palestinians and focused on the Secretary-
General’s efforts to try to restore the Middle East peace process. In November 2000,
two publications, “United Nations Seminar on Prospects for Palestinian Economic
Development” and “The Middle East Peace Process”, were produced by UNIC Tunis
and distributed to media and government officials. In coordination with the
Department, UNIC Paris contributed to the organization of the International Media
Encounter on the Question of Palestine. UNICs have also taken advantage of the
Internet as an important public outreach vehicle to promote a better understanding of
the question of Palestine. A number of centres, such as UNIC Tunis and UNIC
Rome, created special pages on their web sites carrying the Secretary-General’s
message, as well as press releases and other information material covering the
various aspects of the issue.
94. UNIS Geneva has regularly disseminated information on the question of
Palestine. At the weekly briefings to journalists, the Director of the Information
Service highlights statements from the Secretary-General and the Security Council
on the Palestine question. UNIS Vienna provided public information support for the
United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People and disseminated
the statement of the representative of the Secretary-General, Kieran Prendergast,
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs. It also assisted in organizing
interviews and the issuance of daily press releases.
95. From 28 to 30 August 2000, the NGO Section, in its fifty-third Annual
Conference for Non-governmental Organizations associated with the Department
entitled “Global Solidarity: The Way to Peace and International Cooperation”,
invited as a keynote speaker Ms. Hanan Ashrawi, Secretary-General, Palestinian
Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy, at the opening
session of the Conference.
96. The Department created a United Nations archival database on Palestine,
covering the period from 1947 to 2000, for the automation of the card catalogue of
the Department’s collection of films and videos on Palestine. The overall objective
of the project is to transform the current archive materials into a searchable
database.
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97. The Department continued to cooperate with the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in implementation of the mandate entrusted to it by the General Assembly.
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VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
98. At the start of the twenty-first century and more than five decades after the
adoption by the General Assembly of its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947,
the Palestinian people is yet to see the promise of its own State fulfilled. Thirty-four
years after the illegal occupation by Israel of its land, the Palestinians are yet to see
their aspirations for self-determination and the exercise of their inalienable and
natural rights realized. Ten years after the Middle East Peace Conference held at
Madrid and in spite of the progress made in the first few promising years, the peace
process relapsed and now remains at a standstill, with both sides far apart on key
issues. To this day, millions of Palestine refugees carry on with their dismal
existence in refugee camps, deprived of their natural right of return to the places
from which they have been displaced. The gains that the Palestinian economy
experienced when the peace process was advancing are now all but gone. The
economy, already in a disastrous state, is being gradually destroyed by the
occupying Power. In these circumstances, the Committee intends to persist in its
efforts to contribute, through its varied programme of activities, to international
endeavours aimed at stopping the violence and bringing the parties back on the
peace track. Its overriding and fundamental objective and mandate — the exercise
by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights — will remain key to all its
activities.
99. In the course of the year, the Committee has been greatly distressed by the
intensification of the crisis and, as a result, the tragic loss of innocent lives, the
wide-scale destruction of Palestinian property and the alarmingly steady
deterioration of the economy. The Committee joined the international community in
expressing grave concern over the policies and actions of Israel, the occupying
Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, namely the illegal
settlement policy; military incursions unprecedented in scope into the various parts
of the Palestinian Territory, including areas under full Palestinian control, as
stipulated in relevant bilateral agreements; excessively harsh and disproportionate
attacks by IDF against the Palestinians protesting the occupation; the widespread
policy of targeted extrajudicial assassinations of Palestinian activists; and the
harmful effect of the occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people.
As the core of the conflict remains the continuing illegal occupation by Israel of the
Palestinian Territory, the Committee reiterates its position of principle that the
problem should be resolved based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
338 (1973), as well as other relevant United Nations resolutions and the exercise by
the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, including its right to selfdetermination
and its own independent State.
100. The deplorable events since September 2000 have also underscored the
urgency of pressing forward with efforts to bring calm, stabilize the situation and
enable the parties to resume their dialogue. The Committee views with great regret
and growing alarm the breakdown in the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. It
welcomed the Sharm el-Sheikh and Taba understandings with a measure of
anticipation and hope that those small but important steps would allow the parties to
overcome their differences and restore the dialogue. The Committee called for the
immediate and comprehensive implementation of the Mitchell Committee
recommendations, as offering the most practicable route back to the peace process.
Although both sides have accepted the report, the crisis persisted, preventing the
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parties from resuming their negotiations on critical interim and permanent status
issues. The Committee calls upon the co-sponsors of the peace process and all
concerned to continue to pursue their efforts, looking for innovative approaches that
would allow the parties to implement the Mitchell Committee recommendations and
resume their negotiations. The Committee believes that a stepped-up and concrete
engagement on the part of key international parties, regional and extra-regional, is
now needed more than ever.
101. In the light of these developments, the Committee shares the view that action
aimed at addressing the present situation is also required by the High Contracting
Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention. It supports the ongoing effort to reconvene
the Conference of the High Contracting Parties in order to ensure respect for the
Convention and provide the necessary protection to the Palestinian people.
102. At this critical crossroads in the peace process, the Committee reaffirms its
long-standing position that the United Nations should continue to maintain its
permanent responsibility with respect to all aspects of the question of Palestine until
it is resolved in a satisfactory manner, in conformity with relevant United Nations
resolutions, in accordance with international legitimacy and until the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people are fully realized. In this context, the Committee
strongly believes that both the General Assembly and the Security Council should
do everything in their power to help resolve this five-decades-old conflict, allowing
the Palestinian people, at long last, to exercise its rights, including the right to selfdetermination
and the establishment of an independent State of its own. The
Committee welcomes and strongly supports the increasingly important and highly
instrumental role in the overall peacemaking efforts played in the course of the year
by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Committee also expresses its
appreciation of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace
Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine
Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority for his persistent efforts
aimed at bringing the parties together and for his important work of coordinating
international assistance to the Palestinian people carried out by his Office. The
Committee considers it unacceptable that UNRWA, which has provided generations
of Palestinians with social services, schooling and health care, is now experiencing
serious financial difficulties. In this connection, the Committee strongly urges the
international donor community to assist the Agency and contribute generously to its
budget. This should enable UNRWA to continue to deliver its vital humanitarian
services to some 3.8 million Palestine refugees registered with it.
103. The Committee considers that its programme of meetings in various regions
continues to play a useful role in heightening international awareness of the relevant
issues and in achieving wider support for the achievement by the Palestinian people
of its inalienable rights. The Committee also highly appreciates the contribution
made by a large number of NGOs working untiringly to mobilize solidarity with the
Palestinian people, provide emergency relief under difficult circumstances to the
population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and raise international awareness of
its inalienable rights, in particular the right of return. There is a greater need for
sustained campaigns at various levels aimed at informing public opinion about the
root cause of the conflict — the illegal occupation by Israel of Palestinian land. In
addition to civil society initiatives and given the tense and volatile situation on the
ground, special emphasis should be laid on mobilizing wide public support for
measures aimed at protecting the Palestinian people, such as action by the United
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Nations and its Security Council or by the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth
Geneva Convention. In its programme of work for the next year, the Committee will
strive to involve to a greater extent other sectors of civil society, such as
parliamentarians and their regional and international organizations and the media.
Its cooperation with the wide network of NGOs on the question of Palestine will be
intensified and focused on issues of common concern. The Committee will continue
to review and assess its programme with a view to making it more responsive to the
developments on the ground and in the peace process. It will focus its work in the
next year on the question of the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
rights, on efforts to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations and the role of
the United Nations therein, and on international assistance to the Palestinian people.
104. The Committee stresses the essential contribution of the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat in support of the Committee’s objectives and
requests it to continue its programme of publications and other informational
activities, in particular the further development of the UNISPAL documents
collection. The Committee also considers that the annual training programme for
staff of the Palestinian Authority has demonstrated its usefulness and requests that it
be continued.
105. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on the
question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and public opinion on the relevant
issues. The Committee requests the programme’s continuation, with the necessary
flexibility, as warranted by developments relevant to the question of Palestine.
106. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a just and lasting
settlement of the question of Palestine and in view of the many difficulties facing
the Palestinian people and besetting the peace process, the Committee calls on all
States to join in this endeavour and invites the General Assembly again to recognize
the importance of its role and to reconfirm its mandate with overwhelming support.
Notes
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35); ibid., Thirty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35); ibid., Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35 and
Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/35/35); ibid., Thirty-sixth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/36/35); ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/37/35 and
Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35); ibid., Thirty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/39/35); ibid., Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/40/35); ibid.,
Forty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); ibid., Forty-second Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/42/35); ibid., Forty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/45/35);
ibid., Forty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35); ibid., Forty-seventh Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/47/35); ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/48/35); ibid.,
Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/49/35); ibid., Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/50/35); ibid., Fifty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/51/35); ibid., Fifty-second Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/52/35); ibid., Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/53/35); ibid.,
Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/54/35); and ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No.
35 (A/55/35).
3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
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4 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/55/35),
chap. VII.
5 A/AC.183/2001/CRP.1.
6 The observers at the Committee meetings were as follows: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria,
China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania,
Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Viet
Nam, Yemen, League of Arab States, Organization of the Islamic Conference and Palestine.
7 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/55/35),
paras. 29-31.
01-56579 (E) 251001
*0156579*
United Nations A/56/35/Corr.1
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-sixth Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/56/35)
17 June 2002
Arabic, Chinese, English, Russian
and Spanish only
02-42875 (E) 190602
*0242875*
Report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
Corrigendum
Paragraph 24, eighth sentence
The sentence should read
In the same period, 112,900 olive trees were uprooted and 3,669,000
square metres of cultivated land destroyed.
A/57/35
United Nations
Report of the
Committee on the
Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-seventh Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/57/35)
Report of the
Committee on the
Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-seventh Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/57/35)
United Nations • New York, 2002
A/57/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters
combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United
Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
Contents
Chapter Paragraphs Page
Letter of transmittal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–6 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–10 3
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11–15 5
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11–13 5
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–15 5
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16–31 6
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32–78 13
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 56/33 . . . . . . . 32–59 13
1. Action in the General Assembly and the Security Council . . . . . . . . . . . . 33–54 13
2. Communications to the Secretary-General and the President of the
Security Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55–56 16
3. Statements by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 17
4. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee at international
conferences and meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58–59 17
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in
accordance with General Assembly resolutions 56/33 and 56/34 . . . . . . . . . . . 60–78 17
1. United Nations International Meeting in Support of Middle East Peace . 64 18
2. United Nations NGO Meeting in Solidarity with the Palestinian People . 65 18
3. United Nations African Meeting in Support of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 18
4. United Nations International Conference of Civil Society in Support of
the Palestinian People. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67–68 19
5. Cooperation with civil society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69–72 19
6. Research, monitoring and publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73–74 20
7. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine . . . . . . 75 21
8. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 21
9. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People . . . . . . . . . . . 77–78 21
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 56/35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79–92 22
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93–98 25
iv
Letter of transmittal
10 October 2002
Mr. Secretary-General,
In 1975, the General Assembly established the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and mandated it to work towards the
realization by the Palestinian people of their inalienable rights — the right to selfdetermination
without external interference; the right to national independence and
sovereignty; and the right to return to their homes and property. In the 27 years that
have passed since, the Committee, through its various activities, has continued to
work tirelessly to help achieve this goal.
In the course of the past year, I have shared with you, the General Assembly,
the Security Council, as well as with various international gatherings the growing
concern of the Committee over the distressing events in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including Jerusalem, and the vast humanitarian disaster facing the
Palestinian people. Regrettably, violence, destruction and human suffering have not
ended. The situation remains extremely tense and volatile. The Palestinian people
have lived under the occupation for far too long. The continuing Israeli occupation
remains the core of the conflict and must come to an end.
The Committee has repeatedly called for concerted efforts by all aimed at
stopping the escalation of the conflict. Our position is that the international
community cannot afford to stand idle in the face of this tragedy. Steps to revive the
political process are urgently needed. We, in the Committee, welcome and highly
appreciate the work done by the Quartet, as well as your personal close involvement
in the peace efforts. The Committee will continue to support you in your mission of
peace.
In the hope that the work of our Committee will make a constructive
contribution to the deliberations of the General Assembly, I have the honour to
enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the General Assembly in
accordance with paragraph 5 of its resolution 56/33 of 3 December 2001. The report
covers the period from 11 October 2001 to 10 October 2002.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Papa Louis Fall
Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights as recognized by the
Assembly in resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the General
Assembly1 were endorsed by the Assembly as a basis for the solution of the question
of Palestine. In its subsequent reports,2 the Committee has continued to stress that a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations resolutions and
the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian
territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and from the other occupied
Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in the region to live in peace
within secure and internationally recognized boundaries; and the recognition and
exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to
self-determination. The Committee’s recommendations could not be implemented,
and the Assembly each year renewed the Committee’s mandate and requested it to
intensify efforts in pursuit of its objectives.
3. The Committee welcomed the historic breakthrough in the peace process in
1993 and the subsequent important steps towards the achievement of a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, based on
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). At the same time, the
Committee continued to work towards the full realization of the inalienable rights of
the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and to its own
independent State. The Committee also continued to mobilize international
assistance for and solidarity with the Palestinian people.
4. The year under review was characterized by the continuation of the Al-Aqsa
intifada in opposition to the Israeli occupation. Since the start of the intifada,
thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, had been killed and
wounded by the Israeli army. The occupation continued to bring misery and
suffering to the Palestinian people. The Committee reiterated its grave concern at
the destructive effects of the Israeli military campaigns on the livelihood of the
Palestinian people. Also, the Israeli actions dealt a severe blow to the capacity of the
Palestinian Authority and its institutions to function, and have devastated the
Palestinian economy. Reoccupation by the Israeli forces of areas under full
Palestinian control, recurrent incursions of the army into Palestinian population
centres, including refugee camps, the demolition of houses, tight internal and
external closures, curfews and other restrictions, including those imposed on
international agencies and donor missions, have caused tremendous suffering to the
Palestinian people, resulting in a humanitarian crisis. The full scale of the physical
destruction of the Palestinian infrastructure perpetrated in the course of this military
onslaught is yet to be assessed by the international community. The Committee was
much perturbed by the tragedy that unfolded during the two-week-long operation in
Jenin, by the massive Israeli attack on the Palestinian Authority headquarters in
Ramallah and the virtual house arrest of Chairman Arafat, and by the siege of the
Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. As the crisis escalated, the Security Council
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acted by adopting a series of resolutions, namely resolutions 1402 (2002),
1403 (2002), 1405 (2002) and 1435 (2002), seeking a cessation of violence and
efforts at resuming the peace process. In spite of the worldwide criticism of its
actions, Israel has shown disrespect for its obligations under the Geneva Convention
relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949 (the
Fourth Geneva Convention),3 international humanitarian law and United Nations
resolutions. The Committee reaffirmed the applicability of the Convention to the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and called upon the
occupying Power to fully and effectively respect its provisions.
5. Continuing violence over the year left virtually no room for the resumption of
a meaningful political dialogue between the parties. At the same time, a number of
significant political developments took place. The Committee strongly supported the
objective, outlined by the President of the United States of America and
subsequently affirmed in Security Council resolution 1397 (2002), of two States,
Israel and Palestine, living side by side within secure and recognized borders. The
Committee viewed the Beirut Summit peace initiative as an important contribution
by Arab States to the overall peace efforts. The Committee welcomed the sustained
peacemaking efforts by the diplomatic “Quartet”, composed of the United States, the
Russian Federation, the European Union and the United Nations, aimed at putting an
end to violence and bringing the two sides back to the negotiating table. The
Committee also noted the greater involvement in the issue on the part of the Security
Council. During the year, a broad consensus emerged on the need to address the
question of security in parallel with steps in the political, economic and
humanitarian areas.
6. The Committee remained hopeful that the international community would
intervene as a matter of great urgency in order to help the parties restore normality,
return to the political process and move forward towards a comprehensive, just and
lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, on the basis of Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 1397 (2002) and the fundamental principle
of “land for peace”. As the organ of the General Assembly mandated to deal with
the question of Palestine, the Committee continued to support all initiatives aimed at
resolving the question of Palestine in all its aspects until the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people are fully realized.
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Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
7. The mandate of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was again renewed by the General Assembly in resolution 56/33
of 3 December 2001, in which the Assembly, inter alia: (a) endorsed the conclusions
and recommendations of the Committee4 and requested it to continue to keep under
review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make
suggestions to the Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate; (b) authorized
the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the exercise of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and to report thereon to the Assembly at
its fifty-seventh session and thereafter; and (c) requested the Committee to continue
to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other civil society
organizations in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the
achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and for a peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine.
8. In its resolution 56/34 of 3 December 2001, on the Division for Palestinian
Rights of the United Nations Secretariat, the General Assembly requested the
Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources
and to ensure that it continues to carry out its programme of work as detailed in the
relevant earlier resolutions, including, in particular, the organization of meetings in
various regions with the participation of all sectors of the international community,
the further development and expansion of the documents collection of the United
Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, the preparation and widest
possible dissemination of publications and information materials on various aspects
of the question of Palestine, and the provision of the annual training programme for
staff of the Palestinian Authority. The Assembly also requested Member States to
continue to give the widest possible publicity to the observance, on 29 November, of
the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, and requested the
Committee and the Division to continue to organize, as part of the observance, an
annual exhibit on Palestinian rights in cooperation with the Permanent Observer
Mission of Palestine to the United Nations.
9. In its resolution 56/35 of 3 December 2001, on the special information
programme on the question of Palestine, the General Assembly requested the
Department of Public Information of the United Nations Secretariat, in full
cooperation and coordination with the Committee, to continue, with the necessary
flexibility as may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine,
its special information programme for the biennium 2002-2003, including the
preparation and dissemination of publications; expansion, continuation of
production and preservation of audio-visual material on the question of Palestine;
organization of international, regional and national seminars or encounters for
journalists; and assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of media
development.
10. In carrying out its programme of work, the Committee also took into account
General Assembly resolution 56/36 of 3 December 2001, in which the Assembly,
inter alia, reaffirmed the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine in all its aspects; expressed its full support for the ongoing peace
process; stressed the necessity for commitment to the principle of land for peace and
the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973),
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which form the basis of the Middle East peace process; and stressed the need for the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to
self-determination; the need for the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian
territory occupied since 1967; and the need for resolving the problem of the
Palestine refugees.
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Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
11. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and
Ukraine.
12. At its 262nd meeting, on 12 February 2002, the Committee re-elected Mr. Papa
Louis Fall (Senegal) as Chairman, and re-elected Mr. Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla
(Cuba) and Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhâdi (Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairmen, and
Mr. Walter Balzan (Malta) as its Rapporteur.
13. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted its programme of work for the
year 2002.5
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
14. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of
and permanent observers to the United Nations wishing to participate in the work of
the Committee as observers were welcome to do so. In accordance with established
practice, Palestine participated in the work of the Committee as an observer,
attended all its meetings and made observations and proposals for consideration by
the Committee and its Bureau.
15. In 2002, the Committee again welcomed as observers all the States and
organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding year.6
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Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
16. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to keep under review
the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, as well as
the relevant political developments. The year was marked by an unprecedented
intensification of the Israeli military activity, reoccupation by the army of areas
under full Palestinian control, disintegration of the Palestinian economy, and as a
result, a burgeoning humanitarian crisis. The number of Palestinians killed and
injured since the start of the intifada in late September 2000 has steadily increased.
Over 1,800 Palestinians have lost their lives and more than 37,000 have been
injured, of whom some 2,500 have been left with permanent disabilities. The
number of deaths of children under 18 has exceeded 300.
17. During the year, the Committee has observed with growing concern the steady
escalation and expansion of the geographic scope of Israeli military operations in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In this period, the focus of Israeli actions moved
to areas under full Palestinian control. The Committee was much troubled by the
extensive use of armour, attack aircraft, air-to-surface and other types of high-yield
ordnance, and the use of the particularly deadly “flechette” munitions in areas of
dense civilian presence, which resulted in a heavy death toll among innocent
civilians and caused irreparable damage to the Palestinian infrastructure. The army
and special units continued to carry out extrajudicial assassinations of Palestinian
activists. The international community was profoundly disturbed by reports of the
Israeli army practising the so-called “neighbour procedure”, whereby Palestinian
civilians were used as human shields in army search operations during incursions. In
reaction to these illegal actions, the Committee joined the international community
in calling upon Israel to stop such practices and respect the principles of the Fourth
Geneva Convention and the provisions of relevant Security Council and General
Assembly resolutions.
18. As the intensity of the Israeli military activity in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory continued to increase and the humanitarian situation rapidly deteriorated,
the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention convened a
Conference on 5 December 2001, focusing on the applicability of the Convention to
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. At the conclusion of
the Conference the High Contracting Parties approved a Declaration, in which, inter
alia, they deplored the great number of civilian victims due to the indiscriminate or
disproportionate use of force and the lack of respect for international humanitarian
law; reaffirmed the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; recalled the obligations of all
concerned, as well as the specific obligations of the occupying Power; expressed
their support for the endeavours of humanitarian organizations and United Nations
bodies and took note of their reports and recommendations; and encouraged the
resumption of negotiations with a view to finding a just and lasting peace. The
Committee, for its part, stressed the importance for the High Contracting Parties to
respect their obligations under the Convention.
19. Last year, the Committee in its report to the General Assembly indicated its
concern over what it described as “an emerging pattern of Israeli military incursions
into areas under full Palestinian control”.7 Since October 2001, these incursions
have become systematic. Until March 2002, Israel had been concentrating its attacks
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on the Palestinian Authority infrastructure. Scores of Palestinian Authority facilities,
such as security installations, administrative buildings, the Gaza International
Airport and the seaport had been seriously damaged, with many of them completely
destroyed. However, in late March 2002, Israel further scaled up its military actions
by launching “Operation Defensive Shield”. Following a series of incursions, the
Israeli army reoccupied almost all the major Palestinian cities, refugee camps and
many Palestinian villages in the West Bank. That operation marked the beginning of
a massive targeting of the Palestinian civilian infrastructure. Nablus, Jenin and
Ramallah were damaged the most. By some accounts, a total of 497 Palestinians
were killed in the course of the reoccupation of Area “A” from 1 March to 7 May
2002 and in the immediate aftermath, and 1,447 persons wounded. In response to the
deterioration of the situation on the ground, the Security Council adopted
resolutions 1402 (2002) and 1403 (2002), calling for a meaningful ceasefire and
withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian cities, including Ramallah. In
Ramallah, the target of the military offensive was the Palestinian Authority
infrastructure, including the muqataa, headquarters of Chairman Arafat. The
international community was outraged by a month-long siege of the compound, its
further destruction in September 2002 and the threat these actions posed to
Chairman Arafat’s personal safety and his ability to exercise political leadership.
The Security Council expressed serious concern for the safety of Chairman Arafat,
and called for the lifting of the siege and for a non-violent resolution of the situation
around his headquarters in Ramallah.8 The 39-day military siege of the Church of
the Nativity in Bethlehem — one of the holiest Christian sites — also raised wideranging
international criticism of the occupation forces. In June 2002, the Israeli
army launched “Operation Determined Path”, in the course of which Israel
reoccupied seven West Bank cities and seized security control through sweeping
arrests of suspected militants and their relatives, house demolitions, a tight regime
of internal and external closures and stringent on-and-off curfews, stifling the
movement of people and goods and the work of the international humanitarian
agencies.
20. Israel’s massive operation in the Jenin refugee camp has brought vast
devastation and untold suffering to some 14,000 refugees. The camp sustained a
very high death and injury toll, exacerbated by extensive property damage. Events in
the Jenin camp resulted in international condemnation of the Israeli actions and led,
on 19 April 2002, to the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 1405 (2002),
in which the Council, inter alia, welcomed the initiative of the Secretary-General to
develop accurate information regarding events in the Jenin refugee camp through a
fact-finding team. On 22 April 2002, the Secretary-General established a factfinding
team headed by Mr. Marti Ahtisaari of Finland. However, Israel failed to
cooperate with the team. As a consequence, the team was not able to prepare a
balanced and thorough report without the full cooperation of the Government of
Israel. As such cooperation had not been forthcoming, the Secretary-General
decided to disband the fact-finding team. The seventh resumption of the tenth
emergency special session of the General Assembly, which ensued, took note of the
report of the Secretary-General and, in resolution ES-10/10 of 7 May 2002,
requested him to present a report on the events. The report was subsequently issued
on 30 July 2002 without a visit to Jenin (A/ES-10/186). The Assembly, at the eighth
resumption of the emergency special session, considered the report of the Secretary-
General on the events in Jenin and in other Palestinian cities. The Committee was
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appalled by the lack of cooperation on the part of Israel and regretted the fact that
the events in Jenin could not be thoroughly investigated.
21. Months of Israeli military operations, a high death and injury toll among the
civilian population, protracted closures, curfews and other forms of restriction of
movement, heavy infrastructural and institutional damage inflicted on the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, have ravaged the Palestinian economy
and led to a humanitarian emergency. Physical damage resulting from the Israeli
incursions of March-April 2002 alone was estimated at US$ 361 million. In Nablus,
many of the historic old town buildings, including a mosque, were destroyed. In
Ramallah, many of the Palestinian Authority ministries were damaged beyond
repair, with their offices left ransacked. In some cases, irreplaceable civilian records
and documents were destroyed or lost. Instances of looting of Palestinian property
by Israeli forces were reported. Road, electricity and water networks sustained
significant damage. The Palestinian private sector has suffered substantial losses as
well. Over the year, the Palestinian economic activity in all sectors sharply declined.
Internal and external closures and rolling curfews had a most debilitating impact on
the Palestinian economy. For most of the summer of 2002, between 500,000 and
900,000 Palestinians were under curfew. These harsh forms of collective punishment
have led, in particular, to a rapid loss of income and an upsurge in the levels of
unemployment and poverty. Daily Palestinian income losses were estimated at some
$7.6 million. Since the start of the current intifada, overall income losses have been
estimated at $3.3 billion. The unemployment rate rose from 11 per cent in the third
quarter of 2000 to 78 per cent in the second quarter of 2002. In the absence of
alternative sources of income, the number of Palestinians living below the poverty
line rose dramatically and reached 70 per cent in the Gaza Strip and 55 per cent in
the West Bank. The productive sectors of the Palestinian economy, such as
agriculture, industry, commerce and tourism, were practically obliterated. In
addition, Israel should return in full the VAT and customs revenues it owes to the
Palestinian Authority. To be able to maintain its operations, the Palestinian
Authority is forced to rely on external aid.
22. The military offensive was accompanied by a methodical destruction of
Palestinian housing and property, which left a great number of families homeless
and caused considerable internal displacement of the population. Serious concern
was expressed by international agencies for the health situation in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory caused by the military actions. More than half of the
Palestinians were forced to decrease food consumption because of a lack of income
and military curfews. Malnutrition among Palestinian children under 5 reached
emergency levels and ranked among the highest in the world. Some 22.5 per cent of
Palestinian children suffered from acute or chronic malnutrition. Because of the
magnitude of the problem, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and others
have organized emergency food aid to the malnourished Palestinian families,
including Palestine refugees. In the course of the military actions, the Israeli forces
often hindered the work of humanitarian teams and medical crews. Such deliberate
attacks on medical personnel, ambulances and infrastructure constituted a grave
breach by the occupying Power of international humanitarian law. In the light of the
dire humanitarian situation, the Committee welcomed the appointment by the
Secretary-General and dispatch to the region of his Personal Humanitarian Envoy,
Ms. Catherine Bertini, with the mandate to assess the nature and the scale of the
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humanitarian crisis facing the civilian population in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip.
23. In early September 2002, Israel’s High Court of Justice approved the forcible
transfer from Nablus to the Gaza Strip for a period of two years of Kifah and Intisar
Ajuri — family members of a Palestinian accused of organizing attacks against
Israel and assassinated by the Israeli forces. The Committee was greatly disquieted
by this arbitrary action and believes that it contravened international humanitarian
law and resolutions of the United Nations. The Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits
this form of collective punishment by the occupying Power.
24. Throughout the year, the Committee observed with growing concern attempts
by the Government of Israel to establish a physical barrier between Israel and the
occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem. The plan envisages the construction of an
approximately 225-mile-long “security fence”, running along the Green Line,
equipped with multiple obstacles, surveillance outposts and electronic sensors. The
army and the border police intend to patrol the barrier on both sides. Construction
has already begun on a first 71-mile stretch, which would run mostly east of the
Green Line from the northern tip of the West Bank to settlement blocks south of
Qalqilya. Moreover, in many places, the barrier would cut well into the Palestinian
territory in order to protect Jewish settlements. The separation line approved by the
Israeli security cabinet would put at least six settlements inside the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, off limits to Palestinians. The Israeli Government was also
considering the creation of what it called the “Seam Line plan” or the “Jerusalem
envelope”— a wall separating the city from the West Bank. Moreover, it was
reported that the barrier would be erected south of Rachel’s Tomb. The position of
the Committee has always been that matters pertaining to the delineation of
boundaries between the two sides belonged in the permanent status negotiations.
Therefore, the Committee opposed all Israeli schemes aimed at creating artificial
boundaries. Such actions are illegal and predetermine the outcome of any future
negotiations on permanent status issues.
25. Violence and extremely high levels of tension on the ground have considerably
complicated attempts by various parties to restore political contacts between the two
sides and gradually resuscitate the peace process. Despite the largely disappointing
lack of progress in peacemaking efforts, some international moves aimed at helping
the parties resume a political process have been undertaken in this period. The
Committee welcomed a landmark statement made before the General Assembly on
10 November 2001 by the President of the United States, in which he presented a
vision of two States, Israel and Palestine, living peacefully together within secure
and recognized borders. This statement was received throughout the world with
hope that concrete steps would follow. As the crisis on the ground continued to
worsen, the issue was brought before the Security Council, which on 12 March 2002
adopted resolution 1397 (2002), affirming the objective outlined in the statement of
the United States President. The Committee strongly supported this action by the
Council and considered the resolution to be as fundamental and significant as were
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). An important next step was taken in late
March 2002 by the League of Arab States, which, at its summit in Beirut, adopted a
plan for resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict based on the principle of land for peace
(A/56/1026-S/2002/932). The initiative endorsed an earlier proposal by Crown
Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, expressing the readiness of the Arab States to
establish normal relations with Israel in exchange for its withdrawal from all
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territories occupied since 1967. The Committee was much encouraged by the strong
commitment of the Quartet to help the parties move away from violence and
confrontation and restart meaningful negotiations. In this connection, the Committee
considered the three-phase plan outlined in the Quartet communiqué of 17
September 2002 an important step in the right direction. Ideas for resolving the
conflict through convening an international peace conference, drawing up a road
map towards a final settlement, have also been broached over the year, including by
the Quartet. The Committee supported the United Nations Secretary-General’s close
involvement in all stages of the peace efforts. The Palestinian leadership’s readiness
to develop and implement a comprehensive plan of political and economic reforms
and hold elections early in 2003 was welcomed and supported by the international
community. At the same time, the Committee firmly believed that such reforms
should only be carried out by the Palestinian people themselves without external
interference. In the past year, the Committee took note of the increased engagement
of the Security Council on matters relevant to the question of Palestine, especially in
response to the various developments on the ground. Having welcomed the steppedup
action by the Council, the Committee, however, was disappointed by the fact that
the Council had been stymied in its ability to follow up on its own resolutions, most
notably concerning events in the Jenin refugee camp.
26. Illegal settlement and road construction in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including Jerusalem, continued. Between February 2001 and March 2002, 34 new
settlements and outposts were established in the West Bank, excluding East
Jerusalem. Although the Israeli Defence Ministry announced in late July 2002 that
19 outposts had been evacuated, 8 new ones were reported established during
August 2002. Most of the new settlement sites are located some 700 yards or more
from existing settlements, with some as much as a mile away. By mid-May 2002,
957 tenders had been issued for new construction in the settlements of “Efrat”,
“Beitar Ilit”, “Ma’ale Adumim”, “Geva Binyamin” and “Har Adar”. Settlement and
bypass road construction was in progress or in various planning stages in several
East Jerusalem neighbourhoods, such as Ras al-Amud, Jabal al-Mukabbar, Sheikh
Jarrah, Jabal Abu Ghneim and Musrarra. Construction of bypass roads, linking West
Bank settlements with each other and with the Israel road network, was an important
part of the settlement activity. As of May 2002, nine such roads were under
construction, at a total cost of $50 million. Five more roads were scheduled for
construction. The settlement activity continued to receive support from the Knesset.
In November 2001, the Knesset approved $13 million for the construction of roads
in the occupied West Bank. In March, the Knesset Finance Committee approved
$29 million for settlement projects, including $25 million to subsidize home
purchases and “manufacturing activities”, $2.4 million to repair water networks at
the “Itamar”, “Kiryat Arba” and “Yitzhar” settlements and $1 million to renovate
some of the 1,000 Government-owned caravans located in settlements. A total of
41.9 per cent of the West Bank area is controlled by settlements. The Committee
remains of the view that the Israeli settlement activity dangerously changes the
status quo, predetermines the outcome of the permanent status negotiations and is a
major obstacle to peace.
27. Throughout the year, attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians
persisted. Groups of armed settlers, often protected by Israeli soldiers, used their
firearms and continued to assault Palestinians, including children. The settler tactics
includes the destruction, vandalizing or forceful takeovers of Palestinian houses,
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setting up roadblocks to disrupt Palestinian traffic, shooting at roof-top water
heaters, setting cars on fire, smashing windows, destroying crops and uprooting
trees, and harassing merchants. The Committee felt strongly that the presence of the
settlers constituted a serious violation of international humanitarian law, in
particular article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
28. The Committee was greatly concerned over the situation with regard to
Palestinian prisoners. Since the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa intifada, some 15,000
Palestinians have been arrested by the Israeli authorities. As of late July 2002,
approximately 5,000 Palestinian and Arab prisoners were held in 21 Israeli detention
facilities. During its military operations, the Israeli forces have routinely rounded
up, arbitrarily arrested and detained, without charge for varying periods of time,
large numbers of Palestinians between the ages of 15 and 45. During interrogation,
many of the detainees were deprived of adequate shelter, food and water before
being either released or transferred to detention facilities. Palestinian prisoners are
kept in severely overcrowded jails, often exposed to extremes of temperature with
inadequate nutrition and poor hygiene and sanitation conditions, which fail to meet
minimum international standards of conditions of detention, including those
specified in article 85 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Access to medical care is
also unsatisfactory. Juvenile detainees are often not informed of their legal rights. A
number of restrictions, making attorney or family visits virtually impossible, have
been put in place. Palestinian minors are at times confined with Israeli criminals,
which may pose a physical danger and cause a serious psychological trauma. The
Committee was particularly distressed by reports of the continued use of torture and
other forms of ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees.
29. The unfair division of water resources between the Israelis and Palestinians
has created a severe water shortage in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. This
chronic problem has been compounded by the Israeli army incursions and closures.
The Palestinian water supply infrastructure has been disrupted or destroyed.
Pipelines, including the ones used for agricultural needs, private roof-top water
tanks, water wells, pumps, meters and other equipment have been badly damaged by
the Israeli forces. Lack of funds in Palestinian municipalities has resulted in their
inability to purchase fuel for water pumps. In addition, settlers have disrupted water
supplies by closing water valves. The plight of some 200,000 Palestinians who do
not have access to a water network and rely mostly on rainfall remains especially
difficult. The water they use is of extremely poor quality and has a detrimental
effect on their health, in particular on the most vulnerable population group —
children, women and the elderly.
30. The Israeli military offensives in the Occupied Palestinian Territory have had a
profoundly negative impact on UNRWA and its ability to provide assistance to
Palestine refugees. The Committee noted with gratitude and appreciation that,
despite the extremely difficult situation on the ground, the Agency managed to
continue its emergency humanitarian assistance to more than 3.9 million refugees.
Because of closures and restrictions on movement, UNRWA’s food deliveries to the
poorest of the refugees were greatly hampered. International donations for
humanitarian aid had to be spent on storing that aid in Israeli ports rather than
distributing it to the needy. In addition, the military operations resulted in a
wholesale destruction of shelters, water supplies, electricity lines and the sewage
system. The Agency made it clear that the refugees needed the support of the
international community. In January 2002, UNRWA launched an appeal to cover its
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needs for the whole year. However, in the light of the rapid deterioration of the
situation, in March and April, it was forced to ask the international community for
additional financial assistance in the form of a supplementary appeal. In its various
activities in the course of the year, the Committee has consistently supported the
vitally important work carried out by UNRWA, calling upon the international
community to continue to provide financial assistance to the Agency.
31. The Committee was also grateful to the Programme of Assistance to the
Palestinian People of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP/PAPP),
which carried on its humanitarian and developmental aid in the difficult
circumstances of the present crisis. During the year, UNDP/PAPP dispatched
convoys with various supplies to Palestinian cities, villages and refugee camps. It
also assisted sister United Nations agencies, such as UNRWA, with transportation
and staff, greatly facilitating their work. The United Nations Volunteers programme
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory also made an important contribution by
responding to the crisis in many Palestinian communities devastated by the military
activity. The Committee is of the view that the work carried out by UNDP/PAPP
remains central to providing emergency humanitarian relief and improving the living
conditions of the Palestinian people.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 56/33
32. In pursuance of its mandate and in response to the difficulties experienced by
the peace process and in the search for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement
of the question of Palestine, the Committee continued to mobilize the international
community in support of the Palestinian people, in cooperation with United Nations
bodies, Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and
others, as indicated below.
1. Action in the General Assembly and the Security Council
(a) Resumed tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly
33. Since October 2001, the tenth emergency special session of the General
Assembly has convened three times (sixth, seventh and eighth resumptions) to
discuss the deteriorating situation on the ground under the item entitled “Illegal
Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory”.
34. On 20 December 2001, the emergency special session was resumed at the
request of the Permanent Representative of Egypt, in his capacity as Chairman of
the Group of Arab States for the month of December 2001 (A/ES-10/130), and the
Permanent Representative of South Africa, in his capacity as Chair of the Non-
Aligned Movement (A/ES-10/131). The Chairman of the Committee took part in the
debate and made a statement (see A/ES-10/PV.15). At the end of the debate, on 20
December 2001, the General Assembly adopted resolutions ES-10/8 and ES-10/9.
35. On 7 May 2002, the session was resumed at the request of the Chargé
d’affaires of the Permanent Mission of Sudan, in his capacity as Chairman of Group
of Arab States for the month of May 2002 (A/ES-10/170), and the Permanent
Representative of South Africa, in his capacity as Chairman of the Coordinating
Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (A/ES-10/171). The Chairman of the
Committee took part in the debate and made a statement (see A/ES-10/PV.16). At
the conclusion of the debate, on 7 May 2002, the General Assembly adopted
resolution ES-10/10.
36. On 5 August 2002, the session was resumed at the request of the Permanent
Representative of Oman, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States
for the month of August 2002 (A/ES-10/187), and the Permanent Representative of
South Africa, in his capacity as Chairman of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-
Aligned Movement (A/ES-10/188). The General Assembly discussed the report of
the Secretary-General prepared pursuant to General Assembly resolution ES-10/10
on the events in Jenin and in other Palestinian cities in the period from the
beginning of March to 7 May 2002. The Chairman of the Committee took part in the
debate and made a statement (see A/ES-10/PV.16). At the conclusion of the debate,
on the same day, the General Assembly adopted resolution ES-10/11.
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(b) Security Council meetings
37. During the year, against the backdrop of the rapidly deteriorating situation on
the ground, the Security Council has been involved in finding ways to defuse the
crisis. The Council held numerous informal consultations and public meetings under
agenda item entitled “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian
question”. The action by the Security Council in that regard is briefly described
below.
38. On 25 October 2001, following informal consultations of the Security Council,
the President of the Council issued a press statement on the situation in the Middle
East (SC/7188).
39. On 14 December 2001, the Security Council met at the request of the
Permanent Representative of Egypt, in his capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group
for the month of December 2001 (S/2001/1191). The Chairman of the Committee
took part in the debate and made a statement. At its 4438th meeting, the Council
voted on a draft resolution submitted by Egypt and Tunisia (S/2001/1199). The draft
received 12 votes in favour, and 1 against, with 2 abstentions. The draft resolution
was not adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the Council
(S/PV.4438).
40. At the request of the Permanent Representative of Yemen, in his capacity as
Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of February 2002 (S/2002/184), and the
Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United
Nations (S/2002/182), the Security Council met on 21, 26 and 27 February 2002
(S/PV.4474 and S/PV.4478 and Resumption 1). The Chairman of the Committee
took part in the debate and made a statement (see S/PV.4478).
41. On 12 March 2002, the Security Council met again and, at its 4489th meeting,
adopted resolution 1397 (2002). In the preamble to the resolution, the Council, inter
alia, affirmed a vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, would live
side by side within secure and recognized borders. The Council demanded the
immediate cessation of all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation,
incitement and destruction; called upon the Israeli and Palestinian sides and their
leaders to cooperate in the implementation of the Tenet work plan and Mitchell
Report recommendations with the aim of resuming negotiations on a political
settlement; expressed support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and others to
assist the parties to halt the violence and to resume the peace process; and decided to
remain seized of the matter (S/PV.4488 and S/PV.4489).
42. At the request of the Permanent Representative of Jordan, in his capacity as
Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of March 2002 (S/2002/329),
and the Permanent Representative of Qatar (S/2002/331), the Security Council
resumed its consideration of the agenda item. At its 4503rd meeting, on 30 March
2002, the Council adopted resolution 1402 (2002), in which it called upon both
parties to move immediately to a meaningful ceasefire, called for the withdrawal of
Israeli troops from Palestinian cities, including Ramallah and called upon the parties
to cooperate fully with Special Envoy Zinni, and others, to implement the Tenet
security work plan as a first step towards implementation of the Mitchell Committee
recommendations, with the aim of resuming negotiations on a political settlement;
reiterated its demand in resolution 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002 for an immediate
cessation of all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation, incitement
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and destruction; expressed support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and the
special envoys to the Middle East to assist the parties to halt the violence and to
resume the peace process; and decided to remain seized of the matter (see
S/PV.4503).
43. At the request of the Permanent Representative of Tunisia, in his capacity as
Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of April 2002 (S/2002/336),
and the Permanent Representative of South Africa, in his capacity as Chairman of
the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (S/2002/342), the Security
Council met on 3 and 4 April 2002. At its 4506th meeting, on 4 April 2002, the
Council adopted resolution 1403 (2002), in which, inter alia, it demanded the
implementation of its resolution 1402 (2002) without delay (see S/PV.4506 and
Resumptions 1 and 2).
44. In the light of the further deterioration of the situation in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory and following its consultations on 7 April 2002, the President
of the Security Council issued a press statement outlining the position of the Council
in that regard.9
45. At the request of the Permanent Representative of Tunisia, in his capacity as
Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of April 2002 (S/2002/359), the
Security Council met on 8, 9 and 10 April (S/PV.4509, S/PV.4510 and Resumption 1
and S/PV.4511). At the 4511th meeting, on 10 April, in connection with the
Council’s consideration of the aforementioned item, the President of the Security
Council made a statement on behalf of the Council. The presidential statement was
subsequently issued as a document of the Council (S/PRST/2002/9), the annex to
which contained the text of a joint Statement made by the Quartet at Madrid on the
same day.
46. On 18 and 19 April 2002, at the request of the Permanent Representative of
Tunisia, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of
April 2002 (S/2002/431), the Security Council resumed its consideration of the
agenda item. At its 4516th meeting, on 19 April, the Council unanimously adopted
resolution 1405 (2002), in which it emphasized the urgency of access of medical and
humanitarian organizations to the Palestinian civilian population; welcomed the
initiative of the Secretary-General to develop accurate information regarding recent
events in the Jenin refugee camp through a fact-finding team and requested him to
keep the Security Council informed; and decided to remain seized of the matter (see
S/PV.4515, S/PV.4516 and Resumption 1).
47. On 25 and 28 April 2002, the President of the Security Council issued press
statements in connection with developments on the ground.10
48. The Security Council met again on 3 May 2002 at the request of the Chargé
d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of the Sudan, in his capacity as Chairman of
the Group of Arab States for the month of May 2002 (S/2002/510). The Vice-
Chairman of the Committee (Afghanistan) took part in the debate and made a
statement (S/PV.4525 and Resumption 1).
49. At the request of the Permanent Representative of Bahrain to the United
Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of
June 2002 (S/2002/655), the Security Council, on 13 June 2002, resumed its
consideration of the agenda item. The Chairman of the Committee took part in the
debate and made a statement (S/PV.4552 and Resumption 1).
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50. Following the 4556th (closed) meeting of the Security Council on 20 June
2002, a statement on the situation in the region made at the meeting by the
Secretary-General was made public (the full electronic version of text can be found
at the United Nations News Centre web site, at www.un.org/News).
51. At the 4578th meeting of the Security Council, held on 18 July 2002, the
President of the Council made a statement on behalf of the Council
(S/PRST/2002/20).
52. On 24 July 2002, at the request of the Permanent Representative of Saudi
Arabia to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab
States for the month of July 2002 (S/2002/828), the Security Council met to
consider agenda item entitled “The situation in the Middle East, including the
Palestinian question”. The Vice-Chairman of the Committee (Cuba) took part in the
debate and made a statement (see S/PV.4588).
53. In view of the dramatic worsening of the situation around the headquarters of
the President of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, its reoccupation and the
further demolition of the compound by the Israeli army, the Security Council met on
23 and 24 September 2002, in response to the request of the Permanent Observer of
Palestine, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of
September 2002 (S/2002/1055), and the Permanent Representative of the Syrian
Arab Republic (S/2002/1056), and resumed its consideration of the agenda item.
The Chairman of the Committee took part in the debate and made a statement (see
S/PV.4614, Resumption 1). At its 4614th meeting, on 24 September 2002, the
Council adopted resolution 1435 (2002), in which it reiterated its demand for the
complete cessation of all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation,
incitement and destruction; demanded that Israel immediately cease measures in and
around Ramallah, including the destruction of Palestinian civilian and security
infrastructure; demanded also the expeditious withdrawal of the Israeli occupying
forces from Palestinian cities towards the return to the positions held prior to
September 2000; called on the Palestinian Authority to meet its expressed
commitment to ensure that those responsible for terrorist acts were brought to
justice by it; expressed its full support for the efforts of the Quartet and called upon
the Government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and all States in the region to
cooperate with those efforts and recognized in that context the continuing
importance of the initiative endorsed at the Arab League Beirut Summit; and
decided to remain seized of the matter.
54. On 27 September 2002, the President of the Security Council issued a press
statement calling for the full implementation of resolution 1435 (2002) (SC/7516).
2. Communications to the Secretary-General and the President of the
Security Council
55. In the course of the year, the Chairman of the Committee continued to bring to
the attention of the Secretary-General the Committee’s concerns over the situation in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem (A/ES-10/120-S/2001/1000,
A/ES-10/127-S/2001/1147, A/ES-10/153-S/2002/234 and A/ES-10/191-S/2002/933).
56. On 23 April 2002, the Chairman of the Committee addressed a letter to the
President of the Security Council concerning the list of items of which the Council
was seized (S/2002/477).
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3. Statements by the Committee
57. On 5 April and 15 May 2002, in reaction to events on the ground, the Bureau
of the Committee made statements that were issued as press releases (GA/PAL/879
and GA/PAL/889, respectively).
4. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee at international conferences
and meetings
58. During the year, the Chairman of the Committee participated in meetings of
intergovernmental bodies relevant to the question of Palestine and contributed to
their deliberations in support of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, as
follows:
(a) Seventy-fifth session of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of
African Unity/African Union, Addis Ababa, 9-15 March 2002;
(b) Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned
Movement, Durban, South Africa, 27-29 April 2002;
(c) Seventy-sixth Session of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of
African Unity/African Union and 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads
of State and Government, Durban, South Africa, 4-10 July 2002.
59. As in previous years, the Committee continued to follow the activities relevant
to the question of Palestine of other intergovernmental organizations, as well as
decisions and resolutions of United Nations bodies and agencies.
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 56/33
and 56/34
60. In its programme of meetings in the various regions, the Committee continued
to give priority to promoting the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, supporting the peace process and stressing the need for the timely and
scrupulous implementation by the parties of the bilateral agreements. The
Committee also urged the international community to continue to provide political
support as well as economic assistance to the Palestinian people.
61. On the basis of the provision contained in General Assembly resolution 56/33,
the Committee adjusted its programme of work, as necessary, in order to meet the
evolving situation in the most effective and constructive manner, while keeping in
mind the continuing financial constraints facing the Organization. The Committee
expressed its great appreciation to the Governments of Cyprus and Morocco for
having provided venues and facilities for events sponsored by the Committee.
62. During the year, the Committee, through its Bureau, continued to maintain its
cooperation on the question of Palestine with States members of the European Union
(EU). In March 2002, the Bureau held a useful meeting of consultations with
representatives of EU (under the Presidency of Spain) as part of the continued effort
to build a constructive relationship with EU members on issues of common concern.
In accordance with established practice, the Chairman of the Committee briefed the
members of the EU delegation on the Committee’s ongoing activities and explained
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the position of the Committee with regard to the situation on the ground, the
stalemate in the peace process and the state of the Palestinian economy. He
expressed the hope that the two sides would continue consultations.
63. Throughout the year, the staff of the Division for Palestinian Rights met at
United Nations Headquarters, as well as away from Headquarters with members of
the general public and briefed them on the various aspects of the question of
Palestine and the involvement of the United Nations in this issue.
1. United Nations International Meeting in Support of Middle East Peace
64. The United Nations International Meeting in Support of Middle East Peace
was held at Nicosia on 16 and 17 April 2002. The participants discussed the
situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since September 2000, international
efforts at containing the crisis and resuming the peace dialogue, as well as the
urgency of ending the Israeli occupation and establishing a Palestinian State. Three
Palestinian speakers invited from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to address the
Meeting were unable to travel to Nicosia due to the general closure imposed by
Israel. The Committee delegation at the Meeting issued a statement, expressing its
utmost concern and denouncing the Israeli policy of closures and other forms of
collective punishment of the Palestinian people. The Meeting adopted the Nicosia
Declaration, highlighting the main points of the discussion. In the course of the
Meeting, the Committee delegation was received by Glafcos Clerides, President of
the Republic of Cyprus, and Ioannis Kasoulides, Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Cyprus, both of whom stressed the importance of supporting peace in the Middle
East at the current extremely difficult stage and welcomed the efforts of the
Committee in that regard.
2. United Nations NGO Meeting in Solidarity with the Palestinian People
65. The United Nations NGO Meeting in Solidarity with the Palestinian People
was held at Nicosia on 18 April 2002. The participants reviewed the role of civil
society in time of crisis and action by international civil society in support of the
Palestinian people. At the end of the Meeting, they adopted an NGO Statement and a
Plan of Action. Participating NGOs also conveyed an urgent appeal to the United
Nations International Meeting in Support of Middle East Peace that had been held
prior to the NGO Meeting. Due to the Israeli closure of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, a number of Palestinian NGO representatives were unable to attend the
Meeting.
3. United Nations African Meeting in Support of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
66. The United Nations African Meeting in Support of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People was held at Rabat from 24 to 26 June 2002. The theme of the
African Meeting was “Achieving the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people —
a key to peace in the Middle East”. The participants discussed the impact of the
Israeli military offensive in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem;
the challenges to a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine; and international
efforts at salvaging the peace in the Middle East and African support for the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The Meeting included a workshop for
African NGOs, which considered possible action by civil society in Africa in
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solidarity with the Palestinian people. The Chairman of the Committee deplored the
absence of an invited Palestinian NGO speaker due to curfews imposed by Israel in
a number of Palestinian cities. For the same reason, numerous Palestinian NGO
representatives had been prevented from travelling to Rabat. The main points of the
deliberations were highlighted in the Final Communiqué. Participating NGOs
adopted a Plan of Action. The Committee delegation was granted an audience with
His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
4. United Nations International Conference of Civil Society in Support of the
Palestinian People
67. The United Nations International Conference of Civil Society in Support of the
Palestinian People was held at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 23 and
24 September 2002. The theme of the Conference was “End the Occupation!”. The
participants discussed the various aspects of life under occupation, in particular the
current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and civil society action to
oppose the occupation. The Conference concluded with the participants adopting an
NGO Declaration and a Plan of Action.
68. All the aforementioned events were attended by representatives of
Governments, Palestine, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations,
entities of the United Nations system, as well as experts, media representatives,
academics and students. The reports of the meetings were issued as publications of
the Division for Palestinian Rights and were made available through UNISPAL and
the Division’s web site.
5. Cooperation with civil society
69. The Committee continued and strengthened its cooperation with NGOs,
academic institutions, parliamentarians and media representatives. Representatives
of civil society participated in all meetings organized under the auspices of the
Committee, including the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People on 29 November. The Committee commended civil society
organizations for the many initiatives and activities organized worldwide in support
of the Palestinian people. The Committee highly appreciated the work of those
NGOs that provided emergency relief at a difficult time for the Palestinian people. It
noted the courage and activism of those NGO volunteers who, through their physical
presence in Palestinian cities and villages under military siege, had demonstrated
solidarity with the Palestinian people. The Committee stressed that there was a
greater need for sustained campaigns aimed at informing public opinion about the
root causes of the conflict and the legitimate rights of the parties and promoting
national and international action in support of the peace process, the effective
implementation of the Israeli-Palestinian agreements, and of a just and lasting peace
in the region. The Committee was of the view that, given the tense and highly
volatile situation on the ground, special attention should be given to mobilizing wide
support for measures to protect the Palestinian people.
70. The Committee maintained and developed its liaison with national, regional
and international coordinating mechanisms accredited to it, in addition to the
already established liaison with a large number of individual NGOs. The Committee
also reviewed the entitlements and responsibilities of the accredited and observer
NGOs and formulated new guidelines in that regard. The Chairman of the
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Committee and members of Committee delegations in Nicosia and Rabat met with
groups of NGOs and individual representatives in order to discuss specific activities
in support of the Palestinian people. The United Nations International Conference of
Civil Society in Support of the Palestinian People provided ample opportunity for
discussions on the future of cooperation between the Committee and civil society.
71. The Committee continued to develop its liaison with national and regional
parliaments and their organizations. Of particular significance in that regard was the
United Nations African Meeting in Support of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People, where members of the Palestinian Council, among them its
Secretary-General, an Arab Israeli Knesset member, the Vice-President of the
National Assembly of Senegal and the Secretary-General of the African Inter-
Parliamentary Union discussed ways and means of furthering the role and
contribution of national parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations in
shaping public opinion and formulating policy guidelines.
72. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained and continued to develop its
Internet web site entitled “NGO Network on the Question of Palestine” as a
permanent tool of mutual information and cooperation between civil society and the
Committee. The web site can be found at: www.un.org/depts/dpa/ngo. The Division
also continued to issue its bimonthly newsletter entitled NGO Action News covering
the activities of civil society on the various aspects of the question of Palestine.
6. Research, monitoring and publications
73. The Committee continued to attach great importance to the essential
contribution of the Division for Palestinian Rights in support of its mandate and
implementation of its annual programme of work. The Committee requested the
Division to continue its established programme of work, including studies,
information notes and other publications; the further development of the United
Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL); the annual
training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority; and the annual observance
of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
74. Accordingly, the Division continued to respond to requests for information and
briefings on the question of Palestine, and to prepare for dissemination, including
through UNISPAL, the following publications:
(a) Monthly bulletin covering action by the Committee, United Nations
bodies and agencies, and intergovernmental organizations concerned with the
question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of events relating to the question of Palestine, based
on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of meetings organized under the auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletin on the observance of the International Day of Solidarity
with the Palestinian People;
(e) Annual compilation of relevant resolutions, decisions and statements of
the General Assembly and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine;
(f) Two updated information notes entitled “The Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and The Division for Palestinian
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Rights” and “The United Nations and non-governmental organizations on the
question of Palestine”.
7. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
75. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and
library services of the United Nations Secretariat, continued to maintain and develop
UNISPAL, as mandated by the General Assembly since 1991. This included the
required ongoing upgrading of the system’s technical components to ensure its
uninterrupted presence on the Internet under the United Nations home page and
expansion of the documents collection with relevant new and old documents. In
particular, initial steps were taken to enhance the user-friendliness of the system.
This exercise involved redesigning the UNISPAL user interface and simplifying the
user’s access to the UNISPAL collection and related external documents, including
the non-English-language versions of some United Nations documents.
8. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority
76. Two staff members from the Ministry of Planning and International
Cooperation of the Palestinian Authority participated in a training programme
conducted by the Division, from September to December 2001, in conjunction with
the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly. They familiarized themselves with
various aspects of the work of the United Nations Secretariat and other organs. The
programme included, among other things, attendance at various briefings and
meetings of relevant committees and bodies of the United Nations, meetings with
representatives of delegations to the General Assembly, staff of permanent missions
to the United Nations, and of the Secretariat. The trainees also conducted research
and prepared studies on specific topics.
9. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
77. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed,
on 29 November 2001, at United Nations Headquarters and at the United Nations
Offices at Geneva and Vienna. However, due to the situation in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory and the enhanced security measures in New York and at
Headquarters, the traditional Palestinian exhibit could not be organized. The
Committee noted with appreciation that the International Day of Solidarity had also
been observed in many other cities throughout the world. Details on the observance
are contained in the special bulletin issued by the Division.
78. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee decided that a similar
observance of the International Day of Solidarity should be organized in 2002.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 56/35
79. The Department of Public Information, in pursuance of General Assembly
resolution 56/35 of 3 December 2001, continued to implement its special
information programme on the question of Palestine. Activities carried out from
August to July 2002 included the organization of its annual training programme for
Palestinian media practitioners at United Nations Headquarters, and the organization
of an international media seminar on the question of peace in the Middle East in
Copenhagen. Work on the digital conversion of films and videotapes on the question
of Palestine also began during the year.
80. The Radio Section provided extensive coverage of various aspects of the
question of Palestine and related issues in its daily live broadcasts in all six official
languages of the United Nations. The Middle East Radio Unit continued to cover all
the relevant issues in its daily live 15-minute broadcast in Arabic.
81. The United Nations Information Service in Geneva produced radio and
television programmes covering the discussions on the question of Palestine at the
fifty-eighth session of the Commission on Human Rights, which were sent to United
Nations Radio in New York and to radio and television stations around the world.
Significant quantities of audio material in Arabic, English and French were
transmitted to Palestine Radio. When their facilities in the West Bank were rendered
non-operational, the audio material was transmitted to the Palestine Broadcasting
Corporation in Gaza. Audio materials were also offered to Kol Israel Radio in
Jerusalem.
82. The Department revised and updated its booklet on the question of Palestine
entitled “The Question of Palestine and the United Nations”, incorporating
information on recent political and other developments.
83. The various aspects of the question of Palestine continued to be covered by the
Department’s quarterly magazine UN Chronicle. In the course of the year, the
magazine reported on relevant action taken by the General Assembly, the Security
Council and entities of the United Nations system.
84. In October-December 2001, the Department held its annual training
programme for Palestinian media practitioners at United Nations Headquarters. Nine
Palestinian broadcasters and journalists took part.
85. The question of peace in the Middle East was the subject of the International
Media Seminar on the Question of Peace in the Middle East organized by the
Department on 17 and 18 July 2002 in Copenhagen. The event, co-hosted by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, brought together present and former policy
makers from Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the European Union, as well as
senior United Nations officials, international experts and representatives of the
world media. With the overall theme “Ending confrontation: Building peace in the
Middle East”, the Seminar provided an opportunity for media representatives and
international experts to discuss the lessons learned since the signing in 1993 of the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by Israel and
the Palestine Liberation Organization. The participants discussed issues that
continued to divide the Israelis and the Palestinians and the role of third parties,
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especially the United Nations, in restoring confidence and building trust. A separate
session was devoted to discussing the role of the media as a partner for peace.
86. The Department’s Dag Hammarskjöld Library continued its cooperation with
the Division for Palestinian Rights on digitizing relevant United Nations documents
on the question of Palestine to expand the UNISPAL collection.
87. The Department, in cooperation with the Committee, has undertaken a project
involving the conversion and remastering of United Nations films and videos on the
question of Palestine covering the period 1947-2000.
88. As part of their regular activities, the United Nations information centres
(UNICs) and services (UNIS) disseminated information on the situation in the
Middle East in general, and on Palestine in particular. Press releases, op-ed pieces,
statements, documents, audio-visual material, reports and studies were brought to
the attention of target audiences, posted on web sites and made available to the
visitors to the reference libraries maintained by these offices.
89. In connection with the fifty-eighth session of the United Nations Commission
on Human Rights, UNIS Geneva produced nine press releases in English and French
on the question of Palestine. In addition, it produced one press release on the work
and annual visit of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting
the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied
Territories and seven in English and five in French on different statements by the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. It also organized briefings
for delegations, NGOs and journalists with the Special Rapporteur.
90. In April-May 2002, UNIS Geneva provided full support to the spokesperson
and other members of the Jenin Fact-Finding Team established by the Secretary-
General in accordance with Security Council resolution 1405 (2002).
91. UNICs worldwide carried out numerous activities in connection with the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (29 November 2001).
The Director of UNIC Athens delivered a speech at the Chamber of Commerce of
Piraeus. UNIC Cairo, together with the United Nations Association of Egypt, held a
ceremony attended by representatives of the League of Arab States, ministries, the
diplomatic corps, NGOs and educational institutions. UNIS Geneva, in collaboration
with the Office of the Director-General, organized a special commemorative event
involving members of civil society. UNIC Dhaka and the United Nations
Association of Bangladesh held a seminar, at which the Acting Foreign Secretary
was the guest of honour. UNIC Harare attracted 260 guests to its observance of the
Day and its staff gave a radio interview. UNIC Jakarta and the Indonesian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs organized a solemn meeting and the Centre held a two-day photo
exhibition entitled “United Nations and Palestine”. UNIC Mexico City organized a
ceremony for Foreign Ministry officials, the media and NGOs and exhibited
Palestinian posters, handicrafts and historical information. UNIC Moscow coorganized
a ceremony at the Press Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
attended by the acting Deputy Foreign Minister. UNIC Tunis, together with the
Tunisian Journalists’ Association, held a panel discussion attended by ambassadors,
government officials, the media and NGOs.
92. Several UNICs reissued in local languages special features and op-ed articles
written by senior United Nations officials. The op-ed article by the Commissioner-
General of UNRWA entitled “The World Must Help Palestinians” was translated and
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placed in a significant number of newspapers around the world. UNICs also
organized press briefings/encounters for senior United Nations officials dealing with
the issue. UNIC Bonn organized a press luncheon and a radio and newspaper
interview in connection with the visit to Berlin of the UNRWA Commissioner-
General. UNIC Cairo organized a press conference and a TV interview for the
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. UNICs also
undertook a number of special outreach activities aimed at broadening local
knowledge about the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Staff of UNIC
Lisbon gave a lecture to 300 students; staff of UNIC Lomé spoke before an NGO
audience; UNIC Mexico City provided a keynote speaker at a “Model UN” meeting;
staff of UNIC Paris made a keynote address to an NGO conference on the Middle
East; and UNIC Rome addressed a conference organized by the University of
Catania. UNIC Cairo organized a media encounter on its premises and its Director
gave a radio interview to Sawt El Arab; the Director of UNIC Mexico City gave an
interview to the daily El Universal; the Director of UNIC Moscow was interviewed
by REN TV; and the Director of UNIC Paris participated in a briefing on the Middle
East conflict on France 2 TV. The Director of UNIC Rome was interviewed by two
local TV stations in Sicily; UNIC Tunis participated in a round-table discussion
organized by the daily Achourouq and also delivered a speech during a two-day
meeting for Arab journalists, organized by the Arab Institute for Human Rights.
25
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
93. The greatest concern of the Committee since its last report to the General
Assembly remained the most deplorable and increasingly dangerous situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem. The Committee was appalled
by the intensity of Israeli military offensives, growing human losses among the
Palestinians, the scope of devastation left by the occupying forces and the enormity
of the humanitarian catastrophe that ensued. The fabric of Palestinian society has
been badly damaged. Attempts to contain the violence, stabilize the situation and
resolve the crisis have not been very successful. To complicate the situation, efforts
at resuming a political dialogue have not produced desirable results. The Committee
reiterates that the continuing Israeli occupation remains at the core of the conflict
and must be addressed without further delay. At the same time, the Committee
unreservedly condemns all acts of violence against civilians, from whatever quarter.
It firmly believes that the solution to the question of Palestine should be achieved on
the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and
other relevant resolutions, the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
rights, and the coexistence of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in
peace, within secure and recognized borders. The Committee will continue to work
towards this objective by carrying out its General Assembly mandate. Through its
programme of activities, the Committee will continue to contribute to international
efforts at bringing peace to the region.
94. Pending a political settlement, the parties will need assistance in steering away
from escalating violence and confrontation. In this regard, a central role should be
played by members of the international community, individually and collectively.
The United Nations should maintain its permanent responsibility with respect to all
aspects of the question of Palestine until it is resolved in a satisfactory manner, in
conformity with relevant United Nations resolutions, in accordance with
international legitimacy, and until the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people are
fully realized. The Committee is much encouraged by and fully supports the role
played within the framework of the Quartet by the Secretary-General of the United
Nations and the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace
Process. Disturbed by the Israeli attacks on Palestine refugee camps run by UNRWA
and by the Agency’s persistent financial crisis, the Committee reiterates its call on
the international donor community to help UNRWA overcome the present severe
crisis in order to continue its vital humanitarian work.
95. The Committee considers that its programme of meetings in various regions
continues to play a useful role in heightening international awareness of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. It helps promote a constructive analysis
and discussion of the various aspects of the question of Palestine and mobilize
international assistance. The Committee also highly appreciates the contribution
made by a large number of civil society organizations working untiringly to
mobilize solidarity with the Palestinian people, provide some form of protection, as
well as emergency relief under difficult circumstances to the population in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, and raise international awareness of the illegal
occupation by Israel of Palestinian land. In addition to civil society initiatives and
given the situation on the ground, special emphasis should be laid on mobilizing
wide public support for measures aimed at protecting the Palestinian people, such as
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action by the United Nations and the Security Council or by the High Contracting
Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention. In its programme of work for the next
year, the Committee will strive to involve to a greater extent other sectors of civil
society, such as academic institutions and think tanks, parliamentarians and the
media. Its cooperation with the wide network of NGOs on the question of Palestine
will be intensified on the basis of the new guidelines for accredited organizations.
The Committee will continue to review and assess its programme with a view to
making it more responsive to developments on the ground and in the peace process.
It will focus its work in the next year on the question of the exercise by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, international initiatives aimed at
resolving the question of Palestine and the role of the United Nations therein, and on
international assistance to the Palestinian people.
96. The Committee stresses the essential contribution of the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat in support of the Committee’s objectives and
requests it to continue its programme of publications and other informational
activities, including the further development of the UNISPAL documents collection.
The Committee also considers that the annual training programme for staff of the
Palestinian Authority has demonstrated its usefulness and requests that it be
continued.
97. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on the
question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and public opinion on the relevant
issues. The Committee requests the programme’s continuation, with the necessary
flexibility, as warranted by developments relevant to the question of Palestine.
98. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a just and lasting
settlement of the question of Palestine and in view of the many difficulties facing
the Palestinian people and besetting the peace process, the Committee calls upon all
States to join in this endeavour and invites the General Assembly once again to
recognize the importance of its role and to reconfirm its mandate with
overwhelming support.
27
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Notes
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35); ibid., Thirty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35); ibid., Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 and corrigendum
(A/34/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/35/35); ibid., Thirtysixth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/36/35); ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35
and corrigendum (A/37/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/38/35); ibid., Thirty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/39/35); ibid., Fortieth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/40/35); ibid., Forty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); ibid.,
Forty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/42/35); ibid., Forty-third Session, Supplement No.
35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/45/35); ibid., Forty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35);
ibid., Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/47/35); ibid., Forty-eighth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/48/35); ibid., Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/49/35); ibid.,
Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/50/35); ibid., Fifty-first Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/51/35); ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/52/35); ibid., Fifty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/53/35); ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/54/35); ibid.,
Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/55/35); and ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No.
35 and corrigendum (A/56/35 and Corr.1).
3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
4 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 and
corrigendum (A/56/35 and Corr.1), chap. VII.
5 A/AC.183/2002/CRP.1.
6 The observers at the Committee meetings were: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Ecuador,
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco,
Nicaragua, Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam,
Yemen, League of Arab States, Organization of the Islamic Conference and Palestine.
7 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 and
corrigendum (A/56/35 and Corr.1), para. 21.
8 Press releases SC/7374 and SC/7378.
9 Press release SC/7357.
10 Press releases SC/7378 and SC/7382.
02-61559 (E) 061102 141102
*0261559*
A/58/35
United Nations
Report of the
Committee on the
Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-eighth Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/58/35)
Report of the
Committee on the
Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-eighth Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/58/35)
United Nations • New York, 2003
A/58/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters
combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United
Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
Contents
Chapter Paragraphs Page
Letter of transmittal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–6 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–10 3
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11–16 5
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11–13 5
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–16 5
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17–27 6
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28–53 11
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 57/107 . . . . . . 28–37 11
1. Action in the General Assembly and the Security Council . . . . . . . . . . . . 29–33 11
2. Communications to the Secretary-General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 12
3. Statements by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 12
4. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee at international
conferences and meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36–37 12
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in
accordance with General Assembly resolutions 57/107 and 57/108 . . . . . . . . . 38–53 12
1. Programme of international meetings and conferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38–41 12
2. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42–43 12
3. Cooperation with civil society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44–47 13
4. Research, monitoring and publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48–49 13
5. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine . . . . . . 50 15
6. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 15
7. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People . . . . . . . . . . . 52–53 15
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 57/109. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54–70 17
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71–78 20
iv
Letter of transmittal
9 October 2003
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 6 of its resolution 57/107 of
3 December 2002.
The report covers the period from 11 October 2002 to 9 October 2003.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Papa Louis Fall
Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
1
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10
November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights as recognized by the
Assembly in resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the General
Assembly1 were endorsed by the Assembly as a basis for the solution of the question
of Palestine. In its subsequent reports,2 the Committee has continued to stress that a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations resolutions and
the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian
territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and from the other occupied
Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in the region to live in peace
within secure and internationally recognized boundaries; and the recognition and
exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to
self-determination. The Committee’s recommendations could not be implemented,
and the Assembly each year renewed the Committee’s mandate and requested it to
intensify efforts in pursuit of its objectives.
3. The Committee welcomed the historic breakthrough in the peace process in
1993 and the subsequent important steps towards the achievement of a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, based on
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 1397 (2002). At the same
time, the Committee continued to work towards the full realization of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and to its
own independent State. The Committee also continued to mobilize international
assistance for and solidarity with the Palestinian people.
4. During the year, the Al-Aqsa intifada continued and the situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, remained very tense, with
violence escalating steeply in August 2003. Fostered by the continuing Israeli
occupation, violence and mutual mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians kept
chances of resuming a political process firmly on hold. Three years of Israel’s
military campaign against the Palestinian people have resulted in horrific human and
material losses. The campaign has brought misery and destruction, creating a
humanitarian emergency on an unprecedented scale.
5. The Quartet continued to work with the parties in an effort to defuse the crisis
and breathe life into the political process in pursuance of ideas stipulated in Security
Council resolution 1397 (2002). The appointment of Mr. Mahmoud Abbas as the
first Palestinian Prime Minister and the confirmation by the Palestinian Legislative
Council of his Cabinet were followed by the formal presentation, on 30 April 2003,
of “A Performance-Based Road Map to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”, known as the Road Map. These promising events
helped catalyse the political process and triggered a number of changes, albeit
tentative, in the situation, including the resumption of security coordination between
the two sides and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from some positions in the Gaza
2
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Strip and Bethlehem. The positive momentum created on the ground earlier in the
year was scuttled by renewed Israeli operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,
repeated incursions into most Palestinian cities, extrajudicial executions of
Palestinians, continued construction of settlements and the separation wall, closures
and suicide bombings by Palestinian groups against Israeli civilians. The escalation
of violence and counter-violence has substantially impeded progress in negotiations
on security-related issues, led to the resignation of Prime Minister Abbas and
threatened the implementation of the Road Map. The humanitarian situation
remained grave and required serious attention of donor, international relief and nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs).
6. The Committee continued to encourage the parties to resume the political
process and move vigorously towards a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement
of the question of Palestine, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967),
338 (1973) and 1397 (2002), the realization of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people and the vision of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by
side in peace and security. As the organ of the General Assembly mandated to deal
with the question of Palestine, the Committee continued to support all initiatives
aimed at resolving the question of Palestine in all its aspects until the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people are fully realized.
3
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Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
7. The mandate of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People was again renewed by the General Assembly in resolution 57/107
of 3 December 2002, in which the Assembly, inter alia, expressed its appreciation to
the Committee for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it and took note of
its annual report, including the conclusions and recommendations.3 The Assembly
requested the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the realization of
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to support the Middle East peace
process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian
people and authorized it to make such adjustments in its approved programme of
work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and
to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session and thereafter.
The Assembly requested it to continue to keep under review the situation relating to
the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the Assembly, the
Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate. The Assembly also
requested the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to
Palestinian and other civil society organizations in order to mobilize international
solidarity and support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of its
inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and to
involve additional civil society organizations in its work.
8. In its resolution 57/108 of 3 December 2002, on the Division for Palestinian
Rights of the Secretariat, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to
continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it
continues to carry out its programme of work as detailed in the relevant earlier
resolutions, including, in particular, the organization of meetings in various regions
with the participation of all sectors of the international community, the further
development and expansion of the documents collection of the United Nations
Information System on the Question of Palestine, the preparation and widest
possible dissemination of publications and information materials on various aspects
of the question of Palestine and the provision of the annual training programme for
staff of the Palestinian Authority. The Assembly also requested the Committee and
the Division, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with
the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize an annual exhibit on
Palestinian rights in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine
to the United Nations and encouraged Member States to continue to give the widest
support and publicity to the observance of the International Day of Solidarity.
9. In its resolution 57/109 of 3 December 2002, on the special information
programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of
the Secretariat, the General Assembly requested the Department in full cooperation
and coordination with the Committee, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as
may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special
information programme for the biennium 2002-2003, including: the preparation and
dissemination of publications; continuation of production, expansion and
preservation of audio-visual material on the question of Palestine; organization and
promotion of fact-finding missions for journalists to the area, including the territory
under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority and the Occupied Territory;
organization of international, regional and national seminars or encounters for
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journalists; and assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of media
development.
10. In carrying out its programme of work, the Committee also took into account
General Assembly resolution 57/110 of 3 December 2002, in which the Assembly,
inter alia: reaffirmed the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects; expressed its full
support for the ongoing peace process and welcomed in this regard the efforts of the
Quartet; welcomed the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League
of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002;
stressed the necessity for a commitment to the vision of the two-State solution and
the principle of land for peace, as well as the implementation of Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 1397 (2002); stressed the need for the
withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 and the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to
self-determination and the right to their independent State and the need for resolving
the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of
11 December 1948.
5
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Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
11. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, the Lao
People’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey
and Ukraine.
12. At its 269th meeting, on 14 February 2003, the Committee re-elected Mr. Papa
Louis Fall (Senegal) as Chairman, and re-elected Mr. Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla
(Cuba) and Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhâdi (Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairmen and Mr.
Walter Balzan (Malta) as Rapporteur. At its 271st meeting, the Committee elected
Mr. Victor Camilleri (Malta) as Rapporteur, replacing Walter Balzan, former
Rapporteur of the Committee, who had been assigned by his Government to another
post.
13. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted its programme of work for 2003.4
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
14. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of
and permanent observers to the United Nations wishing to participate in the work of
the Committee as observers were welcome to do so. In accordance with established
practice, Palestine participated in the work of the Committee as an observer,
attended all its meetings and made observations and proposals for consideration by
the Committee and its Bureau.
15. On 18 March 2003, the Commission of the African Union, in a note verbale
addressed to the Chairman of the Committee, informed him of its decision to join
the Committee as an Observer. The Committee welcomed the decision of the
African Union and approved the request at its 270th meeting, on 26 March 2003.
16. In 2003, the Committee again welcomed as observers all the States and
organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding year.5
6
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Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
17. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to keep under review
the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well
as the relevant political developments. In January and February 2003, the
Committee took note of the constructive outcome of a series of meetings on
Palestinian civil reform held in London. It welcomed the presentation of the Road
Map, a performance-based plan encompassing parallel and reciprocal steps by Israel
and the Palestinian Authority in the political, security, economic, humanitarian and
institution-building areas monitored and facilitated by the Quartet. The plan was
drawn up to assist the parties in realizing the vision of two States, Israel and
Palestine, living side by side within secure and recognized borders, as affirmed in
Security Council resolution 1397 (2002). The Committee expressed concern,
however, that, while the Palestinian Authority had accepted the Road Map without
reservations, the Government of Israel had not fully endorsed it, putting forward a
series of conditions for its acceptance that threatened to render most of the plan
ineffective. A new hope was created by other important developments, including the
reform undertaken by the Palestinian Authority and the confirmation by the
Palestinian Legislative Council of a new Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Abbas.
The Prime Minister, however, had not been in a position to continue his work and
had resigned. His Cabinet was confronted with a serious escalation of violence and
Israel’s failure to implement its Road Map obligations, in particular those related to
ceasing attacks on civilians, freezing settlement construction, halting confiscation or
demolition of houses and property and taking other steps to normalize Palestinian
life. Efforts by Palestinian organizations to achieve a truce were not reciprocated by
Israel. Continuing Israeli military operations led to a breakdown of the truce.
Subsequent ceasefire proposals by the Palestinian Authority were rejected by the
Israeli Government. Faced with these challenges, the new Prime Minister-designate,
Ahmed Qurei, was tasked with forming a Government with a view to continuing the
Palestinian reform process and the implementation of the Road Map.
18. Throughout the year, the Committee strongly supported the work of the
Quartet, which remained actively engaged with the parties and others with a view to
charting a course towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict by 2005. In the
Committee’s view, the presentation of the Road Map created grounds for cautious
optimism that the process would move forward and that the two sides, assisted by
the Quartet, would press ahead with the implementation of the plan.
19. Despite some tentative signs of progress, the Committee noted a most
disappointing lack of any serious improvement in the security situation, which
remained extremely volatile, with a potential for further escalation. The death toll
since September 2000 had risen to over 3,600, of whom more than 2,800 were
Palestinians and more than 800 Israelis. Over 46,600 Palestinians had been
wounded. Most tragically, more than 590 Palestinian and 100 Israeli children had
been killed in this period. During the year the Israeli army conducted regular
military raids in the Occupied Territory, repeatedly reoccupying Palestinian cities,
imposing closures and curfews and using disproportionate and indiscriminate force,
including flechette munitions, in civilian areas. Human rights organizations had
petitioned Israel’s High Court of Justice to ban this type of munitions as causing
unnecessary human suffering. In April 2003, however, the Court rejected their
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petition. The army operations were often backed up by heavy armour, helicopters
and fighter jets. Under the pretext of fighting against suspected Palestinian militants,
the army continued its illegal policy of extrajudicial executions of Palestinians.
While recognizing Israel’s right to security, the Committee vigorously condemned
the policy and practice of targeted assassinations, emphasizing that such actions
were inadmissible under international humanitarian law. It also strongly condemned
all terrorist attacks against civilians in Israel, which had no moral justification and
harmed the cause of peace and reconciliation between the parties.
20. The Committee remained greatly concerned about the continuing restrictions
placed on the movement of Chairman Arafat, who had been confined for the Israeli
army to his Headquarters, the Muqataa, in Ramallah, and called upon the lifting of
the siege. Chairman Arafat’s ability to exercise his political leadership and supervise
the work of the Palestinian Authority had been affected by these illegal measures of
the occupying Power. The Committee was alarmed by the decision of the Israeli
Security Cabinet, on 14 September 2003, to “remove” Chairman Arafat. The
Committee was particularly worried by the explicit calls made by members of the
Israeli Government and senior government officials to kill Chairman Arafat. In this
connection, the Committee emphasized that the Israeli Government should refrain
forthwith from making any statements that might incite violence, especially from
making direct threats to Chairman Arafat’s personal safety. The occupying Power
should also abide by international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention,
recognize that Chairman Arafat remained the elected leader of the Palestinian people
and allow him full freedom of movement.
21. Israel continued its territorial expansion through the illegal construction of
settlements and outposts, road networks and the demolition of Palestinian homes
and property. The Road Map required that Israel immediately dismantle settlement
outposts erected since March 2001 and, consistent with the Mitchell Report, freeze
all settlement activity, including natural growth of settlements. The removal of some
outposts was quickly followed by the construction of new ones by settlers. There
was no real improvement in the situation concerning the outposts. Over the year, the
Committee followed with growing concern the construction of new and expansion of
existing settlements and infrastructure in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention
and Israel’s obligations under the Road Map. According to reports available to the
Committee, in January 2003, the “Aperion” settlement was established, east of Salfit
in the West Bank. In February and March 2003, tenders were published by the
Israeli Ministry of Housing and Construction for the construction of 51 housing
units in the Olive Hill section of “Efrat” and 24 units in “Ariel”. Another tender was
published in Yediot Ahronot for the sale of 28 housing plots in “Elkana”. In early
May 2003, the cornerstone for 72 new units was laid in “Beit El”, north of
Ramallah. Also in May 2003, the Ministry of Housing and Construction announced
plans for the construction of 11,806 units in “Givat Ze’ev”, “Ariel”, “Betar Ilit”,
“Geva Binyamin” and “Ma’ale Adumim”. In June 2003, the Israeli army began
construction of a settlement road leading to a bridge linking the Al-Matahin road in
the Gaza Strip to the bridge between the “Katif” block of settlements with
“Kissufim”. In late June 2003, a new bypass road connecting West Bank settlements
of “Ariel” and “Rehelim” was opened, as well as a new settlement road north of
“Morag” in the Gaza Strip. At the end of July 2003, the Israel Lands Authority
issued a tender to build 22 new housing units in “Neveh Dekalim” in the Gaza Strip.
In August, the Israeli Government issued a tender for the construction of 72
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apartments in the “Har Homa” settlement in the Jabal Abu Ghneim neighbourhood
of East Jerusalem. In early September 2003, the Ministry of Housing and
Construction issued a tender for 102 new housing units in “Efrat”. In early October
2003, the Ministry issued another tender for 604 units in “Ma’ale Adumim”, “Betar
Ilit” and “Ariel”. The illegal settlement activity has already dramatically changed
the status quo and adversely affected the implementation of the Road Map.
22. The Israeli Government’s stepped up illegal construction of a wall in the West
Bank, which, in many sections, runs to the east of the Green Line. In some areas, the
wall is located as deep as 6 kilometres inside the West Bank. In addition to the
construction of the wall itself, there were plans for depth barriers, 150 metres in
length, to be erected a few kilometres away from the main wall, designed to funnel
access into communities east of the wall through a limited number of checkpoints.
The work on the structure, carried out in phases, was especially intensive in the
Tulkarm and Qalqilya Governorates. Qalqilya has been almost completely
surrounded by the wall. On 31 July 2003, the Israeli Ministry of Defence announced
that the construction of Phase 1 of the barrier had been completed. Its 145 kilometre
route runs from the village of Salem in the north to the “Elkana” settlement, southeast
of Qalqilya. During the construction, Palestinian homes were demolished and
swathes of lands were bulldozed and seized. The completed construction has already
resulted in the unlawful confiscation of 2,850 acres of high-income Palestinian land.
Over 50 communities along the wall’s path have been affected. In August 2003, the
Israeli authorities issued land expropriation orders for the “Jerusalem Envelope”
barrier, which could leave some 50,000 Palestinians isolated on the Israeli side. In
early September 2003, the Treasury decided to provide an additional 500 million
new shekels (about $112 million) to complete the separation barrier in the Jerusalem
area. The construction of the wall and the de facto annexation of Palestinian land
will have serious economic and social consequences for the over 210,000
Palestinians living in 67 towns and villages. On 1 October 2003, the Israeli Cabinet
approved the second phase of the wall, running from “Elkana” to Jerusalem, where a
separate network of barriers was being built. The Committee was especially
concerned about dangerous plans to erect the wall east of the settlements of “Ariel”,
“Kedumim” and “Immanuel”, extending the wall in these areas some 20 kilometres
into the West Bank. The construction, carried out in violation of the Fourth Geneva
Convention, will disrupt the delivery of basic social services and impoverish the
affected communities. It is also bound to exacerbate tensions and heighten
resentment among the Palestinian population. In the longer term, like the settlements
and bypass roads, it could prejudice the outcome of future permanent status
negotiations and inhibit the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian State.
23. According to the Israeli Interior Ministry figures released in July 2003, 5,415
new settlers have moved into the Occupied Palestinian Territory since January 2003,
bringing the total number to 231,443. The settler population continued to increase,
in flagrant violation of article 49 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection
of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949 (the Fourth Geneva
Convention).6 Some 10,000 weapons are in the hands of settlers. In addition, the
settlers’ “territorial units” possess heavy arms, machine-guns and mortars. During
the past year, in particular, attacks by settlers on Palestinians have become
increasingly aggressive and violent, taking many forms. Their actions were intended
to intimidate, deter or punish Palestinians, using firearms and ammunition provided
by the Israeli army. There were reports of settlers killing and beating Palestinians
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who were going about their daily chores. Settlers frequently attacked and harassed
Palestinian farmers, merchants, schoolchildren and clerics. They also opened fire on
farmers, destroyed or damaged property by cutting down trees, sprayed cultivated
fields with chemicals, shot at roof-top water heaters and set cars and other property
on fire. Some of their actions were intended to force Palestinians to abandon their
land so that it could be confiscated or annexed to settlements. There were disturbing
reports that an underground vigilante settler network had emerged in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. In July 2003, a group of nine settlers
from the Hebron area was arrested on suspicion of carrying out roadside shootings
of at least nine Palestinians and wounding dozens of others. Members of this violent
underground cell were skilled snipers who had acquired skills in the use of firearms
and explosives during their military service. In late September 2003, another group
of settlers belonging to an anti-Palestinian terrorist network was arrested. Members
of the group had planned to perpetrate mass killing of Palestinians in retaliation for
anti-Israeli attacks. The Committee reiterated that the presence of the settlers
violated international humanitarian law, in particular article 49 of the Fourth Geneva
Convention.
24. The Committee noted that the situation with respect to Palestinian prisoners
remained unresolved. It was estimated that some 6,500 prisoners were kept in Israeli
detention facilities. The Israeli army was also holding 687 Palestinians in
administrative detention. Children remained the most vulnerable group affected by
the occupation. The Committee was particularly disquieted by the fact that at the
end of June 2003 some 350 child prisoners were held in Israeli prisons. More than 9
per cent were 13 and 14-year-olds. The minors were subjected to various kinds of
mistreatment and torture. The question of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli
detention facilities remained largely unresolved and required the most urgent and
serious attention of the Israeli Government. The Committee also stressed that the
issue of prisoners was a highly important and painful one for thousands of
Palestinian families. Its resolution was seen by the Committee as a major step
towards building confidence between the parties. The Committee has repeatedly
called upon the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations under the Fourth
Geneva Convention and to find a solution to the issue of prisoners.
25. The humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory remained
dire. The most significant impediment to the recovery of the Palestinian economy
and improvement in the humanitarian situation was the closure regime. Because of
the closures, both internal and external, many Palestinian cities and villages
experienced considerable access problems, with Palestinians having to use long
detours to reach their jobs, medical facilities or schools. Although the movement of
people and goods in recent months was eased in some areas, frequent incursions by
the Israeli army into Palestinian areas, the reestablishment of roadblocks and the
imposition of closures and curfews continued to stifle the Palestinian livelihood.
Following the transfer of security responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority in the
Gaza Strip, Palestinians were still unable to move around freely. Such restrictions,
combined with Israeli military operations, have virtually paralyzed economic life in
the Occupied Territory. The Palestinian economy remained in a precarious state.
Closures made jobs and markets in Israel completely inaccessible to Palestinians.
The tourism sector, traditionally one of the most important revenue-generating
sectors of the Palestinian economy, has sustained serious damage, since tourists
have stayed away because of the violence. Vast areas of agricultural land have been
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destroyed and many fields classified as off limits to Palestinians. Great damage has
been inflicted on the physical infrastructure. All economic indicators continued to
decline steeply. Overall national income losses between September 2000 and May
2003 reached $5.4 billion, and unemployment and poverty rates have reached
unprecedented levels. By conservative estimates, the unemployment rate stood at 53
per cent. The financial situation of the Palestinian Authority was extremely difficult
and its capacity to function was greatly weakened. A total collapse of the Palestinian
economy was only prevented owing to the infusion of substantial foreign assistance.
26. Water in the Occupied Palestinian Territory remained a scarce commodity.
Some 178 Palestinian communities had no water distribution networks. There was
evidence that the number of water-related diseases had increased in communities
using contaminated water. Constant water shortages and the worsening hygiene
situation affected health and living conditions of thousands of families. The problem
has become even more acute with the construction of the separation wall. The route
of the wall would limit Palestinian access to water wells, some of the best in the
West Bank. Because of its position atop the western groundwater basin, the wall
would have a severe impact on water access, use and allocation. Phase 1 of the wall
has already affected at least 50 communal wells, meaning that they are either
isolated west of the wall or in the “buffer zone” east of the wall. It has also led to
the destruction of some 35 kilometres of water pipes.
27. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the
Near East (UNRWA) continued to provide Palestinian refugees with a broad range
of essential services, although its vitally important work was hampered by closures,
curfews and chronic funding shortages. UNRWA needed the sustained support of the
donors, as it struggled to cope with budget shortfalls and increased requests for
services. The Committee reaffirmed its position that it was the occupying Power that
had the prime responsibility for the humanitarian well-being of the Palestinian
population under occupation. Underfunding of its emergency appeals was a growing
concern for the Agency. Funds were needed to preserve vital programmes in
numerous areas, including food aid, shelter repair and reconstruction, temporary job
creation, remedial health and education and psychosocial support. The Committee
continued to support the Agency and called upon donors to contribute generously so
that UNRWA could maintain its important activities for the benefit of Palestine
refugees. The Committee also noted the crucial role played by the Programme of
Assistance to the Palestinian People of the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) in rendering various forms of humanitarian and developmental assistance to
the Palestinian people. The Committee noted with appreciation that, through
allocation of funds, UNDP also supported the Road Map and the Palestinian reform
plan. The Committee was appreciative to other United Nations system entities for
providing assistance and essential services to the Palestinian people.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 57/107
28. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to mobilize the
international community in support of the Palestinian people, in cooperation with
United Nations bodies, Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations and others, as indicated below.
1. Action in the General Assembly and the Security Council
(a) Resumed tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly
29. On 19 September 2003, the emergency special session was resumed (ninth
resumption) at the request of the Permanent Representative of the Sudan, in his
capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of September 2003
(A/ES-10/237), to discuss the situation on the ground under the item entitled “Illegal
Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory”. The Vice-Chairman of the Committee (Cuba) took part in the debate and
made a statement (A/ES-10/PV.20). At the end of the debate, on the same day, the
Assembly adopted resolution ES-10/12.
(b) Security Council meetings
30. During the year, against the backdrop of the highly dangerous situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, the Security Council has
followed the situation on the ground and efforts to implement the Road Map.
Throughout the year, the Council held monthly briefings under agenda item “The
situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”.
31. At its 4681st meeting, on 20 December 2002, the Council considered the
agenda item and voted on a draft resolution submitted by the Syrian Arab Republic
(S/2002/1385). The draft received 12 votes in favour, 1 against and 2 abstentions.
The draft was not adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the
Council (S/PV.4681).
32. On 12 September 2003, the President of the Council issued a press statement
under the agenda item, and in particular in connection with the Israeli decision in
principle to expel Chairman Arafat (SC/7871).
33. At the request of the Permanent Representative of the Sudan, in his capacity
as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of September 2003 (S/2003/880), the
Security Council met on 15 and 16 September 2003. The Chairman of the
Committee took part in the debate and made a statement. At its 4828th meeting on
16 September 2003, the Council voted on a draft resolution submitted by Pakistan,
South Africa, the Sudan and the Syrian Arab Republic (S/2003/891). The draft
received 11 votes in favour, 1 against and 3 abstentions. The draft resolution was not
adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the Council
(S/PV.4828).
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2. Communications to the Secretary-General
34. The Chairman of the Committee has continued to bring to the attention of
the Secretary-General the Committee’s concerns about the situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (A/ES-10/214-S/2003/120,
A/ES-10/218-S/2003/202 and A/ES-10/230-S/2003/730).
3. Statements by the Committee
35. At its 271st meeting, on 6 May 2003, the Committee adopted a statement
welcoming the presentation of the Road Map, and other important developments,
including the confirmation by the Palestine Legislative Council of a new Palestinian
Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Abbas. The statement was issued as a press
release (GA/PAL/912).
4. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee at international conferences
and meetings
36. During the year, the Chairman of the Committee participated in meetings of
intergovernmental bodies and contributed to their deliberations in support of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, as follows:
(a) Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, Kuala Lumpur, 20 to 25 February 2003;
(b) Third Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the Second
Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African
Union, Maputo, 4 to 12 July 2003;
(c) Ministerial meeting of the Committee on Palestine of the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries, Headquarters, 26 September 2003.
37. As in previous years, the Committee continued to follow the activities relevant
to the question of Palestine of other intergovernmental organizations, as well as
decisions and resolutions of United Nations bodies and agencies.
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 57/107
and 57/108
1. Programme of international meetings and conferences
38. In its programme of international meetings and conferences, the Committee
continued to give priority to promoting the exercise of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, supporting the political process and stressing the need for the
implementation of the Road Map. The Committee urged the international
community to continue to provide political support, as well as humanitarian relief
and economic assistance to the Palestinian people.
39. In the reviewed period, the following international events have been held
under the auspices of the Committee:
(a) United Nations International Meeting in Support of Middle East Peace,
Kyiv, 13 and 14 May 2003;
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(b) Public Forum in Support of Middle East Peace, Kyiv, 15 May 2003;
(c) United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, United
Nations Office at Geneva, 15 and 16 July 2003;
(d) Consultations of the Committee with Civil Society Organizations, United
Nations Office at Geneva, 16 July 2003;
(e) United Nations International Conference of Civil Society in Support of
the Palestinian People, United Nations Headquarters, 4 and 5 September 2003.
40. All the aforementioned events were attended by representatives of
Governments, Palestine, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and
United Nations system entities, as well by experts, media representatives, academics
and students. The reports of the meetings were issued as publications of the Division
for Palestinian Rights and were made available through the United Nations
Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL) and the Division’s web
site.
41. In the course of the meetings in Kyiv, the Committee delegation was received
by Leonid Kuchma, President of Ukraine, and Anatoliy Zlenko, Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Ukraine, both of whom stressed the importance of supporting peace in the
Middle East and welcomed the efforts of the Committee in that regard. The
Committee expressed its great appreciation to the Government of Ukraine for having
provided a venue and facilities for events sponsored by the Committee.
2. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations
42. During the year, the Committee, through its Bureau, continued to maintain its
cooperation on the question of Palestine with States Members of the European
Union. In September 2003, the Bureau held a meeting of consultations with
representatives of the European Union (under the Presidency of Italy) as part of the
continued effort to build a constructive relationship with members of the Union on
issues of common concern.
43. Throughout the year, the staff of the Division for Palestinian Rights met, both
at and away from United Nations Headquarters, with members of the general public
to brief them on the various aspects of the question of Palestine and the involvement
of the United Nations in this issue.
3. Cooperation with civil society
Civil society organizations
44. The Committee continued to enhance its cooperation with NGOs, academic
institutions, think tanks and media representatives. It followed with interest the
manifold activities of civil society organizations in various parts of the world,
including in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in Israel, and expressed its
appreciation for their useful and committed work. The Committee highly
appreciated the work of those NGOs that provided emergency relief at a difficult
time for the Palestinian people. It commended the courage and imaginative activism
of those NGO representatives who went to Palestinian towns and villages under
Israeli military siege. It encouraged all of them to continue their activities and to
engage vigorously to ensure that the implementation of the Road Map truly
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addresses the issue of Palestinian self-determination in a State free of occupation.
The Committee stressed that there was a greater need for sustained campaigns aimed
at informing public opinion about the root causes of the conflict and the legitimate
rights of the parties and promoting national and international action in support of
effective steps to end the crisis and to resume negotiations.
45. The Committee also maintained and developed its liaison with national,
regional and international coordinating mechanisms accredited to it, in addition to
the already established liaison with a large number of individual NGOs.
Representatives of civil society participated in all meetings organized under the
auspices of the Committee, including the observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian people on 29 November. In the reviewed period, the
Committee has also accredited additional NGOs. Consultations between the
delegation of the Committee and representatives of civil society organizations
accredited to the Committee were held on 16 July 2003 at the United Nations Office
at Geneva, following the United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian
People. The participating NGO representatives provided information about their
initiatives, campaigns and projects, described the obstacles they are facing on the
ground in implementing their projects and asked the Committee to support concerted
international action in support of the Palestinian people. The delegation of the
Committee recommended to the NGO representatives to base their initiatives on
international law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, as well as Security
Council and General Assembly resolutions. The Chairman of the Committee met
throughout the year with representatives of civil society organizations either in New
York or at the site of meetings organized under the auspices of the Committee. The
International Conference of Civil Society in Support of the Palestinian People, held
at United Nations Headquarters in New York, once again provided ample
opportunities for numerous discussions of the future cooperation between the
Committee and civil society.
46. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained its Internet web site entitled
“NGO Network on the Question of Palestine” as a permanent tool of mutual
information and cooperation between civil society and the Committee. The web site
can be found at: www.un.org/depts/dpa/ngo. The Division also continued to issue its
bimonthly newsletter, NGO Action News, covering the activities of civil society on
the various aspects of the question of Palestine.
Parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations
47. The Committee continued to develop its liaison with national and regional
parliaments and their organizations and invited a number of parliamentarians to
speak at its meetings. The Chairman of the Committee welcomed the decision by the
General Assembly to grant observer status to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
The delegation of the Committee met on 16 July 2003 at the United Nations Office
at Geneva with the Secretary-General of IPU and the Chairman and members of its
Committee on Middle East Questions. The Chairman of the Committee commended
the IPU efforts in support of the Palestinian people, in particular in promoting a
dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian parliamentarians. It was agreed to continue
periodic consultations between the two sides and to invite parliamentarians to
address the different meetings organized under the auspices of the Committee.
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4. Research, monitoring and publications
48. The Committee continued to attach great importance to the essential
contribution of the Division for Palestinian Rights in support of its mandate and
implementation of its annual programme of work. The Committee requested the
Division to continue its established programme of work, including studies,
information notes and other publications; the further development of UNISPAL; the
annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority; and the annual
observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
49. Accordingly, the Division continued to respond to requests for information and
briefings on the question of Palestine and to prepare for dissemination, including
through UNISPAL, the following publications, the continued relevance of which
was acknowledged by the Committee:
(a) Monthly bulletin on United Nations and intergovernmental organization
action relating to the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of developments relating to the question of Palestine
based on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of meetings organized under the auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletin and note on the observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments relating to Middle East peace efforts;
(f) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly
and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
5. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
50. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and
library services of the Secretariat, continued to maintain and develop UNISPAL, as
mandated by the General Assembly since 1991. This included the ongoing
upgrading of the system’s technical components to ensure its uninterrupted presence
on the Internet, notably via UNISPAL’s “Question of Palestine” interface on the
United Nations home page, under “Peace and Security”, and involved the expansion
of the documents collection with relevant documents, both new and old. In addition,
steps were taken to enhance the user-friendliness of accessing and navigating the
system, leading to the launching of a substantially redesigned UNISPAL Internet
presence (http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf).
6. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority
51. Two staff members from the Ministry of Planning and International
Cooperation of the Palestinian Authority participated in a training programme
conducted by the Division, from September to December 2002, in conjunction with
the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly. They familiarized themselves
with various aspects of the work of the United Nations Secretariat and other organs,
and conducted research and prepared papers on specific topics.
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7. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
52. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
on 29 November 2002 at United Nations Headquarters and at the United Nations
Offices at Geneva and Vienna. On the occasion of the observance at Headquarters,
in addition to a solemn meeting of the Committee and other activities, an exhibit
entitled “Palestinian cities: Images of life from the turn of the 20th century” was
presented by the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine, under the auspices of the
Committee. The Committee noted with appreciation that the International Day of
Solidarity had also been observed in many other cities throughout the world. Details
on the observance are contained in the special bulletin issued by the Division.
53. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee decided that a similar
observance of the International Day of Solidarity should be organized in 2003.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 57/109
54. The Department of Public Information, pursuant to General Assembly
resolution 57/109, continued to implement its special information programme on the
question of Palestine. It carried out this work in close cooperation with the Division
for Palestinian Rights of the Department of Political Affairs and, through the
Division, with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People.
55. The question of Palestine continued to be extensively covered by the United
Nations News Service and featured prominently on the United Nations News Centre
web site (www.un.org/news). The launch in January 2003 of the Arabic version of
the web site was an important step in bringing the latest information about United
Nations action on the question of Palestine to Arabic-speaking readers in the region
and around the world.
56. Various aspects of the question of Palestine are covered on the global issues
web site on the United Nations home page (www.un.org), including United Nations
system programmes, activities and statements, news and events, documents,
educational and promotional resources and partnerships with civil society.
57. The Radio Section provided extensive coverage of the various aspects of the
question of Palestine and related issues in its daily live broadcasts in the official and
non-official languages.
58. The Television Section of the United Nations Information Service at the
United Nations Office at Geneva gave wide coverage to discussions on the situation
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, notably during the session of the Commission
on Human Rights.
59. From 3 March to 11 April 2003, the Department organized a training
programme at Headquarters, in Washington, D.C., and in Geneva for a group of
eight Palestinian broadcasters and journalists, with a view to strengthening their
professional capacity as information media personnel.
60. The Department’s revised and updated publication, “The Question of Palestine
and the United Nations” (DPI/2276), was issued in Arabic, English, French,
Russian, and Spanish, disseminated to all United Nations offices and placed on the
United Nations web site.
61. The Dag Hammarskjöld Library continued its cooperation with the Division
for Palestinian Rights on digitizing relevant United Nations documents on the
question of Palestine to expand the UNISPAL collection. The Department, in
cooperation with the Committee, has completed a project involving the conversion
and remastering of United Nations films and videos on the question of Palestine
covering the period from 1947 to 2000.
62. The updated permanent exhibit “The United Nations and the Question of
Palestine” is now on display in the General Assembly Hall at United Nations
Headquarters. Its French-language is on semi-permanent display at the Palais des
Nations in Geneva.
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63. The UN Chronicle reported on events related to the question of Palestine and
action taken by the General Assembly and Security Council.
64. The question of Palestine was the subject of briefings organized by the
Department of Public Information for eight visiting groups, primarily university
students.
65. In January 2003, over 200 people attended a briefing organized by the
Department’s NGO Section entitled “Prejudice: Psychoanalytic perspectives on
Arab-Israeli relations”.
66. DPI’s Video Section produced a World Chronicle programme with Mr. Peter
Hansen, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, entitled “Palestine Refugees: Present
and Future Challenges”.
67. The network of United Nations information centres, services and offices
continued to disseminate information on the question of Palestine and to organize
special outreach activities. Press releases, Op-Ed pieces, statements, documents,
audio-visual material, reports and studies were brought to the attention of target
audiences, posted on web sites and made available to visitors of the reference
libraries maintained by their offices.
68. A major focus of this work was the promotion of the International Day for
Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Special events and activities to observe the
event were organized by information centres, services and offices in Accra, Bonn,
Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, Harare, Jakarta, Kyiv, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Mexico
City, Pretoria and Vienna.
69. The United Nations information centres in London and Pretoria assisted the
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Mr. Terje Rød-Larsen,
during his visits to South Africa and the United Kingdom, in December 2002 and
January 2003, respectively. The information centre in London organized a media
encounter with the Special Coordinator and arranged meetings with journalists from
The Financial Times, Reuters and the BBC. The centre also provided assistance to
the Special Coordinator and his delegation during a meeting of the Task Force on
Palestinian Reform and a donors meeting organized by the Foreign Office in London
in February 2003. The information centre in Paris provided assistance to the
Commissioner-General of UNRWA during his visit to France. The centre in Cairo
provided support to the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting
the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied
Territories during its mission to the region from 13 to 17 June 2003. As a result of
media outreach by the information centre in Cairo, there was extensive coverage of
the Special Committee’s visit and activities in Egypt. The information centres in
Jakarta, Lisbon, Mexico City, New Delhi, Panama City, Paris, Pretoria, Rabat,
Rome, and Vienna translated, widely disseminated and arranged for the placement in
local newspapers of Op-Eds and articles by the Commissioner-General of UNRWA,
including one entitled “Hunger in Palestine” and another entitled “Intifada, curfews
rob Palestinian children of an education”. The centre in Tunis participated in an
academic seminar on peace in the Middle East and added a special page on its web
site, providing detailed information on the Road Map.
70. The annual training programme for Palestinian media practitioners at
Headquarters was postponed from 2002 to 2003 due to delays in obtaining entry
visas. The Department was unable to conduct a news mission to the region in 2003
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because of the difficult circumstances in the region. The Department is organizing
an international media seminar on peace in the Middle East in Seville, Spain, on 21
and 22 October 2003, in cooperation with the Foundation of the Three Cultures of
the Mediterranean, and has decided not to hold a regional encounter in 2003.
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
71. During the period under review, and especially since the presentation of
the Road Map, the Committee has remained concerned about the lack of
serious headway in the political process. The Committee has also been
dismayed by the absence of any tangible improvement in the security area. It
noted with much regret that the initial positive steps aimed at creating
confidence between the parties had collapsed, stalling the political process. The
Committee remained hopeful that the situation could be redressed through the
efforts of the Quartet, its individual members and other regional and
international players. It also emphasized that the United Nations should
maintain its permanent responsibility with respect to all aspects of the question
of Palestine until it is resolved in a satisfactory manner, in conformity with
relevant United Nations resolutions, in accordance with international
legitimacy and until the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people are fully
realized. The Committee also stressed the critical peacemaking role played by
the Security Council. It was of the view that the Council could and should, inter
alia, encourage steps towards creating an effective mechanism for monitoring
the implementation of the Road Map and for protection of the Palestinian
population, including through authorizing the deployment of international
observers.
72. In all its activities, the Committee intends to continue to promote support
for the Road Map and the important work of the Quartet in pursuance of a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the question of Palestine based on
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 1397 (2002) and other
relevant resolutions and the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
rights.
73. The Committee stresses its strong opposition to the illegal construction by
the occupying Power of the wall in the Occupied West Bank and in areas close
to East Jerusalem. The Committee reminds the Government of Israel that this
construction has devastating immediate and longer-term implications for the
livelihood of the Palestinian people. The construction also endangers
international efforts aimed at resolving the conflict and realizing the vision of a
region where two States, Israel and Palestine, would live side by side in peace
and security, as outlined in the Road Map. With these concerns in mind, the
Committee calls upon the international community, most notably the Security
Council and the General Assembly, to attach the necessary importance to this
issue, with a view to stopping the de facto annexation of Palestinian land and
the construction of the wall by the occupying Power.
74. The Committee considers that its programme of international and
regional meetings and conferences helps to promote a constructive analysis and
discussion of the various aspects of the question of Palestine and mobilize
international assistance to the Palestinian people as well as contributing to
heightening awareness of the root cause of the conflict, namely the occupation
by Israel of the Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The
programme is also aimed at mobilizing international efforts to resolve the
conflict by peaceful means. The Committee highly appreciates the involvement
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in these meetings of Governments, intergovernmental organizations and civil
society. It will continue its programme of meetings to foster support for the
attainment by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights in accordance with
international law and the resolutions of the Security Council and General
Assembly. In its meetings next year, the Committee intends to address such
issues as the status of the peace process and the implementation of the Road
Map, the security situation and the importance of protecting the Palestinian
people, the illegal construction of the wall and its implications, the
humanitarian and socio-economic situation, including the plight of Palestinian
women, and the further involvement of civil society.
75. The Committee commends civil society organizations for their efforts at
upholding international legitimacy with regard to the question of Palestine
through advocacy and the mobilization of public opinion, as well as for their
unremitting initiatives to provide relief and assistance to the Palestinian people.
It encourages NGOs to enhance cooperation and coordination of their activities
on the ground, as well as at the national and international levels, through
forming national platforms or campaigns and international coordinating
mechanisms. The Committee invites accredited civil society organizations,
academic institutions, think tanks and the media to share their insights into
and reports on the situation on the ground and other relevant initiatives,
including at meetings organized under the Committee’s auspices. In its
programme of meetings, the Committee, will pay special attention to enhancing
the involvement of parliamentarians and their regional and international
organizations.
76. The Committee stresses the essential contribution of the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat in support of the Committee’s objectives
and requests it to continue its programme of publications and other
informational activities, including the further development of the UNISPAL
documents collection. The Committee also considers that, in spite of the
difficulties on the ground, the annual training programme for staff of the
Palestinian Authority has continued to demonstrate its usefulness and requests
that it be continued.
77. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and public opinion on the
relevant issues. The Committee requests the programme’s continuation, with
the necessary flexibility, as warranted by developments relevant to the question
of Palestine.
78. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a just and lasting
settlement of the question of Palestine, and in view of the many difficulties
facing the Palestinian people and besetting the peace process, the Committee
calls on all States to join in this endeavour and invites the General Assembly
once again to recognize the importance of its role and to reconfirm its mandate
with overwhelming support.
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Notes
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35); ibid., Thirty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35); ibid., Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 and corrigendum
(A/34/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/35/35); ibid., Thirtysixth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/36/35); ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35
and corrigendum (A/37/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/38/35); ibid., Thirty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/39/35); ibid., Fortieth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/40/35); ibid., Forty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); ibid.,
Forty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/42/35); ibid., Forty-third Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/45/35); ibid., Forty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35);
ibid., Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/47/35); ibid., Forty-eighth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/48/35); ibid., Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/49/35); ibid.,
Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/50/35); ibid., Fifty-first Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/51/35); ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/52/35); ibid., Fifty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/53/35); ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/54/35); ibid.,
Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/55/35); ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35
and corrigendum (A/56/35 and Corr.1); and ibid. Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/57/35).
3 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/57/35),
chap. VII.
4 A/AC.183/2003/CRP.1.
5 The observers at the Committee meetings were as follows: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria,
China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania,
Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates,
Viet Nam, Yemen, African Union, League of Arab States, Organization of the Islamic
Conference and Palestine.
6 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
03-55277 (E) 111103
*0355277*
A/59/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-ninth Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/59/35)
Report of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Fifty-ninth Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/59/35)
United Nations • New York, 2004
A/59/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters
combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United
Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
Contents
Chapter Paragraphs Page
Letter of transmittal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–8 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 3
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–15 4
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–13 4
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–15 4
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16–30 5
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31–63 11
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 58/18 . . . . . . . 31 11
1. Action taken in the General Assembly and the Security Council . . . . . . . 32–42 11
2. Statements by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43–45 13
3. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee in international
conferences and meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46–47 13
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in
accordance with General Assembly resolutions 58/18 and 58/19 . . . . . . . . . . . 48–63 14
1. Programme of international meetings and conferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48–51 14
2. Cooperation with intergovernmental and other organizations. . . . . . . . . . 52–54 15
3. Cooperation with civil society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55–58 15
4. Research, monitoring and publications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 16
5. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine . . . . . . 60 17
6. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 17
7. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People . . . . . . . . . . . 62–63 17
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 58/20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64–76 18
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77–84 21
iv
Letter of transmittal
6 October 2004
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 7 of its resolution 58/18 of
3 December 2003.
The report covers the period from 10 October 2003 to 6 October 2004.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Paul Badji
Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights as recognized by the
Assembly in resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the General
Assembly1 were endorsed by the Assembly as a basis for the solution of the
question of Palestine. In its subsequent reports,2 the Committee has continued to
stress that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions and the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel from the
Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and from the other
occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in the region to live in
peace within secure and internationally recognized boundaries; and the recognition
and exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to
self-determination. The Committee’s recommendations could not be implemented,
and the Assembly each year renewed the Committee’s mandate and requested it to
intensify efforts in pursuit of its objectives.
3. The Committee welcomed the historic breakthrough in the peace process in
1993 and the subsequent important steps towards the achievement of a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, based on
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003).
At the same time, the Committee continued to work towards the full realization of
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to selfdetermination
and to its own independent State. The Committee also continued to
mobilize international assistance for and solidarity with the Palestinian people.
4. In the past few years, the Al-Aqsa intifada against the Israeli occupation
continued in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The
Government of Israel intensified its military raids, particularly in the Gaza Strip,
resulting in an unprecedented destruction of homes and infrastructure and a rapidly
rising number of civilian deaths and injuries. The momentum achieved in 2003 has
been lost owing to Israeli actions on the ground, the continuing Israeli army
operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the expansion of settlements and
the construction of a wall on Palestinian land. On the other hand, suicide bombings
and Qassam rocket attacks by Palestinian groups against civilians in Israel also
contributed to the cycle of violence and exacerbated tensions. There was particularly
strong criticism among members of the international community of the continued
construction of the wall, which has asphyxiated and divided Palestinian
communities and where residents have lost homes, farmland and access to jobs,
schools and medical care. The horrific effects of constant military incursions and the
hindrance of free movement has had a devastating effect on the humanitarian
situation. The hope for a political settlement between the parties generated by the
road map has dimmed, with deeper mistrust and despair taking its place.
5. The Committee welcomed the advisory opinion of the International Court of
Justice, which found that the construction of the wall being built by Israel, the
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occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around
East Jerusalem, and its associated regime, were contrary to international law3 and
that the construction of the wall severely impeded the exercise by the Palestinian
people of its right to self-determination.4 The Committee emphasized adherence to
the rules and principles of international law as the sine qua non for a negotiated
solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
6. The Committee expressed grave concern at the lack of implementation of the
road map, despite the efforts of the Quartet and the international community to bring
the parties back to the negotiating table. In the period under review, the Government
of Israel has not begun meeting its road map obligations. Since the start of the
intifada, the Palestinian Authority has faced the destruction by the occupying Power
of its institutions and infrastructure, severe fiscal crisis and continued confinement
of its President. These challenges notwithstanding, the Palestinian Authority has
clearly stated its commitment to reform.
7. The Committee also expressed concern over Israel’s announcement of a socalled
unilateral disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip, and parts of the West
Bank. Its position is that any withdrawal from the Gaza Strip must be full, done in
coordination with the Palestinian Authority and must be accompanied by similar
steps in the West Bank.
8. The Committee urged the Quartet and the international community to intensify
their engagement as a matter of great urgency to help the parties to commence
implementing their obligations under the road map, which provides for the way to
achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, on
the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and
1515 (2003), and the principle of a permanent two-State solution to the conflict,
based on 1967 borders, the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people and the right of all States to live in peace and security.
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Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
9. On 3 December 2003, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
(resolution 58/18), requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations Secretariat with the necessary
resources to carry out its work (resolution 58/19) and requested the continuance of
the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department
of Public Information of the United Nations Secretariat (resolution 58/20). On the
same date, the Assembly adopted resolution 58/21, entitled “Peaceful settlement of
the question of Palestine”.
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Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
10. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and
Ukraine.
11. In a letter dated 28 April 2004, the Permanent Representative of Hungary to
the United Nations had informed the Chairman of the Committee of the decision of
his Government to resign its membership of the Committee as at 1 May 2004 and
the Committee took note of the decision. The General Assembly, at its 91st plenary
meeting on 18 June 2004, had before it a letter dated 10 June 2004 from the
Chairman of the Committee addressed to the President of the Assembly (A/58/841)
and took note of the decision of the Government of Hungary, as relayed therein (see
A/58/PV.91).
12. At its 277th meeting, on 12 March 2004, the Committee elected Paul Badji
(Senegal) as Chairman and Orlando Requeijo Gual (Cuba) as Vice-Chairman. It
re-elected Ravan A. G. Farhâdi (Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairman and Victor
Camilleri (Malta) as Rapporteur.
13. At its 277th meeting, the Committee adopted its programme of work for 2004.5
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
14. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of
and permanent observers to the United Nations wishing to participate in the work of
the Committee as observers were welcome to do so. In accordance with established
practice, Palestine participated in the work of the Committee as an observer,
attended all of its meetings and made observations and proposals for consideration
by the Committee and its Bureau.
15. In 2004, the Committee again welcomed as observers all States and
organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding year.6
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Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
16. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to keep under review
the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well
as relevant political developments. The unremitting Israeli military incursions in
areas under Palestinian control continued during the year, dramatically increasing
the numbers of those killed and wounded, and resulting in the devastation of
Palestinian cities and communities. The Committee was deeply troubled by the
disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by the Israeli army and the practice
of collective punishment, in grave breach of international humanitarian law. The
expansion of settlements and outposts and the construction of the wall in the West
Bank continued at a brisk pace, along with the demolition of houses, confiscation of
Palestinian property and unprecedented restrictions of movement. The number of
Palestinians killed, in the four years of the intifada, has reached a total of over
3,700, with some 35,700 injured. The growing number of children directly harmed
by the ongoing violence has been especially worrying. The number of deaths of
children under 18 years of age has exceeded 690.
17. The Committee remained concerned over Israeli military operations in densely
populated residential areas in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially the
Gaza Strip. Army operations were routinely backed up by armoured vehicles and the
air force. In December 2003, the Israeli Defense Forces carried out almost daily
incursions into Nablus, resulting in deaths and injury to Palestinian civilians and the
destruction of historic buildings and homes in the Old City. In May 2004, the Rafah
area in the Gaza Strip was subjected to a major military operation, “Operation
Rainbow”, aimed at preventing weapon-smuggling operations between the Gaza
Strip and Egypt. On 13 May, Israeli officials announced a plan to demolish hundreds
of houses in order to widen the border area (the “Philadelphi corridor”) between
Rafah and Egypt. Military bulldozers flattened huge swathes of the city, resulting in
a humanitarian crisis in Rafah. In response to the deterioration of the situation on
the ground, the Security Council adopted resolution 1544 (2004), calling on Israel to
respect its obligations under international humanitarian law and not to undertake
demolition of homes contrary to that law. A month-long siege in Beit Hanoun in
July 2004, known as operation “Forward Shield”, left behind broken buildings and
flattened citrus orchards. On 28 September 2004, a massive military operation codenamed
“Days of Penitence” was launched in the northern Gaza Strip, particularly in
the densely populated towns of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and the Jabaliya refugee
camp, home to over 100,000 refugees. Over 80 Palestinians were killed and more
than 300 were injured within a week. Other Palestinian cities, towns and refugee
camps (Bethlehem, Jenin, Khan Yunis, Zeitoun, Balata refugee camp) were not
spared the deadly incursions and blockades, intensifying the crisis. The raids
seriously hindered the work of humanitarian aid workers. Ambulances were shot at
by Israeli snipers and delayed or blocked by Israeli authorities. Since the start of the
intifada, more than 65,998 Palestinian buildings, including homes, were fully
destroyed or partially damaged. In Rafah alone, some 2,500 buildings were
completely destroyed. Since January 2000, 184 dwellings have been demolished in
East Jerusalem, 149 belonging to Palestinians.
18. The Israeli army intensified extrajudicial killings, including the assassination
of the leader of Hamas in March 2004, followed by the killing of his successor in
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April 2004. The international community voiced its strong indignation at the
killings, leading to the Security Council holding public debates in the aftermath of
both executions (see S/PV.4929, S/PV.4934 and S/PV.4945). The Committee has
repeatedly condemned the policy and practice of targeted assassinations as it is
inadmissible under international humanitarian law. At the same time, it strongly
condemned all terrorist attacks against civilians in Israel, which cannot be justified
and destroyed prospects of reconciliation between the two parties.
19. The Committee has strongly condemned Israel’s continued siege on Palestinian
Authority President Yasser Arafat at the muqataa in Ramallah for almost three
years, seriously preventing him from properly carrying out his duties as elected
leader of his people. A worsening fiscal crisis has likewise affected the Authority’s
effectiveness in delivering core services to the population. Four years into the crisis,
the Palestinian Authority was facing acute economic and fiscal challenges, with a
financing gap estimated at US$ 890 million for 2004. However, it managed to
continue providing for basic needs, including education, health, water, electricity
and sewerage, although the standards of such services have declined. Efforts by the
Palestinian Authority at introducing reforms continued in the finance and public
administration areas. Since March 2004, members of the security services have
received their salaries through bank accounts, replacing payment in person. Progress
has been made in areas of local government reform and restructuring of the Ministry
of National Economy. In August 2004, the Palestinian Authority announced the
holding of simultaneous presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections by
spring 2005. The Palestinian Central Elections Committee expressed concern about
the registration of voters, given the curfews and Israeli military incursions.
20. In February 2004, the Government of Israel announced that it would withdraw
military installations and all settlements from the Gaza Strip, as well as certain
military installations and four settlements from the West Bank. The plan, which was
approved by the Cabinet on 6 June 2004, stipulated that the Government would
convene periodically to approve each step of the evacuation, with the process to be
completed by the end of 2005. In its statement of 22 September 2004, the Quartet
reiterated its view that no party should undertake unilateral actions which could
prejudge issues that could only be resolved through negotiation and agreement
between the parties. It also emphasized that an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza
Strip should be full and complete and be undertaken in a manner consistent with the
road map, as a step towards ending the Israeli occupation that began in 1967. It
urged both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to coordinate closely in the
preparation and implementation of the Israeli withdrawal initiative.
21. The Committee noted with growing concern that, during the period under
review, the Israeli Government continued the expansion of settlements and the
establishment and consolidation of so-called outposts in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, in violation of its obligation under the road
map. Based on a survey carried out in June 2004, settlement expansion activity was
under way at 73 of 211 settlement locations, including 12 of the 21 settlements in
the Gaza Strip. The total area of expansion was close to 500,000 square metres and
included new and continuing land development for settlement, new infrastructure,
new and continuing construction within the settlements, internal road works and the
placement of new caravans. In and around East Jerusalem, settlement activity
proceeded at a rate unmatched since 1992. Settlement activity connecting East
Jerusalem and “Ma’ale Adumim” could result in splitting the West Bank into two
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separate Palestinian cantons, having serious implications for the territorial
contiguity of the West Bank. In December 2003, Israel began constructing a new
settlement, “Nof Zahav”, in East Jerusalem. It would comprise 550 housing units,
hotel and schools, and would divide the village of Jabal Mukabbar, home to 10,000
Palestinians. During the same month, the Ministry of Housing and Construction
published tenders for 64 housing units in “Pisgat Ze’ev”, 180 housing units in
“Givat Ze’ev” and 153 units in “Karnei Shomron”. On 16 February 2004, the
Knesset Finance Committee voted to allocate NIS 96 million (US$ 22 million) for
housing projects, almost entirely in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. On 17 August
2004, the Housing and Construction Ministry issued tenders for the construction of
some 1,000 new housing units in the settlements of “Betar Ilit”, “Ariel”, “Ma’ale
Adumim”, and “Karnei Shomron”. The Defence Ministry confirmed that it was part
of the policy to increase the size of the large settlements which Israel planned to
keep after the unilateral disengagement. An additional 301 new settler homes were
to be built beyond the municipal line of the “Har Gilo” and “Har Adar” settlements.
In September 2004, 100 outposts were identified in the West Bank, 51 of them
established since March 2001. Existing outposts were reinforced with new
infrastructure, such as paved roads, running water and electricity in the first four
months of 2004. Since October 2003, there has been no serious effort made by the
Government of Israel to remove the outposts, as required by the road map.
22. The construction by Israel of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including in and around East Jerusalem, continues to cause great hardship to the
Palestinians. Some 875,000 Palestinians in the West Bank, 38 per cent of the
population, have been affected by the wall. Some 263,200 living in 81 localities
have become isolated. The wall creates a fait accompli on the ground that could well
become permanent and lead to the de facto annexation of Palestinian land. In June
2004, construction began east of the settlement of “Ariel”, linking it to “Kedumim”
and “Karnei Shomron”. This will result in the seizure of land from one dozen
villages, driving a wedge deep into the West Bank and rendering the establishment
of a contiguous Palestinian State very difficult. In October 2003, the General
Assembly had demanded that Israel stop and reverse the construction of the wall and
had requested the Secretary-General to report periodically on its compliance
(resolution ES-10/13). In a report dated 24 November 2003, the Secretary-General
stated that Israel was not in compliance with the Assembly’s demand (A/ES-10/248,
para. 3). The Assembly subsequently requested the International Court of Justice to
render urgently an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the
construction of the wall (resolution ES-10/14).
23. The Committee welcomed the advisory opinion of the Court, issued on 9 July
2004, in which the Court determined that the wall and its associated regime were
contrary to international law, that Israel was under an obligation to cease the
construction and to dismantle portions built on Palestinian land, and to provide
reparations to Palestinians whose lives had been harmed by the wall. On 20 July
2004, the Assembly, by an overwhelming majority, adopted resolution ES-10/15
demanding that Israel heed the Court’s opinion. Israel vowed to continue building
the wall despite the Assembly vote. On 30 June 2004, the Israeli High Court of
Justice ordered changes in the trajectory of the wall along a 30-kilometre segment
north of Jerusalem, stating that the separation from their agricultural land injured
local inhabitants in a severe and acute way. In response to the ruling of the Israeli
High Court of 30 June, the Defence Ministry presented changes in the route of the
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wall south of Hebron, which would be closer to the Armistice Line of 1949 (more
commonly known as the Green Line). Settlements such as “Karmel”, “Maon”, and
“Susia” would remain on Palestinian land, with fortifications to be built around
them. However, 15 square kilometres of Palestinian land remained on the Israeli
side of the wall.
24. According to the Israeli Interior Ministry, from June 2003 to June 2004, the
settler population grew by 12,306, an increase of 5.32 per cent, with a total of
243,749 living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The
fastest growth in Gaza was seen in the settlements slated for evacuation under the
disengagement plan: “Kfar Darom” (21.5 per cent), “Netzarim” (13 per cent) and
“Morag” (12.3 per cent). Two thirds of the overall growth (some 8,100) was
attributed to the high 3.5 per cent fertility rate among settlers. Official Israeli
population in the Gaza Strip now stands at 8,158. Assaults by settlers on
Palestinians, including murder, the destruction of vehicles and crops, physical and
verbal assaults, and other actions have continued and have become more vicious.
25. The harsh system of curfews and closures imposed by Israel, which severely
restricts the movement of Palestinian people, goods and services, remained the
central impediment to economic stabilization and recovery. The border between
Gaza and Egypt was closed for three weeks in July 2004, stranding some 3,400
Palestinians on the Egyptian side, where a number of pregnant women suffered
miscarriages. Refugees, women and children bore the brunt of Israeli measures and
malnutrition was on the rise. Unemployment stood at 26 per cent by the end of 2003
but was as high as 70 per cent in some areas. Over 60 per cent of Palestinians
currently live below the poverty line, with two million living on less than US$ 2.1 a
day. Damage to public structures and properties has reached an estimated
US$ 1.2 billion. The current Palestinian recession is among the worst in modern
history, according to a World Bank study. Israel’s disengagement plan would have
little impact since it proposed a limited easing of closure.
26. The Committee expressed grave concern over the devastating effects of the
Israeli occupation on the lives of the most vulnerable members of Palestinian
society, women and children. The hardship of daily life was felt most acutely by
Palestinian women, who carried the burden of responsibility within the household
owing to the death, imprisonment or unemployment of its male members. At least
38 per cent reported increased difficulties in gaining access to health services.
Delays at checkpoints have resulted in 46 women delivering their babies while
waiting for permission to pass. As a result, 24 women and 27 newborn babies have
died since June 2003. The violence that children witness has a severe impact on
their general behaviour and on their ability to concentrate in school. At least 69 per
cent have received psychological counselling to help to alleviate symptoms caused
by constant exposure to traumatic incidents, including the harassment and
humiliation endured by their parents. Schoolchildren have been subjected to hours
of waiting at checkpoints to get to their schools, particularly since the construction
of the wall. During the past year, around 1,500 school days have been lost and pass
rates in schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East have sharply declined. More than 25 per cent of children
suffer from chronic malnutrition.
27. In August 2004, about 4,000 Palestinian prisoners participated in an 18-day
hunger strike protesting the systematic violation of their rights, including torture or
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other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, harsh solitary confinement, neglect of
prisoners’ medical needs and denial of family visitation rights. Over 7,000
Palestinians were being held in Israeli prisons, detention and interrogation centres.
This figure included more than 200 children who turned 18 while in prison and were
then classified as adults. Some 370 children (under 18 years) remained incarcerated.
Over 100 women, including girls, were also in Israeli prisons. Approximately 700
prisoners were being held in administrative detention, not charged with any offence
and yet to face trial. The Committee has repeatedly called on Israel to abide by its
obligations under the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949 (the Fourth Geneva Convention)7 and
find a solution to the issue of Palestinian prisoners. In a statement issued on
24 August 2004 (see para. 45 below), the Bureau of the Committee urged Israel to
heed the strikers’ demands, to ensure that the detainees were treated in a humane
manner and that proper detention conditions were immediately established and basic
human rights restored.
28. Many Palestinian towns and villages continue to suffer from severe water
shortage. In the Gaza Strip, the problem is compounded by the poor quality of the
water, exposing residents to severe health risks. On average, a Palestinian is allowed
83 cubic metres of water per year, whereas each Israeli uses 333 cubic metres per
year. Many villages are suffering from a serious water shortage owing to the Israeli
siege which prevents water tanks from reaching villages. The construction of the
barrier in some of the most fertile areas of the West Bank has affected local access
to water and has serious implications for longer-term water use. Without urgent
modification of its route, the wall will dramatically increase Palestinian
impoverishment by reducing access to irrigation water. Any disengagement process
in which electricity or water supplies are terminated will further exacerbate the
living conditions of the Palestinians.
29. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East (UNRWA) remained the main provider of education, health care, social
services, and emergency aid to over 4 million Palestine refugees in Lebanon, Jordan,
the Syrian Arab Republic and the West Bank and Gaza. The deteriorating situation
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, where UNRWA served a population of
approximately 1.6 million refugees, further stretched the dwindling emergency
funds of the Agency as assistance to the refugees had to be stepped up. Furthermore,
operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip continued to suffer from restrictions on
humanitarian access and other disruptive measures. For example, troops from the
Israeli Defense Forces broke into the UNRWA office in Jenin on one occasion,
handcuffing and blindfolding the Jenin Reconstruction Project Manager. In June
2004, gunfire from Israeli positions hit an UNRWA office in the Tel es-Sultan area
near the Rafah camp and damaged the water tanks of its office near the Khan Yunis
refugee camp. On separate occasions, three children were hit by Israeli gunfire as
they sat in UNRWA classrooms. At times, staff found themselves caught in the
crossfire between the Israeli Defense Forces and the Palestinians. On 14 July 2004,
an UNRWA convoy, which included the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, was
fired at during a delivery of food to some 20,000 residents of Beit Hanoun. The
Agency appealed to all parties to respect the integrity of its facilities and the
neutrality of its staff. Its field operations in Gaza continued to provide all services
despite the relocation of some staff owing to safety concerns. The Committee
continued to express its gratitude to the UNRWA staff for their dedication to their
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work and repeatedly appealed to the international donor community to give
generously to all international aid agencies that pursue their work in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory under increasingly perilous conditions.
30. The Committee also continued to express its gratitude to the Programme of
Assistance to the Palestinian People of the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP). The new UNDP office, inaugurated in the Gaza Strip in November 2003,
continued to provide technical and development assistance to the Palestinian people
as it has done for over 25 years. Its work did not only focus on the restoration of
damaged infrastructure, but on institution-building and the strengthening of a
partnership for years to come. The Committee expressed its appreciation to all other
entities of the United Nations system for their continued assistance to the
Palestinian people.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 58/18
31. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to mobilize the
international community in support of the Palestinian people, in cooperation with
United Nations bodies, Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations and others, as indicated below.
1. Action taken in the General Assembly and the Security Council
(a) Resumed tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly
32. On 14 October 2003, a draft resolution on the construction of a wall by Israel
was not adopted by the Security Council in the light of the negative vote of a
permanent member. At the request of the Permanent Representative of the Syrian
Arab Republic in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the
month of October 2003 (see A/ES-10/242), the tenth emergency special session of
the General Assembly was resumed to discuss the situation on the ground, under the
item entitled “Illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the
Occupied Palestinian Territory”. The Permanent Representative of Malaysia, in his
capacity as Chairman of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement,
conveyed the support of the Movement for the resumption of the session (see A/ES-
10/243). The session was resumed on 20 October, when the Vice-Chairman of the
Committee, Ravan A. G. Farhâdi (Afghanistan), took part in the debate and made a
statement (see A/ES-10/PV.21). On the following day, the Assembly adopted
resolution ES-10/13.
33. The tenth emergency special session of the Assembly was resumed on
8 December 2003 (eleventh resumption) to consider the report of the Secretary-
General on compliance with Assembly resolution ES-10/13, at the request of the
Chargé d’affaires a.i. of Kuwait in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab
States for the month of December (see A/ES-10/249). The Permanent
Representative of Malaysia, in his capacity as Chairman of the Coordinating Bureau
of the Non-Aligned Movement, conveyed the support of the Movement for the
resumption of the session (see A/ES-10/251). The Chairman of the Committee, Papa
Louis Fall, took part in the debate and made a statement (see A/ES-10/PV.23 and
Corr.1). At the end of the debate on the same day, the Assembly adopted resolution
ES-10/14 and a draft decision.8
34. On 16 July 2004, the tenth emergency special session was again resumed
(twelfth resumption) to consider the advisory opinion of the International Court of
Justice, at the request of the Permanent Representative of Jordan in his capacity as
Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of July (see A/ES-10/274). The
Chargé d’affaires a.i. of Malaysia, on behalf of the Chairman of the Coordinating
Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement, conveyed the support of the Movement for
the resumption of the session (see A/ES-10/275). The Chairman of the Committee,
Paul Badji, took part in the debate and made a statement (see A/ES-10/PV.24). On
20 July 2004, the Assembly adopted resolution ES-10/15.
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(b) General Assembly meeting on agenda item “Question of Palestine”
35. On 6 May 2004, the Assembly met to consider a draft resolution on the status
of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (A/58/L.61/Rev.1). The Chairman of the
Committee, Mr. Badji, took part in the debate and made a statement (A/58/PV.86).
At the end of the debate, the Assembly adopted resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004.
(c) Security Council meetings
36. During the year, against the backdrop of the highly dangerous situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, the Security Council has
monitored the situation on the ground and the efforts to implement the road map.
Throughout the year, the Council heard monthly briefings under agenda item “The
situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”.
37. The Security Council met on 14 October 2003, at the request of the Permanent
Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic in his capacity as Chairman of the
Group of Arab States for the month of October (see S/2003/973). The Chairman of
the Committee, Mr. Fall, took part in the debate and made a statement (see
S/PV.4841). At its 4842nd meeting, on the same day, the Council voted on a draft
resolution submitted by Guinea, Malaysia, Pakistan and the Syrian Arab Republic
(S/2003/980). The result of the vote was 10 votes in favour, 1 against and 4
abstentions. The draft resolution was not adopted in the light of the negative vote of
a permanent member of the Council (see S/PV.4842).
38. At its 4862nd meeting, on 19 November 2003, the Council considered the
agenda item and voted on a draft resolution submitted by Bulgaria, Chile, China,
France, Germany, Guinea, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Spain and the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (S/2003/1100), which was adopted
unanimously (resolution 1515 (2003)).
39. The Security Council met on 23 and 25 March 2004, at the request of the
Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in his capacity as Chairman of
the Group of Arab States for the month of March (see S/2004/233). The Chairman
of the Committee, Mr. Badji, took part in the debate and made a statement (see
S/PV.4929). At its 4934th meeting, on 25 March 2004, the Council voted on a draft
resolution submitted by Algeria and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (S/2004/240). The
result of the vote was 11 votes in favour, 1 against and 3 abstentions. The draft
resolution was not adopted in the light of the negative vote of a permanent member
of the Council (see S/PV.4934).
40. The Security Council met on 19 April 2004, at the request of the Permanent
Representative of Egypt in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for
the month of April (see S/2004/303). The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Badji,
took part in the debate and made a statement (see S/PV.4945).
41. The Security Council met on 19 May 2004, at the request of the Permanent
Representative of Yemen in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States
for the month of May (see S/2004/393). At its 4972nd meeting, the Council voted on
a draft resolution submitted by Algeria and Yemen (S/2004/400), which was adopted
by 14 votes in favour, none against and 1 abstention (resolution 1544 (2004)). The
Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Badji, made a statement (see S/PV.4972).
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42. The Security Council met on 4 October 2004, at the request of the Permanent
Representative of Tunisia in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States
for the month of October (S/2004/779). At its 5051st meeting, on 5 October 2004,
the Council voted on a draft resolution submitted by Algeria, Pakistan and Tunisia
(S/2004/783). The result of the vote was 11 votes in favour, 1 against and 3
abstentions. The draft resolution was not adopted in the light of the negative vote of
a permanent member of the Council (see S/PV.5051).
2. Statements by the Committee
43. On 20 November 2003, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement (see
GA/PAL/934) welcoming the unanimous adoption by the Security Council of
resolution 1515 (2003), in which the Council endorsed the Quartet’s performancebased
road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
(S/2003/529).
44. On 13 July 2004, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement (see
GA/PAL/962) welcoming the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of
Justice on 9 July 2004, in which the Court stated that the construction of the wall
being built by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem
and its associated regime are contrary to international law.
45. On 24 August 2004, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement (see
GA/PAL/964) expressing grave concern at the systemic violation of the rights of
Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and was alarmed at the growing number of
prisoners who were on a hunger strike.
3. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee in international conferences and
meetings
46. During the year, the Chairman of the Committee participated in meetings of
intergovernmental bodies and contributed to their deliberations in support of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, as follows:
(a) Tenth session of the Islamic Summit Conference, Putrajaya, Malaysia, 16
to 18 October 2003;
(b) Thirty-first session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers,
Istanbul, 14 to 16 June 2004;
(c) Fifth ordinary session of the Executive Council and third ordinary
session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union,
Addis Ababa, 30 June to 3 July and 6 to 8 July 2004, respectively;
(d) Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned
Countries (Mid-term Review), Durban, South Africa, 19 August 2004.
47. As in previous years, the Committee continued to follow the activities of other
intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine, as well as the
decisions and resolutions adopted by United Nations bodies and agencies.
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B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General Assembly
resolutions 58/18 and 58/19
1. Programme of international meetings and conferences
48. In its programme of international meetings and conferences, the Committee
continued to foster support for the attainment by the Palestinian people of its
inalienable rights in accordance with international law and relevant resolutions of
the Security Council and the General Assembly. The meetings addressed such issues
as the situation on the ground and the importance of protecting the Palestinian
population; the construction of the wall and its implications; the need to resume the
political process and to implement the road map; and the further involvement of
civil society.
49. In the period under review, the following international events were held under
the auspices of the Committee:
(a) United Nations Meeting for Asia and the Pacific on the Question of
Palestine, Beijing, 16 and 17 December 2003;
(b) Public Forum in Support of Middle East Peace, Beijing, 18 December
2003;
(c) United Nations International Meeting on the Impact of the Construction
of the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East
Jerusalem, United Nations Office at Geneva, 15 and 16 April 2004;
(d) United Nations African Meeting in Support of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People, Cape Town, South Africa, 29 and 30 June 2004;
(e) United Nations Forum of Civil Society in Support of Middle East Peace,
Cape Town, South Africa, 1 July 2004;
(f) United Nations International Conference of Civil Society in Support of
the Palestinian People, United Nations Headquarters, 13 and 14 September 2004.
50. All of the above-mentioned events were attended by representatives of
Governments, Palestine, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and
United Nations system entities, as well as experts, representatives of the media,
academics and students. The reports of the meetings were issued as publications of
the Division for Palestinian Rights and were made available through the United
Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL) and the
Division’s web site.
51. In the course of the meetings held in Beijing and Cape Town, the delegation of
the Committee held discussions with high-ranking host Government officials who
welcomed the efforts of the Committee geared towards mobilizing support for the
resumption of the political dialogue between the parties and the implementation of
the road map. The Committee expressed its great appreciation to the Governments
of China and South Africa for having provided the venues and facilities for the
events sponsored by the Committee. It expressed particular gratitude to the
President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, for his personal support of the African
meeting.
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2. Cooperation with intergovernmental and other organizations
52. During the year, the Committee continued its close cooperation with the
African Union, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and the Organization of
the Islamic Conference, through the participation of the Chairman in their meetings
and through periodic consultations held at United Nations Headquarters.
53. The Committee continued to maintain its cooperation on the question of
Palestine with States members of the European Union. The Bureau held
consultations with representatives of the European Union in June 2004 (under the
Presidency of Ireland) as part of the continued effort to build a constructive
relationship with European Union members on issues of common concern.
54. On 14 April 2004, the Bureau of the Committee met with staff members of the
International Committee of the Red Cross in charge of operations in the Near East.
The Chairman expressed the Committee’s appreciation for the work done on the
ground by the International Committee. It was agreed to continue consultations on
issues of mutual interest.
3. Cooperation with civil society
Civil society organizations
55. The Committee continued to develop its cooperation with non-governmental
organizations, academic institutions, think tanks and media representatives. It
followed attentively the manifold activities of civil society organizations in various
parts of the world, including in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in Israel, and
expressed its appreciation for their useful and committed work. The Committee
welcomed the Peoples’ Voice and Geneva initiatives, which had generated genuine
interest in their visionary approach to the core issues of the conflict. It also noted
with interest the numerous initiatives taken on the ground, and internationally,
against the construction of the wall. The Committee was deeply appreciative of the
work of many civil society organizations which were providing emergency relief
under the most difficult circumstances. It encouraged all of the organizations to
continue their activities and to engage vigorously in order to ensure that Israel, the
occupying power, and all Governments and intergovernmental organizations live up
to their legal obligations as spelled out in the advisory opinion of the International
Court of Justice. The Committee stressed that there was greater need for sustained
campaigns aimed at informing public opinion of the applicable rules and regulations
of international law and the legitimate rights of the parties, which should lead to
national and international action in support of a comprehensive, just and lasting
solution to the question of Palestine.
56. The Committee maintained and developed its liaison with the national,
regional and international coordinating mechanisms accredited to it, in addition to
its established liaison with a large number of individual non-governmental
organizations. Representatives of civil society participated in all meetings organized
under the auspices of the Committee, including the observance of the International
Day of Solidarity on 29 November 2003. In the period under review, the Committee
also accredited 16 additional non-governmental organizations. Consultations
between the delegation of the Committee and representatives of civil society
organizations accredited to the Committee were held at United Nations
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Headquarters on 15 September, following the United Nations International
Conference of Civil Society in Support of the Palestinian People. Participating
representatives of non-governmental organizations provided information about their
initiatives, campaigns and projects, described the obstacles that they are facing on
the ground in implementing the projects and asked the Committee to support
concerted international action in support of the Palestinian people. The delegation of
the Committee recommended to the representatives that their initiatives be based on
international law as laid out in the advisory opinion, the Fourth Geneva Convention,
in particular, and on resolutions of the Security Council and General Assembly. The
Chairman of the Committee met throughout the year with representatives of civil
society organizations either in New York or at the meetings organized under the
auspices of the Committee away from Headquarters.
57. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained the Internet web site “NGO
Network on the Question of Palestine” as a permanent tool of mutual information
and cooperation between civil society and the Committee. The web site can be
found at http://www.un.org/depts/dpa/ngo. The Division also continued to issue its
bimonthly newsletter, NGO Action News, covering the activities of civil society on
the various aspects of the question of Palestine.
Parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations
58. The Committee continued to develop its liaison with national and regional
parliaments and their organizations and invited a number of parliamentarians to
speak at its meetings. On 14 April 2004, the delegation of the Committee met at the
United Nations Office at Geneva with members of the Committee on Middle East
Questions of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the IPU secretariat. The
Chairman of the Committee commended the IPU efforts in support of the
Palestinian people, in particular in promoting a dialogue between Israeli and
Palestinian parliamentarians.
4. Research, monitoring and publications
59. The Division continued to carry out research and monitoring activities,
respond to requests for information and briefings on the question of Palestine, and
prepare for dissemination, including through UNISPAL, the following publications,
the continued relevance of which was reiterated by the Committee:
(a) Monthly bulletin on action taken by the United Nations and
intergovernmental organizations in relation to the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of developments relating to the question of
Palestine, based on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of meetings organized under the auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletin and note on the observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments relating to Middle East peace efforts;
(f) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General
Assembly and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
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5. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
60. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and
library services of the United Nations Secretariat, continued to maintain, expand and
develop UNISPAL, as mandated by the General Assembly since 1991. This included
the ongoing upgrading of the system’s technical components to ensure its
uninterrupted presence on the Internet, notably via the UNISPAL “Question of
Palestine” interface on the United Nations home page, under “Peace and Security”,
and involved the expansion of the documents collection to include relevant new and
old documents. In addition, steps continued to be taken to enhance the userfriendliness
of accessing and navigating the system (http://domino.un.org/
unispal.nsf) as preparations for the graphic enhancement of the “Question of
Palestine” site progressed.
6. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority
61. One staff member from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian
Authority participated in a training programme conducted by the Division, from
October to December 2003, in conjunction with the fifty-eighth session of the
General Assembly. The trainee familiarized himself with various aspects of the
work of the Secretariat and other organs, and conducted research on specific topics.
7. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
62. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
at United Nations Headquarters and at the United Nations offices at Geneva and
Vienna on 1 December 2003. On the occasion of the observance at Headquarters, in
addition to a solemn meeting of the Committee and other activities, an exhibit
entitled “Palestine: Reflections of Resilience and Hope” was presented by the
Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine, under the auspices of the Committee. The
Committee noted with appreciation that the International Day of Solidarity had also
been observed in many cities throughout the world. Details on the observance are
contained in the special bulletin issued by the Division.
63. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee decided that a similar
observance of the International Day of Solidarity should be organized in 2004.
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ChapterVI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 58/20
64. The Department of Public Information, in pursuance of General Assembly
resolution 58/20 of 3 December 2003, continued to implement its special
information programme on the question of Palestine. It carried out this work in close
cooperation with the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Department of Political
Affairs and, through the Division, with the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
65. The United Nations web site maintained the web page on the question of
Palestine under the “Global Issues” site. The page features events, documents and
learning materials, as well as statements on the subject made by the Secretary-
General, the Deputy Secretary-General and the Special Coordinator for the Middle
East Peace Process. The question of Palestine is also featured under the “Peace and
Security” and “Refugees” pages of the United Nations web site. Links are available
to UNISPAL and other web pages created by the Division for Palestinian Rights. In
addition, the United Nations Web Site Section webcast all meetings of the Security
Council and the General Assembly and most press conferences on the question of
Palestine held at United Nations Headquarters.
66. Also on the United Nations web site, the United Nations News Centre
continued to feature extensive coverage of the question of Palestine and a broad
range of developments related to the situation in the Middle East in all official
languages. During the reporting period, the Arabic web site was visited
approximately 112,000 times, registering 2.12 million hits on various pages and
files within the site. The news stories on these issues were also distributed
throughout the world to over 27,000 subscribers to the e-mail service of the United
Nations News Service in English and French. To facilitate user access to United
Nations resources on the question of Palestine, a special “Focus” page on the news
portal provided links to key reports, statements, resolutions and other related
material.
67. The Department issued 49 press releases in English and 48 in French on the
question of Palestine. In addition, the completely updated edition of the popular and
best-selling Basic Facts about the United Nations, expected to be issued in
September 2004, will include an extensive section on the Middle East, in which all
aspects of the Palestinian question are addressed.
68. United Nations Radio continued to cover various aspects of the question of
Palestine and related issues in its news bulletins and current affairs magazines in the
six official languages, as well as in a number of non-official languages. The
Department facilitated the dissemination of UNWRA footage of the destruction of
Palestinian housing to international broadcasters.
69. The Department organized a training programme for five young Palestinian
television and radio broadcasters at United Nations Headquarters, the United
Nations Information Centre in Washington, D.C., and the United Nations Office at
Geneva, from 10 November to 19 December 2003, with a view to strengthening
their capacity as media professionals.
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70. The Department organized an international media seminar on peace in the
Middle East in Seville, Spain, on 21 and 22 October 2003, in cooperation with the
Foundation of the Three Cultures of the Mediterranean. A similar seminar was
organized in Beijing, from 16 to 17 June 2004, in cooperation with the Foreign
Ministry of the People’s Republic of China. The proceedings of the Seville seminar
were published in New York early in June 2004.
71. The Department arranged three briefings on the question of Palestine for
visiting students in March and April 2004. One of the briefings was on the United
States national model United Nations, which was attended by 2,000 students. During
the reporting period, the Department responded to approximately 2,000 public
inquiries relating to the Middle East.
72. The Dag Hammarskjöld Library continued its cooperation with the Division
for Palestinian Rights on the digitization of documentation for UNISPAL.
73. The UN Chronicle and UN Chronicle Online reported on a regular basis on
relevant events and issues and action taken by the General Assembly and the
Security Council. Press releases, Op-Ed pieces, statements, documents, audio-visual
material, reports and studies were brought to the attention of target audiences,
posted on web sites and made available to visitors to the reference libraries
maintained by their offices.
74. The network of United Nations information centres, services and offices
continued to disseminate information on the question of Palestine and to organize
special outreach activities.
75. A major focus of their work was the promotion of the International Day for
Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The Department organized the installation of
the annual exhibit on Palestine at United Nations Headquarters during the
observance of the Day. Special events and activities to observe the event were
organized, and the Secretary-General’s message for the Day was widely
disseminated by the centres, services and offices, in particular those in Accra,
Geneva, Lisbon, Mexico City, Moscow, New Delhi, Ouagadougou, Pretoria, Rabat,
Sana’a, Tehran, Tunis, Vienna and Warsaw.
76. A representative of the United Nations Information Centres in Cairo
participated in a seminar on the issue of the barrier, organized by the Afro-Asian
Lawyers Federation in February 2004, and its Director gave a number of television
interviews on issues relating to Palestine. The Centre in Beirut provided information
support to a newspaper columnist regarding the passage of United Nations
humanitarian supplies to the poverty-stricken Palestinian areas. The Centre in
Ouagadougou organized a briefing session for students on Palestinian rights. The
Centre in Rio de Janeiro published a main feature story on the United Nations and
the question of Palestine in the July/August 2003 edition of its bi-monthly
magazine, “UNews-Brazil”. The Centre in Tokyo organized a press conference for
the visiting Commissioner-General of UNRWA and issued a press release on the
conference in January 2004. It also organized a two-month long exhibition on
UNRWA in the public lobby of the United Nations University in Tokyo from mid-
January to mid-March 2004. The Centre in Washington, D.C., arranged the
Washington segment of the Department’s training programme for Palestinian media
practitioners and accompanied them on their briefing visits. The United Nations
Information Service in Geneva organized the Geneva segment of the training
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programme, which included interaction with the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights, the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees, other United Nations agencies and the European
Broadcasting Union, and prepared a press kit in English and Arabic. In her twiceweekly
press briefings, the Director of the Service updated the press on the
activities and statements of the Secretary-General, his special envoys and senior
United Nations officials on the question of Palestine. Press releases were issued on
the proceedings of the Human Rights Commission and human rights treaty bodies.
The Radio and Television Section of the Service covered Palestine-related
discussions, notably of the Human Rights Commission. Various information centres
assisted in the identification of journalists to participate in the international media
seminars on peace in the Middle East, held in Seville, Spain, and in Beijing.
21
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
77. The Committee’s utmost concern during the period under review has been
the failure of efforts to reawaken the peace process against the backdrop of
continuing violence, tragic loss of life and deepening humanitarian crisis in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Attempts to establish
a ceasefire and stabilize the security situation did not achieve lasting results.
The Israeli military’s disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force, the
practice of collective punishment, extrajudicial killings, and the detention and
imprisonment of thousands of Palestinians have resulted in the further
destruction of the fabric of Palestinian society. The Committee is strongly
opposed to the continued construction of the wall on Palestinian land and the
expansion of settlements, which jeopardize international efforts to resolve the
conflict. It maintains that the continuing Israeli occupation remains at the core
of the conflict. A negotiated solution that would end the occupation and enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights is urgently needed.
78. The Committee continues to believe that the road map remains the best
way to achieve the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the
question of Palestine through the establishment of two States, Israel and
Palestine, based on the 1967 borders. A settlement should be based on Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003) in
particular, and other relevant resolutions. Any unilateral moves by either party
will not contribute to a durable settlement unless they are based on negotiations
between the two sides and are part of the implementation of the road map. The
Committee expresses the hope that the Quartet and the international
community will continue to work towards the achievement of this goal.
79. While welcoming the advisory opinion of the International Court of
Justice and the position of the General Assembly in that regard, the Committee
remains concerned that the illegal construction of the wall has not stopped. Its
harmful effects continue to plague the daily lives of the thousands of
Palestinians. The existence of the wall will hamper efforts to resolve the conflict
and renders the vision of a two-State solution almost impossible. The
Committee’s position is that the international community must ensure that the
occupying Power abide by the provisions of the Court’s ruling and immediately
stop and reverse the construction.
80. The Committee considers that its programme of international meetings
and conferences facilitates the discussion and analysis of the various aspects of
the question of Palestine. The meetings highlight the most pressing issues, such
as the need to end violence, stop settlement activities and improve the living
conditions of the Palestinian population. They contribute to heightening
international awareness of the root cause of the conflict, namely, the occupation
by Israel of the Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. They also
mobilize international support for efforts to resolve the conflict and implement
the road map. The Committee is deeply appreciative of the involvement in these
meetings of Governments, intergovernmental organizations, United Nations
entities and civil society. It expresses its satisfaction with the level of dialogue,
engagement and support from the international community achieved at those
meetings. It will continue this programme to foster support for the attainment
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by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights in accordance with
international legitimacy. In its meetings in 2005, the Committee intends to
address such issues as the application of international law to all aspects of the
question of Palestine, the significance of the advisory opinion of the
International Court of Justice, the implementation of the road map, the adverse
consequences of the settlement policy and of the construction of the wall for the
achievement of a two-State solution, the need to protect the Palestinian people,
the humanitarian and socio-economic situation, including the plight of
Palestinian women and children, and the further involvement of civil society.
81. The Committee commends civil society organizations for their efforts to
uphold international legitimacy with regard to the question of Palestine
through advocacy and the mobilization of public opinion and for their
unremitting initiatives to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people. It
notes the support it receives from the Secretariat in strengthening its
cooperation with civil society. The Committee encourages civil society
organizations to focus their advocacy efforts at the local, national, regional and
international levels on the legal obligations of Governments, as emphasized in
the advisory opinion of the Court, and to coordinate their activities. It supports
all humanitarian and assistance initiatives geared towards improving the daily
lives of the Palestinians. The Committee will also strive to enhance the
involvement of parliamentarians in various regions in its programme of
meetings.
82. The Committee emphasizes the essential contribution of the Division for
Palestinian Rights in support of its mandate and the implementation of its
programme of work. The Committee, therefore, requests the Division to
continue its substantive and secretariat support; the programme of publications
and other informational activities, such as the further expansion and
development of UNISPAL, and the graphic enhancement of the “Question of
Palestine” web site; the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian
Authority; and the annual observance of the International Day of Solidarity
with the Palestinian People. The Committee expects the Division to continue to
heighten international awareness of the question of Palestine, and to strengthen
support for the rights of the Palestinian people and a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine. In this regard, the Committee notes with satisfaction
(a) the level of dialogue, engagement and support of the international
community for its programme objectives, for instance, in terms of both
participation at the meetings convened and use of printed and electronic
information materials provided by the Division; (b) the number of civil society
organizations that have received accreditation to the Committee; and (c) the
number of pages viewed on the United Nations web site on the question of
Palestine. The Committee also considers that the annual training programme
for the staff of the Palestinian Authority has proved its usefulness and requests
that it be continued.
83. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and public opinion of the
relevant issues. The Committee requests the programme’s continuation, with
the necessary flexibility, as warranted by developments relevant to the question
of Palestine.
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84. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine and in view of the many
difficulties facing the Palestinian people and besetting the peace process, the
Committee calls upon all States to join in this endeavour and invites the
General Assembly again to recognize the importance of its role and to
reconfirm its mandate with overwhelming support.
Notes
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35); ibid., Thirty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 and corrigendum (A/33/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fourth Session,
Supplement No. 35 and corrigendum (A/34/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fifth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/35/35); ibid., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/36/35); ibid.,
Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 and corrigendum (A/37/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirtyeighth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35); ibid., Thirty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/39/35); ibid., Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/40/35); ibid., Forty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); ibid., Forty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/42/35); ibid.,
Forty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth Session, Supplement No.
35 (A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/45/35); ibid., Forty-sixth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35); ibid., Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/47/35); ibid.,
Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/48/35); ibid., Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No.
35 (A/49/35); ibid., Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/50/35); ibid., Fifty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/51/35); ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/52/35); ibid.,
Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/53/35); ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/54/35); ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/55/35); ibid., Fifty-sixth Session,
Supplement No. 35 and corrigendum (A/56/35 and Corr.1); ibid. Fifty-seventh Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/57/35); and ibid., Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/58/35).
3 A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, “Advisory opinion”, para. 142.
4 Ibid., para. 122.
5 A/AC.183/2004/CRP.1.
6 The observers at the Committee meetings were as follows: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria,
China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania,
Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Viet
Nam, Yemen, African Union, League of Arab States, Organization of the Islamic Conference and
Palestine.
7 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
8 The text of the decision is contained in A/ES-10/L.17.
04-54231 (E) 011104
*0454231*
A/60/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixtieth Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/60/35)
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixtieth Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/60/35)
United Nations • New York, 2005
A/60/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters
combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United
Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
Contents
Paragraphs Page
Letter of transmittal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–9 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 3
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11–16 4
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11–14 4
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15–16 4
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17–32 5
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33–56 12
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 59/28 . . . . . . . 33 12
1. Action taken in the General Assembly and the Security Council . . . . . . . 34–37 12
2. Communications to the Secretary-General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 12
3. Statements by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39–40 12
4. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee in international
conferences and meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41–42 13
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in
accordance with General Assembly resolutions 59/28 and 59/29 . . . . . . . . . . . 43–56 13
1. Programme of international meetings and conferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43–45 13
2. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46–47 13
3. Cooperation with civil society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48–51 14
4. Research, monitoring and publications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 15
5. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine . . . . . . 53 16
6. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 16
7. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People . . . . . . . . . . . 55–56 16
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 59/30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57–70 17
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71–77 19
iv
Letter of transmittal
5 October 2005
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 7 of its resolution 59/28 of
1 December 2004.
The report covers the period from 7 October 2004 to 5 October 2005.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Paul Badji
Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights as recognized by the
Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the General
Assembly1 were endorsed by the Assembly as a basis for the solution of the
question of Palestine. In its subsequent reports,2 the Committee has continued to
stress that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions and the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel from the
Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and from the
other occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in the region to live
in peace within secure and internationally recognized boundaries; and the
recognition and exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily
the right to self-determination. The recommendations of the Committee contained in
its first report could not be implemented, and the Assembly each year renewed the
Committee’s mandate and requested it to intensify efforts in pursuit of its objectives.
3. The Committee strongly supported the vision of two States, Israel and
Palestine, living side by side within secure and recognized borders on the basis of
the 1949 armistice lines, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions,
including Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and
1515 (2003). The Committee welcomed and supported the Quartet’s road map and
called on the parties to implement it. At the same time, the Committee continued to
work towards promoting the full realization of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and to its own
independent State, on all Palestinian territory occupied in 1967, including East
Jerusalem. The Committee also continued to mobilize international assistance for
and in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
4. The passing in November 2004 of the Palestinian Authority President and
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization,
Yasser Arafat, represented a real challenge to the Palestinian people and institutions.
However, the Palestinian people and institutions succeeded in achieving a peaceful,
democratic and responsible transition. President Mahmoud Abbas was elected as the
new Palestinian Authority President in fair and free elections, which were
internationally monitored.
5. With the assistance of the international community, especially Egypt, the first
summit meeting in years was held in Sharm el-Sheikh between the Israeli Prime
Minister, Ariel Sharon, and Palestinian Authority President Abbas. The
commitments declared by the parties, in particular as regards the cessation of all
acts of violence, the return to Palestinian Authority control of five Palestinian cities
in the West Bank and the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners created a new
momentum towards the resumption of the peace process. However, continued Israeli
raids into Palestinian population centres, combined with extrajudicial killings, house
demolitions, arrests and acts of violence and counter-violence, including three
suicide bombings, severely diminished hopes of progress in implementing the
Sharm el-Sheikh understandings and the road map.
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6. The removal of all Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip and parts of the
northern West Bank and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip were
the most significant political developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict of
recent years. The pull-out, carried out by the Israeli Government in a swift and
determined manner, was completed on 12 September 2005. The Committee
recognized the Palestinian Authority’s determined efforts to coordinate the pull-out
with the Israeli side so that it would be carried out in a calm and peaceful manner.
That contributed to a resumption of security coordination between the parties, an
experience that should be built upon and widened. The international community,
including the Quartet, considered the dismantling of settlements and the pull-out an
important step towards achieving the vision of two democratic States, Israel and
Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. The Quartet declared its
readiness to support efforts by the Palestinian Authority in rehabilitating the Gaza
economy and to create hope and confidence for the Palestinian people.
7. In the course of the year, the Committee remained deeply concerned about the
intensified expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, and the acceleration in the completion of the illegal wall built in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. New facts on the ground were accompanied by
alarming reports of plans for intensified construction in West Bank settlements,
including in and around East Jerusalem, in contravention of Israel’s obligations
under the road map and in violation of international law and the advisory opinion of
the International Court of Justice, threatening to upset the positive momentum of the
Gaza withdrawal and the understandings reached at Sharm el-Sheikh. The
Committee reminded Israel, the occupying Power, that its settlement activities, the
annexation of East Jerusalem, any actions to strengthen its hold on the city and the
construction of the wall on occupied land were contrary to international law. It
called upon all Governments to fulfil their obligations under international law, in
particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, and to take the necessary steps to ensure
that Israel complied with its international obligations. The Committee was alarmed
by public pronouncements by Israeli officials in September 2005 concerning the
future of Jerusalem and borders, the two issues that were to be resolved in the
course of the permanent status negotiations between the parties. It viewed such
statements as counterproductive, unhelpful and as ones that would predetermine the
outcome of the permanent status talks.
8. The Committee was encouraged by the efforts of the Quartet aimed at helping
the parties to move towards the implementation of the road map. The Quartet met
regularly to help the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority to take
specific steps required under the road map, which provided for the way to achieve a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, on the basis
of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515
(2003), and the principle of a permanent two-State solution to the conflict, based on
1967 borders, the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and
the right of all States to live in peace and security.
9. The Committee noted the serious efforts by the Palestinian Authority,
President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian leadership to end violence,
strengthen the national unity of the Palestinian people and achieve a solution of the
question of Palestine through exclusively peaceful means. The Committee called
upon the international community to extend all possible cooperation to the
Palestinian leadership in its quest for the realization of the inalienable rights of its
people.
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Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
10. On 1 December 2004, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
(resolution 59/28), requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations Secretariat with the necessary
resources to carry out its programme of work (resolution 59/29), and requested the
continuation of the special information programme on the question of Palestine of
the Department of Public Information (resolution 59/30). On the same date, the
Assembly adopted resolution 59/31 entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine”.
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Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
11. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.
12. In a letter dated 31 May 2005, the Permanent Representative of Romania to the
United Nations informed the Chairman of the Committee of the decision of his
Government to discontinue its membership of the Committee. The Committee took
note of the decision at its 286th meeting on 21 June 2004. In a letter, the Chairman
informed the President of the General Assembly of the decision of the Government
of Romania. The letter from the Chairman and its annex were circulated in
document A/59/891 of the General Assembly.
13. At its 284th meeting, on 7 February 2005, the Committee re-elected Paul Badji
(Senegal) as Chairman, Orlando Requeijo Gual (Cuba) as Vice-Chairman, Ravan A.
G. Farhâdi (Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairman and Victor Camilleri (Malta) as
Rapporteur.
14. At its 284th meeting, the Committee adopted its programme of work for 2005.3
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
15. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all United Nations
Member States and observers wishing to participate in the work of the Committee as
observers were welcome to do so. In accordance with established practice, Palestine
participated in the work of the Committee as an observer, attended all of its
meetings and made observations and proposals for consideration by the Committee
and its Bureau.
16. In 2005, the Committee again welcomed as observers all States and
organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding year.4
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Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to the question
of Palestine
17. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to monitor the situation
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as relevant
political developments. The passing of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat
on 11 November 2004 marked the end of a historic and remarkable leadership for
the Palestinian people. After a period of mourning, the Palestinian people organized
presidential elections that brought Mahmoud Abbas to office in a vote that was
reported to have been conducted in a fair, free and peaceful atmosphere. A total of
775,146 Palestinians cast their votes in the poll held on 9 January 2005. Some 800
international observers and 7,000 national observers monitored the election process
and declared it free and fair. On 15 January, Mr. Abbas was sworn in as the new
President of the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian voters in the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip took part in the first-ever municipal elections, the first of which were
held in December 2004. In August 2005, President Abbas decreed that legislative
elections would be held on 25 January 2006.
18. During the period under review, the Committee closely monitored the situation
on the ground and was concerned by the continuing violence in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory. Casualties continued to mount, mostly among Palestinians, as
a result of the use of excessive force by the occupying Power, but also among Israeli
civilians in Israel from actions by Palestinian militants, including suicide bombers.
In October 2004, a major Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip resulted in the
death of a large number of Palestinians. Many of the victims were civilians, a
number of whom were children. By 15 October, 135 Palestinians had been killed in
the Gaza Strip, at least 34 of them children. Four Palestinian children were killed as
a result of Israeli military fire on schools of the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). At the end of 2004 and
in early 2005, repeated Israeli incursions into the Gaza Strip caused the number of
Palestinian fatalities to rise. By February, the number of violent acts had dropped as
a result of an informal ceasefire agreed and adhered to by various Palestinian
organizations. By mid-2005, the ceasefire had eroded owing to continual Israeli
incursions into Palestinian cities and refugee camps, resulting in the killing and
arrest of Palestinian militants. Rocket and mortar attacks by Palestinian militants
had intensified. Suicide bombings on 25 February in Tel Aviv, 12 July in Netanya
and 28 August in Beersheba killed at least 10 Israeli civilians. Israel resumed its
practice of extrajudicial executions, killing seven Hamas militants on 15 July.
Shortly after the Israeli withdrawal in September, there was a worrying upsurge of
violence in the Gaza Strip. Qassam rocket attacks intensified and Israel conducted
missile strikes in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army also conducted large-scale search
and arrest operations in the West Bank. The Committee has repeatedly condemned
the policy and practice of extrajudicial executions as being inadmissible under
international humanitarian law. At the same time, it has strongly condemned all
terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians in Israel, which cannot be justified and
undermined any prospect of reconciliation between the two parties. Close to 4,000
Palestinians have been killed and 40,000 wounded since the start of the intifada. The
growing number of children directly harmed by the violence has been especially
worrying. The number of deaths of children under 18 exceeded 720.
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19. The Committee was greatly concerned by the fact that housing demolitions had
continued during the year, particularly in East Jerusalem. By the end of 2004, 152
buildings had been demolished in East Jerusalem and 39 houses in Khan Yunis. By
February 2005, an additional 10 buildings had been demolished in East Jerusalem,
including a seven-storey building, while another 2,000 demolition orders were
outstanding. UNRWA reported that, over the past four years, some 2,990 homes in
the Gaza Strip alone had been destroyed or damaged beyond repair by the Israeli
army, leaving some 28,483 people homeless. Over 4,000 Palestinian homes have
been destroyed since the beginning of the current intifada.
20. Over the course of 2005, the international community continued its efforts to
revitalize the peace process. Sponsored by Egypt, the Sharm el-Sheikh summit was
held on 8 February between Prime Minister Sharon and President Abbas. The main
outcome of the summit was the parties’ commitment to cease all acts of violence.
Messrs. Abbas and Sharon discussed a number of other important issues related to
overcoming the confrontation and resuming a dialogue based on the fulfilment by
both sides of their obligations under the road map. It was agreed that negotiating
contacts between the Israelis and Palestinians would continue. The parties also
agreed on further confidence-building measures. Israel announced that it would
release 900 prisoners (see para. 27), withdraw its troops from five West Bank cities
within three weeks and stop the arrest and assassination of Palestinian militants if
the latter agreed to lay down their arms. On 12 February, President Abbas met in
Cairo with the leaders of various Palestinian organizations to secure a temporary
informal ceasefire. The factions agreed to adhere to a period of calm on the
condition that Israel fulfilled its own commitments. The implementation of the
Sharm el-Sheikh understandings was slow and incomplete. Five hundred Palestinian
prisoners were released on 21 February, and another 398 on 2 June. In March, Israel
handed back security control over Jericho and Tulkarm to the Palestinian Authority,
while the withdrawal from the other three cities (Qalqilya, Bethlehem and
Ramallah) to be handed back to Palestinian Authority control was yet to take place.
By early May, the Palestinian Authority had reported 4,200 Israeli violations of the
Sharm el-Sheikh understandings, including 1,230 incursions into Palestinian cities
and villages, causing the death of 20 Palestinians, the wounding of 290 others and
the arrest of more than 600. At the same time, Qassam rocket and mortar shelling of
Israeli targets by Palestinian militants continued.
21. On 20 February, the Israeli Cabinet approved the evacuation of settlements
under the unilateral disengagement initiative announced one year earlier. In August,
all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the northern West Bank
were evacuated and dismantled. The Committee noted with satisfaction that the
operation, conducted by the Israeli military with the limited coordination of the
Palestinian Authority, had proceeded smoothly and had been completed ahead of
schedule. The evacuation of approximately 8,500 Gaza Strip and West Bank settlers
had been completed by 23 August; the Israeli military withdrew from the Gaza Strip
on 12 September and from the four West Bank settlements on 20 September. The
Committee viewed the pull-out as a promising step that could revive negotiations
within the framework of the road map aimed at the emergence of an independent,
unified and territorially contiguous Palestinian State living side by side in peace and
security with Israel and its other neighbours. The Committee emphasized that the
withdrawal should be complete and irreversible and be followed by firm action to
complete the implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings, including the
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withdrawal from cities in the West Bank, the release of more prisoners and the
cessation of all acts of violence. The Committee also considered that an early
agreement was needed on a number of urgent actions (including the removal of the
huge amount of rubble left after the pull-out) that would allow the Palestinian
Authority to exercise control over its borders, crossing points, territorial sea and
airspace and the establishment of a permanent and direct link to the West Bank.
These actions are absolutely vital for the Palestinian economy (see para. 40).
22. The Committee welcomed the initiative by the Government of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to convene, on 1 March 2005, the
London meeting on supporting the Palestinian Authority, which led to a
strengthening of international commitments in support of the plans of the
Palestinian Authority for institutional renewal. On 14 April, the Quartet appointed
the former World Bank President, James Wolfensohn, as special envoy to coordinate
the support of the international community for the Gaza withdrawal plan. His
priority was to set up a quick-impact programme aimed at bringing about tangible
economic change for the Palestinian people.
23. Since January 2005, the newly appointed Palestinian Cabinet has taken
specific steps as part of the comprehensive reform of the security services and
consolidated various Palestinian security services into three agencies under the
authority of the Minister of the Interior. However, Palestinian security services
lacked equipment, ammunition and adequate means of communication. Another
problem was the methodical destruction, since September 2000, of the Palestinian
security apparatus by the Israeli army and security services. While the Palestinian
Authority has shown resolve in fulfilling its obligations under the road map, it has
nevertheless faced a number of serious challenges in its efforts to introduce
comprehensive security reform. The Committee welcomed the important
contribution to security reform by Egypt and the members of the Quartet.
24. During the period under review, the Committee noted that, in defiance of the
advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice and the position of the
international community, Israel continued the construction of the wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. On 20 February, the Israeli High Court of Justice
amended the route of the wall to bring it closer to the Green Line, though a large
area of Palestinian land was still included. In the Jerusalem area, the route remained
the same, with an addition of 40 kilometres that would surround the “Ma’ale
Adumim” settlement and the nearby settlements of “Kfar Adumim”, “Antut”, “Nofei
Prat” and “Kedar”. The wall, when completed, would place “Ma’ale Adumim”, its
industrial zone, Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem and most of East Jerusalem on the
Israeli side. It would cut 25 kilometres into Occupied Palestinian Territory,
separating the northern and southern parts of the West Bank. A new road being
planned to connect Ramallah, north of Jerusalem, with Bethlehem in the south
would still deny access for Palestinians to East Jerusalem, because the road would
bypass the city. Some 60,000 Palestinians with Jerusalem identity documents would
be on the east side of the wall, while incorporating some 30,000 “Ma’ale Adumim”
settlers into Jerusalem. Checkpoints along the wall would regulate the movement of
Palestinians to and from East Jerusalem and would likely lead to a further reduction
in the number of Palestinians entering Jerusalem. To the south of Jerusalem, the new
route put the “Gush Etzion” settlement block on the Israeli side, surrounding four
Palestinian villages with some 18,000 residents, plus a sizeable amount of
Palestinian agricultural land. On 16 May, the High Court rescinded temporary
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injunctions on the construction of the wall around “Ariel”. With the addition of the
so-called “Ariel Loop”, the wall would cut more than 20 kilometres deep into the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, annexing “Ariel” and other smaller settlements to
Israel, together with over 6,243 acres of Palestinian land. On 15 September, in his
address to the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly, Prime Minister
Sharon pledged to continue building the wall until it was completed, stating that it
was indispensable for the security of Israel. The Committee reiterated its concern
that, apart from considerably hampering Palestinian economic development and
worsening the humanitarian situation, the decision to proceed with the construction
was an attempt to unilaterally define the borders of the future Palestinian State. In
the view of the Committee, that decision would prejudice the outcome of final status
negotiations. On 21 August, Israeli troops started handing military orders to
Palestinians to confiscate some 67 square kilometres of Palestinian land in addition
to 396 acres of privately owned Palestinian land in Al-Azzariyeh, Abu Dis and
Sawahra al-Sharkiyeh, which had been confiscated to build the wall. As requested
by the General Assembly in its resolution ES-10/15 on the advisory opinion of the
International Court of Justice, the Secretary-General was in the process of
administrative and budgetary preparations to establish the register of damage caused
by the building of the wall. The Committee believed that it was imperative that the
Secretary-General expedite the establishment of the said register and begin the
important work in this regard. Pursuant to the same resolution, Switzerland issued a
report based on consultations with all the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth
Geneva Convention. The Committee expressed the hope that proposals raised in the
report would help efforts to uphold international law.
25. The Committee noted that settlement construction and expansion in the West
Bank continued apace. The Israeli Prime Minister’s plan (the “E-1 plan”) to enlarge
settlements in the West Bank would be, if implemented, the largest expansion
project ever witnessed and would confiscate an area larger than the Gaza Strip. The
aim of the E-1 plan was to link “Ma’ale Adumim” to Jerusalem. Approved by the
Israeli Civil Administration in February, it would include the construction of 3,500
dwelling units, hotels and commercial facilities. According to the Israeli Civil
Administration, the construction of a new police headquarters in the E-1 area was
also authorized. With the expansion, the radius of “Ma’ale Adumim” would double
that of Tel Aviv. Overall, Israel planned to build no less than 4,891 new housing
units in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in 2005, not including the 1,500 housing
units for the Jahalin tribe to be relocated from the area near “Ma’ale Adumim”,
which would bring the total to 6,391 units. Though the Israeli Government decided
to freeze the E-1 plan, it reiterated its intention to build in that area in due course, in
violation of the road map. The Committee was worried that the separation of the
north from the south of the West Bank would lead to the expansion of “Ma’ale
Adumim”, while planned construction in the E-1 area, being contrary to
international law, would render the main objective of the road map meaningless.
Three settlements — “Beitar Illit” west of Bethlehem, “Tal Zion” near Ramallah and
“Modi’in Illit” west of Ramallah — were the fastest growing in the West Bank. New
construction was planned for the settlements of “Modi’in Illit” (1,500 housing
units), “Beitar Illit” (500), “Har Gilo” (35), “Giv’at Ze’ev” (132), “Geva Binyamin”
(200), “Etz Efraim” (240), “Elkana” (90) and “Alon Shvut” (24). The “Tzufim”
settlement would receive another 1,500 housing units. The Israel Lands
Administration issued a tender on 1 April for the construction of 40 dwelling units
at “Har Homa”. In July, the Israeli local planning committee of the Jerusalem
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municipality approved the construction of a new settlement in the Muslim quarter of
Jerusalem’s Old City, while the Knesset approved assistance for the improvement of
the infrastructure of and agriculture in Jordan Valley settlements. In a letter to the
Secretary-General, the Committee expressed serious concerns over Israel’s decision
to expand and consolidate its settlements in the West Bank (see para. 38).
26. In March, a report submitted by former Israeli State Prosecutor Talia Sasson to
the Israeli Prime Minister indicated that the Housing and Construction Ministry had
been actively involved in setting up outposts, supplying more than 400 mobile
homes for them. As at June 2005, there were 101 outposts in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, 51 of them built after February 2001. The population of West
Bank settlements grew by 12,800 people over the past year, bringing the total to
246,000, not including East Jerusalem. Verbal and physical harassment by settlers of
Palestinians have become more vicious, especially in the run-up to the removal of
settlements and Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Attacks have included
shooting at the tyres of ambulances transporting injured Palestinians, damaging
olive harvests of Palestinian farmers, poisoning their sheep and other animals,
contaminating Palestinian fields in the Hebron area with poison and setting fire to
acres of cultivated land. In the West Bank settlement of “Shiloh”, a settler fired at a
group of Palestinians, killing four and wounding two others.
27. A report issued by the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Detainees and Ex-
Prisoners Affairs in March 2005 stated that a total of 35,000 Palestinian arrests had
been made by Israel since September 2000. Four hundred prisoners sentenced before
the Oslo Peace Accords remained in prison, despite the call by the Accords for their
release. By March 2005, Israeli forces had arrested and imprisoned 128 women, 20
of whom were mothers and 2 of whom gave birth while in prison. Female prisoners
faced torture, humiliation and harsh prison conditions. As at April, 312 Palestinian
children were in Israeli custody. As at September, there were seven girls under the
age of 18 in Israeli detention, in addition to the number of women who had turned
18 while under imprisonment. Of the child prisoners, 174 were still awaiting trial
and 124 had been tried and sentenced. More than 450 Palestinian prisoners were
arrested when they were children but reached the age of 18 while in prison, where
most of them remain. Some 55 per cent of child prisoners were arrested for throwing
stones at Israeli soldiers. Israel released 159 prisoners on 27 December 2004.
Pursuant to the understandings reached at Sharm el-Sheikh, Israel has released close
to 900 prisoners in 2005. However, Palestinians complained that the majority of
those released were administrative detainees or prisoners who were already due to
be released. Furthermore, the release was not coordinated with the Palestinian
Authority through a joint committee, as agreed at Sharm el-Sheikh. It also did not
address the urgency of releasing prisoners who were ill, elderly or child prisoners.
As at September, over 8,000 Palestinians remained in Israeli detention facilities
distributed among 20 Israeli prisons and interrogation centres.
28. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the living
conditions of workers and their families in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
continued to be extremely hard. While domestic output had grown in 2004
following four years of recession in the Palestinian economy, there was little
improvement in the dire Palestinian economic situation in the period under review.
ILO reported that fewer than half of all men of working age and only 10 per cent of
women of working age were employed. Youth unemployment was particularly high
(40 per cent) among 15- to 24-year-olds. ILO called for a rapid lifting of closures,
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better access to the Israeli labour market and improved trade facilities. Most
movement restrictions for Palestinians remained in place, despite some initial
measures taken by Israel. Checkpoints, curfews and the permit system continued to
have an impact on the humanitarian operations. The Israel disengagement plan,
aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian workers in Israel to zero by 2008, could
severely restrict income opportunities and the prospects of poverty alleviation.
Already, 77.3 per cent of Palestinians (more than 1 million people) in the Gaza Strip
live below the poverty line, with more than 300,000 of them in “deep poverty” (i.e.
barely surviving). Restriction of movement of Palestinian workers through closures,
including the wall, has thrown some 150,000 of them into unemployment since
September 2000. The Palestinian Authority’s gross national product was $3.7 billion
in 2004, a slight increase on the $3.6 billion in 2003, though below the pre-2000
figure estimated at $5.0 billion.
29. The Committee expressed its grave concern at the deterioration of the health
and nutritional status of the Palestinian population, particularly women and
children. Since 2000, over 60 Palestinian women have given birth at Israeli
checkpoints owing to delays in checkpoint procedures; 36 babies have died as a
result. Studies revealed that anaemia rates in the Gaza Strip were as high as 54.7 per
cent among children, 35.7 per cent among pregnant women and 45.7 per cent among
nursing mothers. Years of chronic insecurity and violence have had a deep
psychological impact on the population. Almost 50 per cent of children have
experienced conflict-related violence or witnessed violent acts affecting immediate
family members, generating high rates of psychological problems among children.
Some 36 per cent of parents reported aggressive behaviour among their children,
31 per cent noticed bad school results and 28 per cent reported that their children
had nightmares.
30. Palestinian towns and villages faced severe problems with the water supply.
The shortage of water in the Gaza Strip has increased its price to five times that in
Israel. Israeli army incursions have seriously damaged water, sewage and power
networks. Physical damage from Israeli military actions to the Occupied Palestinian
Territory’s water and waste-water sector was estimated at about $140 million by the
end of 2004. With the construction of the wall, Israel would effectively annex most
of the western aquifer system, which provided 51 per cent of West Bank water
resources. On 3 May, a settler from “Kedumim” chemically contaminated
agricultural wells belonging to Palestinian farmers from Qalqilya.
31. UNRWA continued to provide education, health care, social services,
microcredit and relief assistance to 4.2 million Palestine refugees in Jordan,
Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It also
continued to address the worst effects of the conflict in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory on refugees and other communities in need, within available means,
through a package of measures, which comprised employment programmes; cash
and in kind assistance; food aid; reconstruction and repair of conflict-damaged
shelters and infrastructure; emergency medical care; and psychological counselling
and support. One of the main challenges facing UNRWA over the past four years
was sustaining emergency assistance to over 1.1 million Palestinians while funding
for emergency operations declined, and restrictions on humanitarian access
threatened to undermine health, education and other essential services throughout
the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Since October 2000, UNRWA has raised some
$520 million to support its programme of emergency humanitarian assistance.
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UNRWA has set its regular budget for 2006 and 2007 at $489 million and $506
million respectively. If fully funded, the Agency will be able to implement its
medium-term plan to improve services for refugees and their living conditions.
UNRWA reported a projected deficit of $11.1 million for 2005. UNRWA staff
undertook its tasks under dangerous circumstances. Since September 2000, 13
UNRWA staff members have been killed.
32. The Committee was appreciative of the work of the Programme of Assistance
to the Palestinian People of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In July, the Ministry of Planning of the Palestinian Authority and the Programme
office agreed to coordinate the issuance of a Palestinian national poverty report. The
Programme, together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the
Ministry of Planning, was also establishing a uniform system for monitoring the
Millennium Development Goals and the progress made towards the “A world fit for
children” declaration and the National Plan of Action for Palestinian Children in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. Donor countries have continued to finance various
projects, such as the rehabilitation of municipal structures; the restoration of the
devastated agricultural sector; the paving of roads; the upgrading of the water
supply; the construction of new schools and additional classrooms; and the
protection of cultural and architectural heritage.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 59/28
33. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to mobilize the
international community in support of the Palestinian people, in cooperation with
United Nations bodies, Governments, intergovernmental and civil society
organizations and others, as indicated below.
1. Action taken in the General Assembly and the Security Council
34. On 11 November 2004, the General Assembly met to pay tribute to the
memory of Yasser Arafat, late President of the Palestinian Authority. The Chairman
of the Committee took part in the tribute and made a statement (A/59/PV.52).
35. During the period under review, the Security Council has continued to monitor
the situation on the ground and the efforts to implement the road map. Throughout
the year, the Council held monthly briefings under the agenda item entitled “The
situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”.
36. The Security Council met on 4 October 2004, at the request of the Permanent
Representative of Tunisia in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States
for the month of October (see S/2004/779). The Vice-Chairman of the Committee,
Mr. Farhâdi, took part in the debate and made a statement (see S/PV.5049). At its
5051st meeting, on 5 October 2004, the Council voted on a draft resolution
submitted by Algeria, Pakistan and Tunisia (S/2004/783). The result of the vote was
11 votes in favour, 1 against and 3 abstentions. The draft resolution was not adopted
owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the Council (see S/PV.5051).
37. The Security Council met on 21 July 2005, at the request of the Chargé
d’affaires a.i. of Kuwait in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for
the month of July (see S/2005/469). The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Badji,
took part in the debate and made a statement (see S/PV.5230 (RESUMPTION1)).
2. Communications to the Secretary-General
38. The Chairman of the Committee has continued to bring the Committee’s
concerns about the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, to the attention of the Secretary-General (see A/ES-10/301-S/2005/262;
A/ES-10/306-S/2005/556).
3. Statements by the Committee
39. On 11 November 2004, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement
concerning the passing of President Arafat (see GA/PAL/970).
40. On 30 August 2005, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement
concerning the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West
Bank (GA/PAL/990).
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4. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee in international
conferences and meetings
41. During the year, the Chairman of the Committee participated in events
organized by civil society in support of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people and contributed to their deliberations. The Chairman participated in the
Peace in Palestine Conference, held from 28 to 30 March 2005 in Putrajaya,
Malaysia.
42. As in previous years, the Committee continued to monitor the activities of
other intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine, as well
as the decisions and resolutions adopted by United Nations bodies and agencies.
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General Assembly
resolutions 59/28 and 59/29
1. Programme of international meetings and conferences
43. In its programme of international meetings and conferences, the Committee
addressed issues such as the application of international law to all aspects of the
question of Palestine; the significance and impact of the advisory opinion of the
International Court of Justice; the resumption of the political process and the
implementation of the road map; the effects of the settlement policy and the
construction of the wall on efforts to achieve a two-State solution; the need to
protect the Palestinian people; and the further involvement of civil society.
44. In the period under review, the following international events were held under
the auspices of the Committee:
(a) United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine,
United Nations Office at Geneva, 8 and 9 March 2005;
(b) Consultations with civil society, United Nations Office at Geneva,
10 March 2005;
(c) United Nations International Conference of Civil Society in Support of
Middle East Peace, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, 12 and 13 July 2005.
45. All of the above-mentioned events were attended by representatives of
Governments, Palestine, intergovernmental and civil society organizations and
United Nations system entities, as well as experts, representatives of the media,
academics and students. The reports of the meetings were issued as publications of
the Division for Palestinian Rights and were made available through the United
Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL) and the
Division’s website.
2. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations
46. During the year, the Committee continued its close cooperation with the
African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of the Islamic
Conference, through the participation of the Chairman in their meetings and through
periodic consultations at United Nations Headquarters.
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47. The Committee continued its cooperation on the question of Palestine with
States members of the European Union. The Bureau held consultations with
representatives of the European Union in March 2005 (under the Presidency of
Luxembourg) as part of the ongoing effort to build a constructive relationship with
European Union members on issues of common concern.
3. Cooperation with civil society
Civil society organizations
48. The Committee expanded its cooperation with non-governmental
organizations, academic institutions, think tanks and media representatives through
the International Civil Society Conference held at UNESCO headquarters, formal
and informal consultations with civil society representatives, participation in
meetings organized by non-governmental organizations and the accreditation of new
organizations. It received briefs on the activities of civil society organizations in
various parts of the world, including in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in
Israel, and expressed its appreciation for their useful work and commitment. It
noted, in particular, the civil society initiatives against the construction of the wall
that kept the focus of the general public on new facts on the ground brought about
by the occupying Power. The Committee was deeply appreciative of the work done
by many civil society organizations in providing emergency relief under the most
difficult circumstances. It encouraged all of the organizations to continue their
activities.
49. The Committee maintained and developed its liaison with the national,
regional and international coordinating mechanisms accredited to it, in addition to
its established liaison with a large number of individual non-governmental
organizations. Representatives of civil society participated in all meetings organized
under the auspices of the Committee, including the observance of the International
Day of Solidarity on 29 November 2004. In the period under review, the Committee
also accredited eight new non-governmental organizations. Consultations between
the delegation of the Committee and representatives of civil society organizations
accredited to the Committee were held at the United Nations office at Geneva on
10 March, following the United Nations International Meeting on the Question of
Palestine. Participating representatives of non-governmental organizations provided
information about their initiatives, campaigns and projects. The delegation of the
Committee recommended to the representatives that their initiatives be based on
international law, as set out in the advisory opinion of the International Court of
Justice, the Fourth Geneva Convention and on the resolutions of the Security
Council and General Assembly. The Chairman of the Committee met throughout the
year with representatives of civil society organizations in New York and at the
meetings organized under the auspices of the Committee away from Headquarters.
The Chairman also participated in the Peace in Palestine Conference held in
Putrajaya, Malaysia, on the initiative of a Malaysian umbrella organization that
brings together over 400 non-governmental organizations from 35 countries, mainly
from Asia and the Pacific.
50. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained the Internet website “NGO
Network on the Question of Palestine” as a permanent tool for mutual information
and cooperation between civil society and the Committee. The website can be found
at http://www.un.org/depts/dpa/ngo. The Division also continued to issue its
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bimonthly newsletter, NGO Action News, covering the activities of civil society on
the various aspects of the question of Palestine.
Parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations
51. The Committee continued to develop its liaison with national and regional
parliaments and their organizations and invited a number of parliamentarians to
speak at its meetings. In Geneva in March 2005, the delegation of the Committee
paid a visit to the headquarters of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and met with
its Secretary-General, Anders Johnsson. The Chairman of the Committee
commended the IPU efforts in support of the Palestinian people, in particular in
promoting a dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian parliamentarians. The IPU
Secretary-General informed the Committee delegation of efforts by the IPU to assist
the Palestinian Authority in finalizing the electoral law and strengthening the
oversight role of the Palestinian Legislative Council, its budget committees and its
activities in the field of human rights. It remained crucial for the IPU to bring
together members of the Knesset and the Council. It was agreed to continue and
expand the involvement of parliamentarians of different backgrounds in the
meetings organized under the auspices of the Committee.
4. Research, monitoring and publications
52. The Division carried out research and monitoring activities and responded to
requests for information and briefings on the question of Palestine. Under the
guidance of the Committee, which reiterated the relevance of the research,
monitoring and publications programme, it also prepared the publications listed
below for dissemination, including through UNISPAL:
(a) Monthly bulletin on action taken by United Nations and
intergovernmental organizations in relation to the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of developments relating to the question of
Palestine, based on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of meetings organized under the auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletins and notes on the observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments relating to Middle East peace efforts;
(f) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General
Assembly and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
5. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
53. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and
library services of the United Nations Secretariat, continued to administer, maintain,
expand and develop UNISPAL, pursuant to successive annual General Assembly
mandates. This included the ongoing upgrading of technical components of the
system to ensure its uninterrupted presence on the Internet, notably via the
UNISPAL “Question of Palestine” interface on the United Nations home page, under
“Peace and Security”, and involved the expansion of the documents collection to
include relevant new and old documents. In addition, steps were continued to
enhance the user-friendliness of accessing and navigating the system
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(http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf) — including to facilitate “bookmarking” of
documents on the situation of Palestinian women — as work for the graphic
enhancement of the “Question of Palestine” site progressed.
6. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority
54. Three staff members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian
Authority participated in a training programme conducted by the Division, from
September to December 2004, in conjunction with the fifty-ninth session of the
General Assembly. The trainees familiarized themselves with various aspects of the
work of the Secretariat and other organs and conducted research on specific topics.
7. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
55. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
at Headquarters and at the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna on
29 November 2004. On the occasion of the observance at Headquarters, in addition
to a solemn meeting of the Committee and other activities, an exhibit entitled
“Steadfast in Palestine” was presented by the Permanent Observer Mission of
Palestine under the auspices of the Committee. The Committee noted with
appreciation that the International Day of Solidarity had also been observed in many
cities throughout the world. Details on the observance are contained in the special
bulletin issued by the Division.
56. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee decided that a similar
observance of the International Day of Solidarity should be organized in 2005.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public
Information in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 59/30
57. The Department of Public Information, pursuant to General Assembly
resolution 59/30 of 1 December 2004, continued to implement its special
information programme on the question of Palestine. It used various tools to
disseminate information on the question of Palestine to the international community.
58. The Department’s television, radio, press, photo and Internet news operations
regularly covered the question of Palestine, providing live and archived coverage of
open meetings of the General Assembly, the Security Council and other
intergovernmental bodies on the issue. They also covered other programmes and
activities in which the situation was addressed.
59. The Arabic Radio Unit produced a number of programmes covering the
activities of UNRWA, the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the
Middle East, UNICEF, UNDP, the United Nations Population Fund and other United
Nations agencies working in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Unit also
conducted interviews with Palestinian participants in various intergovernmental
meetings, including the 10-year review of the implementation of the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing + 10) and the Convention on the
Elimination of Discrimination against Women. A sequential series of radio
programmes produced in the Territory were placed on a special page on the Arabic
Radio Unit website. The question of Palestine was also regularly covered in all other
official languages, as well as in non-official languages, such as Bahasa Indonesia,
Bangla, Hindi, Turkish and Urdu.
60. The United Nations website continued to host a page on the question of
Palestine under the “Global Issues” site, as well as the “Peace and Security” and
“Refugees” pages. Links are available to the UNISPAL database, as well as to the
web pages created by the Department of Political Affairs. In addition, the Website
Section webcast all meetings of the Security Council and the General Assembly and
most press conferences on the question of Palestine held at United Nations
Headquarters, which were available immediately afterwards as archived webcasts.
61. The question of Palestine and a broad range of developments relating to the
situation in the Middle East were given extensive coverage by the United Nations
News Centre website in all official languages. The Arabic website continued to gain
visitors over the past 12 months, receiving over 193,000 visits and registering
849,000 page views on various pages and files within the site. The news stories on
these issues were also distributed throughout the world to some 40,000 subscribers
to the e-mail service of the United Nations News Service in English and French. A
special “News Focus” page on the news portal provided users with easy access to
United Nations resources on the question of Palestine, including links to key
reports, statements, resolutions and other related material.
62. During the period under review, the Department issued 149 press releases on
the question of Palestine (77 in English, 72 in French). In addition, the completely
updated 2004 edition of Basic Facts about the United Nations included an extensive
section on the Middle East, in which all aspects of the Palestinian question were
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addressed. The newly revised 2005 edition of the smaller booklet, UN in Brief, also
highlighted United Nations efforts to promote a peaceful resolution of the situation
through a two-State solution.
63. The Department held a two-week workshop for Arab journalists in November
and December 2004, which included sessions on the question of Palestine.
64. As part of its special information programme on Palestine, the Department
organized a training programme for 10 young Palestinian journalists at United
Nations Headquarters, in Washington, D.C., and at the United Nations Office at
Geneva, from 25 October to 10 December 2004. The programme was aimed at
strengthening their capacity as media professionals.
65. In cooperation with the Foreign Ministry of Egypt, the Department organized
an international media seminar on peace in the Middle East in Cairo, on 13 and
14 June 2005. The proceedings of the previous international media seminar, held in
Beijing in June 2004, were published.
66. The permanent exhibit on Palestine at United Nations Headquarters (English)
and at the Palais des Nations in Geneva (French) was updated in late 2004 and early
2005. A brochure accompanying the exhibit and entitled “The United Nations and
the Question of Palestine” was published in Arabic, English, French and Spanish.
The Graphic Design Unit of the Department of Public Information designed the
brochure, as well as the booklet containing the proceedings of the Beijing media
seminar.
67. The UN Chronicle (in the six official languages) and the UN Chronicle Online
(in English and French) reported on events and issues relating to the question of
Palestine and on action taken by the General Assembly. Articles were redistributed
through UN Chronicle E-Alerts and the UN Chronicle Feature Service.
68. The Dag Hammarskjöld Library digitized documents pertaining to the United
Nations Palestine Commission (A/AC.21 series) for UNISPAL document
collections.
69. The network of United Nations information centres, services and offices
continued to disseminate information on the question of Palestine and to organize
special outreach activities. Press releases, statements, documents and audio-visual
material were brought to the attention of target audiences, posted on their websites
and made available to visitors of the reference libraries maintained by their relative
offices.
70. A major focus of activities was the promotion of the International Day for
Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The Department organized the installation of
the annual exhibit on the question of Palestine at United Nations Headquarters
during the observance of the Day. Special events and activities, including television
and radio interviews, were organized by the centres, services and offices
individually or jointly with United Nations associations and regional organizations,
such as the League of Arab States. The Secretary-General’s message for the Day
was widely disseminated by the centres, particularly those in Accra, Brussels,
Bucharest, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Dar es Salaam, Geneva, Lima, Mexico City, New
Delhi, Pretoria, Rabat, Sana’a, Tehran, Tripoli, Tunis, Vienna and Warsaw.
19
A/60/35
Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of
the Committee
71. The year under review was marked by promise and hope, as well as by
developments on the ground that complicated efforts to resume the peace
process within the framework of the road map. The Committee is encouraged
by the resumption of dialogue at the highest level between Israeli and
Palestinian leaders. The Committee welcomes the Israeli withdrawal from the
Gaza Strip and four small settlements in the northern West Bank as a rare
opportunity to revive negotiations within the framework of the road map and
restart the stalled political process. It should be noted that Israel remains in
control of the borders of the Gaza Strip, including its territorial sea and
airspace and the movement of people and goods into and out of Gaza, thus
hampering any meaningful economic development. The Committee is strongly
opposed to the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and efforts to
complete the construction of the wall on Palestinian land. It is particularly
alarmed by the intention of the Israeli Government to expand large settlement
blocks in the West Bank, which would separate East Jerusalem from the West
Bank and the southern West Bank from its northern part. The Committee
reiterates its position of principle that the settlements and the wall constructed
by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, are
contrary to international humanitarian law and numerous resolutions of the
Security Council and the General Assembly, adopted since 1967, as well as the
provisions of the road map.
72. The Committee has been encouraged by renewed efforts of the
international community — in particular the Quartet, but also Egypt and
Jordan — to revitalize the road map, facilitate the dialogue between the parties
and implement their commitments under the road map. The Committee
reiterates that the road map remains the best way to achieve the goal of a
comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine through
the establishment of two States, Israel and Palestine, based on the 1967 borders.
A settlement should be based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338
(1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003) in particular, and other relevant
resolutions. The Committee hopes that the Quartet and the international
community will continue to work towards the achievement of this goal.
73. The Committee considers that its programme of international meetings
and conferences contributes to focusing the attention of Governments,
intergovernmental and civil society organizations and the general public on
issues crucial for advancing a peaceful settlement of the conflict. The meetings
highlight the most pressing concerns, such as the need to end violence, stop
settlement activities and improve the living conditions of the Palestinian
population. They contribute to raising international awareness of the root cause
of the conflict, namely the occupation by Israel of the Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem. They also mobilize international support for efforts
to resolve the conflict and implement the road map. The Committee is deeply
appreciative of the involvement in those meetings of Governments,
intergovernmental organizations, United Nations entities and civil society. It
expresses its satisfaction with the level of dialogue, engagement and support
20
A/60/35
from the international community achieved at those meetings. It will continue
the programme to foster support for the attainment by the Palestinian people of
its inalienable rights in accordance with international legitimacy. In its
meetings programme for 2006, the Committee intends to address such issues as
the need to end the occupation of all Palestinian land; support of the efforts by
the Palestinian Authority to rehabilitate the economy, especially that of the
Gaza Strip; the responsibility of all Governments to apply international law to
all aspects of the question of Palestine, in accordance with the advisory opinion
of the International Court of Justice; the implementation of the road map; the
adverse consequences of the settlement policy and the construction of the wall
for the achievement of a two-State solution; the need to protect the Palestinian
people; the humanitarian and socio-economic situation, including the plight of
Palestinian women and children; and the role of civil society.
74. The Committee commends civil society organizations for their efforts to
uphold international legitimacy with regard to the question of Palestine
through advocacy and the mobilization of public opinion and for their
initiatives aimed at alleviating the plight of the Palestinian people. It notes the
support it receives from the Secretariat in strengthening its cooperation with
civil society. The Committee encourages civil society organizations to focus and
synchronize their advocacy efforts at the local, national, regional and
international levels on the legal obligations of Governments, as emphasized in
the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. It welcomes recent
civil society initiatives, in particular in developing countries, to establish
umbrella mechanisms to better coordinate their work. It supports all
humanitarian and assistance initiatives geared towards improving the daily
lives of the Palestinians. The Committee will also strive to enhance the
involvement of parliamentarians in its programme of meetings and conferences.
75. The Committee emphasizes the essential contribution of the Division for
Palestinian Rights in support of its mandate and the implementation of its
programme of work. The Committee, therefore, requests the Division to
continue its mandated activities, including substantive and secretariat support;
the programme of research, monitoring and publications and other
informational activities, such as the further expansion and development of
UNISPAL, including the graphic enhancement of the “Question of Palestine”
website; the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority;
and the annual observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People. The Committee expects the Division to continue to promote
international awareness of the question of Palestine, as well as support for the
rights of the Palestinian people and a peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine. In this regard, the Committee notes with satisfaction (a) the level of
dialogue, engagement and support of the international community for its
programme objectives, for instance, in terms of both participation at the
meetings convened and use of printed and electronic information materials
provided by the Division; (b) the number of civil society organizations that
have received accreditation to the Committee; and (c) the number of pages
viewed on the United Nations website on the question of Palestine. The
Committee also considers that the annual training programme for the staff of
the Palestinian Authority has proved its usefulness and requests that it be
continued.
21
A/60/35
76. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and public opinion of the
relevant issues. The Committee requests the programme’s continuation, with
the necessary flexibility, as warranted by developments relevant to the question
of Palestine.
77. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine and in view of the many
difficulties facing the Palestinian people and besetting the peace process, the
Committee calls upon all States to join in this endeavour and invites the
General Assembly again to recognize the importance of its role and to
reconfirm its mandate with overwhelming support.
Notes
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35); ibid., Thirty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 and corrigendum (A/33/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fourth Session,
Supplement No. 35 and corrigendum (A/34/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fifth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/35/35); ibid., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/36/35); ibid.,
Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 and corrigendum (A/37/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirtyeighth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35); ibid., Thirty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/39/35); ibid., Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/40/35); ibid., Forty-first Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); ibid., Forty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/42/35); ibid.,
Forty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/45/35); ibid., Forty-sixth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35); ibid., Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/47/35); ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/48/35); ibid., Forty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/49/35); ibid., Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/50/35); ibid., Fiftyfirst
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/51/35); ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/52/35); ibid., Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/53/35); ibid., Fifty-fourth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/54/35); ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/55/35); ibid.,
Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 and corrigendum (A/56/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Fiftyseventh
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/57/35); ibid., Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/58/35); and ibid., Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/59/35).
3 A/AC.183/2005/CRP.1.
4 The observers at the Committee meetings were as follows: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria,
China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania,
Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Viet
Nam, Yemen, African Union, League of Arab States, Organization of the Islamic Conference and
Palestine.
05-54004 (E) 271005
*0554004*
A/61/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-first Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/61/35)
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-first Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/61/35)
United Nations • New York, 2006
A/61/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters
combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United
Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
Contents
Chapter Paragraphs Page
Letter of transmittal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–11 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 4
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–18 5
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–16 5
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17–18 5
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19–36 6
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37–63 13
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/36 . . . . . . 37–48 13
1. Action taken in the Security Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38–45 13
2. Statements by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46–47 14
3. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee in international
conferences and meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 14
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in
accordance with General Assembly resolutions 60/36 and 60/37 . . . . . . . . . . 49–63 14
1. Programme of international meetings and conferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49–52 14
2. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53–54 15
3. Cooperation with civil society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55–58 15
4. Research, monitoring and publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 16
5. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine . . . . . 60 17
6. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority . . . . . . . . . . . 61 17
7. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People . . . . . . . . . . 62–63 17
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 60/38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64–77 18
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78–85 20
iv
Letter of transmittal
4 October 2006
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 7 of its resolution 60/36 of
1 December 2005.
The report covers the period from 6 October 2005 to 4 October 2006.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Paul Badji
Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency
Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
A/61/35
06-55649 1
Chapter I
Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as recognized by the
Assembly in resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the General
Assembly1 were endorsed by the Assembly as a basis for the solution of the
question of Palestine. In its subsequent reports,2 the Committee has continued to
stress that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions and the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel from the
Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and from the
other occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in the region to live
in peace within secure and internationally recognized boundaries; and the
recognition and exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily
the right to self-determination. The recommendations of the Committee contained in
its first report could not be implemented, and the Assembly each year renewed the
Committee’s mandate and requested it to intensify efforts in pursuit of its objectives.
3. Since 1991, the Committee has consistently supported the peace process. It
welcomed the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference that launched the Middle East peace
process based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). It also
welcomed the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements
(A/48/486-S/26560, annex) and subsequent implementation agreements. The
Committee has strongly supported the vision of two States, Israel and Palestine,
living side by side within secure and recognized borders on the basis of the 1949
armistice lines, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions, including
Security Council resolutions 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003). The Committee
__________________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35); ibid., Thirty-third Session,
Supplement No. 35 and corrigendum (A/33/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fourth Session,
Supplement No. 35 and corrigendum (A/34/35 and Corr.1); ibid., Thirty-fifth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/35/35); ibid., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/36/35); ibid.,
Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 and corrigendum (A/37/35 and Corr.1); ibid.,
Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35); ibid., Thirty-ninth Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/39/35); ibid., Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/40/35); ibid., Forty-first
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); ibid., Forty-second Session, Supplement No. 35
(A/42/35); ibid., Forty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/43/35); ibid., Forty-fourth Session,
Supplement No. 35 (A/44/35); ibid., Forty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/45/35); ibid.,
Forty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/46/35); ibid., Forty-seventh Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/47/35); ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/48/35); ibid., Forty-ninth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/49/35); ibid., Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/50/35);
ibid., Fifty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/51/35); ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/52/35); ibid., Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/53/35); ibid., Fifty-fourth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/54/35); ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/55/35);
ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 and corrigendum (A/56/35 and Corr.1); ibid.,
Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/57/35); ibid., Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement
No. 35 (A/58/35); ibid., Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/59/35); and ibid., Sixtieth
Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/60/35).
A/61/35
2 06-55649
welcomed and supported the Quartet’s road map and called on the parties to
implement it. In keeping with its mandate, the Committee continued to work
towards enabling the Palestinian people to realize its inalienable rights, including
the right to self-determination and to its own independent State, on all Palestinian
territory occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem. The Committee also promotes
support and assistance by the international community to the Palestinian people.
4. The reporting period began with a cautious hope that the removal in September
2005 of Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank
and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip would create the muchneeded
momentum for the resumption of the political dialogue between the parties.
There was no progress in the political area either immediately after the pull-out or in
the course of the months that followed, however. While the overall situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, remained serious, the
situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly since June 2006.
5. In the course of the year, the Israeli army has continued to conduct its
operations in Palestinian population centres, resorting to extrajudicial
assassinations, house demolitions and arrests. Palestinian response included suicide
attacks in Israel and regular rocket fire by Palestinian armed groups. During the
year, chances for a return to the political process remained elusive.
6. The holding of the elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) on
25 January 2006 became a pivotal point in Palestinian political life. The electoral
victory of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) confronted the Palestinian
political system, the region and the wider international community with new
challenges. In the period following the elections, the newly appointed Palestinian
Cabinet and the Presidency have not been able to reach an agreement on a common
political programme. While President Mahmoud Abbas fully embraced the platform
of peace, the Cabinet remained reluctant to recognize Israel and accept all the
previously signed bilateral agreements. This situation has persisted throughout the
reviewed period, stymieing progress in the political area and negatively affecting
efforts to address the rapidly deteriorating Palestinian humanitarian crisis. On
27 June, the major Palestinian factions reached an agreement to bolster national
unity on the basis of the “Prisoners’ Document”; however, Israeli military action
delayed its taking effect.
7. While most Governments have treated the election results as a Palestinian
domestic matter, some were not in a position to recognize and cooperate with the
Hamas-led Cabinet. This has considerably undercut the prospects of delivering
various forms of assistance to the Palestinian people. The decision by major
international donors to cease direct assistance programmes has further exacerbated
the humanitarian situation.
8. Israel responded to the electoral results by stepping up efforts at undermining
the Palestinian Authority and by consolidating control over East Jerusalem, strategic
parts of the West Bank and access to the Gaza Strip. The situation escalated
dramatically at the end of June 2006 with major Israeli military incursions in the
Gaza Strip following the capture of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian armed groups.
Overshadowed by the hostilities in Lebanon that started in early July, Israeli military
incursions, air strikes and artillery shelling, arbitrary arrests of Palestinian Authority
and PLC officials, demolition of houses and crucial infrastructure continued
unabated for months. The continued closure by Israel, the occupying Power, of the
A/61/35
06-55649 3
crossing points to the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank constituted collective
punishment of an entire innocent civilian population.
9. During the year, the Committee remained deeply concerned about the
continuing expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, and the acceleration in the completion of the wall built in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory in contravention of the advisory opinion of the International
Court of Justice. The Committee cautioned that the Israeli plan to unilaterally draw
its own permanent borders, incorporating large parts of the West Bank, including
East Jerusalem, posed a grave threat to the prospects of a peaceful, negotiated
solution of the question of Palestine. It precludes any possibility of improving the
economic and humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and made
a two-State solution virtually impossible. The Committee reminded Israel, the
occupying Power, that its settlement activities, the annexation of East Jerusalem,
any actions to strengthen its hold on the city and the construction of the wall on
occupied land were contrary to international law. The Secretary-General was
encouraged to expedite the establishment of a register of damage caused to all
natural or legal persons concerned by the construction of the wall. The Committee
called upon all Governments to fulfil their obligations under international law, in
particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, and to take the necessary steps to ensure
that Israel complied with its international obligations.
10. The Committee continued to support the efforts by the Quartet to unblock the
stalemate in the political process and resume meaningful negotiations between the
parties. It noted that, in the course of the year, the Quartet has met at both the
principals and envoys level to address the situation on the ground, restore a credible
political process and encourage the parties to move forward towards the
implementation of the objectives of the road map. The Quartet’s meeting at the
principals level in New York on 20 September and a high-level meeting of the
Security Council the next day, convened at the initiative of the Council of the
League of Arab States, were held with a view to advancing the peace process.
11. The Committee noted the serious efforts by the Palestinian Authority
Presidency and the Palestinian leadership to end violence, strengthen the national
unity of the Palestinian people and create conditions conducive to reviving the
political process and to achieving a solution of the question of Palestine exclusively
through peaceful means. It welcomed the signing in June of the National
Conciliation Document by the major Palestinian political organizations, and the
designation of the Palestinian President as the person in charge of negotiations with
Israel, as well as the effort of President Abbas to form a Government of national
unity. The Committee called upon the international community to extend all possible
cooperation to the Palestinian leadership in its quest for the realization of the
inalienable rights of its people.
A/61/35
4 06-55649
Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
12. On 1 December 2005, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (see
resolution 60/36), requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources to
carry out its programme of work (see resolution 60/37), and requested the
continuation of the special information programme on the question of Palestine of
the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat (see resolution 60/38). On
the same date, the Assembly adopted resolution 60/39 entitled “Peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine”.
A/61/35
06-55649 5
Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
13. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.
14. In a letter dated 5 August 2005, the Permanent Representative of the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United Nations requested that the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela be admitted as an observer to the Committee. At
its 289th meeting, held on 10 November 2005, the Committee approved that request
and welcomed the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to take part, as an observer, in
the work of the Committee. In a letter, the Chairman informed the President of the
General Assembly of the request of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela. The letter from the Chairman and its annex were circulated as a
document of the General Assembly (A/60/567).
15. At its 292nd meeting, on 10 February 2005, the Committee re-elected Paul
Badji (Senegal) as Chairman, elected Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz (Cuba) as Vice-
Chairman, and re-elected Ravan A. G. Farhâdi (Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairman and
Victor Camilleri (Malta) as Rapporteur.
16. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted its programme of work for
2006.3
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
17. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all United Nations
Member States and observers wishing to participate in the work of the Committee as
observers were welcome to do so. In accordance with established practice, Palestine
participated in the work of the Committee as an observer, attended all of its
meetings and made observations and proposals for consideration by the Committee
and its Bureau.
18. In 2006, the Committee again welcomed as observers all States and
organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding year.4
__________________
3 A/AC.183/2006/CRP.1.
4 The observers at the Committee meetings were as follows: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria,
China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania,
Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates,
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, African Union, League of Arab States,
Organization of the Islamic Conference and Palestine.
A/61/35
6 06-55649
Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to the question
of Palestine
19. Pursuant to its mandate, the Committee continued to monitor the situation in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as relevant
political developments. The Palestinian people exercised their right to vote in the
PLC elections held on 25 January 2006 throughout the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank, including East Jerusalem. Overall, 77 per cent of registered voters cast their
votes for a new legislature. Approximately 20,000 national and 1,000 international
observers, including missions from the European Union, the National Democratic
Institute, the Carter Centre and Canada observed the conduct of the election. The
observers concluded that the campaign took place in a relatively calm atmosphere,
with an absence of provocative rhetoric, although candidates, campaign and election
workers were at times unable to move satisfactorily through Israeli checkpoints
during the campaign period. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and
the Palestinian people were congratulated by the Secretary-General, the Quartet and
other officials within the international community for an election process that was
free, fair and secure, and which marked an important milestone in the building of
Palestinian democratic institutions. The Central Elections Commission announced
the official results with Hamas winning a majority, consisting of 74 seats. Fatah won
45 seats, with the remaining 13 seats going to smaller parties and independents.
20. On 29 March, President Abbas swore in the new Palestinian Government
which included Hamas members and independents, with Mr. Ismail Haniyeh as
Prime Minister. In a letter to Mr. Haniyeh, President Abbas asked that the new
Government programme be aligned with that of the Palestinian Presidency. The
Quartet called on the new Government to commit to the principles of non-violence,
recognition of Israel’s right to exist and acceptance of previous agreements and
obligations, including the road map. Since the illness of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon, Mr. Ehud Olmert on 4 January took over the reins of government as Acting
Prime Minister, until his election on 28 March. On 19 February, Acting Prime
Minister Olmert had announced that Israel would not hold contacts with a
Palestinian Government which included Hamas, not transfer some US$ 55 million a
month in taxes and tariffs to it and ban the transfer of equipment to its security
services. On 10 April, donors decided to freeze direct aid to the Palestinian
Authority until it complied with the three principles outlined by the Quartet. In the
run-up to and after the elections, Prime Minister Olmert declared his intention to set
unilaterally Israel’s borders in the West Bank, that would include major settlement
blocks, as well as the Jordan River as a security border. In response, the Quartet
called upon both parties to avoid unilateral measures which would prejudice final
status issues.
21. Efforts were undertaken to find consensus among various Palestinian parties.
Led by President Abbas and with the participation of Prime Minister Haniyeh, a
Palestinian national dialogue conference took place on 25 and 26 May.
Representatives of political parties, civil society, the private sector, the Palestinian
Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization participated. A final statement
concluded that a Prisoners’ Document (see para. 31 below) should serve as a basis
for the continuation of the national dialogue. On 27 June, a National Conciliation
Document was agreed upon. As of the beginning of October, efforts by President
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Abbas to form a national unity Government that would reflect the principles put
forward by the Quartet, remained inconclusive.
22. Internal Palestinian difficulties, the withholding of hundreds of millions of
dollars of Palestinian tax money by Israel, coupled with its continuing military
operation in the Occupied Territory, led to a serious political and financial crisis and
total paralysis of efforts to restart the dialogue between the parties.
23. During the period under review, the Committee closely monitored the situation
on the ground and was greatly alarmed by the intense escalation of violence in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. Casualties continued to increase, mostly among
Palestinians, as a result of the disproportionate use of force by the occupying Power,
but also among Israeli civilians in Israel as a result of suicide bombings. During the
month of June, Israel stepped up its policy of targeted killings of militants and
shelling of the Gaza Strip. On 9 June, an explosion on a beach in the Gaza Strip
killed seven civilians, all members of the same family. The Secretary-General called
for a full investigation, while Human Rights Watch concluded that Israeli artillery
fire was to blame. The Committee has repeatedly condemned the policy and practice
of extrajudicial killings as being inadmissible under international law. At the same
time, it has strongly condemned all attacks against Israeli civilians in Israel, which
could not be justified and undermined any prospect of reconciliation between the
parties. Suicide bombings occurred at the market of Hadera in Israel on 26 October
2005, in Netanya on 5 December, outside the settlement of “Kedumim” in the
northern West Bank on 30 March and in central Tel Aviv on 17 April 2006,
altogether killing at least 21 Israelis and 3 foreigners.
24. In late June and July 2006, the security situation worsened further, making
July the deadliest month in the Gaza Strip in nearly two years. On 25 June, an armed
Palestinian group attacked an army post near Karam Abu Slim (Kerem Shalom)
crossing, killing two Israeli soldiers and capturing one. President Abbas called for
the immediate release of the Israeli soldier while calling on the international
community and the Quartet to prevent Israel from exploiting the situation to invade
the Gaza Strip. On 27 and 28 June, the Israeli army expanded its military operation,
code-named “Operation Summer Rains”, attacking infrastructure in the Gaza Strip,
including bombing the Gaza power station, cutting electricity to some 40 per cent of
the Gaza Strip, leaving thousands of the Gaza residents without water. Three bridges
were also destroyed, dividing the Gaza Strip into isolated units. The Secretary-
General called upon Israel to show restraint and to avoid actions that damaged
civilian infrastructure and aggravated the hardship of the Palestinian people. On
6 July, Israeli tanks pushed up to 6 kilometres into the northern Gaza Strip, taking
position in three former settlements in an operation code-named “Oaks of Bashan”.
At least 12 Palestinians and 1 Israeli soldier were killed in the fighting. On 8 July,
the Secretary-General called on Israel to restore and maintain the uninterrupted
supply of fuel to Gaza and to ensure the passage of food and essential supplies
through the Karni crossing. Israeli aircraft bombed the office of Prime Minister
Haniyeh on 1 July and the Foreign Ministry building on 13 July. Because of the war
in Lebanon, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in
the Near East (UNRWA) along with United Nations humanitarian agencies working
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in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,5 on 3 August, expressed concern that with
international attention focusing on Lebanon, the tragedy in Gaza that had started in
June was being forgotten. The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs
reported in August to the Security Council that since Israel’s disengagement from
the Gaza Strip in September 2005 to August 2006, 450 Palestinians had been killed.
Over 2,500 have been wounded. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs reported 202 Palestinian deaths, including 44 children, since
the beginning of the Israeli offensive in Gaza on 28 June. It was estimated that since
the start of the second intifada in 2000, close to 4,400 Palestinians have been killed
and some 31,000 wounded. As of July 2006, the number of deaths of children under
18 exceeded 850.
25. To improve the freedom of movement and economic activity of Palestinians
living in the Gaza Strip, an Agreement on Movement and Access between Israel and
the Palestinian Authority was reached on 15 November 2005. It provided for the
reopening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and other crossing points. The
Rafah terminal was transferred to the Palestinian Authority with oversight by
European Union monitors. The Rafah and Al-Muntar (Karni) crossings have been
only partially operational at rates far lower than foreseen by the Agreement,
however. During 2006, less than 10 per cent of the Gaza Strip’s minimum daily
export targets have been achieved. The Rafah terminal has remained closed for all
but two days for most of the months of July and August, preventing people from
leaving or entering the Gaza Strip. There has been no progress on the other aspects
of the Agreement, such as the Gaza-West Bank link and progress on the airport and
seaport. Basic food commodities were severely depleted, bakeries closed and food
rationing was introduced. The closure also seriously affected the export of produce
from the Gaza Strip. The Al-Muntar (Karni) closures have cost Palestinians up to
$500,000 a day, according to United Nations Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs estimates. The combination of checkpoints, physical obstacles
and a permit system has cut the West Bank into three distinct areas in addition to
East Jerusalem. In the Jordan Valley, Israel has placed a series of checkpoints and
roadblocks between the Valley and the rest of the West Bank, separating Palestinians
from their land, their families and from their jobs. Physical obstacles include the
separation wall, checkpoints, partial checkpoints, roadblocks, road gates, earth
mounds, earth walls, trenches and fences. The number of physical obstacles
increased from 376 in August 2005 to 547 in August 2006.
26. On 9 March 2006, Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made public a
“convergence plan”, in accordance with which Israel would withdraw from parts of
the West Bank, and annex “Gush Etzion”, the “Jerusalem Envelope”, “Ma’ale
Adumim”, the “Ariel” region and the Jordan River as a “security border”. He
pledged to build up the “E1” area (area between “Ma’ale Adumim” and Jerusalem).
In its statement of 9 May the Quartet rejected any unilateral steps on final status
issues by either party. In August 2006, Prime Minister Olmert stated that owing to
the war in Lebanon and the significant damage caused to northern Israel, his plan
was no longer at the top of his Government’s agenda.
__________________
5 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, World Food Programme, World Health Organization,
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Children’s Fund,
United Nations Population Fund and United Nations Development Fund for Women.
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27. An issue of great concern to the Committee was the continued construction of
the separation wall in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of the
advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice rendered on 9 July 2004,
which reaffirmed the illegality of the wall. On 30 April 2006, the Israeli Cabinet
revised the route, which would further consolidate Israeli control over vital parts of
the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The revised route would incorporate over
370,000 settlers, or nearly 87 per cent of the settler population. The wall in the
Jerusalem area annexed 228.2 sq km of the West Bank, severing East Jerusalem
from the rest of the West Bank and isolating over 230,000 Palestinian Jerusalemites
from the rest of the West Bank. It would further separate over 2 million Palestinians
living on the eastern side of the wall from East Jerusalem. The wall would sever
East Jerusalem from Bethlehem and Ramallah, communities that have been socially,
culturally and economically interdependent. Bethlehem would be completely cut off
from Jerusalem, while the “Etzion” block settlements would expand onto more
Palestinian land. On 21 March, the Israel Defense Forces issued a military order to
seize 81.6 dunums of Palestinian land in Beituniya in the West Bank for
construction of the wall. In May, Israeli Justice Minister Haim Ramon committed to
finishing construction on 95 per cent of the wall by the end of 2006. Forty-two per
cent (336 km) of the planned 790 km structure has been completed. Some 102 km
were in various stages of construction, and would be completed at year’s end. Sixtyseven
kilometres were still at the paperwork level, and the building of a 285-
kilometre-long section awaited Israeli court approval. The Committee noted the
delay in establishing the register of damages to compensate those who had suffered
any material damage as a result of the wall’s construction, and urged the Secretary-
General to intensify his efforts in that direction.
28. During the year, the Committee also noted the relentless settlement expansion.
Territorial contiguity of East Jerusalem settlements was being enhanced. In
November 2005, the Israel Land Administration published tenders for 350 housing
units in “Ma’ale Adumim”, bringing the total tenders for the settlement in 2005 to
665 units. In February 2006, the Israel Land Administration was working on a plan
to expand “Pisgat Ze’ev”, which had 40,000 residents. It proposed 1,100 new
housing units in a development of 18 buildings of five to nine storeys. In March,
new housing construction continued in “Karmei Tzur”, “Karmel”, “Kiryat Arba”,
“Pnei Hever” and “Susiya”. Land levelling continued for a new security fence
around “Adora” and “Pnei Hever”. Settlers evacuated from the Gaza Strip were
settling in the West Bank settlements of “Eshkolot”, south of Hebron, “Ariel”, and
in the Jordan Valley settlement of “Maskiyot”. The Jordan Valley is home to some
47,000 Palestinians, along with 8,300 settlers living in 31 settlements. Israel’s de
facto annexation of this area accounted for an additional 28.5 per cent of the West
Bank. On 14 March, the Israeli authorities confirmed the list of 2,000 Palestinians
banned from returning to the Jordan Valley. Thousands of dunums of land there had
been transferred to settlements and army bases. In April, the Israel Defense Forces
requisitioned 25 dunums belonging to the Palestinian towns of Beit Ummar and
Halhul to create a buffer zone around “Karmei Tzur”. On 4 May, Prime Minister
Olmert announced a plan to build thousands of new dwellings in settlements to
house evacuees from isolated settlements. Defence Minister Amir Peretz has
approved expanding the territorial jurisdiction of four settlements — “Givat Ze’ev”,
“Oranit”, “Maskiyot”, and “Beitar Ilit”. In spring 2006, construction began for 3,500
new units in “Nof Adumim”, part of the “Adumim” settlement block. Construction
of the Israeli police station in the E1 area had already been completed. The Israel
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Defense Forces authorized plans to expand the municipal boundaries of “Beitar Ilit”
by 500 dunums, connecting the settlement and the Green Line. An industrial zone
was planned for the area. On 4 September 2006, the Israeli Construction and
Housing Ministry solicited tenders for the construction of 690 apartments at “Beitar
Ilit” and “Ma’ale Adumim”. On 21 September, the Ministry invited bids for
construction of 164 housing units for the settlements of “Ariel”, “Alfei Menashe”
and “Karnei Shomron”. The wall and the planned settlement expansion would place
some 45.5 per cent of the West Bank under Israeli control.
29. The number of settlers in the West Bank had increased by 3 per cent in the first
six months of 2006, from 253,748 to 260,932. Settlers were involved in various
violent incidents including attacking Palestinian farmers working their land;
attacking Palestinian shepherds and killing their sheep; injuring Palestinian children
on their way home in Hebron; uprooting thousands of olive trees and destroying
fruit trees in Palestinian farms in Yatta, Kfar Thulth, near Qalqilya; setting fire in
the village of Awarta near Nablus; beating Palestinians in their car and damaging
their vehicle; throwing stones at cars; blocking roads near Palestinian villages. The
settlement of “Beitar Ilit” discharged sewage onto lands belonging to the villages of
Wadi Fukin and Nahhalin while settlers from “Ariel” continued to pump sewage
water onto Palestinian farmlands belonging to residents of Burkin and Kfer al-Diq.
The municipality of Salfit declared an emergency after sewage dumped from “Ariel”
had contaminated the sole water well supplying surrounding villages. There have
also been attacks by Palestinians against Israeli settlers.
30. The weak financial situation of the Palestinian Authority severely worsened
owing to Israeli and donors’ decisions to halt transfers of tariffs and direct aid, the
contraction of Palestinian economic activity and reduced domestic tax revenues.
Unpaid salaries to over 150,000 civil servants, 70,000 of whom were members of
the security services, contributed to the deterioration of the security environment as
frustrated civil servants vented their anger by protest demonstrations, strikes and
taking over Government buildings and confrontations. Nearly 1 million Palestinians
relied on Palestinian Authority wage earners whose salaries accounted for about
25 per cent of the gross domestic product. Responding to an urgent appeal of
President Abbas, the European Commission in early July 2006 took action through
setting up a temporary international mechanism. Its first steps were to provide fuel
for hospitals in the Gaza Strip to enable the continued provision of essential health
services. The Committee commended the efforts by many Governments to provide
immediate financial relief to abate the fiscal crisis of the Palestinian Authority and
expressed appreciation to the Arab League and international and regional financial
institutions for their continued and augmented commitment. The Committee highly
valued the efforts by James Wolfensohn as the Quartet’s Special Envoy for Gaza
Disengagement in implementing his mandate, as well as his role in the conclusion of
the Agreement on Movement and Access.
31. The issue of the continued incarceration of a large number of Palestinian
prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons and detention facilities remained an issue
of serious concern for the Committee. In September 2006, the Palestinian Authority
Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs reported that, since 1967, a total of
some 700,000 (25 per cent of the population) Palestinians had been taken prisoner in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory by Israel. There were 10,100 detainees still held
in 30 Israeli prisons and detention facilities. Since September 2000, the beginning of
the second intifada, about 4,000 children and 500 women had been arrested or
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detained. About 120 women remained in custody. Prisoners and detainees were
subjected to practices that undermined their health, tortured and humiliated.
Palestinian political detainees in Israeli prisons, including senior Fatah and Hamas
members, announced on 10 May an agreement on common principles for national
action and dialogue outlined in a Prisoners’ Document. The document was regarded
as a precursor to a Palestinian national dialogue (see para. 21 above). On 29 June,
Israel arrested 64 Palestinian Authority officials, including cabinet ministers and
PLC members. On 5 August, PLC speaker Abd al-Aziz Dweik was arrested in
Ramallah by Israeli forces. The Secretary-General expressed concern at the
detention of the Palestinian officials, including PLC members.
32. The humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has steadily
worsened. Unemployment and poverty rates have increased dramatically. In May
2006, the rate of unemployment had been 34 per cent in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory as a whole and 44 per cent in the Gaza Strip. This rate rose to 55 per cent
during times of complete closure imposed by Israel. Similarly, the poverty rate was
nearly 50 per cent, with the Gaza Strip rate at approximately 70 per cent. In June
2006, the World Food Programme increased the number of people it fed in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory by 25 per cent, or from 480,000 to 600,000
non-refugees. Nearly 2 million Palestinians, 51 per cent of the population, were
unable to meet their daily food needs without assistance. The plight of women has
remained extremely difficult owing to the worsening security and economic
situation. In the past six years, hundreds of women have been killed and injured on
their way to and from work and as a result of being denied access to medical
services. Half of all families living in Palestine refugee camps were headed by
women. Female-headed households have been disproportionately affected by the
rise in poverty that accompanied the violence and closures.
33. The Palestinian people have continued to suffer from low reserves and the
quality of the drinking water available to them, a crisis caused by both the
exhaustion of the Palestinian aquifer reservoirs by Israel and the over-drainage of
thousands of illegal wells spread throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In
the West Bank, Israel controlled 83 per cent of the Palestinian water. It also
infringed on the Palestinian right to water in the Jordan Valley. The water crisis was
further exacerbated by the security situation, which hindered projects aimed at
improving the quality of water and providing alternatives to the available sources of
water. More than 220 communities in the West Bank, around 320,000 people, were
unconnected to water mains. Hundreds were forced to purchase water from
expensive and unsanitary tankers. Farmers had to use expensive water to irrigate
vegetable farms. Medical sources said diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, fever, kidney
failure, infection and dermatological problems affected most Palestinian children
and persisted to adulthood because of poor water supplies.
34. UNRWA officials expressed alarm that the general living conditions of the
Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip had become “deplorable and getting worse”. In
early June, authorities had not been able to pay suppliers, hospital staff and teachers,
for three months, disrupting essential services, including medical care. Increasing
restrictions imposed by Israel on Palestinian movement further stifled the economy.
The Agency was caring for over 1.1 million people in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory under its emergency programme, providing cash, food and temporary
employment. In late July 2006, continued Israeli shelling drove over 1,500
Palestinians from their homes in the Beit Hanoun area to the Jabalya camp. Four
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UNRWA schools at the camp were serving as makeshift shelters for those who had
to flee their homes. While focused on the plight of Palestine refugees within its
mandate, UNRWA also extended assistance to a number of non-refugee civilians
affected by the war in Lebanon during July and August.
35. The Committee expressed appreciation for the work of the Programme of
Assistance to the Palestinian People of the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP/PAPP). With funding from Japan, UNDP played a central role in supporting
the Palestinian legislative election through establishing a Liaison and Support Unit
that served as a resource centre for the over 1,000 international observers
monitoring the elections. To combat poverty and rehabilitate agricultural land in the
worst hit areas, UNDP/PAPP signed an agreement with the Islamic Development
Bank, with funding by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC). The project, the first of its kind with OPEC, focused on the agricultural
sector of the Tulkarm area in the West Bank, which had suffered from restricted
mobility and damage to agricultural land and infrastructure. In December 2005,
UNDP/PAPP was entrusted by the Palestinian Authority, Israel and the Office of the
Special Envoy of the Quartet to carry out a task of clearing and recycling the rubble
left behind as a result of the destruction of the settlements in the Gaza Strip. With
over 1.2 million tons of rubble to be cleared, the project would cost $24.7 million,
which was being funded by Israel. Progress on this project was hampered by the
heavy shelling of the former settlement areas. With funding from Japan and Norway,
UNDP was taking a lead in assessing the damage to the infrastructure and assisting
in alleviating the humanitarian crisis through employment generation schemes,
removal of solid waste, and supplying essential fuel and equipment.
36. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
established in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in 2000, was a response to the
deteriorating humanitarian situation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Its aim
was to improve the humanitarian situation by enhancing coordination between
agencies to ensure effective distribution of humanitarian assistance. It provides
analytical reports on crucial issues to inform policymakers and help aid
organizations in their operational decisions. It acts as guardian for the Consolidated
Appeal Process. In September, donor nations pledged an additional $116 million,
although the humanitarian appeal remained 42 per cent underfunded.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 60/36
37. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to mobilize the
international community in support of the Palestinian people, in cooperation with
United Nations bodies, Governments, intergovernmental and civil society
organizations and others, as indicated below.
1. Action taken in the Security Council
38. During the period under review, the Security Council has continued to monitor
the situation on the ground and the efforts to implement the road map. Throughout
the year, the Council held monthly briefings under the agenda item entitled “The
situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”.
39. The Security Council met on 30 March 2006 for the monthly briefing, which
was followed by a debate. The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Paul Badji, took
part in the debate and made a statement (see S/PV.5404).
40. The Security Council met on 17 April 2006, at the request of the Permanent
Representative of Bahrain in his capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the
month of April 2006 and on behalf of the States members of the League of Arab
States (see S/2006/227), the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of Yemen in his capacity as
Chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Group (see S/2006/239),
and the Permanent Representative of Malaysia in his capacity as Chairman of the
Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (see S/2006/240). The
Chairman of the Committee took part in the debate and made a statement (see
S/PV.5411).
41. The Security Council met on 30 June 2006 for the monthly briefing, which
was followed by a debate (see S/PV.5481).
42. The Security Council met on 13 July 2006, at the requests of the Permanent
Representative of Algeria, in his capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the
month of June 2006, and on behalf of the States members of the League of Arab
States (see S/2006/458), and the Permanent Representative of Qatar (see
S/2006/462). The Council voted on a draft resolution submitted by Qatar (see
S/2006/508). The result of the vote was 10 votes in favour, 1 against and 4
abstaining. The draft resolution was not adopted owing to the negative vote of a
permanent member of the Council (see S/PV.5488).
43. The Security Council met on 21 July 2006 for a briefing from the Special
Adviser to the Secretary-General and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian
Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, which was followed by a debate. The
Chairman of the Committee took part in the debate and made a statement (see
S/PV.5493).
44. The Security Council met on 22 August 2006 for the monthly briefing, which
was followed by a debate (see S/PV.5515).
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45. The Security Council met on 21 September 2006, at the request of the
Secretary-General of the League of Arab States (see S/2006/700). A debate, at the
ministerial level, was held (see S/PV.5530).
2. Statements by the Committee
46. On 7 February 2006, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on the
holding of the PLC elections (see GA/PAL/1000).
47. On 27 July 2006, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement concerning
the Israeli military operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (see
GA/PAL/1017).
3. Participation by the Chairman of the Committee in international conferences
and meetings
48. During the year, the Chairman of the Committee participated in events in
support of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and contributed to their
deliberations. The Chairman participated in the International Media Seminar on
Peace in the Middle East, held from 8 to 9 June 2006 in Moscow, organized by the
Department of Public Information of the Secretariat.
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 60/36
and 60/37
1. Programme of international meetings and conferences
49. Through its programme of international meetings and conferences, the
Committee continued to raise international awareness of the various aspects of the
question of Palestine, and international support for the rights of the Palestinian
people and the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.
50. In the period under review, the following international events were held under
the auspices of the Committee:
(a) United Nations Latin American and Caribbean Meeting on the Question
of Palestine, Caracas, 13 and 14 December 2005;
(b) United Nations Public Forum in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace,
Caracas, 15 December 2005;
(c) United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, Cairo,
26 and 27 April 2006;
(d) United Nations International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian
Peace, United Nations Office at Vienna, 27 and 28 June 2006;
(e) Consultations with civil society organizations, United Nations Office at
Vienna, 29 June 2006;
(f) United Nations International Conference of Civil Society in Support of
the Palestinian People, United Nations Office at Geneva, 7 and 8 September 2006.
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51. All of the above-mentioned events were attended by representatives of
Governments, Palestine, intergovernmental organizations and United Nations
system entities, as well as representatives of civil society and the media. The reports
of the meetings were issued as publications of the Division for Palestinian Rights
and were made available through the United Nations Information System on the
Question of Palestine (UNISPAL) and the Division’s website.
52. In Cairo, during the United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian
People, the Committee delegation was received by Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, who stressed the
urgency of supporting peace in the Middle East and welcomed the efforts of the
Committee in that regard. At Vienna, in connection with the United Nations
International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace, the Committee
delegation met with Ambassador Ralph Scheide, head of the Near and Middle East
Department of the Austrian Foreign Ministry. On the sidelines of the United Nations
International Conference of Civil Society in Support of the Palestinian People held
in Geneva, the Committee delegation had meetings at the Federal Department of
Foreign Affairs of Switzerland in Bern, with the International Committee of the Red
Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
2. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations
53. Throughout the year, the Committee continued its close cooperation with the
African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of the Islamic
Conference, through the participation of the Chairman in their meetings and through
periodic consultations at United Nations Headquarters.
54. The Committee continued its cooperation on the question of Palestine with
States members of the European Union. The Bureau held consultations with
representatives of the European Union in March 2006 (under the Presidency of
Austria) as part of the ongoing effort to build a constructive relationship with
European Union members on issues of common concern.
3. Cooperation with civil society
Civil society organizations
55. The Committee continued to work with civil society organizations, academic
institutions, think tanks and media representatives, using consultations with civil
society representatives, participation in meetings organized by civil society
organizations and the accreditation of new organizations. This work was reviewed
and further advanced at the United Nations International Conference of Civil
Society in Support of the Palestinian People. It provided civil society organizations
from all regions of the world with an opportunity to discuss the situation on the
ground, promote their current programmes, develop action-oriented proposals in
support of the Palestinian people and improve the coordination of their activities.
The Committee was appreciative of the work done by many civil society
organizations and encouraged them to continue their work towards a just and lasting
peace in the Middle East.
56. The Committee maintained and developed its liaison with the national,
regional and international coordinating mechanisms cooperating with it, in addition
to its established liaison with a large number of individual organizations.
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Representatives of civil society participated in all meetings organized under the
auspices of the Committee, including the observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November 2005. In the period under
review, the Committee also accredited 13 new organizations, including 2 as
observers. Consultations between the delegation of the Committee and
representatives of organizations accredited to the Committee were held at the United
Nations Office at Vienna on 29 June 2006, following the United Nations
International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace. Participating
representatives of non-governmental organizations discussed the humanitarian crisis
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and exchanged
views with the Committee delegation on ways to improve their cooperation. The
Chairman of the Committee has met throughout the year with representatives of
civil society organizations in New York and at the meetings organized under the
auspices of the Committee away from Headquarters.
57. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained the Internet website “NGO
Network on the Question of Palestine” as a tool for exchange of information and for
cooperation between civil society and the Committee. The website can be found at
http://www.un.org/depts/dpa/ngo. At the request of the Committee, the Division also
continued to issue its bimonthly newsletter, NGO Action News, covering the
activities of civil society on the various aspects of the question of Palestine.
Parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations
58. The Committee continued to develop its liaison with national and regional
parliaments and their organizations and invited a number of parliamentarians to
speak at its meetings. During the year, the Bureau of the Committee has met with
members of the PLC, the Knesset and other national parliaments.
4. Research, monitoring and publications
59. The Division carried out research and monitoring activities and responded to
requests for information and briefings on the question of Palestine. Under the
guidance of the Committee, which reiterated the relevance of the research,
monitoring and publications programme, it also prepared the publications listed
below for dissemination, including through UNISPAL:
(a) Monthly bulletin on action taken by United Nations and
intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of events relating to the question of Palestine, based
on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of international meetings and conferences organized under the
auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletins and information notes on the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments related to the Middle East peace
process;
(f) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly
and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
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5. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
60. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and
library services of the United Nations Secretariat, continued to administer, maintain,
expand and develop UNISPAL, pursuant to successive annual General Assembly
mandates. This included the ongoing upgrading of technical components of the system
to ensure its uninterrupted presence on the Internet, notably via the UNISPAL “Question
of Palestine” portal, also developed and maintained by the Division, which is located on
the United Nations home page, under “Peace and Security”, and involved the expansion
of the documents collection to include relevant new and old documents. In addition,
steps continued to be taken to enhance the user-friendliness and usefulness of the system
(http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf) — including by incorporating additional multimedia
content.
6. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority
61. Two staff members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian
Authority participated in a training programme conducted by the Division, from
September to December 2005, in conjunction with the sixtieth session of the
General Assembly. The trainees familiarized themselves with various aspects of the
work of the Secretariat and other organs and conducted research on specific topics.
7. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
62. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
at Headquarters and at the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna on
29 November 2005. On the occasion of the observance at Headquarters, in addition
to a special meeting of the Committee and other activities, a performance by the El-
Funoun dance troupe entitled “Dancing Tragedies and Dreams” was organized by
the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine under the auspices of the Committee.
The Committee noted with appreciation that the International Day of Solidarity had
also been observed in many cities throughout the world. Details on the observance
are contained in the special bulletin issued by the Division.
63. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee decided that a similar
observance of the International Day of Solidarity should be organized in 2006.
A/61/35
18 06-55649
Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information
in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/38
64. The Department of Public Information, pursuant to General Assembly
resolutions 59/30 of 1 December 2004 and 60/38, continued to implement its special
information programme on the question of Palestine, using various tools at its
disposal to disseminate information on this issue to the international community.
65. The Department’s television, radio, press, photo and Internet news operations
regularly covered the question of Palestine, providing live and archived coverage of
open meetings of the General Assembly, the Security Council and other
intergovernmental bodies on the issue. They also covered other programmes and
activities in which the situation was addressed.
66. During the period under review, the Department issued 148 press releases on
the question of Palestine (78 in English and 70 in French). In May 2006, the
Department published the revised edition of Basic Facts about the United Nations in
French and Spanish, which included an extensive section on the Middle East and all
aspects of the Palestinian question. A revised edition of the smaller, companion
volume, UN in Brief, was simultaneously issued in all six official languages.
67. United Nations Radio regularly covered various aspects of the question of
Palestine and related issues in the news bulletins and the current affairs magazines
in the official and non-official languages. Among the themes and issues covered
were: the food crisis in Gaza owing to the Karni crossing closure; the request by
UNRWA for $95.5 million to reconstruct Gaza and the West Bank; the World Food
Programme warning on the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza; and the
Secretary-General urging Israel to respect international humanitarian law.
68. The Arabic Language Unit covers all statements by the Security Council, the
Secretary-General, the Special Envoy to the Middle East and the Under-Secretary-
General for Political Affairs. It has contracted with two stringers who live in the
West Bank and Gaza, and their reports from the region have improved the quality of
the unit’s outputs.
69. The United Nations website continued to host a page on the question of
Palestine under the “Global Issues” page, as well as the “Peace and Security” and
“Refugees” pages. Links are available to UNISPAL, as well as to the web pages
created by the Department of Political Affairs. In addition, the Website Section
webcast all meetings of the Security Council and the General Assembly and most
press conferences on the question of Palestine held at Headquarters, which were
available immediately afterwards as archived webcasts.
70. The UN News Centre portal continued to provide extensive coverage on the
question of Palestine and a wide array of related developments and issues. The
number of visitors to the portal (which is available in all official languages)
continued to grow. Notably, the Arabic version has registered over 1 million page
views in the last 12 months. On the English- and French-language versions of the
portal, related issues were the subject of nearly 400 news stories, which were also
distributed worldwide to some 43,000 e-mail subscribers through the United Nations
News Service. The period under review also witnessed a considerable increase in
the usage of the portal’s special “News Focus” page, providing visitors with easy
A/61/35
06-55649 19
access to the broad range of United Nations resources on the question of Palestine,
including links to key reports, statements, resolutions and other related materials.
71. United Nations Television distributed 12 stories related to the question of
Palestine via UNifeed, a daily satellite television news feed reaching hundreds of
broadcasters around the world.
72. As part of its special information programme on Palestine, the Department
organized a training programme for 10 young Palestinian journalists at
Headquarters, in Washington, D.C., and at the United Nations Office at Geneva,
from 24 October to 9 December 2005. The programme was aimed at strengthening
the participants’ capacity as media professionals.
73. In cooperation with the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation, the
Department organized an International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East,
in Moscow on 8 and 9 June 2006, in which 72 people participated. Press releases
were issued on the proceedings of the two-day seminar. The seminar was covered by
the Jerusalem Post, Yediot Ahronot, Ha’aretz, Al-Ayam and Al-Ahram newspapers,
as well as by ITAR-TASS, Interfax, WAFA (Palestinian News Agency) and major
Russian television channels.
74. The Dag Hammarskjöld Library digitized documents pertaining to the United
Nations Palestine Commission (A/AC.21 series) for the UNISPAL document
collection.
75. The network of United Nations information centres, services and offices
continued to disseminate information on the question of Palestine and to organize
special outreach activities. Press releases, statements, documents and audio-visual
material were brought to the attention of target audiences, posted on their websites
and made available to visitors of their reference libraries.
76. A major focus of activities was the promotion of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The Department assisted in the installation of
the annual exhibit on the question of Palestine at Headquarters. Special events and
activities, including conferences and public forums, were organized by the centres,
services and offices individually or jointly with academic institutions, foreign
ministries or United Nations Associations. The Secretary-General’s message for the
Day was widely disseminated in official and non-official languages.
77. In addition, support was provided to the United Nations Latin American and
Caribbean Meeting on the Question of Palestine, held in Caracas; the United
Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, held in Cairo; the United
Nations International Meeting in Support of Palestinian Peace, held in Vienna; and
to the Commissioner-General of UNRWA during her visit to Brussels and
Washington, D.C.
A/61/35
20 06-55649
Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
78. The year was marked by a steady deterioration of the security and
humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem. The Committee expressed particular concern at the Israeli
incursions into Gaza during the recent months and its destructive effects on the
Palestinian people and on their hopes for peace. The Committee calls upon
Israel to end its military operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and
to stop any other measures that further undermine Palestinian institutions. It
reminds Israel, the occupying Power, that it is bound by the Geneva Convention
relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Times of War, which obliges the
parties to protect civilians during hostilities. The Convention’s applicability to
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, has been
repeatedly confirmed by the General Assembly and the Security Council. Israel
must end its incursions into Gaza, cease offensive military operations in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, withdraw its forces to their original positions
outside Gaza, and release, immediately and unconditionally, all imprisoned
cabinet members and parliamentarians, as well as other Palestinian prisoners.
The Committee strongly condemns the killing of innocent civilians by either
side. It denounces rocket attacks on Israel and calls for a cessation of those
activities by Palestinian armed groups. The Committee is strongly opposed to
the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and efforts to complete the
construction of the wall on Palestinian land. It is particularly alarmed by the
intention of the Israeli Government to expand large settlement blocks in the
West Bank, which would separate East Jerusalem from the West Bank and the
southern West Bank from its northern part. The Committee reiterates its
position of principle that the settlements and the wall constructed by Israel in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, are contrary to
international humanitarian law and numerous resolutions of the Security
Council and the General Assembly, adopted since 1967, as well as the provisions
of the road map. It reminds the Secretary-General of the urgency of
establishing the register of damage caused by the construction of the wall.
79. The Committee welcomes the signing of the National Conciliation
Document by the major Palestinian political organizations, the decision to form
a national unity Government, and the designation of Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas as the person in charge of negotiations with Israel.
These have been encouraging developments and should be supported by Israel
and the international community. At the same time, the international
community should focus on practical and meaningful benchmarks to engage all
parties to achieve a mutual ceasefire and support major international peace
efforts, including the Arab Peace Initiative and the road map. The Committee
reiterates that only a negotiated solution can bring about the goal of a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine through
the establishment of two States, Israel and Palestine, based on the 1967 borders.
A settlement should be based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967),
338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003) in particular, and other relevant
resolutions. The Committee hopes that the Security Council, the Quartet and
the other actors of the international community will continue to work towards
the achievement of this goal.
A/61/35
06-55649 21
80. The Committee feels strongly that, through the programme of mandated
activities of the Division for Palestinian Rights, it will be able to continue to
generate heightened international awareness of the various aspects of the
question of Palestine, as well as international support for the rights of the
Palestinian people and the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine. In
that connection, the Committee emphasizes the essential contribution of the
Division in support of its mandate aimed at enabling the Palestinian people to
exercise their inalienable rights. In that regard, the Committee notes with
satisfaction (a) the level of dialogue, engagement and support of the
international community for its programme objectives, for instance, in terms of
both participation at the meetings convened and the use of printed and
electronic information materials provided by the Division; (b) the number of
civil society organizations that have received accreditation to the Committee;
and (c) the number of pages viewed on the United Nations website on the
question of Palestine. The Committee also considers that the annual training
programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority has proved its usefulness, and
requests that it be continued.
81. The Committee considers that its programme of international meetings
and conferences contributes to focusing the attention of Governments,
intergovernmental and civil society organizations and the general public on
issues crucial for advancing a peaceful settlement of the conflict. The meetings
highlight the most pressing concerns, such as the need to end violence, stop
settlement activities and improve the living conditions of the Palestinian
population. They contribute to raising international awareness of the root cause
of the conflict, namely the occupation by Israel of the Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem. They also mobilize international support for efforts
to resolve the conflict, including through the convening of an international
peace conference. It will continue the programme to foster support for the
attainment by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights in accordance with
international legitimacy. In its meetings programme for 2007, the Committee
intends to address such issues as the detrimental effects of unilateral steps by
the occupying Power; the responsibility of all Governments to apply
international law to all aspects of the question of Palestine, in accordance with
the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice; the need to convene
the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention,
in view of the systematic violation by the occupying Power of international
humanitarian law; the adverse consequences of the settlement policy and the
construction of the wall for the achievement of a two-State solution; the
collective international responsibility to protect the Palestinian people; the need
to alleviate humanitarian and socio-economic hardships, including the plight of
Palestinian women and children; and the role of civil society.
82. The Committee commends civil society organizations for their efforts to
uphold international legitimacy with regard to the question of Palestine
through advocacy and the mobilization of public opinion and for their
initiatives aimed at alleviating the plight of the Palestinian people. It notes the
support it receives from the Secretariat in strengthening its cooperation with
civil society. The Committee encourages civil society organizations to broaden
their base and to focus and harmonize their advocacy efforts at the local,
national, regional and international levels with respect to the legal obligations
A/61/35
22 06-55649
of Governments, as emphasized in the advisory opinion of the International
Court of Justice. It supports all humanitarian and assistance initiatives geared
towards improving the daily lives of the Palestinians. The Committee will
continue to involve parliamentarians in its programme of international
meetings and conferences.
83. The Committee requests the Division to continue its substantive and
secretariat support; the programme of research, monitoring and publications
and other informational activities, such as the further expansion and
development of UNISPAL, including the graphic enhancement of the “Question
of Palestine” website; the annual training programme for staff of the
Palestinian Authority; and the annual observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
84. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and public opinion of the
relevant issues. The Committee requests the programme’s continuation, with
the necessary flexibility, as warranted by developments relevant to the question
of Palestine.
85. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine and in view of the many
difficulties facing the Palestinian people and besetting the peace process, the
Committee calls upon all States to join it in this endeavour and invites the
General Assembly again to recognize the importance of its role and to
reconfirm its mandate with overwhelming support.
06-55649 (E) 271006
*0655649*
A/62/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-second Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/62/35)
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-second Session
Supplement No. 35 (A/62/35)
United Nations • New York, 2007
A/62/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters
combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United
Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
07-53114 iii
[8 October 2007]
Contents
Chapter Paragraphs Page
Letter of transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–10 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 4
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12–16 5
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12–14 5
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15–16 5
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17–35 6
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36–65 13
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 61/22 . . . . . . 36–50 13
1. Action taken in the General Assembly and the Security Council . . . . . 37–45 13
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46–50 14
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in
accordance with General Assembly resolutions 61/22 and 61/23 . . . . . . . . . 51–65 15
1. Programme of international meetings and conferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51–54 15
2. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55–56 16
3. Cooperation with civil society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57–60 16
4. Research, monitoring and publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 17
5. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine . . . . . 62 17
6. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority . . . . . . . . . . 63 18
7. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People . . . . . . . . . 64–65 18
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 61/24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66–75 19
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76–85 21
iv 07-53114
Letter of transmittal
[4 October 2007]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 2 of its resolution 61/22 of
1 December 2006.
The report covers the period from 4 October 2006 to 4 October 2007.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Paul Badji
Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
A/62/35
07-53114 1
Chapter I
Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as recognized by the
Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the General
Assembly1 were endorsed by the Assembly as a basis for the solution of the
question of Palestine. In its subsequent reports,2 the Committee has continued to
stress that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions and the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel from the
Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and from the
other occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in the region to live
in peace within secure and internationally recognized boundaries; and the
recognition and exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily
the right to self-determination. The recommendations of the Committee contained in
its first report could not be implemented, and the Assembly each year renewed the
Committee’s mandate and requested it to intensify efforts in pursuit of its objectives.
3. Since 1991, the Committee has consistently supported the peace process. It
welcomed the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference that launched the Middle East peace
process based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). It also
welcomed the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements
(A/48/486-S/26560, annex) and subsequent implementation agreements. The
Committee has strongly supported the vision of two States, Israel and Palestine,
living side by side within secure and recognized borders on the basis of the 1949
armistice lines, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions, including
Security Council resolutions 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003). The Committee
welcomed and supported the Quartet’s road map and called on the parties to
implement it. In keeping with its mandate, the Committee continued to work
towards enabling the Palestinian people to realize its inalienable rights, including
the right to self-determination and to its own independent State, on all Palestinian
territory occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem. The Committee also promotes
support and assistance by the international community to the Palestinian people.
4. The reporting period was characterized by the reinforcement of the Israeli
occupation policies and practices in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and
the Gaza Strip, as well as by a further weakening of the institutions of the
Palestinian Authority as a result of those policies and the decision by major
international donors to cease direct assistance programmes to the Hamas-led cabinet
that took office in March 2006. The period was also marked by the consistent efforts
of major Palestinian political organizations and groups to achieve national unity,
which was briefly achieved in March 2007 with the establishment of a National
__________________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Since the thirty-first session, the Committee has submitted annual reports to the General
Assembly; all such reports have been issued as supplement No. 35 of the sessional
documentation of the Assembly.
A/62/35
2 07-53114
Unity Government following the Mecca agreement, but which collapsed soon
thereafter.
5. The Israeli army continued to conduct military operations in Palestinian
population centres, including by carrying out extrajudicial killings, house
demolitions and arrests. The Palestinian response included regular rocket and mortar
fire by armed Palestinian groups and a suicide attack within Israel. For most of the
year the political process remained stalled. Only after the dissolution of the
Palestinian national unity government in June, following the armed takeover of the
Gaza Strip by Hamas, did diplomatic activities, including meetings between the
President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Prime Minister of
Israel, Ehud Olmert, resume, leading to the release of a limited number of
Palestinian prisoners, as well as part of the tax money collected by Israel in
accordance with bilateral agreements but withheld since January 2006. Direct donor
assistance to Palestinian Authority institutions in the West Bank also resumed.
6. Despite a certain diplomatic momentum achieved since June, mainly through
the re-engagement of major international stakeholders, the situation in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, remained complex and volatile. Due
to the continued imposition of prolonged closures by Israel, the Gaza Strip remained
isolated from other parts of the Palestinian Territory, solely allowing an inflow of
basic humanitarian goods. Economic activity has been stifled. The humanitarian
situation has reached crisis proportions. In the West Bank, normal life was being
hampered by continuous Israeli military operations, hundreds of checkpoints, the
settlements infrastructure, the construction of the wall and periodic closures.
7. Throughout the year, the Committee remained deeply concerned about the
continuing illegal settlement activities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,
and the unlawful construction of the wall in contravention of the advisory opinion of
the International Court of Justice (see A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1). The Committee
cautioned that the continuation of such policies posed a grave threat to the prospects
of a peaceful, negotiated solution of the conflict. It precluded any possibility of
improving the economic and humanitarian situation and was making a two-State
solution virtually impossible.
8. The Secretary-General was encouraged to expedite the functioning of the
United Nations Register of Damage Caused by the Construction of the Wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, as requested by the General Assembly in its
resolution ES-10/17. The Committee called upon all Governments to fulfil their
obligations under international law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, and
to take the necessary steps to ensure that Israel complied with its obligations in this
regard.
9. The Committee continued to support the efforts by the international
community to unblock the stalemate in the political process and resume meaningful
negotiations between the parties. It welcomed the renewed Arab Peace Initiative and
concrete steps taken by the League of Arab States to implement it. The Committee
supported the reinvigorated efforts by the Quartet and its individual members aimed
at resuming the peace process.
10. The Committee called upon the Palestinian leadership, the leaders of all
factions and all Palestinians to unite behind the elected President of the Palestinian
Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and his government and all democratically elected
A/62/35
07-53114 3
Palestinian institutions and to resolve their political differences by peaceful means.
The Committee reiterated its long-standing position that the Palestine Liberation
Organization was the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and, as
such, an essential party to any negotiations aimed at resolving the question of
Palestine by peaceful means. The Committee invited the international community to
extend all possible cooperation to the Palestinian leadership in its quest for the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
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4 07-53114
Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
11. On 1 December 2006, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (see
resolution 61/22), requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources to
carry out its programme of work (see resolution 61/23) and requested the
continuation of the special information programme on the question of Palestine of
the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat (see resolution 61/24). On
the same date, the Assembly adopted resolution 61/25 entitled “Peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine”.
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Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
12. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.
13. At its 299th meeting, on 27 February 2007, the Committee re-elected Paul
Badji (Senegal) as Chairman, Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz (Cuba) as Vice-Chairman
and Victor Camilleri (Malta) as Rapporteur. At the same meeting, the Committee
elected Zahir Tanin (Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairman. At its 303rd meeting on
17 September 2007, the Committee elected Saviour F. Borg (Malta) as Rapporteur,
replacing Victor Camilleri, who had been assigned by his Government to another
post.
14. Also at the 299th meeting, the Committee adopted its programme of work for
2007.3
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
15. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all United Nations
Member States and observers wishing to participate in the work of the Committee as
observers were welcome to do so. In accordance with established practice, Palestine
participated in the work of the Committee as an observer, attended all of its
meetings and made observations and proposals for consideration by the Committee
and its Bureau.
16. In 2007, the Committee again welcomed as observers all States and
organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding year.4
__________________
3 A/AC.183/2007/CRP.1.
4 The observers at the Committee meetings were: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Ecuador,
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco,
Nicaragua, Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela
(Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Yemen, as well as the African Union, the League of
Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and Palestine.
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6 07-53114
Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
17. Pursuant to its mandate, the Committee continued to monitor the situation in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as relevant
political developments. The Committee has emphasized that the Israeli occupation
remained the root cause of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For 40 years, the
occupying Power has been systematically altering the Palestinian land through
unlawful policies and practices, including settlement construction and, more
recently, the construction of the wall in the West Bank. Continued closures, the
sealing-off of the Gaza Strip, Israeli military operations in Palestinian population
centres and the humiliating system of checkpoints throughout the West Bank have
rendered the Palestinian Authority nearly dysfunctional, caused socio-economic
decline and contributed to the polarization within Palestinian society. In addition,
tensions among Palestinian factions continued to intensify.
18. Regional and international leaders have stepped up their engagement in the
Israeli-Palestinian issue, intensifying efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the
conflict. In late March, a meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers adopted the Riyadh
Declaration (see A/61/922), which endorsed the Arab Peace Initiative (A/56/1026-
S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221), providing a framework for a
comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, consistent with Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). On 31 July, United States Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice signed an endorsement of the initiative. Egypt remained
active in brokering a ceasefire among Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.
Dialogue at the highest levels, which included discussions on the Arab Peace
Initiative, took place between Israeli, Jordanian and Egyptian officials. Meanwhile,
the Quartet met several times, and on 27 June it named former British Prime
Minister Tony Blair as special envoy to lead the process of Palestinian institutionbuilding.
Norway proposed the reactivation of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for
the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians to oversee assistance
management, financial support to the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian
institutional reform. The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee met at United Nations
Headquarters in New York on 24 September, prior to the meeting of donors planned
for December 2007. On 16 July, United States President George Bush announced his
intention to convene an international meeting later in the year to be chaired by the
United States Secretary of State. It was envisaged that Israel, the Palestinians and
regional neighbours would participate in the meeting. The Quartet and the League of
Arab States welcomed President Bush’s statement renewing the commitment of the
United States to a negotiated two-State solution and for an international meeting.
President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert began to meet on a more regular basis.
At their meeting on 10 September, they agreed to set up negotiating teams to work
on key issues in preparation for the forthcoming international meeting set for
November 2007. The idea of convening the meeting on Israeli-Palestinian peace was
supported by the Quartet when it met in New York on 23 September.
19. During the period under review, the Committee remained extremely concerned
about the Israeli military incursions into the Gaza Strip and military operation in the
West Bank, which had resulted in a large number of deaths and injuries among
Palestinian civilians. In early November 2006, a week-long operation, code-named
“Autumn clouds”, in Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip left 82 Palestinians dead, 21 of
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them children. At least 18 homes, a mosque and the offices of a non-governmental
organization were demolished, and 150 homes were damaged. In the early morning
hours of 8 November, with most of the residents of Beit Hanoun still asleep, Israel
Defense Forces (IDF) artillery struck a residential area, killing at least 19, including
eight children and seven women. In late November 2006, a mutual ceasefire in the
Gaza Strip was agreed upon between President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert.
However, the ceasefire did not extend to the West Bank, where Israeli military
operations continued. As of February 2007, the number of IDF search-and-arrest
operations in the West Bank had increased by 58 per cent over the previous month.
Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the West Bank rose by 88 per cent
during the same period.
20. In late February, in Nablus, the IDF launched a large-scale operation codenamed
“Hot winter”. While uncovering sites used for preparing explosives, IDF
imposed a curfew that disrupted civilian life and humanitarian operations and
affected tens of thousands of Palestinians in the city. In May, some 54 Palestinians
were killed in the Gaza Strip. The majority of the deaths occurred as a result of
Israeli air strikes on Hamas bases and vehicles carrying members of Hamas or the
Islamic Jihad. In May alone, the Israeli Air Force carried out 65 air strikes on
Palestinian targets.
21. The Committee denounced the excessive and indiscriminate use of force,
extrajudicial killings, the destruction of Palestinian homes, civilian infrastructure
and agricultural lands and the attendant devastating effects on the Palestinian
civilian population. At the same time, it strongly condemned all attacks against
Israeli civilians. It is estimated that since the start of the second intifada in 2000,
close to 4,800 Palestinians have been killed and some 31,500 wounded by the Israeli
occupying forces. As of August 2007, there were over 950 Palestinian children
under the age of 18 dead as a result of the violence. The number of Israelis killed
during the same period was 1,024.
22. The restrictions on movement imposed by Israel in the West Bank continued to
affect every aspect of Palestinian life, including access to medical facilities and
schools and the ability of Palestinians to reach their places of work. These measures
have also impaired family and social ties, have led to a decline in the provision of
infrastructure services and law enforcement in areas under the control of the
Palestinian Authority. Israeli commitments to ease movement and access in the West
Bank remained unmet. Since the conclusion of the Agreement on Movement and
Access entered into between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on 15 November
2005, closure levels have doubled and the number of checkpoints has increased. In
September 2007, a total of 572 physical obstacles to movement were in place, a
52 per cent increase from August 2005. In the Gaza Strip, only about 10 per cent of
the targets set out by the agreement, or 400 truckloads of exported goods per day,
was reached as of April. The Al-Muntar (Karni) and Rafah crossings were open only
sporadically.
23. The decision of Israel not to have contacts with a Palestinian government, that
included Hamas, its withholding of taxes and tariffs owed to the Palestinian
Authority, which total some $50 million per month, and the halting of direct
international financial aid to the Palestinian Authority has had a devastating effect
on Palestinian institutions and on the provision of basic services to the Palestinian
people. In April, strikes by Palestinian Authority employees and local municipal
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workers were held to protest the lack of regular payment of salaries. Tensions
among the various Palestinian factions intensified in mid-December 2006 and again
in early January 2007. In February, under the auspices of King Abdullah of Saudi
Arabia, the Mecca Agreement was reached between Fatah and Hamas on the
formation of a national unity government. On 17 March, after being approved by the
Palestinian Legislative Council, the Palestinian National Unity Government was
sworn in, in accordance with the programme agreed at Mecca. With a lack of
improvement in the security situation, particularly in the Gaza Strip, the new
Minister of the Interior resigned on 14 May. Inter-factional fighting continued in the
Gaza Strip, compounded by targeted Israeli air operations and rocket attacks by
Palestinian groups against Israeli civilians. From 9 to 15 June, the military wing of
Hamas and its executive force took control of the Gaza Strip. The armed takeover of
the Gaza Strip by Hamas forces seriously damaged efforts to achieve national unity
and left the intra-Palestinian dialogue in an inconclusive state. On 14 June,
President Abbas dissolved the Government, dismissed Prime Minister Ismail
Haniyeh and declared a state of emergency for 30 days. A new Prime Minister,
Salam Fayyad was appointed, in addition to a new Foreign Minister and Finance
Minister.
24. The internal security situation in the Gaza Strip has had an adverse effect on
the humanitarian situation and the provision of humanitarian aid. The daily lives of
civilians were severely disrupted as people were afraid to leave their homes,
affecting both the public sector and commercial life. The Al-Muntar (Karni)
crossing and Rafah terminal have been progressively closed since the fighting broke
out in mid-June, and the alternate entry points (Sufa and Kerem Shalom) have
barely provided sufficient access for much-needed commercial and humanitarian
supplies. The Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing operated periodically for “urgent, special
cases”, allowing exit from the Gaza Strip, but, as of September, at least 100,000
Gazans who might have been expected to enter or exit the Gaza Strip were denied
passage. Some 3,500 Palestinians were stranded for almost two months on the
Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, including patients returning from medical
treatment abroad. At least 30 Palestinians died while waiting to return. The
continued closure of the Gaza Strip borders plunged the Palestinian economy into
even further decline, dramatically increasing the already significant need for
humanitarian assistance as well as the level of dependency. The Committee was
greatly alarmed by the decision taken by the Israeli Security Cabinet on 19
September to consider the Gaza Strip a “hostile territory”, and to apply additional
sanctions to the territory, in order to restrict the passage of various goods to the
Gaza Strip and reduce the supply of vital services such as fuel and electricity. The
Committee stated that the decision was a violation of international law, including
international humanitarian law, and yet another form of collective punishment of the
Palestinian people, which, if implemented, was bound to substantially worsen the
already deplorable living conditions of the civilian population in the occupied Gaza
Strip.
25. On 15 December 2006, the General Assembly adopted resolution ES-10/17, in
which it requested the setting up of the United Nations Register of Damage Caused
by the Construction of the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory within six
months. On 10 May 2007, the Secretary-General appointed three international
experts to begin the work on the Register. The Committee expressed the hope that
the Office of the Register of Damage would begin implementation of the Assembly
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resolution as well as the conclusions contained in the advisory opinion of the
International Court of Justice.
26. Nevertheless, the construction of the wall continued in 2006-2007, in disregard
of the advisory opinion. Parts of it extend deep into the West Bank. The wall has
been completed along more than half of its planned route. Only 20 per cent of the
wall’s route correspond with the Green Line, the rest has been built on confiscated
Palestinian land. About 10.7 per cent of the West Bank, 154,320 acres, is trapped
between the wall and the Green Line. Of that, 141,974 acres (92 per cent) are in the
Jerusalem area. In January, the Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Olmert
had approved a change in the wall’s route near the settlement of “Modi’in Illit”,
which would incorporate the settlements of “Nili” and “Na’aleh”, effectively
annexing them to Israel. If approved by the Cabinet, the decision would move the
wall at least five kilometres east of the Green Line in this region. As a result, some
20,000 Palestinians living in five villages (Rantis, Shaqba, Qibya, Budrus and
Ni’lin) would be surrounded by walls and security roads, creating an enclave in the
West Bank. By April, the wall construction around the “Ateret” settlement had been
completed. A wall now encircles the settlement on the land confiscated by IDF and
belonging to Palestinians from Atara and Umm Safa. During the reporting period,
the construction of the wall around East Jerusalem involved the confiscation of
3,360 acres, and the displacement of 1,150 households comprising 5,290 people. On
4 September, the Israeli High Court of Justice ordered a change in the route of the
wall in the Bil’in area after Palestinian villagers protested that the route would
annex their agricultural land.
27. Despite the resumption of payments of salaries by the Palestinian Authority in
July 2007, poverty rates remain unacceptably high. The poverty line is defined
based on a monthly income of $501.2 United States dollars ($) per month for a
family of two adults and four children. At least 70 per cent of households in the
Gaza Strip, 56 per cent of the West Bank and 19 per cent of East Jerusalem
households are living below the poverty line. Poverty increased among Palestinian
Authority employees from 46 per cent in May 2006 to 50 per cent in May 2007. The
total accumulative and direct losses in the private sector since the closure of the
Gaza Strip had been estimated at $35 million, with a daily loss in the range of about
half a million dollars. In the industrial sector, the vast majority (nearly 90 per cent)
of import-dependent industries have closed down and over 66,000 workers have
been temporarily laid off. The World Bank has estimated that if a third of those laid
off do not return to work, the unemployment rate will reach unprecedented levels of
about 44 per cent. With household income continuing to decrease, Palestinian
households have resorted to negative coping mechanisms, such as borrowing money,
selling possessions, reducing health care and food consumption and taking children
out of school.
28. Over the year, the Committee continued to express concern over the illegal
settlement activities in and around East Jerusalem, as well as in the rest of the West
Bank. In November 2006, the Anata village council reported the issuance of military
orders confiscating 1,328 dunams of land in East Jerusalem, for the expansion of the
“Almon” settlement near “Ma’ale Adumim”. In January, the Jerusalem municipality
commission for planning and construction approved a plan to build 983 housing
units in the Har Homa settlement in a new area between Sur Bahir and Bethlehem.
In March, the Israel Land Administration published tenders to construct 44 housing
units in the East Jerusalem settlement of Har Homa. A plan was approved in March
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to expand the settlement of “Adam” (“Geva Binyamin”) as part of the larger
expansion plan for the Jerusalem settlement of “Neve Ya’acov” and its connection
with “Adam”. The plan included the construction of 1,200-unit neighbourhood for
ultra-Orthodox Jews. Meanwhile, a request by Palestinian Jerusalemites living in the
Silwan neighbourhood to construct 70 apartments was rejected on the basis that the
land was a natural and historic area. Planned settlement expansion in the areas in
and around Neve Ya’acov and the former site of the Atarot airport would link
settlements in the area of East Jerusalem on both sides of the wall, establishing an
unbroken belt of settlements along East Jerusalem’s northern perimeter to Road 60
settlements — from “Ma’ale Adumim” north to “Shilo” and “Eli” — to the Tel Aviv
metropolis and the coastal plain. On 11 May, the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem,
Yehoshua Pollak, said the intention was to create a contiguous Jewish residential
area linking East Jerusalem with major West Bank settlement blocks. In the West
Bank, pressure from two settlements (“Na’ale” and “Nili”) resulted in Prime
Minister Olmert ordering, on 31 January, that the two settlements be included west
of the wall, necessitating a 12 kilometre addition to it. Some 20,000 Palestinians
would be directly affected by the new construction, creating two Palestinian pockets
accessible to areas east of the wall only through planned underground tunnels. In
March 2007, approximately 3,500 settlers arrived at the site of the evacuated
settlement of “Homesh” after the Israel Defense Forces had allowed them access,
with the intention of resettling there after having been evacuated in 2005. Most
construction continued to be associated with the largest settlements, such as “Beitar
Ilit”, “Modi’in Ilit”, “Givat Ze’ev” and “Ma’ale Adumim”. In addition to the focus
on large settlements, expansion continued in some smaller ones, including “Anatot”,
“Givat Benjamin”, “Har Adar”, “Kochav Ya’acov”, “Oranit” and the hilltop
settlements of “Itamar”, “Yitzhar”, and “Elon Moreh”. Despite the obligation of
Israel under the road map, none of the additional 101 posts in the West Bank were
removed. There were at least six roads, all on the eastern side of the wall, reaching
some 33 kilometres in length, being paved or widened for the exclusive use of a
small group of settlers.
29. Israel’s Interior Ministry has reported that during 2006, the settler population
in the West Bank increased by 5.8 per cent, from 253,748 to 268,379. In East
Jerusalem, the settler population has been stagnant for a decade, holding at around
200,000. The population of “Ma’ale Adumim” increased by 1,644 to 31,615. During
2007, “Modi’in Ilit”, which grew by 4,000 (11 per cent) to 30,425, might well
emerge as the largest West Bank settlement (outside East Jerusalem). Settler
violence in the West Bank increased in 2007, particularly in Hebron. Since the city
was divided in 1997 under the Hebron agreement, 35,000 Palestinians living there
have suffered from unending incidents of violence at the hands of some 500 settlers.
Over 40 per cent of the Palestinians who once lived in Hebron have left their homes
without compensation. About 2,500 Palestinians who owned shops and businesses
have been forced to close them since the outbreak of the intifada. Settlers from
Hebron’s “Beit Hadassah” settlement beat and injured a 13-year-old Palestinian and
beat a Palestinian man with Down Syndrome. Elsewhere in the West Bank, settlers
uprooted olive tress, damaged water pipes in Palestinian homes, ploughed
Palestinian land, opened settlement sewage pipes on Palestinian agricultural lands,
fired at Palestinians and destroyed plants and crops. On 2 August, two settlers
attacked United Nations personnel driving in the South Hebron Hills. There have
also been attacks by Palestinians against settlers, including a stabbing incident in
February in which a settler from the “Bat Ayin” settlement was killed.
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30. As of June 2007, over 10,400 Palestinians remained in 30 Israeli prisons,
detention facilities and camps. Of those, 118 were women (including minors,
pregnant women and mothers) and close to 376 were child prisoners under the age
of 18. Israel regards Palestinian children as adults from the age of 12, in breach of
its own juvenile law. A survey of former child detainees estimated that 60 per cent
of the children interviewed were reported to have been subjected to physical
coercion or inducement to collaborate with Israeli authorities. Some 970
Palestinians have been kept in administrative detention without trial, and 15 have
been held in isolation for over five years. Moreover, prisons and detention centres
often provide prisoners with little or no protection from summer heat or winter cold,
and they are poorly maintained and overcrowded. At least 183 prisoners have died
in Israeli prisons since 1967 and about 1,000 inmates have suffered from serious
illnesses. On 20 July, Israel released 255 Palestinian prisoners after they signed a
form promising not to engage in terrorist activities. On 1 and 2 October, Israel
released another group of 86 prisoners. The former Minister of Higher Education of
the Palestinian Authority, Nasr al-Sha’ir, and the former Minister of Prisoners’
Affairs, Wasfi Kabaha, and 45 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council
continue to be held in detention in Israel. The Committee reiterated its call for the
release of Palestinian prisoners and for the safe release of captured Israeli corporal
Gilad Shalit.
31. Women, children and the elderly continued to suffer under the occupation.
Close to 30 per cent of pregnant women in the West Bank had difficulties in
accessing antenatal care and safe delivery facilities, mostly due to closures, delays
at checkpoints and the wall. The education sector is under increasing pressure since
the cutting of aid to the Palestinian Authority. The wall and other movement
restrictions impaired access of students and teachers to schools and universities. In
the Sifa area, north-west of Beit Lahiya, the ongoing presence of the IDF forced a
significant number of students to relocate to other villages to attend school.
32. In comparison to the 2006 average, the total water supply decreased by 12 per
cent in the West Bank and 42 per cent in the Gaza Strip. Factional fighting damaged
the electricity network for the wells in the Gaza Strip and increased the need for fuel
to power backup generators. In addition, chemical stocks needed to maintain water
quality were dangerously low, while several shipments of chlorine and other
disinfecting agents were blocked at the Israeli border. Most of the work of
humanitarian organizations, especially those working on water and sanitation, was
also halted. Overall, some 70,103 households in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
were not connected to a public water network, with 5 per cent of households
depending on water wells. As for waste water, less than half of the total number of
households (45.3 per cent) were connected to waste water networks, and only
4.5 per cent of households in the Gaza Strip considered their water to be of good
quality.
33. Throughout the year, the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency
for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) became even more crucial as the
situation, particularly in the Gaza Strip, turned increasingly desperate. Some
860,000 refugees in the Gaza Strip, almost two thirds of the overall population,
depended on UNRWA emergency food assistance. In addition, one million people
depended on its regular health services and 195,000 children were enrolled in its
schools. The deteriorating internal security situation and periodic Israeli incursions
caused UNRWA to scale back or suspend its operations several times. In early
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February, UNRWA headquarters and field offices in the Gaza Strip, 83 schools and
its food distribution centre in Beach Camp briefly closed as factional violence
placed staff and thousands of children in school at risk. The violence escalated in
mid-June, resulting in the deaths of two UNRWA workers. The takeover of the Gaza
Strip by Hamas resulted in a further tightening of Israeli controls on the movement
of persons and goods, deepening already severe unemployment and poverty and
increasing the already heavy burden on the Agency. In early July, UNRWA was
obliged to halt $93 million in building projects because construction materials were
not available on the local market. The halt affected the repair of shelters for 16,000
refugees. The humanitarian situation continued to deteriorate in the second half of
2007. In the West Bank, the continued construction of the separation barrier and
associated land seizures, together with an increased number of Israeli checkpoints
and movement barriers, severely affected the refugee population. By October,
UNRWA had received pledges amounting to only half of its $246 million
Emergency Appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory in 2007.
34. The work of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Programme
of Assistance to the Palestinian People on crucial projects continued with the
assistance of Governments and United Nations agencies. Projects on poverty
alleviation were assisted by the Islamic Development Bank, including a $30 million
microfinance programme for deprived Palestinians. Efforts to rehabilitate the
agricultural sector, particularly in the Gaza Strip, were enhanced with the assistance
of the Government of Japan and the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and
Development. To improve water supply, the UNDP programme launched a project
providing support to the Bedouin community in the Jericho area. A mental health
project was established, with assistance from the French Development Agency, to
help relieve the negative psychological effects inflicted on Palestinian children and
their families in the West Bank and Gaza. The construction of the Qalandiya
Olympic stadium and the Qalandiya Road were made possible with the assistance of
the Government of Germany.
35. The Committee expressed its appreciation for the increasingly important work
of the United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory in enhancing its coordination in the distribution of
humanitarian assistance. The Committee noted that its 2007 Consolidated Appeal,
which had been set at $453 million, focused on employment generation and food
assistance; health and education; agriculture, livestock, water and sanitation; and the
better assessment of humanitarian protection needs.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 61/22
36. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to mobilize the
international community in support of the Palestinian people, in cooperation with
United Nations bodies, Governments, intergovernmental and civil society
organizations and others, as indicated below.
1. Action taken in the General Assembly and the Security Council
Resumed tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly
37. On 17 November 2006, the emergency special session of the General
Assembly was resumed (thirteenth resumption) at the request of the Permanent
Representative of Qatar to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the
Arab Group for the month of November 2006 and on behalf of the States members
of the League of Arab States (A/ES-10/366), and the Permanent Representative of
Cuba to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chair of the Coordinating Bureau of
the Non-Aligned Movement in New York and on behalf of the States members of
the Movement (A/ES-10/367), to address the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, in
particular the killing of Palestinian civilians in Beit Hanoun on 8 November 2006
under the item entitled “Illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the
rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory”. The Chairman of the Committee took
part in the debate and made a statement (A/ES-10/PV.28). At the end of the debate,
on the same day, the Assembly adopted resolution ES-10/16.
38. On 15 December 2006, the emergency special session of the General Assembly
was resumed (fourteenth resumption) at the request of the Permanent Representative
of Qatar to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab
States for the month of November 2006 and on behalf of the States members of the
League of Arab States (A/ES-10/370), the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent
Mission of Cuba to the United Nations, in her capacity as Chair of the Coordinating
Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement in New York (A/ES-10/371) and the
Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, in his capacity as
Chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Group in New York
(A/ES-10/372) to consider the report of the Secretary-General pursuant to General
Assembly resolution ES-10/15 (A/ES-10/361) under the item entitled “Illegal Israeli
actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory”. Twenty-eight speakers took part in the debate (see A/ES-10/PV.30 and
31). At the end of the debate, on the same day, the Assembly adopted resolution
ES-10/17, in which it called for the expeditious establishment by the Secretary-
General of the United Nations Register of Damage Caused by the Construction of
the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
39. In a letter dated 21 December 2006 addressed to the President of the General
Assembly, the Secretary-General informed the Assembly of his efforts to implement
General Assembly resolution ES-10/16 (A/ES-10/374).
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Meetings of the Security Council
40. During the period under review, the Security Council continued to monitor the
situation on the ground and the efforts to implement the road map.
41. The Security Council met on 9 November 2006, at the request of the Chargé
d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations, in his
capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of November 2006 and on
behalf of the States members of the League of Arab States (S/2006/868), the Chargé
d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, in his
capacity as Chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Group in New
York and on behalf of the States members of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (S/2006/869), and the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United
Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Coordinating Bureau of the
Non-aligned Movement and on behalf of the States members of the Movement
(S/2006/871). The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Badji, took part in the debate
and made a statement (S/PV.5564 Resumption 1 and Corr. 1). At its 5565th meeting,
on 11 November 2006, the Council voted on a draft resolution submitted by Qatar
(S/2006/878). The result of the vote was 10 votes in favour, 1 against and
4 abstentions. The draft resolution was not adopted owing to the negative vote of a
permanent member (S/PV.5565).
42. The Security Council held its 5584th meeting on 12 December 2006 for its
monthly briefing on the situation in the Middle East. At the end of the meeting, the
President of the Council read out a statement (S/PRST/2006/51) on behalf of the
Council (S/PV.5584).
43. The Security Council also held monthly briefings throughout the year under
the agenda item entitled “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian
question”. Some meetings were followed by a debate.
44. Debates following the monthly briefings were held on 13 February 2007, at
which the Chairman of the Committee, Paul Badji, made a statement (S/PV.5629
Resumption 1); 25 April 2007 (S/PV.5667); and 29 August 2007 (S/PV.5736).
45. On 30 May 2007, the President of the Security Council issued a press
statement on the breakdown of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip (see
SC/9028-PAL/2077).
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee
46. On 26 April 2007, the Bureau of the Committee met with the Under-Secretary-
General for Political Affairs and discussed the latest political developments and the
Committee’s programme of activities.
47. On 11 May 2007, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on the
appointment of experts to the Board of the United Nations Register of Damage
Caused by the Construction of the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
(GA/PAL/1053).
48. On 7 June 2007, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement to mark 40
years of occupation by Israel of the Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem
(GA/PAL/1056).
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49. On 3 July 2007, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement voicing its
grave concern about the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem (GA/PAL/1058).
50. On 20 September, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on Israel’s
decision to declare the Gaza Strip “hostile territory” (GA/PAL/1064).
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions
61/22 and 61/23
1. Programme of international meetings and conferences
51. Through its programme of international meetings and conferences, the
Committee continued to raise international awareness of the various aspects of the
question of Palestine and international support for the rights of the Palestinian
people and the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.
52. In the period under review, the following international events were held under
the auspices of the Committee:
(a) United Nations Asian Meeting in Support of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People, Kuala Lumpur, 15 and 16 December 2006;
(b) United Nations Forum of Civil Society in Support of the Palestinian
People, Kuala Lumpur, 17 December 2006;
(c) United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, Doha,
5 and 6 February 2007;
(d) United Nations International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian
Peace, Rome, 22 and 23 March 2007;
(e) Consultations of the Committee delegation with civil society
organizations on the question of Palestine, Rome, 24 March 2007;
(f) United Nations African Meeting on the Question of Palestine, Pretoria,
9 and 10 May 2007;
(g) Public Forum in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace, Pretoria,
11 May 2007;
(h) United Nations International Conference of Civil Society in Support of
Israeli-Palestinian Peace, European Parliament, Brussels, 30 and 31 August 2007.
53. All of the above events were attended by representatives of Governments,
Palestine, intergovernmental organizations and United Nations system entities, as
well as representatives of civil society and the media. The reports of the meetings
were issued as publications of the Division for Palestinian Rights and were made
available through the United Nations Information System on the Question of
Palestine (UNISPAL) and the Division’s website.
54. In Kuala Lumpur, during the United Nations Asian Meeting in Support of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the Committee delegation was received
by Dato’ Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. In Doha,
in connection with the United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian
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People, the Committee delegation met with Ahmad Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud,
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar. On the margins of the United Nations
International Conference of Civil Society in Support of the Palestinian People held
in Brussels, the Committee delegation had a meeting with Ambassador Jan Grauls,
Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium.
2. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations
55. Throughout the year, the Committee continued its close cooperation with the
African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of the Islamic
Conference through the participation of the Chairman in their meetings and through
periodic consultations at United Nations Headquarters.
56. The Committee continued its cooperation on the question of Palestine with
States members of the European Union. On the sidelines of the United Nations
International Conference of Civil Society in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace in
Brussels, the delegation held separate meetings with Belén Martínez Carbonell,
Member of the Cabinet of European Commissioner for External Affairs, Benita
Ferrero-Waldner; Leonidas Tezapsidis, Head of Near East Unit of the European
Commission; and Ambassador Christian F. Jouret, Head of Unit, Task Force
Mediterranean/Barcelona/Middle East, of the Council of the European Union.
3. Cooperation with civil society
Civil society organizations
57. The Committee continued its work with civil society organizations, academic
institutions, think tanks and media representatives, including consultations with
civil society representatives, participation in meetings organized by civil society
organizations and the accreditation of new organizations. This work was reviewed
and further advanced at the United Nations International Conference of Civil
Society in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace. It gave the civil society
representatives and other participants from all regions of the world, especially from
Europe, an opportunity to highlight their work and coordinate their responses to
recent developments. It provided civil society representatives with an opportunity to
discuss the situation on the ground, and their programmes in support of the
Palestinian people and to improve coordination of their activities. The Committee
was appreciative of the work done by civil society organizations, encouraging them
to continue contributing to efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace
between Israelis and Palestinians.
58. The Committee maintained and developed its liaison with national, regional
and international coordinating mechanisms cooperating with it, in addition to its
established liaison with a large number of individual organizations. Representatives
of civil society participated in all meetings organized under the auspices of the
Committee, including the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People on 29 November 2006. During the period under review, the
Committee also accredited three new organizations. Consultations between the
delegation of the Committee and representatives of organizations accredited to the
Committee were held at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations in Rome on 24 March 2007, following the United Nations International
Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace. Participating civil society
representatives discussed the response of civil society to the continuing
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humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
and exchanged views with the Committee’s delegation on ways to strengthen their
cooperation. Over the past year, the Chairman of the Committee met with
representatives of civil society organizations in New York and at the meetings
organized under the auspices of the Committee away from Headquarters.
59. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained the Internet website “Civil
society network on the Question of Palestine” (http://www.un.org/depts/dpa/ngo) as
a tool for the exchange of information and for cooperation between civil society and
the Committee. At the request of the Committee, the Division also continued to
issue its bimonthly newsletter, NGO Action News, covering the activities of civil
society on the various aspects of the question of Palestine.
Parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations
60. The Committee continued to develop its liaison with national and regional
parliaments and their organizations and invited a number of parliamentarians to
speak at its meetings. During the year, the Bureau of the Committee has met with
members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Knesset and other national
parliaments. The holding of the annual United Nations International Conference of
Civil Society in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace at the European Parliament in
Brussels in August 2007 resulted in new synergies between the Committee,
Parliamentarians and civil society, helping to advance the political process.
4. Research, monitoring and publications
61. The Division carried out research and monitoring activities and responded to
requests for information and briefings on the question of Palestine. Under the
guidance of the Committee, which reiterated the relevance of the research,
monitoring and publications programme, it also prepared the publications listed
below for dissemination, including through UNISPAL:
(a) Monthly bulletin on action taken by United Nations and
intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of events relating to the question of Palestine, based
on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of international meetings and conferences organized under the
auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletins and information notes on the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments related to the Middle East peace
process;
(f) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly
and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
5. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
62. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and
library services of the United Nations Secretariat, continued to administer, maintain,
expand and develop UNISPAL and the “Question of Palestine” website, which is
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located on the United Nations home page under “Peace and Security”, pursuant to
successive annual General Assembly mandates. This included the ongoing
maintenance and upgrading of the technical components of the system to ensure the
uninterrupted presence of UNISPAL on the Internet and involved the expansion of
the document collection to include relevant new and old documents. In addition,
steps continued to be taken to enhance the user-friendliness and usefulness of the
system (http://unispal.un.org), including by incorporating additional multimedia
content and a streamlined search facility.
6. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority
63. Two staff members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian
Authority participated in a training programme conducted by the Division from
September to December 2006, in conjunction with the sixty-first session of the
General Assembly. The trainees familiarized themselves with various aspects of the
work of the Secretariat and other organs and conducted research on specific topics.
7. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
64. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
at Headquarters and at the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna on
29 November 2006. On the occasion of the observance at Headquarters, in addition
to a special meeting of the Committee and other activities, a cultural exhibit entitled
“Contextualization: A Palestinian Narrative” was organized by the Permanent
Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations under the auspices of the
Committee. The Committee noted with appreciation that the International Day of
Solidarity had also been observed in many cities throughout the world. Details on
the observance are contained in the special bulletin issued by the Division.
65. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee decided that a similar
observance of the International Day of Solidarity should be organized in 2007.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 61/24
66. The Department of Public Information, pursuant to General Assembly
resolution 61/24, continued to implement its special information programme on the
question of Palestine in order to raise the awareness of the international community
on this question and on the situation in the Middle East in such a way as to
contribute effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the
peace process.
67. During the period under review, the Department covered intergovernmental
meetings and related press briefings using all media at its disposal. The Department
produced a total of 168 press releases, providing summaries in English and French
of formal meetings and briefings, and distributed live television coverage to
broadcasters around the world. Television coverage was also posted on the Internet
(“webcast”) for easy viewing.
68. Two short television features were produced by UNTV for its “United Nations
in Action” programme and a longer feature, focusing on the effects of the intifada
on children, was produced for the Department’s new television magazine
programme “21st Century”. Close to 30 video packages were distributed via satellite
feed to broadcast points around the world on a range of issues related to the question
of Palestine.
69. In news reports and features, United Nations Radio covered a number of
issues, including the Organization’s humanitarian work, diplomatic engagement, the
subject of inalienable human rights and critical events of the day, producing
hundreds of radio programmes in the six official languages and in Portuguese for
distribution to broadcast partners. The Arabic Language Unit reported on the
meetings held in Doha and Rome and on other meetings organized by the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
70. The United Nations News Centre, the most heavily visited web portal managed
by the Department, continuously highlighted stories related to the question of
Palestine in the six official languages. In addition, a special focus page on the
Middle East provided an in-depth and user-friendly venue for accessing information
on the issue.
71. As part of its special information programme on Palestine, the Department
organized a training programme for nine young Palestinian journalists at
Headquarters and in Washington, D.C., from 6 November to 11 December 2006. The
programme was aimed at strengthening the capacities of the participants as print
media professionals.
72. In cooperation with the Foreign Ministry of Japan and the United Nations
University, the Department organized the fifteenth International Media Seminar on
Peace in the Middle East in Tokyo on 26 and 27 June 2007. Press releases were
issued on the proceedings. The seminar was covered by all the major Japanese
media and by select Israeli, Palestinian and international media.
73. The UN Chronicle magazine regularly reported on Palestine in its General
Assembly coverage, in particular on the work of the Fourth and Sixth Committees,
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20 07-53114
and carried an opinion piece by Gregory Levey on the communication breakdown
between the Israeli and the Palestinian authorities. It also featured a number of web
articles on the difficult future of Gaza, the new humanitarian symbol of the red
crystal and the Unlearning Intolerance Seminar on Cartooning for Peace organized
by the Outreach Division, which included discussion on the question of Palestine.
74. The Dag Hammarskjöld Library continued to digitize relevant documents for
the UNISPAL document collection.
75. The network of United Nations information centres, services and offices
continued to disseminate information on the question of Palestine and to organize
special outreach activities. The information centres engaged in over 20 activities in
recognition of Palestinian rights. A major focus of activities was the promotion of
the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The Department
assisted in the installation of the annual exhibit on the question of Palestine at
Headquarters. The Secretary-General’s message for the Day was widely
disseminated in official and non-official languages. In Tunis, the information centre
organized a weeklong public exhibition and an observance of the Day. A solemn
meeting to commemorate the day was organized by the information centre in
Dar-es-Salaam, in collaboration with the Embassy of Palestine. The Regional
Information Centre in Brussels provided assistance and press coverage for the
March mission of the Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to Brussels for three days of
meetings with European Union officials. The information centre in Cairo translated
and disseminated widely the press release issued by the Special Committee to
Investigate Israeli Practices affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People
and other Arabs of the Occupied Territories and arranged a press conference for the
Special Committee.
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
76. The year 2007 marked 40 years of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem. The Committee emphasizes that the
occupation is the root cause of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For 40 years, the
occupying Power has systematically altered the Palestinian land by
implementing its illegal policy of building settlements and, more recently,
constructing a wall in the West Bank, including around East Jerusalem.
Continued closures, the sealing-off of the Gaza Strip, unrelenting Israeli
incursions into Palestinian population centres and the humiliating system of
checkpoints throughout the West Bank have had a most destructive effect on
the lives of the Palestinian people and have rendered the Palestinian Authority
nearly dysfunctional. The situation has further deteriorated owing to the
polarization within Palestinian society, which led, in June 2007, to an armed
takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas forces. The Committee noted rising
international awareness of the fact that a comprehensive, just and lasting peace
in the region would remain elusive until the national rights of the Palestinian
people have been realized. In addition, there appears to be greater
consciousness that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the major underlying
factors of the rift between Western and Islamic societies.
77. The Committee calls upon Israel to end its military operations in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and to stop any other measures that further
undermine Palestinian institutions. It again reminds Israel, the occupying
Power, that it is bound by the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Times of War, which obliges parties to the Convention to
protect civilians during hostilities. Its applicability to the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, has been repeatedly confirmed by the
General Assembly and the Security Council. Israel must release, immediately
and unconditionally, all imprisoned cabinet members and parliamentarians, as
well as other Palestinian prisoners. The Committee strongly condemns the
killing of innocent civilians by either side. It denounces rocket attacks on Israel
and calls for a cessation of these activities by Palestinian armed groups. The
Committee is strongly opposed to the expansion of settlements in the West Bank
and to efforts to complete the construction of the wall. The Committee
reiterates its position of principle that these activities are contrary to
international humanitarian law and numerous resolutions of the Security
Council and the General Assembly, adopted since 1967, as well as the provisions
of the road map. Israel must cease and reverse all illegal actions in the
Palestinian Territory it has occupied since 1967.
78. The Committee calls upon the Palestinian leadership, the leaders of all
factions and all Palestinians to unite in support of President Abbas, his
government and all democratically elected Palestinian institutions and to
resolve their political differences by peaceful means. The Committee calls for
the restoration of the situation in the Gaza Strip to that which existed prior to
the June events and for measures to be taken to preserve the territorial unity
and integrity of the Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The
Committee firmly believes that the unity of the Palestinian people is an
essential condition for achieving a viable solution of the question of Palestine.
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The Committee supports national dialogue among Palestinians to achieve
national reconciliation. In this regard, the Committee reiterates its
long-standing position that the Palestine Liberation Organization is the sole
legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and, as such, an essential
party to any negotiations aimed at resolving the question of Palestine by
peaceful means.
79. The Committee reiterates that only a negotiated solution can bring about
the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of
Palestine through the establishment of two States, Israel and Palestine, based
on the 1967 borders. A settlement should be based on Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003) in particular,
and other relevant resolutions. It is incumbent on the Security Council to
ensure a speedy and full implementation of its own resolutions. The Council
should decide on effective steps to protect the civilian population, end hostilities
and guide the parties, with the active involvement of the Quartet and regional
actors, to a negotiated settlement. The Committee notes the steps taken by the
Board and its secretariat to commence the mandated work on the United
Nations Register of Damage Caused by the Construction of the Wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and requests all involved to expedite their
efforts to render the Register operational. The Committee is encouraged by
international efforts to relaunch the peace process. For it to succeed it is
necessary to achieve concrete performance-based agreements relating to
permanent status issues and the establishment of a timeline for their
implementation. Any diplomatic process needs to be buttressed by urgent and
meaningful steps on the ground. The continued support of the international
community is crucial for advancing the process, namely a consistent dialogue
between the Quartet and the parties, and the inclusion of regional partners.
The Arab Peace Initiative remains a crucial element for advancing peace in the
region. Member States of the European Union are encouraged to take a more
proactive role in international efforts at resolving the conflict.
80. The Committee is convinced that, through the programme of mandated
activities of the Division for Palestinian Rights, it will be able to continue to
generate heightened international awareness of the various aspects of the
question of Palestine, international support for the rights of the Palestinian
people and the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine. In this
connection, the Committee emphasizes the essential contribution of the Division
in support of its mandate aimed at enabling the Palestinian people to exercise
their inalienable rights. It notes with satisfaction: (a) the level of dialogue,
engagement and support of the international community for its programme
objectives, for instance, in terms of both participation at the meetings convened
and the use of printed and electronic information materials provided by the
Division; (b) the number of civil society organizations that have received
accreditation to the Committee; and (c) the number of pages viewed on the
United Nations website on the question of Palestine. The Committee also
considers that the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian
Authority has proved its usefulness and requests that it be continued.
81. The Committee considers that its programme of international meetings
and conferences contributes to focusing the attention of Governments,
intergovernmental and civil society organizations and the general public on
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07-53114 23
current issues and the need for advancing a peaceful settlement of the conflict.
The meetings also contribute to raising international awareness of the root
cause of the conflict, namely the occupation by Israel of the Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to mobilizing international support
for efforts to resolve the conflict. The Committee will continue the programme
to foster support for the attainment by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
rights, the right to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty,
and the right of Palestine refugees to return. The Committee, through its
Bureau, will regularly assess the outcomes of the international meetings and
conferences and, where required, decide on steps to enhance their contribution
to the mandated goals of the Committee. In its meetings programme for 2008,
the Committee intends to address issues such as the responsibility of all
Governments to apply international law to all aspects of the question of
Palestine, in accordance with the advisory opinion of the International Court of
Justice; the need to convene the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the
Fourth Geneva Convention in view of the systematic violation by the occupying
Power of international humanitarian law; the sixtieth anniversary of the Nakba
and the need to find a just solution for the Palestine refugee issue; the adverse
consequences of the settlement policy and the construction of the wall for the
achievement of a two-State solution; the collective international responsibility
to protect the Palestinian people; the need to alleviate humanitarian and
socio-economic hardships, including the plight of Palestinian women and
children; and continuing efforts of civil society to build an effective
international solidarity movement.
82. The Committee commends civil society organizations for their efforts to
uphold international legitimacy with regard to the question of Palestine
through advocacy and the mobilization of public opinion and for their
initiatives aimed at alleviating the plight of the Palestinian people. It welcomes
the efforts by organizations worldwide to mark 40 years of the occupation, thus
raising public awareness of the issue. The Committee appreciates the support it
receives from the Secretariat in strengthening cooperation with civil society.
The Committee encourages civil society organizations to broaden their base,
involving trade unions and other large organizations, and to focus and
harmonize their advocacy efforts at the local, national, regional and
international levels with respect to the legal obligations of Governments, as
emphasized in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. It
supports all humanitarian and assistance initiatives geared towards improving
the daily lives of the Palestinians. The Committee will continue to involve
parliamentarians in its programme of international meetings and conferences.
The Committee is of the opinion that the experience and political influence of
lawmakers and their organizations can be instrumental in consolidating the
democratic process and institution-building in the territory under the
Palestinian Authority, strengthening political dialogue between the parties, and
in applying norms of international law to efforts at resolving the conflict.
83. The Committee requests the Division to continue its substantive and
secretariat support; the programme of research, monitoring and publications
and other informational activities, such as the further expansion and
development of UNISPAL, including the graphic enhancement of the “Question
of Palestine” website; the annual training programme for staff of the
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24 07-53114
Palestinian Authority; and the annual observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
84. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and public opinion of the
relevant issues. The Committee requests the continuation of the programme,
with the necessary flexibility, as warranted by developments relevant to the
question of Palestine.
85. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, and in view of the many
difficulties facing the Palestinian people and besetting the peace process, the
Committee calls upon all States to join it in this endeavour and to extend their
cooperation and support to the Committee, and invites the General Assembly
again to recognize the importance of its role and to reconfirm its mandate.
07-53114 (E) 011107
*0753114*
A/63/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-third Session
Supplement No. 35
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-third Session
Supplement No. 35
United Nations • New York, 2008
A/63/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters
combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United
Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
[7 October 2008]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 62/80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1. Action taken in the Security Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance
with General Assembly resolutions 62/80 and 62/81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1. Programme of international meetings and conferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3. Cooperation with civil society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4. Research, monitoring and publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
6. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
7. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 62/82. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
iv
Letter of transmittal
[6 October 2008]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 2 of its resolution 62/80 of
10 December 2007.
The report covers the period from 5 October 2007 to 6 October 2008.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Paul Badji
Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
A/63/35
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as recognized by the
Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the General
Assembly1 were endorsed by the Assembly as a basis for the solution of the
question of Palestine. In its subsequent reports,2 the Committee has continued to
stress that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions and the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel from the
Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and from the
other occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in the region to live
in peace within secure and internationally recognized boundaries; and the
recognition and exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The
recommendations of the Committee contained in its first report could not be
implemented, and the Assembly each year renewed the Committee’s mandate and
requested it to intensify efforts in pursuit of its objectives.
3. Since 1991, the Committee has consistently supported the peace process. It
welcomed the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference that launched the Middle East peace
process based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). It also
welcomed the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements
(A/48/486-S/26560, annex) and subsequent implementation agreements. The
Committee has strongly supported the vision of two States, Israel and Palestine,
living side by side within secure and recognized borders on the basis of the 1949
armistice lines, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions, including
Security Council resolutions 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003). The Committee
welcomed and supported the Quartet’s road map and called on the parties to
implement it. In keeping with its mandate, the Committee continued to work
towards creating conditions that would allow the Palestinian people to realize its
inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination and to its own
independent State, on all of the Palestinian territory occupied in 1967, including
East Jerusalem. The Committee also promotes support and assistance by the
international community to the Palestinian people.
4. The reporting period was characterized by the dichotomy between the
resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian political negotiations and intensified
international engagement on the issue, and a deteriorating situation on the ground.
5. On 27 November 2007, representatives of more than 50 Governments and
intergovernmental organizations met at a conference, spearheaded by the Quartet
and convened by the United States of America, in Annapolis, Maryland, which led
__________________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Since the thirty-first session, the Committee has submitted annual reports to the General
Assembly; all such reports have been issued as supplement No. 35 of the sessional
documentation of the Assembly.
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2 08-53942
to a resumption of permanent status negotiations between Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO) with the declared goal of reaching a two-State
solution. Israel and PLO also renewed their commitment to implementing their
respective obligations under the road map. The conference marked a new level of
involvement on the part of the international community, with major stakeholders
from all regions supporting a rigorous timetable for the finalization of the
negotiations between the parties. The Committee welcomed the outcome of the
meeting and pledged to work towards creating a climate conducive to the
advancement of the permanent status negotiations. The resumption of the
negotiations was further bolstered by the Paris donors’ conference held in December
2007, which resulted in substantial pledges towards the Palestinian Reform and
Development Plan.
6. At the same time, throughout the reporting period, the Israeli army continued
to conduct military operations in Palestinian population centres, causing the deaths
of and injury to many Palestinian civilians. The actions of Israel included
extrajudicial killings, house demolitions and arrests. The Gaza Strip remained sealed
off by the occupying Power for the greater part of the year, with Israel allowing only
the most basic supplies to pass through checkpoints to avoid a large-scale
humanitarian catastrophe. The response by armed Palestinian groups included rocket
and mortar fire, sniper shootings and a suicide attack within Israel, resulting in
Israeli casualties, including among civilians.
7. The Palestinian Authority, pursuant to its road map obligations, continued to
consolidate, reform and train its security services, deploying them in major West
Bank cities. In June, through Egyptian mediation, a Gaza ceasefire was agreed that
has been by and large observed by the parties. The calm resulting from the ceasefire
has led to more frequent openings of Israeli checkpoints for the passage of goods.
However, the ceasefire did not result in a significant improvement in the dire living
conditions of the civilian population in Gaza.
8. The Government of Israel, in violation of international law, United Nations
resolutions and its road map obligations, continued to expand Israeli settlements,
including in and around East Jerusalem. The construction of the wall on Palestinian
land also continued, in contravention of the advisory opinion of the International
Court of Justice (see A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1). The number of military checkpoints
throughout the West Bank exceeded 600, stifling Palestinian economic activity and
further worsening the daily hardships experienced by the Palestinian population.
The lack of tangible progress in the situation on the ground had a negative effect on
the ongoing negotiations between the parties.
9. Through its activities, the Committee sought to support the momentum created
at Annapolis towards the successful conclusion of the permanent settlement
negotiations. The Committee warned repeatedly that without visible improvement in
the situation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the negotiations were doomed to
fail and repeatedly reminded Israel, the occupying Power, of its obligations under
international law. The Committee cautioned that the continuation of a policy of fait
accompli on the ground posed a grave threat to the prospects for a peaceful,
negotiated solution of the conflict. Moreover, it precludes any possibility of
improving the economic and humanitarian situation and is making a two-State
solution virtually impossible to achieve.
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10. The Committee remained concerned about the internal Palestinian divisions
blocking national reconciliation and the reunification of the West Bank and Gaza
under the Palestinian Authority. It expressed support for all efforts of Arab and other
countries, as well as the initiatives of the President of the Palestinian Authority,
Mahmoud Abbas, aimed at restoring Palestinian national unity as a necessity on the
path towards a permanent settlement of the question of Palestine.
11. At a meeting marking 60 years since the dispossession of the Palestinian
people in the Nakba of 1948, the Chairman of the Committee, Paul Badji, urged the
international community to live up to its responsibility to bring about a just solution
of the question of Palestine. Support should be given to advancing the political
process, bolstering it through real changes on the ground, thereby enabling the
parties to make progress in negotiations on all the permanent status issues.
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Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
12. On 10 December 2007, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (see
resolution 62/80), requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources to
carry out its programme of work (see resolution 62/81) and requested the
continuation of the special information programme on the question of Palestine of
the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat (see resolution 62/82). On
the same date, the Assembly adopted resolution 62/83 entitled “Peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine”.
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Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
13. By General Assembly decision 62/553 of 11 September 2008, Nicaragua was
appointed as a member of the Committee, increasing the membership to 23. The
Committee is encouraged by this expression of growing support for its work. The
Committee is accordingly composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and
Ukraine.
14. At its 307th meeting, on 14 February 2008, the Committee re-elected Paul
Badji (Senegal) as Chairman, Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz (Cuba) and Zahir Tanin
(Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairmen and Saviour F. Borg (Malta) as Rapporteur.
15. Also at the 307th meeting, the Committee adopted its programme of work for
2008 (A/AC.183/2008/CRP.1).
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
16. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all United Nations
Member States and observers wishing to participate in the work of the Committee as
observers were welcome to do so. In accordance with established practice, Palestine
participated in the work of the Committee as an observer, attended all of its
meetings and made observations and proposals for consideration by the Committee
and its Bureau.
17. In 2008, the Committee again welcomed as observers all States and
organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding year.3
__________________
3 The observers at the Committee meetings were: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Ecuador,
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, the
Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela
(Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Yemen, as well as the African Union, the League of
Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and Palestine.
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Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
18. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to monitor the situation
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as relevant
political developments. The Committee called to mind that 60 years had passed
since the Nakba, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced to leave
their homes and property following the Arab-Israeli hostilities of 1948. By the time
armistice agreements were signed in 1949, Israeli forces had taken control of large
parts of British Mandate Palestine, areas that became the new State of Israel. The
Committee recalled that the conflict had resulted in the expulsion and mass flight of
some 800,000 Palestine refugees, who left behind their homes, land and property.
Today, the original Palestine refugees and their descendants are estimated to number
more than 7 million persons and constitute the world’s oldest and largest refugee
population. The Committee maintained that the just resolution of the issue of
Palestine refugees on the basis of General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 1948
was central to a lasting solution of the question of Palestine, along with the other
permanent status issues of Jerusalem, settlements, borders, water and security.
Overall, the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, remained of great concern. Despite the continuation of the political
process and the efforts of the parties to overcome their differences and move ahead
towards the achievement of a peaceful settlement of the conflict, minimal progress
has been made.
19. Late in 2007, international efforts for a resumption of the peace process
intensified. Encouraged by the Quartet, a number of regional meetings were held,
culminating in the international conference held at Annapolis on 27 November
under the auspices of the United States of America. The conference resulted in a
joint understanding between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, committing them to
relaunching the permanent status negotiations, resolving all outstanding issues,
making every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008 and
implementing their respective obligations under the road map. Members of the
League of Arab States underlined their continued support for the Arab Peace
Initiative (A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221) and their belief in
the need to achieve comprehensive peace in the region. Following the Annapolis
conference, on 12 December, Israeli-Palestinian negotiations formally began, with a
meeting of the joint steering committee headed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs
of Israel, Tzipi Livni, and the Palestinian Chief Negotiator, Ahmed Qureia. The
Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert, and the President of the Palestinian
Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, held meetings frequently, starting on 27 December
2007. In 2008, the leaders met on 8 and 27 January, 7 and 13 April, 5 May, 2 June,
13 July, 6 and 31 August and 16 September.
20. The Annapolis conference, followed by the International donors’ conference
for the Palestinian State, held in Paris on 17 December, co-chaired by France,
Norway, the European Union and Quartet representative Tony Blair, provided
important impetus to the peace process. The Secretary-General, 68 States and
international institutions participated in the Paris conference, which was aimed at
securing financial support for the Palestinian Authority. Donors commended the
Palestinian Reform and Development Plan presented by Palestinian Prime Minister
Salam Fayyad, and pledged $7.4 billion in assistance. The Quartet met members of
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the League of Arab States on the margins of the conference. Subsequent Quartet
meetings at the principals’ level were held on 2 May (London) and 24 June (Berlin),
expressing concern about the situation on the ground, including the continued
closure of the Gaza Strip and continued Israeli settlement construction in the West
Bank, and calling for implementation of the road map and continuation and
intensification of negotiations between the two sides aimed at resolving all
permanent status issues.
21. In the meantime, the situation on the ground remained a cause of great
concern. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued to conduct deadly military
incursions into the Gaza Strip, targeting militants responsible for rocket attacks. On
15 January, IDF entered the Gaza Strip and engaged Hamas militants in a heavy
battle, which included air and tank operations. Forty-two Palestinians, including
civilians, were killed, and 117 were injured by IDF as a result of 8 ground
incursions, 15 air strikes and the firing of 10 surface-to-surface missiles over a
period of one week.
22. In February and March, there was another major escalation in violence, with
heavy Israeli air and land assaults on the Gaza Strip. The IDF operation “Hot
Winter”, launched on 29 February, lasted for five days. The Bureau of the
Committee issued a statement on 29 February (see para. 63 below). On 1 March, 59
Palestinians were killed, including 39 civilians, among them women and children.
During the same five-day period, over 390 rockets and mortar rounds were fired at
Israel. The Security Council held an emergency meeting on 1 March (see para. 57
below). The Secretary-General condemned the excessive and disproportionate use of
force and the killing of civilians. He also condemned indiscriminate rocket fire and
called for an immediate cessation of such rocket attacks. Violence also spread to
Jerusalem and the West Bank. On 16 April, 12 Palestinian civilians, including
children and a news cameraman, were killed in Israeli action against militants
following the killing of three Israeli soldiers.
23. Attacks by Palestinian militants also continued, and included a suicide attack
in Dimona on 4 February, which killed one Israeli, and a shooting at a Jewish
seminary in West Jerusalem, in which eight Israeli students were killed. An attack
on 9 April on the Nahal Oz fuel depot killed two Israeli civilians. On 19 April, an
attack using armoured vehicles and explosives against the Kerem Shalom crossing
injured 13 soldiers. On 22 May, a suicide bombing attack caused significant
structural damage to the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. The blast also damaged
electricity lines between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Three Israeli civilians were killed
on 2 July, when a Palestinian used a bulldozer to attack vehicles in West Jerusalem.
In a similar incident on 22 July, at least 16 people were injured.
24. The Committee denounced the excessive and indiscriminate use of force by
Israel, the occupying Power, against the Palestinian civilian population in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The Committee strongly
condemned extrajudicial killings, the destruction of Palestinian homes, civilian
infrastructure and agricultural lands and the attendant devastating effects on the
Palestinian population. At the same time, it strongly condemned all attacks against
Israeli civilians and infrastructure. As of March, it was estimated that, since the start
of the second intifada in 2000, nearly 5,500 Palestinians had been killed and some
32,600 wounded by Israeli forces. By June, at least 994 Palestinian children under
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the age of 18 had died as a result of the violence. The number of Israelis killed
during the same period was 1,130.
25. Complying with road map phase I obligations, the Palestinian Authority
deployed 300 security forces in Nablus in November 2007, leading to a significant
improvement in the security environment in the area. On 3 May 2008, some 480
security officers were deployed in Jenin. However, citing security concerns, IDF
continued operations in the West Bank. Such actions were regarded as seriously
undermining the Palestinian Authority’s security efforts. Improved security
performance would be sustainable only through intensified Israeli-Palestinian
cooperation. The Berlin Conference in Support of Palestinian Civil Security and the
Rule of Law, held on 24 June, focused on strengthening the Palestinian police and
justice sectors.
26. On 19 June, an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire was declared, bringing about
some improvement in the security situation in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel.
However, Israel did not extend the ceasefire to the West Bank, as repeatedly called
for by the Palestinian Authority, and continued to carry out military operations and
arrest campaigns. An IDF raid into Nablus on 24 June, launched without any prior
contact with Palestinian security forces in the area, killed two Palestinians. IDF also
closed down and seized equipment belonging to alleged Hamas-affiliated
institutions, including schools, medical centres, media outlets and civil society
organizations. Thirty-six civil society organizations were outlawed in the city.
27. Despite its claim that it was removing physical obstructions to ease movement,
Israel continued to impose sweeping restrictions on Palestinian movement in the
West Bank. An increasing number of obstacles to movement and access and
continued construction of the wall and settlement expansion served to worsen the
humanitarian situation. In August, 608 closure obstacles were erected by Israel in
the West Bank.
28. There has been a marked increase in Palestinian home demolitions by Israel in
2008. There were 138 demolitions in the West Bank between January and March,
compared with 29 in the last three months of 2007. Some 400 Palestinians were
displaced as a result. A significant portion of the demolition orders issued in the past
two years related to structures in Bedouin villages in the Jordan Valley, including
Al-Hadidiya, Al-Farsiya, Al-Jiftlik and Al-’Aqabah. Home demolitions have also
continued in occupied East Jerusalem. In addition, in January alone, Israeli forces
uprooted 3,200 trees and destroyed water cisterns and stone terraces/retaining walls
in fields near Beit Ula, north-west of Hebron.
29. In the Gaza Strip, the continuing blockade imposed by Israel in response to the
election of Hamas in 2006 and its de facto takeover in June 2007 continued to inflict
a severe toll on the 1.5 million residents. The suffocating closure of border crossings
continued to obstruct the movement of persons and goods into and out of the area, a
collective punishment of the entire Palestinian civilian population there. Farmers
have been crippled by continued border closures, which did not allow produce to
reach markets. The agricultural sector has suffered owing to repeated incursions,
which have destroyed orchards and fields, and as the Israeli authorities prevented
the planting of anything over 40 cm high, farmers were limited to growing cash
crops such as strawberries and potatoes. Driven by need and diminishing supplies,
up to half of the population of the Gaza Strip poured across the border into Egypt on
23 January, reflecting the desperation felt by Gazans, who had been effectively
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isolated for more than eight months. By January, imports into the Gaza Strip had
dropped by 77 per cent, and exports from Gaza by 98 per cent. On 18 January, Israel
imposed a comprehensive closure of the Gaza Strip, halting the import of fuel, food
and medical and relief items. Some 40 per cent of the population of Gaza did not
have regular access to running water. Gaza hospitals at times experienced power
cuts for between 8 and 12 hours a day, hampering critical procedures. Hospitals
were running on generators, limiting their activities to intensive care units only.
Most Palestinians could not exit Gaza. By 8 August, at least 233 Palestinian patients
had died after permission to exit Gaza for medical treatment had been denied or
delayed. While the number of trucks entering through the Sufa and Al-Muntar
(Karni) crossings increased by 54 per cent during the four weeks following the
Egyptian-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas agreed on 19 June, the
import level stood at approximately 30 per cent of the level before June 2007,
bringing little relief to Gazans.
30. Egypt continued its efforts aimed at defusing tensions between Fatah and
Hamas, particularly in the Gaza Strip, and at facilitating the gradual reopening of
crossings in coordination with the parties. On 5 June, President Abbas called for a
national dialogue to implement the Yemen initiative on Palestinian national
reconciliation, which called for a resumption of dialogue in line with the Mecca
Agreement and for the return of the situation in the Gaza Strip to that existing
before June 2007 (S/2008/201, annex). The Secretary-General stated that unity
among Palestinians was very important and expressed the hope that the parties
concerned would resolve all issues through dialogue in a peaceful manner.
31. The PLO Negotiations Affairs Department estimated that, as of August, almost
11,000 Palestinians were being held in Israeli prisons or detention camps, including
2,700 Palestinians arrested in 2008, most of them from the West Bank. Some 9,000
were identified as political prisoners, including 326 minors and 94 women. Some 49
Palestinian Legislative Council members have been detained for two years under
administrative detention without charge or trial. About 85 per cent of the detainees,
in particular children, had been subjected to abuse, beating and humiliation before
and during questioning. It was also estimated that, since 1967, Israel had detained
and imprisoned almost 700,000 Palestinians, constituting one fifth of the entire
Palestinian population of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. On 3 December 2007,
Israel released 429 prisoners, followed by the release of 198 prisoners on 25 August.
Both releases were described as “goodwill gestures”.
32. In contravention of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice,
Israel continued the illegal construction of the separation wall on Palestinian land in
deviation from the armistice lines of 1949. As of May, 409 km of the wall, or 57 per
cent of the planned route, had been built. Another 66 km (9 per cent) were under
construction, and the construction of 248 km (34 per cent) had not yet begun. Upon
completion of the wall, 11.9 per cent of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,
would lie west of the wall or be surrounded completely or partially by it. Those
areas are home to 498,000 Palestinians (222,500 in East Jerusalem), living in 92
towns and villages. The wall would de facto annex 60 settlements (including 12 in
East Jerusalem) in which 381,000 Israelis live. In July, the defence establishment
agreed to dismantle a 2.4 km stretch of the separation wall north of Qalqilya. The
move would return 2,600 dunums of agricultural land to its Palestinian owners. The
dismantled stretch would be replaced by 4.9 km of fencing closer to the Green Line,
as ordered by the Israeli High Court of Justice. In August, the Israeli Government
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decided to re-route a section of the wall near the biggest West Bank settlement of
“Ma’ale Adumim”, which would allow about 4,000 dunums of Palestinian land to
remain on the eastern side of the wall.
33. In the period under review, Israel continued settlement activity in the West
Bank, particularly in and around East Jerusalem. As of July 2008, there were
approximately 4,000 settlement units under construction in the West Bank and East
Jerusalem. Construction commenced on 275 new buildings in 53 settlements; 81 per
cent were located in areas of the Occupied Palestinian Territory now west of the
separation wall. It was estimated that 40 per cent of the West Bank was taken up by
Israeli infrastructure — settlements, roads and military bases — which was largely
off-limits to Palestinians. The rest of the land has been broken up into enclaves,
which are separated from each other and controlled by checkpoints and roadblocks.
On 15 October 2007, Jerusalem’s committee on planning and construction voted in
favour of permitting settlers to reside in a five-storey building located in the middle
of the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan, despite the fact that it had been
built without a permit. The building had been slated for evacuation.
34. On 4 December 2007, the Israeli Construction and Housing Ministry published
tenders for the construction of 307 housing units in the East Jerusalem settlement of
“Har Homa” (Jabal Abu Ghneim), home to approximately 4,000 settlers. Also in
“Har Homa”, plans to construct more than 1,000 housing units on “absentee land”
belonging to Palestinians were approved by the Jerusalem municipal planning board
on 7 January. Tenders for 120 more homes were approved for “Har Homa” on
30 May, and in July, the construction of 1,800 new housing units was approved for
“Har Homa” and “Pisgat Ze’ev”.
35. On 1 January 2008, tenders for 440 units in East Jerusalem’s “East Talpiot”
settlement were announced by the Israel Land Administration. On 7 January, the
construction of 60 housing units in the East Jerusalem settlement of Ras al-Amud
commenced. Prime Minister Olmert approved the construction of 750 homes in the
West Bank settlement of “Givat Ze’ev” on 8 March 2008. Approximately 50 units
were approved in the “Gilo” settlement following the Annapolis conference. On
31 March, the Jerusalem municipality announced plans to build 600 new houses in
the “Pisgat Ze’ev” settlement in East Jerusalem. More Palestinian property was
confiscated to build a light rail system connecting the settlements in occupied East
Jerusalem with West Jerusalem, further isolating East Jerusalem from the rest of the
West Bank. In all, 9,617 new housing units have been built in East Jerusalem in the
short period following the Annapolis conference.
36. On 8 April, the Israeli Vice Premier, Haim Ramon, reportedly confirmed that
the “Ofra” settlement had been built on privately owned Palestinian land. On
18 April, the Construction and Housing Ministry invited construction firms to bid
for the rights to build 48 houses in the “Ariel” settlement and a further 52 houses in
the “Elkana” settlement. On 30 April, Israeli police began operating in a new police
station located in the so-called E1 area near the “Ma’ale Adumim” settlement.
37. On 9 May, the Israeli Interior Ministry established a new municipality in the
West Bank that included the “Ariel” bloc settlements of “Elkana”, “Etz Efraim”,
“Oranit” and “Sha’arei Tikva”, with a total population of more than 13,200 settlers.
This measure removed the four settlements from their traditional authorities, paving
the way for their further development and expansion.
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38. On 21 May, the Construction and Housing Ministry announced a plan to build
286 new houses in the “Beitar Ilit” settlement near Bethlehem. On 14 July, the
Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour approved the expansion of the
industrial park in the “Ariel” settlement, allowing for the construction of 27
factories and tripling the size of the settlement’s industrial park.
39. On 13 June, the Israeli Interior Ministry confirmed plans to build 1,300
additional apartments in the “Ramat Shlomo” settlement in East Jerusalem. On
19 June, in Al-Mazra’a Al-Qabaliya, north-west of Ramallah, Israeli military
bulldozers razed about 500 dunums of land, which are slated to be used for settler
agricultural projects and for a new settlement. On 24 July, the Foreign Affairs and
Defence Committee of the Knesset approved the construction of 20 new housing
units at “Maskiyot”, establishing a new settlement in the Jordan Rift Valley in the
West Bank.
40. According to reports available to the Committee, the Israeli Government was
responsible for much of the increase in settlement construction. According to some
accounts, the number of Government tenders for building in the settlements in the
first half of 2008 increased by 550 per cent.
41. More than 480,000 Israeli settlers reside in settlements in the West Bank,
including more than 200,000 who live in occupied East Jerusalem. There are
approximately 440 settlements, outposts, military bases and other occupation sites,
including 144 settlements, 96 outposts inside settlement boundaries, 48 military
bases and other sites in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. While Palestinians
constitute over 50 per cent of the population of East Jerusalem, only 7.3 per cent of
its land is available for Palestinian construction.
42. Settler violence, harassment and intimidation of Palestinian civilians have also
continued. On 31 March, settlers in Hebron sealed with glue the entrances to six
stores belonging to Palestinians. They also sealed off the entrance to the office of
the Islamic Waqf at the Tomb of the Patriarchs. On 24 July, more than 20 settlers
attacked the Palestinian village of Burin near Nablus, smashing cars and windows
and cutting electrical wires. Israeli security officials on 18 August raised concerns
about an increase in violence by settlers in the West Bank. On 13 September, armed
settlers from “Yitzhar” fired at the residents of a Palestinian village, vandalizing
property and agricultural land.
43. Israeli restrictions on the Palestinians continued to be the main cause of the
economic downturn, with gross domestic product (GDP) increasingly driven by
Government spending and donor aid. Limited resources were available for
investment, further reducing the productive base for a self-sustaining economy. Real
GDP was negative in the first half of 2007, but began to recover in the West Bank
during the second half of the year. As a result of the situation in the Gaza Strip,
however, real GDP growth in 2007 was estimated to be zero. During the reporting
period, the socio-economic situation of residents in the Gaza Strip took a turn for
the worse. Some 80 per cent of families were reliant on humanitarian aid, compared
with 63 per cent in 2006, and unemployment was approaching 50 per cent. In 2006,
some 3,900 factories employed 35,000 people, but by December 2007, there were
just 195 factories left, employing 1,700. Construction projects estimated at $240
million came to a halt, resulting in 42,000 workers being laid off. The number of
households earning less than $1.20 per person per day rose from 55 per cent to
70 per cent. As a result of border crossing closures, estimated lost income from
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strawberry sales alone during the 2007-2008 season was approximately $7 million.
The reduction in fuel supplies began on 28 October 2007. In February, gasoline
(diesel) supply dropped by approximately 67 per cent and benzine by about 80 per cent.
44. In the course of the year, in order to advance economic development, the
Palestinian Authority finalized its 2008-2010 Reform and Development Plan and
began implementing nearly 200 development projects, worth $250 million. A further
226 projects were approved by the Government. On 13 May, Quartet representative
Tony Blair announced a package of measures to stimulate economic development.
Implementation advanced, with selected obstacles to movement being removed and
a telecommunications contract being signed between Israel and the Palestinian
Authority. However, progress in relaxing movement and access of persons and
goods remained slow. The 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access has yet to be
implemented. While the fiscal performance of the Palestinian Authority has
improved somewhat, there was a budget shortfall of $400 million for the period
from October through the end of 2008, which means that salaries might not be paid
for that period, unless donors fulfil outstanding pledges and direct assistance to
budget support.
45. The isolation of the Gaza Strip has had the most dramatic impact on women
and, in particular, children, who account for more than 56 per cent of the population.
Restricted access to food, water and medicine seriously affected newborn babies and
pregnant mothers. Many babies were born suffering from anaemia inherited from
their mothers. Of every 1,000 born, 28 die from malnutrition, anaemia and other
poverty-related diseases. In 2002, 19 per cent of Gazans suffered from anaemia. In
2008, the figure was 77.5 per cent. Children received on average only 61 per cent of
their daily calorie requirement from United Nations supplies. There were
approximately 25,000 deaf and hearing-impaired people, many of whom had no
specialist support service. About 2,000 children dropped out of school. Electricity
cuts disrupted teaching, shortening the school day. There was a nearly 80 per cent
failure rate among students in grades four to nine, with the rate increasing to 90 per
cent in mathematics.
46. Throughout the occupation, problems compounding the water crisis have
included Israel’s discriminatory policy in distributing joint water resources in the
West Bank and the limits it placed on the ability of the Palestinian Authority to drill
new wells. The crisis has worsened in 2008 because of a serious drought. West Bank
per capita water use was about 66 litres a day, two thirds of the minimum of 100
litres recommended by the World Health Organization in order to ensure that all
health concerns were met. Per capita water consumption by the settlers in the West
Bank was 3.5 times that of Palestinians, or more than 200 litres per day. In the Gaza
Strip, over-extraction from the coastal aquifer has led to seawater intrusion, and
groundwater resources have been heavily contaminated. The blockade imposed on
the Gaza Strip since January 2006 has pushed the water and sanitation sectors to the
brink of collapse due to lack of investment. Some communities had access to only
14 litres of water per capita daily. Because of the lack of fuel, the Gaza Power
Generating Company has had to cut the power supply, leaving Gaza’s 1.5 million
people with daily power cuts of up to eight hours, reducing access to drinking water.
47. The humanitarian situation of the 1.5 million people in the Gaza Strip has
become increasingly grave, making the work of the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) even more
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critical. Gazans were caught between the Israeli closure, which amounted to
collective punishment, and repeated militant attacks. The low levels of fuel delivery
had an impact on all sectors of life, forcing UNRWA, for the first time, to suspend
food distribution to 650,000 people.
48. In order to save fuel, UNRWA gave priority to food distribution, solid-waste
removal and sewerage projects. Doctors, nurses, teachers and social workers were
obliged to walk to work. Between 30 and 50 per cent of ambulances could not be
used owing to the shortage of fuel and spare parts. Another consequence was the
daily dumping of approximately 55,000 litres of raw and partially treated sewage
into the Mediterranean Sea. In June 2008, new procedures applied to the movement
of United Nations agencies in the West Bank, including property searches and
refusal to accept United Nations identification documents, caused increasing
operational concerns and difficulties among staff on the ground.
49. According to a survey conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations, the World Food Programme and UNRWA in May 2008, soaring
food prices, falling incomes and growing unemployment had brought Palestinian
purchasing power to an all-time low, jeopardizing the livelihoods of Palestinians and
leading to heavy debt and changes in family eating habits. Rising food and fuel
prices, coupled with the closure regime imposed upon the Gaza Strip, meant that aid
agencies found it increasingly expensive to deliver aid to the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip. The consequences of the stepped-up violence in and around the Gaza
Strip had dire consequences for civilians. Since January, 68 Palestinian children
have been killed in the Gaza Strip, including UNRWA schoolchildren.
50. UNRWA implemented an emergency appeal to help approximately 170,000
refugee families cope with additional economic hardship. Owing to funding
shortfalls, the Agency was able to provide only a fraction of the relief required to
meet the ever-increasing needs.
51. The Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People of the United Nations
Development Programme launched its midterm strategic framework 2008-2011,
reinforcing its commitment to supporting socio-economic development in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, exploring new approaches and drawing on its
corporate capacities and strategic partnerships. Priorities included poverty reduction
and democratic governance. The document itself was the outcome of cooperation
and coordination between UNDP and the Palestinian Authority. Since the
establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1994, the Programme of Assistance to
the Palestinian People, in partnership with public and private institutions, civil
society and donors has invested more than $700 million in support of the Palestinian
people.
52. The Committee also continued to express appreciation for the work of the
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory. It noted that the scope of the consolidated appeal for 2008
focused on delivering humanitarian assistance, increased protection of civilians,
enhanced monitoring and reporting on the humanitarian situation and the
strengthening of United Nations humanitarian coordination structures.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 62/80
53. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to mobilize the
international community in support of the Palestinian people, in cooperation with
United Nations bodies, Governments, intergovernmental and civil society
organizations and others, as indicated below.
54. On 20 June 2008, to mark the 60 years of dispossession of Palestine refugees,
the Committee held a special meeting at United Nations Headquarters.
1. Action taken in the Security Council
Meetings of the Security Council
55. During the period under review, the Security Council continued to monitor the
situation on the ground and the efforts to implement the road map. It held monthly
briefings throughout the year under the agenda item entitled “The situation in the
Middle East, including the Palestinian question”.
56. The Council held its 5824th meeting on 22 January 2008, at the request of the
Chairman of the Arab Group (S/2008/31). Twenty-eight speakers took the floor
during an open debate (S/PV.5824 and Resumption 1).
57. The Council held its 5847th meeting on 1 March 2008, at the request of the
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (S/2008/142), to consider the deteriorating situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory due to continuing Israeli military attacks on the
civilian population (S/PV.5847).
58. An open debate following a monthly briefing was held on 22 July 2008, at
which the Chairman of the Committee, Paul Badji, made a statement (S/PV.5940
Resumption 1).
59. The Council held its 5983rd meeting on 26 September 2008, at the request of
Saudi Arabia, to consider Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian
territories (S/2008/615). A total of 18 speakers, including 10 Ministers for Foreign
Affairs, took the floor during the debate (S/PV.5983).
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee
60. On 20 November 2007, the Committee issued a statement on the occasion of
the fortieth anniversary of the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 242
(1967) (GA/PAL/1067).
61. On 30 November 2007, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on the
Annapolis conference (GA/PAL/1070).
62. On 4 February 2008, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on the
deteriorating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem (GA/PAL/1071).
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63. On 29 February, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on the
escalation of violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially in the Gaza
Strip, and the killing of innocent civilians (GA/PAL/1080).
64. On 4 March 2008, the Chairman of the Committee, Paul Badji, met with the
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and discussed the latest political
developments and the Committee’s programme of activities.
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General Assembly
resolutions 62/80 and 62/81
1. Programme of international meetings and conferences
65. Through its programme of international meetings and conferences, the
Committee continued to raise international awareness of the various aspects of the
question of Palestine and international support for the rights of the Palestinian
people and the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.
66. In the period under review, the following international events were held under
the auspices of the Committee:
(a) United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, Amman,
19 and 20 February 2008;
(b) United Nations International Conference on Palestine Refugees,
headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, Paris, 29 and 30 April 2008;
(c) United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine,
Qawra, Malta, 3 and 4 June 2008.
67. All of the above events were attended by representatives of Governments,
Palestine, intergovernmental organizations and United Nations system entities, as
well as representatives of civil society and the media. The reports of the meetings
were issued as publications of the Division for Palestinian Rights and were made
available through the United Nations Information System on the Question of
Palestine (UNISPAL) and the Division’s website.
68. In Amman, during the United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian
People, the Committee delegation was received by the Prime Minister of Jordan,
Nader Dahabi. The Committee delegation also visited the Palestine refugee camps
of Husn and Irbid, in northern Jordan, where UNRWA provides social services to the
refugees. While in Paris in connection with the United Nations International
Conference on Palestine Refugees, the Committee delegation held meetings at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France with the Directors of the United Nations and
Middle East Departments. In Malta, during the United Nations Meeting on the
Question of Palestine, the Committee delegation was received by the President of
Malta, Edward Fenech-Adami, at the presidential palace, and by the Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malta, Tonio Borg, at the Foreign
Ministry. Following its visit to Malta, the Committee delegation was received in
Vatican City by the Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, Archbishop
Dominique Mamberti.
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2. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations
69. Throughout the year, the Committee continued its cooperation with the African
Union, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
70. The Committee also continued its cooperation on the question of Palestine
with States members of the European Union. During the meeting at the French
Foreign Ministry, the Bureau discussed issues of mutual interest in the light of the
assumption by France of the presidency of the European Union. Those consultations
were continued at a meeting on 10 September 2008 with the Permanent
Representative of France to the United Nations in his capacity as representative of
the presidency of the European Union.
3. Cooperation with civil society
Civil society organizations
71. The Committee continued its cooperation with civil society organizations
worldwide. Representatives of civil society participated in all meetings organized
under the auspices of the Committee, including the observance of the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November 2007. The meetings
provided civil society representatives with an opportunity to discuss the situation on
the ground and their programmes in support of the Palestinian people and to
improve coordination of their activities. Numerous representatives of civil society
organizations also attended the special meeting of the Committee held on 20 June
2008 to mark 60 years of dispossession of Palestine refugees, including expert
speakers who shared with the Committee their analyses of the status of Palestine
refugees. The Committee was appreciative of the work done by civil society
organizations, encouraging them to continue contributing to efforts aimed at
achieving a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
72. The Committee maintained and developed its liaison with national, regional
and international coordinating mechanisms cooperating with it, in addition to its
established liaison with a large number of individual organizations. Over the past
year, the Chairman of the Committee met with representatives of civil society
organizations in New York and at the meetings organized under the auspices of the
Committee away from Headquarters.
73. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained the Internet website “Civil
society network on the Question of Palestine” (http://www.un.org/depts/dpa/ngo) as
a tool for the exchange of information and for cooperation between civil society and
the Committee. At the request of the Committee, the Division also continued to
issue its bimonthly newsletter, NGO Action News, covering the activities of civil
society on the various aspects of the question of Palestine.
Parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations
74. The Committee continued to develop its liaison with national and regional
parliaments and their organizations and invited a number of parliamentarians to
speak at its meetings. In connection with the international meetings, the delegation
of the Committee held meetings in Paris with deputies of the National Assembly and
the Senate, as well as with members and officials of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Mediterranean, headquartered in Saint Julians, Malta.
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4. Research, monitoring and publications
75. The Division carried out research and monitoring activities and responded to
requests for information and briefings on the question of Palestine. Under the
guidance of the Committee, which reiterated the relevance of the research,
monitoring and publications programme, it also prepared the publications listed
below for dissemination, including through UNISPAL:
(a) Monthly bulletin on action taken by United Nations and
intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of events relating to the question of Palestine, based
on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of international meetings and conferences organized under the
auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletins and information notes on the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments related to the Middle East peace
process;
(f) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly
and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
5. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
76. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and
library services of the United Nations Secretariat, continued to administer, maintain,
expand and develop UNISPAL and the “Question of Palestine” website, which is
located on the United Nations home page under “Peace and Security”, pursuant to
successive annual General Assembly mandates. This included the ongoing
maintenance and upgrading of the technical components of the system to ensure the
uninterrupted presence of UNISPAL on the Internet and involved the expansion of
the document collection to include relevant new and old documents. In addition,
steps continued to be taken to enhance the user-friendliness and usefulness of the
system (http://unispal.un.org), including by incorporating additional multimedia
content and a streamlined search facility. The Division undertook a redesign of the
UNISPAL and “Question of Palestine” websites, which is nearing completion, and
conducted an online survey of website users to assess ways in which the system
could be further improved.
6. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority
77. Two staff members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian
Authority participated in a training programme conducted by the Division from
September to December 2007, in conjunction with the sixty-second session of the
General Assembly. The trainees familiarized themselves with various aspects of the
work of the Secretariat and other organs and conducted research on specific topics.
7. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
78. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
at Headquarters and at the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna on
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29 November 2007. On the occasion of the observance at Headquarters, in addition
to a special meeting of the Committee and other activities, a cultural exhibit entitled
“Palestine: A Continuing Legacy” and a musical performance by Simon Shaheen
and Qantara were organized by the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the
United Nations under the auspices of the Committee. The Committee noted with
appreciation that the International Day of Solidarity had also been observed in many
cities throughout the world. Details on the observance are contained in the special
bulletin issued by the Division.
79. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee decided that a similar
observance of the International Day of Solidarity should be organized in 2008.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 62/82
80. The Department of Public Information, pursuant to General Assembly
resolution 62/82, continued to implement its special information programme on the
question of Palestine. The objective of the programme is to raise international
awareness on this question and on the situation in the Middle East with a view to
contributing effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of
the peace process.
81. The Department covered intergovernmental meetings and related press
briefings using all media at its disposal. The Department produced a total of
130 press releases, providing summaries in English and French of formal meetings
and briefings, and distributed live television coverage to broadcasters around the
world through United Nations Television. Television coverage was also posted on
the Internet (webcast) for easy viewing. UNifeed produced and distributed
11 packages on the question of Palestine, including the United Nations response to
developments on the ground, relief work and support for refugees, as well as
activities of the Security Council and the Human Rights Council.
82. The United Nations Radio Arabic Language Unit reported on meetings
organized by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People.
83. The United Nations News Centre, a news portal of the United Nations website,
regularly highlighted stories related to the question of Palestine in the six official
languages. In addition, a special focus page on the Middle East provided an in-depth
and user-friendly venue for accessing information on the issue.
84. The Department organized a training programme for five young Palestinian
journalists at Headquarters, in Washington, D.C., and in Geneva from 5 November
to 14 December 2007. The programme was aimed at strengthening the skills of the
participants as broadcast media professionals and providing them with basic
technical skills to maintain websites in Arabic.
85. The Department updated and displayed the permanent exhibit of the question
of Palestine at Headquarters, in English, and at the United Nations Office at Geneva,
in French. It also produced an updated edition of the booklet The Question of
Palestine and the United Nations in English and in other official languages.
86. The network of United Nations information centres, services and offices
continued to disseminate information on the question of Palestine and to organize
relevant activities. A major focus of activities was the promotion of the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November 2007. The Secretary-
General’s message for the Day was widely disseminated in official and non-official
languages.
87. Information centres/services in Accra, Ankara, Asunción, Beirut, Brussels,
Cairo, Dar es Salaam, Jakarta, Mexico City, Moscow, New Delhi, Prague, Pretoria,
Rabat, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, Vienna and Washington, D.C., commemorated the
Day by organizing events individually or jointly with Governments, regional
organizations, civil society and the media.
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88. During the period under review, some centres provided media-related
assistance, including the organization of press conferences, to the Commissioner-
General of UNRWA during her visits to their duty stations. They also placed opinion
pieces (op-eds) by the Commissioner-General and the Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator in newspapers. Some
information centres translated and disseminated the statement of the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict on the
violence in Gaza.
89. In its UN Chronicle magazine, the Department featured full coverage of the
sixty-second session of the General Assembly and the Fourth Committee (Special
Political and Decolonization Committee), including the reports of UNRWA and the
Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of
the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories. It also published
articles which covered issues related to the question of Palestine, including “Gaza
border closures accompanied by fears of humanitarian crisis” and “Financing for
development to reach the MDGs: the experience in the Arab region”.
90. The United Nations Today, the successor volume to Basic Facts About the
United Nations, included a thorough review of United Nations action in the Middle
East, including participation in the ongoing peace process, humanitarian assistance
to Palestine refugees and advocacy for the needs of the Palestinian people and
support for their human rights.
91. The Dag Hammarskjöld Library continued to digitize relevant documents for
the UNISPAL document collection.
A/63/35
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
92. The year 2008 marked 60 years of Palestinian dispossession, or the Nakba,
as the Palestinians refer to the loss of their homeland. Hundreds of thousands
of Palestinians were forced to leave their homes and properties as a result of the
Arab-Israeli hostilities of 1948. At its special meeting to mark that event, the
Committee reiterated the permanent responsibility of the United Nations
towards the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law and urged the international community to
continue its support for the Middle East peace process.
93. The Committee was encouraged by the new level of engagement by major
stakeholders from all regions that led to the Annapolis conference and Paris
donors’ conference resulting in a resumption of permanent status negotiations
between Israel and the Palestinians and an outstanding degree of support for
the Palestinian Authority and its economic reform programme. The Committee
structured its activities throughout the year so as to support a climate
conducive to the advancement of permanent status negotiations between the
parties aimed at the achievement of the two-State solution and the realization of
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The Committee stressed the
need for a complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks,
destruction and acts of terror. It called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to
end its illegal policies and oppressive practices in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, such as settlement activities, the
construction of the wall and numerous measures of collective punishment. It
emphasized the importance for both sides of implementing their road map
obligations. The Committee welcomed the resumption of the negotiations
between the parties, including at the highest level. It has repeatedly stressed
that the political momentum provided by the Annapolis and Paris conferences
must not be lost, and supported all efforts towards the goal of achieving a final
status agreement by the end of 2008.
94. Regrettably, the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations were not supported by
tangible improvements in the situation on the ground. The occupying Power
continued to change the reality of life in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, through the expansion of settlements and related
infrastructure, including the wall, and the fragmentation of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory using checkpoints and other obstacles. This led to the
stagnation of the political process and continued deterioration of Palestinian
socio-economic conditions, further undermining efforts by the Palestinian
Authority and the international community to bring about a two-State solution.
The Committee is of the view that the illegal Israeli occupation of the
Palestinian Territory must end without conditions, which should allow the
Palestinian people to establish an independent State on all territories occupied
in 1967, including East Jerusalem, and to exercise their inalienable rights,
including the right to self-determination. The Committee firmly supports the
two-State solution in accordance with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967),
338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003). The Committee is convinced that only
serious and sustained international engagement will bring about a peaceful and
negotiated settlement of all outstanding issues and reverse the growing support
A/63/35
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for radical forces that promote violent and unilateral approaches to ending the
conflict. Any diplomatic process needs to be buttressed by urgent and
meaningful steps on the ground. The continued support of the international
community is crucial for advancing the process, namely, a consistent dialogue
between the Quartet and the parties and the inclusion of regional partners. The
Arab Peace Initiative remains a crucial element for advancing peace in the
region. States members of the European Union are encouraged to take a more
proactive role in international efforts to resolve the conflict. The Committee
welcomes the unwavering and substantial budgetary support for the Palestinian
Authority provided by the European Union and other major donors. At the
same time, it calls upon all donors to live up to their pledges and ensure the
continued functioning of the Palestinian Authority institutions.
95. It is also imperative that the parties live up to their road map obligations.
In particular, the Committee calls upon Israel to end its military operations in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to stop any other measures that further
undermine Palestinian institutions. The Committee is strongly opposed to the
illegal construction and expansion of settlements in the West Bank, as well as
the unlawful construction of the wall, and finds these activities incompatible
with negotiations on the permanent settlement. It again reminds Israel, the
occupying Power, that it is bound by the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, which, inter alia, obliges parties
to the Convention to protect civilians during hostilities. Israel must release,
immediately and unconditionally, all Palestinian prisoners, including
imprisoned Cabinet members and parliamentarians. The Committee strongly
condemns the killing of innocent civilians by either side. It denounces rocket
attacks on Israel and calls for the cessation of these activities by Palestinian
armed groups. The Committee has welcomed the agreed upon ceasefire in Gaza
and has demanded its extension to the West Bank. The ceasefire and the
political process can be sustained only once Israel has stopped and reversed all
illegal actions in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967.
96. The Committee calls upon the Palestinian leadership, the leaders of all
factions and all Palestinians to unite in support of President Abbas, his
Government and all democratically elected Palestinian institutions and to
resolve their political differences by peaceful means. The Committee calls for a
comprehensive national dialogue supported by confidence-building measures to
start a process of regaining national unity and the reunification of Gaza and the
West Bank under the Palestinian Authority. It is paramount that the various
Palestinian factions put the national interests and aspirations of the Palestinian
people ahead of any partisan concerns. The Committee firmly believes that the
unity of the Palestinian people is an essential condition for achieving a viable
solution of the question of Palestine.
97. The Committee is convinced that its own work and the programme of
mandated activities of the Division for Palestinian Rights represent a
significant contribution by the United Nations and its membership to the search
for a comprehensive, just and lasting peaceful solution of the question of
Palestine, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations
resolutions. It will continue to generate heightened international awareness of
the various aspects of the question of Palestine, international support for the
rights of the Palestinian people and the peaceful settlement of the question of
A/63/35
08-53942 23
Palestine. In this connection, the Committee emphasizes the useful and
constructive contribution of the Division in support of its mandate aimed at
enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights. It notes with
satisfaction: (a) the level of dialogue, engagement and support of the
international community for its programme objectives, for instance, in terms of
both participation at the meetings convened and the use of printed and
electronic information materials provided by the Division; (b) the continued
involvement of civil society organizations in support of the efforts of the
Committee and the United Nations towards a comprehensive, just and lasting
settlement of the question of Palestine; and (c) the increased international
awareness of United Nations policies and activities on the question of Palestine
as indicated by the growing number of documents and relevant information
materials on the issue accessed by users worldwide at the websites maintained
by the Division. The Committee also considers that the annual training
programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority has proved its usefulness and
requests that it be continued.
98. The Committee considers that its programme of international meetings and
conferences contributes to focusing the attention of Governments,
intergovernmental and civil society organizations and the general public on the
need for advancing a peaceful settlement of the conflict and mobilizing muchneeded
assistance to the Palestinian people. The Committee, through its
Bureau, will regularly assess the outcomes of the international meetings and
conferences and, where required, decide on steps to enhance their contribution
to the mandated goals of the Committee. In its meetings programme for 2009,
the Committee intends to address issues such as the importance of the
continuation of the political dialogue between the parties aimed at achieving a
permanent settlement of the question of Palestine; the significance of realizing
a tangible improvement in the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem; and the urgent need for all stakeholders to remain
engaged in all aspects of the question of Palestine, to monitor and assess the
developments and to use the available mechanisms, such as the main organs of
the United Nations, to actively influence the process. The Committee will also
highlight the adverse consequences of the settlement policy and the
construction of the wall for the achievement of a two-State solution; the
collective international responsibility to protect the Palestinian people; and the
need to alleviate humanitarian and socio-economic hardships, including the
plight of Palestinian women and children, with particular focus on the urgent
need to improve the situation in Gaza.
99. The Committee commends civil society organizations for their efforts to
uphold international legitimacy with regard to the question of Palestine
through advocacy and the mobilization of public opinion and for their
initiatives aimed at alleviating the plight of the Palestinian people. It has
welcomed the efforts made by organizations worldwide to mark 60 years of
Palestinian dispossession, raising public awareness of this long-standing and
tragic issue. The Committee appreciates the support it receives from the
Secretariat in strengthening cooperation with civil society. The Committee
encourages civil society organizations to broaden their base, involving trade
unions and other large organizations, and to focus and harmonize their
advocacy efforts at the local, national, regional and international levels. The
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24 08-53942
Committee looks forward to further developing its cooperation with
parliamentarians and their umbrella organizations. The Committee is of the
opinion that the experience and political influence of lawmakers can be
instrumental in consolidating the democratic process and institution-building
in the territory under the Palestinian Authority, strengthening political
dialogue between the parties, and in applying norms of international law to
efforts to resolve the conflict.
100. The Committee requests the Division to continue its substantive and
secretariat support; the programme of research, monitoring and publications
and other informational activities, such as the further expansion and
development of UNISPAL, including the graphic enhancement of the “Question
of Palestine” website; the annual training programme for staff of the
Palestinian Authority; and the annual observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
101. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and public opinion of the
relevant issues. The Committee requests the continuation of the programme,
with the necessary flexibility, as warranted by developments relevant to the
question of Palestine.
102. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, and in view of the many
difficulties facing the Palestinian people and besetting the peace process, the
Committee calls upon all States to join it in this endeavour and to extend their
cooperation and support to the Committee, and invites the General Assembly
again to recognize the importance of its role and to reconfirm its mandate.
08-53942 (E) 291008
*0853942*
A/64/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-fourth Session
Supplement No. 35
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-fourth Session
Supplement No. 35
United Nations • New York, 2009
A/64/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters
combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United
Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
[7 October 2009]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 63/26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1. Action taken in the General Assembly and the Security Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance
with General Assembly resolutions 63/26 and 63/27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1. Programme of international meetings and conferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3. Cooperation with civil society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4. Research, monitoring and publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
6. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
7. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 63/28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
iv
Letter of transmittal
[6 October 2009]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 2 of its resolution 63/26 of
26 November 2008.
The report covers the period from 7 October 2008 to 6 October 2009.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Paul Badji
Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
A/64/35
09-54682 1
Chapter I
Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as recognized by the
Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the General
Assembly1 were endorsed by the Assembly as a basis for the solution of the
question of Palestine. In its subsequent reports,2 the Committee has continued to
stress that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions and the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel from the
Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and from the
other occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in the region to live
in peace within secure and internationally recognized boundaries; and the
recognition and exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The
recommendations of the Committee contained in its first report could not be
implemented, and the Assembly each year renewed the Committee’s mandate in
pursuit of the tasks assigned to it.
3. The Committee has consistently supported a peaceful solution of the question
of Palestine. It welcomed the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference that launched the
Middle East peace process based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
338 (1973). It also welcomed the Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements (A/48/486-S/26560, annex) and subsequent
implementation agreements. The Committee has strongly supported the vision of
two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side within secure and recognized
borders on the basis of the 1949 armistice lines, in accordance with relevant United
Nations resolutions, including Security Council resolutions 1397 (2002) and
1515 (2003). The Committee welcomed and supported the Quartet’s road map and
called on the parties to implement it. In keeping with its mandate, the Committee
continued to work towards creating conditions for successful negotiations on a
permanent settlement allowing the Palestinian people to realize its inalienable
rights. The Committee also promotes support and assistance by the international
community to the Palestinian people.
4. The period since October 2008 was characterized by the stagnation of the
political process, lack of progress in efforts to unite the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip under the Palestinian Authority and a worsening situation on the ground
throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Of
particular concern was the continuing humanitarian emergency in the Gaza Strip,
exacerbated by an Israeli military offensive carried out in December 2008 and
January 2009, and the continuing imposition of a severe blockade on the Gaza Strip
__________________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Since the thirty-first session, the Committee has submitted annual reports to the General
Assembly; all such reports have been issued as supplement No. 35 of the sessional
documentation of the Assembly.
A/64/35
2 09-54682
which obstructed the movement of persons and goods, including humanitarian
access and the import of all essential supplies.
5. The political process between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, which was
resumed after the Annapolis conference of November 2007, failed to produce any
tangible results and stalled once again. The Gaza ceasefire was not accompanied by
an easing of the blockade and crossing points remained closed, allowing in only
minimal humanitarian assistance for the 1.5 million civilians in Gaza. Israel
continued to conduct military operations in the Gaza Strip, resulting in Palestinian
casualties. This was met with resumed rocket and mortar fire by armed Palestinian
groups into southern Israel, causing Israeli casualties and property damage. By the
end of December 2008, Israel escalated the situation launching Operation Cast Lead,
a large-scale military offensive with the declared goal of eliminating the threat of
rocket fire on Israeli population centres. Military operations lasted for more than
three weeks, killing more than 1,400 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians,
including hundreds of children and women, and injuring more than 5,000 civilians.
Israel reported 14 deaths, including 4 civilians, and 182 wounded. In the West Bank,
the expansion of Israeli settlements, including outposts, continued, as did the
construction of the wall, including in and around East Jerusalem. The number of
checkpoints increased, which restricted Palestinian movement and undermined
efforts to revive the economy. The Israeli army continued to carry out raids into
Palestinian cities, often accompanied by the arrest and detention of Palestinians. The
situation in East Jerusalem seriously deteriorated, with land confiscations, house
demolitions and evictions of Palestinian residents, and the transfer of more Israeli
settlers. The divide among major Palestinian factions continued to affect the lives of
ordinary Palestinians, in particular in Gaza, and prevented Palestinians from uniting
in support of the Palestinian Authority.
6. The international community responded to the assault on Gaza by calling for
calm and respect for the lives of innocent civilians. Rocket attacks by Palestinian
militants that indiscriminately targeted Israeli civilians were also condemned. The
General Assembly and the Security Council met in special sessions and adopted
resolutions calling for, inter alia, a permanent and durable ceasefire and the
immediate provision of the necessary humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian
civilian population in Gaza. The Secretary-General intervened and visited Gaza
immediately after the halt of hostilities. The Sharm el-Sheikh donor conference on
2 March led to pledges of about $4.5 billion for Gaza’s reconstruction. In March, the
Palestinian Authority presented a plan to put those funds to effective use for early
recovery and reconstruction. However, the continuation of the Israeli blockade to
date has prevented the start of any reconstruction, which has deepened the despair of
the Palestinians and provided a fertile ground for rising extremism in Gaza. After
the war, a number of investigations were conducted, including one launched by the
Secretary-General to assess the damage caused to United Nations facilities in Gaza
and casualties among civilians having sought refuge there and a fact-finding mission
launched by the Human Rights Council.
7. The Quartet continued its efforts at achieving a comprehensive resolution of
the Arab-Israeli conflict. It emphasized that Arab-Israeli peace and an end to the
occupation that began in 1967 and the establishment of a State of Palestine in the
West Bank and Gaza were in the fundamental interest of the international
community. It called upon Israel and the Palestinians to act on their previous
agreements and obligations, in particular adherence to the road map, irrespective of
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reciprocity. It acknowledged progress made by the Palestinian Authority in
reforming its security sector and building its institutions and called for continued
efforts to improve law and order, to fight violent extremism and to end incitement.
Buttressed by the active efforts of the new United States Administration, the Quartet
urged Israel to refrain from provocative actions in East Jerusalem and to freeze all
settlement activity, which is deemed unlawful in accordance with international law
and recognized by the international community as the biggest obstacle to achieving
a permanent settlement.
8. Through its activities, the Committee sought to draw attention to the urgent
need for coordinated and collective efforts to mitigate the negative developments
occurring on the ground. The Committee warned repeatedly that without visible
improvement in the situation on the ground, the negotiations would be doomed to
fail. It supported the Gaza ceasefire and called upon Israel to lift the blockade. After
the Israeli invasion of Gaza, the Committee swiftly condemned the deadly military
assaults and destruction perpetrated by Israel and demanded a halt to the warfare. It
also condemned rocket firing into Israel. The Committee’s first international
meeting in early March 2009 provided for an early opportunity to discuss the
delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people in Gaza and to promote
and coordinate reconstruction efforts. Another meeting, held in July, pointed to the
obligations of all Governments to uphold international humanitarian law. Other
international meetings emphasized the urgency to implement a two-State solution,
cautioning that the continuation of the Israeli policy of imposing faits accomplis on
the ground posed a grave threat to the prospects for a just, peaceful and negotiated
solution of the conflict. Throughout the reporting period, the Bureau of the
Committee met with high-level representatives of Governments, intergovernmental
organizations, parliamentarians, civil society and the media, encouraging them to
support the role and activities of the Committee and urging them to take appropriate
steps in support of the implementation of the international consensus on the need to
achieve a two-State solution.
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Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
9. On 26 November 2008, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (see
resolution 63/26), requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources to
carry out its programme of work (see resolution 63/27) and requested the
continuation of the special information programme on the question of Palestine of
the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat (see resolution 63/28). On
the same date, the Assembly adopted resolution 63/29, entitled “Peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine”.
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Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
10. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and
Ukraine.
11. At its 315th meeting, on 11 February 2009, the Committee re-elected Paul
Badji (Senegal) as Chairman, Zahir Tanin (Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairman and
Saviour F. Borg (Malta) as Rapporteur. The Committee also elected Abelardo
Moreno Fernández (Cuba) as the other Vice-Chairman. At its 317th meeting, on
17 September 2009, the Committee elected Pedro Juan Núñez Mosquera (Cuba) as
Vice-Chairman, to replace Abelardo Moreno Fernández, who had been assigned by
his Government to another post.
12. Also at the 315th meeting, the Committee adopted its programme of work for
2009 (see A/AC.183/2009/1).
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
13. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all United Nations
Member States and observers wishing to participate in the work of the Committee as
observers were welcome to do so. In accordance with established practice, Palestine
participated in the work of the Committee as an observer, attended all of its
meetings and made observations and proposals for consideration by the Committee
and its Bureau.
14. In 2009, the Committee again welcomed as observers all States and
organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding year.3
__________________
3 The observers at the Committee meetings were: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Ecuador,
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, the
Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela
(Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Yemen, as well as the African Union, the League of
Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and Palestine.
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Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
15. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to monitor the situation
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as relevant
political developments.
16. The violence in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel started to escalate when
Israel killed six Hamas members in military operations in the central Gaza Strip that
targeted a tunnel that the Israeli military said Hamas had been planning to use to
capture Israeli soldiers. Militants in the Gaza Strip responded the following day by
firing 35 Qassam rockets into southern Israel. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad
claimed responsibility for the rocket fire.
17. Following the end on 19 December 2008 of the six-month ceasefire between
Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip that had been brokered by Egypt, on
27 December 2008 the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched, without warning, their
military offensive in the Gaza Strip, Operation Cast Lead, with the stated purpose of
deterring further rocket attacks by Hamas against Israeli citizens. Despite the
international community’s repeated calls for an immediate ceasefire and respect for
civilian life, the offensive continued until Israeli troops completed withdrawal from
the Gaza Strip on 21 January 2009, preceded by unilateral ceasefires declared by
both parties on 19 January.
18. International humanitarian organizations and other investigation missions
reported that during the offensive, the Israeli forces had made extensive use of white
phosphorus in residential areas, causing death and injury to civilians and extensive
fire damage to property. Homes, schools, medical facilities and United Nations
buildings took direct hits. Tank-fired flechette rounds were also used by Israeli
forces on at least five occasions between 4 and 9 January, resulting in the deaths of
several civilians.
19. During the offensive, Israeli forces routinely prevented ambulances and other
vehicles from reaching the wounded or from collecting bodies anywhere near their
positions. Requests by Palestinian ambulance services to be allowed passage to
rescue the wounded and evacuate the dead in any area in Gaza that had been taken
over by Israeli forces were consistently denied by the Israeli army. As a result, many
of the wounded, who were never more than 15 minutes away from a hospital, died.
20. Several Palestinian medical facilities, including hospitals, were repeatedly hit
during the bombardments, and medical staff were themselves the victims of some
attacks. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in the
course of the operation, 16 medical personnel were killed and 26 injured while on
duty. Israeli bombardments damaged or destroyed 29 ambulances. Of the 122 health
facilities throughout the Gaza Strip, 58 were either damaged or destroyed by direct
or indirect shelling. Of those, 15 were hospitals and 43 were primary health-care
clinics.
21. As a result of the offensive, 1,409 Palestinians were killed, of which 237 were
combatants and 1,172 were non-combatants. Of the 1,172 non-combatants killed, at
least 342 were children and 111 were women. Some 5,000 Palestinians were injured,
including many women and children, many of whom were maimed for life.
According to the Government of Israel, close to 800 rockets and mortar rounds
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launched from the Gaza Strip landed on Israeli territory during the operation, killing
four Israeli civilians and injuring 182 others. Ten Israeli soldiers were killed during
the offensive, four of them in a friendly fire incident, and 336 were injured.
22. Some 40 Palestinians were killed and many others injured at or in the vicinity
of schools and a health centre run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency
for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) when they were hit by Israeli
missiles, aerial bombs, artillery fire, or mortar rounds. Also, 5 UNRWA staff and
3 of its contractors were killed while on duty, and another 11 staff and 4 contractors
were injured. There were four incidents during which aid convoys were shot at by
Israeli forces. At least 53 United Nations buildings sustained damage.
23. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
3,540 Palestinian homes were destroyed and 2,870 homes severely damaged during
the Gaza offensive. Also, 10 schools and 8 kindergartens were completely
destroyed, and at least 280 others were damaged. According to the Palestinian
Ministry of Education and Higher Education, 164 students and 12 teachers from its
schools were killed, and another 454 students and 5 teachers were injured.
24. On 12 January, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted resolution
S-9/1 (A/HRC/S-9/L.1), condemning the Israeli military operation and calling for
the immediate cessation of Israeli military attacks. In the same resolution, the
Council decided to dispatch an independent international fact-finding mission to
Gaza to investigate all violations of international human rights law during the Gaza
offensive. On 3 April, the President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador
Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi of Nigeria, announced his decision to appoint Richard
J. Goldstone, former Chief Prosecutor of the international criminal tribunals for the
former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, to lead the four-member fact-finding mission to
Gaza. The team visited the Gaza Strip and also held public hearings in Geneva in
June. The mission submitted its report on 15 September, in which it concluded that
there was evidence indicating that serious violations of international human rights
and humanitarian law had been committed by Israel during the Gaza conflict, and
that Israel had committed actions amounting to war crimes, and possibly crimes
against humanity. The report also concluded that there was evidence that Palestinian
armed groups had committed war crimes, and possibly crimes against humanity, in
their repeated launching of rockets and mortars into southern Israel.
25. On 11 February, the Secretary-General appointed a United Nations
Headquarters Board of Inquiry to review and investigate nine specific incidents that
had occurred in the Gaza Strip between 27 December 2008 and 19 January 2009 and
in which death or injuries had occurred at, and/or damage had been done to, United
Nations premises or in the course of United Nations operations. The four-member
Board was headed by Ian Martin of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland. On 11 April, the Board presented its report to the Secretary-
General, who on 15 May submitted a summary of the Board’s findings, including its
recommendations, to the Security Council (see A/63/855-S/2009/250).
26. On 30 July, the Government of Israel issued its own report on the factual and
legal aspects of the operation, in which it stated, “Israel had both a right and an
obligation to take military action against Hamas in Gaza to stop Hamas’ almost
incessant rocket and mortar attacks upon thousands of Israeli civilians and its other
acts of terrorism. … Israel has both the responsibility and the right under
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international law, as does every State, to defend its civilians from intentional rocket
attacks.”
27. On 26 February, after a series of Egyptian-mediated reconciliation talks in
Cairo, Fatah and Hamas agreed to work towards setting up a unity government, and
created five joint committees on transitional Government formation, on issues of
reconciliation, security, elections, and the PLO. In subsequent months, the Egyptian
mediation continued. Another round of reconciliation talks was scheduled for the
end of October.
28. On 2 March, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt hosted the International Conference in
Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza. Representatives
from some 80 countries and multilateral organizations welcomed the Palestinian
National Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan for Gaza, and donors pledged
some $4.5 billion for humanitarian and economic relief.
29. Israel’s Gaza offensive caused the widespread destruction of homes,
infrastructure and productive assets and added to an already devastating
humanitarian, social and economic situation in the Gaza Strip caused by the
blockade imposed by Israel on the entire territory following the Hamas takeover in
June 2007. As of August, approximately 75 per cent of Gaza’s population — more
than 1.1 million people — were experiencing food insecurity caused by the dramatic
increase in poverty, the destruction of agricultural assets and the inflation in prices
of key food items. There has been a gradual shift in the diet of people in Gaza from
high-cost and protein-rich foods, such as fruit, vegetables and animal products, to
low-cost and high-carbohydrate foods, such as cereals, sugar and oil, which could
lead to micronutrient deficiencies, in particular among children and pregnant
women. In addition, over 40 per cent of Gaza’s workforce, or more than 140,000
people, were unemployed. The desperate situation led to dangerous and, at times,
fatal attempts to smuggle necessary goods through tunnels dug under the border
with Egypt. Since 18 January, 47 Palestinians have been killed in various tunnelrelated
incidents.
30. Follow-up treatment for people suffering from complex injuries and permanent
disabilities inflicted during the Israeli offensive has created an enormous burden for
a health system weakened by the shortages of facilities, equipment and drugs caused
by the blockade. In addition, patients in need of specialized treatment outside Gaza
must go through an arduous and uncertain process of obtaining the necessary
permits required to leave Gaza, which adds considerable anguish and stress to
patients’ lives and often results in denial by Israel of requests to travel for treatment
and dire consequences for many patients, including several instances of fatalities.
31. The ban on the import of building materials has prevented the much-needed
reconstruction of most of the damaged or destroyed houses and other infrastructure.
No new construction for 7,500 planned housing units for Gaza’s rapidly expanding
population has been possible owing to the lack of building materials available in
Gaza. More than 20,000 displaced residents are forced to continue living in rented
apartments, in the houses of relatives or in tents next to the rubble of their damaged
houses. A small number of families continue to live in tented camps. The lives of
those displaced families have been disrupted, with children being among the worst
affected.
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32. Palestinian women and children suffered the most as a consequence of the
Israeli occupation, in particular, during and in the wake of the military assault on
Gaza. As of July, none of the 10 schools and 8 kindergartens destroyed during the
Gaza offensive had been rebuilt or rehabilitated because of the lack of construction
materials. Schoolchildren, thousands of whom lost family members and/or their
homes, were still suffering from psychological trauma and anxiety and were in need
of social support. The World Health Organization reported that the inadequate
infrastructure, lack of equipment and shortage of hospital staff were contributing to
the deterioration of hospital care for mothers and newborns in Gaza.
33. In fulfilment of its road map obligations, the Palestinian Authority continued
efforts to restructure its security forces to assume responsibility in West Bank cities,
which was met with donor appreciation. On the other hand, there has not been a
significant reduction in incursions by the Israeli army into Palestinian cities or in the
easing of closures in the West Bank.
34. Israeli forces have routinely conducted raids and arrests in towns and villages
in the West Bank. During the reporting period, a total of 27 Palestinians, including
8 children, were killed by Israeli forces, and more than 2,900 were arrested in the
West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, outside the context of Operation Cast Lead, some
70 Palestinians, including 7 children, were killed by Israeli forces. One Israeli
soldier on patrol was killed in a bomb blast near the Gaza border.
35. On 15 December 2008, Israel released 227 Palestinian prisoners as a gesture of
goodwill ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. On 23 June, Speaker of the
Palestinian Legislative Council, Dr. Aziz Al-Dweik, was released after three years of
detention. Ten Hamas members of the Palestinian Legislative Council were released
on 2 September, while 23 others still remain in prison. In early October, Israel
released 20 Palestinian women prisoners. There were no developments regarding the
fate of some 11,000 other Palestinian prisoners, including children and women.
36. In the period under review, Israel continued illegal settlement activity in the
West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The occupying Power also carried out many
demolitions of Palestinian homes and other infrastructure, destroyed and confiscated
Palestinian-owned land and properties in order to expand existing settlements, and
continued to carry out unlawful and provocative excavations in the area of Occupied
East Jerusalem. In a report issued in March, an Israeli organization, Peace Now,
stated that the Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing was planning to
construct 73,302 settlement units in the West Bank, 5,722 of which would be in East
Jerusalem. A total of 15,156 units had been approved, 8,950 of which had already
been built. If all the Ministry’s plans are realized, the current total number of settlers
would increase by approximately 300,000. According to a report by the Civil
Administration of IDF covering the first half of 2009, there were 304,569 residents
living in settlements in the West Bank, an increase of 2.3 per cent since January.
This figure does not include the more than 180,000 Israeli settlers in East Jerusalem.
37. In August, Peace Now stated in its semi-annual report that construction within
the settlement blocks continued as usual, despite Israel’s announcement that it had
stopped approving new building. According to the report, there were more than
40,000 settlement units in plans that had been approved in the past but not yet
implemented, and the construction of 596 new structures had begun in the first half
of 2009, 96 of which were in outposts.
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38. Israeli activities to expand settlements in and expel Palestinian residents from
East Jerusalem were of serious concern. On 12 December 2008, plans by the
Housing Ministry and the Israel Land Administration to issue tenders in 2009 for
2,500 settlement units in Jerusalem, including 745 in the East Jerusalem settlement
of Ramot, were reported. On 7 March, 88 houses were slated for demolition in the
Al-Bustan neighbourhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem to make room for a park. On
19 March, the Israeli Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, said that he would press
forward with a plan to raze the entire Palestinian neighbourhood of Al-Bustan in
East Jerusalem and to relocate more than 1,000 of its residents to make way for a
park. On 23 March, the High Court of Justice authorized the confiscation of
30 dunams of Palestinian land in the Shu’fat neighbourhood of East Jerusalem to
expand a military checkpoint.
39. On 27 April, the construction of approximately 60 new units began on a new
East Jerusalem settlement in East Talpiot near the as-Sawahira neighbourhood. The
expansion of that settlement would create a belt around East Jerusalem, severing it
from the rest of the West Bank. On 3 May, the Israeli Minister of Internal Affairs
and Shas party leader, Eli Yishai, recommended expanding Ma’ale Adumim by
12,000 dunams. The expansion would include 6,000 new units in the area between
the Ma’ale Adumim and Qedar settlements. On 4 May, Minister Yishai announced
plans to develop a Jewish residential area, City of David, in Jerusalem. On 2 June, it
was reported that the Ministry of Internal Affairs had approved the construction of a
new hotel in East Jerusalem 100 metres from the Old City walls. The plan would see
the demolition of a wholesale market and a Palestinian kindergarten.
40. On 2 August, following a decision by the Israeli High Court of Justice, Israeli
security forces forcibly evicted nine Palestinian families — 53 refugees registered
by UNRWA, including 20 children — from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah
neighbourhood in East Jerusalem, and their property was handed over to a
settlement organization. The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle
East Peace Process, Robert Serry, issued a statement deploring those actions and
stating that they were contrary to the provisions of the Geneva Conventions and to
the calls of the international community, including the Quartet’s. On 7 September,
Defence Minister Barak approved the construction of 455 new settlement units. Also
on 7 September, the Israel Land Administration published tenders for the
construction of 486 units in the Pisgat Ze’ev settlement.
41. There was a significant increase in settler-related violence in the West Bank,
and a large number of settler attacks against Palestinian villagers were reported,
such as shooting, damaging Palestinian property, uprooting of trees and burning
farmland, and other forms of intimidation and harassment, including physical
assault. The lack of adequate Israeli law enforcement, and even permissiveness,
with regard to violent Israeli settlers remained a serious problem. In addition, two
Israeli settlers, including a 13-year-old boy, were killed in Palestinian attacks during
the reporting period.
42. Israel has continued to ignore the Advisory Opinion of the International Court
of Justice regarding the illegal construction of the wall on the Palestinian land it has
occupied since 1967. As of July, approximately 58 per cent of the 709-kilometrelong
wall was complete. A further 10 per cent was under construction, and 31.5 per
cent was planned. When completed, most of the route, approximately 85 per cent,
will run inside the West Bank, including in and around East Jerusalem. The total
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area located between the wall and the Armistice Line of 1949 (Green Line),
amounted to 9.5 per cent of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the “no
man’s land”.
43. The substantial donor contributions aimed at rehabilitating the Palestinian
economy have been considerably less effective than the donors had anticipated, in
part because they were spent to attenuate the economic damage resulting from
Israeli restrictions on Palestinian trade and movement, rather than on development
projects. As of August, there were 619 closure obstacles. In September, Israel
announced plans to remove 100 obstacles in the West Bank.
44. The World Bank reported in April that water withdrawals per head of the
Palestinian population in the West Bank were declining and that there were real
water shortages. Water withdrawals per capita for Palestinians in the West Bank are
about one quarter of those available to Israelis and have declined over the last
decade. There has been little progress on wastewater collection and treatment, with
negative environmental results. Only four towns have wastewater treatment plants,
producing poor quality effluent, and there is no planned or regulated reuse of
effluent. Settlements are also discharging raw sewage into the environment.
45. As of August, some 10,000 people in northern Gaza did not have access to
running water owing to the lack of available building materials to maintain and
upgrade the wastewater infrastructure. As a result, 80 million litres of raw and
partially treated sewage are being discharged daily into the environment. This has
led to a further pollution of the sea and underground aquifer, creating serious health
concerns. Only 5-10 per cent of the water extracted from Gaza’s aquifer meets the
safety standards of the World Health Organization. Also, the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) reported that the underground water supplies,
upon which 1.5 million Palestinians depend for agricultural and drinking water,
were in danger of collapse as a result of years of overuse and contamination that had
been exacerbated by the recent Israeli offensive. UNEP also reported increased
salinity from salt water intrusion caused by over-abstraction of the groundwater, as
well as pollution from sewage and agricultural run off. Pollution levels are such that
infants in the Gaza Strip are at risk from nitrate poisoning.
46. During the Israeli offensive in Gaza, the role of UNRWA in providing
assistance to refugees and supporting the delivery of critical services to
non-refugees became even more vital. Over 2,300 UNRWA staff remained on active
duty throughout the war to ensure the provision of basic health care and emergency
relief. In addition, more than 50,000 persons were sheltered in 50 UNRWA schools
across Gaza, where they received food, water, blankets, mattresses, hygiene kits and
medical care from staff of the Agency and local and international non-governmental
organizations. UNRWA also offered logistical and material support to the Ministry
of Health and public utility providers in Gaza.
47. Following the cessation of hostilities, UNRWA scaled up its emergency
programmes to meet new and emerging needs. Generous donor funding allowed the
Agency to respond effectively to emergency needs, although recovery and
reconstruction efforts have not been possible owing to the continued blockade of
Gaza, which precipitated an unprecedented socio-economic decline.
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48. As the international community marks the sixtieth anniversary of UNRWA, the
Committee reiterates its sincere appreciation for the vitally important and
courageous work carried out daily by UNRWA in time of hostilities.
49. The Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People of the United Nations
Development Programme also responded to the destruction wrought by the Israeli
military attacks in the Gaza Strip by providing food and cash assistance to victims
and leading the early recovery group of United Nations agencies and civil society
organizations in formulating projects to alleviate suffering in spite of the blockade
of Gaza.
50. In the West Bank, the Programme of Assistance completed the construction of
dozens of public buildings, including courthouses, schools and clinics, and worked
with the Palestinian Authority to improve its administration. The Programme also
focused on improving water management and the environment and on encouraging
entrepreneurship in the poorest sectors of Palestinian society.
51. The Committee continued to express appreciation for the work of the United
Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory. It noted that the consolidated appeal for 2009 focused on
delivering humanitarian assistance, increased protection of civilians, enhanced
monitoring and reporting on the humanitarian situation and the strengthening of
United Nations humanitarian coordination structures.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 63/26
52. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to mobilize the
international community in support of the Palestinian people, in cooperation with
United Nations bodies, Governments, intergovernmental and civil society
organizations and others, as indicated below.
1. Action taken in the General Assembly and the Security Council
Resumed tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly
53. The tenth Emergency Special Session on “Illegal Israeli actions in Occupied
East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory” was resumed on
15 and 16 January 2009 to discuss Israel’s military aggression in the Gaza Strip,
during which the Chairman of the Committee, Paul Badji, delivered a statement on
behalf of the Committee. Following a two-day debate, the Special Session adopted
resolution ES-10/18, which called on all parties to exert all efforts to ensure, in
cooperation with the Security Council, full and urgent compliance with resolution
1860 (2009) (A/ES-10/PV.32, 33, 34, 35 and 36).
Meetings of the Security Council
54. During the period under review, the Security Council continued to monitor the
situation on the ground and the efforts to implement the road map. It held monthly
briefings throughout the year under the agenda item entitled “The situation in the
Middle East, including the Palestinian question”.
55. The monthly briefing at the Council’s 6049th meeting, on 18 December 2008,
was followed by an open debate, during which the Chairman of the Committee made
a statement (S/PV.6049).
56. The Council held its 6061st meeting, on 6 January 2009, to discuss the crisis in
the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas delivered a
statement, and 14 Ministers for Foreign Affairs participated in the outset of the
debate. The Chairman of the Committee made a statement during the meeting
resumed on 7 January (S/PV.6061 and Resumption 1). The following day, on
8 January, the Security Council held its 6063rd meeting, at which it adopted
resolution 1860 (2009), calling for an immediate, durable and fully respected
ceasefire and also recalling the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative.
57. At the 6100th meeting of the Council, on 25 March, the monthly briefing was
followed by an open debate, during which the Chairman of the Committee delivered
a statement (S/PV.6100).
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee
58. On 14 November 2008, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on the
humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip (GA/PAL/1100).
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59. On 31 December 2008, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on
Israel’s deadly military assaults and destruction in the Gaza Strip (GA/PAL/1109).
60. On 8 January 2009, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on the
escalating violence in the Gaza Strip (GA/PAL/1110).
61. On 19 May, at its 316th meeting, the Committee adopted a statement
expressing its utmost concern about illegal and provocative Israeli policies and
measures in Occupied East Jerusalem (A/63/861-S/2009/265).
62. On 11 September, the Bureau of the Committee held a meeting with the
Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and discussed the Committee’s
programme of activities and the latest political developments.
63. On 5 October, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on the situation
in Occupied East Jerusalem (GA/PAL/1137).
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 63/26
and 63/27
1. Programme of international meetings and conferences
64. Through its programme of international meetings and conferences, the
Committee continued to raise international awareness of the various aspects of the
question of Palestine and international support for the rights of the Palestinian
people and the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.
65. In the period under review, the following international events were held under
the auspices of the Committee:
(a) United Nations Latin American and Caribbean Meeting in Support of
Israeli-Palestinian Peace, Headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin
America and the Caribbean, Santiago, 11 and 12 December 2008;
(b) United Nations Public Forum in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace,
Headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean,
Santiago, 13 December 2008;
(c) United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, Cairo,
10 and 11 March 2009;
(d) United Nations International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian
Peace, Nicosia, 6 and 7 May 2009;
(e) Consultations of the Committee delegation with parliamentarians and
other experts participating in the United Nations International Meeting in Support of
Israeli-Palestinian Peace, Nicosia, 8 May 2009;
(f) United Nations Asian and Pacific Meeting on the Question of Palestine,
Jakarta, 8 and 9 June 2009;
(g) United Nations Public Forum in Support of the Palestinian People,
Jakarta, 10 June 2009;
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(h) United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine,
United Nations Office at Geneva, 22 and 23 July 2009;
(i) Consultations of the Committee delegation with civil society
organizations, United Nations Office at Geneva, 24 July.
66. The above-mentioned events were attended by representatives of
Governments, Palestine, intergovernmental organizations and United Nations
system entities, as well as representatives of civil society and the media. The reports
of the meetings were issued as publications of the Division for Palestinian Rights
and were made available through the “Question of Palestine” website maintained by
the Division.
67. In Santiago, on the sidelines of the United Nations Latin American and
Caribbean Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace, the Committee
delegation was received by the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet Jeria. It also
held consultations with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alejandro Foxley Rioseco.
68. In Cairo, during the seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people, the
Committee delegation met at the Egyptian’s People’s Assembly with Dr. Abdel Ahad
Gamal El-Din, majority leader of the Egyptian People’s Assembly. In separate
engagements, it met with members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the
Minister for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of Egypt, Moufid Mahmoud Shehab.
The Committee delegation also had consultations with Suzanne Mubarak, President
of the Egyptian Red Crescent Society and First Lady of Egypt. It also visited the
Palestine Hospital administered by the Palestine Red Crescent Society and visited
Palestinian victims of the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.
69. During its stay in Nicosia in connection with the United Nations International
Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace, the Committee delegation was
received by the President of Cyprus, Dimitris Christofias. It also met separately with
Marios Garoyian, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Averof Neophytou,
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Cypriot Parliament.
70. In Jakarta, during its stay in connection with the United Nations Asian and
Pacific Meeting on the Question of Palestine, the Committee delegation was
received by the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Triyono Wibowo. It
also met with Agung Laksono, Speaker of the House of Representatives of
Indonesia.
71. The Committee delegation to the United Nations International Meeting on the
Question of Palestine held at the United Nations Office at Geneva used its stay in
Geneva to conduct meetings and consultations with Paul Seger, Head of the
Directorate for International Public Law, Department of Foreign Affairs of
Switzerland; Anders B. Johnsson, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary
Union; Rudy Salles, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean;
Brigitte Troyon-Borgea, Deputy Director for International Law and Cooperation,
International Committee of the Red Cross; Bekele Geleta, Secretary-General of the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; and Navanethem
Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
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2. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations
72. Throughout the year, the Committee continued its cooperation with the African
Union, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
The Committee very much appreciated the active participation of their
representatives in the various meetings held under its aegis. During its stay in Cairo,
the Committee delegation met with Amre Moussa, Secretary-General of the League
of Arab States.
73. The Committee also continued its cooperation on the question of Palestine
with the Presidency of the European Union (EU) and the European Commission. It
appreciated the contribution of an EU expert speaker to the deliberations of the
United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People held in Cairo. The
Bureau of the Committee met on 10 September with the Permanent Representative
of Sweden to the United Nations in his capacity as representative of the Presidency
of the European Union.
3. Cooperation with civil society
Civil society organizations
74. The Committee continued its cooperation with civil society organizations
worldwide. Representatives of civil society participated in all meetings organized
under the auspices of the Committee, including the observance of the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 24 November 2008. The meetings
provided civil society representatives with an opportunity to discuss the situation on
the ground and their programmes in support of the Palestinian people and to
improve coordination of their activities. The Committee was appreciative of the
work done by civil society organizations, encouraging them to continue contributing
to efforts aimed at realizing a two-State solution.
75. The Committee maintained and developed its liaison with national, regional
and international coordinating mechanisms cooperating with it, in addition to its
established liaison with a large number of individual organizations. At the meeting
of consultations with civil society organizations held at the United Nations Office at
Geneva in July 2009, the deliberations focused on the efforts by civil society to
persuade their respective Governments, in their relations with Israel and the
Palestinians, to adhere to their obligations under international law, ensure respect
for the Geneva Conventions and support the work of this Committee. Over the past
year, the Chairman of the Committee met with representatives of civil society
organizations in New York and at the meetings organized under the auspices of the
Committee away from Headquarters.
76. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained a page on the civil society
network on the Question of Palestine (http://www.un.org/depts/dpa/ngo) on the
“Question of Palestine” website as a tool for the exchange of information and for
cooperation between civil society and the Committee.
Parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations
77. The Committee continued to attach great importance to developing its liaison
with national and regional parliaments and their organizations. Its meeting in
Nicosia on the theme “Action by European, Arab and other parliamentarians and
their umbrella organizations for Israeli-Palestinian peace” gave new impetus to the
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cooperation efforts and motivated participating parliamentarians and other experts
from Europe, North America and the Arab region to work together with the United
Nations and the Committee for the achievement of the two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In connection with the international meetings, the
delegation of the Committee held meetings in Cairo, Nicosia, Jakarta, Geneva and
New York with officials of the respective national parliaments, as well as the Inter-
Parliamentary Union in Geneva, the European Parliament and the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Mediterranean.
78. On 29 September in New York, the Bureau of the Committee held a meeting
with the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, led by its
President, Rudy Salles.
4. Research, monitoring and publications
79. The Division carried out research and monitoring activities and responded to
requests for information and briefings on the question of Palestine. Under the
guidance of the Committee, which reiterated the relevance of the research,
monitoring and publications programme, it also prepared the publications listed
below for dissemination, including through the Internet:
(a) Monthly bulletin on action taken by United Nations and
intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of events relating to the question of Palestine, based
on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of international meetings and conferences organized under the
auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletins and information notes on the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments related to the Middle East peace
process;
(f) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly
and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
5. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
80. Pursuant to successive annual General Assembly mandates, the Division for
Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and library services of the
United Nations Secretariat, continued to administer, maintain, expand and develop
the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL)
and the “Question of Palestine” website, which is located on the United Nations
home page under “Peace and Security”. This included the ongoing maintenance and
upgrading of the technical components of the system to ensure the uninterrupted
presence of UNISPAL on the Internet and involved the expansion of the document
collection to include relevant new and old documents. In addition, steps continued
to be taken to enhance the user-friendliness and usefulness of the system
(http://unispal.un.org), including by incorporating additional multimedia content and
RSS feeds intended to alert users about newly posted materials. The Division
continued to work on redesigning the “Question of Palestine” website and
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conducted an online survey of website users, the results of which were used to
identify ways in which the system could be further improved.
6. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority
81. Two staff members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian
Authority participated in a training programme conducted by the Division from
September to December 2008, in conjunction with the sixty-third session of the
General Assembly. The trainees familiarized themselves with various aspects of the
work of the Secretariat and other organs and conducted research on specific topics.
7. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
82. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
at Headquarters and at the United Nations Office at Geneva on 24 November 2008,
and at the United Nations Office at Vienna on 26 November. On the occasion of the
observance at Headquarters, in addition to a special meeting of the Committee and
other activities, a cultural exhibit entitled “The Palestinians: 60 years of struggle
and enduring hope” was organized by the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine
to the United Nations under the auspices of the Committee. The Committee noted
with appreciation that the International Day of Solidarity had also been observed by
United Nations information centres and other bodies in many cities throughout the
world. Details on the observance are contained in the special bulletin issued by the
Division.
83. In adopting its programme of work, the Committee decided that a similar
observance of the International Day of Solidarity should be organized in 2009.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 63/28
84. The Department of Public Information, pursuant to General Assembly
resolution 63/28, continued to implement its special information programme on the
question of Palestine in order to raise the awareness of the international community
on this question, as well as on the situation in the Middle East, in such a way as to
contribute effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the
peace process.
85. UN Radio regularly covered the question of Palestine in the six official
languages. Interviews, press briefings, and General Assembly and Security Council
sessions were covered in programmes and posted on the UN Radio website. The
international conference in Geneva organized by the Committee featured
prominently in the programming of the Arabic Language Unit.
86. The United Nations News Centre, a news portal of the United Nations website,
regularly highlighted issues related to the question of Palestine in the six official
languages.
87. The Department organized a training programme for 10 young Palestinian
journalists at Headquarters, in Washington, D.C., and in Geneva from 27 October to
5 December 2008. The programme, aimed at strengthening the participants’ capacity
as print media professionals, included Web training to improve their skills in
maintaining websites in Arabic and finding Arabic language information on the
United Nations website.
88. The Department organized two International Media Seminars on Peace in the
Middle East. The seminar in 2008 was organized in cooperation with the Federal
Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria, in Vienna, on 2 and
3 December 2008. The seminar in 2009 was organized in cooperation with the
Ministry of External Relations of Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, on 27 and 28 July 2009.
The seminars included the participation of several journalists and experts from the
respective regions, including Palestinians and Israelis. Press releases were issued on
the proceedings of both seminars.
89. The Public Inquiries Unit distributed more than 1,000 copies of the publication
The Question of Palestine and the United Nations to visitors in the six official
languages.
90. A smaller-scale version of the exhibit, “The Question of Palestine and the
United Nations” was produced in Arabic, English and Spanish. The Spanish and
English versions were displayed, respectively, at the meetings held under the
Committee’s aegis in Santiago and Jakarta.
91. The Dag Hammarskjöld Library continued to digitize documents for the
UNISPAL document collection.
92. The Department arranged a number of briefings on the Middle East issue by
UNRWA and the Department of Political Affairs.
93. The network of United Nations information centres, services and offices
continued to disseminate information on the question of Palestine and to organize
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special outreach activities. The Information Centres actively promoted the
observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
(29 November) and widely disseminated the messages of the Secretary-General in
official and non-official languages, including Farsi, German, Greek, Italian,
Japanese, the Nordic languages, Portuguese and Turkish.
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
94. Throughout the reporting period, the Committee has repeatedly expressed
its utmost concern about the ever-deteriorating situation in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the breakdown of the
political process. It condemned the military offensive of the Israeli military in
the Gaza Strip in December 2008 and January 2009. It also denounced the
firing of rockets and mortar rounds by Palestinian militants from Gaza. It has
been dismayed by the continued Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, which
prevents any reconstruction and sustained humanitarian assistance and which
has caused the near collapse of the economy and social fabric of Gaza. The
Committee remained firmly opposed to the continued illegal construction of
settlements in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. It has been
particularly alarmed by the situation in Occupied East Jerusalem, the
demolition of houses, the eviction of Palestinian citizens, settler extremism and
the threats to Jerusalem’s holy sites and historical heritage.
95. The Committee has been deeply alarmed about the Israeli military
invasion of Gaza, which was accompanied by the callous disregard for civilian
lives. After causing thousands of casualties among the civilian population and
the massive destruction of Palestinian homes, property and infrastructure,
Israel continued its suffocating blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Committee
calls for the immediate lifting of the blockade. It reminds Israel that, under the
Fourth Geneva Convention, the occupying Power is obliged to protect the
civilian population under its occupation and to act within the ambit of
international law. The Committee appeals to all the High Contracting Parties to
the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfil their obligations in accordance with
common Article 1, which obligates them to respect and to ensure respect for the
Convention in all circumstances. The Committee is of the view that 60 years
after their entry into force, respect for the Geneva Conventions is often
deficient, resulting in devastating consequences for the civilian victims of
hostilities. The international community might consider strengthening respect
for international humanitarian law by creating appropriate mechanisms to
monitor adherence. The Committee recommends that the High Contracting
Parties take, individually or collectively, the measures they deem appropriate to
ensure respect for the Convention, including through the convening of a
conference of the High Contracting Parties to address the subject of respect
and ensuring respect for the Convention in all circumstances. The Committee
will remain seized of the issue and is ready to work with Governments,
intergovernmental organizations, parliamentarians, civil society and the media
with a view to promoting a better understanding of the importance of the issue
as it relates to the question of Palestine.
96. The Committee took note that various investigations into the warfare in
Gaza had concluded that serious violations of international humanitarian law,
and possibly war crimes, had been committed. The Committee commended the
missions and convened a special international meeting to study their findings.
At the same time, the Committee was disquieted by an almost complete denial
by Israel of breaking the rules governing the conduct of war and deplored the
lack of Israeli cooperation with some of the commissions. The investigations
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asserted the use of illegal weapons and excessive force disproportionate to any
threat that may have been faced by the army in densely populated areas. The
Committee is of the view that the perpetrators of serious crimes on either side
have to be brought to justice and held accountable for their actions. The
recommendations contained in various reports must be implemented. The
Committee urges intergovernmental organizations to respect their own
guidelines on promoting compliance with international humanitarian and
human rights law. It also recommends that in their national legislation,
parliamentarians incorporate laws allowing for the prosecution of serious
violations of international humanitarian law and that inter-parliamentary
organizations promote the acceptance of universal standards in that regard.
97. The Committee is seriously concerned over Israel’s ongoing settlement
activity. It reiterates that the presence of settlements in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, is illegal under international
law. It calls upon Israel to immediately cease settlement activity, including
construction related to so-called “natural growth”, and to dismantle settlement
outposts. The Committee welcomes the fact that the international community
has remained focused on the damaging effects of Israel’s settlement policies for
the achievement of a two-State solution and calls for serious action to be taken
in that regard.
98. The Committee is also greatly disturbed by the accelerated creation of
faits accomplis in East Jerusalem, including recent policy statements and illegal
unilateral measures by the Government of Israel. It reiterates that East
Jerusalem is part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and that a negotiated
solution of the question of Jerusalem, based on international law, is absolutely
essential to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and crucial for a durable
peace in the whole region. The Committee found that these concerns were
widely shared by Governments, intergovernmental and civil society
organizations, as well as by parliamentarians.
99. The Committee denounces the continued construction of the wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Five years after the
International Court of Justice issued its landmark 9 July 2004 Advisory
Opinion confirming the illegality of the construction of the wall on Palestinian
land, the ruling has remained unheeded. The Committee emphasizes that, based
on the Advisory Opinion, the wall cannot be viewed by Israel, or any other
Government, as a permanent political boundary predetermining the outcome of
the permanent status negotiations. The Committee recommends that the
international community take more determined action challenging the presence
of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The international community
should also demand the removal of hundreds of checkpoints and other obstacles
stifling the economic life in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
100. The Committee notes that as a result of these detrimental developments
and the continuing Israeli occupation, no progress has been achieved in the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Selfdetermination,
independence and sovereignty have remained elusive for the
Palestinian people, as has the right of return, on the basis of General Assembly
resolution 194 (III), for the more than 4.6 million Palestine refugees. The
Committee fully supports the international consensus that the only viable
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solution to the conflict and the exercise by the Palestinian people of its
inalienable rights is the creation of a Palestinian State in the territory occupied
by Israel in 1967, living side by side with Israel in peace and security.
101. To that end, the Committee calls for the resumption of the permanent
status negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. This would require a
genuine commitment of the Israeli Government to a two-State solution,
buttressed by tangible improvements of the situation on the ground, first and
foremost, by stopping all settlement activities. The continued support by the
international community is crucial for moving forward the Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations on all core issues. The Committee, therefore, will support all peace
initiatives that have the realization of a two-State solution as their main
objective.
102. Concerned that the divisions among the Palestinian factions profoundly
affect the legitimate Palestinian national interests and aspirations for statehood
and peace, the Committee calls for invigorated efforts by all to help reconcile
their positions on the basis of the prevailing consensus on the need to achieve a
two-State solution, which would lead to the exercise by the Palestinian people of
its inalienable rights.
103. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights will continue,
through their mandated activities, to contribute to a comprehensive, just and
lasting solution of the question of Palestine, in accordance with international
law and relevant United Nations resolutions. They will further generate
international support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and a
peaceful settlement of the conflict. In this connection, the Committee
emphasizes the useful and constructive contribution of the Division in support
of its mandate aimed at enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their
inalienable rights. It notes with satisfaction: (a) the level of dialogue,
engagement and support of the international community for its programme
objectives, for instance, in terms of both participation at the meetings convened
and the use of printed and electronic information materials provided by the
Division; (b) the continued involvement of civil society organizations in support
of the efforts of the Committee and the United Nations towards a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine; and (c)
the increased international awareness of the United Nations policies and
activities on the question of Palestine as indicated by the growing number of
documents and relevant information materials on the issue accessed by users
worldwide at the websites maintained by the Division. The Committee also
considers that over the years the annual training programme for staff of the
Palestinian Authority carried out by the Division has proved its usefulness, as it
directly contributes to Palestinian capacity-building efforts. The Committee
strongly recommends that this important mandated activity be continued and,
where possible, enhanced.
104. The Committee considers that its programme of international meetings
and conferences implemented by the Division contributes to focusing the
attention of Governments, intergovernmental and civil society organizations
and the public on the urgency of bringing about a two-State solution and
mobilizing assistance to the Palestinian people. Through its international
meetings programme for 2010, the Committee intends to continue to generate
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wide support for a peaceful solution of the conflict, based on international law
and relevant United Nations resolutions. In cooperation with partners in interparliamentary
organizations, and given the importance of the issue of
Jerusalem to the overall efforts at resolving the question of Palestine, the
Committee will convene an international meeting on the question of Jerusalem.
It will continue to engage Governments, parliamentarians and civil society to
mobilize support for a just solution of the conflict. It will reach out, with the
assistance of the United Nations entities on the ground, to the people most
affected by the status quo, refugees and Palestinians living under occupation, as
well as to members of the Israeli public, to involve them in the search for
solutions, to promote dialogue and common projects and to win their backing
for a settlement negotiated by their leaders and supported by the international
community. The Committee wishes to contribute to efforts towards ending
incitement on both sides, provide a venue for the narratives to be heard and
reconciled and, with the help of civil society, to promote peace education on the
ground. It will pay particular attention to the empowerment of women and
their organizations in this process.
105. The Committee commends civil society organizations for their support of
the Palestinian people. It lauds the courageous advocacy actions of numerous
activists, including parliamentarians, who participate in demonstrations
against the wall, provide assistance to Gaza and keep their home constituencies
informed about the harsh realities of life under occupation. The Committee and
civil society have different roles which, through cooperation, are
complementing each other. The Committee encourages civil society partners to
work with their national Governments and other institutions with a view to
gaining their full support for the work of the United Nations, including that of
the Committee, on the question of Palestine. It will continue to assess its
programme of cooperation with civil society and consult them on ways to
enhance their contribution. The Committee appreciates the support it receives
from the Secretariat in strengthening cooperation with civil society.
106. The Committee looks forward to further developing its cooperation with
parliamentarians and their umbrella organizations. Parliamentarians have a
special responsibility to ensure that their Governments actively promote and
support the realization of a two-State solution and ensure respect for
international law, in accordance with their international obligations.
107. The Committee requests the Division to continue its substantive and
secretariat support; the programme of research, monitoring and publications
and other informational activities, such as the further expansion and
development of UNISPAL, including the graphic enhancement of the “Question
of Palestine” website; the annual training programme for staff of the
Palestinian Authority; and the annual observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
108. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and public opinion of the
relevant issues. The Committee requests the continuation of the programme,
with the necessary flexibility, as warranted by developments relevant to the
question of Palestine.
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109. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, and in view of the many
difficulties facing the Palestinian people and besetting the peace process, the
Committee calls upon all States to join it in this endeavour and to extend their
cooperation and support to the Committee, and invites the General Assembly
again to recognize the importance of its role and to reconfirm its mandate.
09-54682 (E) 221009
*0954682*
A/65/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-fifth Session
Supplement No. 35
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-fifth Session
Supplement No. 35
United Nations • New York, 2010
A/65/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters
combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United
Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
[7 October 2010]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 64/16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1. Action taken in the General Assembly and the Security Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance
with General Assembly resolutions 64/16 and 64/17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1. Committee meetings at Headquarters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2. Programme of international meetings and conferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4. Cooperation with civil society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5. Research, monitoring and publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
6. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
7. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
8. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 64/18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
iv
Letter of transmittal
[6 October 2010]
Mr. Secretary-General
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 2 of its resolution 64/16 of
2 December 2009.
The report covers the period from 7 October 2009 to 6 October 2010.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Paul Badji
Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
A/65/35
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as recognized by the
Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the General
Assembly1 were endorsed by the Assembly as a basis for the solution of the
question of Palestine. In its subsequent reports,2 the Committee has continued to
stress that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions and the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel, the
occupying Power, from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East
Jerusalem, and from the other occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all
States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized
boundaries; and the recognition and exercise of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people. The recommendations of the Committee contained in its first
report could not be implemented, and the Assembly each year renewed the
Committee’s mandate and requested it to intensify efforts in pursuit of its objectives.
3. The Committee has consistently supported a peaceful solution of the question
of Palestine. It welcomed the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference that launched the
Middle East peace process based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
338 (1973). It also welcomed the Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements (A/48/486-S/26560, annex) and subsequent
implementation agreements. The Committee has strongly supported the objective of
two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side within secure and recognized
borders on the basis of the 1949 armistice lines, in accordance with relevant United
Nations resolutions, including Security Council resolutions 1397 (2002) and 1515
(2003). The Committee welcomed and supported the Quartet’s road map and called
on the parties to implement it. In keeping with its mandate, the Committee has
continued to work towards creating conditions for the successful conduct and
conclusion of the negotiations on a permanent settlement allowing the Palestinian
people to realize its inalienable rights. The Committee has also promoted support
and assistance by the international community to the Palestinian people.
4. The reporting period has been characterized by efforts to resume negotiations
between the parties on all permanent status issues, a volatile situation on the ground
throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the
continued division between the political leadership in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip. Of special concern was the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,
exacerbated by the continued imposition by Israel of a severe blockade on the
territory, which has obstructed the movement of persons and goods, including
__________________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Since the thirty-first session, the Committee has submitted annual reports to the General
Assembly; all such reports have been issued as supplement No. 35 of the sessional
documentation of the Assembly.
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humanitarian access and the import of materials required for the reconstruction and
rehabilitation of Gaza and other essential supplies.
5. Systematic engagement by the Quartet and its individual members, in
particular the United States of America, with the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships
and other stakeholders in the region, led to the resumption of direct talks between
Israel and the Palestinians on 2 September 2010. That had been preceded by several
rounds of proximity talks assisted by the United States. The League of Arab States
also engaged actively with the parties and the Quartet within the framework of the
Arab Peace Initiative.
6. The situation in the Gaza Strip remained bleak, with 1.5 million inhabitants
still suffering from the aftermath of the Israeli military assault of December 2008-
January 2009, an acute shortage of basic goods and services, including clean water,
and economic activity stifled by the blockade. Efforts by the international
community, in particular the United Nations, to ease the blockade had only a limited
effect. Civil society organizations mobilized ship convoys to break the siege, which
were either prevented through the diplomatic efforts of Israel, or intercepted by its
navy. On 31 May 2010, Israeli forces attacked, in international waters, a
multinational humanitarian aid convoy sailing to Gaza. That military assault, in
violation of international law, left nine Turkish civilians dead and many more
wounded. It triggered an immediate condemnation by the international community,
including the Security Council, and led to national and international investigations.
The Human Rights Council dispatched an international independent fact-finding
mission, and the Secretary-General established a Panel of Inquiry. At the same time,
the international debate was continuing with regard to ensuring accountability and
justice for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law committed
during the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, in particular the follow-up of
the very specific conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the
United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza conflict, established by the
Human Rights Council and led by Justice Richard Goldstone (A/HRC/12/48).
7. Throughout the year, Israel conducted limited military operations in the Gaza
Strip, resulting in Palestinian casualties. This was met with resumed rocket and
mortar fire by armed Palestinian groups into southern Israel. In addition, Israeli
military incursions into West Bank population centres continued, often accompanied
by the arrests of Palestinians. The expansion of Israeli settlements continued in the
West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as did the construction of the wall. The
number of checkpoints was only marginally reduced. The situation in Occupied East
Jerusalem deteriorated further, with ongoing land confiscations, house demolitions
and evictions of Palestinian residents, and the transfer of more Israeli settlers into
the City.
8. The divide among major Palestinian factions continued to affect the lives of
ordinary Palestinians, especially in Gaza, and prevented Palestinians from uniting in
support of the Palestinian Authority. Yet, in spite of the challenges presented by the
occupation, the Palestinian Authority was able in the past year to make appreciable
progress in economic development and State-building through the phased
implementation of a plan entitled “Palestine: Ending the Occupation, establishing
the State” (Fayyad Plan), which has received widespread international support.
9. The activities of the Committee and its Bureau in the reporting period focused
on the need to end the Israeli occupation and to establish a sovereign and
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independent Palestinian State. The Committee monitored the situation on the ground
and the political developments, implemented its programme of international
meetings and conferences, held a number of consultations with representatives of
Governments, national parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations, as well as
civil society, and reached out to its partners worldwide using new communications
media. The Committee reiterated its position of principle that a permanent
settlement of the question of Palestine could only be achieved through ending the
occupation, establishing a Palestinian State on the basis of the pre-1967 borders
with East Jerusalem as its capital, and a just and agreed solution to the Palestine
refugees issue on the basis of General Assembly resolution 194 (III). The first
international meeting of the Committee in February 2010 engaged parliamentarians
of the Mediterranean region and beyond in support of the two-State solution. It was
followed by a seminar promoting international support of the Fayyad Plan. At
another meeting held in May, participants emphasized the urgency to implement the
two-State solution, cautioning that the continuation of the Israeli policy of illegally
and unilaterally imposing faits accomplis on the ground posed a grave threat to the
prospects of a negotiated solution of the conflict. The fourth event focused on the
situation in East Jerusalem and its significance for a just peace in the Middle East.
The Committee encouraged all stakeholders to support the role and activities of the
United Nations and urged them to support the two-State solution to the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant Security Council resolutions, the
terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle of land for
peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet road map.
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Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
10. On 2 December 2009, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (see
resolution 64/16), requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources to
carry out its programme of work (see resolution 64/17) and requested the
continuation of the special information programme on the question of Palestine of
the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat (see resolution 64/18). On
the same date, the Assembly adopted resolution 64/19, entitled “Peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine”.
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Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
11. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
12. The observers at the Committee meetings are: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria,
China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,
Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United
Arab Emirates, Viet Nam and Yemen, as well as the African Union, the League of
Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and Palestine.
13. At its 321st meeting, on 21 January 2010, the Committee re-elected Paul Badji
(Senegal) as Chair, Zahir Tanin (Afghanistan) and Pedro Núñez Mosquera (Cuba) as
Vice-Chair and Saviour F. Borg (Malta) as Rapporteur.
14. Also at the 321st meeting, the Committee adopted its programme of work for
2010 (see A/AC.183/2010/1).
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
15. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all United Nations
Member States and observers wishing to participate in the work of the Committee as
observers were welcome to do so. In accordance with established practice, Palestine
participated in the work of the Committee as an observer, attended all of its
meetings and made observations and proposals for consideration by the Committee
and its Bureau.
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Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
16. After a long break in the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, the United
States, in early May 2010, facilitated indirect talks between the parties. After seven
rounds of proximity talks, the parties agreed to enter into direct negotiations on
permanent status issues. On 2 September, in Washington, D.C., delegations led by
the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the President of the
Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, held the first bilateral talks in some 20
months, followed by a second round of talks, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, and
Jerusalem on 14 and 15 September. An Israeli moratorium on settlement
construction ended on 26 September, which was met by broad criticism and
endangered the continuation of the talks. The United States, supported by Egypt,
Jordan and the European Union, intensified efforts aimed at convincing the
Government of Israel to renew the moratorium.
17. The situation on the ground remained a cause of serious concern. Israeli forces
continued to conduct routine military raids and arrests throughout the West Bank.
During the reporting period (as at 28 September), 14 Palestinians were killed and
more than 1,000 injured by Israeli forces in the West Bank and East Jerusalem,
including during clashes between demonstrators and Israeli forces. Two members of
the Israeli forces and five Israeli settlers were killed by Palestinians, and some 140
soldiers and policemen were injured during the reporting period. Over 2,300
Palestinians were arrested during some 4,000 search operations conducted by Israeli
forces. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed 57 Palestinians, including 23 civilians,
and injured more than 210 Palestinians, including at least 177 civilians, in incidents
involving air strikes and the enforcement of access restrictions near the border
fence. Three Israeli soldiers were killed and eight soldiers were injured during
clashes with Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel. One foreign
worker was killed in southern Israel by a rocket launched by Palestinians in Gaza.
The Israeli military reported that, as of September, 150 projectiles had been fired at
Israel since the beginning of 2010.
18. In a worrisome development, the Israeli military issued a new order on
13 April, defining any person present in the West Bank without a permit issued by
the Israeli military commander as an “infiltrator” who had committed a criminal
offence and could be deported within 72 hours without judicial review. This new
order puts at risk thousands of Palestinians living in the West Bank whose home
addresses, as recorded in the population registry, are in Gaza, as well as people born
in the West Bank or abroad who, for various reasons, do not have residency cards.
However, owing to the ambiguity of the language of the order, it could potentially
be applied to a much broader category of residents. In implementation of the new
policy, several Palestinians have been deported to Gaza after being released from
Israeli jails.
19. On numerous occasions, Israeli forces penetrated a few hundred metres within
the Gaza Strip and withdrew shortly after conducting land-levelling operations.
Such incidents occurred in the context of Israeli restrictions on Palestinian access to
areas along the border fence. Similar restrictions were applied on access to fishing
areas near shore. In many incidents, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian
fishing boats, forcing them ashore, and, in several cases, wounding fishermen and
damaging their boats. Three Palestinian fishermen have been killed and five others
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injured in 2010 (as of September). Since late 2008, Palestinians have been totally or
partially prevented from accessing land located up to 1,000 metres to 1,500 metres
from the Green Line, and sea areas beyond three nautical miles from shore. The
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated the
restricted area at 17 per cent of the total land mass of the Gaza Strip and 35 per cent
of its agricultural land. At sea, fishermen were totally prevented from accessing
some 85 per cent of the maritime areas to which they were entitled according to the
Oslo Agreements. An estimated 178,000 people — 12 per cent of the population of
Gaza — were directly affected by this regime, with approximately 113,000 affected
in land areas and 65,000 affected by restrictions on access to maritime areas.
20. Access restrictions in those areas were primarily enforced by live fire on
people attempting to enter the areas. While in most cases it was “warning shots” that
forced people to stay away from the area, the Israeli army since the end of the Cast
Lead offensive in January 2009, has killed at least 22 civilians and injured more
than 150 in these circumstances. Despite the potential for civilian casualties, the
Israeli authorities have not informed the affected population about the precise
boundaries of the restricted areas and the conditions under which access to those
areas might be permitted or denied.
21. Another method used by the Israeli military to prevent access was the
systematic levelling of farm land and the destruction of other private property
located in the restricted areas. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs conservatively estimated the value of agricultural and other property
destroyed in the past five years in those areas at $308 million. It has been further
estimated that access restrictions and the related destruction of agricultural assets
resulted in a yearly loss of approximately 75,000 metric tons of potential produce,
conservatively estimated at $50.2 million a year. In the fishing sector, the potential
fishing catch lost as a result of access restrictions was estimated at approximately
7,000 metric tons, with a related loss of income of some $26.5 million over a period
of five years. The erosion of livelihoods has forced affected families to develop a
variety of coping mechanisms aimed at generating alternative income and reducing
expenditure. Some of the practices raising significant concerns include a reduction
in the quantity of food consumed; a gradual shift in diets (from vegetables and
animal products to low-cost and high-carbohydrate items); a reduction in the length
of school enrolment for children; and an increased inclination on the part of parents
to marry off their daughters at an earlier age.
22. These access restrictions in Gaza, together with Israel’s continued obstruction
of the import of essential construction materials and spare parts, have significantly
impeded the maintenance and upgrade of the existing infrastructure for wastewater
and electricity, negatively impacting the provision of services to the entire
population of Gaza. In particular, the prolonged delay in the construction of three
wastewater treatment plants has contributed to the daily release of some 80 million
litres of raw and partially treated sewage into the sea and streams, constituting a
significant environmental and health hazard.
23. Reconstruction in Gaza has been nearly impossible owing to the blockade
imposed by Israel. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reported
in May 2010 that, more than one year after the Israeli offensive, three quarters of the
damage inflicted on buildings and infrastructure remained unrepaired. Nearly none
of the 3,425 homes destroyed during the operation had been reconstructed, resulting
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in the displacement of approximately 20,000 people. Only 17.5 per cent of the value
of the damage caused to educational facilities had been repaired, putting an extra
strain on Gaza’s already stressed education system. Only half of the damage to the
power network had been repaired, and no repair had been made to the transport
infrastructure. A quarter of damaged farmland had been rehabilitated and only
40 per cent of private businesses had been repaired.
24. On 31 May, Israeli naval commando forces, operating in international waters,
intercepted the “Free Gaza” flotilla of six ships carrying international activists and
humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. During the takeover of one of the vessels, the
Mavi Marmara, nine Turkish nationals, including one with dual United States
citizenship, were killed by Israeli soldiers and many others were wounded. The
Israeli assault was widely condemned by the international community. At the end of
an emergency meeting, the Security Council on 1 June issued a presidential
statement condemning these acts and calling for “a prompt, impartial, credible and
transparent investigation conforming to international standards” (see/PRST/2010/9).
25. On 14 June, the Israeli Cabinet approved the establishment of the Israeli
Public Commission to Examine the Maritime Incident of 31 May 2010, headed by
retired Israeli Supreme Court Justice Jacob Turkel, in addition to a military
investigation headed by General Eiland. On 2 June, the United Nations Human
Rights Council decided to dispatch an independent international fact-finding
mission to investigate violations of international law resulting from the attacks on
the flotilla. The mission issued its report (A/HRC/15/21) on 22 September,
concluding that a series of violations of international law had been committed by
Israeli forces. The conclusions contained in the report were endorsed by the Human
Rights Council on 29 September. On 2 August, the Secretary-General announced the
launch of a Panel of Inquiry on the Flotilla incident that occurred on 31 May 2010,
led by Geoffrey Palmer, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand. The Panel
submitted its initial progress report to the Secretary-General on 15 September.
26. On 20 June, under international pressure, the Government of Israel announced
a decision to ease the blockade on Gaza, which has been imposed for over three
years since 2007. On 5 July, the Government of Israel switched from a “positive”
list of goods allowed into Gaza to a “negative” list of items that would be prohibited
or restricted from entry. Among the items prohibited or restricted are fertilizers,
glass-fibre-based raw materials, drilling equipment, vessels and water disinfectants,
as well as 19 types of construction materials (to be limited to projects under
international supervision), including cement, gravel, concrete blocks, steel elements,
asphalt, sealing materials and construction vehicles.
27. Despite the increase in imports into Gaza under the new measures, they
remained far below the weekly average of truckloads delivered before the institution
of the closure regime in 2007, thereby impeding the reconstruction of homes and
infrastructure and limiting the scope of economic reactivation. A lack of industrial
fuel supplied to the Gaza power plant continued to result in power outages of
between four to six hours per day (as of September), affecting the daily life of
residents, as well as the provision of essential services, including water supply,
sewage treatment and removal. Power cuts also forced hospitals to suspend or
postpone elective surgery, diagnostic procedures and supportive services, and
sensitive medical equipment was regularly damaged as a result of the cuts. Access to
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medical facilities in the West Bank, Israel and Jordan continued to be limited by a
restrictive permit regime implemented by the Israeli authorities.
28. Residents of Gaza continued to rely on goods smuggled through the tunnels
under the border with Egypt. During the reporting period, 49 Palestinians, including
2 children, were killed and 104 injured in tunnel-related incidents, including Israeli
air strikes, tunnel collapses, electrocution and the explosion of gas cylinders.
29. On 15 January, an arrangement was made whereby the Government of Israel
made a payment of $10.5 million to the United Nations in respect of losses caused
by Israel to United Nations facilities in Gaza during the Israeli military assault of
December 2008 to January 2009 in the nine incidents investigated by the Gaza
Board of Inquiry established by the Secretary-General. In the light of that payment,
the United Nations has agreed that the financial issues relating to those incidents
had been brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
30. During the reporting period, Israel continued illegal settlement activities in the
West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. On 25 November 2009, Israeli Prime
Minister Netanyahu declared a 10-month “partial moratorium” on new construction
in settlements in the West Bank in order to encourage the resumption of talks with
the Palestinians. The moratorium was not applied to East Jerusalem, where
settlement construction continued throughout the reporting period. The organization
Peace Now, which monitors Israeli settlements, reported in August 2010 that at least
600 housing units had started to be built during the moratorium in over 60
settlements, at least 492 of those in direct violation of the moratorium. Peace Now
also reported that some 2,000 housing units were currently under construction, most
of which had started before the announcement of the moratorium. Hours after the
expiration of the moratorium on 26 September, construction work resumed in many
settlements. According to a report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, for
the year 2009, the number of settlements in the West Bank totalled 144, the majority
located in the Jerusalem area, and the number of settlers reached 517,774 by the end
of 2009, the majority living in the Jerusalem area.
31. Of critical concern was settlement activity in Occupied East Jerusalem, as well
as acts aimed at displacing and expelling Palestinian residents from the City through
house demolitions, evictions and revocations of residency rights. Efforts by Israelis
to settle in Palestinian neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem have intensified and have
often been accompanied by attempts to forcibly evict Palestinian families. Among
the methods used have been “reclamation of property” allegedly owned by Jewish
residents of pre-1948 Mandatory Palestine, and controversial purchases of
Palestinian property. Moreover, the Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem,
including the Orient House and the Chamber of Commerce, remained closed in
contravention of the road map.
32. According to a report issued by the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs in July 2010, at least 242 Palestinian structures had been
demolished in East Jerusalem and “Area C” of the West Bank in 2010. As a result,
more than 1,100 Palestinians, including more than 400 children, had been forcibly
displaced or otherwise affected owing to extensive damage of property or
destruction of livelihood. In addition, there had been a marked increase in the
number of stop-work and demolition orders being issued by Israel in Area C. As of
August 2010, there were more than 3,000 outstanding demolition orders against
Palestinian properties throughout Area C. Demolitions were carried out mainly
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against structures that had been built without Israeli-issued building permits and
were thus considered “illegal” by Israel. In Area C, more than 70 per cent of the
land, currently allocated to Israeli settlements or the Israeli occupying forces, was
unavailable for Palestinians, while severe restrictions applied to their use of an
additional 29 per cent. Only 1 per cent of the land in Area C was thus available for
Palestinian construction and development. In East Jerusalem, only 13 per cent of the
land was currently zoned for Palestinian construction, compared to the 35 per cent
allocated for Israeli settlements.
33. The reporting period was also marked by increased violence by Israeli settlers
against Palestinians. This included physical assault, harassment, intimidation,
setting fire to or seizing agricultural land, uprooting or damaging olive trees and
grape vines, the prevention of access, throwing stones at vehicles and houses,
vandalizing mosques and cemeteries, shooting civilians and killing livestock.
During the period, more than 300 incidents have taken place in which Israeli settlers
caused either injury to Palestinian civilians, including children, or damage to
Palestinian property. An Israeli settler was killed in a Palestinian shooting attack on
his vehicle on 24 December 2009, and three Palestinian suspects were killed by an
Israeli undercover unit two days later. On 14 May 2010, a Palestinian boy from the
Ramallah area was shot and killed by Israeli settlers after he had thrown stones at
their car. On 31 August, gunmen from the Izz ad-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, the
armed wing of Hamas, opened fire at an Israeli car near Hebron, killing four settlers
inside, including two women, one of whom was pregnant. The trend of particular
concern was the so called “price tag” strategy by extreme settlers to protest the
Israeli Government’s policy of settlement restraint, whereby for every attempt by
the Israeli authorities to dismantle a settlement outpost, settlers would attack
Palestinian communities. Also, the lack of adequate law enforcement on settler
violence remained an issue of serious concern. The Israeli human rights group,
Yesh Din, reported that investigations into many incidents had been closed by the
Israeli police for lack of evidence or owing to “unknown perpetrators”.
34. Israel has continued the illegal construction of the wall in the West Bank,
including in and around Occupied East Jerusalem, in defiance of the advisory
opinion of the International Court of Justice. According to the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as of July 2010, approximately 61.4 per cent
of the 707-kilometre-long wall was complete, a further 8.4 per cent was under
construction and 30.1 per cent was planned but not yet constructed. When
completed, the majority of the route, approximately 85 per cent, will run inside the
West Bank, including East Jerusalem, rather than along the Green Line. The total
area located between the wall and the Green Line amounted to 9.4 per cent of the
West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the “no man’s land”, resulting in the
confiscation of vast tracts of Palestinian land and the displacement of thousands of
Palestinian civilians, many of whom are now forced to acquire special permits from
the occupying Power in order to remain in their own homes in and around those
areas.
35. According to information made available by the Palestinian Central Bureau of
Statistics in April 2010, more than 7,000 Palestinians, including 34 women and 270
children (44 under the age of 16), were held by Israel in 17 investigation and
detention centres as well as prisons. Detainees were often deprived of medical
treatment, and there were more than 1,500 cases of illness among the detainees,
including heart problems, kidney failure and cancer. Israeli authorities deprived
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these detainees of adequate medical treatment, and medication was often limited to
pain killers only. Detainees were often subjected to isolated confinement and other
forms of ill-treatment, resulting in psychological problems. Approximately 14
detainees had been subjected to isolated confinement for more than five years.
36. The Israeli occupation continued to gravely affect Palestinian women and
children. In a report released in February 2010, the World Bank stated that, while
men were the direct recipients of violence, women had also had to bear its indirect
costs. For instance, although the overwhelming majority of Palestinians killed or
imprisoned were men, women had to shoulder the responsibility of raising children
and maintaining the household alone. In addition, for women, the Israeli military
checkpoints represented spaces of humiliation and presented both physical and
moral danger with gender-related consequences. The invasive search procedures
presented a potential risk to women’s honour. Families and communities often
responded by censoring women’s movements, in particular those of young
unmarried women. The sense of humiliation and degree of affront to a woman’s
reputation was so great that families in Areas B and C even limited their girls’
education rather than subject them to the perceived moral dangers of the
checkpoints.
37. In Area C of the West Bank, schoolchildren face many obstacles, including
restricted access to their schools, long walking distances, and substandard
classrooms owing to the restrictive permit regime. In East Jerusalem, as of August
2010, over 7,000 Palestinian school-aged children were not enrolled in school
because of Israeli policies requiring families to obtain permits proving residency in
Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, 82 per cent of the damage caused to schools during
Operation Cast Lead has still not been repaired, according to the United Nations
Children’s Fund. Moreover, the closure regime on Gaza has affected access to
schools, seven of which were located within the restricted areas near the border with
Israel. The safety of some 4,600 students and staff attending those institutions, the
quality of education provided and the level of educational achievement have been
seriously undermined by the frequent exposure to Israeli fire targeting people
present in open areas.
38. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that access
restrictions in the West Bank had exacerbated the acute water shortage affecting
communities in Area C, particularly during the summer season, as a result of the
lack of water infrastructure and previous years of drought. The water shortage has
gradually eroded the herding livelihoods on which most of those communities rely.
Humanitarian organizations seeking to address the needs of these vulnerable
communities faced considerable challenges owing to the restrictive permit regime
implemented by the Israeli authorities. The Israeli human rights organization
B’Tselem reported that Israel held almost complete control of the mountain aquifer
and exploited 80 per cent of the production for its needs. The discriminatory sharing
of water resources has created a chronic water shortage in the West Bank, with
potentially serious consequences for the health of Palestinians.
39. In the Gaza Strip, in the peak of the hot summer season, households’ access to
running water was severely limited owing to power shortages. According to the
Coastal Municipalities Water Utility, as of August 2010, 40 per cent of households
in Gaza had access to running water for only six to eight hours per week, 30 per cent
received water for only six hours once every five days, and the other 30 per cent
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obtained water only once every two days. The quality of the running water was
poor, forcing the population to rely extensively on tankered water for drinking.
40. Despite facing very difficult circumstances of the occupation, the Palestinian
Authority has made significant progress in carrying out its two-year State-building
plan led by Prime Minister Fayyad, entitled “Palestine: Ending the occupation,
establishing the State”, which was released in August 2009. The World Bank
reported that the Palestinian Authority was making steady progress on implementing
the programme and had strengthened its public financial management systems,
improved service delivery, and made significant reforms to increase security and
shore up its fiscal position. In the first half of 2010, the Palestinian economy has
achieved real growth of 7 per cent. Most of the growth was in the West Bank, while
Gaza continued to experience falling per capita gross domestic product.
Sustainability of the growth, given the reliance on donor assistance, was a cause for
concern. While private sector growth required a shift from public sector-driven
investment to a real take-off in private sector investment and development and
stabilization of the economy, the restrictions on movement and access to resources
and markets imposed by the Government of Israel remained the largest impediment
to private sector investment in the West Bank and Gaza. In August 2010, the Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recorded some 500 obstacles to
movement in the West Bank.
41. In its progress report on the Fayyad Plan released in August, entitled
“Homestretch to freedom”, the Palestinian Authority stated that 34 new schools had
been built and 23 had been expanded; 11 new clinics had been built and 30
expanded; 44 new housing projects had been started; 16 new roads had been built
and 40 road improvement projects had been started; and 370,000 trees had been
planted under the Greening Palestine project. Also, law and order had been
improved: 88,000 court orders had been carried out by the police and a police
station had been established in every major urban centre and in some other
municipal centres. The Government had been able to increase revenues by 18 per
cent, with an increase of 20 per cent in tax revenues.
42. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East (UNRWA) continued to provide an extensive programme of emergency
assistance and basic public services in Gaza and the West Bank. Despite the Israeli
announcement regarding the intention to ease the Gaza blockade in July 2010,
UNRWA has not been able to resume work on suspended major infrastructure
projects, with the exception of three pilot projects intended to test the integrity of
the supply chain. In May 2010, the Agency completed 60 years of operations amidst
one of its most grave financial crises, which threatened its ability to continue its
vital services for the refugee population. The Committee reiterates its appreciation
for the dedicated services provided by UNRWA and calls upon all donors to increase
contributions to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of vital services and the wellbeing
of the 4.8 million registered refugees dependent on the Agency’s assistance.
43. UNDP continued to respond to the destruction caused by the Israeli military
attacks in the Gaza Strip of December 2008 to January 2009 by clearing and
recycling debris, repairing damage to farming and fishing assets, providing social
and economic assistance and coordinating early recovery efforts by various United
Nations system entities. UNDP has affirmed its preparedness to restart the
construction projects that have been suspended for three years if the reported
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changes in Israel’s closure regime occur. In the West Bank, UNDP is working with
the Palestinian Authority to increase its administrative capacity and improve access
to justice. It is also engaged in a range of infrastructure, environmental, social and
economic initiatives to improve the conditions of the Palestinian people and the
effectiveness of government.
44. The Committee remained appreciative of the important work of the Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It
noted that the consolidated appeal for 2010 focused on delivering humanitarian
assistance, increased protection of civilians, enhanced monitoring and reporting on
the humanitarian situation and the strengthening of United Nations humanitarian
coordination structures.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 64/16
45. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to mobilize the
international community in support of the Palestinian people, in cooperation with
United Nations bodies, Governments, intergovernmental and civil society
organizations and others.
1. Action taken in the General Assembly and the Security Council
Meetings of the Security Council
46. During the reporting period, the Security Council has continued to monitor the
situation on the ground and the efforts to implement the road map. It held monthly
briefings throughout the year under the agenda item entitled “The situation in the
Middle East, including the Palestinian question”.
47. The Council held its 6201st meeting on 14 October 2009 to discuss the
Goldstone report, at the request of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, supported by Egypt
on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Syrian Arab Republic, on behalf
of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. During the open debate, the Chair of
the Committee made a statement (S/PV.6201).
48. The Council held its 6265th meeting on 27 January 2010. During an open
debate following the monthly briefing, the Chair of the Committee delivered a
statement (S/PV.6265).
49. The Council held its 6298th meeting on 14 April. During an open debate
following the monthly briefing, the Vice-Chair of the Committee delivered a
statement (S/PV.6298).
50. The Council held its 6363rd meeting on 21 July. During an open debate
following the monthly briefing, the Chair of the Committee made a statement
(S/PV.6363).
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee
51. On 15 December 2009, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on
Israel’s settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem (GA/PAL/1142).
52. On 24 February 2010, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on
Israel’s announcement to include the Tomb of the Patriarchs (Al-Haram
Al-Ibrahimi) in Hebron and Rachel’s Tomb (Masjid Bilal or Qubbat Rakhil) in
Bethlehem in a list of Israel’s “national heritage infrastructure” (GA/PAL/1151).
53. On 19 March, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on Israel’s
settlement expansion in East Jerusalem (GA/PAL/1153).
54. On 31 August, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on the
resumption of negotiations on all permanent status issues (GA/PAL/1173).
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B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 64/16
and 64/17
1. Committee meetings at Headquarters
55. At its periodic meetings at Headquarters in New York, the Committee, among
other things, heard a presentation by a representative of the United Nations
Environment Programme on an environmental assessment of the Gaza Strip
following the Israeli military offensive, as well as a testimony by a participant in the
Free Gaza flotilla. As a new initiative, the Committee also screened several
documentary films on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
2. Programme of international meetings and conferences
56. Through its programme of international meetings and conferences, the
Committee continued to raise international awareness of the various aspects of the
question of Palestine and international support for the rights of the Palestinian
people and the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.
57. In the period under review, the following international events were held under
the auspices of the Committee:
(a) International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace,
co-organized with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, Qawra, Malta,
12 and 13 February 2010;
(b) United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, United
Nations Office at Vienna, 24 and 25 March;
(c) United Nations Meeting of Civil Society in Support of the Palestinian
People, United Nations Office at Vienna, 26 March;
(d) United Nations International Meeting in Support of the Israeli-
Palestinian Peace Process, Istanbul, 25 and 26 May;
(e) United Nations Public Forum in Support of the Palestinian People,
Istanbul, 27 May;
(f) United Nations African Meeting on the Question of Palestine, Rabat,
1 and 2 July.
58. The above-mentioned events were attended by representatives of
Governments, Palestine, intergovernmental organizations and United Nations
system entities, as well as parliamentarians and representatives of civil society and
the media. The reports of the meetings were issued as publications of the Division
for Palestinian Rights and were made available through the “Question of Palestine”
website maintained by the Division.
59. In Malta, on the sidelines of the International Meeting in Support of Israeli-
Palestinian Peace, the Committee delegation was received by the Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malta, Tonio Borg. It also held a
meeting with the Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs
of the Maltese Parliament, Michael Frendo, and members of the Standing
Committee.
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60. During its stay in Vienna in connection with the United Nations Seminar on
Assistance to the Palestinian People, the Committee delegation met with the
Political Director, Ambassador Stefan Lehne, and the Director for the Middle East
and North Africa, Minister Friedrich Stift, both of the Ministry for European and
International Affairs of Austria.
61. In Istanbul, during its stay in connection with the United Nations International
Meeting in Support of the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process, the Committee
delegation was received by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Ahmet
Davutoğlu.
62. In Rabat, on the sidelines of the United Nations African Meeting on the
Question of Palestine, the Committee delegation met with President of the House of
Representatives of Morocco, Abdelwahad Radi, and the President of the Moroccan
House of Councillors, Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah.
3. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations
63. Throughout the year, the Committee continued its cooperation with the African
Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the Non-Aligned Movement
and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The Committee is appreciative of
the active participation of their representatives in the various international events
held under its auspices.
4. Cooperation with civil society
Civil society organizations
64. The Committee continued its cooperation with civil society organizations
worldwide. Representatives of civil society participated in all meetings organized
under the auspices of the Committee, including the observance of the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 30 November 2009. The meetings
provided civil society representatives with an opportunity to discuss the situation on
the ground and their programmes in support of the Palestinian people and to
improve coordination of their activities. The Committee was appreciative of the
work done by civil society organizations and encouraged them to continue
contributing to efforts aimed at realizing a two-State solution.
65. The Committee maintained and developed its liaison with national, regional
and international coordinating mechanisms cooperating with it, in addition to its
established liaison with a large number of individual organizations. At the United
Nations Meeting of Civil Society in Support of the Palestinian People, held at the
United Nations Office at Vienna in March, the deliberations focused on civil society
actions against the separation wall and the importance of upholding international
law, including with respect to the advisory opinion of the International Court of
Justice on the wall. Meanwhile, the United Nations Public Forum in Support of the
Palestinian People, held in May 2010 at the Istanbul Kültür University in Turkey,
focused on Jerusalem. Over the past year, the Chair of the Committee met with
representatives of civil society, including a delegation of Palestinian Christians.
66. During the reporting period, six civil society organizations have been
accredited to the Committee.
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67. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained a page on civil society and the
question of Palestine (http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/ngo.htm) on the “Question of
Palestine” website as a tool for the exchange of information and networking and for
cooperation between civil society and the Committee.
68. The Division strived to enhance the use of information technology and created
a Facebook “fan page”, which has attracted more than 800 “fans” during the
reporting period, informing about developments related to the question of Palestine
and the work of the Committee. In addition, the Division continued to publish the
periodic online bulletin “NGO Action News”, in order to catalogue and publicize
civil society initiatives.
Parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations
69. The Committee continued to attach great importance to developing its liaison
with national and regional parliaments and their organizations. For the first time, it
co-organized a meeting with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean. The
meeting considered, in particular, the role of parliamentarians and
inter-parliamentary organizations in supporting Israeli-Palestinian peace and
promoting stability in the region. The four international events held during 2010
were addressed by parliamentarians from Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Malta, Turkey, the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Occupied Palestinian
Territory.
5. Research, monitoring and publications
70. The Division carried out research and monitoring activities and responded to
requests for information and briefings on the question of Palestine. Under the
guidance of the Committee, which reiterated the relevance of the research,
monitoring and publications programme, it also prepared the publications listed
below for dissemination, including through the Internet:
(a) Monthly bulletin on action taken by the United Nations system and
intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of events relating to the question of Palestine, based
on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of international meetings and conferences organized under the
auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletins and information notes on the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments related to the Middle East peace
process;
(f) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly
and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
6. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
71. Pursuant to successive annual General Assembly mandates, the Division for
Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and library services of the
United Nations Secretariat, continued to administer, maintain, expand and develop
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the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL)
and the “Question of Palestine” website, which is located on the United Nations
home page under “Peace and Security”. This included the ongoing maintenance and
upgrading of the technical components of the system to ensure the uninterrupted
presence of UNISPAL (http://unispal.un.org) on the Internet and involved the
expansion of the document collection to include relevant new and old United
Nations system and related documents. In addition, steps continued to be taken to
enhance the user-friendliness and usefulness of UNISPAL, including by
incorporating additional multimedia content and RSS and Twitter feeds intended to
alert users about newly posted materials. The Division has successfully launched the
redesigned “Question of Palestine” portal.
7. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority
72. Two staff members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian
Authority participated in a training programme conducted by the Division from
September to December 2009, in conjunction with the sixty-fourth session of the
General Assembly. The trainees familiarized themselves with various aspects of the
work of the Secretariat and other organs and conducted research on specific topics.
8. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
73. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
at Headquarters and at the United Nations Office at Geneva on 30 November 2009,
and at the United Nations Office at Vienna on 1 December. On the occasion of the
observance at Headquarters, in addition to a special meeting of the Committee and
other activities, a cultural exhibit entitled “The United Nations and the Palestine
refugees, 60 years later” was presented by UNRWA, in cooperation with the
Permanent Mission of Luxembourg to the United Nations, under the auspices of the
Committee. The Committee also sponsored a concert by Maqamat, an orchestra of
the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Ramallah. The Committee
noted with appreciation that the International Day of Solidarity had also been
observed by United Nations information centres and other bodies in many cities
throughout the world. Details on the observance are contained in the special bulletin
issued by the Division.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 64/18
74. The Department of Public Information, pursuant to General Assembly
resolution 64/18, continued to implement its special information programme on the
question of Palestine in order to raise the awareness of the international community
on this question, as well as on the situation in the Middle East, in such a way as to
contribute effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the
peace process.
75. During the reporting period, the Department produced a total of 129 press
releases on the question of Palestine in English and French, including summaries of
formal meetings and press conferences, as well as statements and press releases by
the Secretary-General and other United Nations officials.
76. UN Radio and the United Nations News Centre regularly covered the question
of Palestine in the six official languages, as well as in Portuguese and Kiswahili.
The Arabic Language Unit provided extensive coverage of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Interviews, press briefings and General
Assembly and Security Council sessions were covered and posted on the UN Radio
website. The English language version of the portal alone carried over 200 news
stories devoted to the subject.
77. The Department, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Portugal, organized the eighteenth International Media Seminar on Peace in the
Middle East, in Lisbon on 22 and 23 July 2010. Approximately 100 participants
from Portugal, the Middle East and other parts of the world participated, including
current and former policymakers, government officials, mayors, representatives of
civil society, academia and journalists. The Seminar received both local and
international media coverage.
78. The Department organized a training programme for 10 young Palestinian
journalists at Headquarters, in Washington, D.C., and in Geneva from 2 November
to 11 December 2009. The programme strengthened the participants’ capacity as
broadcast media professionals and included training to improve their skills in
maintaining websites in Arabic.
79. The Dag Hammarskjöld Library continued to digitize documents for the
UNISPAL document collection.
80. The network of United Nations information centres and services continued to
disseminate information on the question of Palestine and to organize special
outreach activities. The information centres promoted the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and widely disseminated
the messages of the Secretary-General in the official and non-official languages,
including German, Greek, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese and Turkish. The United
Nations Information Service in Vienna and the United Nations information centres
in Ankara and Rabat provided communications support to the United Nations
meetings held under the auspices of the Committee.
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
81. Throughout the reporting period, the Committee has continued to
advocate a peaceful and just solution of the question of Palestine, the core of
the Arab-Israeli conflict, through the establishment of a sovereign and
independent Palestinian State on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, with East
Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with international law and the relevant
United Nations resolutions. There is international consensus that such a
solution would lead to the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, as defined by the General Assembly, and the establishment of peace and
security in the region. The Committee has reiterated that the Israeli occupation
of Palestinian land that started in 1967 remains the main obstacle towards the
realization of that objective. The occupation has entailed the construction of
settlements and the wall, the transfer of Israeli settlers and the annexation of
Palestinian land, as well as the military oppression of the Palestinian civilian
population, constituting violations of international humanitarian and human
rights law and constant affronts to the human dignity of the Palestinian people
and the economic and social fabric of the Palestinian society. The occupation,
with all its consequences, not only subjugates the Palestinian people but also
harms the social fabric of the Israeli society. The prolonged occupation has
made the search for a comprehensive, just and lasting solution more difficult by
creating almost irreversible facts on the ground. As a result, a majority of the
Palestinian people have lost confidence in the political process with Israel.
82. The Committee has repeatedly expressed its utmost concern about the
volatile situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in East
Jerusalem, and the stagnation of the political process. The Committee remained
firmly opposed to the continued illegal construction of settlements in the West
Bank, including in East Jerusalem, accompanied by escalating settler violence.
In addition, the construction of the separation wall has continued, leaving
thousands of Palestinians cut off from access to their lands, families, schools
and hospitals and isolating several communities in walled enclaves. The
Committee is disturbed by the impunity with which Israel’s legal obligations, as
confirmed by the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, have
been flouted, and calls upon the international community to take the required
action to ensure respect for, and compliance with, the ruling of the
International Court of Justice, the Fourth Geneva Convention and the relevant
United Nations resolutions.
83. The Committee has been particularly alarmed by the situation in
Occupied East Jerusalem, including the acceleration of settlement construction
and expansion, the demolition of houses, the revocation of residency rights, the
eviction of Palestinian citizens, settler extremism and the threats to Jerusalem’s
holy sites and historical heritage. Recent Israeli policy statements and actions
by the municipal government in the City are not conducive to productive talks
on the future of Jerusalem as the capital of two States. The Committee
reiterates its position that Israel’s dangerous and provocative policies in East
Jerusalem are prone to spark negative reactions on the ground, in the region
and by Muslims worldwide, leading to violence and even armed conflict. East
Jerusalem is an integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and a
negotiated solution of the question of Jerusalem, based on international law, is
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essential to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and crucial for a durable
peace in the whole region. The Committee is encouraged that these concerns
are widely shared by Governments, intergovernmental and civil society
organizations, as well as by parliamentarians.
84. The Committee has persistently condemned the Israeli blockade of the
Gaza Strip, which prevents any reconstruction and sustained humanitarian
assistance and which has caused the near collapse of the economy and social
fabric of Gaza. That siege constitutes a severe form of collective punishment of
the entire population of the Gaza Strip. The Committee has also denounced the
firing of rockets and mortar rounds by Palestinian militants from Gaza and
reiterated its call for the release of Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit. It urges Israel
to open all of the Gaza Strip’s border crossings for the flow of humanitarian
aid, import and export of commercial goods, including reconstruction
materials, and movement of persons in accordance with international
humanitarian law, the Agreement on Movement and Access of 15 November
2005 and Security Council resolution 1860 (2009).
85. The Committee continued to monitor the international investigations and
their follow-up into the Israeli military offensive against Gaza of December
2008 to January 2009 and the Free Gaza flotilla incident of May 2010. It
acknowledged the value of internal investigations on the national level. The
report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict,
established by the Human Rights Council and led by Justice Richard Goldstone
(A/HRC/12/48), represents a comprehensive, balanced and authoritative
account of the 2008-2009 Israeli incursion into Gaza. While the Committee
recognizes the value of the Israeli Government’s recent examination of some of
the specific allegations, it calls for a comprehensive, credible and independent
investigation into the violations of international law committed and demands
follow-up action. The Committee also took note of the report of the
international fact-finding mission established by the Human Rights Council to
investigate violations of international law, including international humanitarian
and human rights law, resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla of ships
carrying humanitarian assistance (A/HRC/15/21). The results of those
investigations will, without doubt, contribute to a strengthening of the rule and
application of international humanitarian and human rights law in conflict
situations. The Committee appeals to all the High Contracting Parties to the
Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfil their obligations in accordance with
common Article 1, which obligates them to respect and to ensure respect for the
Convention in all circumstances.
86. The Committee welcomed the resumption of the direct negotiations
between Israel and the Palestinians on all permanent status issues and notes the
important role played by the United States, Egypt and Jordan. The agreement
by the Palestinian leadership to direct talks, despite Israel’s lack of compliance
with its road map obligations, testifies to the full commitment of the Palestine
Liberation Organization to a peaceful solution of the conflict and should be met
by a genuine commitment of the Israeli Government to the two-State solution,
bolstered by tangible improvements of the situation on the ground. The
Committee is of the view that the talks can only succeed if they are conducted
in an atmosphere of trust and goodwill. In that regard, the Committee joins the
rest of the international community in expressing deep regret at the nonextension
of the Israeli moratorium on settlement construction, which called
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into question the continuation of the negotiations. It is crucial that the
negotiations are based on the relevant Security Council resolutions, the Madrid
terms of reference and the Arab Peace Initiative. The direct involvement in the
negotiations of regional partners is vitally important. The continued support by
the international community, in particular by the Quartet and its individual
members, is key to moving forward the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on all
permanent status issues. The Committee will closely follow the developments
and offer constructive support in the interest of resolving the question of
Palestine and the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable
rights.
87. The negotiations should be buttressed by a parallel process of Palestinian
State-building in implementation of the strategic plan of the Palestinian
Authority. The Committee will back those efforts by advocating sustained and
generous donor commitment, highlighting the actual needs on the ground and
providing the Palestinian Authority with the opportunity to present its
assessment to the wider international community.
88. The Committee remains concerned that the divisions among the
Palestinian factions profoundly affect the legitimate Palestinian national
aspirations for statehood and peace. It calls for invigorated efforts by all to
help reconcile their positions on the basis of the prevailing consensus on the
need to achieve the two-State solution, which would lead to the exercise by the
Palestinian people of its inalienable rights.
89. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights will continue
through their mandated activities to generate heightened international
awareness of the current challenges for a comprehensive, just and lasting
solution of the question of Palestine. In this connection, the Committee
emphasizes the useful and constructive contribution of the Division in support
of its mandate aimed at enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their
inalienable rights. It notes with satisfaction: (a) the sustained level of dialogue,
engagement and support of the international community for its programme
objectives, for instance, in terms of both participation at the meetings convened
and the use of printed and electronic information materials provided by the
Division; (b) the continued involvement of parliamentarians and civil society
organizations in support of the efforts of the Committee and the United Nations
towards a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of
Palestine; and (c) the increased international awareness of the United Nations
policies and activities on the question of Palestine as indicated by the growing
number of documents and relevant information materials on the issue accessed
by users worldwide at the websites maintained by the Division. The Committee
also considers that the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian
Authority carried out by the Division has proved its usefulness as it directly
contributes to Palestinian capacity-building efforts. The Committee strongly
recommends that this important mandated activity be continued and, where
possible, enhanced.
90. The Committee will focus its programme of international meetings and
conferences in 2011, implemented by the Division, on widening international
support for the permanent status negotiations and on contributing to the
creation of a favourable international atmosphere for their conduct in good
faith. The Committee intends to mobilize increased international scrutiny of the
developments on the ground, in particular the halt of all settlement activities in
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the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and an end to all other illegal Israeli
policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It will support
global campaigns to challenge Israeli impunity and promote the concept of
Israeli accountability for its actions towards the Palestinian people. It will pay
special attention to highlighting the plight of the most disadvantaged
Palestinians, such as the Palestine refugees, the Palestinians living in Gaza and
Palestinian political prisoners. The Committee will continue to mobilize
support for the Palestinian institution-building plan and all other efforts to
facilitate the independence and viability of the Palestinian State. It will reach
out to and engage Governments, parliamentarians and civil society to mobilize
support for a just solution of the conflict. The Committee wishes to contribute
to efforts towards ending incitement on both sides, provide a venue to have the
narratives heard and reconciled and, with the help of civil society, to promote
peace education. It will pay particular attention to the inclusion and
empowerment of women and their organizations in this process.
91. The Committee highly values civil society initiatives in support of the
Palestinian people. It lauds the courageous advocacy actions of countless
activists, including eminent personalities and parliamentarians, who
participate in demonstrations against the wall, try to break the siege of Gaza
and keep their home constituencies informed about the harsh realities of life
under occupation. The Committee encourages civil society partners to work
with their national Governments and other institutions with a view to gaining
their full support for the work of the United Nations, including that of the
Committee, on the question of Palestine. It will continue to assess its
programme of cooperation with civil society and consult them on ways to
enhance their contribution. The Committee appreciates the support it receives
from the Secretariat in strengthening cooperation with civil society.
92. The Committee looks forward to further developing its cooperation with
parliamentarians and their umbrella organizations. Parliamentarians have a
special responsibility to ensure that their Governments actively promote and
support the realization of the two-State solution and ensure respect for
international law, in accordance with their international obligations.
93. The Committee requests the Division to continue its substantive and
secretariat support; the programme of research, monitoring and publications
and other informational activities. The Division should pay special attention to
continued development of the “Question of Palestine” portal and to explore new
technologies and media, including Web-based social information networks,
such as Facebook and Twitter. The Division should also continue to develop the
UNISPAL document collection. The Division should further develop the annual
training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority paying special
attention to the programme’s gender balance, and organize the annual
observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
94. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and public opinion of the
relevant issues. The Committee requests the continuation of the programme,
with the necessary flexibility, as warranted by developments relevant to the
question of Palestine.
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95. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, and in view of the many
difficulties facing the Palestinian people and besetting the peace process, the
Committee calls upon all States to join it in this endeavour and to extend their
cooperation and support to the Committee, and invites the General Assembly
again to recognize the importance of its role and to reconfirm its mandate.
10-57118 (E) 221010
*1057118*
A/66/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-sixth Session
Supplement No. 35
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-sixth Session
Supplement No. 35
United Nations • New York, 2011
A/66/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations
document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
[7 October 2011]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
III. Organization of work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 65/13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance with
General Assembly resolutions 65/13 and 65/14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 65/15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
iv
Letter of transmittal
[6 October 2011]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 2 of its resolution 65/13 of
30 November 2010.
The report covers the period from 7 October 2010 to 6 October 2011.
(Signed) Abdou Salam Diallo
Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
1
Chapter I
Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as recognized by the
Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the General
Assembly1 were endorsed by the Assembly as a basis for the solution of the
question of Palestine. In its subsequent reports,2 the Committee has continued to
stress that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions and the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel, the
occupying Power, from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East
Jerusalem, and from the other occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all
States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized
boundaries; and the recognition and exercise of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people. The recommendations of the Committee contained in its first
report could not be implemented, and the Assembly each year renewed the
Committee’s mandate and requested it to intensify efforts in pursuit of its objectives.
3. The Committee has consistently supported a peaceful solution of the question
of Palestine. It welcomed the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference that launched the
Middle East peace process based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
338 (1973). It also welcomed the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-
Government Arrangements (A/48/486-S/26560, annex) and subsequent
implementation agreements. The Committee has strongly supported the objective of
two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side within secure and recognized
borders on the basis of the 1949 armistice lines, in accordance with relevant United
Nations resolutions, including Security Council resolutions 1397 (2002) and 1515
(2003). The Committee welcomed and supported the Quartet’s road map and called
on the parties to implement it. In keeping with its mandate, the Committee has
continued to work towards creating conditions for the successful conduct of the
negotiations on a permanent settlement allowing the Palestinian people to realize its
inalienable rights. The Committee has also promoted support and assistance by the
international community to the Palestinian people.
4. The reporting period has been characterized by the stagnation of the political
process and a volatile situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem. The status quo has been characterized unanimously by the international
community as unsustainable and requiring urgent attention. Despite the global calls
for a complete cessation, Israel has continued its illegal settlement campaign in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, further exacerbating
tensions and mistrust between the two sides. The critical humanitarian situation in
__________________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Since the thirty-first session, the Committee has submitted annual reports to the General
Assembly; all such reports have been issued as supplement No. 35 of the sessional
documentation of the Assembly.
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the Gaza Strip was also exacerbated by the continued imposition by Israel of a
severe blockade on the territory, which has obstructed the movement of persons and
goods, including humanitarian access and the import of materials required for the
reconstruction and rehabilitation of Gaza, and undermined economic recovery.
5. The Israeli-Palestinian peace talks relaunched in September 2010 under the
mediation of the United States of America were stalled merely after a few rounds of
meetings following Israel’s refusal to renew its so-called moratorium on settlement
activity in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. In the absence of credible
negotiations owing to Israel’s refusal to cease settlements activity and to commit to
the long-standing terms of reference of the peace process, the Palestinian leadership
turned to diplomatic initiatives to gain recognition as a State within the 1967
borders, on the basis of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions,
and efforts aimed at obtaining United Nations membership during the General
Assembly in 2011 session, the date endorsed in August 2010 by the Quartet as the
date for the achievement of a final peace settlement. On 23 September 2011, at the
outset of the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly, the President of the
Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, submitted to the Secretary-General, Ban
Ki-moon, an application for Palestine to become a State Member of the United
Nations.
6. The situation in the Gaza Strip remained bleak, with high rates of poverty and
unemployment. The continued blockade imposed by Israel forced 1.5 million
Palestinians in Gaza to suffer from an acute shortage of basic goods and services,
medicine and medical equipment and even clean water. Reconstruction and
rehabilitation have been seriously undermined by the blockade. Throughout the
year, Israel continued to conduct air strikes and limited ground incursions in Gaza,
resulting in Palestinian casualties, including many civilians. This was met with
rocket and mortar fire by armed Palestinian groups into southern Israel, endangering
the lives of the Israeli population.
7. Israeli military incursions into West Bank population centres also continued,
involving the killing and injuring of Palestinians, including civilians. Hundreds of
Palestinians were arrested during those operations, including children under the age
of 18 years. Many unarmed civilians were subjected to the excessive use of force by
the Israeli military during demonstrations against the occupation, resulting in many
injuries. The expansion of illegal Israeli settlements continued in the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem, with thousands of new units approved by the Israeli
authorities. The construction of the separation wall continued in defiance of the
International Court of Justice advisory opinion, resulting in further confiscation of
Palestinian land and demolition of properties and further harming socio-economic
conditions. The situation in Occupied East Jerusalem remained particularly
alarming, with continued land confiscations, house demolitions and evictions of
Palestinian residents, and the transfer of more Israeli settlers into the City.
8. Heeding the calls of the Palestinian people for an end to the political division
since June 2007, Palestinian factions concluded a much anticipated reconciliation
agreement in April 2011, but its implementation has been pending.
9. Over the reporting period, the Palestinian Authority successfully advanced its
State-building programme, with strong support from the international community,
and its institutional readiness for Statehood has been endorsed by the United
Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
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10. The activities of the Committee and its Bureau in the reporting period focused
on the need for respect for the relevant United Nations resolutions and the urgency
of resuming negotiations between the parties in the interest of salvaging the two-
State solution and advancing the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting
peace. The Committee monitored the situation on the ground and the political
developments, implemented its programme of international meetings and
conferences, held consultations with representatives of Governments, national
parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations, as well as civil society, and
reached out to its partners worldwide using new communications media. The
Committee reiterated its position of principle that a permanent settlement of the
question of Palestine could be achieved only through ending the occupation that
began in 1967, establishing a Palestinian State on the basis of the pre-1967 borders
with East Jerusalem as its capital, and a just and agreed solution to the Palestine
refugees issue on the basis of General Assembly resolution 194 (III). The first
international meeting convened by the Committee in March 2011 focused on the
urgency of addressing the plight of Palestinian political prisoners held by Israel. It
was followed by a regional meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss
the urgency of realizing a two-State solution. The annual assistance seminar
organized by the Committee in May focused on the mobilization of continued
support for the Palestinian State-building programme. At another international
meeting held in Brussels in June, participants discussed the role of Europe in
advancing Palestinian Statehood and achieving Israeli-Palestinian peace. The
Committee encouraged all stakeholders to support the role and activities of the
United Nations and urged them to support the two-State solution to the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant Security Council resolutions, the
terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle of land for
peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet road map.
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Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
11. On 30 November 2010, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (see
resolution 65/13), requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources to
carry out its programme of work (see resolution 65/14) and requested the
continuation of the special information programme on the question of Palestine of
the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat (see resolution 65/15). On
the same date, the Assembly adopted resolution 65/16, entitled “Peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine”.
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Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
12. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Cyprus, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
13. The observers at the Committee meetings are: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria,
China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco,
Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Viet
Nam and Yemen, as well as the African Union, the League of Arab States, the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Palestine.
14. At its 330th meeting, on 21 January 2011, the Committee re-elected Abdou
Salam Diallo (Senegal) as Chair, Pedro Núñez Mosquera (Cuba) and Zahir Tanin
(Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairs and Saviour F. Borg (Malta) as Rapporteur.
15. Also at the 330th meeting, the Committee adopted its programme of work for
2011 (see A/AC.183/2011/1).
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
16. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all United Nations
Member States and observers wishing to participate in the work of the Committee as
observers were welcome to do so. In accordance with established practice, Palestine
participated in the work of the Committee as an observer, attended all of its
meetings and made observations and proposals for consideration by the Committee
and its Bureau.
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Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
Political developments
17. The Israeli-Palestinian talks that had been initiated by the United States of
America on 2 September 2010 were stalled after Israel ended its 10-month so-called
moratorium on settlement activity on 26 September. In the following months,
intensive diplomatic efforts led by the United States and supported by the Quartet to
create conditions conducive to the continuation of talks, including a renewal of the
settlement freeze, were met by Israeli government approval of hundreds of new
settlement units, especially in Occupied East Jerusalem. On 8 December, the United
States efforts towards a settlement freeze were brought to a close.
18. In a Middle East policy speech on 19 May 2011, the President of the United
States of America, Barack Obama, laid out parameters on borders and security,
stating that the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines
with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders were established
for both States, and that the full and phased withdrawal of Israeli military forces
should be coordinated with the assumption of Palestinian security responsibility in a
sovereign, non-militarized State. On 20 May, the Quartet issued a statement
expressing strong support for President Obama’s vision. Subsequently, the Quartet
was unable to translate that vision into clear parameters for the resumption of
negotiations between the parties.
19. Meanwhile, the Palestinian leadership continued its efforts to gain
international recognition as a State within the 1967 borders. A number of countries
have recognized the State of Palestine during the reporting period. According to the
Palestine Liberation Organization Negotiations Affairs Department, more than 127
States Members of the United Nations recognize Palestine to date. On 23 September
2011, during the general debate of the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly,
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas submitted to the Secretary-General
an application for Palestine to become a State Member of the United Nations. The
Secretary-General immediately forwarded the application to the Security Council
and the General Assembly.
Settlements
20. During the reporting period, Israel, the occupying Power, continued illegal
settlement activity in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The Palestinian
Central Bureau of Statistics reported in August 2011 that the number of Israeli
settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, totalled 144, and the
number of settlers in 2010 had been 518,974. During the reporting period, the
following plans to construct new housing units were approved by Israel, the
occupying Power: 158 in the “Ramot” settlement and 80 in “Pisgat Ze’ev”
(14 October 2010); 800 in “Ariel” and more than 1,000 elsewhere in Jerusalem and
the West Bank (8 November); 130 in “Gilo” and Beit Safafa (30 November); 625 in
“Pisgat Ze’ev” in East Jerusalem (1 December); 24 in “Beit Orot” in East Jerusalem
(14 December); 92 in “East Talpiot” and 32 in “Pisgat Ze’ev” (17 January 2011); 56
in “Ramot” in East Jerusalem (14 February); 14 in the East Jerusalem
neighbourhood of Ras al-Amud (2 March); 200 in “Modi’in Ilit”, 100 in “Ariel”, 40
in “Ma’ale Adumim” and 50 in “Gush Etzion” (13 March); 942 in “Gilo” in East
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Jerusalem (4 April); 204 in the East Jerusalem settlement of French Hill (13 May);
1,550 in “Har Homa” and “Pisgat Ze’ev” in East Jerusalem (19 May); 294 in “Beitar
Ilit” (22 May); 930 in “Har Homa” (4 August); 1,600 in “Ramat Shlomo” in East
Jerusalem, 2,000 in “Givat Hamatos” and 700 in “Pisgat Ze’ev” (11 August); 277 in
“Ariel” (15 August); 100 in “Beit Aryeh” (30 August); 1,100 in “Gilo” in East
Jerusalem (27 September).
21. Also, Israeli authorities demolished the Shepherd Hotel in East Jerusalem on
9 January 2011 to build a complex of 20 luxury apartments for settlers. On
8 February, the Jerusalem Planning and Building Committee approved plans for the
establishment of two new settlements in Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem. On
4 April, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak approved master plans for the
“Nofim”, “Eshkolot”, “Rotem” and “Hemdat” settlements. On 19 May, Israeli
ministers inaugurated a new settlement “Ma’aleh Hazeitim” in East Jerusalem.
Peace Now reported in early September that, during the 10 months since the end of
the settlement moratorium (from October 2010 to July 2011), the construction of
2,598 new housing units had begun, 2,149 had been completed and at least 3,700
had been under construction. In the light of the particular acceleration of settlement
expansion, on 18 February, over 120 Member States sponsored a Security Council
draft resolution condemning those illegal and provocative Israeli policies and
calling for their immediate and complete cessation. While 14 members of the
Council voted for the resolution, it was not adopted owing to the negative vote of
the United States of America.
Settler violence
22. Settler-related violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem continued to be a
source of serious concern. During the reporting period, three Palestinians, including
two children, were killed by Israeli settlers, and six Israeli settlers, including three
children, were killed by Palestinians. According to the Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs, there were at least 333 incidents of settler violence
resulting in Palestinian casualties or property damage in 2011, and at least 142
Palestinians were injured by settlers. During the same period, 28 settlers were
injured by Palestinians (as of 4 October). Since the beginning of 2011, the Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recorded the death of one Palestinian boy
and the injury of 21 Palestinians, including 14 children, hit by vehicles driven by
Israeli settlers.
23. During the olive harvest season in 2010, attacks by Israeli settlers, including
arson, the uprooting of thousands of olive trees belonging to Palestinians, vandalism
and theft of agricultural equipment and crops were reported on an almost daily
basis. On 22 October, Israeli settlers desecrated a Palestinian cemetery on the
outskirts of the West Bank village of Kfar Kadum. Incidents of arson and vandalism
of mosques in the West Bank by Israeli settlers also occurred during the reporting
period. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, over
7,500 trees have been uprooted, burned or vandalized by Israeli settlers since the
beginning of 2011. Palestinian civilians tended not to file complaints with the Israeli
authorities as those complaints had almost never led to the prosecution of
perpetrators. That tendency was reinforced by the hurdles facing those Palestinians
who chose to do so, including the need to reach police stations located within Israeli
settlements. When complaints were filed, investigations by Israel rarely succeeded.
Approximately 90 per cent of the Israeli police investigations into such offences in
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recent years ended in failure, as files were closed on the grounds of either a “lack of
evidence” or “perpetrator unknown”. In some cases, complaints were lost and never
investigated. Of 97 complaints related to the vandalization of Palestinians’ trees that
occurred between 2005 and 2010, followed up by the Israeli human rights group
Yesh Din, none had led to the filing of an indictment against suspects, including 72
cases closed on grounds of “perpetrator unknown”.
Movement restrictions
24. As of August 2011, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
documented a total of 522 obstacles (roadblocks, checkpoints, among others) to
Palestinian movement within the West Bank, an increase of 4 per cent from the
equivalent figure recorded in July 2010 (503). The Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs observed almost no changes in the other components of the
system of movement restrictions, including the wall, the permit and “prior
coordination” regimes to access the “Seam Zone” or settlement areas, and the
closure of areas for military training. Also, the average number of flying
checkpoints reported per month had significantly increased from less than 350 in
previous years (July 2007 to June 2010) to close to 500 over the last 12 months
(June 2010 to July 2011).
Demolitions and displacements
25. The Israeli practice of demolishing Palestinian homes, basic infrastructure and
sources of livelihoods continued to devastate Palestinian families and communities
in East Jerusalem and Area C, 60 per cent of the West Bank controlled by Israel. The
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs observed a sharp increase in
demolitions since the beginning of 2011: as of 4 October, 435 Palestinian-owned
structures had been demolished, displacing 823 persons. The total number of
displaced persons in the whole of 2010 was 594. The United Nations estimated that
there were more than 3,000 demolition orders outstanding in Area C, including 18
issued to schools. Most demolitions targeted already vulnerable Bedouin and
herding communities, leaving those communities facing a real danger of complete
destruction.
26. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, of those
living entirely in Area C, approximately 18,500 live in small, sedentary villages and
27,500 reside in Bedouin and other herding communities, many in remote areas.
They live in very basic structures (e.g., tents and tin shelters), have limited access to
services and have no service infrastructure (including water, sanitation and
electricity infrastructure). Food insecurity among those communities is high, at
55 per cent, compared to the overall level of 22 per cent for the West Bank. The
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs observed worrying trends
regarding the displacement of Palestinians in Area C. The single most common
reason causing people to move stems from the restrictive planning regime applied
by the occupying Power, which makes it virtually impossible for Palestinians to
obtain permissions to build. In many cases, it is due to a combination of other
factors, such as settler violence, movement restrictions, including the wall, reduced
income, demolitions, or obstructed access to water, education and other services.
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The wall
27. Israel continued the illegal construction of the wall in the West Bank,
including in and around Occupied East Jerusalem, in defiance of the advisory
opinion of the International Court of Justice. The Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs reported in July that, according to the most recently approved
route, the wall’s total length was approximately 708 km, more than twice the length
of the 1949 Armistice Line (Green Line) between the West Bank and Israel.
Approximately 61.8 per cent of the wall was complete, a further 8.2 per cent was
under construction and 30 per cent was planned but not yet constructed. When
completed, the majority of the route, approximately 85 per cent, would run inside
the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, rather than along the Green Line. The total
area located between the wall and the Green Line amounted to 9.4 per cent of the
West Bank, including East Jerusalem and “no man’s land”. The inclusion of Israeli
settlements, together with areas planned for their future expansion, constituted the
major factor for the deviation of the wall’s route from the Green Line. The area on
the western, or “Israeli”, side of the wall included over 85 per cent of the total
settler population in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, living in 71 of the
150 settlements.
Security
28. The security situation on the ground remained a cause of serious concern. The
Palestinian Authority continued to work to provide security in areas under its
authority and to meet its road map commitments to combat terrorist attacks. In
November 2010, a sixth battalion of Palestinian national security forces completed
its training in Jordan and was deployed in the West Bank, raising the number of
newly trained security personnel in the West Bank to over 3,500. Palestinians have
seen law and order return to the main cities, and Israelis have faced comparatively
few acts of violence from the West Bank. Despite those efforts by the Palestinian
Authority, Israeli occupying forces continued to conduct routine military raids and
arrests throughout the West Bank. During the reporting period (as of 4 October),
11 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,300 injured by Israeli forces in the West
Bank and East Jerusalem, including during clashes between demonstrators and
Israeli forces. Israeli forces conducted more than 3,000 search-and-arrest operations
during the reporting period.
29. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed 104 Palestinians and injured over 500
Palestinians during the reporting period (as of 4 October) in incidents involving air
strikes and the enforcement of access restrictions near the border fence. Israeli
restrictions on Palestinian access to land (up to 1,500 metres from the border fence)
and sea (beyond three nautical miles from the shore) continued to result in casualties
and hinder the livelihoods of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza.
30. Israel reported in late August that more than 550 rockets had been fired from
Gaza into southern Israel during the past 12 months. On 6 April, a mortar shell from
Gaza hit a school bus in southern Israel and a 13-year-old Israeli boy later died of
his wounds. In total, 2 Israeli civilians, including a child, were killed, and 23 others,
including 4 children, and 3 foreign workers were injured by rocket fire from Gaza
during the reporting period.
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Gaza Strip
31. Israel continued to ignore its obligations under international law to provide
protection to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. The Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported in July that among the 1.6 million
population of Gaza, 38 per cent lived in poverty, 31 per cent of the workforce was
unemployed, 47 per cent of youths were unemployed, 54 per cent were food
insecure, and over 75 per cent were aid dependent. The economic output in 2010
was 20 per cent lower than in 2005, and 35 per cent of Gaza’s farmland and 85 per
cent of its fishing waters were totally or partially inaccessible owing to Israeli
military measures.
32. Despite the Israeli claims of “easing restrictions”, the Israeli blockade
continues to severely restrict imports and exports, as well as the movement of
people in and out of Gaza, and access to agricultural land and fishing waters. People
in Gaza are unable to provide for their families, and the quality of infrastructure and
vital services has continued to deteriorate, with a severely detrimental impact on the
socio-economic conditions. As such, measures taken to ease the blockade in June
2010 have had little effect on the humanitarian situation. While imports have
increased, they are still only at 45 per cent of the pre-2007 levels. Exports remain
tightly restricted and are limited to some agricultural produce to Europe. Businesses
cannot access their traditional markets of Israel and the West Bank. Thousands of
people, some of them children, risk their lives smuggling goods through the tunnels
under the border with Egypt. The tunnel industry in Gaza is a direct result of
ongoing restrictions on the import of construction materials, the lack of employment
opportunities and the huge reconstruction needs in Gaza. During the reporting
period, at least 37 Palestinians were killed and at least 52 injured in tunnel-related
incidents, including Israeli air strikes, tunnel collapses, electrocution and explosion
of gas cylinders (as of 4 October).
Water
33. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported in July 2011
that 50 to 80 million litres of raw and partially treated sewage from the Gaza Strip
were dumped in the sea each day, and over 90 per cent of the water from the Gaza
aquifer was undrinkable. The already vulnerable water and sanitation infrastructure
serving the Gaza Strip population was increasingly affected by Israeli attacks in
recent months.
34. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reported that Israeli settlers in the
West Bank consumed water 7 times more than Palestinians. The amount of pure
water available in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is estimated to be 2.4 billion
cubic metres yearly, of which Israel utilizes about 90 per cent. This leads to scarcity
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, forcing Palestinians to look for alternative
resources, such as water purchased from an Israeli company. In 2010, the Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recorded the demolition by Israel of
27 water cisterns and other rainwater-collection systems in the West Bank, which
serve marginalized rural and herder Palestinian communities where water is already
scarce and where drought is an ever-present threat. The removal of such critical
infrastructure places serious strains on the resilience and coping mechanisms of
these communities, who will become increasingly dependent on economically
unsustainable sources such as tankered water.
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Women
35. The West Bank and Gaza Office of UN-Women welcomed the fact that the
Palestinian Authority had set up, for the first time, a Cross-sectoral National Gender
Strategy and had pledged gender responsive budgeting to ensure gender equality and
women’s empowerment. Yet, women were still the most underutilized resource for
socio-economic development, with formal labour force participation at 15 per cent
and a lack of diversification in women’s employment — 61 per cent in services and
20 per cent in agriculture.
Children’s right to education
36. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs observed a number of
concerns related to the right to education for children in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem. Continuing hostilities between the Israeli
military and armed Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip have affected the students of
both populations. In Gaza, seven schools were damaged as a result of Israeli air
strikes. In southern Israel, two incidents of Palestinian rocket fire caused damage to
school infrastructure. Classroom shortages are also the main challenge facing the
education sector in the Gaza Strip. The ban on the import of building materials
imposed by Israel is among the main reasons for the current shortage of classrooms.
Approximately 80 per cent of government schools and 90 per cent of United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools
run double shifts. As a result, students often have to be accommodated in schools far
from where they live, and classroom time has been reduced by almost one third.
Even with double shifting, schools are overcrowded, with an average of 39 pupils in
a class. Those difficulties have had a severe negative impact on learning outcomes.
To address the classroom shortages for the next five years, it is estimated that 130
new government-run schools and 100 new UNRWA schools are needed.
37. Israeli military raids on school premises in the West Bank resulted in children
being exposed to tear gas inhalation, frightened or injured by sound bombs, or
arrested within their schools. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs reported in July that part of a school had been demolished in the Area C
village of Kherbet Al Dkeika in Hebron this year, and that six schools in East
Jerusalem and 18 in Area C were served demolition orders. In East Jerusalem,
almost half of the classrooms attended by Palestinian students were considered to be
“non-standard” in 2010. To partially address these difficulties, double shifting is
common, and schools are often forced to hold classes in rented houses that do not
meet basic educational and health standards. It is almost impossible for alternative
schools to obtain Israeli-issued building permits, and sometimes they are forced to
build without a permit, running the risk of receiving demolition orders and heavy
fines.
Prisoners
38. The Palestine Liberation Organization Negotiations Affairs Department said in
January 2011 that Israel held roughly 6,000 Palestinian and Arab political prisoners
in its prisons and detention centres, including 225 children and 39 women. That also
included 315 political prisoners that it had held since before the conclusion of the
Oslo accords in 1993. On 12 February 2011, the Palestinian Authority Minister of
Prisoners Affairs, Issa Qaraqi, said that Palestinian children in Israeli prisons were
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“subjected to all forms of torture” and that in 2010 Israel had imprisoned 1,000
children and imposed house arrests and large fines on many minors. In a report
published on 13 April, the Palestinian Authority Ministry for Prisoners Affairs said
that Israel had arrested a total of 750,000 Palestinians since the start of the
occupation in 1967. On 4 August, at the outset of the month of Ramadan, Israel
released 200 Palestinian security prisoners that were close to completing their
sentences.
Palestinian State-building programme
39. Despite the very difficult circumstances under occupation, the Palestinian
Authority steadily advanced its State-building programme with strong support from
the international community. In a report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting
in April 2011, the World Bank reported that the Palestinian Authority had continued
to strengthen its institutions, delivering public services and promoting reforms. It
added that the quality of its public financial management had further improved.
Education and health in the West Bank and Gaza were on the rise, comparing
favourably to the performance of countries in the region as well as globally. Real
economic growth in the West Bank and Gaza was estimated to have reached 9.3 per
cent in 2010, exceeding the Palestinian Authority’s budget projection of 8 per cent.
Also in a report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting, the Office of the United
Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) concluded
that in six areas where the United Nations was most engaged, the Palestinian
Authority’s governmental functions were now sufficient for a functioning
government of a State.
40. Meeting in Brussels on 13 April, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee recommended
that the Palestinian Authority seek observer status in the World Trade Organization,
and called on the Palestinian Authority to develop long-term strategies and advance
trade-related institution-building. Also on 13 April, the High Representative of the
European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton
announced the signing of a deal that would open West Bank and Gaza markets to
Europe, giving all agricultural products, processed agricultural products and fish
and fishery products originating in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip duty free
access to the European Union market.
41. In a report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting in September 2011, the
World Bank stated that the onset of an acute fiscal crisis, accompanied by declining
economic growth, might undermine the promise of those institution-building
achievements. The economic growth had been unsustainable, driven primarily by
donor aid rather than a rebounding private sector, which remained stifled by Israeli
restrictions on access to natural resources and markets. Under those conditions,
lower-than-expected aid flows in the first half of 2011 had had an immediate impact
on the Palestinian economy. The shortfall in external financial support in the first
half of 2011 had also contributed to the current fiscal crisis facing the Palestinian
Authority. The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace
Process, also in a report to the September Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting,
stated that the institutional achievements of the Palestinian State-building agenda
were fundamentally constrained in realizing their full potential by the lack of an
enabling political environment, and that the constraints on the existence and
successful functioning of the institutions of a potential State of Palestine arose
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primarily from the persistence of occupation, the unresolved issues in the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict and the Palestinian divide.
Reconciliation
42. On 27 April 2011, Fatah, Hamas and other Palestinian factions concluded a
reconciliation agreement in Cairo under Egyptian auspices, and a signing ceremony
was held on 4 May in Cairo. The agreement provides for the establishment of a
transitional Government of technocrats that would prepare for parliamentary and
presidential elections in a year and work for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
Implementation of the accord, however, has been stalled amid disputes over the
composition and programme of a new government.
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
43. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East (UNRWA) continued to provide extensive core services and emergency
assistance to the Palestine refugees in its five fields of operations. The Israeli
Government undertook measures to ease the movement of goods into and out of the
Gaza Strip, but those measures still fell well short of the level required to meet the
needs of the Palestinian civilian population and reconstruction requirements, or to
ensure the revival of the economy. UNRWA continues to experience a grave
financial crisis which threatens its ability to sustain or improve its services, to
continue emergency assistance programmes, and to complete essential projects, such
as the reconstruction of the Nahr El Bared Camp in Lebanon. The Committee
reiterates its appreciation for the dedication of UNRWA to its mission and calls upon
all donors to increase contributions to ensure the well-being of the population of
4.8 million registered refugees under the mandate of the Agency.
United Nations Development Programme/Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs
44. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through its Programme
of Assistance to the Palestinian People, continued to respond to the development
needs in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The
UNDP/Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People, in support of the
Palestinian Authority’s National Development Plan 2011-2013, developed its
strategy, entitled “Development for Freedom: Empowered Lives, a Resilient Nation
2011-2013”, outlining the way the United Nations Development Programme/
Programme intended to support Palestinians’ aspiration for Statehood. The threeyear
plan will focus on democratic governance and the rule of law, economic
empowerment of the most vulnerable and private sector investment, environment
and management of natural resources, and public and social infrastructure for a
viable State. Particular focus is on three geographic areas where the needs are the
greatest owing to the lack of Palestinian Authority access — the Gaza Strip, East
Jerusalem and Area C.
45. The Committee also remained appreciative of the important work of the Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
It noted that the consolidated appeal for 2011 focused on delivering humanitarian
assistance, increased protection of civilians, enhanced monitoring and reporting on
the humanitarian situation and the strengthening of United Nations humanitarian
coordination structures.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 65/13
46. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to mobilize the
international community in support of the Palestinian people, in cooperation with
United Nations bodies, Governments, intergovernmental and civil society
organizations and others.
1. Action taken in the Security Council
47. During the reporting period, the Security Council has continued to monitor the
situation on the ground and the efforts to implement the road map. It held monthly
briefings throughout the year under the agenda item entitled “The situation in the
Middle East, including the Palestinian question”.
48. During the open debates at the Council meetings held on 19 January, 21 April,
and 26 July 2011, the Chair of the Committee delivered statements (see S/PV.6470,
S/PV.6520, S/PV.6590).
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee
49. On 14 January and 19 August 2011, the Bureau of the Committee issued
statements on Israel’s illegal settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem.
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 65/13
and 65/14
1. Committee meetings at Headquarters
50. At its periodic meetings at Headquarters in New York, the Committee, among
other things, heard presentations by representatives of UNRWA and the Association
of International Development Agencies on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory.
2. Programme of international meetings and conferences
51. Through its programme of international meetings and conferences, the
Committee continued to raise international awareness of the various aspects of the
question of Palestine and international support for the rights of the Palestinian
people and the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.
52. In the period under review, the following international events were held under
the auspices of the Committee, in 2011:
(a) The United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine,
United Nations Office at Vienna, 7 and 8 March;
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(b) United Nations Latin American and Caribbean Meeting in Support of
Israeli-Palestinian Peace, Montevideo, 29 and 30 March;
(c) United Nations Meeting of Civil Society in Support of Israeli-Palestinian
Peace, Montevideo, 31 March;
(d) United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People,
Helsinki, 28 and 29 April;
(e) United Nations International Meeting in Support of the Israeli-
Palestinian Peace Process, Brussels, 28 and 29 June.
53. The above-mentioned events were attended by representatives of
Governments, Palestine, intergovernmental organizations and United Nations
system entities, as well as parliamentarians and representatives of civil society and
the media. The reports of the meetings were issued as publications of the Division
for Palestinian Rights and were made available through the “Question of Palestine”
website maintained by the Division.
54. In Vienna, on the margins of the United Nations International Meeting, the
Committee delegation held consultations with representatives of the Austrian
Ministry for European and International Affairs, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean. It also met with the Director-
General of the United Nations Office at Vienna and the Deputy United Nations
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.
55. During its stay in Montevideo, in connection with the United Nations Latin
American and Caribbean Meeting, the delegation of the Committee was received by
the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, Luis Almagro. The delegation also met
with a group of parliamentarians led by the Chairpersons of the International Affairs
Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives. On its way back from
Montevideo to New York, the delegation was received in Buenos Aires by the
Deputy Foreign Minister of Argentina, Alberto D’Alotto.
56. In Helsinki, on the sidelines of the United Nations Seminar on Assistance to
the Palestinian People, the Committee delegation met with the Secretary-General
and Chief of the Cabinet of the President of Finland, Päivi Kairamo-Hella, as well
as with a number of Finnish parliamentarians and representatives of leading civil
society organizations involved in conflict resolution efforts.
57. In Brussels, in the margin of the United Nations International Meeting, the
Committee delegation met with the Deputy Director-General for Multilateral Affairs
and Globalization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Michel Goffin; the
Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the Palestinian
Legislative Council, Maghreb and Mashreq countries, Proinsias de Rossa, and other
members of the European Parliament and their advisers at the European Parliament;
the President of the European Economic and Social Committees, Staffan Nilsson;
the Chief Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the European Parliament,
Alexander Stutzmann; and the Head of the Middle East Division at the European
External Action Service, Ilkka Uusitalo.
3. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations
58. Throughout the year, the Committee continued its cooperation with the African
Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the Non-Aligned Movement
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and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Committee is appreciative of the
active participation of their representatives in the various international events held
under its auspices.
4. Cooperation with civil society
Civil society organizations
59. The Committee continued its cooperation with civil society organizations
worldwide. Representatives of civil society participated in all meetings organized
under the auspices of the Committee, including the observance of the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November 2010. The meetings
provided civil society representatives with an opportunity to discuss the situation on
the ground and their programmes in support of the Palestinian people and to
improve coordination of their activities. The Committee was appreciative of the
work done by civil society organizations and encouraged them to continue
contributing to efforts aimed at realizing a two-State solution.
60. The Committee maintained and developed its liaison with national, regional
and international coordinating mechanisms cooperating with it, in addition to its
established liaison with a large number of individual organizations. At the United
Nations Meeting of Civil Society in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace, held in
Montevideo in March, the deliberations focused on the ways of engaging the civil
society in Latin America and the Caribbean for peace and reconciliation between the
Israelis and the Palestinians. While in Brussels, in connection with the United
Nations International Meeting in Support of the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process,
the Committee delegation held consultations with 11 representatives of civil society
organizations from Europe, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.
61. During the reporting period, seven civil society organizations were accredited
to the Committee.
62. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained a page on civil society
(http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/ngo.htm) on the “Question of Palestine” website as
a tool for the exchange of information and networking and for cooperation between
civil society and the Committee.
63. The Division maintained a Facebook page for information about developments
related to the question of Palestine and the work of the Committee. The page has
attracted some 700 additional “fans” during the reporting period, bringing the total
to over 1,390. In addition, the Division continued to publish the periodic online
bulletin NGO Action News, in order to catalogue and publicize civil society
initiatives.
Parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations
64. The Committee continued to attach great importance to developing its liaison
with national and regional parliaments and their organizations. The international
events held during 2011 were addressed by parliamentarians from Argentina,
Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Israel, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, Uruguay and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as members of the
European Parliament.
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5. Research, monitoring and publications
65. The Division carried out research and monitoring activities and responded to
requests for information and briefings on the question of Palestine. Under the
guidance of the Committee, which reiterated the relevance of the research,
monitoring and publications programme, it also prepared the publications listed
below for dissemination, including through the Internet:
(a) Monthly bulletin on action taken by the United Nations system and
intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of events relating to the question of Palestine, based
on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of international meetings and conferences organized under the
auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletins and information notes on the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments related to the Middle East peace
process;
(f) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly
and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
6. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
66. Pursuant to successive annual General Assembly mandates, the Division for
Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and library services of the
United Nations Secretariat, continued to administer, maintain, expand and develop
the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL)
and the “Question of Palestine” website, which is located on the United Nations
home page under “Peace and Security”. That included the ongoing maintenance and
upgrading of the technical components of the system to ensure the uninterrupted
presence of UNISPAL (http://unispal.un.org) on the Internet and involved the
expansion of the document collection to include relevant new and old United
Nations system and related documents. Documents in French were given French
markers to facilitate the work of French-speaking researchers. In addition, steps
continued to be taken to enhance the user-friendliness and usefulness of UNISPAL,
including by incorporating additional multimedia content and RSS and Twitter feeds
intended to alert users about newly posted materials. The Division has continued to
improve the redesigned “Question of Palestine” portal.
7. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority
67. In accordance with the request of the General Assembly, the training
programme conducted by the Division has been enhanced and involved four staff
members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority. Two
Palestinian Authority staff members participated in the New York training
programme during the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly, where they
familiarized themselves with various aspects of the work of the Secretariat and other
United Nations organs and conducted research on specific topics. Two additional
Palestinian Authority staff members participated in a three-week training
programme at the United Nations Office at Geneva during the Trade and
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Development Board session from 14 to 30 September 2011, where they familiarized
themselves with the work of UNCTAD, including on trade facilitation and foreign
direct investment. They also attended briefings on the work of other United Nations
entities, including the Human Rights Council, the World Health Organization and
the World Trade Organization.
8. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
68. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
at Headquarters in New York, the United Nations Office at Geneva and the United
Nations Office at Vienna on 29 November 2010. On the occasion of the observance
at Headquarters, in addition to a special meeting of the Committee and other
activities, a photo exhibit entitled “Summer Games in Gaza” was presented by
UNRWA under the auspices of the Committee, in cooperation with the Department
of Public Information. The Committee also sponsored a cultural performance “The
Gaza Monologues” by the Ashtar Theatre — Ramallah. The Committee noted with
appreciation that the International Day of Solidarity had also been observed by
United Nations information centres and other bodies in many cities throughout the
world. Details on the observance are contained in the special bulletin issued by the
Division.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 65/15
69. The Department of Public Information, pursuant to General Assembly
resolution 65/15, continued to implement its special information programme on the
question of Palestine. In doing so, it strove to enhance dialogue and understanding,
while sensitizing public opinion to the question of Palestine and the Middle East
peace process.
70. During the reporting period, the Department used all of its information outlets
and products to highlight the broadest possible range of developments and issues
related to the question of Palestine and the Middle East peace process. The online
United Nations News Centre provided extensive coverage of the question of
Palestine and the United Nations. The News Centre’s English-language version
alone published some 300 stories during the reporting period. The Department also
produced a total of 144 press releases on the question of Palestine in English and
French, including summaries of formal meetings and press conferences, as well as
statements and press releases by the Secretary-General and other United Nations
officials.
71. UN Radio, also available in all official languages of the United Nations, as
well as in Swahili and Portuguese, provided regular coverage of issues and events
connected to the question of Palestine. It paid particularly close attention to the
plight of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip and the work done on the ground by
UNRWA and other United Nations entities. Coverage was also provided by UNTV
through its live broadcasts and web streaming, as well as dissemination via the
UNifeed satellite distribution system and UNTV’s Channel 150 on Time Warner
cable network. A feature story on female entrepreneurs in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory was distributed to hundreds of broadcasters worldwide as part of both
UNTV’s news magazine programme, 21st Century, and the UN in Action series.
UNTV also helped to distribute video content, including documentaries, produced
by UNRWA. The Department also provided live webcast for over 56 hours of major
discussions concerning the question of Palestine, including meetings in the Security
Council and the General Assembly.
72. The Department arranged six briefings for 230 college and graduate-level
students and responded to over 370 public inquiries on peace in the Middle East.
The question of Palestine also continued to be a regular feature on the United
Nations guided tour. Visitors were able to view the permanent exhibit on the topic,
and tour guides and the audio tour recording provided additional information on the
subject. The Department’s Graphic Design Unit has worked on updating the
permanent exhibit on Palestine, which is expected to be launched before the end of
the year.
73. The Department’s annual training programme for Palestinian media
practitioners took place at United Nations Headquarters from 8 November to
10 December 2010. Nine mid-level Palestinian journalists working mainly in print
media attended the programme, which also included visits to Geneva and
Washington, D.C. The primary focus of the five-week session was strengthening the
participants’ capacity as print media professionals, including training with Internetbased
media in the Arabic language.
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74. The Department, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Hungary, organized the 2011 International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle
East in Budapest on 12 and 13 July. The Seminar, which brought together over 100
former and present policymakers from Israel and the Palestinian Authority,
international media personalities, as well as members of academia and civil society,
focused on the theme “Prospects for Peace: Understanding Current Challenges and
Overcoming Obstacles”. It took account of the dramatic changes in the political
landscape in the Middle East and North Africa, including the increasing role of new
media such as Twitter and Facebook in fostering political change. The Seminar was
notable for its focus on the role of culture and the media in promoting understanding
between Israelis and Palestinians. Eminent writers, cultural activists, musicians and
political bloggers were among the panellists.
75. The network of United Nations information centres and services worldwide
continued to disseminate information on the question of Palestine. The information
centres promoted the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People and widely disseminated the message of the Secretary-General in
official and non-official languages, including German, Kirundi, Portuguese and
Turkish. Commemorative events, such as seminars, exhibits and film screenings,
were organized in Dar es Salaam, Moscow, Manama and Pretoria.
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
76. The reporting period was characterized by a continued deadlock in the
peace process that began 20 years ago with the Madrid Peace Conference. It
was accompanied by further stagnation on the ground, while the broader region
underwent dramatic and rapid changes. International efforts to create
conditions to bring the parties back to the negotiating table have not been
successful owing to Israel’s refusal to commit to the internationally supported
terms of reference of the Middle East peace process for the achievement of the
two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders in accordance with
relevant United Nations resolutions. The illegal Israeli settlement campaign
accelerated, particularly in occupied East Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the two-year
programme of the Palestinian Authority laid the institutional foundations of a
functional State. The Palestinian leadership embarked on a successful
worldwide diplomatic campaign, with a growing number of countries
recognizing the Palestinian State, upgrading its diplomatic representation, and
signalling their support for its bid to seek United Nations membership.
77. The Committee remains frustrated by the current stalemate in the peace
process. The agreed upon target date of September 2011 for the conclusion of a
peace settlement passed without a breakthrough. The Committee emphasizes
that the status quo is unsustainable. Maintaining negotiations without clear
parameters and timeline provides only cover for expanding settlements and
consolidating the occupation. The Committee calls for a resumption of credible
negotiations towards the two-State solution on the basis of relevant Security
Council resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, the road map, and the Arab
Peace Initiative. The Committee is implacably opposed to all settlement
activities by Israel, which are inimical to the peace process and contravene
international law, Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and the
road map. It was profoundly disappointed by the failure of the Security Council
to uphold its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations in that
regard. The continued engagement of the international community remains
critical. The Committee welcomes the principles articulated by President
Obama on 19 May 2011, and calls on the Quartet to translate them into
comprehensive final status parameters so that Israeli-Palestinian negotiations
can resume on that basis.
78. The Committee is encouraged by the success of the Palestinian Statebuilding
and reform programme, which it has consistently supported, and by
the broadening international recognition of the State of Palestine. The
Committee welcomes the intra-Palestinian agreement signed in Cairo as a step
towards Palestinian unity and calls for its fulfilment. Further progress towards
the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinians requires a
dismantlement of the Israeli occupation and its associated regime of
settlements, checkpoints, the separation wall, demolitions, land confiscations
and expulsions, which have been alarmingly intensifying, particularly in East
Jerusalem and in Area C. The financial situation of the Palestinian Authority
should be stabilized to enable it to sustain its State-building momentum. The
Committee calls on donors to provide urgent and generous support, and looks
forward to the early convening of a donors conference. The Committee
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condemns any illegal and provocative seizure by Israel of the Palestinian
Authority’s revenues.
79. The Committee remains deeply concerned by the situation on the ground
and the systematic violations of humanitarian and human rights law, which
particularly affect the most vulnerable groups of Palestinian civilians —
women, children and prisoners. The Committee is alarmed by the escalation of
violence in and around Gaza, which threatens to end the relative calm that has
prevailed in recent months. It reiterates its call for all attacks against all
civilians to stop immediately and unconditionally, including rocket fire from
Gaza and air strikes on populated areas in Gaza, settler violence and the
shootings of unarmed protesters. The Gaza blockade should be immediately
lifted by Israel, the occupying Power, in accordance with Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009). The Security Council and the High Contracting Parties
to the Fourth Geneva Convention should act urgently and decisively to
guarantee the protection of civilians in all situations and ensure accountability
for violations of international law.
80. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights will continue
through their mandated activities to generate heightened international
awareness of the current challenges for a comprehensive, just and lasting
solution of the question of Palestine. In this connection, the Committee
emphasizes the useful and constructive contribution of the Division in support
of its mandate aimed at enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their
inalienable rights. It notes with satisfaction: (a) the sustained level of dialogue,
engagement and support of the international community for its programme
objectives, for instance, in terms of both participation at the meetings convened
and the use of printed and electronic information materials provided by the
Division; (b) the continued involvement of parliamentarians and civil society
organizations in support of the efforts of the Committee and the United Nations
towards a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of
Palestine; and (c) the increased international awareness of the United Nations
policies and activities on the question of Palestine as indicated by the growing
number of documents and relevant information materials on the issue accessed
by users worldwide on the websites maintained by the Division. The Committee
also considers that the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian
Authority carried out by the Division has proved its usefulness as it directly
contributes to Palestinian capacity-building efforts. The Committee strongly
recommends that that important mandated activity be continued and, where
possible, further enhanced.
81. The Committee will focus its programme of international meetings and
conferences in 2012, implemented by the Division, on widening international
support for the achievement of inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to
self-determination, national independence and sovereignty, and to return to
their homes and property. The programme will also focus on strengthening
international support for the permanent status negotiations and contributing to
the creation of a favourable international atmosphere for their conduct in good
faith. The Committee intends to mobilize increased international scrutiny of the
developments on the ground, in particular the halt of all settlement activities in
the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and an end to all other illegal Israeli
policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It will support
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global campaigns to challenge Israeli impunity and promote the concept of
Israeli accountability for its actions towards the Palestinian people.
82. The Committee will continue to pay special attention to highlighting the
plight of the most disadvantaged Palestinians, such as the Palestine refugees,
the Palestinians living in Gaza and Palestinian political prisoners. Taking into
account the urgency of resolving the situation of thousands of Palestinian
prisoners in Israeli jails and detention facilities, and as a follow-up to its 2010
International Meeting on that issue, the Committee will hold an international
meeting at the United Nations Office at Geneva on that topic. Also, considering
the central role of youth as the agents of change through non-violent, peaceful
means, as recent events in the Arab world have shown, and the need for an
increased involvement of the Palestinian youth in the shaping of their future
State, the Committee will convene a meeting on the role of youth in the
resolution of the question of Palestine, with the participation of youth political
and community leaders and diplomats.
83. The Committee will continue to mobilize support for the Palestinian
institution-building and all other efforts to facilitate the viability of the
Palestinian State. It will reach out to and engage Governments,
parliamentarians and civil society to mobilize support for a just solution of all
permanent status issues. The Committee wishes to contribute to efforts towards
ending incitement on both sides, provide a venue to have the narratives heard
and reconciled and, with the help of civil society, to promote peace education. It
will pay particular attention to the inclusion and empowerment of women and
their organizations in this process. The Committee also wishes to work towards
Palestinian reconciliation and will strive to involve in its events Palestinians
from different ends of the political spectrum.
84. The Committee highly values civil society initiatives in support of the
Palestinian people and welcomes the growing calls from civil society groups for
peaceful protests against the status quo. It lauds the courageous advocacy
actions of countless activists, including eminent personalities and
parliamentarians, who participate in demonstrations against the wall, try to
break the siege of Gaza and keep their home constituencies informed about the
harsh realities of life under occupation. The Committee salutes the
achievements of civil society which give hope to the Palestinian people. The
Committee encourages civil society partners to work with their national
Governments and other institutions with a view to gaining their full support for
the work of the United Nations, including that of the Committee, on the
question of Palestine. It will continue to assess its programme of cooperation
with civil society and consult them on ways to enhance their contribution. The
Committee appreciates the support it receives from the Secretariat in
strengthening cooperation with civil society.
85. The Committee looks forward to further developing its cooperation with
parliamentarians and their umbrella organizations. Parliamentarians have a
special responsibility to ensure that their Governments actively promote and
support the realization of the two-State solution and ensure respect for
international law, in accordance with their international obligations.
86. The Committee requests the Division to continue its substantive and
secretariat support, the programme of research, monitoring and publications
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and other informational activities. The Division should pay special attention to
continued development of the “Question of Palestine” portal and use of new
technologies and media, including web-based social information networks, such
as Facebook and Twitter. The Division should also continue to develop the
UNISPAL document collection by, among other things, continuing to digitize
and upload historic documents and to develop user-friendly search features
such as the French titles project. The Division should further develop the
annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority paying special
attention to the programme’s gender balance, and organize the annual
observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
87. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and public opinion of the
relevant issues. The Committee requests the continuation of the programme,
with the necessary flexibility, as warranted by developments relevant to the
question of Palestine.
88. The Committee, at its meeting held on 30 September 2011, took note of the
application of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations
submitted by President Mahmoud Abbas on 23 September 2011 to the
Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon. The Committee calls upon the Security
Council and the General Assembly to favourably consider Palestine’s
application for United Nations membership. The Committee also supports the
appeal made by President Abbas before the General Assembly to the States that
have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to do so.
89. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, and in view of the many
difficulties facing the Palestinian people and besetting the peace process, the
Committee calls upon all States to join it in this endeavour and to extend their
cooperation and support to the Committee, and invites the General Assembly
again to recognize the importance of its role and to reconfirm its mandate.
11-53659 (E) 261011
*1153659*
A/67/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-seventh Session
Supplement No. 35
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-seventh Session
Supplement No. 35
United Nations • New York, 2012
A/67/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations
document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
[8 October 2012]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 66/14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance
with General Assembly resolutions 66/14 and 66/15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 66/16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
iv
Letter of transmittal
[8 October 2012]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 2 of its resolution 66/14 of
30 November 2011.
The report covers the period from 7 October 2011 to 6 October 2012.
(Signed) Abdou Salam Diallo
Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as recognized by the
Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
2. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the General
Assembly1 were endorsed by the Assembly as a basis for the solution of the
question of Palestine. In its subsequent reports,2 the Committee has continued to
stress that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions, including Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), as
well as on the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel, the occupying
Power, from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
and from the other occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in the
region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized boundaries; and
the recognition and exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The
recommendations of the Committee contained in its first report could not be
implemented, and the Assembly has each year renewed the Committee’s mandate
and requested it to intensify efforts in pursuit of its objectives.
3. The Committee has consistently supported the objective of two States, Israel
and Palestine, living side by side within secure and recognized borders on the basis
of the 1949 armistice lines, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions,
including Security Council resolutions 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003). The
Committee welcomed and supported the Quartet’s Road Map and called upon the
parties to implement it. In keeping with its mandate, the Committee has continued to
work towards creating conditions for the successful conduct of the negotiations on a
permanent settlement allowing the Palestinian people to realize its inalienable
rights. The Committee has also promoted support and assistance by the international
community to the Palestinian people.
4. The reporting period was characterized by the deadlocked political process and
the deteriorating socioeconomic situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem. There has been no breakthrough in efforts towards
resuming direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, owing to Israel’s consistent refusal
to freeze its settlement activity and adhere to the long-standing terms of reference of
the peace process. In the absence of credible negotiations, the Palestinian leadership
continued its diplomatic initiatives to gain international recognition of Palestine as a
State within the 1967 borders on the basis of international law and relevant United
Nations resolutions. While Palestine’s request for admission as a United Nations
Member State, submitted on 23 September 2011, has been pending in the Security
Council, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) admitted Palestine as a member State on 31 October 2011.
__________________
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35).
2 Since the thirty-first session, the Committee has submitted annual reports to the General
Assembly; all such reports have been issued as supplement No. 35 of the sessional
documentation of the Assembly.
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5. The situation in the Gaza Strip continued to be a source of serious concern,
with high rates of poverty and unemployment. The continued blockade imposed by
Israel, the occupying Power, forced 1.6 million Palestinians in Gaza, half of them
children and two thirds of them refugees, to continue suffering from an acute
shortage of basic goods and essential services. Reconstruction and rehabilitation
continued to be hampered by the blockade. Israel continued to conduct air strikes
and other military operations in and around Gaza, resulting in Palestinian casualties,
including many civilians. Rocket and mortar fire by armed Palestinian groups into
southern Israel also continued, endangering the lives of the Israeli population.
6. Israeli military raids and incursions in West Bank population centres
continued, involving the killing and injuring of Palestinians, including children. At
least 2,500 Palestinians, including women and children, were arrested during those
operations. Many unarmed civilians were subjected to the excessive use of force by
the Israeli occupying forces during demonstrations against the occupation, resulting
in many injuries. Israel continued to expand its illegal settlements in the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem, attempted to retroactively “legalize” so-called outposts,
created new settlements and approved thousands of new settlement units. The
construction of the separation wall continued in defiance of the International Court
of Justice advisory opinion (2004), resulting in further confiscation of Palestinian
land and demolition of properties, further harming socioeconomic conditions and
causing the displacement of more Palestinian families. The situation in Occupied
East Jerusalem remained alarming, with continued land confiscations, house
demolitions and evictions of Palestinian residents, and the transfer of more Israeli
settlers into the City.
7. The Palestinian Authority steadily advanced its State-building programme on
the ground, but it was challenged by a serious budget deficit as well as by
restrictions and obstacles imposed by Israel on the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, which continued to prevent the normal movement of
persons and goods, economic activity and sustained growth. In addition, a decrease
in foreign aid and the failure of donor countries to fulfil their financial pledges
contributed to the dire situation. As for Palestinian reconciliation, Fatah and Hamas
reached an agreement in February 2012 to form a transitional Government as part of
the process launched by their May 2011 agreement, but its implementation has been
pending.
8. The activities of the Committee and its Bureau in the reporting period focused
on the need for respect for the relevant United Nations resolutions and the urgency
of resuming negotiations between the parties in the interest of salvaging the two-
State solution and advancing the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting
peace. The Committee monitored the situation on the ground and the political
developments, implemented its programme of international meetings and
conferences, held consultations with representatives of Governments, national
parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations, as well as civil society, and
reached out to its partners worldwide using new communications media. The
Committee reiterated its position of principle that a permanent settlement of the
question of Palestine could be achieved only through ending the occupation that
began in 1967, establishing a Palestinian State on the basis of the pre-1967 borders
with East Jerusalem as its capital, and a just and agreed solution to the Palestine
refugees issue on the basis of General Assembly resolution 194 (III).
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9. The economic cost of the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian
Territory was discussed at the annual seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people
organized by the Committee in Cairo in February 2012. The seminar was followed
in April by an international meeting in Geneva that focused on the question of
Palestinian political prisoners held by Israel. The theme of another international
meeting held in Paris in May addressed the role of youth and women in the peaceful
resolution of the question of Palestine. It was followed in July by a regional meeting
for Asia and the Pacific, at which the role of countries in the region in addressing
the obstacles to the two-State solution was discussed.
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Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
10. On 30 November 2011, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (see
resolution 66/14), requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources to
carry out its programme of work (see resolution 66/15) and requested the
continuation of the special information programme on the question of Palestine of
the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat (see resolution 66/16). On
the same date, the Assembly adopted resolution 66/17, entitled “Peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine”.
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Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
11. During the reporting period, Ecuador joined the Committee as a new member
and Saudi Arabia as an observer.
12. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, the Lao
People’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia,
Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey,
Ukraine and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
13. The observers at the Committee meetings are: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria,
China, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates,
Viet Nam and Yemen, as well as the African Union, the League of Arab States, the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Palestine.
14. At its 339th meeting, on 13 February 2012, the Committee re-elected Abdou
Salam Diallo (Senegal) as Chair, Pedro Núñez Mosquera (Cuba) and Zahir Tanin
(Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairs. Christopher Grima (Malta) was elected Rapporteur.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
15. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all United Nations
Member States and observers wishing to participate in the work of the Committee
were welcome to do so. In accordance with established practice, Palestine
participated in the work of the Committee as an observer, attended all of its
meetings and made observations and proposals for consideration by the Committee
and its Bureau.
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Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
Political developments
16. Despite a series of quiet and informal meetings between the parties, there has
been no breakthrough in efforts towards resuming Israeli-Palestinian dialogue and
negotiations, owing to Israel’s consistent refusal to freeze its illegal settlement
activities, which continued to deepen mistrust and raise tensions and to jeopardize
the two-State solution. On the contrary, Israel has continued to create new
settlements, attempted to retroactively “legalize” so-called outposts, and announced
plans for the construction of thousands of new settlement units during the reporting
period.
17. Palestine’s application for admission to United Nations membership, submitted
by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on 23 September 2011, remains pending in
the Security Council, since its Committee on the Admission of New Members was
unable to make a unanimous recommendation to the Council, as reflected in its report
of 11 November 2011. In his statement to the General Assembly on 27 September
2012, President Abbas said that Palestine had begun intensive consultations with
various Member States and regional organizations aimed at having the Assembly
adopt a resolution considering Palestine a non-Member State of the United Nations.
18. Meanwhile, the Palestinian leadership continued efforts to gain international
recognition of Palestine as a State within the 1967 borders. On 31 October 2011,
UNESCO admitted Palestine as a member State of the agency. The Israeli
Government reacted to that development with punitive measures, including
temporarily freezing the transfer of value-added tax and customs revenues that it
collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority pursuant to the Paris Protocol, and by
announcing the accelerated construction of some 2,000 settlement units. On 29 June
2012, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee voted to add Bethlehem’s Church of
the Nativity and its pilgrimage route to the Heritage List.
19. During the reporting period, Iceland and Thailand announced that they
recognized the State of Palestine, while several other States upgraded the status of
the Palestinian delegation in their countries to that of an embassy or similar entity.
According to the Negotiations Affairs Department of the Palestine Liberation
Organization, to date some 130 States Members of the United Nations have
recognized the State of Palestine.
Settlements
20. During the reporting period, Israel, the occupying Power, continued and
intensified its illegal settlement activity in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reported in August 2012 that, in 2011,
the number of settlers in the 144 settlements in the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, had been 536,932 (337,285 in the West Bank and 199,647 in East
Jerusalem), reflecting an increase of almost 13,000 compared to 2010.
21. During the reporting period, the following plans were announced or approved
by Israel: 119 housing units in the “Shilo” settlement (27 November 2011); 40
homes and a farm near “Efrat” (12 December); tenders for 348 units in “Beitar Illit”
and 180 in “Givat Ze’ev” (18 December); the construction of 500 new units in
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“Shilo” and the retroactive “legalization” of more than 200 units in “Shilo” and
“Shvut Rachel” built without permits (22 February 2012); tenders for 180 units in
“Givat Ze’ev” and 69 in “Katzrin” in the occupied Golan (4 April); 851 new units in
several West Bank settlements (6 June); and 750 new housing units in “Ma’ale
Adumim” (12 August).
22. In addition, on 31 December 2011, the Government of Israel announced that it
would recognize the “Ramat Gilad” outpost established on private land of Palestinians
from Kafr village, which would become part of the “Karnei Shomron” settlement. On
24 April 2012, the Government of Israel announced that it had granted legal status to
three settlement outposts, “Bruchin”, “Sansana” and “Rechelim”. On 17 July, it was
reported that the Israeli Defence Ministry had “legalized” the “Givat Salit” outpost by
making it part of the nearby “Mehola” settlement.
23. In Occupied East Jerusalem, the following plans were announced or approved:
construction of a new visitors’ centre at the “City of David National Park” in Silwan
(11 February); 11 new apartments in “Pisgat Ze’ev” (8 October); approximately 2,600
housing units for a new settlement “Givat Hamatos” (11 October); tenders for 749
housing units in “Har Homa” and 65 in “Pisgat Ze’ev” (15 November); construction
of a new Jewish enclave to be named “Maale David” in the heart of the Palestinian
neighbourhood of Ras al-Amoud (7 December); tenders for 500 units in “Har Homa”
(18 December); construction of 130 new settler units in East Jerusalem
(28 December); three new tenders for 300 settlement housing units in Jerusalem
(3 January 2012); 277 housing units in “Efrat” as part of a series of reprisals for
Palestine’s admission to UNESCO (11 January); the establishment of a new
settlement “Kidmat Zion”, with about 200 units on a plot of land purchased by United
States of America millionaire Irving Moskowitz (2 April); tenders for 827 homes in
“Har Homa” (4 April); construction of nine hotels in “Givat Hamatos” (1 May); 1,242
units in “Gilo” (10 May) and 180 units in “Armon HaNetziv” (26 June); tenders for
130 housing units in “Har Homa” and 41 in “Pisgat Ze’ev” (30 June); establishment
of a military college on the Mount of Olives (2 July); and tenders for 130 housing
units in “Har Homa” (16 August).
Settler violence
24. Settler-related violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem continued to be a
source of serious concern. According to the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, at least 154 Palestinians were injured by
Israeli settlers during the reporting period (as at 2 October). At least 39 Israeli
settlers were injured by Palestinians during the same period. In 2012 (as at
September), 13 Palestinians, including 8 children, have been injured in hit and run
incidents involving Israeli settler vehicles. Inadequate law enforcement by Israel
and lack of accountability continued to be the key factors underpinning the
phenomenon of settler violence and deliberate provocations against the Palestinian
civilian population, including acts against Palestinian children, families and farmers,
homes, agricultural lands and orchards and desecration of Muslim and Christian
holy sites.
Jerusalem
25. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel reported in May 2012 that 360,882
Palestinians comprised 38 per cent of the total population of the City of Jerusalem.
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Since 1967, the residency status of 14,084 Palestinians had been revoked and
rescinded by Israel, and those former residents were no longer permitted to live in
the City. Some 78 per cent of Palestinians living in East Jerusalem lived below the
poverty line. There was a chronic shortage of some 1,000 classrooms in East
Jerusalem’s education system. Palestinians were permitted to build on only 17 per
cent of the area of East Jerusalem, most of which had already been totally exhausted
by previous construction. A third of Palestinian land in East Jerusalem had been
expropriated since 1967, and thousands of apartments for Israeli settlers had been
built on it. Israel’s building of the separation wall, the closing of passage points and
the implementation of a strict “entry permit” regime had effectively cut off East
Jerusalem from the West Bank, exacerbating the economic and social condition of
its residents. Restrictions on entry from the West Bank, imposed both on patients
and medical staff, had also led to a severe financial crisis in East Jerusalem
hospitals, which provide the bulk of medical services for the entire West Bank. For
11 years now, Israel has also renewed the closure order of Palestinian institutions in
East Jerusalem, including the Orient House and the Chamber of Commerce, in
contradiction to Israel’s road map obligations.
Movement restrictions
26. In July 2012, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recorded
59 permanently staffed checkpoints, 34 barrier checkpoints, 26 partially staffed
checkpoints, 455 unstaffed obstacles, and 343 flying checkpoints. As of the end of
June 2012, 60 Palestinian communities, with a combined population of about
190,000, were still compelled to use detours that were two to five times longer than
the direct route to the closest city. As a result, their access to livelihoods and basic
services, including health, education and water supply, continued to be impaired.
Some 94 per cent of the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea area remained off-limits for
Palestinian use owing to their designation as closed military areas and nature
reserves, or their allocation to Israeli settlements.
27. Access to private agricultural land in the vicinity of Israeli settlements has
remained significantly constrained owing to the fencing off of those areas or to
settler violence. Palestinian farmers who own land close to 55 Israeli settlements
have access only through “prior” coordination with the Israeli army, which has
continued to undermine the agricultural livelihoods of farmers from some 90
Palestinian communities. Palestinian movement within the Israeli-controlled section
of Hebron City remained subject to severe restrictions. The area is segregated from
the rest of the city by more than 120 closure obstacles and Palestinian movement by
car, and in some cases, by foot, continued to be banned along certain streets. As a
result, those Palestinians still living in the area continue to suffer from poor access
to basic services, including education.
The wall
28. Israel continued the illegal construction of the wall in the Occupied West Bank,
including in and around Occupied East Jerusalem, in defiance of the advisory
opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004. The Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported in July 2012 that the wall’s total
length was approximately 708 km, more than twice the length of the 1949 Armistice
Line (Green Line) between the West Bank and Israel. Approximately 62.1 per cent of
the wall has been completed, a further 8 per cent is under construction, and 29.9 per
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cent is planned but not yet constructed. When completed, some 85 per cent of the
route would run inside the West Bank, rather than along the Green Line, isolating
some 9.4 per cent of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The United Nations
Register of Damage Caused by the Construction of the Wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory has, to date, collected over 26,000 claims for material damage
caused by the construction of the wall.
29. Israeli restrictions also continued to isolate East Jerusalem and obstruct the
access of the majority of the Palestinian population to the City and its holy sites,
medical, education and social services, and markets. Palestinians with West Bank
identification cards who are granted special permits can only enter East Jerusalem
through 4 of the 14 wall checkpoints around the City. According to the Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, around 7,500 Palestinians who reside in
areas between the Green Line and the wall (Seam Zone), excluding East Jerusalem,
require special permits to continue living in their own homes. Another 23,000 will
be isolated if the wall is completed as planned.
Demolitions and displacements
30. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Israel
carried out the demolition of at least 589 Palestinian-owned structures, 184 of which
were residences, during the reporting period (as at 2 October), displacing at least
879 people, including many children. Among structures demolished in Area C
(under Israeli control with no official Palestinian Authority presence) in 2012 were
44 structures funded by international donors. In 2011, over 110 such structures were
demolished by Israel. Since the beginning of 2011, 44 per cent of the demolished
assistance structures were basic residential shelters (e.g. tents) provided to
vulnerable families, while the majority of the other structures were intended to
support livelihoods or improve access to basic services.
31. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
approximately 18 per cent of the West Bank has been designated by Israel, the
occupying Power, as a closed military zone for training or a “firing zone”.
Approximately 5,000 Palestinians reside in those zones, in mostly Bedouin or
herding communities, many of which existed prior to the closing of the areas. Two
schools and one kindergarten located in firing zones currently have demolition
orders against them. Some 45 per cent of demolitions of Palestinian-owned
structures in Area C since 2010 have occurred in firing zones, displacing over 820
Palestinian civilians.
Security
32. Israeli occupying forces continued to conduct routine military raids and arrests
throughout the West Bank. During the reporting period (as at 2 October),
5 Palestinians were killed and over 2,400 injured by Israeli forces in the West Bank
and East Jerusalem, including during clashes with demonstrators. By August, Israeli
forces arrested at least 2,500 Palestinians in some 3,500 search-and-arrest
operations during the reporting period.
33. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed at least 77 Palestinians and injured more
than 300 during the reporting period (as at 2 October) in incidents involving air
strikes and the enforcement of access restrictions near the border fence. Israeli
restrictions on Palestinian access to land (up to 1,500 metres from the border fence)
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and sea (beyond three nautical miles from the shore) continued to result in casualties
and hinder the livelihoods of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza. The Israeli
authorities reported in September 2012 that more than 455 rockets fired from Gaza
had hit Israel since the beginning of the year. In total, one Israeli soldier and one
civilian were killed and 21 other Israelis injured by Palestinian fire from Gaza
during the reporting period.
Gaza Strip
34. According to a report released by the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs in August 2012, many Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are food
insecure, owing primarily to a lack of economic means, rather than to a shortage of
food: 44 per cent of the households are food insecure and 16 per cent are vulnerable
to food insecurity, even when taking into account United Nations food distributions
to almost 1.1 million persons. On average, households spend close to 50 per cent of
their cash on food; 80 per cent of households receive some form of assistance, and
39 per cent of persons live below the poverty line. As long as the closure continues,
levels of food insecurity will remain high. Restrictions on access to agricultural land
and the fishing limit of three miles from the coast remain challenges. Palestinians in
Gaza have no access, or gain access only with difficulty, to 17 per cent of the land,
including 35 per cent of the agricultural land, because it is located in the “buffer
zone” or in the high-risk, access-restricted area near the border fence with Israel.
More than 3,000 fishermen do not have access to 85 per cent of the maritime areas
agreed in the 1995 Oslo Accords. As a result, the fish catch has decreased
dramatically over the years of closure. Overall, land and sea restrictions affect the
livelihoods of at least 178,000 people, or 12 per cent of the population of Gaza,
resulting in annual estimated losses of US$ 76.7 million from agricultural
production and fishing. Reports indicate that if the three-mile limit on fishing were
to be lifted, the fishing industry would likely grow in size. Further, in Gaza, the
effect of the chronic multi-year electricity deficit has been significant, with
prolonged power outages disrupting the delivery of basic services and undermining
already vulnerable livelihoods and living conditions.
Water
35. According to a report issued by the Palestinian Water Authority in September
2012, Israel currently exploits 90 per cent of the shared water resources in the West
Bank for exclusive Israeli use, including for use in settlements, and allocates less
than 10 per cent for Palestinian use. Palestinian water consumption in the West Bank
is limited to an average of just 70 litres per capita per day, below the “absolute
minimum” of 100 litres per day recommended by the World Health Organization,
and far below 300 litres per day in Israel.
36. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported in March 2012
that there were 56 water springs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in the vicinity
of Israeli settlements that had become the target of provocative settler actions, 30 of
which had been taken over completely by settlers, while the other 26 were at risk of
settler takeover. At least 84 per cent of the springs affected by settler activities were
located on land recognized by Israel as privately owned by Palestinians. In three
quarters of the springs taken over, Palestinians had been deterred from accessing the
area by threatening or intimidating acts, while access to the rest had been prevented
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by physical obstacles. In more than 70 per cent of the springs, Israeli settlers had
begun to develop the surrounding area into a “tourist attraction”.
Women and children
37. According to the Palestinian Minister of Women’s Affairs, Palestinian women
comprise 49.2 per cent of the population. The illiteracy rate among women has
decreased from 16 per cent in 2000 to 7.8 per cent in 2011. The proportion of
women in the workforce is 14.7 per cent, compared to that of males, which is 69 per
cent. Of the women in the workforce, 27 per cent are unemployed, while a further
20 per cent work for no remuneration. In the public sector, women represent 37 per
cent of employees. There are six women ministers in the current Palestinian
Authority Government, the highest number to date. Furthermore, women are
occupying positions that were formerly reserved for men, such as governors, heads
of municipalities and the President of the Central Authority for Palestinian Statistics
and Public Prosecutor.
38. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
Palestinian children living in the Gaza Strip, Area C of the West Bank and East
Jerusalem face particularly serious challenges, including a substandard school
infrastructure and a chronic shortage of classrooms, owing to building restrictions,
and impeded access to educational facilities, owing to physical, bureaucratic and
other obstacles. These factors often result in a high drop-out rate, low learning
achievements and, in some cases, displacement. Military operations and settler
violence have also continued to disrupt schooling: during the first six months of
2012, there were 16 documented incidents which resulted in damage to schools or
interruption of education, and in some cases, in direct injury to children.
39. Save the Children and the East Jerusalem Young Women’s Christian
Association (YWCA) stated in a March 2012 report that Palestinian children were
subjected to Israeli violations of their rights on a daily basis, including killing,
maiming, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, home demolitions, discrimination,
harassment and restrictions of movement. According to the report, 11 per cent of
children under the age of 5 suffered from chronic malnutrition. Since the
commencement of the second intifada in 2000, the Israeli occupying forces had
arrested and detained over 8,000 Palestinian children, many of whom were as young
as 12 years old. Those children were interrogated, arrested and prosecuted in the
Israeli military court system. Cases of ill-treatment, torture and physical and verbal
harassment during detention were frequently reported. Usually arrested at night,
blindfolded and their hands bound, they were often forcibly taken, either to Israeli
prisons or settlements within the West Bank for interrogations. The questioning
almost always takes place without the child’s lawyer or parents present. The way
minors are treated by Israeli military forces and courts is in serious violation of the
Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Fourth Geneva Convention and the
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment. Moreover, detention usually affects their psychological well-being with
long-lasting implications.
Prisoners
40. In a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, Israel released 477 Palestinian
prisoners on 16 October 2011. In all, 205 prisoners were transferred to locations
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other than their residence before their detention, in accordance with the exchange
agreement. On 18 October, Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been held in Gaza
since June 2006, was released by Hamas. On 18 December, 550 Palestinian
prisoners, including 55 minors and 6 women, were released by Israel in the second
phase of the exchange. A hunger strike was launched in early 2012 by more than
1,500 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli custody to protest the deplorable
and harsh conditions of captivity and Israel’s application of administrative
detention, by which it holds Palestinians without evidence, charge or trial. The crisis
was resolved on 14 May, when Israel agreed to allow some 400 prisoners from Gaza
to receive family visits for the first time since 2006, improve other conditions of
detention and release administrative detainees once they completed their terms.
Roughly 20 prisoners were also released from solitary confinement. According to
the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, some 4,423 Palestinian security
detainees and prisoners were held in Israeli prisons at the end of July 2012, among
them 250 administrative detainees, 210 under the age of 18 and 7 women.
Palestinian institution-building
41. The International Monetary Fund reported in September 2012 that growth in
the West Bank’s gross domestic product (GDP) had declined to 5 per cent in 2011
and the first quarter of 2012, while unemployment had risen to 19 per cent in the
first half of 2012, from 16 per cent in the same period of the previous year. The
economic slowdown reflected continued fiscal retrenchment, combined with severe
financing difficulties, declining donor aid, especially from regional donors, and
slower easing of restrictions on movement and access. In Gaza, after a rebound in its
real output by over 20 per cent on average in 2010-11 following the easing of tight
restrictions, growth had declined to 6 per cent in the first quarter of 2012, and
unemployment had risen to 30 per cent from 28 per cent in the same period in 2011.
42. The World Bank reported in September 2012 that the Palestinian Authority was
facing a very serious fiscal situation with its budget deficit higher than expected,
while external budget support had been falling. Debt to the local banking sector was
almost at its limit and further credit from the private sector was unlikely to be
forthcoming given the current high level of arrears. While the sustainability of
growth in the Palestinian territories depended upon increasing private investment,
restrictions put in place by the Government of Israel continued to stand in the way of
potential private investment and remained the major impediment to sustainable
economic growth. Most notably, the continued geographical fragmentation of Area C
(envisaged under the Oslo Accords as a temporary arrangement) posed a binding
constraint to real economic growth, essential to support the future Palestinian State.
Area C’s significance, as the only contiguous land in the West Bank connecting 227
separate geographical areas (A and B), was the key to economic cohesion and was
the most resource-abundant space in the West Bank, holding the majority of the
territory’s water, agricultural lands, natural resources, and land reserves that provide
an economic foundation for growth in key sectors of the economy.
Reconciliation
43. During a meeting in Doha on 5 February 2012, President Abbas and Hamas
Political Bureau Chief Khaled Mashaal reached an agreement to form an interim
government of “technocrats” to be headed by President Abbas and to be followed by
the holding of presidential, parliamentary and local elections as agreed in May 2011.
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However, to date, the agreement has not been implemented. The voter registration
process that the Central Elections Commission had planned for Gaza from 3 to 14 July
was suspended by the Hamas authorities. On 10 July, the Palestinian Authority,
pending further developments on reconciliation, called for municipal elections to be
held throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory on 20 October. Hamas has rejected
that call. From 5 to 9 August, the Palestinian Central Elections Committee initiated a
voter registry update in the West Bank, ahead of the planned local elections.
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
44. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East (UNRWA) continued to provide extensive core services and emergency
assistance to the Palestine refugees in all its fields of operations in Jordan, Lebanon,
the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Government
of Israel undertook some measures to ease the movement of goods into and out of
the Gaza Strip, but those measures still fell well short of the level required to meet
the needs of the Palestine refugee population and UNRWA’s reconstruction
requirements, or to ensure the revival of the economy which would reduce the
dependency on UNRWA services. The Agency continues to experience a grave and
recurrent financial crisis, which threatens its ability to sustain or improve its
services and to continue emergency assistance programmes, including in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and for Palestine refugees in the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as its ability to complete essential projects, such as the
reconstruction of the Nahr El Bared Camp in Lebanon. The Committee reiterates its
appreciation for the dedication of UNRWA to its mission and calls upon all donors
to increase contributions to ensure the well-being of more than 5 million registered
Palestine refugees under the mandate of the Agency.
United Nations Development Programme/Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs
45. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through its Programme
of Assistance to the Palestinian People, continued to respond to the development
needs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. In support of
the Palestinian Authority’s National Development Plan 2011-2013, UNDP proceeded
with the implementation of its new consolidated plan, “Development for Freedom:
Empowered Lives, a Resilient Nation 2011-2013”. The three-year plan focuses on
democratic governance and the rule of law, economic empowerment and private
sector investment, environment and management of natural resources, as well as
public and social infrastructure. In support of Palestinian Statehood, the UNDP plan
places empowerment, resilience and sustainability at the centre of its efforts, with a
focus on three priority areas: the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and Area C, where the
needs are the greatest, owing to the lack of access by the Palestinian Authority.
46. The Committee also remained appreciative of the important work of the Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
It noted that the consolidated appeal for 2012 focused on delivering humanitarian
assistance, increased protection of civilians, enhanced monitoring and reporting on
the humanitarian situation and the strengthening of United Nations humanitarian
coordination structures.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 66/14
47. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee continued to mobilize the
international community in support of the Palestinian people, in cooperation with
United Nations bodies, Governments, intergovernmental and civil society
organizations and others.
1. Action taken in the Security Council
48. During the reporting period, the Security Council has continued to monitor the
situation on the ground and the efforts to implement the road map. It held monthly
briefings throughout the year under the agenda item entitled “The situation in the
Middle East, including the Palestinian question”.
49. During the open debates at the Council meetings held on 24 October 2011,
24 January, 23 April, and 25 July 2012, the Chair of the Committee delivered
statements (see S/PV.6636, Resumption 1, S/PV.6706, Resumption 1, S/PV.6757,
S/PV.6816).
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee
50. On 13 October 2011, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on the
situation of Palestinian political prisoners held by Israel (GA/PAL/1211). Further,
on 24 February and 25 April 2012, the Bureau issued statements on Israel’s illegal
settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem
(GA/PAL/1224 and GA/PAL/1228).
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 66/14
and 66/15
1. Committee meetings at Headquarters
51. At its periodic meetings at Headquarters in New York, the Committee, among
other things, heard presentations by representatives of UNRWA, the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Norwegian Refugee Council on the
situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. On two separate occasions, the
Committee was briefed on recent developments by Palestine Liberation
Organization Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi and Palestinian
negotiator Mohammad Shtayyeh, respectively. The Committee also organized a
screening of a documentary film on the daily life of Palestinians in Hebron facing
violence and harassment by Israeli settlers.
2. Programme of international meetings and conferences
52. Through its programme of international meetings and conferences, the
Committee continued to raise international awareness of the various aspects of the
question of Palestine and international support for the rights of the Palestinian
people and the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.
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53. In the period under review, the following international events were held under
the auspices of the Committee in 2012:
(a) United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, Cairo,
6 and 7 February, on the economic cost of the continued Israeli occupation;
(b) United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine,
United Nations Office at Geneva, 3 and 4 April, on the question of Palestinian
political prisoners;
(c) United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine,
UNESCO headquarters, Paris, 30 and 31 May, on the role of youth and women in
the peaceful resolution of the question of Palestine;
(d) United Nations Meeting of Civil Society in Support of Israeli-Palestinian
Peace, UNESCO headquarters, Paris, 1 June, on harnessing the power of youth and
women;
(e) United Nations Asian and Pacific Meeting in Support of Israeli-
Palestinian Peace, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific,
Bangkok, 10 and 11 July, on international efforts at addressing the obstacles to the
two-State solution.
54. The above-mentioned events were attended by representatives of
Governments, Palestine, intergovernmental organizations and United Nations
system entities, as well as parliamentarians and representatives of civil society and
the media. Detailed information about these meetings is being issued as publications
of the Division for Palestinian Rights and will be available on the “Question of
Palestine” website maintained by the Division.
55. In connection with the above-mentioned events, the Committee delegation
carried out the following activities: on the margins of the seminar in Cairo, the
Committee delegation was received by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt,
Mohamed Kamel Amr, and by the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States,
Nabil Elaraby.
56. During its stay in Geneva, the Committee delegation held meetings with Swiss
Government officials, including the Special Representative of Switzerland for the
Middle East, Jean-Daniel Ruch, and with senior officials of the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Committee of the Red
Cross.
57. On the sidelines of the meeting in Paris, the Committee delegation met with
UNESCO Deputy Director-General Getachew Engida. On its way back to New
York, the delegation stopped in Lisbon, where it met with representatives of
parliamentary groups and civil society organizations.
58. In Bangkok, the Committee delegation met with officials from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Thailand. On its way back to New York, the delegation also
visited Hanoi to meet with Vietnamese officials.
3. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations
59. Throughout the year, the Committee continued its cooperation with the African
Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the Non-Aligned Movement
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and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Committee is appreciative of the
active participation of their representatives in the various international events held
under its auspices.
4. Cooperation with civil society
Civil society organizations
60. The Committee continued its cooperation with civil society organizations
worldwide. Representatives of civil society participated in all meetings organized
under the auspices of the Committee, including the observance of the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November 2011. The meetings
provided civil society representatives with an opportunity to discuss the situation on
the ground and their programmes in support of the Palestinian people and to
improve coordination of their activities. The Committee was appreciative of the
work done by civil society organizations and encouraged them to continue
contributing to efforts aimed at realizing a two-State solution.
61. The Committee maintained and developed its liaison with national, regional
and international coordinating mechanisms cooperating with it, in addition to its
established liaison with a large number of individual organizations. At the United
Nations Meeting of Civil Society in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace, held in
Paris in June, the deliberations focused on ways in which civil society organizations
could serve as a platform for empowering youths and women. While in Geneva, the
Committee delegation held consultations with 12 representatives of civil society
organizations from Europe, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel. The
Committee delegation also held consultations in Bangkok with 15 civil society
organizations from the Asian and Pacific region, the Occupied Palestinian Territory
and Israel.
62. During the reporting period, three civil society organizations were accredited
to the Committee.
63. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained a page on civil society
(http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/ngo.htm) on the “Question of Palestine” website as
a tool for the exchange of information and networking and for cooperation between
civil society and the Committee.
64. The Division maintained a Facebook page to disseminate information about
the work of the Committee, and the United Nations as a whole, on the question of
Palestine. In addition, the Division continued to publish the periodic online bulletin
NGO Action News, in order to catalogue and publicize civil society initiatives.
Parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations
65. The Committee continued to attach great importance to developing its liaison
with national and regional parliaments and their organizations. Representatives of
parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations participated in international
events organized by the Committee during 2012. Consultations with
parliamentarians were also held in Lisbon and Hanoi.
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5. Research, monitoring and publications
66. The Division carried out research and monitoring activities and responded to
requests for information and briefings on the question of Palestine. Under the
guidance of the Committee, which reiterated the relevance of the research,
monitoring and publications programme, it also prepared the publications listed
below for dissemination, including through the Internet:
(a) Monthly bulletin on action taken by the United Nations system and
intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of events relating to the question of Palestine, based
on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of international meetings and conferences organized under the
auspices of the Committee;
(d) A special bulletin and information notes on the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments related to the Middle East peace
process;
(f) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly
and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
6. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
67. Pursuant to successive annual General Assembly mandates, the Division for
Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and library services of the
United Nations Secretariat, continued to administer, maintain, expand and develop
the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL)
and the “Question of Palestine” website, which is located on the United Nations
home page under “Peace and Security”. That included the ongoing maintenance and
upgrading of the technical components of the system to ensure the uninterrupted
presence of UNISPAL (http://unispal.un.org) on the Internet and involved the
expansion of the document collection to include relevant new and old United
Nations system and related documents. In addition, steps continued to be taken to
enhance the user-friendliness and usefulness of UNISPAL, including by creating a
focus page on Palestine’s application for United Nations membership and by
incorporating additional multimedia content. RSS and Twitter feeds alerted users
about newly posted materials.
7. Training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority
68. In accordance with the General Assembly mandate, the training programme
conducted by the Division has been enhanced and involved seven staff members of
the Palestinian Authority. Three staff members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Ministry of Planning and the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United
Nations participated in a newly established training programme at the Economic and
Social Commission for Western Asia in Beirut from 7 to 11 May during its
27th session. Two additional Palestinian Authority staff members of the Ministry of
National Economy participated in a three-week training programme at the United
Nations Office at Geneva during the Trade and Development Board session from
18 September to 5 October 2012, where they familiarized themselves with the work
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of UNCTAD, including on trade facilitation and foreign direct investment. They also
attended briefings on the work of other United Nations entities, including the
Human Rights Council, the World Health Organization and the World Trade
Organization. In addition, two staff members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are
in the process of completing a three-month training programme at United Nations
Headquarters in New York held from 12 September to 2 December, aimed at
familiarizing themselves with various aspects of the work of the Secretariat and
other United Nations organs and bodies, including the General Assembly, the
Security Council and the Economic and Social Council.
8. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
69. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
on 29 November 2011 at Headquarters in New York, and at the United Nations
Offices at Geneva and Vienna. On the occasion of the observance at Headquarters,
in addition to a special meeting of the Committee and other activities, a cultural
exhibit entitled “A Palestinian Vista” was organized under the auspices of the
Committee, in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the
United Nations and the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat. The
Committee noted with appreciation that the International Day of Solidarity had also
been observed by United Nations information centres and other bodies in many
cities throughout the world. Details on the observance are contained in the special
bulletin issued by the Division.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 66/16
70. The Department of Public Information, pursuant to General Assembly
resolution 66/16, continued to implement its special information programme on the
question of Palestine. In doing so, it strove to enhance dialogue and understanding,
while sensitizing public opinion to the question of Palestine and the Middle East
peace process.
71. The Department, in cooperation with the Federal Department of Foreign
Affairs of Switzerland, organized the 2012 International Media Seminar on Peace in
the Middle East in Geneva on 12 and 13 June 2012. The seminar, which brought
together journalists, bloggers, activists, film-makers, academics, policymakers and
diplomats from Palestine, Israel, the wider Middle East region, Europe and the
United States, as well as senior United Nations officials, examined the prospects for
peace approaching the twentieth anniversary of the Oslo Accords; how the Arab
Spring has affected media coverage of the question of Palestine; the role of women’s
activism and the media in Israeli-Palestinian peace and the wider region; civil
society in media and film in the Middle East; and youth activism in the Middle East.
The event, which had the largest number of female participants in its history, was
promoted extensively across online platforms, including Tumblr and Twitter.
72. To mark the 2011 observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People on 29 November, the Department produced a revised and updated
permanent exhibit on the question of Palestine and the United Nations. The exhibit
has been translated by United Nations information centres around the world into
11 languages. In addition, the information centres widely disseminated the
Secretary-General’s message on the occasion of the Day in official and local
languages. Commemorative events, such as exhibits, film screenings and panel
discussions, were organized in Brussels, Geneva, Harare, Manama, Moscow and
Pretoria, among others.
73. The Department’s annual training programme for Palestinian journalists was
held at United Nations Headquarters from 31 October to 2 December 2011. Nine
Palestinian journalists working mainly in broadcast media attended the programme,
which included a visit to Washington, D.C. The programme’s primary focus was
strengthening the participants’ capacity as broadcast media professionals.
74. During the reporting period, the Department also used all of its information
outlets and products, including digital media platforms, to highlight the broad range
of developments and issues related to the question of Palestine and the Middle East
peace process. The multilingual United Nations News Centre portal covered the
issue extensively, with its English and French language versions alone carrying
more than 200 related stories. The Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish versions of
the United Nations News Centre provided further coverage. The Department also
produced 110 press releases on the question of Palestine in English and French,
which included summaries of formal meetings and press conferences, as well as
statements by the Secretary-General and other United Nations officials. United
Nations Webcast provided live coverage of major discussions concerning the
question of Palestine, including meetings of the Security Council and the General
Assembly.
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75. United Nations Radio, which is available in all the official languages, as well
as in Kiswahili and Portuguese, provided regular coverage of issues and events
pertaining to the question of Palestine, including news reports on the Palestinian
Rights Committee and on the plight of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, and the
ongoing work of UNRWA. United Nations Radio also highlighted the engagement
by other United Nations entities, such as the Human Rights Council and UNESCO.
76. United Nations TV provided extensive coverage through its live broadcasts
and feature programmes, which were distributed and broadcast via a variety of
means and platforms, including United Nations Webcast, the United Nations
audiovisual broadcasting services (UNifeed) satellite distribution system and United
Nations programming on the Time Warner cable network. Related feature stories,
such as the Secretary-General’s visit to the region in February 2012, the UNESCO
vote on Palestinian membership in October 2011, and the Gaza marathon in March
2012, were also produced and widely distributed.
77. During the reporting period, three other groups of visitors were briefed on the
question of Palestine and the Middle East peace process (two high school groups,
with a total of 65 students, and one college group, with a total of 22 students). In
addition, the United Nations public inquiries team responded to 1,272 inquiries
relating to the Middle East peace process.
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
78. Throughout the reporting period, the Committee continued to work for
the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including
their right to self-determination, and a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict in all its aspects, resulting in an end to the occupation and
the independence of a sovereign, viable, contiguous and democratic Palestinian
State based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and a just
solution for the Palestine refugees based on General Assembly resolution 194
(III). It urged the international community to continue its support for the
Middle East peace process, promoted international action against obstacles in
its path, particularly the ongoing illegal Israeli settlement campaign, and
engaged with diverse constituencies in support of peace, such as women and
youth. It continued to mobilize international assistance to the Palestinians,
while bringing to light the economic costs of the Israeli occupation which
constrain Palestinian economic, social and institutional development. The
Committee raised international alarm about the plight of the Palestinian
prisoners and called for their release and an end to abusive practices by Israel,
including administrative detentions.
79. The reporting period marked the one-year anniversary of the
23 September 2011 submission of the application for United Nations
membership by Palestine, and the adoption by the Quartet of a timetable for
the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, with a view to reaching an
agreement by the end of 2012. The Committee is concerned that the positive
momentum towards the two-State solution generated by these developments
appears to have dissipated, while other crises have competed for international
attention. The Committee remains convinced that a durable settlement of the
conflict is a prerequisite for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. It is of
the view that progress on the Palestinian status at the United Nations will
generate a new dynamic in the peace process and help safeguard the two-State
solution, as would the recognition of the State of Palestine by additional
Member States. The Committee regrets that the series of “exploratory”
meetings between the parties held in Amman in January 2012, and subsequent
contacts, have not yet resulted in resumed negotiations. The main reason
remains the continuation and expansion by Israel of its illegal settlements in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and its refusal to
commit to the long-standing parameters of the peace process based on relevant
United Nations resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, including the
principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet road
map. The international community needs to maintain its focus on the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict, uphold its legal obligations in that regard, and present bold
initiatives to break the current deadlock. The Committee shares the concern
that any attempts to maintain the status quo will not only delay the two-State
solution, but may also usher in a one-State reality with unpredictable
consequences. The Committee calls upon the international community to take
serious and concrete action which would compel Israel to stop its illegal
settlement activities and to genuinely commit to ending its 45-year military
occupation and to making peace. The dispatch of a fact-finding mission by the
Human Rights Council is a welcome first step towards accountability. The
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Committee joins in the calls upon the Security Council members to undertake a
mission to the region to examine the situation first-hand and to uphold its
duties under the Charter of the United Nations to contribute tangibly to the
efforts to advance a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict and the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole and to the
establishment of peace and security in the Middle East region.
80. The Committee has consistently supported the Palestinian State-building
and reform agenda. It is concerned that its accomplishments are now
endangered, owing to the debilitating financial crisis experienced by the
Palestinian Authority, and it calls upon donors to meet their prior commitments
and to provide emergency aid to buttress the two-State solution. Progress
towards that goal also requires all Palestinian factions to unite behind the
legitimate leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas. The Committee urges the
speedy implementation, in good faith, of national reconciliation agreements.
81. The Committee remained deeply concerned about the ongoing violence
and gross violations of humanitarian and human rights law. It reiterates its
condemnation of all attacks against civilians, including rocket fire from Gaza,
air strikes on populated areas, and settler violence and calls upon the Security
Council and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
act urgently to guarantee the protection of civilians.
82. As the Gaza blockade reached its five-year mark, the Committee was
greatly alarmed by the conclusions of a recent United Nations study that the
damage to its economy, infrastructure and resources is becoming irreversible,
thus threatening Gaza’s future viability. The Committee remains convinced
that any sustainable recovery would require a complete lifting of the blockade
by Israel. It would also require the dismantlement of the Israeli occupation and
its associated regime of settlements, checkpoints, the separation wall,
demolitions, land confiscations and expulsions, which have been on the rise,
with the worst abuses occurring in East Jerusalem and in Area C. The
Committee calls in this regard for the transfer of additional territories in
Area C to the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, as envisaged in the Oslo
Accords.
83. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights will continue
through their mandated activities to generate heightened international
awareness of the question of Palestine, as well as international support for the
rights of the Palestinian people and the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine. In this connection, the Committee emphasizes the useful and
constructive contribution of the Division in support of its mandate aimed at
enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights. It notes with
satisfaction: (a) the sustained level of dialogue, engagement and support on the
part of the international community for the programme’s objectives, as
evidenced by the number of adopted resolutions, international meetings and
conferences, and commemorations of the International Day of Solidarity with
the Palestinian People; (b) the continued involvement of civil society
organizations in support of the efforts of the Committee and the United Nations
towards a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of
Palestine, as evidenced by the number of civil society conferences, public
forums, meetings and consultations between the Committee and civil society
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organizations; and (c) an increase in international awareness of the United
Nations policies and activities on the question of Palestine, as evidenced by the
increased access to the United Nations Information System on the Question of
Palestine (UNISPAL) and other information materials on the Question of
Palestine website. The Committee also considers that the annual training
programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority carried out by the Division
has proved its usefulness, as it directly contributes to Palestinian capacitybuilding
efforts. The Committee strongly recommends that that important
mandated activity be continued and, where possible, further enhanced.
84. The Committee will focus its programme of international meetings and
conferences in 2013, implemented by the Division, on widening international
support for the achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people
to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty, and to return to
their homes and property. The programme will also focus on strengthening
international support for the permanent status negotiations and contributing to
the creation of a favourable international atmosphere for their conduct in good
faith. The Committee intends to mobilize increased international scrutiny of the
developments on the ground, in particular the halting of all settlement activities
in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and an end to all other illegal Israeli
policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It will support
global campaigns to challenge Israeli impunity and promote the concept of
Israeli accountability for its actions towards the Palestinian people.
85. The Committee will continue to pay special attention to highlighting the
plight of the most disadvantaged Palestinians, such as refugees, those living in
Gaza and political prisoners. The Committee will continue to mobilize support
for Palestinian institution-building and all other efforts to facilitate the viability
of the Palestinian State. It will reach out to and engage Governments,
parliamentarians and civil society to mobilize support for a just solution to all
permanent status issues. The Committee wishes to contribute to efforts towards
ending incitement on both sides, provide a venue to have the narratives heard
and reconciled and, with the help of civil society, to promote peace education. It
will pay particular attention to the inclusion and empowerment of women and
youth and their organizations in this process. The Committee also wishes to
work towards Palestinian reconciliation and will strive to involve Palestinians
from different ends of the political spectrum in its events.
86. The Committee highly values civil society initiatives in support of the
Palestinian people and welcomes the growing calls from civil society groups for
peaceful protests against the status quo. It lauds the courageous advocacy
actions of countless activists, including eminent personalities and
parliamentarians, who participate in demonstrations against the wall, try to
break the siege of Gaza and keep their home constituencies informed about the
harsh realities of life under occupation. The Committee also recognizes the
sacrifices made by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have risked their
lives to help to bring an end to illegal Israeli policies, including that of
administrative detention. The Committee encourages civil society partners to
work with their national Governments, parliamentarians and other institutions,
with a view to gaining their full support for the work of the United Nations,
including that of the Committee, on the question of Palestine. It will continue to
assess its programme of cooperation with civil society and consult them on ways
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to enhance their contribution. The Committee appreciates the support it
receives from the Secretariat in strengthening cooperation with civil society.
87. The Committee looks forward to further developing its cooperation with
parliamentarians and their umbrella organizations. Parliamentarians have a
special responsibility to ensure that their Governments actively promote and
support the realization of the two-State solution and ensure respect for
international law, in accordance with their international obligations.
88. The Committee requests the Division to continue its substantive and
secretariat support, the programme of research, monitoring and publications
and other informational activities. It should pay special attention to continued
development of the “Question of Palestine” portal and use of web-based social
information networks, such as Facebook and Twitter. It should also continue to
develop the UNISPAL document collection by reflecting the issue of the hour
and enhancing subject-based search capability, as well as by continuing to
digitize and upload historic documents and to develop user-friendly search
features, such as the French titles project. The Division should continue to
collaborate with the United Nations Libraries at Headquarters and at Geneva
in the search for historic documents. It should further develop the annual
training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority, paying special
attention to the programme’s gender balance and reviewing logistics to allow
the maximum number of participants possible. It should continue to organize
the annual observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People.
89. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and public opinion of the
relevant issues. It requests the continuation of the programme, with the
necessary flexibility warranted by developments relevant to the question of
Palestine.
90. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, and in view of the many
difficulties facing the Palestinian people and besetting the peace process, the
Committee calls upon all States to join it in this endeavour and to extend their
cooperation and support to the Committee, and invites the General Assembly
again to recognize the importance of its role and to reconfirm its mandate.
12-53858 (E) 221012
*1253858*
A/68/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-eighth Session
Supplement No. 35
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-eighth Session
Supplement No. 35
United Nations • New York, 2013
A/68/35
A/68/35
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations
document.
ISSN 0255-2035
iii
[7 October 2013]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 67/20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance
with General Assembly resolutions 67/20 and 67/21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 67/22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
iv
Letter of transmittal
[7 October 2013]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 2 of its resolution 67/20 of
30 November 2012.
The report covers the period from 7 October 2012 to 6 October 2013.
(Signed) Abdou Salam Diallo
Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The reporting period witnessed a historic vote by the General Assembly on
29 November 2012 that granted Palestine non-member observer State status at the
United Nations. Its adoption reflected the international consensus on the right of the
Palestinian people to self-determination and to freedom in their own sovereign State
and consensus on the two-State solution, based on the pre-1967 borders and relevant
United Nations resolutions, as well as the growing international impatience with the
long-standing Israeli occupation and the growing sense of urgency to achieve a just
and peaceful solution to the conflict.
2. The Government of Israel reacted negatively to the General Assembly vote by
declaring plans to construct thousands of new settlement units, in breach of
international law and United Nations resolutions, and by withholding the transfer of
Palestinian tax and customs revenues, in violation of agreements reached. Israel
continued to announce and approve settlement construction plans even after the
resumption of peace talks was announced in July after months of mediation by the
United States.
3. Two weeks before the General Assembly vote, Israel launched a large-scale,
eight-day military offensive in the Gaza Strip, in which 165 Palestinians were killed,
more than half of them civilians, and some 1,400 were injured, including many
children. Six Israelis, including three civilians, were killed as a result of rocket fire.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remained critical, with high rates of poverty and
unemployment. The long-standing restrictions on the movement of people and
goods, imposed by Israel since 2007 in the form of a blockade, continued to
undermine the living conditions of the 1.7 million Palestinians in Gaza.
Reconstruction and rehabilitation also continued to be hampered by the blockade.
Rocket and mortar fire by armed Palestinian groups into southern Israel also
continued, endangering the lives of the Israeli population.
4. Israel continued its frequent military raids and incursions in the West Bank,
resulting in the killing and injuring of Palestinians, including children. While
overshadowed by reports of the release of some Palestinian prisoners by Israel as
part of a goodwill gesture, at least 3,583 Palestinians, including women and
children, were arrested in over 3,000 arrest operations during the reporting period
alone, in addition to the thousands of Palestinians that remain in Israeli jails and
detention centres. Many unarmed civilians were subjected to the excessive use of
force by the Israeli occupying forces during demonstrations against the occupation.
Israel continued to expand its illegal settlements in the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, and approved thousands more new settlement units. The construction of
the separation wall continued in defiance of the International Court of Justice
advisory opinion (2004), resulting in further confiscation of Palestinian land and
demolition of properties, further harming socioeconomic conditions and causing the
displacement of more Palestinian families. The situation in Occupied East Jerusalem
remained alarming, with continued land confiscations, house demolitions and
evictions of Palestinian residents, and the intensification of acts of aggression and
vandalism against Christian and Muslim holy sites in the City.
5. The Palestinian State-building efforts continued to be challenged by a serious
budget deficit as well as by restrictions and obstacles imposed by Israel on the
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Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which continued to
prevent the normal movement of persons and goods, economic activity and
sustained development and growth. In addition, a decrease in foreign aid and the
failure of donor countries to fulfil their financial pledges contributed to the dire
situation.
6. During the reporting period, the activities of the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and its Bureau focused on
mobilizing wide support for ending the Israeli occupation and realizing the two-
State solution, in order for the Palestinian people to achieve its inalienable rights,
including the right to self-determination. In that context, the Committee welcomed
the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in August with the active mediation
of the United States. The Committee monitored the situation on the ground and the
political developments, implemented its programme of international meetings and
conferences, held consultations with representatives of Governments, national
parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations, as well as civil society, and
reached out to its partners worldwide using new communications media. The
Committee reiterated its position of principle that a permanent settlement of the
question of Palestine could be reached only by ending the occupation that began in
1967, achieving the independence of the State of Palestine on the basis of the
pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and achieving a just and agreed
solution to the Palestine refugees issue on the basis of General Assembly
resolution 194 (III).
7. The annual seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people, organized by the
Committee in Rome in February 2013, addressed the challenges and opportunities of
developing a self-sustaining economy in the new reality of a State under occupation.
The seminar was followed in April by a regional meeting in Addis Ababa that
focused on African solidarity with the Palestinian people for the achievement of the
sovereignty and independence of the State of Palestine. An international meeting
held in Beijing in June focused on reviving collective international engagement
towards a two-State solution.
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Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
8. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as recognized by the
Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
9. The recommendations made by the Committee in its first report to the General
Assembly (A/31/35) were endorsed by the Assembly as a basis for the solution of
the question of Palestine. In its subsequent reports,1 the Committee has continued to
stress that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, must be based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions, including Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), as
well as on the following essential principles: the withdrawal of Israel, the occupying
Power, from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
and from the other occupied Arab territories; respect for the right of all States in the
region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized boundaries; and
the recognition and exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The
recommendations of the Committee contained in its first report could not be
implemented, and each year the Assembly has renewed the Committee’s mandate
and requested it to intensify efforts in pursuit of its objectives.
10. The Committee has consistently supported the objective of two States, Israel
and Palestine, living side by side within secure and recognized borders on the basis
of the 1949 armistice lines, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions,
including Security Council resolutions 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003). The
Committee welcomed and supported the Quartet’s road map and called upon the
parties to implement it. In keeping with its mandate, the Committee has continued to
work towards creating conditions for the successful conduct of negotiations on a
permanent settlement allowing the Palestinian people to realize its inalienable
rights. The Committee has also promoted support and assistance by the international
community to the Palestinian people.
11. On 30 November 2012, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
(resolution 67/20), requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the
Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources to
carry out its programme of work (resolution 67/21) and requested the continuation
of the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the
Department of Public Information of the Secretariat (resolution 67/22). The
Assembly also adopted resolution 67/23, entitled “Peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine”.
__________________
1 Since the thirty-first session, the Committee has submitted annual reports to the General
Assembly; all such reports have been issued as supplement No. 35 of the sessional documentation
of the Assembly.
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Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
12. During the reporting period, the Plurinational State of Bolivia joined the
Committee as a new member on 22 August 2013.
13. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador, Guinea, Guyana,
India, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia,
Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South
Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
14. The observers at the Committee meetings are: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria,
China, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates,
Viet Nam and Yemen, as well as the State of Palestine, the African Union, the
League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
15. At its 348th meeting, on 5 February 2013, the Committee elected Abdou Salam
Diallo (Senegal) as Chair, Zahir Tanin (Afghanistan) and Rodolfo Reyes Rodríguez
(Cuba) as Vice-Chairs and Christopher Grima (Malta) as Rapporteur. At its 354th
meeting, on 4 October 2013, the Committee decided to elect three additional Vice-
Chairs to its Bureau: Desra Percaya (Indonesia), Wilfried Emvula (Namibia) and
María Rubiales de Chamorro (Nicaragua).
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
16. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all United Nations
Member States and observers wishing to participate in the work of the Committee
were welcome to do so. In accordance with established practice, the State of
Palestine participated in the work of the Committee as an observer, attended all of
its meetings and made briefings, observations and proposals for consideration by the
Committee and its Bureau.
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Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
Political developments
17. On 23 September 2011, President Mahmoud Abbas submitted to the Security
Council the application of the State of Palestine for admission to full membership in
the United Nations. With the application pending before the Council, the General
Assembly adopted resolution 67/19 on 29 November 2012, which accorded
Palestine non-member observer State status in the United Nations. The resolution
was adopted by a vote of 138 in favour to 9 against, with 41 abstentions. Israel
rejected the move and reacted immediately by deliberately announcing plans to
build over 3,000 settlement units, including in Occupied East Jerusalem, and
withholding the transfer of Palestinian tax and customs revenues collected on behalf
of Palestinians.
18. International efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks continued to be
thwarted by Israel’s continued expansion of illegal settlements and other illegal
measures, but after months of mediation by the United States, the Secretary of State,
John Kerry, announced, in Amman on 19 July 2013, that an agreement had been
reached that established a basis for resuming direct final status negotiations between
Palestinians and Israelis. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held a series of
preparatory meetings in Washington, D.C., on 29 and 30 July 2013, where they
agreed on an agenda towards achieving a final status agreement over the next nine
months. On 14 August, the first formal peace talks since September 2010 were held
in Jerusalem, hours after Israel, as part of a goodwill gesture to the Palestinians,
released 26 Palestinian prisoners who had been detained prior to the signing of the
Oslo Accords. The negotiators were to meet weekly thereafter, alternating between
Jerusalem and Jericho.
19. During the reporting period, Grenada, Guatemala and Haiti recognized the
State of Palestine and Guyana and El Salvador established diplomatic relations with
the State of Palestine. In addition, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania and Sweden
decided to upgrade the status of the Palestinian delegations in the countries to that
of an embassy or similar entity.
Settlements
20. Israel, the occupying Power, continued and intensified its illegal settlement
activity in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The Palestinian Central Bureau
of Statistics reported in August 2013 that, in 2012, the number of settlers in the 144
settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, had been 563,546 (360,370
in the West Bank and 203,176 in East Jerusalem), an increase of 24,765 compared
with 2011.
21. During the reporting period, the following were announced, approved or issued
by Israel: tenders for the construction of 72 housing units in the “Ariel” settlement
(6 November); the construction of nearly 700 new units in “Itamar” and other areas
near Nablus (12 November); the construction of 3,000 new units, including
preliminary zoning and planning work for thousands of units in East Jerusalem and
settlement blocks, including “Ma’ale Adumim” and the “E1” area (30 November);
tenders to build 92 units in “Ma’aleh Adumim” (11 December); an advanced plan to
build 523 units in “Gush Ezion” (19 December); the construction of 523 units in
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“Gva’ot” (20 December); plans for 170 new units and 84 units in “Rotem” in the
Jordan Valley (13 January 2013); tenders for the construction of 114 new units in
“Efrat” and 84 in “Kiryat Arba” (16 January); tenders for 128 units in “Beitar Illit”
(25 January); plans to build 346 units in “Gush Etzion” (31 January); the
construction of 200 new housing units in “Tekoa” and 146 in “Nokdim”
(2 February); plans to construct 90 new units in “Beit El” (11 February); 296 new
units in “Beit El” (8 May); plans to build more than 1,000 housing units in “Itamar”
and “Bruchin” (13 June); the construction of 732 units in “Modi’in Ilit” and 19 in
“Kfar Adumim” (17 July); the construction of 230 units in “Ma’on” (6 August);
tenders for the construction of 394 units in the West Bank (11 August). In addition,
Peace Now reported on 31 October that Israel had actively supported the
establishment of two new so-called settlement outposts, “Nahalei Tal” and “Tzofin
North”, for the first time since 2005. On 24 December, Israel upgraded a college in
the “Ariel” settlement to a university. On 7 January, Israel undertook measures to
“legalize” the “Rahim” settlement near Nablus after merging two outposts.
22. In Occupied East Jerusalem, the following were announced, approved or
issued: a plan to build 797 housing units west of the “Gilo” settlement (18 October
2012); tenders for the construction of 607 housing units in “Pisgat Ze’ev” and 606
in “Ramot” (6 November); the construction of 1,500 apartments in “Ramat Shlomo”
(17 December); the building of 2,612 units in “Givat Hamatos” (19 December); the
construction of 1,242 units in “Gilo” (25 December); the construction of an
additional 120 units in “Givat Ze’ev” (29 April 2013); the construction of 300 new
units in “Ramot” (30 May); the construction of 69 homes in the City (26 June);
tenders for the construction of 793 units in the City (11 August); a construction plan
for 942 housing units in “Gilo” (13 August). In addition, on 16 January, the
“Jerusalem Committee for Planning and Construction” approved the construction of
a new college for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) next to the Mount of Olives in
East Jerusalem. On 8 July, the same Committee approved the establishment of a new
national park in southern Jerusalem on Palestinian land.
23. The international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the
Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the
Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, appointed by the Human Rights Council and led by Christine Chanet,
Judge of the Court of Cassation of France and member of the Human Rights
Committee, published its findings on 31 January 2013 (A/HRC/22/63), stating that
numerous of the human rights of the Palestinian people were being violated owing
to the Israeli settlement campaign and stressing that the violations were interrelated
and formed part of an overall pattern of breaches characterized principally by the
denial of the right to self-determination and systematic discrimination against the
Palestinian people occurring daily. Since 1967, the Governments of Israel had
openly led, directly participated in, and had full control of the planning,
construction, development, consolidation and encouragement of the settlements and
private entities had enabled, facilitated and profited from the construction of the
settlements. The mission considered that, in relation to the settlements, Israel was
committing serious breaches of its obligations under the right to self-determination
and certain obligations under international humanitarian law, including the
obligation not to transfer its population into the occupied territory and that, in
compliance with article 49 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949 (Fourth Geneva Convention), Israel must
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cease all settlement activities without preconditions. It also stated that ratification
by the State of Palestine of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,
which establishes the jurisdiction of the Court over the deportation or transfer,
directly or indirectly, by the occupying Power of parts of its own population into the
territory it occupies, might lead to accountability for gross violations of human
rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law and justice for
victims.
24. On 19 July, the European Commission published new guidelines, effective
1 January 2014, prohibiting the funding of entities connected to the Israeli settlements
in the West Bank and East Jerusalem or the Golan Heights. The Commission is also
reportedly seeking to draft comprehensive guidelines on labelling settlement
products by the end of 2013. In addition, the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the
Netherlands issued a directive on 6 March to all retail chains in the country to state
the origin of products from the occupied territories.
Settler violence
25. Settler-related violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem continued to be a
source of serious concern. According to the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, there were at least 84 incidents leading to
Palestinian casualties and 228 incidents leading to damage to Palestinian property or
land during the reporting period (as of August 2013). In addition, there were at least
37 incidents leading to Israeli casualties and 8 incidents leading to damage to Israeli
property or land. The Office had recorded damage to 7,272 Palestinian-owned olive
trees and saplings by settlers in 2013 (as of July). In 2012, over 8,600 trees were
reported burned, uprooted or otherwise vandalized.
26. The Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din reported in July 2013 that
between 2005 and 2013, only 8.5 per cent of the investigations opened by Israeli
authorities following complaints submitted by Palestinians with the organization’s
assistance had resulted in the indictment of Israelis suspected of harming
Palestinians and their property. The international fact-finding mission noted in its
report (A/HRC/22/63) that the identities of settlers responsible for violence and
intimidation were known to the Israeli authorities, yet these acts continued with
impunity, and concluded that there was institutionalized discrimination against the
Palestinian people when it came to addressing violence.
Jerusalem
27. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel reported in May 2013 that 371,844
Palestinians constituted 39 per cent of the total population of Jerusalem. Some
79.5 per cent of residents and 85 per cent of children in East Jerusalem lived below
the poverty line, the worst rate of all time. There remained a chronic shortage of
more than 1,000 classrooms in East Jerusalem’s education system. Palestinians were
permitted to build on only 14 per cent of East Jerusalem. A third of Palestinian land
in East Jerusalem had been expropriated since 1967, and thousands of settlement
housing units had been built on it. Israel’s building of the separation wall, the
closing of passage points and the implementation of a strict “entry permit” regime
had effectively cut off East Jerusalem from the West Bank, exacerbating the already
dire economic and social condition of Palestinian residents. In 2012, Israel had
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revoked the residency status of 116 Palestinians from Jerusalem. Since 1967, the
residency status of 14,263 Palestinians had been revoked and rescinded by Israel.
Area C
28. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
approximately 150,000 Palestinians live in 542 communities in “Area C”,
constituting over 60 per cent of the West Bank, where Israel retains near exclusive
control under the Oslo Accords with a complex system of physical and
administrative measures. Some 325,000 Israeli settlers live in some 135 settlements
and about 100 outposts in Area C. Palestinian construction in 29 per cent of Area C
is heavily restricted, and less than 1 per cent has been planned for Palestinian
development. In addition, 5,000 Palestinians reside in 38 communities located in
areas designated as “firing zones” for military training, increasing their vulnerability
and risk of displacement.
The wall
29. Israel continued the illegal construction of the wall in the Occupied West
Bank, including in and around Occupied East Jerusalem, in defiance of the advisory
opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004. The Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported in July 2013 that the wall’s total
length was approximately 712 km, more than twice the length of the 1949 Armistice
Line (Green Line) between the West Bank and Israel. Approximately 62 per cent of
the wall was complete. If completed as planned, some 85 per cent of the route would
run inside the West Bank, rather than along the Green Line, isolating 9.4 per cent of
the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Around 11,000 Palestinians living in
32 communities located between the wall and the Green Line depend on the granting
of Israeli permits or special arrangements to live in their own homes. Approximately
150 Palestinian communities have land located behind the wall, forcing residents to
seek special permits or “prior coordination” with the Israeli authorities to access it.
Demolitions and displacements
30. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Israel
carried out the demolition of at least 594 Palestinian-owned structures during the
reporting period, displacing at least 924 people (as at 30 September). There was a
significant rise in demolitions and displacement in East Jerusalem, and, as of August
2013, the number of people displaced in the City in 2013 was greater than 250, more
than the combined total of persons displaced in all of 2011 and 2012. The entire Bir
Nabala Bedouin community in East Jerusalem was demolished in August, displacing
39 people, including 18 children, on the grounds that the residential and livelihood
structures lacked building permits issued by Israel.
Security
31. On 14 November 2012, Israel launched a large-scale military offensive,
“Operation Pillar of Defence”, in the Gaza Strip, with the targeted assassination of
the acting chief of the military wing of Hamas. Palestinian armed groups responded
by firing rockets into Israel, and the hostilities lasted until 21 November, when a
ceasefire agreement was reached. According to the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs, during the eight days of hostilities, Israel targeted more than
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1,500 sites throughout the Gaza Strip and 165 Palestinians were killed, of whom 99
were believed to be civilians, including 33 children and 13 women. The Gaza
Ministry of Health reported that 1,399 Palestinians had been injured, the majority of
whom were believed to be civilians. During the same period, Palestinian armed
factions fired 1,506 rockets towards Israel, according to IDF, and six Israelis,
including three civilians, were killed as a result of the rocket attacks and 224 others
were injured, the vast majority of whom were reportedly civilians.
32. Overall, Israeli forces killed at least 196 Palestinians and injured more than
1,600 in the Gaza Strip during the reporting period (as at 30 September) in incidents
involving air strikes and the enforcement of access restrictions near the border fence.
In addition, 3 Palestinians, including 2 children, were killed and 24 Palestinians,
including 19 children, were injured in incidents involving unexploded ordnance.
33. In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces continued to conduct routine
military raids and arrests. During the reporting period (as at 30 September),
20 Palestinians were killed and more than 4,200 injured by Israeli forces in the West
Bank and East Jerusalem, including during clashes with demonstrators. Israeli
forces arrested at least 3,583 Palestinians in more than 3,000 search-and-arrest
operations.
34. Palestinian civilians engaged in demonstrations against the occupation
continued to be killed and injured by the excessive use of force by Israel, including
live ammunition and rubber-coated bullets. The Israeli human rights organization
B’Tselem, in a report issued in July 2013 on the routine use by the Israeli army of
rubber-coated metal bullets as a means of dispersing demonstrations in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, stated that since 2000, at least 19 Palestinians, including
12 minors, had been killed by such bullets. It also stated that Israeli security forces
made routine use of other crowd-control weapons, such as tear gas, stun grenades,
water cannons and pepper spray, in unlawful and dangerous ways, with minimal
accountability to prevent the recurrence of such conduct.
Gaza Strip
35. The long-standing restrictions on the movement of people and goods to, from
and within the Gaza Strip continued to undermine the living conditions of its
1.7 million Palestinian residents. According to a report released by the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in July 2013, 57 per cent of Gaza households
are food-insecure and about 80 per cent are aid recipients, 34.5 per cent of those
able and willing to work are unemployed. A long-standing electricity deficit and
shortages in fuel result in power outages of up to 12 hours per day. More than
12,000 people are currently displaced owing to their inability to reconstruct their
homes that were destroyed during hostilities. Since 2007, at least 230 Palestinian
civilians have been killed and over 400 injured while working in tunnels used for
the transfer of restricted goods between Gaza and Egypt. During the reporting
period, 15 people were killed and 20 injured in tunnel-related incidents (as of
August).
36. Fewer than 200 people per day (on average) were allowed out of Gaza by way
of Israel in the first half of 2013, compared with 26,000 in the equivalent period in
2000. Less than one truckload of goods per day (on average) exited Gaza in the first
half of 2013, compared with 38 during the first half of 2007 (before the imposition
of the blockade). Access to land within 300 m from the fence erected by Israel
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surrounding Gaza is generally prohibited, and access to farming areas several
hundred metres beyond is dangerous. Palestinian fishermen are allowed to access
less than one third of the fishing areas allocated to them under the Oslo Accords
(6 of 20 nautical miles) and are denied access to the most profitable fishing areas off
the Gaza coast. The livelihoods of thousands of families have been impacted by the
access restrictions: from 2000 to 2013, the number of fishermen declined from
around 10,000 to only 3,500, some 95 per cent of whom rely on international aid.
Water
37. Israel, the occupying Power, retains almost exclusive control over all
underground and surface water resources, the construction of new wells and cisterns
and the upgrading of existing wells and other water infrastructure in the West Bank.
According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
approximately 1 million Palestinians in 492 communities in the West Bank access or
consume 60 litres of water per capita per day or less, significantly below the World
Health Organization recommendation of 100 litres per capita per day. In addition, an
estimated 313,000 Palestinians from 113 communities are not connected to a water
network, which translates into enormous costs related to water purchase. Israeli
settlers in the West Bank consume approximately six times the water consumed by
Palestinians. In some cases, the discrepancies are even wider: the Dead Sea
settlements of “Mitzpe Shalem” and “Qalya” consume approximately 700 litres per
capita per day, while the neighbouring Palestinian village of Al-Jiftlik has access to
only 66 litres per capita per day and the Palestinian villages of Al-Nuwei’ma and
Al-Hadidiya are at humanitarian crisis levels with 24 and 22 litres per capita per
day, respectively.
38. In Gaza, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
only a quarter of households receive running water every day, but only during
several hours, and over 90 per cent of the water extracted from the Gaza aquifer is
unsafe for human consumption. Some 90 million litres of untreated and partially
treated sewage are dumped in the sea off the Gaza coast each day, creating public
health hazards.
Women and children
39. In March 2013, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reported that,
despite a rise in female participation in the labour force over the past 10 years, the
participation rate remained low at 17.4 per cent in 2012, compared with 10.3 per
cent in 2001. The female unemployment rate increased to 32.9 per cent in 2012
compared with 13.8 per cent in 2001. In 2012 in the West Bank, 20.7 per cent of
local council members were female and 40.6 per cent of public sector employees
were female.
40. In a report issued in March 2013, the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) stated that the ill-treatment of Palestinian children in the Israeli military
detention system appeared to be widespread, systematic and institutionalized. The
pattern of ill-treatment includes the arrests of children at their homes between
midnight and 5 a.m. by heavily armed soldiers; the practice of blindfolding children
and tying their hands with plastic ties; physical and verbal abuse during transfer to
an interrogation site, including the use of painful restraints; the lack of access to
water, food, toilet facilities and medical care; interrogation using physical violence
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and threats; coerced confessions; and the lack of access to lawyers or family
members during interrogation. Treatment inconsistent with child rights continues
during court appearances, including the shackling of children; the denial of bail and
imposition of custodial sentences; and the transfer of children outside the Occupied
Palestinian Territory to serve their sentences inside Israel. The incarceration isolates
them from their families and interrupts their studies. UNICEF stated that these
practices were in violation of international law that protects all children against illtreatment
when in contact with law enforcement, military and judicial institutions.
Prisoners
41. The Committee continued to monitor with serious concern the conditions of
the Palestinian prisoners held by Israel in jails and detention centres in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory and in Israel. On 22 February, a 30-year-old Palestinian gas
station attendant, Arafat Jaradat, died while undergoing interrogation in an Israeli
facility, days after his arrest by IDF. The Palestinian Ministry for Prisoners’ Affairs
reported that he had been tortured savagely and subjected to psychological pressure
on suspicion that he had thrown stones at Israeli troops. Israeli officials claimed that
he had died of cardiac arrest. The United Nations called for an international,
independent investigation into his death, but that has not been implemented.
42. The Palestinian organization Addameer reported in June 2013 that, since 1967,
73 Palestinian detainees had died from torture at the hands of Israeli interrogators.
According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at the end of
July 2013, 4,828 Palestinian security detainees and prisoners were being held in
Israeli prisons, including 134 administrative detainees, 193 minors and 11 women.
43. On 28 July, the Israeli Cabinet, with a view to facilitating the resumption of
Israeli-Palestinian talks, voted to approve the release of 104 Palestinian prisoners
who had been held for more than 20 years. On 14 August, Israel released 26 of the
prisoners, hours before the first round of formal peace talks were held in Jerusalem.
Palestinian State-building
44. On 20 October 2012, the first municipal elections since 2005 were
successfully held in the West Bank. Elections in the Gaza Strip did not take place,
since Hamas authorities did not allow the Central Elections Commission to carry out
voter registration and related electoral preparations. In February, Hamas allowed the
Commission to conduct registration in Gaza for eventual national elections, but
Israel banned the transfer of registration forms from Gaza to Ramallah. The
Commission used scanners to digitally transfer the data, and the Head of the
Commission handed the updated voter register to President Abbas on 12 April and
informed him that the Commission was technically ready to organize any election
once it was so decided. On 6 June, following the resignation of the Prime Minister,
Salam Fayyad, a new Palestinian Cabinet was sworn in under the leadership of the
newly appointed Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah, to carry on the administration of
the State’s affairs until a national consensus government was formed. Meanwhile, a
series of reconciliation meetings between Fatah and Hamas, mediated by Egypt, did
not yield tangible results.
45. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
reported in September 2013 that, with the persistence of Israeli restrictions on
mobility in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, gross domestic product had
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decelerated and poverty and unemployment had increased in 2012. The Palestinian
fiscal crisis had deepened, owing to less aid and the withholding of Palestinian
revenue by Israel. The crisis was exacerbated by the leakage of Palestinian fiscal
revenues from smuggling and lost tax on imports from Israel, estimated at
$300 million annually.
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
46. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East (UNRWA) continued to provide extensive services and emergency
assistance to the Palestine refugees in all its fields of operations in Jordan, Lebanon,
the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Agency
continued to experience a grave and recurrent financial crisis, which threatened its
ability to sustain its services, continue its emergency assistance programmes and
complete essential projects, such as the reconstruction of the Nahr El Bared camp in
Lebanon. In the light of the escalating conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, the
Agency is particularly concerned about the more than 500,000 Palestine refugees
who have lived in the Syrian Arab Republic for decades. As of July 2013, more than
two thirds of the community had been displaced, with approximately 235,000 persons
displaced inside the Syrian Arab Republic, 92,000 displaced persons in Lebanon and
over 8,000 displaced persons in Jordan. As the conflict has become increasingly
violent and indiscriminate, it has exacted a heavy toll on Palestine refugees, with
most of the 12 Palestine refugee camps in the Syrian Arab Republic being severely
affected.
47. While the Government of Israel undertook some measures to ease the
movement of goods into and out of the Gaza Strip, the blockade persisted and those
measures fell well short of the level required to meet the needs of the Palestine
refugee population and the Agency’s reconstruction requirements, or to ensure the
revival of the economy which would reduce the dependency on UNRWA services.
The Committee again expresses its appreciation for the dedication of UNRWA and
its entire staff to its mission and calls upon all donors to increase contributions,
particularly in the light of prevailing crises and needs, to ensure the continuity of
needed services and the well-being of approximately 5 million registered Palestine
refugees under the mandate of the Agency.
United Nations Development Programme/Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs
48. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through its Programme
of Assistance to the Palestinian People, continued to respond to the development
needs in the State of Palestine. In support of the Palestinian Authority’s National
Development Plan and Statehood Agenda, UNDP proceeded with the implementation
of its consolidated plan, “Development for Freedom: Empowered Lives, a Resilient
Nation 2012-2014”. The three-year plan focuses on democratic governance and the
rule of law, economic empowerment and private sector investment, environment and
management of natural resources, as well as public and social infrastructure. In
support of Palestinian statehood, the UNDP plan places empowerment, resilience
and sustainability at the centre of its operation and focuses on three priority areas:
the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and Area C, where the needs are the greatest.
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49. The Committee also remained appreciative of the important work of the Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
It noted that the consolidated appeal for 2013 focused on delivering humanitarian
assistance, increased protection of civilians, enhanced monitoring and reporting on
the humanitarian situation and the strengthening of United Nations humanitarian
coordination structures.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 67/20
1. Action taken in the Security Council
50. During the reporting period, the Security Council continued to monitor the
situation on the ground and the efforts to resume Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. It
held monthly briefings throughout the year under the agenda item entitled “The
situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”.
51. During the open debates at the Council held on 15 October 2012, 23 January,
24 April and 23 July 2013, the Chair of the Committee delivered statements (see
S/PV.6847, Resumption 1; S/PV.6906, Resumption 1; S/PV.6950, Resumption 1;
S/PV.7007).
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee
52. On 16 November 2012, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on the
deadly military attacks by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Gaza Strip
(GA/PAL/1247). On 6 December, the Bureau issued a statement on Israel’s illegal
settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem
(GA/PAL/1252). Furthermore, on 16 April 2013, the Bureau issued a statement on
the plight of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel (GA/PAL/1263).
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 67/20
and 67/21
1. Committee meetings at Headquarters
53. At its periodic meetings at Headquarters in New York, the Committee, among
other things, was briefed on recent developments by the Chief Palestinian
Negotiator, Saeb Erakat, and organized a screening of a documentary film on the life
of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Also, the Committee was briefed by
members of the jury of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine on the outcome of its
session held in New York in October 2012.
2. Committee meeting outside Headquarters
54. At the invitation of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,
the Committee convened a special meeting in Caracas on 17 and 18 April 2013 to
discuss the implications of General Assembly resolution 67/19 and initiatives to
promote worldwide and regional solidarity with the Palestinian people. The meeting
was opened by the Chair of the Committee, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the
State of Palestine, Riad Al Malki, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Elías Jaua Milano. The meeting adopted a
declaration and a comprehensive programme of action in support of the Palestinian
people and their rights and legitimate national aspirations.
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3. Programme of international meetings and conferences
55. In the period under review, the following international events were held under
the auspices of the Committee in 2013:
(a) United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, FAO
headquarters, Rome, 27 and 28 February, on the challenges and opportunities in the
new reality of a State under occupation;
(b) United Nations Meeting of Consultations with Civil Society Organizations
active on the Question of Palestine, FAO headquarters, Rome, 1 March;
(c) United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine,
United Nations Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, 29 and 30 April, on African
solidarity with the Palestinian people;
(d) United Nations International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian
Peace, Beijing, 18 and 19 June, on collective international engagement towards a
two-State solution.
56. The above-mentioned events were attended by representatives of Governments,
intergovernmental organizations and United Nations system entities, as well as
parliamentarians and representatives of civil society and the media. Detailed
information about the meetings is being issued as publications of the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat and available on the “Question of Palestine”
website maintained by the Division.
57. In connection with the above-mentioned events, the Committee delegation
held meetings with senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy on the
margins of the seminar held in Rome. In Beijing, the Committee delegation met
with high-level officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, including the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, and the Middle East Envoy, Wu Sike.
4. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations
58. Throughout the year, the Committee continued its cooperation with the African
Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Committee is
appreciative of the active participation of their representatives in the various
international events held under its auspices.
5. Cooperation with civil society
Civil society organizations
59. The Committee continued its cooperation with civil society organizations
worldwide. Representatives of civil society participated in all meetings organized
under the auspices of the Committee, including the observance of the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November 2012. The meetings
provided civil society representatives with an opportunity to discuss the situation on
the ground and their programmes in support of the Palestinian people and to further
advance the coordination of their activities. The Committee was appreciative of the
work done by civil society organizations and encouraged them to continue
contributing to efforts aimed at realizing a two-State solution.
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60. The Committee has reactivated its Working Group and mandated it to
implement the Committee’s programme of cooperation with civil society. The Chair
of the Working Group is the representative of Malta.
61. During the reporting period, eight civil society organizations were accredited
to the Committee.
62. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained a civil society page
(http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/ngo.htm) on the “Question of Palestine” website as
a tool for the exchange of information and networking and for cooperation between
civil society and the Committee.
63. The Division maintained a Facebook page to disseminate information about
the work of the Committee, and the United Nations as a whole, on the question of
Palestine. In addition, the Division continued to publish the periodic online bulletin
NGO Action News, reaching out to more than 1,000 civil society organizations
around the world, in order to catalogue and publicize civil society initiatives.
Parliaments and interparliamentary organizations
64. The Committee continued to attach great importance to developing its liaison
with national and regional parliaments and their organizations. Representatives of
parliaments and interparliamentary organizations participated in international events
organized by the Committee during 2013. In particular, three Members of the
Palestinian Legislative Council, one Member of the Israeli Knesset and a former
Knesset Member participated as speakers in the international meeting held in Beijing.
6. Research, monitoring and publications
65. The Division carried out research and monitoring activities and responded to
requests for information and briefings on the question of Palestine. Under the
guidance of the Committee, which reiterated the relevance of the research,
monitoring and publications programme, it also prepared the publications listed
below for dissemination, including through the Internet:
(a) Monthly bulletin on action taken by the United Nations system and
intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of events relating to the question of Palestine based
on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of international meetings and conferences organized under the
auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletin and information notes on the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments related to the Middle East peace
process;
(f) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly
and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
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7. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
66. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and
library services of the United Nations Secretariat, continued to administer, maintain,
expand and develop the United Nations Information System on the Question of
Palestine (UNISPAL) and the “Question of Palestine” website. That included the
ongoing maintenance and upgrading of the technical components of the system to
ensure the uninterrupted presence of UNISPAL (http://unispal.un.org) on the
Internet and involved the expansion of the document collection to include relevant
new and old United Nations and related documents. In addition, steps continued to
be taken to enhance the user-friendliness and usefulness of UNISPAL, by creating a
focus page on the status of Palestine at the United Nations in the light of its
admission as a non-member observer State, continuing to provide titles to
documents in French and incorporating additional multimedia content. RSS and
Twitter feeds continued to alert users about newly posted materials.
8. Training programme for staff of the Government of the State of Palestine
67. The Division conducted the annual training programme for staff of the
Government of the State of Palestine. Two staff members of the Ministry of
National Economy participated in a three-week training programme at the United
Nations Office at Geneva during the sixtieth session of the Trade and Development
Board, from 16 September to 4 October 2013, where they familiarized themselves
with the work of UNCTAD, including on trade facilitation and foreign direct
investment. They also attended briefings on the work of other United Nations
entities, including the Human Rights Council, the World Health Organization and
the World Trade Organization. In addition, two staff members of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs are in the process of completing a three-month training programme
at United Nations Headquarters in New York held from 11 September to
27 November 2013, in order to familiarize themselves with various aspects of the
work of the Secretariat and other United Nations organs and bodies, including the
General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council.
9. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
68. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
on 29 November 2012 at Headquarters in New York and the United Nations Offices
at Geneva and Vienna. At Headquarters, in addition to a special meeting of the
Committee, an art exhibit entitled “Palestine: memories, dreams, perseverance” was
organized under the auspices of the Committee, in cooperation with the Permanent
Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations and the Department
of Public Information of the Secretariat. The Committee noted with appreciation
that the International Day of Solidarity had also been observed by United Nations
information centres and other bodies in many cities throughout the world. Details on
the observance are contained in the special bulletin issued by the Division.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 67/22
69. The Department of Public Information, pursuant to General Assembly
resolution 67/22, continued to implement its special information programme on the
question of Palestine. In doing so, it strove to enhance dialogue and understanding,
while sensitizing public opinion to the question of Palestine and the Middle East
peace process.
70. To mark the 2012 observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People on 29 November, the Department widely disseminated the
Secretary-General’s message in the six official languages, while the United Nations
information centres in several cities translated the message into the local languages
and posted it on their social media accounts. Commemorative events and activities
were organized at United Nations information centres around the world, with the
support of the Department.
71. The Department’s annual training programme for Palestinian journalists held
at United Nations Headquarters from 5 November to 7 December 2012 focused, for
the first time, on online journalism and digital media. Four male and four female
journalists were selected to attend from the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East
Jerusalem. The group was briefed by senior United Nations officials and attended
meetings of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People and the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth
Committee). They also met with leaders of the digital media industry from Google,
Twitter, Tumblr, the Huffington Post, the British Broadcasting Corporation,
Al Jazeera and Reuters, among others.
72. The Department also used all of its information outlets and products, including
digital media platforms, to highlight the broad range of developments and issues
related to the question of Palestine and the Middle East peace process. The
multilingual United Nations News Centre portal covered the subject extensively,
with its English and French language versions carrying more than 200 related stories
and the Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish versions providing further coverage.
The Department also produced 108 press releases on the question of Palestine in
English and French, which included summaries of formal meetings and press
conferences, as well as statements by the Secretary-General and other United
Nations officials.
73. Reporting on the work of alleviating the plight of Palestinians carried out by
the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,
UNRWA and other United Nations entities was also part of the extensive coverage
provided by United Nations Radio in the six official languages of the United
Nations and other languages.
74. Live television feeds from meetings at the United Nations, and news and
feature programmes produced by United Nations Television and Video, were
distributed by a variety of means and platforms, including the UNifeed satellite
distribution system, United Nations Webcast and the United Nations channel on the
Time Warner cable network in the New York City area. UNifeed packaged more
than 20 Palestine-related stories during the reporting period for broadcasters around
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the world, including reports from the field by UNRWA, UNICEF and the World
Food Programme, and coverage of statements and activities by senior United
Nations officials.
75. United Nations Photo staff covered related events at Headquarters and in the
field, including the visit by the Secretary-General to the West Bank on 21 November
2012, the General Assembly vote on the status of Palestine and the daily life of
Palestinians, especially children and youth.
76. The Guided Tours Unit maintained a revised tour route at Headquarters, which
includes a stop at the permanent exhibit entitled “The question of Palestine and the
United Nations”. During the reporting period, approximately 148,000 visitors took
the guided tour. In addition, a total of 341 persons from seven groups of scholars,
students and officials were briefed on the question of Palestine and the Middle East
peace process. The United Nations public inquiries team responded to 55 queries
relating to the Middle East peace process.
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
77. The Committee remains firmly convinced that a negotiated peaceful
settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in all its aspects and an end to the
Israeli occupation remain central to peace and stability throughout the volatile
Middle East region and merit the close attention of the international
community. To that end, the Committee concentrated its efforts on promoting
international awareness of the issue, and the realization of the inalienable
rights of the Palestinian people, in particular their right to an independent and
sovereign Palestinian State based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its
capital. The Committee urged the international community to step up its
engagement for the resumption of final status negotiations, within a clear
framework based on internationally recognized parameters; promoted
international action against obstacles in their path, such as the illegal Israeli
settlement enterprise; encouraged solidarity with the Palestinians and their
State; and engaged with diverse constituencies in support of peace. In its
programme of work, the Committee analysed the ramifications of the new
reality of a State under occupation. It actively sought to incorporate lessons
learned from the history of anti-colonial and anti-apartheid struggles of other
countries, in particular in Africa. It continued to mobilize international support
for the Palestinian State-building programme, while highlighting the massive
economic costs of the Israeli occupation. It urged increased donor support for
the agencies of the United Nations system, in particular UNRWA, providing
vital humanitarian support for the Palestinian people.
78. The Committee welcomed the admission of Palestine as a non-member
observer State by the General Assembly, while calling upon all Member States
to extend full diplomatic recognition to it. The Committee is of the view that the
vote in the General Assembly constituted an important step towards the
realization of the two-State solution, gave a new urgency to the resumption of
the peace process, and vested the State of Palestine with important additional
rights to join international legal frameworks and to contribute to the work of
the United Nations system as a whole. The Committee stands ready to support
Palestinian initiatives in this regard at the appropriate time. The Security
Council should revisit the issue of the full membership of the State of Palestine
in the United Nations in the light of the General Assembly vote.
79. The Committee condemned the illegal retaliatory measures undertaken by
Israel following the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 67/19,
including the withholding of Palestinian revenues and the acceleration of the
settlement campaign, which raised tensions on the ground and jeopardized
Palestinian institutional and socioeconomic development. The Committee calls
upon the donors to institute a financial safety net to prevent future damage to
Palestinian institutions, the development of which donors have generously
supported over the years. The Committee condemned other illegal measures by
Israel, the occupying Power, such as the construction of the separation wall, the
use of excessive force against Palestinian protesters, arrest raids, prisoner
abuse, the continuation of the Gaza blockade and hundreds of checkpoints
throughout the West Bank and measures that stymie development and cause
the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, particularly from East
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Jerusalem and Area C. The Committee raised international awareness of the
abusive practices experienced by the thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by
Israel, including by prisoners undertaking hunger strikes, minors and those
held without trial, and called for their prompt release and reintegration into
Palestinian society.
80. The Committee remained deeply troubled by repeated bouts of violence. It
condemned all attacks against civilians, in particular the military operation
launched by Israel against Gaza in November 2012, the rocket fire from Gaza
against Israeli civilian targets, settler violence, and the killings of unarmed
protesters by Israeli forces. It calls upon the parties to adhere to the terms of
the Gaza ceasefire agreement. It further calls upon the Security Council and
the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to act urgently
to uphold international humanitarian law and guarantee the protection of
civilians.
81. The Committee welcomes the vigorous international diplomacy by the
United States, the Arab League, the Secretary-General and many world leaders,
which laid the basis for the resumption of direct negotiations between the
Israelis and the Palestinians. The Committee salutes the demonstrated
commitment of the Palestinian leadership to a peaceful settlement of the
conflict, which should be reciprocated by the Israeli side. The Committee is
looking forward to serious negotiations on the basis of pre-1967 borders which
resolve all outstanding issues within the envisaged time frame, leading to the
complete Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem, and the independence of a truly sovereign, contiguous, viable
and democratic State of Palestine. Sustained engagement and support by the
international community, including a revitalized Quartet, is vital to ensure that
the parties negotiate in good faith, live up to their commitments, and refrain
from steps that jeopardize negotiations. Stepped-up international assistance
and a tangible rollback of the measures of occupation are required to build
popular support for negotiations. The current diplomatic initiative may
represent the final window of opportunity to achieve a negotiated two-State
solution on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid
terms of reference, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Road Map. The
Committee is concerned in this regard by continued Israeli settlement
announcements that threaten to derail negotiations. The Committee also
stresses the importance of Palestinian unity under the legitimate leadership of
President Abbas to secure a comprehensive peace.
82. The Committee welcomed the findings and recommendations of the
international fact-finding mission on Israeli settlements in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, which highlighted the responsibility of States and private
entities not to contribute to grave Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights,
in particular in respect of settlements. It further welcomes in this regard the
recently adopted European Union guidelines that prohibit funding by European
Union institutions for Israeli entities connected with the settlements, as an
overdue first step towards fulfilling obligations under international law. This
measure should be followed up by further international action against
settlements.
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83. The Committee has consistently supported the Palestinian State-building
and reform agenda. It is concerned that the accomplishments are now
endangered owing to the chronic financial crisis and calls upon donors to meet
their prior commitments and to provide additional aid to avert further
deterioration. The Committee remains convinced, however, that sustainable
economic development cannot take root under the existing regime of Israeli
occupation.
84. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights will continue
through their mandated activities to generate heightened international
awareness of the question of Palestine, as well as international support for the
rights of the Palestinian people and the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine. In this connection, the Committee emphasizes the useful and
constructive contribution of the Division in support of its mandate. It notes
with satisfaction: (a) the sustained level of dialogue, engagement and support
on the part of the international community for the programme’s objectives, as
evidenced by the number of adopted resolutions, international meetings and
conferences, commemorations of the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People and increased membership of the Committee; (b) the
continued involvement of civil society organizations in support of the efforts of
the Committee and the United Nations towards a comprehensive, just and
lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, as evidenced by the number of
civil society conferences, public forums, meetings and consultations between the
Committee and civil society organizations; and (c) an increase in international
awareness of the United Nations policies and activities on the question of
Palestine, as evidenced by the increased number of visits to the United Nations
Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL) and other
information materials on the “Question of Palestine” website. The Committee
also considers that the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian
Government, carried out annually by the Division, has proved its usefulness, as
it directly contributes to Palestinian capacity-building efforts. The Committee
strongly recommends that this important mandated activity be continued and,
where possible, further enhanced.
85. The Committee will focus its programme of international meetings and
conferences in 2014, to be implemented by the Division, on widening
international support for the achievement of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people. The programme will also focus on the creation of a
favourable atmosphere for the success of the resumed permanent status
negotiations. The Committee intends to mobilize increased international
scrutiny of the developments on the ground, in particular settlement activities,
and will emphasize responsibility and promote action by the international
community to put an end to all illegal Israeli policies and practices in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The Committee will
examine the legal ramifications of the new international status of the State of
Palestine, and will also continue to call attention to the plight of the Palestinian
political prisoners in Israeli jails and urge a resolution of their plight.
86. The Committee will analyse lessons learned and the feedback received
from participants in its events and adjust their format and substance, as
appropriate. It will strive to involve prominent international personalities and
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experts and the representatives of vulnerable populations, such as women and
refugees, in its events, while giving due regard to gender balance.
87. The Committee will continue to enrich the format of its regular meetings.
It will invite internationally renowned personalities to brief the Committee and
the wider United Nations membership. The Committee also considers that the
round-table meetings have proved particularly useful in generating practical
proposals for action in the United Nations and beyond and will continue to
utilize this format.
88. The Committee will continue to mobilize support for Palestinian
institution-building and all other efforts to support and enhance the viability of
the State of Palestine. It will reach out to and engage Governments,
parliamentarians and civil society to mobilize support for a just solution to all
permanent status issues, including the question of refugees, based on principles
of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, including
resolution 194 (III). The Committee wishes to contribute to efforts towards
ending incitement on both sides, as well as to promote peace education. It will
pay particular attention to the inclusion and empowerment of women and
youth and their organizations. The Committee also wishes to promote
Palestinian reconciliation.
89. The Committee highly values civil society initiatives in support of the
Palestinian people. A comprehensive peace will take root only if the relevant
civil societies strongly demand it of their political leaderships. Special efforts
are needed to revitalize the peace camp in Israel. The Committee lauds the
courageous advocacy actions of countless activists, including eminent
personalities and parliamentarians, who participate in demonstrations against
the wall, try to break the siege of Gaza and keep their home constituencies
informed about the harsh realities of life under occupation. The Committee
encourages civil society partners to work with their national Governments,
parliamentarians and other institutions with a view to gaining their full support
for the work of the United Nations, including that of the Committee, on the
question of Palestine. The Committee believes that the recommendations it
adopted during the reporting period and its reactivated Working Group will
help in building stronger partnerships with civil society. The Committee
appreciates the support it receives from the Secretariat in this regard. The
Committee encourages its members and observers to mobilize their respective
civil societies at the national level, in particular the youth, and to establish
solidarity committees with the State of Palestine.
90. The Committee looks forward to further developing its cooperation with
parliamentarians and their umbrella organizations. Parliamentarians have a
special responsibility to ensure that their Governments actively promote and
support the realization of the two-State solution and uphold their obligations
under international law, including humanitarian and human rights law.
91. The Committee will reach out to all regional groups at the United Nations
with a view to expanding its membership. It will actively work to organize more
thematic debates on the question of Palestine in various United Nations forums.
The Committee intends to request that the General Assembly proclaim an
International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The Committee
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believes that its increased workload should be adequately supported by an
expanded Bureau.
92. The Committee requests the Division to continue its substantive and
secretariat support, the programme of research, monitoring and publications
and other informational activities, in support of the Committee’s
communication strategy. The Division should pay special attention to continued
development of the “Question of Palestine” portal, including the addition of a
mobile-device-friendly version, and the use of web-based social information
networks, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. It should also continue to
develop the UNISPAL document collection by reflecting current issues and
events, as well as by continuing to digitize and upload historical documents and
to add user-friendly search features. The Division should continue to
collaborate with the United Nations Libraries at Headquarters and at Geneva
in the search for historic documents. It should further enhance the annual
training programme for staff of the Palestinian Government, paying special
attention to the programme’s gender balance, and optimize the use of resources
to allow the maximum number of participants possible. Voluntary
contributions from members and observers in line with their capacity are to be
encouraged to put the programme on a solid financial footing. The Committee
also commends its members and observers which instituted training
programmes at the national level to build Palestinian capacity.
93. The Division should continue to organize the annual observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
94. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and the public of the relevant
issues. It requests the continuation of the programme, with the necessary
flexibility warranted by developments relevant to the question of Palestine.
95. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, and in view of the many
difficulties facing the Palestinian people and their leadership and besetting the
peace process, the Committee calls upon all States to join it in this endeavour
and to extend their cooperation and support to the Committee, and invites the
General Assembly again to recognize the importance of its role and to
reconfirm its mandate.
13-50340 (E) 211013
*1350340*
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Sixty-ninth Session
Supplement No. 35
A/69/35
United Nations New York, 2014
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations
document.
ISSN 0255-2035
14-62190 3/27
[7 October 2014]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 68/12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance
with General Assembly resolutions 68/12 and 68/13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 68/14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4/27 14-62190
Letter of transmittal
[7 October 2014]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 2 of its resolution 68/12 of
26 November 2013.
The report covers the period from 7 October 2013 to 6 October 2014.
(Signed) Fodé Seck
Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. At the outset, the reporting period was marked by efforts by the international
community to help to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, mediated
by the United States of America, that had started in July 2013. The talks, however,
continued to be undermined by Israel’s promotion of plans and tenders for the
construction of thousands of new units in illegal settlements in the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem. On 28 March 2014, Israel postponed the release of the last
batch of “pre-Oslo” Palestinian prisoners, breaching the Un ited States-brokered
agreement between the two sides. Soon thereafter, the Government of the State of
Palestine deposited instruments of accession to the Geneva Conventions and to a
number of international treaties — a step that had been postponed during the
negotiations. Israel reacted with the announcement of hundreds more settlement
units. On 23 April, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Hamas reached
a deal to end the division that began in 2007 and form a national consensus
Government. While the international community welcomed the Palestinian
reconciliation, Israel rejected it and suspended the peace talks on 24 April.
2. Soon thereafter, the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem, rapidly deteriorated. Israel exploited the abduction and killing on
12 June of three Israeli teenagers studying in illegal settlements in the West Bank in
order to launch a massive military operation in the West Bank. Israeli occupying
forces carried out hundreds of military raids, killed six Palestinian civilians, and
injured and arrested hundreds of others during the operation.
3. Tensions surrounding the Gaza Strip increased in June after Israel’s targeted
assassination of a Palestinian militant and an accompanying child and as a result of
the Israeli military operations in the West Bank. On 7 July, Israel launched
“Operation Protective Edge”, with the claimed objective of stopping Palestinian
rocket fire from Gaza. During the 50-day operation, Israel killed 2,189 Palestinians,
67 per cent of them civilians, including 513 children and 269 women, and injured
more than 11,000. Sixty-six Israeli soldiers were killed, as well as five civilians,
including one foreign national. The homes of more than 100,000 Palestinians in
Gaza were destroyed or severely damaged. The massive destruction worsened the
living conditions of the 1.8 million people living in Gaza, which was already at a
crisis point owing to the Israeli blockade, now in its eighth year. The Committee has
repeatedly condemned the excessive and disproportionate use of force by Israel, the
occupying Power, targeting Palestinian civilians and infrastructure and has
repeatedly called for the Israeli blockade to be lifted. It has also condemned the
indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza targeting Israeli cities and civilian
infrastructure.
4. Israel continued its frequent military raids and incursions in the West Bank,
resulting in the killing and injuring of Palestinians, including children. Thousands of
Palestinians, including women and children, were arrested during the reporting
period. This is in addition to the more than 5,000 Palestinians who remain in Israeli
jails and detention centres. Unarmed Palestinian civilians continued to be subjected
to the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces during demonstrations
against the occupation. Israel continued to expand its illegal settlements in the West
Bank, including East Jerusalem, and approved thousands more new settlement units.
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Ten years after the 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice was
rendered, the construction of the separation wall and its associated regime still
continue, fragmenting the Palestinian land, obstructing movement and access,
further isolating East Jerusalem and harming the socioeconomic conditions of the
Palestinian people. During the reporting period, the situation in occupied East
Jerusalem remained alarming, with increased numbers of incursions by extremist
Israelis into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and acts of incitement and provocation,
as well as continued land confiscations, excavations near holy sites, house
demolitions, revocations of identity cards and evictions of Palestinian residents.
5. Palestinian State-building and institution-building efforts continued but were
undermined by restrictions and obstacles imposed by Israel on the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, which continued to prevent the normal movement of persons
and goods, economic activity and sustained development and growth. After the State
of Palestine deposited the instruments of accession in April, its accession to the
Geneva Conventions took effect immediately. Seven of the nine core human rights
treaties and one of the substantive protocols have entered into force.
6. During the reporting period, the activities of the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and its Bureau focused on bringing
the attention of the international community to the 2014 International Year of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People, as proclaimed by the General Assembly in its
resolution 68/12, with the objective of mobilizing wide support for ending the
Israeli occupation and realizing the two-State solution, in order for the Palestinian
people to achieve its inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination.
The Committee monitored the situation on the ground and the political
developments, implemented its programme of international meetings and
conferences, and held consultations with representatives of Governments, national
parliaments and interparliamentary organizations, as well as civil society. The
Committee continued to reiterate its position of principle that a permanent
settlement of the question of Palestine could be reached only by ending the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967, achieving the independence of the State of Palestine
on the basis of the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and achieving
a just and agreed solution to the issue of Palestine refugees on the basis of General
Assembly resolution 194 (III).
7. An international meeting organized by the Committee in Quito in March
focused on the recognition of the State of Palestine by countries in the region and
support for the two-State solution. In April, the Committee held a round table in
Geneva on legal aspects of the question of Palestine. This was followed by an
international meeting on the question of Jerusalem, held in Ankara in May. The
meeting was organized in cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) and the Government of Turkey. A seminar on assistance to the Palestinian
people, held in Nairobi, focused on solidifying the economic underpinnings of an
independent State. Also, the Committee organized a series of events within the
framework of the International Year, including a joint meeting with the League of
Arab States in Cairo, a special meeting to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the
advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the wall, high-level
briefings and film screenings at Headquarters in New York.
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Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
8. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as recognized by the
Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974. Further information
is available on the website maintained by the Division for Palestinian Rights of the
Secretariat at http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/com.htm.
9. On 26 November 2013, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee (resolution 68/12), requested the Secretary-General to continue to
provide the Division for Palestinian Rights with the necessary resources to carry out
its programme of work (resolution 68/13) and requested the continuation of the
special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of
Public Information of the Secretariat (resolution 68/14). The Assembly also adopted
resolution 68/15, entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”.
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Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
10. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador, Guinea, Guyana,
India, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia,
Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South
Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
11. The observers at the Committee meetings are: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria,
China, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates,
Viet Nam and Yemen, as well as the State of Palestine, the African Union, the
League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
12. At its 357th meeting, on 16 January 2014, the Committee re-elected Abdou
Salam Diallo (Senegal) as Chair, and Zahir Tanin (Afghanistan), Rodolfo Reyes
Rodríguez (Cuba), Desra Percaya (Indonesia), Wilfried Emvula (Namibia) and
María Rubiales de Chamorro (Nicaragua) as Vice-Chairs, and Christopher Grima
(Malta) as Rapporteur. At its 364th meeting on 3 October, the Committee elected
Fodé Seck (Senegal) as the new Chair, replacing Abdou Salam Diallo, who had been
assigned by his Government to another post.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
13. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of
the United Nations and observers wishing to participate in the work of the
Committee were welcome to do so. In accordance with established practice, the
State of Palestine participated in the work of the Committee as an observer, attended
all of its meetings, gave briefings, made observations and developed proposals for
consideration by the Committee and its Bureau.
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Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
Political developments
14. The Israeli-Palestinian peace talks mediated by the United States, which
started in July 2013, were repeatedly thwarted by Israel’s continued expansion of
settlements and other illegal measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem. The Israeli settlement monitoring organization, Peace
Now, reported that, during the nine-month period following the beginning of the
talks in July 2013, the Government of Israel promoted plans for the construction of
at least 13,851 housing units in settlements in the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem — an average of 50 units per day.
15. On 28 March 2014, Israel postponed the release of a fourth and final batch of
26 pre-Oslo Palestinian prisoners, which had been agreed under the United Statesbrokered
deal that led to the restart of negotiations. On 1 April, the State of
Palestine submitted accession instruments to 21 international treaties and
conventions. Israel reacted with the announcement of 708 reissued tenders for
illegal settlement construction in East Jerusalem on the same day. On 23 April, PLO
and Hamas achieved reconciliation and agreed that a national consensus
Government would be formed within five weeks and elections held no later t han six
months after the Government’s formation. In retaliation, the following day, the
Israeli Cabinet took the decision to suspend the peace negotiations.
16. On 2 June, President Abbas swore in the Government of national consensus
headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. Israel publicly declared its opposition
to the unity Government and reacted with the announcement of the construction of
thousands of new settler homes, while the international community, including the
United Nations Secretary-General and the European Union, welcomed the consensus
Government and the United States expressed its readiness to work with it.
17. During his address to the General Assembly in September, President Abbas
stated that the State of Palestine and the Arab Group were preparing for the
introduction of a draft Security Council resolution affirming the goal of ending the
Israeli occupation and achieving the two-State solution within a specified time
frame.
Security
18. On 12 June, three Israeli teenagers were abducted and killed in the West Bank
on their way back home to Israel from yeshivas in two illegal settlements. Israeli
occupying forces launched large-scale, violent military operations throughout the
West Bank, during which they killed six Palestinian civilians, including a 15-yearold
boy, and arrested hundreds of others, mostly alleged members of Hamas and
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including over 50 Palestinians previously released as part
of the exchange deal for the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. Occupying forces also
imposed further stringent movement restrictions, which disrupted the access by
Palestinians to services, markets and workplaces, resulting in significant economic
losses. On 30 June, occupying forces found the bodies of the three teenagers near
Hebron. In retaliation, a group of Israelis abducted a 16-year-old Palestinian boy
from East Jerusalem and burned him alive on 2 July. Widespread protests and
violent clashes followed throughout East Jerusalem and spread to the West Bank, as
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a result of which nearly 570 Palestinian civilians were injured by Israeli forces,
including 31 by live ammunition.
19. The November 2012 ceasefire understanding between Israel and Hamas has
gradually weakened since December 2013, and tensions in and around Gaza
increased on 11 June, when the Israeli Air Force targeted and killed an alleged
militant, along with a 10-year-old child accompanying him, in Beit Lahiya in the
northern Gaza Strip. Palestinian factions responded by firing projectiles at southern
Israel, to which the Israeli military responded with air strikes targeting alleged
military installations in Gaza. Tensions escalated after the abduction of the three
Israeli youths in the West Bank and subsequent Israeli military action.
20. On 7 July, Israel launched a large military operation in the Gaza Strip, codenamed
“Operation Protective Edge”, with the claimed objective of stopping the
Palestinian firing of rockets at southern Israel and destroying the military
infrastructure of Hamas and other armed groups. Excessive aerial and navy
bombardment and ground operations throughout the Gaza Strip resulted in heavy
Palestinian casualties, mostly civilians. According to the Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs, the Israeli military used 5,830 missiles in 4,028 air raids,
as well as 16,507 artillery and tank projectiles and 3,494 naval shells aimed at
targets in the Gaza Strip. During the offensive, 2,189 Palestinians were killed, 1,486
of them identified as civilians, including 513 children and 269 women, and 11,100
were injured, including 3,374 children, 2,088 women and 410 elderly persons. It is
estimated that up to 1,000 of the injured children will have a permanent disability
and up to 1,500 orphaned children will need sustained support from the child
protection and welfare sectors. Over 1,000 homes were directly targeted by Israeli
air strikes and 18,000 housing units were totally destroyed or severely damaged,
leaving approximately 108,000 people homeless. At the height of the hostilities, an
estimated 485,000 people, 28 per cent of the population of Gaza, were internally
displaced, including 290,000 who took shelter in schools administered by the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA). On three occasions, Israeli occupying forces directly hit UNRWA
schools, with full knowledge that they were being used as shelters for displaced
persons, killing 45 Palestinians, including 17 children, and injuring 317. An
estimated 118 UNRWA installations sustained damage.
21. During the Israeli offensive, 1 hospital and 7 clinics were totally destroyed and
16 hospitals and 51 clinics were damaged. Fourteen ambulances were completely
destroyed and 33 others were partially damaged. The majority of the Gaza
population has lost its productive assets: 419 businesses and workshops were
damaged, with 128 completely destroyed, further decimating the economy and
resulting in the unemployment of another 30,000 people. Israeli attacks also caused
substantial direct damage to Gaza’s 17,000 hectares of cropland as well as much of
its agricultural infrastructure. As at late August, around 7,000 unexploded ordnance
were estimated to be present, threatening the lives of both civilians and
humanitarian workers. As at 6 October, the ceasefi re agreed on 26 August largely
continued to hold. The Gaza power plant damaged in an Israeli air strike on 29 July
remained inoperable and electricity outages of 18 hours a day continued in most
areas across Gaza. The Government of the State of Palestine estimated that
rebuilding Gaza would cost $7.8 billion.
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22. Human rights organizations have expressed serious concerns regarding
incidents where civilians or civilian objects were directly hit by Israeli air strikes, in
circumstances where there was allegedly no rocket fire or armed group activity in
the close vicinity. Human Rights Watch reported several incidents in which Israeli
soldiers opened fire on fleeing civilians. Amnesty International reported that there
was mounting evidence that Israel had launched apparently deliberate attacks
against hospitals and health professionals, which left six medics dead. On 23 July,
the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution addressing the crisis and deciding,
inter alia, to dispatch an independent, international commission of inquiry to
investigate all violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, in particular in Gaza, since 13 June (resolution S-21/1).
23. On the Israeli side, 66 soldiers, one security coordinator, four civilians,
including a four-year-old, and one foreign national were killed, and some 130
civilians were injured during the Gaza operation. Palestinian armed groups
reportedly fired 4,844 rockets and 1,734 mortars at Israel.
24. Prior to 7 July, Israeli forces killed 22 Palestinians and injured more than 200
in the Gaza Strip during the reporting period in incidents involving air strikes and
live fire at Palestinians near the border fence. One Israeli repairing the fence
between Gaza and Israel was killed by a Palestinian sniper. In the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem, Israeli occupying forces killed 53 Palestinians and injured
more than 4,800 during the reporting period (as at 29 September), including during
clashes with demonstrators. Five Israeli civilians were killed by Palestinians in the
West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Settlements
25. Israel, the occupying Power, continued and intensified its illegal settlement
activity in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which further diminished the
viability of the two-State solution based on the pre-1967 borders. On 3 March, the
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics stated that construction in the settlements had
more than doubled in 2013 compared with 2012, from 1,133 to 2,534 housing units.
26. During the reporting period, the following were announced, approved,
advanced or issued by Israel, or disclosed by watchdog/media organizations: the
construction of 860 housing units in the “Ariel”, “Ma’aleh Adumim”, “Givat Ze’ev”,
“Betar Ilit”, “Karnei Shomron” and “Elkana” settlements and 2,500 other new units
throughout the West Bank (31 October); tenders for 283 units in “Elkana”, 114 in
“Ma’aleh Adumim”, 196 in “Karnei Shomron”, 102 in “Givat Zeev”, 18 in “Ariel”,
80 in “Adam” and 238 in “Beitar Illi t” (3 November); plans to build 19,786 units in
the West Bank (12 November); the construction of 829 new settler homes in the
West Bank (25 November); plans for 250 units in “Ofra” and 22 in “Karnei
Shomron” (5 January 2014); the construction of 801 units in the West Bank
(10 January); plans to build 381 homes in “Givat Ze’ev” (21 January); plans for 256
units in “Nofei Prat” and 5 in “Ariel” (22 January); tenders for 900 units in the West
Bank (4 June); the unfreezing of planning processes for 1,800 units that had been
suspended (5 June); plans for 1,083 settler homes in the West Bank as part of its
response to the newly formed Palestinian unity Government (week of 13 June);
tenders for 283 new homes for “Elkana” (5 September). On 13 April, the
Government of Israel retroactively approved measures for “legalizing” a settlement
outpost at “Gush Etzion”, appropriating private Palestinian land. On 31 August,
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Israel declared four square kilometres of land west of Bethlehem as State land,
unprecedented in its scope since the 1980’s.
27. In Occupied East Jerusalem, the following were announced, approved,
advanced or issued by Israel, or disclosed by watchdog/media organizations: the
building of 58 housing units in the “Pisgat Ze’ev” settlement in East Jerusalem
(9 October); plans for the construction of 80 units in “Har Homa” (10 October); the
construction of 1,500 units in “Ramat Shlomo” (30 October); tenders for 311 units
in “Gilo”, 387 in “Ramat Shlomo” and 130 in “Har Homa” (3 November); 397 units
in “Gilo” (4 November); plans to build 4,000 units in the City (12 November); the
construction of 1,076 units in the City (10 January 2014); the construction of 1,800
units in “Armon” (28 January); the construction of 558 homes in “Har Homa”,
“Neve Yaakov” and “Pisgat Ze’ev” (5 February); the construction of a yeshiva in
Sheikh Jarrah (12 February); the construction of 184 units in the City (19 March);
tenders for 708 units in “Gilo” (1 April); the construction of 50 units “Har Homa”
(26 May); a plan to build a “national park” on the land of the villages of Al-Issawiya
and Al-Tur (27 May); tenders for 560 units in the City (4 June); the construction of
172 apartments in “Har Homa” (18 June); a plan featuring 2,200 housing units and
130 hectares for infrastructure in the Jabel Mukaber neighbourhood (3 September);
and a plan to build 2,610 units in “Givat Hamatos” (24 September).
Settler-related incidents
28. Settler-related incidents in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including acts of
terror, provocation and destruction by settlers, continued to be a source of serious
concern. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as at
August 2014, there had been at least 92 incidents leading to Palestinian casualties
and 155 incidents leading to damage to Palestinian property or land during the
reporting period. In 2013, 10,142 trees were reported burned, uprooted, or otherwise
vandalized, including in areas adjacent to settlements, compared with 8,259 trees in
2012.
Jerusalem
29. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 35 per
cent of the land in occupied East Jerusalem has been confiscated for Israeli
settlement use, and only 13 per cent of East Jerusalem is zoned for Palestinian
construction, much of which is already built-up. At least a third of all Palestinian
homes in East Jerusalem lack Israeli-issued building permits, which are difficult to
obtain, potentially placing over 90,000 residents at risk of displacement, which has a
negative socioeconomic and psychological impact on the Palestinian residents of the
City. Since 1967, the Israeli authorities have demolished some 2,000 houses in East
Jerusalem. Several hundred Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem are also at risk
of forced displacement owing to settler activities, in particular in the Old City,
Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah.
30. Tensions were heightened by increasing numbers of incursions by Israeli
extremists and political leaders, including Government officials, into the Al -Aqsa
Mosque compound. Those provocations led to clashes with Palestinian worshippers,
in which some were injured, tear-gassed and detained. On 25 February, the Knesset
held a debate regarding attempts to impose Israeli sovereignty on Al-Haram
Al-Sharif.
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Demolitions and displacements
31. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as at
29 September, Israel had carried out the demolition of at least 515 Palestinianowned
structures in Area C in the West Bank and 61 in East Jerusalem during the
reporting period, displacing at least 975 and 164 Palestinians, respectively. On
1 July, the Israeli High Court of Justice sanctioned the punitive demolition of parts
of the house of the family of a Palestinian from Hebron suspected of killing an
Israeli policeman in April 2014.
Water
32. According to a report issued by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
in March 2014, groundwater in Gaza is being drawn at a higher rate than natural
replenishment, and sea water from the Mediterranean has infiltrated the gro undwater,
raising the salinity to unsafe levels. Sewage and agricultural fertilizer infiltration
have also contributed to water contamination with high levels of chloride and
nitrates, in some areas as high as six times the World Health Organization (WHO)
limit. More than 90 per cent of the water extracted from the territory’s sole aquifer
has been found to be unsafe for human consumption. Over-abstraction of
groundwater could render the aquifer unusable by 2016. Since the tap water is often
saline and undrinkable, more than four out of five Gazans buy their drinking water
from unregulated, private vendors, a heavy burden on already impoverished families.
Some families are spending as much as a third of their household income on water.
An estimated four fifths of the water sold by private vendors is contaminated.
33. According to the Palestinian Water Authority, the water distribution network in
Gaza suffered $34.4 million in damage as a result of the Israeli military offensive in
July and August 2014: 11 water wells were completely destroyed and 15 partially
destroyed; 17 kilometres of water supply networks were completely destroyed; two
desalination units were completely destroyed and four partially damaged;
12 pumping sewage stations were severely damaged and 4 wastewater treatment
stations partially destroyed.
34. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in the
West Bank, more than 70 per cent of the Palestinian communities located entirely or
mostly in Area C are not connected to the water network and rely on tankered water
at a vastly increased cost, and water consumption in some of these communities is
as low as 20 litres per capita per day, one fifth of the WHO recommendation.
Women and children
35. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reported in August 2014 that
the reproductive and maternal health situation in Gaza remained desperate. It
estimated that nearly 46,000 women in Gaza were pregnant at the time of the Israeli
military aggression, with 10,000 of them displaced as a result of the Israeli offensive.
Maternity clinics were closed, as were a number of private maternity centres. Other
facilities were overstrained and, in some, maternity beds were being used for the
wounded. Shifa Hospital reported a 15 to 20 per cent increase in premature births,
which were linked to the stress of the bombardments. Also, home deliveries were
reportedly on the rise, increasing the risks for women and their babies.
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36. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitar ian Affairs, at least
219 schools (141 Government and 75 UNRWA) in Gaza were damaged during the
Israeli offensive, 22 of them so severely that they can no longer be used. Among
those still standing, 103 were turned into collective shelters for some 330,000
displaced people, half of them children. Nearly 500,000 children could not return to
school on 24 August, when the new academic year started. At least 373,000 children
require direct and specialized psychological support. Children are showing
symptoms of increasing distress, including bed-wetting, clinging to parents and
nightmares. The education sector was already in crisis prior to the start of the Israeli
operation, suffering from a shortage of almost 200 schools, with nearly 80 per cent
of classes running double shifts to deal with the high number of students.
37. In East Jerusalem, there is also a chronic shortage of classrooms: 2,200
additional classrooms are required to accommodate Palestinian children, and many
existing facilities are substandard or unsuitable.
Prisoners
38. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and the Palestinian Ministry of
Prisoners’ Affairs reported in April that since 1967, Israel had arrested more than
805,000 Palestinians and 205 Palestinians had died in Israeli jails as a result of
torture, denial of medical treatment or deliberate killing. According to the Israeli
human rights organization B’Tselem, at the end of August, 5,505 Palestinian
security detainees and prisoners were being held in Israeli prisons, includ ing 473
administrative detainees and 201 minors. On 9 June, the Knesset gave initial
approval to a law allowing force-feeding of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike.
On 24 June, 63 Palestinian prisoners agreed to suspend their two-month-old hunger
strike in protest against Israel’s use of administrative detention without charge or
trial after reaching a deal with the Israeli authorities according to which their
conditions were to be improved.
Palestinian State-building
39. On 2 April, the State of Palestine deposited its instruments of accession to the
four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 as well as a number of international
treaties. The accession by the State of Palestine to the Geneva Conventions took
effect immediately, and the following core human rights treaties and protocol have
entered into force: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities; International Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Racial Discrimination; Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; Convention on the Rights of the
Child; Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the
involvement of children in armed conflict.
40. In a report issued in September, the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD) stated that economic growth in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory had declined from an average of about 11 per cent in 2010 and 2011 to a
mere 1.5 per cent in 2013, the lowest rate since 2006, owing to the severe effects of
the Israeli restrictions on the movement of Palestinian people and goods, pervasive
uncertainty, the persistent fiscal crisis and gloomy economic horizons.
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United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
41. UNRWA continued to experience a grave and recurrent financial crisis, which
threatened its ability to sustain its services, continue its emergency assistance
programmes and complete essential projects. In the light of the escalating conflict in
the Syrian Arab Republic, the Agency expressed particular concern about the more
than 500,000 Palestine refugees who have lived in the country for decades. As at
August, over 270,000 Palestine refugees were displaced within the Syrian Arab
Republic, 53,070 in Lebanon and over 13,836 in Jordan. Some 65,000 Palestine
refugees were in besieged areas, including 18,000 in Yarmouk, to which UNRWA
has had only limited access since July 2013. A recent survey revealed that over
54,000 Palestinian refugee homes in the Syrian Arab Republic had been destroyed
or damaged.
42. Prior to June, approximately 800,000 people in the Gaza Strip — almost half
of the population — were receiving quarterly food aid rations from UNRWA. After
the launch of the Israeli military operation, dozens of UNRWA schools were turned
into shelters for hundreds of thousands of displaced people, and emergency food
distribution was required to meet the needs of 1.2 million people. Eleven UNRWA
staff members were killed in the line of duty during the Israeli offensive. In addition,
thousands of refugee homes were destroyed by the occupying forces. The
devastating conflict will have severe implications for the Agency’s future work in
Gaza.
43. The Committee again expresses its appreciation for the dedication of UNRWA
and its entire staff to its mission and calls upon all donors to incr ease contributions
to the Agency, in particular in the light of prevailing crises and needs, to ensure the
continuity of needed services and the well-being of approximately 5 million
registered Palestine refugees under the mandate of the Agency.
United Nations Development Programme/Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs
44. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through its Programme
of Assistance to the Palestinian People, continued to respond to the development
needs in the State of Palestine. In support of the Palestinian Statehood agenda,
UNDP proceeded with the implementation of a three-year plan focusing on
democratic governance and the rule of law, economic empowerment and private
sector investment, environment and management of natural resources, as well as
public and social infrastructure. UNDP will also be responding to the destruction
wrought by the Israeli military attacks in the Gaza Strip by enhancing livelihoods
through emergency employment and leading early recovery activities to alleviate the
suffering of the Gaza population, in spite of the blockade. UNDP continued to place
empowerment, resilience and sustainability at the centre of its operation and focus
on three priority areas: the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and Area C, where the needs
are the greatest.
45. The Committee also remained appreciative of the important work of the Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The Committee calls upon all donors to increase contributions to the funding
requirements of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in
particular to the Gaza Crisis Appeal.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 68/12
1. Action taken in the Security Council
46. During the open debates at the Security Council held on 22 October 2013,
20 January, 29 April and 22 July 2014, the Chair of the Committee delivered
statements (see S/PV.7047; S/PV.7096, Resumption 1; S/PV.7164; S/PV.7222).
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee
47. On 7 November 2013, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on
Israel’s illegal settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem (GA/PAL/1278). On 10 December, it issued a statement on the
passing of Nelson Mandela (GA/PAL/1283). On 20 January 2014, the Bureau issued
a statement on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Yarmouk refugee camp
in the Syrian Arab Republic (GA/PAL/1286). On 5 March, it issued a statement on
increased tensions in Occupied East Jerusalem (GA/PAL/1287). On 4 June, the
Bureau issued a statement welcoming the formation of the Palestinian national
consensus Government (GA/PAL/1300). On 27 June, it issued a statement on
Israel’s massive military onslaught on the Palestinian civilian popu lation in the West
Bank (GA/PAL/1302). On 11 and 21 July, the Bureau issued statements condemning
the Israeli military aggression in the Gaza Strip (GA/PAL/1310 and 1311).
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 68/12
and 68/13
1. Committee meetings at Headquarters
48. In its resolution 68/12 of 26 November 2013, the General Assembly
proclaimed 2014 the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and
requested the Committee to organize related activities in cooperation with
Governments, United Nations organizations, intergovernmental organizations and
civil society organizations. In addition to its periodic meetings, the Committee
organized the following events within the framework of the International Year:
(a) Screening of the documentary film Where Should the Birds Fly?,
followed by a discussion, 20 January;
(b) Screening of the Academy Award-nominated documentary film 5 Broken
Cameras, followed by a discussion, 19 February;
(c) Briefing by a representative of Defence for Children International
Palestine, 24 February;
(d) Screening of the Academy Award-nominated film Omar, followed by a
discussion, 1 May;
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(e) Screening of Flying Paper, a documentary on Palestinian youth in Gaza,
followed by a briefing by the UNRWA Director of Operations in Gaza, Robert
Turner, and a discussion with the director of the film, 21 May;
(f) Special Meeting of the Committee to commemorate the tenth anniversary
of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legal
Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
9 July (a Committee statement was adopted at the meeting);
(g) Briefing by Hanan Ashrawi, member of the PLO Executive Committee,
2 September.
2. Committee meeting away from Headquarters
49. On 10 March, the Committee held a joint meeting with the League of Arab
States at its headquarters in Cairo aimed at reinforcing the critical support of all
Arab States for the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. A
joint declaration was adopted at the end of the meeting.
3. Programme of international meetings and conferences
50. The following international events were held under the auspices of the
Committee in 2014:
(a) United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine, Quito,
25 and 26 March;
(b) United Nations Meeting of Civil Society in Support of Israeli -Palestinian
Peace: Engaging civil society in Latin America and the Caribbean for the two-State
solution, Quito, 27 March;
(c) United Nations Round Table on Legal Aspects of the Question of
Palestine, United Nations Office at Geneva, 24 and 25 April;
(d) International Meeting on the Question of Jerusalem, jointly organized
with OIC and the Government of Turkey, Ankara, 12 and 13 May;
(e) Public Forum on the Question of Jerusalem, organized in cooperation
with the Centre for Middle Eastern and Strategic Studies, Ankara, 14 May;
(f) United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, United
Nations Office at Nairobi, 1 and 2 July.
51. The above-mentioned events were attended by representatives of Governments,
intergovernmental organizations and United Nations system entities, as well as
parliamentarians and representatives of civil society and the media. Detailed
information about the meetings is being issued in publications of the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat and is available on the “Question of Palestine”
website maintained by the Division.
52. On the margins of the United Nations International Meeting in Quito, the
Committee delegation met with Ricardo Patiño Aroca, Minister for Foreign Affairs
and Human Mobility of Ecuador, and other senior officials at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. On the margins of the United Nations Round Table in Geneva, the
Committee delegation held meetings with senior officials of the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNCTAD and the International
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Committee of the Red Cross. While in Geneva, the delegation also met with the
Director-General of the World Health Organization and the Acting Secretary
General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. In Ankara, on the margins of the
International Meeting, the Committee delegation met with Ahmet Davutoğlu,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey, and other senior officials at the Ministry, as
well as with representatives of OIC, including Secretary General Iyad bin Amin
Madani.
4. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations
53. Throughout the year, the Committee continued its cooperation with the African
Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries and OIC. The Committee is appreciative of the active
participation of their representatives in the various international events held under
its auspices.
5. Cooperation with civil society
Civil society organizations
54. The Committee continued its cooperation with civil society organizations
worldwide, which was bolstered by the proclamation of 2014 as the International
Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Civil society representatives
participated in all meetings organized under the auspices of the Committee. The
Committee commends the important work of civil society organizations and
encourages them to continue contributing to efforts aimed at attaining a
comprehensive, just, lasting and peaceful solution to the question of Palestine in all
its aspects and achieving the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
55. The Committee maintained its cooperation with national, regional and
international coordinating mechanisms and established new liaisons with a large
number of individual organizations. Moreover, at the United Nations Round Table
on Legal Aspects of the Question of Palestine held in Geneva, eight Palestinian
human rights organizations took part in the deliberations with leading legal experts.
While in Quito in March and in Ankara in May, the Committee organized joint
events with local universities.
56. The Working Group of the Committee, chaired by the representative of Malta,
met periodically and hosted three briefings by civil society representatives and the
above-mentioned four film screenings at Headquarters.
57. During the reporting period, 12 civil society organizations were accredited to
the Committee and 2 organizations became observers.
58. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained a civil society page
(http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/ngo.htm) on the “Question of Palestine” website
and developed the United Nations Platform for Palestine website
(http://unpfp.un.org) as a tool for outreach to civil society organizations and to
foster civil society networking and cooperation.
59. The Division maintained its Facebook and YouTube pages as well as Twitter
feeds to disseminate information about the work of the Committee, and the United
Nations as a whole, on the question of Palestine. In addition, the Division continued
to publish the periodic online bulletin NGO Action News, reaching out to more than
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1,000 civil society organizations around the world, in order to catalogue and
publicize civil society initiatives.
Parliaments and interparliamentary organizations
60. The Committee continued to attach great importance to developing its liaison
with national and regional parliaments and their organizations. Representatives of
parliaments and interparliamentary organizations participated in international events
organized by the Committee during 2014. In particular, a member of the Israeli
Knesset and the Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean
participated as speakers in the International Meeting on the Question of Jerusalem,
held in Ankara. Moreover, in Quito, the Committee delegation met with the Chair of
the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of Ecuador. In Geneva, the
Committee delegation held meetings with senior officials of the Inter -Parliamentary
Union and, in New York, the Chair of the Committee met in December with a
delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean headed by its
President.
6. Research, monitoring and publications
61. The Division carried out research and monitoring activities and responded to
requests for information and briefings on the question of Palestine. Under the
guidance of the Committee, which reiterated the relevance of the research,
monitoring and publications programme, it also prepared the publications listed
below for dissemination:
(a) Monthly bulletin on action taken by the United Nations system and
intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of events relating to the question of Palestine based
on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of international meetings and conferences organized under the
auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletin and information notes on the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments related to the Middle East peace
process;
(f) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly
and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine;
(g) Study entitled “Origins and Evolution of the Palestine Problem, Part V
(1989-2000)”.
7. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
62. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and
library services of the United Nations Secretariat, continued to administer, maintain,
expand and develop the United Nations Information System on the Question of
Palestine and the “Question of Palestine” website (http://unispal.un.org/
unispal.nsf/home.htm). That included the ongoing maintenance and upgrading of the
technical components of the system and involved the expansion of the document
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collection to include relevant new and old United Nations and other documents.
RSS and Twitter feeds continued to alert users about newly posted materials.
8. Training programme for staff of the Government of the State of Palestine
63. The Division conducted the annual training programme for staff of the
Government of the State of Palestine. One staff member of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs participated in a three-week training programme at the United Nations
Office at Geneva during the sixty-first session of the UNCTAD Trade and
Development Board, which started on 15 September 2014. In addition, three staff
members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are in the process of completing a
70-day training programme at Headquarters in New York, from 9 September to
27 November 2014, in order to familiarize themselves with various aspects of the
work of the Secretariat and other United Nations organs and bodies, including the
General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council.
Training was also provided for five staff members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
who were attending the Geneva Round Table on Legal Aspects of the Question of
Palestine, and for one staff member participating in the nineteenth Rhodes Academy
of Oceans Law and Policy training programme at Rhodes, Greece, in July 2014.
9. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
64. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
on 25 November 2013 at Headquarters in New York and on 29 November at the
United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna. At Headquarters, the Committee
organized a special meeting, as well as a concert featuring Nai Barghouti and her
troupe and Mohammed Assaf, UNRWA Regional Youth Ambassador and 2013
winner of the Arab Idol contest, in cooperation with the Permanent Observer
Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations and the Department of Public
Information of the Secretariat. The Committee noted with appreciation that the
International Day of Solidarity had also been observed by United Nations
information centres and other bodies in many cities throughout the world. Details on
the observance are contained in the special bulletin issued by the Division.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 68/14
65. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 68/14, the Department of
Public Information continued to implement its special information programme on
the question of Palestine.
66. During the reporting period, two United Nations International Media Seminars
on Peace in the Middle East were organized by the Department. The first was held
in Istanbul, Turkey, on 8 and 9 October 2013, in cooperation with the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Turkey. The second, arranged in cooperation with the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Japan, was held in Tokyo on 9 and 10 June 2014. The seminars
were attended by journalists, bloggers, activists and representatives of civil society,
current and former policymakers, academics and senior United Nations officials.
67. The Department’s five-week annual training programme for Palestinian
journalists was organized in New York and Washington, D.C. from 4 November to
6 December 2013. The selected group of eight Palestinian journalists participated in
a series of briefings by United Nations officials and media industry leaders. They
also worked through an intensive online journalism curriculum with regular
workshops, assignments and a final project.
68. The Department continued to use all its platforms, including multimedia, to
highlight the broad range of developments and issues related to the question of
Palestine and the Middle East peace process.
69. The declaration of 2014 as the International Year of Sol idarity with the
Palestinian People was prominently covered by all the Department’s
communications platforms, including social media channels. The Department
developed an online portal dedicated to the Year in the six official languages and
co-organized, with the Division for Palestinian Rights, screenings of two Academy
Award-nominated Palestinian films at Headquarters.
70. United Nations information centres and services publicized the observance of
the International Day and Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in the media
and widely disseminated information materials in official and non-official languages.
Commemoration activities organized by the information centres included a series of
outreach activities, such as cultural events, quizzes, exhibits, screenings and panel
discussions. The United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe
(located in Brussels) and UNRWA, in association with several Belgian civil society
groups, organized the “Yalla Palestina” festival in May. About 5,000 people
attended the event. The information centre in Jakarta launched the monthly
e-newsletter Halo Palestine in Indonesian.
71. The Department continued to maintain its tour route at United Nations
Headquarters, which includes a stop at the permanent exhibit “The question of
Palestine and the United Nations”. During the reporting period, approximately
138,000 visitors took the guided tour. In addition, a total of 132 scholars and
students were briefed on the question of Palestine and the Middle East pea ce
process.
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
72. During the reporting period, the Committee intensified its work, in
implementation of its mandate contained in General Assembly resolution 68/12,
to organize activities in 2014 for the International Year of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People. Operating within existing regular budget resources and
with support from its partners, including the Arab League and OIC, the
Committee was able to convene additional events throughout the year, in
addition to its regular meetings and conferences. The Committee wishes to
express its deep appreciation to its partners who contributed extrabudgetary
resources, logistical and substantive support, and its gratitude for their active
participation in these events, which made them a success. The Committee
wishes to thank its members and observers who organized solidarity events
during the International Year at the national level and encourages them to
continue such activities. To sustain the momentum generated by the
International Year, the Committee recommends that the General Assembly
make provisions for follow-up activities by the Committee in 2015 and
thereafter, in order to review key challenges and the progress being made by
the Palestinian people towards the realization of their inalienable rights and
long-denied freedom, justice and peace.
73. The Committee is convinced that a negotiated peaceful settlement of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict in all its aspects, in accordance with United Nations
resolutions, and an urgent end to the Israeli occupation remain central to peace
and stability throughout the volatile Middle East region and should be a top
priority of the international community. The recent tragic events in Gaza,
which has undergone three devastating Israeli military assaults in six years,
reinforce this view. The ceasefire should be solidified and the root causes of the
crisis fully addressed, including a lifting of the illegal blockade on Gaza.
74. The Committee notes with appreciation the emergence of an international
consensus that there should not be a return to the status quo ante in Gaza. The
cycle of war and rebuilding should end. The establishment of the national
consensus Government, which the Committee strongly supported, provides a
window of opportunity to stabilize Gaza. All States Members of the United
Nations should support the administration of Gaza by the Palestinian national
consensus Government under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas,
which should in turn consolidate and unify the administrative and security
apparatuses under its command. National elections should be held according to
schedule. Gaza crossings should be open to the legitimate and sustained flow of
persons and goods, including construction materials, humanitarian aid and
commercial flows, with support from the European Union border assistance
mission and in accordance with Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) and the
2005 Agreement on Movement and Access. Exports from Gaza to the West
Bank, Israel and the outside world should be allowed to resume, enabling the
legitimate economy to rebuild. Long-dormant projects such as the Gaza airport
and seaport, a safe passage route to the West Bank and offshore gas fields
should be revitalized. The normalization in Gaza would significantly reduce
tensions and facilitate the resumption of the political process.
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75. The tragic events in Gaza underscore the urgency of reaching a peaceful
settlement to the question of Palestine as a whole. The Committee supported
the efforts spearheaded by the United States to reach a final status agreement
between the parties by April of 2014. The Committee sought to contribute to
peace efforts as it urged the international community to step up its support of
negotiations, while promoting international action against obstacles in their
path, such as the illegal Israeli settlements and the wall; drew international
attention to key permanent status issues; examined legal options available to
the State of Palestine; urged solidarity with the Palestinian people and their
State; and engaged with diverse constituencies in support of peace. It continued
to mobilize international support for the Palestinian National Development
Plan, while highlighting the massive economic costs of the Israeli occupation. It
urged increased donor support for the Government of the State of Palestine and
United Nations agencies providing vital humanitarian support on the ground,
as well as for the effective use of international assistance for sustainable growth.
76. The latest round of negotiations regrettably failed, as did previous such
efforts in 2000-2001 and 2007-2008, in large part owing to the acceleration of
Israel’s illegal settlement campaign in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, and its failure to honour the agreement to release
Palestinian prisoners. The Committee observes that, in each case, the failure of
negotiations was followed by an outbreak of violence. The repeated failure to
reach agreement, despite the stepped-up engagement by the international
community, also reflects the limitations of the traditional format of bilateral
Israeli-Palestinian final status talks facilitated by a single Member State. In
that regard, the Committee would welcome proposals for innovative
approaches and formats that could help to break the deadlock and accelerate
the end of the 47-year Israeli military occupation and the realization of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, in particular their right to an
independent and sovereign Palestinian State based on the 1967 borders with
East Jerusalem as its capital, and their right to return. The Committee recalls
in that regard that the Quartet road map endorsed by the Security Council in
its resolution 1515 (2003) envisages the creation of a Palestinian State prior to
the conclusion of negotiations on permanent status issues. The Committee urges
the Security Council and the General Assembly to give positive consideration to
all such proposals and intends to contribute to a healthy and necessary
discussion of the issues through its programme of conferences and international
meetings.
77. The Committee considers that the United Nations has a permanent
responsibility in respect of the question of Palestine, as well as a respons ibility
to protect the Palestinian civilian population in accordance with international
humanitarian law. However, large protection gaps have been exposed, both in
Gaza and in the West Bank. The Committee welcomes the fact-finding mission
established by the Human Rights Council as an important step towards
accountability for violations of humanitarian and human rights law. There is no
justification for the targeting of innocent civilians and there should be no
impunity for its perpetrators. The Committee welcomes the request by the
Palestinian leadership addressed to the Secretary-General that the territory of
the occupied State of Palestine be placed under an international protection
system by the United Nations. The Committee calls upon the Secretary-General
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to expedite the review of that request and to submit his recommendations to the
Security Council and the General Assembly as appropriate. The Committee
expresses its readiness to contribute to the consideration of proposals in the
relevant forums. The Committee calls upon the Human Rights Council and the
General Assembly to also take practical steps to follow up on the findings of
previous fact-finding missions.
78. The Committee welcomes the accession by the State of Palestine to a
number of international conventions and treaties and encourages its
Government to take all steps towards full compliance with those instruments,
subject to the constraints imposed by the Israeli occupation. The Committee
encourages the signature by the State of Palestine of additional international
instruments, which would allow it to pursue justice and accountability for
Palestinian victims through the available international legal mechanisms. The
Committee stands ready to contribute to Palestinian capacity-building in that
area through its training programme for staff of the Government of the State of
Palestine. The Committee is ready to organize further round tables to raise
awareness among Palestinian policymakers regarding the legal options
available under the status of non-Member observer State.
79. The Committee underscores the responsibility of States and private
entities not to contribute to grave Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights,
in particular in respect of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem. It welcomes in that regard the entry into force of
European Union guidelines that prohibit funding by European Union
institutions for Israeli entities connected with settlements and the importation
of settlement agricultural produce. It welcomes further steps taken by
Governments and private businesses to dissociate themselves from settlements.
80. The scale of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza is
unprecedented. Clean water, sanitation and electricity remain scarce, with vast
networks having been destroyed by the Israeli aggression, while hundreds of
thousands of Palestinians remain homeless and destitute, since their houses
were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by the Israeli bombardments. The
Committee calls upon the United Nations members and observers to provide
generous support to UNRWA, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs, UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), UNDP and other
organizations working on the ground to alleviate the catastrophic conditions in
Gaza and to expedite the massive rebuilding effort that is vital.
81. The year 2014 marks the tenth anniversary of the advisory opinion of the
International Court of Justice, which determined that the wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory built by Israel, the occupying Power, is contrary to
international law. The Court called upon the United Nations, and especially the
General Assembly and the Security Council, to consider further action to bring
an end to that illegal situation. As the work of the Register of Damage caused
by the Construction of the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
established by the General Assembly, nears completion, the Committee invites
the Assembly to consider further steps to redress the illegal situat ion.
82. The Committee has consistently supported the Palestinian State-building
and reform agenda. It is concerned that the accomplishments are now
endangered owing to the chronic political, security and financial crises and calls
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upon donors to meet their prior commitments and to provide additional aid to
avert further deterioration. The Committee remains convinced, however, that
sustainable economic development cannot take root under the existing regime of
Israeli occupation, which exacts annual costs of an estimated $7 billion, borne
by the Palestinian economy, in particular in Gaza and in Area C of the West
Bank. In that regard, the Committee calls upon the General Assembly to
establish provisions for a mechanism that would allow the United Nations to
document those costs. Moreover, unequal economic arrangements resulting from
the Oslo Accords need to be revisited by the parties to allow the Palestinian
economy to develop.
83. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights will continue
through their mandated activities to generate heightened international
awareness of the question of Palestine, as well as international support for the
rights of the Palestinian people and the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine. In that connection, the Committee emphasizes the useful and
constructive contribution of the Division in support of its mandate. It notes
with satisfaction: (a) the sustained level of dialogue, engagement and support
on the part of the international community for the programme’s objectives, as
evidenced by the number of international meetings and conferences and
commemorations of the International Day and Year of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People; (b) the continued involvement of civil society organizations
in support of the efforts of the Committee and the United Nations towards a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine; and
(c) an increase in international awareness of the United Nations policies and
activities on the question of Palestine, as evidenced by the increased number of
followers of social media sites maintained by the Division. The Committee also
considers that the annual training programme for staff of the Government of
the State of Palestine, carried out annually by the Division, has proved its
usefulness, as it directly contributes to Palestinian capacity-building efforts.
The Committee strongly recommends that this important mandated activity be
continued and, where possible, further enhanced.
84. The Committee will focus its programme of international meetings and
conferences in 2015, to be implemented by the Division, on widening
international support for the achievement of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people. The Committee intends to mobilize increased international
scrutiny of the developments on the ground, in particular settlement activities,
and will emphasize responsibility and promote action by the international
community to put an end to all illegal Israeli policies and practices in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the meantime,
to promote accountability for Israeli violations and the needed protection for
the Palestinian people. The Committee will also continue to examine the legal
ramifications of the new international status of the State of Palestine and will
continue to call attention to the plight of the Palestinian political prisoners in
Israeli jails and urge a resolution of their plight. The Committee will strive to
involve prominent international personalities and experts and the
representatives of vulnerable populations, such as women and refugees, in its
events, while giving due regard to gender balance.
85. The Committee will continue to invite internationally renowned
personalities to brief the Committee and the wider United Nations membership.
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The Committee also considers that round-table meetings have proved
particularly useful in generating practical proposals for action in the United
Nations and beyond and will continue to utilize that format.
86. The Committee will continue to mobilize support for Palestinian
institution-building and all other efforts to support and enhance the viability of
the State of Palestine. It will reach out to and engage Governments,
parliamentarians and civil society to mobilize support for a just solution to all
permanent status issues, including the question of refugees, based on principles
of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, including
resolution 194 (III). It will pay particular attention to the inclusion and
empowerment of women and youth and their organizations.
87. The Committee highly values civil society initiatives in support of the
Palestinian people. A comprehensive peace will take root only if the relevant
civil societies strongly demand it of their political leaderships. Special efforts
are needed to revitalize the peace camp in Israel. The Committee lauds the
courageous advocacy actions of countless activists, including eminent
personalities and parliamentarians, who participate in demonstrations against
the occupation and keep their home constituencies informed about the harsh
realities of life under occupation. The Committee encourages civil society
partners to work with their national Governments, parliamentarians and other
institutions with a view to gaining their full support for the work of the United
Nations, including that of the Committee, on the question of Palestine. The
Committee encourages its members and observers to mobilize their respective
civil societies at the national level, in particular young people, and to establish
solidarity committees with the State of Palestine.
88. The Committee looks forward to further developing its cooperation with
parliamentarians and their umbrella organizations. Parliamentarians have a
special responsibility to ensure that their Governments actively promote and
support the realization of a peaceful and just solution to the question of
Palestine and uphold their obligations under international law, including
humanitarian and human rights law. The Committee will reach out to new
audiences such as local Governments, which have an important role to play in
promoting local economic development and other initiatives at the
decentralized level.
89. The Committee will reach out to all regional groups at the United Nations,
with a view to expanding its membership. It will actively work to organize more
thematic debates on the question of Palestine in various United Nations forums.
Recognizing the growing importance of developing countries and regional and
subregional organizations, it will make a special effort to step up engagement
with those countries and organizations in its work.
90. The Committee requests the Division to continue its substantive and
secretariat support, the programme of research, monitoring and publications
and other informational activities, in support of the Committee’s
communication strategy. The Division should pay special attention to continued
development of the “Question of Palestine” portal, including the addition of a
mobile-device-friendly version, and the use of web-based social information
networks, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. It should also continue to
develop the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
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document collection by reflecting current issues and events, as well as by
continuing to digitize and upload historical documents and to add user-friendly
search features. The Division should continue to collaborate with the United
Nations libraries at Headquarters and at Geneva in the search for historic
documents. It should further enhance the annual training programme for staff
of the Government of the State of Palestine, paying special attention to the
programme’s gender balance, and optimize the use of resources to allow the
maximum number of participants possible. Voluntary contributions from
members and observers in line with their capacity are to be encouraged to put
the programme on a solid financial footing.
91. The Division should continue to organize the annual observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
92. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and the public of the relevant
issues. It requests the continuation of the programme, with the necessary
flexibility warranted by developments relevant to the question of Palestine.
93. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, and in view of the many
difficulties facing the Palestinian people and their leadership and besetting the
peace process, the Committee calls upon all States to join it in this endeavour
and to extend their cooperation and support to the Committee, and invites the
General Assembly again to recognize the importance of its role and to
reconfirm its mandate.
14-62190 (E) 161014
*1462190*
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventieth Session
Supplement No. 35
A/70/35
United Nations New York, 2015
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations
document.
ISSN 0255-2035
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[6 October 2015]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
II. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
III. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
IV. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 69/20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance
with General Assembly resolutions 69/20 and 69/21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 69/22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
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Letter of transmittal
[6 October 2015]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Pa lestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 2 of its resolution 69/20 of
25 November 2014.
The report covers the period from 7 October 2014 to 6 October 2015.
(Signed) Fodé Seck
Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. Among the developments that marked the reporting period were the efforts by
the United Nations and the international community to support the reconstruction of
the Gaza Strip following the Israeli military operations in the summer of 2014,
which caused widespread destruction and physical and human devastation; the
submission by the State of Palestine of documents to accede to a number of
international treaties and conventions, including the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court; the Israeli parliamentary e lections on 17 March and
the subsequent formation of a right -wing Government under Benjamin Netanyahu;
the further deterioration of the security situation in the West Bank and East
Jerusalem, including the rise of settler violence and terror against Palest inian
civilians; and endeavours for stronger involvement of the wider international
community in the peace negotiations.
2. More than one year after the war on Gaza in the summer of 2014, the situation
in the Gaza Strip remains very grave. Palestinian and international efforts to address
the humanitarian situation and rebuild the lives, homes and livelihoods of the tens
of thousands of people affected by the violence have been slow to proceed owing to
the blockade and severe restrictions on the import of ma terials into Gaza imposed
by Israel, the occupying Power, and also to unfulfilled donor pledges. As at August
2015, not a single one of the destroyed homes in Gaza had been rebuilt, and over
100,000 Palestinians are still homeless, forced to shelter in temporary housing with
other families or in the ruins of their homes.
3. Israeli occupying forces continued to carry out frequent military raids and
incursions in the West Bank, resulting in the killing and injuring of Palestinians,
including children. Thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, were
arrested during the reporting period, in addition to over 5,000 Palestinians who
remain in Israeli jails and detention centres, many in administrative detention.
Unarmed Palestinian civilians continue d to be subjected to excessive force by
Israeli forces during demonstrations against the prolonged occupation of their land.
Israel continued to expand its illegal settlements in the West Bank, including in East
Jerusalem, and approved plans to build thous ands more new settlement units.
Eleven years after the 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice
was rendered, the construction of the separation wall and its associated regime
continue, fragmenting the Palestinian land and communities, o bstructing movement
and access, further isolating East Jerusalem and severely harming the
socioeconomic conditions of the Palestinian people. During the reporting period, the
situation in occupied East Jerusalem remained alarming, with increased numbers of
incursions by extremist Israelis into the Al -Aqsa Mosque compound and acts of
incitement and provocation, as well as continued land confiscations, excavations
near holy sites, house demolitions, revocations of residency permits and evictions of
Palestinian residents.
4. Palestinian State-building and institution-building efforts continued, yet were
undermined by restrictions and obstacles imposed by Israel on the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, which continued to prevent the free movement of persons and
goods, economic activity and sustained development and growth. After the State of
Palestine deposited instruments of accession to a number of international treaties
and conventions, including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on
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1 January 2015, to which it acceded the following week, Israel withheld the tax
revenue that it collects on behalf of the Palestinian people pursuant to the 1994
Paris Protocol on Economic Relations, deepening the financial crisis of the
Government of the State of P alestine, and did not release it until after the Israeli
elections, following intense international pressure. On 25 June, the State of
Palestine submitted a file to the International Criminal Court detailing possible war
crimes in Gaza and settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
5. Following the suspension of bilateral and United States -mediated peace talks
by Israel in April 2014 and the subsequent war on Gaza in July and August 2014,
Member States and regional organizations embarked upon efforts to mobilize
broader, more substantive international support to the peace process. These include
proposals for the Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities and redouble
efforts to enforce its resolutions on the question of Palestine, as well as enlisting the
support of regional stakeholders and organizations in order to break the deadlock
and cycle of violence and help to foster an environment that is conducive to peace.
During the reporting period, Saint Lucia, Sweden and the Holy See officially
recognized the State of Palestine, and a number of European parliaments passed
non-binding resolutions calling upon their Governments to do so.
6. During the reporting period, the activities of the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and its Bureau continued to draw
the international community’s attention to the issues of immediate urgency, such as
the dire humanitarian situation and the reconstruction of the Gaza Stri p, the
international efforts to revitalize negotiations and the need to address ongoing
Israeli settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, with the
objective of mobilizing wide support for the Palestinian people’s inalienable right s,
including the right to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the
Charter of the United Nations, international law and the provisions and calls made
in numerous relevant United Nations resolutions. The Committee monitored the
situation and the political developments on the ground, implemented its programme
of international meetings and conferences and held consultations with
representatives of Governments, national parliaments and interparliamentary
organizations, as well as civil societ y. The Committee continued to reaffirm and
promote the United Nations position that a just and permanent settlement of the
question of Palestine could be reached only by ending the Israeli occupation that
began in 1967, achieving the full independence of t he State of Palestine on the basis
of the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and reaching a just and
agreed solution to the issue of Palestine refugees on the basis of General Assembly
resolution 194 (III).
7. Until the end of 2014, the Committee continued its series of events within the
framework of the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. An
international meeting of parliamentarians organized by the Committee at United
Nations Headquarters in November focused on t heir role in ensuring respect for
international law. An international conference organized by the Committee in
Seville, Spain, in December was aimed at better understanding the role of local
governments and civil society organizations in the struggle for t he realization of
Palestinian rights. A seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people held in Vienna
in March 2015 focused on key aspects of the reconstruction of Gaza. The
Committee held a round table in May at The Hague, Netherlands, on legal aspects o f
the question of Palestine, followed in July by an international meeting in support of
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Israeli-Palestinian peace held in Moscow. An international meeting held in
September in Brussels, organized in cooperation with the League of Arab States and
the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), focused on the issue of Israeli
settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as an obstacle to peace.
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Chapter II
Mandate of the Committee
8. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Pales tinian
People was established by the General Assembly by resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as recognized by the
Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974. Further information
is available on the website maintained by the Division for Palestinian Rights of the
Secretariat at http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/com.htm.
9. On 25 November 2014, the General Assembly ren ewed the mandate of the
Committee (resolution 69/20), requested the Secretary -General to continue to
provide the Division for Palestinian Rights with the necessary resources to carry out
its programme of work (resolution 69/21) and requested the continuati on of the
special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of
Public Information of the Secretariat (resolution 69/22). The Assembly also adopted
resolution 69/23, entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”.
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Chapter III
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
10. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador, Guinea, Guyana,
India, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia,
Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South
Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
11. The observers at the Committee meetings are: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria,
China, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates,
Viet Nam and Yemen, as well as the State of Palestine, the African Un ion, the
League of Arab States and OIC.
12. At its 368th meeting, on 10 February 2015, the Committee re -elected Fodé
Seck (Senegal) as Chair, Zahir Tanin (Afghanistan), Rodolfo Reyes Rodríguez
(Cuba), Desra Percaya (Indonesia), Wilfried Emvula (Namibia) an d María Rubiales
de Chamorro (Nicaragua) as Vice-Chairs, and Christopher Grima (Malta) as
Rapporteur.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
13. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of
the United Nations and observers wishing to participate in the work of the
Committee were welcome to do so. In accordance with established practice, the
State of Palestine participated in the work of the Committee as an observer, attended
all of its meetings and gave briefings, made observations and developed proposals
for consideration by the Committee and its Bureau.
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Chapter IV
Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
Political developments
14. During the reporting period, a number of States members of the European
Union moved forward on the path to recognizing the State of Palestine. Sweden
officially recognized the State of Palestine on 30 October 2014. The parliaments of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (13 October), Spain (18
November), France (2 December), Ireland (10 December), Portugal (12 December),
Belgium (5 February 2015) and Italy (27 February 2015) adopted non -binding
resolutions that call upon their respective Governments to recognize the State of
Palestine. The Holy See and Saint Lucia officially recognized the State of Palestine
on 26 June and 14 September respectively.
15. On 17 December, Switzerland, the depositary of the Geneva Conventions,
convened, in Geneva, the Conference of High Contracting Parties to t he Fourth
Geneva Convention, at which a declaration was adopted in which the high
contracting parties emphasized the continued applicability and relevance of the
Fourth Geneva Convention and called upon the occupying Power to fully respect the
Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
16. On 30 December, the Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution
(S/2014/916) calling for a final status agreement and an end to the Is raeli
occupation by the end of 2017, owing to the lack of the required number of nine
favourable votes. The following day, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed
instruments of accession to the following 18 international conventions and treaties:
Convention on the Political Rights of Women; Convention on the Recognition and
Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (the “New York Convention”); Basel
Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and
their Disposal; Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity; Protocol Additional to the
Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of
Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II); Protocol Additional to the Geneva
Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Adoption of an Additional
Distinctive Emblem (Protocol III); Convention on the Law of the Non -Navigational
Uses of International Watercourses; Convention on the Prev ention and Punishment
of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents;
United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; Convention on
the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel and the Optional Pr otocol
thereto; United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; Convention on the
Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against
Humanity; Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International
Criminal Court; Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; Declaration in
accordance with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; Convention
on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which
May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects;
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; Convention on Cluster
Munitions.
17. On 3 January 2015, in retaliation against the Palestinian move to join the
International Criminal Court, Israel decided to fre eze approximately $127 million in
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tax revenues for the month of December, collected on behalf of the Palestinian
people under the Paris Protocol to the Oslo Accords. The freeze deepened the
Palestinian financial crisis and continued until the adoption of an agreement on
17 April between Israel and the State of Palestine under which Israel transferred
more than $470 million that had previously been withheld.
18. After the general elections in Israel on 17 March, Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu continued in his post. Many hardline statements, put forward in the final
days of campaigning by the Prime Minister, raised serious doubts about Israel’s
commitment to the two-State solution. The new Government of Israel was
confirmed on 14 May; its guidelines state that it will strive for peace with the
Palestinians and all its neighbours, while safeguarding the security and historical
and national interests of Israel. In the following months, Prime Minister Netanyahu
reaffirmed his commitment to the idea of a sustai nable two-State solution.
19. After its general elections, Israel implemented measures to ease restrictions on
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, particularly during the Muslim holy month
of Ramadan, although some have been revoked ostensibly in resp onse to rocket fire
from Gaza. In July, the Government of Israel decided to grant an additional 8,000
new work permits for Palestinians from the West Bank, bringing the number of
permits issued for employment in Israel to a new high of approximately 60,000 .
20. On 10 September, the General Assembly adopted resolution 69/320, in which
it decided that the flags of non-member observer States maintaining permanent
observer missions at United Nations Headquarters would be raised at Headquarters
and United Nations offices following the flags of the States Members of the
Organization. On 30 September, the flag of Palestine was raised at United Nations
Headquarters in the presence of President Mahmoud Abbas.
Reconstruction of Gaza
21. On 12 October 2014, at the Cairo International Conference on Palestine:
Reconstructing Gaza, which was co-organized by Egypt and Norway and focused on
the reconstruction of Gaza, some 50 donor countries pledged $5.4 billion in relief
funds for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, of which $3.5 billion ($2.5 billion in
new commitments) was pledged for Gaza. These funds for Gaza represent only
63 per cent of the cost of reconstruction and thus fall short of the funds needed to
return Gaza to the situation prior to the Israeli military operation, when
socioeconomic conditions were already at their worst since 1967.
22. The Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism, the temporary agreement between Israel
and the State of Palestine brokered by the United Nations in September 2014 with
the objective of enabling construction and reconstruction work on the large scale
required in the Gaza Strip, started slowly, hampered by a delay in the disbursement
of donor funds, but scaled up in the first quarter of 2015.
23. In June 2015, Israel and the State of Palestine reached an agreement on the
“residential stream” of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism, a new mechanism to
allow Palestinians in Gaza access to needed construction material for the
reconstruction of fully destroyed homes an d for new construction. As at 10 August
2015, a total of 89,431 households out of the 100,063 affected had procured the
materials necessary to repair their homes under the mechanism’s shelter stream.
Under the residential stream, by the end of August, over 2,600 housing units had
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been cleared for construction; the required construction materials have been
procured for more than 1,200 of those units and, in many cases, the reconstruction
of the homes has commenced.
24. According to the United Nations Confer ence on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD), by May, 20 per cent of Gaza’s population, or 360,000 people, needed
treatment for mental health conditions, and 400,000 children were in need of
immediate psychosocial support. Moreover, in its annual report, UNCTAD reported
that the Israeli blockade, three major wars and the social, health and security -related
ramifications of high population density and overcrowding threatened to render
Gaza uninhabitable by humans by 2020, when the population is expected to increas e
to 2.1 million.
25. There have been a number of significant achievements since the end of
hostilities in August 2014. Notably, the last internally displaced persons left United
Nations collective centres on 17 June 2015. In addition, as at 10 August, th e United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had removed 414,000 tons of rubble out
of an estimated 2 million tons, and a similar amount has been removed by the
Government and the private sector. According to the United Nations Mine Action
Service, since December 2014, 592 explosive remnants of war risk assessments
covering 1,480 dwellings have been conducted. Of an overall estimated 7,000
explosive remnants of war from the 2014 conflict, approximately one third have
been cleared either directly or under t he supervision of the United Nations Mine
Action Service.
Palestinian State-building
26. During the reporting period, the Palestinian State -building efforts continued,
supported by the international community. The first meeting of the Cabinet of the
Government of national consensus was held in Gaza on 9 October 2014. Palestinian
Prime Minister Hamdallah conducted his second visit to Gaza on 25 March 2015,
and on 19 April, a delegation of Palestinian ministers travelled to Gaza to begin a
process to reintegrate public sector employees. On 17 June, the Palestinian
Government of national consensus, formed on 2 June 2014, resigned after President
Mahmoud Abbas said that it was unable to operate in the Gaza Strip. On 22 June,
the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization decided to
establish a committee to consult with all Palestinian factions in order to form a
national unity Government. On 31 July, the Government of the State of Palestine
was reshuffled and five new ministers, for agri culture, education, local governance,
national economy and transportation, were appointed.
27. On 29 January 2015, the International Monetary Fund reported that in 2014,
the Palestinian economy had contracted for the first time since 2006. According to
UNCTAD, socioeconomic conditions are at their lowest point since 1967. The
World Bank assessed that unemployment and poverty have increased markedly. In
the fourth quarter of 2014, unemployment in Gaza reached 43 per cent, the highest
in the world, with youth unemployment at a staggering 60 per cent. The aggregate
poverty rate for Gaza and the West Bank stood at 25 per cent. The economic gap
between Gaza and the West Bank is growing, owing primarily to the impact of the
ongoing restriction on the free movemen t of people and goods to and from the Gaza
Strip.
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28. The socioeconomic prospects for the immediate future remain bleak, owing to
volatile political conditions, reduced aid flows, the slow pace of reconstruction in
Gaza and the lingering effects of Israel ’s withholding of Palestinian tax revenue
during the first four months of 2015. The latter caused an economic crisis in the
Palestinian territory, which in Gaza was exacerbated by an equally severe financial
crisis related to the lack of civil service refo rm. The overall efficacy of donor
support, however, continues to be seriously undermined by the occupation, rather
than by the inadequacy of the policies of the State of Palestine or poor donor
coordination. The fiscal burden of the humanitarian crises and the occupationrelated
fiscal losses have diverted donor aid from development to humanitarian
interventions, including emergency aid, and budget support. No amount of aid
would be sufficient to place any economy on the path of sustainable development
under conditions of frequent military strikes and destruction of infrastructure,
isolation from global markets, fragmentation of domestic markets, and confiscation
of and denial of access to national natural resources.
Security
29. The reporting period was marked by continued tensions, military incursions
and raids by the Israeli occupying forces, and clashes with Palestinian youths and
protesters in many parts of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, which have been
taking place on an almost daily basis. Acc ording to the Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, as at 28 September, Israeli forces had
killed 44 Palestinians and injured 3,387, including children. On 10 December,
Palestinian Minister Ziad Abu Ein died during a confr ontation with Israeli
occupying forces in the course of a protest against Israel’s settlements in the West
Bank. In a positive development, since the ceasefire of 26 August 2014, violence
across the Occupied Palestinian Territory has declined, with June 20 15 recording the
lowest number of Palestinian injuries in more than three years. The recent
aggravation of tensions, however, especially in occupied East Jerusalem and at the
holy sites are cause for concern and risk leading to a further destabilization of an
already fragile situation.
30. In Gaza, there have been allegations that Palestinian factions rearmed after the
Gaza war of the summer of 2014. There has been test -firing of rockets into the
Mediterranean Sea. Militants began firing rockets towards Is rael in October and on
20 December, Israel conducted its first air strike on Gaza since the ceasefire of
26 August. Israel also continues to conduct frequent incursions into the Gaza border
area using military vehicles and continues its harassment of and s hooting at
unarmed farmers in the “no -go zone” near the Gaza-Israel border and its harassment
of fishermen inside the Gaza fishing zone.
31. As at 1 August 2015, unexploded ordnance from the numerous Israeli military
incursions and wars on Gaza had killed 2 Palestinians, including 1 child, and injured
40, including 21 children.
32. In a report submitted to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in April, the United
Nations Headquarters Board of Inquiry concluded that some incidents during the
2014 Gaza conflict at schools of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in which at least 44 Palestinians
were killed and 227 injured, were attributable to the Israeli military. On 14 June,
Israel published a report on its internal investigations into its actions during the
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conflict, including the shelling of United Nations facilities, in which it was
concluded that Israel’s military actions had been “lawful” and “legitimate”.
33. In its report issued on 24 June, the United Nations Independent Commission of
Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict ( A/HRC/29/52), which was established by the
Human Rights Council, stated that it had gathered substantial information pointing
to serious violations of international law by both Israel and Palestinian armed
groups, some of which might amount to war crimes. The Commission expressed
concern that impunity prevailed across the board for violations of international
humanitarian law and human rights l aw allegedly committed by Israeli forces, many
of which constituted grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention and thus
might amount to war crimes, including deliberate attacks against civilians and
civilian objects and wanton destruction of civilian p roperty. With regard to
Palestinian armed groups, the Commission expressed serious concern at the
inherently indiscriminate nature of most of the projectiles directed towards Israel
and at the targeting of civilians, which might amount to a war crime.
34. On 29 June, Israeli forces detained a Swedish-flagged vessel in international
waters 100 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza and forced it to sail to the Israeli
port of Ashdod. The vessel had been part of a four -boat flotilla aiming to bring
humanitarian aid to Gaza and protest the Israeli blockade. The other ships turned
back. Among the detainees were former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki,
Spanish Member of the European Parliament Ana Miranda, and Arab Member of the
Israeli Knesset Basel Ghattas, along with several civil society representatives.
35. In response to intensifying acts of violence and terror, in particular by Israeli
settlers, as reflected in the arson attack of 31 July 2015 against a Palestinian home
in Duma in the West Bank, in which an 18-month-old boy, Ali Dawabsha, was
burned alive, his father and mother died from their injuries and their 4 -year-old son
was orphaned, the Government of Israel decided on 2 August to strengthen the legal
and institutional means of addressing terrorism by Jewish extremists, but also
extended the use of the system of prolonged administrative detention, which is used
almost exclusively to detain Palestinians without charge for long periods.
Jerusalem
36. Provocations and attacks against religious sit es and incitement by Israeli
religious extremists and officials escalated in November 2014, leading to the highest
monthly number of Palestinian casualties (over 1,000). On 13 November, after a
trilateral meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan and United States Secretary of
State John Kerry, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu gave assurances that there
would be no changes to the status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem, in accordance
with its agreement with Jordan. Constructive steps promised to de -escalate the
tensions surrounding the holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem included a decrease
in the number of Jewish activists at the Al -Aqsa Mosque compound, the lifting of
access restrictions and, for the first time since 2007, permission for Palestinians
from the Gaza Strip to worship at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
37. On 18 November, a retaliation attack on a synagogue in West Jerusalem killed
five Israelis and injured several others. It was followed on 29 November by an arson
attack and the vandalization of a joint Jewish-Arab school in Jerusalem, allegedly
perpetrated by Jewish extremists.
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38. Provocative visits to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East
Jerusalem by Jewish extremists and officials, under the protection of Israeli
occupying forces, continued throughout the reporting period and repeatedly led to
violent confrontations with Palestinian worshippers. In late September and early
October, the confrontations escalated, concomitantly with clashes between
Palestinians and Israeli settlers and increase d Israeli military raids in Palestinian
cities, towns, villages and refugee camps in the West Bank, resulting in a number of
civilians killed or injured. This was followed by the decision by the Government of
Israel to substantially increase the number of Israeli security forces in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to impose further restrictions on
access to the Old City of Jerusalem for non -resident Palestinians.
Settlements and settler-related incidents
39. Notwithstanding the international calls for a cessation of all settlement
activities, which constitute violations of international law, namely, the Fourth
Geneva Convention, and Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Israel
continued its policy of illegal settlement-building in the occupied West Bank and
East Jerusalem. At the end of 2014, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of
Statistics, there were 150 Israeli settlements, 16 of which are in East Jerusalem,
with a settler population of around 600,000, of whom 210,000 live in East
Jerusalem. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics of Israel, during the
fourth quarter of 2014 and the first half of 2015, the construction of 1,260 structures
was begun and 1,498 structures were completed. According to the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, settlers outnumber Palestinians in Area C,
which comprises 61 per cent of the West Bank, with 341,000 settlers living in 235
settlements and so-called settlement outposts, compared with 300,000 Palestinians.
40. According to the Israeli non-governmental organization Peace Now, in 2014,
settlement construction in occupied East Jerusalem grew by 260 per cent, from 464
settlement buildings in 2013 to 1,209 in 2014. After accelera ting the construction of
1,000 Jewish settler homes on 27 October, in November, Israel advanced plans for
500 more settler homes in the city. Tendering of new settlement construction also
accelerated throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with 4,599 units overall
tendered in 2014 compared with 3,710 in 2013, a 20 per cent increase, and 2,359
units tendered in the West Bank in 2014 compared with 1,695 in 2013, a 40 per cent
increase.
41. On 25 December, the Israeli Supreme Court ordered the evacuation and
demolition of Amona, the largest settlement outpost in the West Bank, within two
years. On 30 January 2015, the Government of Israel decided to issue tenders for
the additional construction of about 450 residential units in West Bank settlements,
and on 8 February, the Jerusalem municipality approved the construction of
64 Jewish settler homes north of the city.
42. Shortly after the formation of the new Government in May 2015, Israel
approved the construction of 900 settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem.
Following the decision on 29 July by the Israeli Supreme Court that two buildings
in the West Bank settlement of Beit El adjacent to the city of Ramallah, which had
been built on private Palestinian land, should be destroyed, the Israeli Prime
Minister approved, the same day, the immediate construction of 300 housing units in
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the same settlement and advanced plans for 504 new housing units in Israeli
settlement areas in occupied East Je rusalem.
43. Israeli settlers continued to harass and attack Palestinian civilians, especially
farmers and herders, with clashes occurring on an almost daily basis. According to
the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as at 28 September, a total
of 229 settler-related incidents had occurred during the reporting period, causing
either Palestinian casualties, including to children, and/or damages to Palestinian
property or land, averaging 19 each month. These included the destruction of
Palestinian houses, mosques, churches and orchards, many in so -called price tag
attacks, with the aim of scaring Palestinians off their lands and forcing Palestinians
to end their resistance against the Israeli settlement enterprise. On 12 November,
suspected Jewish settlers torched a mosque near Ramallah. In January 2015 alone,
some 5,600 trees were uprooted or vandalized. On 31 July, an arson attack against a
Palestinian family in the occupied West Bank committed by extremist Jewish
settlers killed an 18-month-old baby and his father and mother and critically injured
the 4-year-old brother, who is the only surviving member of the family.
44. According to a report by Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din published
in May, only 7.4 per cent of Israeli police investigations initiated in the West Bank
following complaints by Palestinian victims of offences committed against them or
their property by Israeli settlers result in indictments. The remaining investigations
have been closed, in most cases (some 85 p er cent) owing to investigative failure.
Demolitions and displacements
45. Israel has continued its policy of demolition of Palestinian homes and
structures built without Israeli-issued permits. Such permits are nearly impossible
for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation to obtain. It has also reinstated the
practice of punitive demolitions after having halted it almost completely for close to
a decade. In August, the Israeli Supreme Court legitimized the applicability of the
1951 Absentee’s Property Law to Palestinian property in East Jerusalem when the
owner is residing elsewhere in the West Bank, allowing for the expropriation of
property from Palestinians who have become absentees through no fault of their
own. Israeli courts continued the practice of evicting Palestinian residents and
owners of properties in East Jerusalem that, prior to 1948, had belonged to Jewish
residents, while Palestinians cannot avail themselves of the same procedure, namely,
reclaiming property previously under Pales tinian ownership and now under Jewish -
Israeli control.
46. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as at
28 September, a total of 590 Palestinian structures had been demolished during the
reporting period, of which 106 were i n East Jerusalem, displacing 765 Palestinians
in total and 96 from East Jerusalem.
47. Some 7,000 Palestinian Bedouins in 46 residential areas of the West Bank are
threatened with forcible transfer, linked to the expansion of illegal settlements and
the wall in the E1 area, east of Jerusalem.
Palestinian prisoners
48. According to the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, at the end of
July, a total of 5,369 Palestinian detainees and prisoners were being held in Israeli
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prisons, 346 of them from the Gaza Strip. An additional 972 Palestinians were being
held in Israel Prison Service facilities for being in Israel illegally, 13 of them from
the Gaza Strip. A total of 342 of those Palestinian prisoners are being held in
administrative detention. On 12 July, the Israeli authorities released the Palestinian
prisoner Khader Adnan, who had been arrested and placed in administrative
detention in July 2014, after a 56-day hunger strike.
49. On 20 July, the Israeli Parliament amended the Penal Code to ext end harsh
punishments for throwing stones at moving vehicles, allowing sentences of up to
20 years, which is likely to disproportionally affect Palestinian children. On 30 July,
the Knesset approved a law to permit force-feeding of prisoners on hunger stri ke
under certain conditions, which potentially affects all detainees but particularly
Palestinian detainees who have resorted to hunger strikes to protest their conditions,
including their prolonged administrative detention without charge. The adoption of
the law has led to widespread protests, including by the Israeli Medical Association,
which refuses to comply as that would constitute a breach of the Hippocratic Oath.
Water
50. According to the Emergency Water and Sanitation Hygiene Group, one year
after the Gaza war of 2014, which resulted in $34 million in damage to major water
and sanitation infrastructure, some 120,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, or 7 per
cent of the population in the territory, are still not connected to the water network,
while 23 per cent remain disconnected from the sewage system. As a result of the
unrepaired war damages to wastewater facilities, untreated and partially treated
wastewater is discharged into the environment, infiltrating and polluting the coastal
aquifer, the sole freshwater source for the Gaza Strip, making 96 per cent of the
water from the aquifer unfit for human consumption. According to the Office of the
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, the water
installations operate at approximately 50 per cent capacity owing to energy shortages
and maintenance challenges caused by shortages of parts as a result of the blockade.
Some 65 per cent of the population receives several hours of water once every three
or four days and 15 per cent receives water for six to eight hours every day.
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
51. UNRWA continued to provide extensive services and emergency assistance to
over 5 million Palestine refugees i n all its fields of operations in Jordan, Lebanon,
the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. While it
endeavours to serve this community in accordance with its General Assembly
mandate, UNRWA is confronted with the most severe financ ial crisis since its
establishment in 1949, which is jeopardizing its ability to live up to core
responsibilities in providing basic education, health care and relief and social
services. Although donor responses to this crisis in August helped UNRWA to av ert
the shutdown or delayed opening of its schools in all fields of operation, the
financial deficit continues to affect operations, requiring more substantive solutions
to the chronic underfunding of the Agency.
52. One year after the Israeli military op erations of July and August 2014, the
devastating conflict continues to have severe implications for the work of UNRWA
in the Gaza Strip. A total of 9,117 Palestine refugee homes were totally demolished
and 138,391 damaged during the conflict. The level of destruction, coupled with the
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worsening socioeconomic situation of Gaza Strip residents in the context of the
blockade, presents an extremely challenging environment for Palestine refugees in
the Gaza Strip, severely affecting their well -being, socioeconomic conditions and
future potential.
53. In the light of the escalating conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, the Agency
is particularly concerned about the more than 560,000 Palestine refugees who have
lived in the country for decades, over 50 per cent o f whom have now been displaced
within the Syrian Arab Republic, with an additional 12 per cent forced to seek refuge
in neighbouring countries. In Lebanon, UNRWA has registered 45,000 Palestine
refugees from the Syrian Arab Republic, and 15,000 Palestine r efugees in Jordan
and some 1,000 in the Gaza Strip have approached UNRWA for assistance. In
Egypt, 4,000 Palestine refugees are also reported to have come from the Syrian Arab
Republic and large groups are found further afield. Inside the Syrian Arab Repub lic,
some 65,000 Palestine refugees are in hard -to-reach areas, including Yarmouk camp
on the outskirts of Damascus, which has witnessed a dramatic escalation of violence
that continues to endanger the lives of 18,000 Palestine refugees and Syrian
residents of the camp. Although it has had limited access since July 2013, in 2015,
UNRWA was able to serve the vast majority (over 90 per cent) of the Palestine
refugee population in the Syrian Arab Republic with regular humanitarian assistance
and services. However, the access situation declined significantly during the
summer of 2015, particularly in the Dera’a and Aleppo areas.
54. The Committee again expresses its appreciation for the dedication of UNRWA
and its entire staff to its mission and calls upon all Member States to address the
critical financial situation in which the Agency finds itself, to enable the continued
provision of vital support to the Palestine refugee population in all fields of operation.
United Nations Development Programme/Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs
55. UNDP, through its Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People,
continued to respond to the development needs of the State of Palestine and its
national consensus government. In support of the Palestinian statehood agenda, UNDP
focuses on democratic governance and the rule of law, economic empowerment and
private sector development, environment and management of natural resources, as
well as public and social infrastructure. Notwithstanding the blockade of the Gaza
Strip, UNDP is also alleviating the suffering of the population in the coastal enclave
by enhancing livelihoods through emergency employment, cash assistance, the
reconstruction of shelters and schools, the removal of rubble, and institutional
integration. The Programme places empowerment, resilience and sustainability at
the centre of its operation and focuses on three priority areas: the Gaza Strip, East
Jerusalem and Area C of the West Bank, where the needs are the greatest.
56. The Committee remained appreciative of the important work of the Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It
noted that the consolidated appeal for 2015 focuse d on the delivery of humanitarian
assistance, increased protection of civilians, enhanced monitoring and reporting on
the humanitarian situation and the strengthening of United Nations humanitarian
coordination structures.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 69/20
1. Action taken in the Security Council
57. During the open debates at the Security Council held on 21 October 2014,
15 January 2015, 21 April 2015 and 23 July 2015 , the Chair of the Committee
delivered a statement (see S/PV.7281; S/PV.7360; S/PV.7430; S/PV.7490).
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee
58. On 10 November 2014, the Bureau of the Committee issued a statement on the
situation in East Jerusalem (GA/PAL/1315). On 18 December, the Bureau issued a
statement welcoming the Declaration of the Conference of High Contracting Parties
to the Fourth Geneva Convention (GA/PAL/1323).
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 69/20
and 69/21
1. Committee meetings at Headquarters
59. During the reporting period, the Committee held periodic meetings at United
Nations Headquarters in New York. At its 366th meeting, on 19 November 2014, the
Committee approved for submission to the General Assembly four draft resolutions
entitled “Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People”, “Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat”, “Special information
programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of
the Secretariat” and “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”. At its
368th meeting, on 10 February 2015, attended by the Deputy Secretary -General of
the United Nations, the Committee re-elected its Chair, Vice-Chairs and Rapporteur.
At its 369th meeting on 1 May 2015, the Director of the UNRWA New York Office
addressed the Committee on the occasion of the sixty -fifth anniversary of the
commencement of the Agency’s operations.
60. In addition to its periodic meetings, during the re porting period, the
Committee organized the following events at United Nations Headquarters in New
York within the framework of the 2014 International Year of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People:
(a) Lecture by Noam Chomsky, Professor Emeritus of Ling uistics at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 14 October 2014;
(b) Fashion show by Jamal Taslaq, Palestinian-Italian designer, 10 November
2014.
2. Programme of international meetings and conferences
61. During the reporting period, the following international events were held
under the auspices of the Committee:
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(a) United Nations International Meeting of Parliamentarians in Support of
Israeli-Palestinian Peace, United Nations Headquarters, New York, 21 November
2014;
(b) International Conference of Local Governments and Civil Society
Organizations in Support of Palestinian Rights, Seville, Spain, 2 and 3 December
2014;
(c) United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, Vienna,
31 March and 1 April 2015;
(d) United Nations Round Table on Legal Aspects of the Question of
Palestine, The Hague, Netherlands, 20 to 22 May 2015;
(e) United Nations International Meeting in Support of Israeli -Palestinian
Peace, Moscow, 1 and 2 July 2015;
(f) International Meeting on the Question of Palestine, Brussels, 7 and
8 September 2015;
(g) Consultations of the Committee delegation with civil society
organizations active on the Question of Palestine, Brussels, 9 September 2015.
62. The above-mentioned events were attended by representatives of
Governments, intergovernmental organizations and United Nations system entities,
as well as parliamentarians and representatives of civil society and the media.
Detailed information about the meetings is being issued in the form of publi cations
of the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat and is available on the
“Question of Palestine” website maintained by the Division.
63. In the margins of the United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian
People held in Austria, the Committee delegation met with high -ranking officials of
the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria. In the
margins of the United Nations Round Table on Legal Aspects of the Question of
Palestine held in The Hague, the Committee delegation met with high-level officials
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and of the European External
Action Service. In the margins of the United Nations International Meeting in
Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace in Moscow, the Committee delegation held
meetings with high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Russian Federation, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and the
Assistant Secretary-General of OIC, respectively. In the margins of the International
Meeting on the Question of Palestine held in Brussels, the Committee delegation
met with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and
Development Cooperation of Belgium.
3. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations
64. Throughout the year, the Committee continued its cooperation with the African
Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries and OIC. The Committee is appreciative of the active
participation of their representatives in the various international events held under
its auspices and the co-sponsorship provided by the League of Arab States and OIC
in organizing the International Meeting on the Question of Palestine held in
Brussels in September.
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4. Cooperation with civil society
Civil society organizations
65. The Committee continued its cooperation with civil society organizations
worldwide. Civil society representatives participated in all international meetings
organized under the auspices of the Committee. On 9 September, consultations
between the Bureau of the Committee and civil society organizations were held in
Brussels. The Committee commends the important work of civil society organizations
and encourages them to continue contributing to efforts aimed at achieving a
comprehensive, just, lasting and peaceful solution to the question of Palestine in all
its aspects and achieving the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
66. The Committee maintained its cooperation with national, regional and
international coordinating mechanisms and established new liaisons with a large
number of individual organizations.
67. The Working Group of the Committee, chaired by the representative of Malta,
met periodically and hosted two briefings by civil society representatives at United
Nations Headquarters in New York.
68. During the reporting period, three civil society organizations were accredited
to the Committee and two organizations became observers.
69. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintained a civil society page
(http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/ngo.htm) on the “Question of Palestine” website as
an outreach tool towards civil society organizations and to foster civil society
networking and cooperation.
70. The Division maintained its Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages to
disseminate information about the work of the Committee, and the United Nations
as a whole, on the question of Palestine. In addition, the Division continued to
publish the periodic online bulletin NGO Action News, reaching out to more than
1,000 civil society organizations around the world, in order to catalogue and
publicize civil society initiatives.
Parliaments, interparliamentary organizations and local governments
71. The Committee continued to attach great importance to developing its liaison
with national and regional parliaments and their organizations. Representatives of
parliaments and interparliamentary organizations participated in international events
organized by the Committee during the reporti ng period. Among others, members of
the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Israeli Knesset, the parliaments of
Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Malta, Mexico, Pakistan, South Africa, Sweden, the
regional parliament of Andalusia in Spain, as well as the European Parliament, the
Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Arab Inter -Parliamentary Union and the French
Senate participated in the international meetings held under the auspices of the
Committee.
5. Research, monitoring and publications
72. The Division carried out research and monitoring activities and responded to
requests for information and briefings on the question of Palestine. Under the
guidance of the Committee, which reiterated the relevance of the research,
monitoring and publications programme, it also prepared the publications listed
below for dissemination:
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(a) Monthly bulletin on action taken by the United Nations system and
intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of events relating to the question of Palestine based
on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of international meetings and conferences organized under the
auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletin and information notes on the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments related to the Middle East peace
process;
(f) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General
Assembly and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
6. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
73. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and
library services of the United Nations Secretariat, continued to administer, maintain,
expand and develop the “Question of Palestine” website ( http://unispal.un.org/
unispal.nsf/home.htm) and UNISPAL. That included the ongoing maintenance and
upgrading of the technical components of the system and involved the expansion of
the document collection to include relevant new and old United Nations and other
documents.
7. Training programme for staff of the Government of the State of Palestine
74. The Division conducted the annual training programme for staff of the
Government of the State of Palestine. Two staff members of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs are in the process of completing a six -week training programme at
Headquarters in New York (7 September to 16 October) and an additional two staff
members will complete the same programme between 19 October and 27 November.
The training will allow the Palestinian staff to familiarize themselves with various
aspects of the work of the Secretariat and other United Nations organs and bodies,
including the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social
Council. The training is financially supported by the OPEC Fund for International
Development.
8. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
75. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
on 24 November 2014 at Headquarters in New York, on 26 November at the United
Nations Office at Geneva and on 28 November at the United Nations Office at
Vienna. At Headquarters, the Committee held a special meeting and organized a photo
exhibit entitled “The Long Journey” in cooperation with UNRWA and the Department
of Public Information of the Secretariat, as well as a musical performance by the
Joubran Trio in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of
Palestine to the United Nations. The Committee noted with appreciation that the
International Day of Solidarity had also been observed by United Nations
Information Centres and other bodies in many cities throughout the world. Details
on the observance are contained in the special bulletin issued by the Division.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 69/22
76. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 69/22, the Department of
Public Information continued to implement its special information programme on
the question of Palestine.
77. On 26 and 27 May 2015, the Department held its annual United Nations
International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East, in Astana, in cooperation
with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan. The seminar was attended by
journalists, former and current policymakers, think tank members, academics and
students from France, Israel, Kazakhstan, the United States of America and the State
of Palestine. The event brought together some 350 participants.
78. The Department’s annual five-week training programme for Palestinian
journalists was organized in New York and Washington, D.C., from 3 November to
5 December 2014. The selected group of nine Palestinian jou rnalists attended a
series of briefings by United Nations officials and media industry leaders. They also
worked through an intensive curriculum with regular workshops, assignments and
final projects.
79. A number of outreach events to commemorate the 2014 International Day of
Solidarity and the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People were
also organized both at Headquarters and in other locations through the global
network of the United Nations Information Centres of the Department of Public
Information.
80. In New York, the Department, in conjunction with UNRWA and the Division
for Palestinian Rights, arranged for the display of the “Long Journey” exhibit in the
Visitors’ Lobby of United Nations Headquarters as part of the commemoratio n of
Solidarity Day, from November 2014 to January 2015.
81. Guided tour routes for visitors to United Nations Headquarters continued to
include a stop at the permanent exhibit “The Question of Palestine and the United
Nations”. During the reporting period , over 200,000 visitors took the guided tour.
82. The question of Palestine, the International Day and the Year of Solidarity
were all promoted widely on the multilingual United Nations website, through
United Nations social media accounts managed by the D epartment of Public
Information and through the Department’s traditional media platforms, including
United Nations Radio, United Nations Television and the United Nations News
Centre.
83. United Nations Television produced a special edition of its 21st Cen tury
television series, entitled “Palestine and Israel — Mending Hearts”, which looked at
how a heart surgery programme helped a critically sick Palestinian baby in the West
Bank.
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
84. The Committee remains convinced that a negotiated peaceful settlement
of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in all its aspects in accordance with United
Nations resolutions, an urgent end to the Israeli occupation, and the realization
of the rights of the Palestinian people, including to self-determination, remain
central to peace and stability throughout the volatile Middle East region and
should be a top priority of the international community. As has consistently
emerged during the international meetings organized by the Committee, any
resolution of the conflict will require a comprehensive regional solution,
conceivably with support from the reinvigorated Quartet, that includes greater
engagement with key Arab States and the other States concerned. The Arab
Peace Initiative remains a significant contribution to such a regional
settlement. The Committee is supporting those efforts and will continue its
enhanced cooperation with the League of Arab States and OIC.
85. In its continued support to revitalize the pe ace negotiations, the Committee
aligns itself with the view that the previous paradigm of bilateral negotiations,
which after more than two decades have not yielded any success, should be
revised. There is a need to obtain a firm commitment from Israel wit h regard to
the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders and in accordance
with the relevant United Nations resolutions. Serious efforts are needed between
the parties to overcome their deeply entrenched mistrust, including confidence -
building efforts with the support of the international community, and to
demonstrate the courage and leadership that is required at this time. If the two
parties do continue to seek an outcome of two neighbouring States living in peace
and security, but are unable themselves at this juncture to agree on a meaningful
framework to resume negotiations, the international community must consider
presenting such a framework, including parameters. In that regard, it is the
primary responsibility of the Security Council, under the Charter of the United
Nations, to play its role in defining a new peace architecture for resolving the
conflict. The Committee urges the Security Council and the General Assembly to
give positive consideration to all proposals that endeavour to present a way out
of the current impasse. The Committee intends to contribute to a healthy and
necessary discussion of these issues via its programme of work.
86. The Committee notes that the reconstruction of Gaza has now
commenced, one year after the devastating war. However, the pace of
reconstruction remains inadequately slow and the humanitarian and security
situation is fragile; clean water, sanitation and electricity are still scarce and
the tens of thousands of Palestinians who were rendered homeles s and destitute
by the conflict remain so. Immediate steps are needed to solidify the ceasefire
and to accelerate reconstruction efforts, focusing on the physical rebuilding
and delivery of affordable energy and sufficient water and the amelioration of
dire socioeconomic conditions. Continued donor funding has to be secured for
the long term, including for UNRWA. There is need for continued funding for
the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism. Ultimately, in order to ensure respect for
the rights of the Palestinian people, prevent deterioration beyond the breaking
point and break the build-destroy-rebuild cycle, the Israeli blockade on the
Gaza Strip must end and there must be a lifting of all closures within the
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framework of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009). Palestinian
reconciliation is also essential, and a Palestinian unity government has to take
up governance and security functions in Gaza and exercise control over the
crossings. The Committee reiterates its calls upon the United Nations members
and observers to provide generous support to UNRWA, the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNDP, the United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and other organizations
working on the ground to alleviate the catastrophic conditions and to expedite
the Gaza reconstruction efforts.
87. The Committee reiterates that violations of humanitarian and human
rights law have to be investigated and that the perpetrators should be brought
to justice. The primary responsibility for such investigations rests with the
Member States but they could be conducted by relevant United Nations and
other international bodies if necessary. The Committee welcomed the fact -
finding mission established by the Human Rights Council and the report of t he
United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict
(A/HRC/29/52) as important steps towards achieving accountability for
violations of humanitarian and human rights law. The findings and
recommendations of the report should be vigorously followed up on by the
relevant bodies and authorities with a view to ending impunity.
88. The Committee welcomes the accession by the State of Palestine to
additional international conventions and treaties, including the Rome Statute
of the International Criminal Court, and encourages its Government to take all
steps towards full compliance with those instruments, to the extent allowed by
the constraints imposed by the Israeli occupation. As became appa rent during
the legal round table organized by the Committee, the signature by the State of
Palestine of additional international instruments can help to strengthen the
rule of law and uphold human rights domestically, while making it possible to
pursue justice and accountability for Palestinian victims through available
international legal mechanisms. The Committee stands ready to further
contribute to capacity-building in this area through its training programme for
staff of the Government of the State of Palestine.
89. The Committee underscores the responsibility of States and private
entities not to contribute to grave Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights,
particularly in respect of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem. It welcomes in that regard the appropriate stance of
the European Union on the importation of products from settlements and
encourages the European Union and other organizations and States to adopt
and implement other such policies that guarantee adherence to international
conventions in regard of illegal settlements in occupied areas, particularly the
Fourth Geneva Convention. It welcomes further steps taken by Governments
and private businesses to dissociate themselves from policies that d irectly or
indirectly support settlements.
90. Through its mandated activities, the Committee will continue to generate
heightened international awareness of the question of Palestine and
international support for the rights of the Palestinian people, incl uding their
right to self-determination and independence. In that connection, the
Committee emphasizes the useful contribution of the Division for Palestinian
Rights of the Secretariat in support of its mandate. It notes with satisfaction:
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(a) the sustained level of dialogue, engagement and support on the part of the
international community for the programme’s objectives, as evidenced by the
number of and participation in international meetings and conferences, and
commemorations of the International Day an d Year of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People; (b) the continued involvement of civil society organizations
in support of the efforts of the Committee and the United Nations towards a
comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palesti ne; and
(c) an increase in international awareness of the United Nations policies and
activities on the question of Palestine, as evidenced by the increased number of
visitors to the Question of Palestine website and followers of social media sites
maintained by the Division. The Committee also considers that the annual
training programme for staff of the Government of the State of Palestine,
carried out annually by the Division, has proved its usefulness, as it directly
contributes to Palestinian capacity-building efforts. The Committee expresses
its appreciation for the funding of the programme in 2015 by the OPEC Fund
for International Development and strongly recommends that this important
mandated activity be continued and, where possible, further expanded.
91. The Committee will focus its programme of international meetings and
conferences in 2016, to be implemented by the Division, on amplifying
international support for the achievement of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, stressing the role and responsibility of the United Nations in
that regard and in this year of the seventieth anniversary of the Organization.
The Committee intends to work closely with other United Nations actors on the
ground, such as the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Process and UNRWA, to synergize efforts in fields of
common concern. The Committee will also continue to examine the legal
aspects of the question of Palestine.
92. The Committee will continue to mobilize support for Palestinian
institution-building and all other efforts to support and enhance the viability of
the State of Palestine. It will reach out to and engage Governments,
parliamentarians and civil society to mobilize support for a just solution to a ll
permanent status issues, including the question of refugees, based on principles
of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, including General
Assembly resolution 194 (III). It will pay particular attention to the inclusion
and empowerment of women and young people and their organizations.
93. The Committee highly values civil society initiatives in support of the
Palestinian people. It will expand its efforts to engage with all the supporters of
a just and peaceful solution to the question of Palestine, including in Israel. The
Committee encourages civil society partners to work with their national
Governments, parliamentarians and other institutions with a view to gaining
their full support for the work of the United Nations, including that of the
Committee, on the question of Palestine.
94. The Committee looks forward to further developing its cooperation with
parliamentarians and their umbrella organizations. Parliamentarians have a
special responsibility to ensure that their Governme nts actively promote and
support the realization of a peaceful and just solution of the question of Palestine
and uphold their obligations under international law, including humanitarian
and human rights law. It will continue its outreach to new audiences such as local
governments, which also have an important role to play in promoting the rights
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of the Palestinian people and the responsibilities of Governments to adhere to
international humanitarian and human rights laws and conventions.
95. The Committee will reach out to all regional groups at the United Nations
with a view to expanding its membership. It will actively work to organize more
thematic debates on the question of Palestine in various United Nations forums.
Recognizing the growing importance of developing countries and regional and
subregional organizations, it will make a special effort to step up engagement
with those countries and organizations in its work.
96. The Committee requests the Division to continue its substantive and
secretariat support, the programme of research, monitoring and publications
and other informational activities, in support of the Committee’s
communication strategy. The Division should pay special attention to continued
development of the “Question of Palestine” port al, the preparation of
publications and information materials on various aspects of the question of
Palestine and their widest possible dissemination, including in the official
languages of the United Nations, and the use of web -based social information
networks, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. It should also continue to
develop the UNISPAL document collection by reflecting current issues and
events, as well as by continuing to digitize and upload historical documents and
to add user-friendly search features. The Division should continue to collaborate
with the United Nations Libraries at Headquarters and in Geneva in the search
for historic documents. It should explore opportunities to expand the breadth
and scope of the annual training programme for staff of the Government of the
State of Palestine, paying special attention to the programme’s gender balance,
such as expanding the pool of potential participants to all offices and
departments of the Government and optimizing the use of resources to all ow the
maximum number of participants possible. Continued voluntary contributions
from member and observer States and international organizations in line with
their capacity, such as from the OPEC Fund for International Development in
2015, are to be encouraged to put the programme on a solid financial footing.
97. The Division should continue to organize the annual observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
98. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and the public of the relevant
issues. It requests the continuation of the programme, with the necessary
flexibility warranted by developments relevant to the question of Palestine.
99. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, and in view of the many
difficulties facing the Palestinian people and their leadership and besetting the
peace process, the Committee calls upon all States to join it in this endeavour
and to extend their cooperation and support to the Committee, and invites the
General Assembly again to recognize the importance of its role and to
reconfirm its mandate.
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Annex
Economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the
Palestinian people
Note by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
A. Introduction and objective
1. The year 2015 marks the forty-eighth year of Israel’s occupation of the Gaza
Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Despite numerous United
Nations resolutions and condemnations of the illegal occupation of the Palestinian
territory, little has been achieved to end the occupation and its damaging impacts.
On the contrary, illegal settlements continue to expand and new ones are being built,
the settler population is increasing, and the detrimental consequences are now
engrained in the daily lives of the Palestinian population under occupation.
2. In recognition of this fact, on 25 November 2014, the General Assembly
adopted resolution 69/20, in which it requested the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to report to the Assembly o n the economic
costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people.
3. The objective of the present annex is to partially respond to that request.
Reporting the cost of the occupation is, however, a substantial and multi -year task
and requires more resources than are presently available to UNCTAD. The
Conference therefore carried out preliminary work to reflect on how the task could
be implemented; highlight historical precedents relating to similar situations;
outline the scope and periodicity of the task; and assess the resources required to
implement it. Specifically, the annex is aimed at providing Member States with
background and the resource requirements for UNCTAD to fulfil the request
contained in paragraph 9 of General Assembly resolution 69/20 and perform this
task on a regular basis.
4. Hence, the annex does not contain a report on the qualitative and quantitative
aspects of the cost of the occupation; rather, it underscores for Member States the
critical importance of such an assignment and the need to equip the international
community with an objective understanding of the effects of the occupation on the
Palestinian people as a step towards achieving peace with justice and dignity.
B. Some perspectives on the economics of the occupation
5. Throughout history, colonization and mili tary occupations have consistently
had economic objectives and consequences. They take various shapes and forms,
but always involve the exploitation, impoverishment, marginalization, displacement
and appropriation of resources of the occupied indigenous pe ople.
6. In almost all types of occupation, the economic dimension could be described
as acts and measures taken by the occupier to appropriate assets, natural resources
and economic benefits that rightfully belong to the colonized people. These acts
often deprive the people under colonial rule of the internationally recognized human
right to development by confiscating their national resources, preventing them from
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accessing and utilizing those resources, depriving them of the ability to produce and
thus forcing them to consume products produced by the occupier. These actions
represent only a partial aspect of the economic costs incurred by the people under
occupation. Equally damaging are the measures and policies that undermine the
capacity of the occupied people to conduct normal trade and economic and social
transactions with neighbours and traditional trading partners and to move freely
within their country and territories.
C. Key references and historical precedents
7. This section highlights some relevant precedents where economic costs were
taken into account as key elements for negotiating durable solutions to complex and
intractable conflicts.
8. The United Nations Fact-finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, which was
established by the President of the Human Rights Council on 3 April 2009,
concluded in its report to the General Assembly ( A/HRC/12/48) that Israel’s
continuing occupation emerged as the fundamental factor underlying violations of
international law and undermining prospects for development and peace.
9. The costs of the Israeli occupation have been staggering and are mounting.
They continue to increase despite numerous United Nations resolutions calling for
the dismantlement of the settlements and an end to the losses and suffering incurred
by the Palestinian people. Equally relevant, in the context of economic development
in conflict situations, are the international law statutes and principles and the
international human rights and humanitarian law that deal with redress and
reparation payments to injured parties in conflict situations. Resolutions, measures
and precedents that should also apply to Palestinians under occupation include the
following:
(a) Decision by the Permanent Court of International Justice of 1928 in
the landmark case concerning the factory at Chorzów. It was determined in this
decision that States are responsible for making reparation (return to status quo ante)
for their breaches of international law; a
(b) General Assembly resolution 194 (III). This resolution has served and
continues to serve as the legal cornerstone for Palestinians on the refugee question
and on compensation. The oft-cited resolution was adopted on 11 December 1948
during the ongoing mass displacement of Palestinians from areas that fell under
Israeli control. The General Assembly has consistently reaffirmed the applicability
of resolution 194 (III) to the settlement of refugee questions and compensation;
(c) Pinheiro Principles. More recently, the post-Cold War era witnessed
significant normative and practical developments in the area of durable solutions for
refugees and reparation payments. Numerous conflicts involving the mass
displacement of persons and damages to property and people wer e resolved through
agreements in the 1990s, including in Afghanistan, Cyprus, Guatemala and the
former Yugoslavia. Several mass claim schemes were also implemented during this
period to remedy human rights abuses, displacement and loss of property. Notable
examples are the establishment of the Commission for Real Property Claims of
__________________
a See http://www.icj-cij.org/pcij/serie_A/A_09/28_Usine_de_Chorzow_Competence_Arret.pdf .
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Displaced Persons and Refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo and the
United Nations Compensation Commission for the victims of Iraq’s invasion of
Kuwait;b
(d) Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legal
Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory. The advisory opinion reaffirmed the principle of compensation and
reparations to injured parties for actions of State s that breach international law.c
D. Need for an assessment of the economic cost of occupation
10. It follows from the precedents listed above that there is a cost borne by the
people under occupation and those suffering damage from the actions of the
occupying authority.d Compensation for this cost, however, should not be
considered as a price or a substitute to ending occupation. On the contrary, it is an
essential remedy that should accompany steps towards reversing the negative
impacts and economic distortions of occupation.
11. However, to this day, there is no systematic assessment or comprehensive
record of the economic costs and consequences of the actions, measures and
positions of Israel as an occupying Power in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Thus far, all the analyses performed and efforts made to quantify the cost of
occupation have been done on an ad hoc basis, mostly by UNCTAD. Efforts made
include the following:
(a) Since the mid-2000s, UNCTAD has prepared a number of studies a nd
reports focusing on various aspects of the cost of occupation, such as the economic
cost of the destruction of productive capacities, fiscal losses, the Israeli closure
policy in the West Bank and the blockade in Gaza, the loss of Palestinian policy
space and the Israeli control of Palestinian land, water and other natural resources; e
__________________
b See the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, A/CONF.183/9 of 17 July 1998;
Principles on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons,
E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/17, June 2005; and Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a
Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and
Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law, Genera l Assembly resolution 60/147 of
16 December 2005.
c See www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/131/1671.pdf.
d See A/AC.25/W.81/Rev.2 (Annex I of March 1950 and II of October 1949), entitled “Historical
precedents for restitution of property or payment of compensation to refugees ” and
“Compensation to refugees for loss of or damage to property to be made good under principles of
international law or in equity”, respectively, and General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of
11 December 1948.
e See UNCTAD study entitled “Palestinian fiscal revenue leakage to Israel under the Protocol on
Economic Relations”, available from unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/gdsapp2013d1_en.pdf .
See also the reports on UNCTAD assistanc e to the Palestinian people for 2008 ( TD/B/55/2),
2010 (TD/B/57/4), 2011 (TD/B/58/4) and 2012 (TD/B/59/2), as well as
UNCTAD/GDS/APP/2008/1 of May 2009 entitled “Policy Alternatives for Sustained Palestinian
Development and State Formation”, available from unctad.org/en/Docs/gdsapp20081_en.pdf.
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(b) In 2013, the World Bank provided partial estimates of the cost of
occupation of Area C (61 per cent of the West Bank) in a report entitled West Bank
and Gaza: Area C and the future of the Palestinian economy ;f
(c) The United Nations Register of Damage Caused by the Construction of
the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, established in 2007 (General
Assembly resolution ES-10/17), focuses only on the damage emanating from the
construction of the Israeli separation barrier within the West Bank;
(d) The Palestinian National Authority estimated the cost of Israeli
occupation related to the heavy restrictions imposed on the Palestinian people and
their lack of ownership and access to their own natural resources; g
(e) In the information brief entitled “Palestinian Losses in 1948: Calculating
Refugee Compensation”, Atif Kubursi elaborated on the rights of refugees in terms
of restitution of property and compensation for lost opportunity, in line with General
Assembly resolution 194 (III). The assessment focused on the property and human
capital losses of the Palestinian refugees. h
E. Concept of losses and their typology
12. Not all the occupation-related costs can be measured in monetary terms; for
example, no dollar value can be assigned to the distress and agony of the loss and
destruction of life, community, culture, shelter or a homeland, or the detention of a
human being without due process and legal justific ation. Assessment of the cost of
the occupation to the Palestinian people can be, at best, a partial measurement of the
losses/costs incurred since the onset of the occupation.
13. The typology of the costs incurred by the Palestinian people under occupati on
that followed from the “de-development” policies imposed on the Palestinian
economy calls for identifying, monitoring and measuring these losses in a
systematic and periodical manner. The list includes but is not restricted to physical
losses; loss of water and other natural resources; opportunity and economic losses;
specific macroeconomic and fiscal losses; non-specific/miscellaneous macro- and
micro-losses; human capital losses; loss of community and neighbourhood; and
psychosocial losses.
14. The identification and quantification of each of these losses lie at the core of
assessing the “cost of occupation”. For each type of loss, the conceptual question is
twofold: (a) What actions taken by the occupation authorities can be considered
harmful to the economy (the costs of which are borne by all the individuals of the
Palestinian people)?; (b) What monetary value can be assigned to each action taken
by the occupation authorities (and therefore be a fair assessment of the cost of the
occupation)? Obviously, such quantification will be complex and multidimensional,
requiring expertise in economics, law, history and politics.
__________________
f See http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2014/01/23/
000442464_20140123122135/Rendered/PDF/AUS29220REPLAC0EVISION0January02014.pdf.
g Palestinian Ministry of National Economy, Applied Research Institute — Jerusalem, The
Economic Costs of the Israeli Occupation for the Occupied Palestinian Territory , September
2011. Available from www.un.org/depts/dpa/qpal/docs/2012Cairo/p2%20jad%20isaac%20e.pdf .
h Atif A. Kubursi, Palestinian Losses in 1948: Calculating Refugee Compensation
(Washington, D.C., Center for Policy Analysis on Palestine, 2001) .
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F. Institutional set-up and budget implications
15. In the light of its existing mandate, UNCTAD is the only United Nations entity
with proven expertise on the Palestinian economy, its constraints and development
prospects; it is therefore well-positioned to assume the responsibilities of the
evaluation of the economic cost of the occupation. However, this task cannot be
implemented with the resources presently available to UNCTAD. Additional
resources are required for the Conference to fulfil the request contained in General
Assembly resolution 69/20. The assignment of these additional resources should be
established through the appropriate United Nations mechanisms.
16. A preliminary assessment of the resources required to fulfil this task indicates
that the establishment phase (the first three years) would require extrabudgetary
resources to involve four or five internationally renow ned experts and cover the cost
of all other related activities. The maintenance of the monitoring capacity in the first
and subsequent years would require augmenting the existing capacity of UNCTAD
by three Professional staff members and one General Servic e staff member.
Moreover, an annual regular budget would be required to cover the cost of
recruiting consultants and staff travel.
G. Recommendations
17. Building on General Assembly resolution 69/20, it is recommended to allocate
to UNCTAD, through the appropriate mechanisms, the resources required to
institutionalize the stocktaking function and gather the documentary evidence by
keeping a real-time record based on measuring the costs of occupation on a timely
basis within the United Nations system.
18. With a view to facilitating future negotiations for a sustainable, just and
peaceful settlement of the conflict, it is recommended that UNCTAD estimate the
historical and recurrent economic costs of occupation in a systematic, scientific and
evidence-based way on a regular basis, and that it regularly document, update and
keep an inventory of historical and new actions taken by the occupying Power,
particularly those that have a damaging economic impact on the Palestinian people,
their livelihood and their immediate and future ability to maintain a viable and
efficient economy.
15-17236 (E) 281015
*1517236*
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-first Session
Supplement No. 35
A/71/35
United Nations • New York, 2016
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations
document.
ISSN 0255-2035
16-17272 3/32
[5 October 2016]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
II. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
III. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
IV. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
V. Actions taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 70/12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance
with General Assembly resolutions 70/12 and 70/13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 70/14 and by other United Nations entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4/32 16-17272
Letter of transmittal
[5 October 2016]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 2 of its resolution 70/12 of
24 November 2015.
The report covers the period from 7 October 2015 to 3 October 2016.
(Signed) Fodé Seck
Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The reporting period from 7 October 2015 to 3 October 2016 was
characterized by the further deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. This included
extrajudicial killings and excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces,
raising serious concerns about the protection of civilians, including children;
heightened provocations and tensions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and other
religious sites; ongoing illegal Israeli settlement activities and increasing house
demolitions in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. These negative
developments further stoked tensions and hopelessness. Notwithstanding recent
initiatives for a stronger involvement of the wider international community, the
impasse in the peace process continued.
2. The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remained dire. Palestinian and
international efforts to address humanitarian needs and rebuild the homes and
livelihoods of the tens of thousands affected by the war in 2014 were insufficient to
achieve significant results owing to the blockade and severe import restrictions
imposed by Israel, as well as unfulfilled donor pledges. At least 65,000 Palestinian
civilians remain displaced owing to the destruction of or severe damage to their
homes during Israeli military operations in 2014.
3. Israeli occupying forces continued to carry out frequent military raids and
incursions in the West Bank, resulting in the killing and injuring of Palestinians;
hundreds more, including children and young people, were arrested or detained.
During the reporting period, more than 6,000 Palestinians remained in Israeli
prisons and detention centres. Hundreds went on hunger strike to protest their
administrative detention and ill-treatment.
4. Israel continued to expand its illegal settlements in the West Bank, including
in East Jerusalem. Settlement construction was accompanied by official plans to
build thousands of new settlement units, further fragmenting Palestinian land and
disconnecting communities, and attempts to retroactively “legalize” settlement
outposts. Hundreds of Palestinian families were forcibly displaced as a result of the
increase in evictions and house demolitions. In occupied East Jerusalem, the
increased number of incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and acts of
incitement and provocation by extremist Israelis significantly increased the risk of
ethno-religious strife, which could become part of larger conflicts throughout the
region.
5. Twelve years after the 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of
Justice was rendered, the construction of the wall by Israel continued, severely
impairing the movement and access of the Palestinian population, including to their
farmlands and to such essential services as education and health care, further
isolating East Jerusalem and harming the socioeconomic conditions of the
Palestinian people.
6. Against the backdrop of stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace talks since April 2014
and growing tensions, France launched a new initiative in October 2015 aimed at
mobilizing international support for Palestinian-Israeli peace and providing a
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framework for a credible political process. To that end, a ministerial meeting was
convened on 3 June 2016 in Paris. On 1 July, the Middle East Quartet issued a longawaited
report with recommendations to address the prevailing situation and
persistent obstacles on the path to peace and thus advance conditions conducive for
negotiations aimed at the achievement of the two-State solution as a lasting
settlement of the conflict. In May, Egypt appealed to Israel and the State of
Palestine to achieve a peace agreement. In August, the Russian Federation offered to
host direct talks between Israel and the State of Palestine.
7. Regional and other partners facilitated new reconciliation talks between Fatah
and Hamas; the process is ongoing, however, and Palestinian unity has not yet been
reached.
8. Municipal elections in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip scheduled for 8 October,
in which Hamas had pledged to participate, were suspended on 8 September by a
Palestinian high court ruling following a dispute over electoral lists in Gaza and the
inability of Palestinians in East Jerusalem to participate.
9. Palestinian state- and institution-building efforts continued notwithstanding
restrictions imposed by Israel on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which
continued to obstruct the free movement of persons and goods and viable political
and economic activity and undermine sustained development and growth. The
accession by the State of Palestine to a series of international conventions and
instruments, their implementation and the reporting requirements have provided the
State of Palestine the opportunity to build capacity, especially regarding human
rights standards and good governance, to bring it to par with other signatory
countries. Similarly, the commitment by the State of Palestine to implement the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development under occupation has posed challenges
to national institutions, along with opportunities to develop capacity.
10. The activities of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People, its Bureau and Working Group continued to draw the
attention of the international community to issues requiring urgent action, such as
the dire living conditions and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, international efforts
to revitalize negotiations, the situation in occupied East Jerusalem and the
challenges posed by the occupation with respect to the implementation of the
Sustainable Development Goals, with the objective of mobilizing wide support for
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to selfdetermination
and independence, in accordance with the Charter of the United
Nations, international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
11. The Committee continued to reaffirm and promote the United Nations position
that a just and permanent settlement of the question of Palestine could be reached
only by ending the Israeli occupation that began in 1967, achieving the full
independence of the State of Palestine on the basis of the pre-1967 borders with
East Jerusalem as its capital and reaching a just and agreed solution to the issue of
Palestine refugees on the basis of General Assembly resolution 194 (III).
12. With the approach of the fiftieth anniversary of the Israeli occupation, the
General Assembly, at its seventy-first session, is expected to declare 2017 as the
“International Year to End the Israeli Occupation”, with activities and efforts to be
organized to that end.
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Chapter II
Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
Political developments
13. The reporting period saw new initiatives to revitalize the peace process.
Recognizing the need to go beyond the bilateral mediation model that has proved
ineffective for more than 20 years, on 15 October, France announced an initiative to
launch a multilateral political process to move towards a just and lasting settlement
of the question of Palestine and salvage the two-State solution.
14. After a series of consultations with the parties and regional and international
partners, on 3 June 2016, a ministerial meeting for the French peace initiative was
held in Paris, with the participation of the Middle East Quartet, the European Union,
the League of Arab States (LAS) and some 25 countries, including Egypt, Jordan,
Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The aim of the initiative was to provide a
concrete political vision, with the establishment of an international support group to
work on three key aspects: economic incentives and compensation measures;
security arrangements; and confidence-building measures and institution-building in
support of the Palestinian reconciliation process. The plan to convene an
international conference later in 2016 would give a new impetus to diplomatic
efforts to advance the prospects for peace. Subsequently, many participants,
including the LAS member countries, expressed their support for the French
initiative but voiced the need for a timeline for ending the conflict, along with clear
terms of reference for the negotiations and the principle of a return to the pre-1967
borders.
15. Throughout the reporting period, the Middle East Quartet also remained
engaged with the parties; its envoys visited Israel and the State of Palestine to
encourage steps to promote the easing of tensions and a rebuilding of trust. In
September 2015, the Middle East Quartet held its customary meeting in the margins
of the General Assembly, for the first time in an expanded format including key
regional, international and European partners. On 1 July 2016, the Quartet issued a
report focusing on three major threats to the achievement of the two-State solution:
incitement of violence and terrorism; settlement expansion in the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem; and the continued lack of Palestinian reconciliation and
control over Gaza by the Palestinian Government of national consensus. The
recommendations contained in the report were criticized by the State of Palestine,
its Arab partners and others for the artificial symmetry attributed to the parties and
for the failure to propose innovative ways forward or a clear path towards reaching
a lasting peace, the end of the occupation and the long overdue independence of the
Palestinian State.
16. High-level officials from Egypt visited the State of Palestine and Israel in June
and July 2016 to meet with the Palestinian President and the Israeli Prime Minister,
respectively. In August, the Russian Federation offered to host direct talks between
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas in Moscow, which was in principle welcomed by both sides. Meeting on
23 September in New York, Quartet principals and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs
of Egypt and France agreed to coordinate all peace efforts.
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17. On 24 March, the Human Rights Council adopted four resolutions relating to
the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In the three customary resolutions, adopted
without a vote, the Council reaffirmed the inalienable, permanent and unqualified
right of the Palestinian people to self-determination (resolution 31/33); demanded
that Israel cease all practices and actions that violate the human rights of the
Palestinian people or the character, status and demographic composition of the
Occupied Palestinian Territory (resolution 31/34); and requested the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate the implications of settlements
on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people
(resolution 31/35). Of particular significance was a new resolution (resolution
31/36) on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, in which the Council called upon
Israel to immediately cease and reverse all settlement activities and called upon the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to produce a database of all
actors conducting business in areas under Israeli military occupation, bearing in
mind the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
18. On 24 March, the Human Rights Council appointed Stanley Michael Lynk
(Canada) as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian
territories occupied since 1967, replacing Makarim Wibisono (Indonesia), who had
resigned in January over the failure by Israel to cooperate with his mandate.
Security
19. The reporting period was marked by continuing tensions, military incursions
and raids by the Israeli occupying forces and clashes with Palestinian youth and
protesters in many parts of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, on an almost
daily basis. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of
the Secretariat, as at 31 August, 388 Palestinians had been killed and 15,542 injured
during the reporting period (see figs. 1 and 2 below). Attacks, which took the lives
of Israeli civilians, also occurred during the reporting period.
Figure 1
Number of Israelis and Palestinians killed during the reporting period
Source: http://www.ochaopt.org/.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Fatalities
Palestinians Israelis
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Figure 2
Number of Israelis and Palestinians injured during the reporting period
Source: http://www.ochaopt.org/.
20. The aggravation of tensions in October and November 2015, especially at the
holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem, was cause for concern and risked bringing
about further destabilization. In response to the escalation, on 16 October, at the
request of Jordan, the Security Council held an urgent meeting to address the
unlawful and arbitrary practices of Israel against the Palestinian people, including
incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, in an attempt to change the status
quo in the city and at Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
21. Among the most egregious cases of extrajudicial killings, on 24 March 2016,
an unarmed Palestinian man, who had been shot at a military checkpoint in Hebron
and was lying on the ground without any medical attention, was shot in the head and
killed by an Israeli soldier. On 27 April, a 23-year-old five-month pregnant woman
and her 16-year-old brother were killed by Israeli soldiers at the Qalandiya
checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah. The limited scope of Israeli
investigations of Israeli occupying forces who have committed extrajudicial
killings, which to date have led to only one conviction, is commonly cited as an
example of the refusal by Israel to abide by international law and standards and a
source of further impunity.
22. In Gaza, the lives of the 1.9 million Palestinians living in the Strip continue to
be disrupted by the illegal blockade imposed by Israel, which is now entering its tenth
year. Two years after the 2014 conflict, the rate of investigations opened by Israel into
the serious allegations contained in the report of the independent commission of
0
1 000
2 000
3 000
4 000
5 000
6 000
7 000
8 000
Injuries
Palestinians Israelis
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inquiry established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-21/1
(A/HRC/29/52) remains low. In January 2015, the International Criminal Court
launched a preliminary investigation with respect to alleged crimes committed in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. On 24 August, Israeli
authorities announced that they had closed 13 criminal investigations into cases of
Israeli soldiers accused of committing violations against Palestinian civilians during
the 2014 war without imposing any punishment, while some 80 incidents were closed
without opening a criminal investigation.
Jerusalem
23. The situation in East Jerusalem remained tense during the reporting period.
Palestinians suffered from ongoing residency revocations and an increase in arrests,
in particular of children, while some 20,000 Palestinian homes were threatened by
demolitions. Israeli policies, seemingly aimed at shifting the demographic balance
in the city, restricted opportunities for Palestinian economic and housing development,
with one third of East Jerusalem expropriated for settlements and another 50 per
cent zoned for infrastructure and green areas where Palestinians were not allowed to
build. East Jerusalem continued to suffer from discrimination in the provision of
infrastructure, education and municipal services. Of particular gravity was the
situation of Palestinians living between the Israeli wall and the municipal border,
who suffered from a lack of services and law and order, and access restrictions.
24. Provocative visits to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East
Jerusalem by Jewish religious extremists and officials under the protection of Israeli
occupying forces and serious breaches of the status quo escalated throughout the
reporting period, repeatedly leading to violent confrontations with Palestinian
worshippers.
25. In October 2015, in clashes between Palestinians and Israeli occupying forces,
68 Palestinians were killed and 1,118 injured. Nine Israelis were killed by
Palestinians. In that month alone, a total of 22 violent incidents at religious sites
were reported, including Israeli occupying forces entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque
compound and firing rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear-gas grenades at
worshippers. The following month saw 25 violent incidents at religious sites,
concomitantly with clashes between Palestinian civilians and Israeli settlers and
increased Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities, towns, villages and refugee
camps in the West Bank.
26. Subsequently, the Government of Israel decided to substantially increase its
military forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and
to impose further restrictions on access to the Old City of Jerusalem for non-resident
Palestinians. The incursions into the holy sites were perceived by the Palestinians as
an attempt to change the status quo of the sites, as established under the existing
agreements between Israel and Jordan, in its capacity as custodian of the holy sites,
despite a public statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the
status quo would be maintained.
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Settlements
27. Israel continued its policy of illegal settlement-building in the occupied West
Bank and East Jerusalem, in violation of international law (for example, the Fourth
Geneva Convention) and Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and
despite repeated international calls for a cessation of all settlement activities.
28. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, an
estimated 150,000 Palestinians reside in Area C of the West Bank, over which Israel
retains complete control and which contains the most significant land reserves
available for Palestinian development, as well as the bulk of Palestinian agricultural
and grazing land. While the number of Palestinian residents in Area C has steadily
diminished owing to repressive Israeli policies in the area, 300,000 Israeli settlers
are now living in approximately 135 Israeli settlements and 100 settlement outposts
in Area C.
29. Israel has increased its control over Palestinian territory by declaring as “state
land” tracts of Palestinian land that have not been registered as “private”. The policy
is based on an interpretation of the Ottoman land code, which Israel adopted into its
own legislation. For example, on 10 March, 580 acres south of Jericho were declared
“state land”. In August, after the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the illegal Israeli
settlement outpost of Amona was to be dismantled, Israel announced plans to declare
nearby Palestinian land as “state land” in order to relocate the settlers.
30. According to the General Bureau of Statistics of Israel, during the fourth
quarter of 2015 and the first half of 2016, the construction of 817 settlement
structures was begun, 999 structures were completed and 2,806 were still under
construction as at 1 July.
31. Since the publication of the report of the Middle East Quartet on 1 July, Israel
has persisted with such illegal actions and has advanced plans for more than 1,000
settlement units in occupied East Jerusalem and other settlements in the West Bank,
including 770 housing units in the settlement of Gilo, between Bethlehem and East
Jerusalem, and 200 settlement units in the Modi’in Illit settlement, west of
Ramallah. In and around Hebron, Israel is planning to build new units in the
settlement of Kiryat Arba and is examining plans for new settlement units for more
than 100 Israelis on a portion of a military compound in the city.
32. Israel is also undertaking a new land survey to identify potential “state land”
in the sensitive E2 area. This step could enable the establishment of a new
settlement on the outskirts of Bethlehem, further restricting that city’s development,
isolating it and contributing to the dismemberment of the West Bank.
33. Israel continued its attempts to retroactively “legalize” previously established
settlement outposts and construction in existing settlements. In July, Israeli
authorities advanced plans to legalize the outposts of Horesh Yaron and Rechelim
and, on 31 August, they issued 179 building permits retroactively, legalizing under
Israeli law housing units that had been erected in the settlement of Ofarim. These
decisions drew strong condemnation from the international community, including
the United States of America and the European Union.
34. Settler violence and terror against Palestinians and their property continued
during the reporting period. The number of damaged, stolen or uprooted trees was
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the highest since 2006. On 20 July, members of the Dawabsha family were victims of
an arson attack similar to the one suffered by their relatives in July 2015, when
Israeli settlers set their home on fire. Data collected by the Israeli human rights
organization Yesh Din indicate that 85 per cent of Israeli investigations into
ideologically motivated crimes against Palestinians are closed owing to police
investigative failures and that there is a mere 1.9 per cent chance that a complaint
filed by a Palestinian with the Israel authorities will result in the conviction of the
perpetrator/s.
Demolitions and displacement
35. A significant trend during the reporting period was the surge in demolitions by
Israel, the occupying Power, of Palestinian homes and structures built without
Israeli-issued permits, which are nearly impossible to obtain. According to the Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, to date in 2016, Israeli occupying
forces in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have demolished 726
structures, displacing 1,020 Palestinians. The figures for the period from 1 January to
31 August surpass those of the entire year of 2015, when there were 533 demolitions
and 688 people displaced (see figs. 3 and 4).
Figure 3
Comparison of the number of demolitions of Palestinian structures in the
current and previous reporting periods
Source: http://www.ochaopt.org/.
0
50
100
150
200
250
Demolished structures
October 2014 - August 2015
October 2015 - August 2016
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Figure 4
Comparison of the number of Palestinians displaced by demolitions in the
current and previous reporting periods
Source: http://www.ochaopt.org/.
36. Israeli authorities demolished multiple residences and structures, including
European Union-funded Palestinian homes, in Sebastia, Umm al-Kheir, Umm al-Hiran
and the Jericho villages of al-Jiftlik and Fasayil. The stated intention to completely
destroy the villages of Susiya and Umm al-Hiran near Hebron has provoked outrage
on the part of the international community, with the United States and the European
Union as well as other States and regional organizations strongly condemning the
plan.
37. Bedouin communities in the occupied West Bank, such as the community of
Abu Nawar southwest of the Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Adumim, were forcibly
transferred owing to plans by Israeli authorities to build thousands of homes for
Jewish-only settlements in the E1 corridor, in Area C east of Jerusalem. Among the
85 recently destroyed or confiscated structures, 24 had been provided by donors as
emergency relief, while Israel contends that they had been built without official
permits.
Reconstruction of the Gaza Strip
38. On 12 October 2014, at the Cairo International Conference on Palestine:
Reconstructing Gaza, some 50 donor countries pledged $5.4 billion ($2.5 billion in
new commitments) in relief funds for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, of which
$3.5 billion was pledged for Gaza. At the time of the issuance of the present report,
only 40 per cent of total pledges had been disbursed.
39. The Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism, namely, the temporary agreement
between Israel, the State of Palestine and the United Nations to enable construction
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Displaced people
October 2014 - August 2015
October 2015 - August 2016
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and reconstruction work on the large scale required in the Gaza Strip, started slowly
but made some headway in 2016. By August 2016, half of the homes that had
suffered partial damage and a third of the destroyed homes had been rebuilt. All of
the 78 hospitals and the 252 schools that had been damaged have been repaired.
However, 65,000 people remain displaced and are in temporary shelters awaiting the
reconstruction of their destroyed homes. The humanitarian needs in this regard are
immense.
40. In July, following the Turkish-Israeli reconciliation agreement, the first
Turkish shipment of more than 11,000 tons of humanitarian aid (food and non-food
items) for 10,000 families arrived at the Israeli port of Ashdod and was transported
onward to the Gaza Strip. Another shipment of 2,200 tons arrived in Gaza just
before Eid al-Fitr. The agreement is expected to allow Turkey to work on a number
of infrastructure projects in Gaza, including a power station and a desalination
plant.
41. The economic gap between Gaza and the West Bank is growing, primarily as a
result of the impact of the ongoing restriction on the free movement of people and
goods to and from the Gaza Strip, including on exports, which has severely
diminished livelihoods and damaged the economy. According to the World Bank,
the Gaza economy is not expected to rebound to even its pre-2014 war level until
2018.
Palestinian state-building
Local elections
42. During the reporting period, Palestinian state-building efforts continued,
supported by the international community. In a welcome development, on 21 June,
the Government of the State of Palestine announced that on 8 October, local council
elections would be held throughout the occupied West Bank, Gaza and the districts
of East Jerusalem governorate that had not been unilaterally annexed by Israel.
Subsequently, Hamas expressed its willingness to participate in the elections and to
facilitate the process in the Gaza Strip. Five Palestinian left-wing movements
entered the elections on a unified list, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad announced
that it would not participate.
43. In accordance with the election calendar, voter registration was conducted
from 23 to 27 July, resulting in some 74,000 new applications and a total of
2,051,598 registered voters. Almost half of the new voters registered online, while
the rest registered in the 416 municipalities. On 29 August, the Central Elections
Commission-Palestine published a total of 874 electoral lists and candidates,
including 787 lists in the West Bank and 87 lists in Gaza. It reported that its
registration officers did not face security threats or access restrictions in the West
Bank and Gaza. However, on 25 August, political factions and institutions in Nablus
decided to postpone the elections in the wake of violent confrontations between
Palestinian security forces and local armed groups.
44. Candidate nominations took place from 16 to 25 August and the final register
of electoral lists was expected to be published on 24 September. Political
campaigning was scheduled for 24 September to 6 October. On 8 September,
however, the Palestinian Supreme Court in Ramallah suspended the elections,
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following a complaint about the disqualification of a number of Fatah lists by a
Gaza court and owing to the inability to hold a vote in occupied East Jerusalem as a
result of Israeli obstruction. On 4 October, one day after the Palestinian Supreme
Court ruling to exclude the Gaza Strip from the elections, the Government of the
State of Palestine decided to postpone the vote for four months.
Reconciliation
45. During the reporting period, Fatah and Hamas failed to significantly advance
their reconciliation process. In March 2016, and again in June, their representatives
met in Doha to continue discussions, without any progress. The South African
non-governmental organization In Transition Initiative organized two intra-Palestinian
dialogues with senior leaders from Fatah and Hamas and Palestinians from the
whole political spectrum, as well as civil society, with a view to forging a common
political vision for the future. In addition, Egypt has expressed its readiness to
continue mediating the reconciliation process.
46. In August, Israeli Parliament members from the joint Arab list met with the
Palestinian leadership to discuss the inter-Palestinian reconciliation efforts, in an
attempt to play a bridging role not only between Israelis and Palestinians, but also
between Fatah, Hamas and other Palestinian factions.
Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development
47. At the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development
agenda, held from 25 to 27 September 2015 in New York, the Government of the
State of Palestine committed to the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.
Subsequently, the Government integrated the Sustainable Development Goals into
its agenda through the creation of a national planning matrix and established a
national coordinating committee for the Sustainable Development Goals in the State
of Palestine under the leadership of Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah.
48. The United Nations Environment Programme worked on enhancing the
capacity of the State of Palestine for climate change adaptation and mitigation,
recognizing the critical impact that climate change might have on water availability,
land degradation and agriculture. This included a capacity assessment of six
national institutions and the preparation of a capacity development action plan. The
State of Palestine acceded to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change and became a full member on 17 March.
Socioeconomic issues
49. At its meeting in April 2016, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee of the
International Assistance to Palestinians pointed to the sharp decline in donor aid to
the Palestinian Authority, which, combined with the political impasse, was
impairing the perspective of preserving the two-State solution. However, despite the
need for more vigorous and predictable donor support, no amount of aid was
considered sufficient to place the economy on the path of sustainable development
under conditions of frequent military strikes and destruction of infrastructure,
isolation from global markets, fragmentation of domestic markets and confiscation
of and denial of access to national natural resources.
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50. The substantial challenges faced by Palestinians and young people in
particular result from their social, economic and political marginalization under
occupation. Two out of five Palestinian youths were unemployed during the first
quarter of 2016, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. The
highest unemployment rate was among young people between 20 and 24 years old,
reaching 43 per cent, compared with 39 per cent for young people aged 25 to 29.
Unemployment among young graduates reached 51 per cent. In Gaza, the youth
unemployment rate exceeds 60 per cent.
51. The limitations imposed by the Israeli occupation on a dignified existence
include vital access to clean, safe drinking water. In June, during Ramadan, the
Israeli company Mekorot, the main supplier of water to the West Bank, interrupted
its provision in Jenin, Nablus and Salfit districts for several days, arguing that
repairs needed to be done. Palestinians were left without access to safe drinking
water while illegal Israeli settlements enjoyed an uninterrupted supply.
52. In July, in retaliation against attacks targeting Israeli civilians in the West
Bank, Israel froze the transfer, to the Government of the State of Palestine, of tax
revenues collected on behalf of the Palestinian people under the Paris Protocol to
the Oslo Accords. The freeze deepened the Palestinian financial crisis and affected
the livelihoods of thousands of Palestinians. In a report issued on 28 August, the
World Bank estimated that the State of Palestine was losing $285 million in annual
revenues under the current economic arrangements with Israel.
53. In a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) on the economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian
people (A/71/174), prepared pursuant to General Assembly resolution 70/12, it was
suggested that without the occupation, the Palestinian economy could be twice its
current size.
54. In its resolution 2016/4 on the situation of and assistance to Palestinian
women, and in an effort to tackle issues surrounding the advancement of women
and social development, the Economic and Social Council expressed deep concern
about the grave situation of Palestinian women in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, resulting from the severe impact of the ongoing
illegal Israeli occupation and all of its manifestations, in addition to the high rates
of poverty and unemployment, which affect women disproportionally.
55. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the
reporting period saw a significant increase in the number of Palestinian children
killed and injured by Israeli occupying forces (see figs. 5 and 6 below). The report
of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict issued in April 2016
(A/70/836-S/2016/360) also highlights the increasing number of Palestinian
children arrested and detained by Israeli occupying forces and prosecuted by
juvenile military courts in the West Bank. According to the Israel Prison Service, the
monthly average number of children in Israeli custody in 2015 increased by 15 per
cent compared with 2014.
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Figure 5
Comparison of the number of Palestinian children killed in the current and
previous reporting periods
Source: http://www.ochaopt.org/.
Figure 6
Comparison of the number of Palestinian children injured in the current and
previous reporting periods
Source: http://www.ochaopt.org/.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Fatalities among Palestinian chidlren
October 2014 - August 2015
October 2015 - August 2016
0
100
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300
400
500
600
700
800
900
Injuries among Palestinian chidlren
October 2014 - August 2015
October 2015 - August 2016
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56. On 3 August, the Israeli Parliament approved the Youth Bill, allowing Israeli
authorities to imprison Palestinian children as young as 12 years if convicted of
“terrorism” against Israeli civilians or military personnel.
Palestinian prisoners
57. According to the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, at the end of
April, 6,295 Palestinian security detainees and prisoners, including 414 minors,
were held in Israeli prisons, 334 of them from the Gaza Strip. An additional 749
Palestinians were held in Israel Prison Service facilities for being in Israel illegally,
14 of them from the Gaza Strip. According to Addameer Palestinian Prisoner
Support and Human Rights Association, as at July, 62 women were being held in
Israeli prisons.
58. In August, more than 200 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons went on
hunger strike to protest their treatment. Another Palestinian prisoner, Bilal Kayed,
was on a hunger strike for 71 days, until 25 August, when he reached an agreement
whereby he will be freed in December. Israeli authorities have extended by three
months the detention without trial of Palestinian journalist Omar Nazzal, also on
hunger strike, who was due for release on 22 August.
59. In July, the International Forum for Democracy and Human Rights filed a
submission under article 15 with the Office of the Prosecutor at the International
Criminal Court concerning the widespread and systematic torture of Palestinian
detainees by the Palestinian security services in the occupied West Bank.
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Chapter III
Mandate of the Committee
60. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
was established by the General Assembly by resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10 November
1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable the Palestinian
people to exercise their inalienable rights, as recognized by the Assembly in its
resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974. Further information about the
Committee is available on the website maintained by the Division for Palestinian
Rights of the Secretariat at https://unispal.un.org/DPA/DPR/unispal.nsf/udc.htm.
61. On 24 November 2015, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee (resolution 70/12), requested the Secretary-General to continue to
provide the Division for Palestinian Rights with the necessary resources to carry out
its programme of work (resolution 70/13) and requested the continuation of the
special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of
Public Information of the Secretariat (resolution 70/14). The Assembly also adopted
resolution 70/15, entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”.
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Chapter IV
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
62. The Committee is composed of the following Member States: Afghanistan,
Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador, Guinea, Guyana,
India, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia,
Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South
Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
63. The observers at the Committee meetings are: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria,
China, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates,
Viet Nam and Yemen, as well as the State of Palestine, the African Union, LAS and
the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
64. The day-to-day tasks of the Committee are undertaken by its Bureau. At its
375th meeting, on 27 January 2016, the Committee elected Fodé Seck (Senegal) as
Chair, Mahmoud Saikal (Afghanistan), Rodolfo Reyes Rodríguez (Cuba), Desra
Percaya (Indonesia), Wilfried Emvula (Namibia) and María Rubiales de Chamorro
(Nicaragua) as Vice-Chairs and Christopher Grima (Malta) as Rapporteur. At its
377th meeting, on 4 August, the Committee elected Dian Triansyah Djani (Indonesia)
as a new Vice-Chair, to replace Desra Percaya, and Carmelo Inguanez as the new
Rapporteur, to replace Christopher Grima, who had been assigned by their
Governments to another post.
65. The current composition of the Security Council includes, as elected members,
five members and observers of the Committee, namely, Egypt, Malaysia, Senegal,
Ukraine and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
66. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of
the United Nations and observers wishing to participate in the work of the
Committee were welcome to do so. In accordance with established practice, the
State of Palestine participated in the work of the Committee as an observer, attended
all of its meetings, gave briefings and put forward observations and proposals for
consideration by the Committee and its Bureau.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 70/12
1. Action taken in the Security Council
67. During the open debates at the Security Council held on 22 October 2015 and
26 January, 18 April and 12 July 2016, the Committee delivered statements
highlighting the situation and calling upon the Council to take appropriate actions
(see S/PV.7540; S/PV.7540, Resumption 1; S/PV.7610; S/PV.7673; S/PV.7736).
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee
68. The members of the Bureau represented the Committee at all the international
conferences organized in accordance with the programme of work. In the margins of
those events, the Committee delegation met with senior officials from the respective
host countries. In particular, the Committee delegation met with the Indonesian
Minister for Foreign Affairs and parliamentarians. In Amman, it held consultations
with high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Jordan. In Dakar,
the Committee delegation held consultations with the Foreign Relations Committee
of the National Assembly of Senegal and the Minister of Justice and President of the
Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute. In Stockholm, it met with highranking
officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden. In Geneva, the
Committee delegation held consultations with the President of the International
Committee of the Red Cross and with the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights.
69. On 12 November 2015, the Bureau held its first annual retreat to review the
work of the Committee. Issues discussed included the need for periodic reviews of
the efficacy of the programmes of work of the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights, the programme of work of the Committee for 2016, the work of
the Bureau during the tenure of Senegal in the Security Council (2016-2017),
capacity-building for the staff of the Government of the State of Palestine and
engagement with civil society organizations.
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 70/12
and 70/13
1. Committee meetings at Headquarters
70. During the reporting period, the Committee held six periodic meetings at United
Nations Headquarters in New York, in addition to the informal meetings of its Bureau
and the meetings of its Working Group. At its 372nd meeting, on 5 October 2015, the
Committee adopted its annual report. At its 373rd meeting, on 10 November, the
Committee approved for submission to the General Assembly four draft resolutions,
entitled “Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People”, “Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat”, “Special information
programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of
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the Secretariat” and “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”. Also at that
meeting, UNCTAD briefed the Committee on the economic and social costs of the
Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people. At its 375th meeting, on 27 January
2016, attended by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Committee
re-elected its Chair, Vice-Chairs and Rapporteur and adopted its annual programme of
work. At its 376th meeting, on 7 April, the Committee focused on the reports on the
international conferences held to date and adopted the programme for upcoming
international conferences. At its 377th meeting, on 4 August, the Committee elected
its Vice-Chair and Rapporteur. It also heard reports on international conferences and
accredited two civil society organizations.
71. In addition to its periodic meetings, during the reporting period, the
Committee organized a public event at United Nations Headquarters, namely, a
briefing by Mahmoud Elkhafif, Coordinator of the UNCTAD Assistance to the
Palestinian People Unit, and Atif Kubursi, Consultant to UNCTAD, which was held
on 10 November.
2. Programme of international meetings and conferences
72. During the reporting period, the following international events were held
under the auspices of the Committee:
(a) International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem, under the theme
“Addressing the present and shaping the future of Jerusalem”, jointly organized
with OIC, Jakarta, 14 and 15 December 2015;
(b) United Nations Civil Society Forum on the Question of Palestine, under
the theme “Civil society action in support of justice in Palestine and ending the
occupation”, Jakarta, 16 December. At the conference, attended by the Ministers for
Foreign Affairs of Indonesia and the State of Palestine, participants provided up-todate
information on the current situation in Jerusalem to inform policy and decision
makers, civil society and the general public and considered ways to enhance
international efforts for a halt to unilateral Israeli actions as well as possible ways
forward for Jerusalem. Speakers considered the efforts by the United Nations to find
a solution to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the situation on the ground
and regional and local civil society initiatives in support of Palestinian rights;
(c) United Nations Round Table on Legal Aspects of the Question of
Palestine, under the theme “Instruments and institutions of international treaty law —
theory and practice”, Amman, 15 to 17 March 2016. The round table, held in closeddoor
format, was aimed at developing the capacity and expertise of staff of the
Government of the State of Palestine in the field of international treaty law,
including implementation and reporting, in view of its accession in recent years to a
series of international treaties and conventions. Participants discussed opportunities
and strategies for the State of Palestine to utilize international legal instruments,
explored relevant best practices and introduced attendees to the audiovisual
international law library of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat;
(d) International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem, under the theme
“Jerusalem at the heart of the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”,
jointly organized with OIC, Dakar, 3 and 4 May. The conference, attended by the
Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Senegal and the State of Palestine, provided up-toA/
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date information on the current situation in East Jerusalem under occupation;
identified opportunities to intensify international support for resilience, protection
and development in the city; explored possible scenarios for a just and lasting
settlement of the question of Jerusalem; and provided a venue for an open exchange
among experts, civil society activists and academics;
(e) United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, under
the theme “Agenda 2030: Paving the way towards a peaceful, independent and
sustainable State of Palestine”, Stockholm, 19 and 20 May. Participants reviewed
the challenges and constraints of the implementation of the Sustainable
Development Goals for the State of Palestine under the Israeli occupation. They also
looked at ways of building: (i) resilient and sustainable economic growth while
addressing humanitarian needs; (ii) long-term investment in young people and
women as a key to building a peaceful and inclusive society; and (iii) international
solidarity and partnerships for development;
(f) United Nations International Conference in Support of Israeli-Palestinian
Peace, under the theme “Peace is possible — frameworks for a way forward”,
Geneva, 29 and 30 June. The conference provided experienced peace negotiators,
and representatives of Member States, United Nations entities and civil society, a
venue to: (i) discuss lessons learned from past stages of the peace process and
initiatives such as the Arab Peace Initiative; (ii) assess recent initiatives such as the
French peace initiative; and (iii) discuss new proposals for a lasting solution to the
conflict. Questions were raised as to whether the long-standing formula of bilateral
peace negotiations had reached its limits. Reference was made to other multilateral
negotiations as examples to be followed, with the international community acting
together to support Israeli-Palestinian peace.
73. The public events mentioned above were attended by representatives of
Governments, intergovernmental organizations and United Nations system entities,
as well as parliamentarians and representatives of civil society and the media.
Detailed information about the meetings is being issued in the form of publications
of the Division for Palestinian Rights and is available on the “Question of Palestine”
website maintained by the Division.
3. Cooperation with intergovernmental and regional organizations
74. Throughout the year, the Committee continued its cooperation with
intergovernmental organizations. The Committee is appreciative of the active
participation of their representatives in the various international events held under
its auspices and the co-sponsorship provided by OIC in the organization of the two
International Conferences on the Question of Jerusalem, held in Jakarta, which the
Secretary General of OIC attended, and in Dakar, respectively. The Committee is
also grateful for the financial support provided by the Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development for the annual
training programme for Palestinian staff organized by the Division in October 2015
to familiarize them with various aspects of the multilateral work of the Secretariat
and other United Nations organs and bodies. The African Union, LAS and OIC, as
observers to the Committee, regularly attend the meetings of the Committee and its
Working Group and participate in their work.
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4. Cooperation with civil society
Civil society organizations
75. The Committee continued its cooperation with civil society organizations
worldwide, through its Working Group and other outreach activities carried out by
the Division for Palestinian Rights. During the reporting period, two civil society
organizations were accredited to the Committee. Civil society representatives
participated in all public international meetings organized under the auspices of
the Committee. On 16 December 2015, a civil society forum was organized by the
Committee in Jakarta, in conjunction with the International Conference on the
Question of Jerusalem.
76. The Working Group of the Committee, chaired by the Deputy Permanent
Representative of Malta, met periodically and hosted various events at
Headquarters, including:
(a) Briefing by representatives of the human rights organization Adalah (the
Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel) on the recent situation in East
Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, 9 November 2015;
(b) Panel discussion on the theme “Women’s role in the search for Israeli-
Palestinian peace” in the margins of the sixtieth session of the Commission on the
Status of Women, on 14 March 2016. Hiba Husseini, Legal adviser for the peace
negotiations and founding member of the Al-Mustaqbal Foundation, and Lihi Joffee,
Board member of the Coalition of Women for Peace, spoke about their efforts for
peace in a public discussion moderated by Sarah Taylor, Women, Peace and Security
Advocate at Human Rights Watch;
(c) Screening of the film “Giraffada”, organized in cooperation with the
Department of Public Information, 7 April;
(d) Briefing by Sahar Francis, Director of Addameer Prisoner Support and
Human Rights Association, and Khaled Quzmar, General Director of Defense for
Children International-Palestine, moderated by Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive
Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division of Human Rights Watch, on
the situation of detained children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 27 April.
77. The Division for Palestinian Rights maintains a civil society page
(https://unispal.un.org/DPA/DPR/unispal.nsf/udc.htm) on the “Question of Palestine”
website and the UN Platform for Palestine site (www.unpfp.org) as a tool for
outreach to civil society organizations and to foster civil society networking and
cooperation. During the reporting period, it continued to publish the periodic online
bulletin NGO Action News, reaching out to more than 900 civil society organizations
around the world, in order to catalogue and publicize civil society initiatives, and
organized brown-bag sessions.
Parliaments, interparliamentary organizations and local governments
78. The Committee continued to attach great importance to developing its liaison
with national and regional parliaments and their organizations. Representatives of
parliaments and interparliamentary organizations participated in international events
organized by the Committee during the reporting period. Among others, members of
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the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Mediterranean, the Israeli Knesset, the Swedish Riksdag and the National Assembly
of Senegal participated in the international meetings held under the auspices of the
Committee. The Committee delegation held meetings with parliamentarians at the
Parliament of Indonesia and the National Assembly of Senegal on the sidelines of
the conferences in Jakarta and Dakar, respectively.
5. Research, monitoring and publications
79. The Division for Palestinian Rights carried out research and monitoring
activities and responded to requests for information and briefings on the question of
Palestine. Under the guidance of the Committee, the Division prepared the
following publications for dissemination:
(a) Monthly bulletin on action taken by the United Nations system and
intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine;
(b) Monthly chronology of events relating to the question of Palestine based
on media reports and other sources;
(c) Reports of international meetings and conferences organized under the
auspices of the Committee;
(d) Special bulletin and information notes on the observance of International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments related to the Middle East peace
process;
(f) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General
Assembly and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine.
6. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
80. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant technical and
library services of the United Nations Secretariat, continued to administer, maintain,
expand and upgrade the United Nations Information System on the Question of
Palestine and the “Question of Palestine” website (https://unispal.un.org/DPA/
DPR/unispal.nsf/udc.htm). The Division maintained its Facebook, Twitter and
YouTube pages to disseminate information about the work on the question of
Palestine by the Committee and the United Nations as a whole. As part of its efforts
to improve on access to its publications and document collection, the Division for
Palestinian Rights is in the process of redesigning the website on the “Question of
Palestine” and aligning it with current United Nations organizational standards.
7. Capacity-building programme for staff of the Government of the State
of Palestine
81. As part of its efforts to develop the annual capacity-building programme for
staff of the Government of the State of Palestine, as mandated by General Assembly
resolutions, including resolution 70/13, and in consultation with the Permanent
Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations in New York, the
Division for Palestinian Rights organized and administered a number of capacityA/
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building initiatives. In October 2015, the Division organized the annual training
programme for staff of the Government of the State of Palestine. These training
activities allow the Palestinian staff to familiarize themselves with various aspects
of the multilateral work of the Secretariat and other United Nations organs and
bodies, including the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and
Social Council. The training is financially supported by the OPEC Fund for
International Development. In March 2016, 25 Palestinians received training at the
United Nations Round Table on Legal Aspects of the Question of Palestine, held
under the theme “Instruments and institutions of international treaty law — theory
and practice”, which took place in Amman. In May, in collaboration with the Office
of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Division arranged
for two Palestinian staff members to travel to Geneva and observe a session of the
Committee against Torture.
8. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
82. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed on
23 November 2015 at Headquarters in New York, on 24 November at the United
Nations Office at Vienna and on 30 November at the United Nations Office at
Geneva. At Headquarters, the Committee held a special meeting with the
participation of the Deputy Secretary-General, the President of the General
Assembly and the President of the Security Council and organized a photo exhibit
entitled “Palestinian Children: Overcoming Tragedies with Hope, Dreams,
Resilience and Dignity”. The Committee noted with appreciation that International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People had also been observed by United
Nations Information Centres and other bodies in many cities throughout the world.
Details on the observance can be found on the website (unispal.un.org) maintained
by the Division.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 70/14 and by
other United Nations entities
83. During the reporting period, the Department of Public Information continued
to implement its special information programme on the question of Palestine in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 70/14.
84. The Department organized the annual five-week training programme for 10
Palestinian journalists, held from November to December in New York and
Washington, D.C., and its annual International Media Seminar on Peace in the
Middle East, held in Pretoria from 31 August to 2 September.
85. The Department continued to regularly cover the broad range of issues and
developments related to the question of Palestine and the Middle East peace process
across its multilingual news platforms. Live coverage was provided and materials
made available on demand through United Nations Television, on the Department
website and on social media.
86. The Arabic Website Unit of the Department of Public Information provided
support for campaigns and online appeals run by the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs, focusing on the humanitarian situation affecting the
Palestinian people and the Palestine refugee populations in the Middle East.
87. The Department’s global network of more than 60 United Nations Information
Centres organized a number of outreach activities, including exhibitions, film
screenings and conferences, and translated and disseminated information materials
on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
88. In addition, a number of outreach events to commemorate the 2015 International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People were organized at Headquarters and
with United Nations Information Centres, including those in Cairo; Canberra; Dakar;
Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania; Harare; Mexico City; and Tehran.
89. In June, the Birzeit University main library was designated the first United
Nations depository library in the State of Palestine.
90. The Department is also finalizing the revised and updated edition of The UN
and the Question of Palestine, a publication for journalists, academics, students and
the public at large.
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
91. UNRWA continued to provide extensive services and emergency assistance to
over 5 million Palestine refugees in all its fields of operations in Jordan, Lebanon,
the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. While it
endeavours to serve this community in accordance with its mandate from the
General Assembly, the Agency has been confronted with recurring and severe
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financial crises, including in 2016, jeopardizing its ability to deliver its core
programmes.
92. The Agency continues to be particularly concerned about the more than
450,000 Palestine refugees who remain in the Syrian Arab Republic, 60 per cent of
whom are displaced. Overall, 95 per cent of Palestine refugees in the country are
now reliant on UNRWA for assistance. The wider destabilization of the region,
resulting from the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, continues to pose major
socioeconomic and security concerns for Jordan and Lebanon, who host large
numbers of refugees from the Syrian Arab Republic, in addition to existing resident
populations of Palestine refugees.
United Nations Development Programme/Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs
93. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through its Programme
of Assistance to the Palestinian People, continued to work on multiple levels in
order to deliver on and implement the developmental needs of the State of Palestine.
In supporting the Palestinian statehood agenda, the UNDP Programme focused on
key areas: democratic governance and the rule of law; economic empowerment and
private sector development; environment and management of natural resources; and
public and social infrastructure. The programme is also critically engaged in
supporting the harmonization of Gaza with the West Bank in terms of social,
economic and political planning to better serve Palestinians. Similarly, in Area C,
where continued barriers to the development of infrastructure are harming the status
and livelihoods of vulnerable communities, the Programme has been a key agent in
supporting and advocating for the basic rights of the local population to access
health care, education and water.
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
94. The Committee remains convinced that a negotiated peaceful settlement of
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in all its aspects, in accordance with the relevant
United Nations resolutions, and an urgent end to the Israeli occupation and the
realization of the rights of the Palestinian people, including to self-determination
and independence, should be a top priority of the international community.
95. In its continued support for the revitalization of the peace negotiations, the
Committee aligns itself with the view that the model of bilateral negotiations,
which after more than two decades have not brought about the end of the Israeli
occupation and the full independence of the State of Palestine on the basis of the
pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, should be revised. The
Committee welcomes the serious steps taken by the international community
towards putting forward a new, expanded multilateral framework including key
regional partners, in view of reigniting the peace process on a new political
horizon with the necessary international support. Serious efforts are needed
between the parties to overcome their deeply entrenched mistrust, including
confidence-building efforts, and demonstrate the courage and leadership that
are required at this time. The Committee supports efforts from any country able
to advance this process, including through bilateral negotiations.
96. As has consistently emerged during the international meetings organized
by the Committee, a resolution of the conflict remains central to peace and
stability throughout the volatile Middle East region and to global peace and
stability. As such, the conflict clearly requires a comprehensive regional
solution, conceivably with support from the reinvigorated Quartet, that includes
greater engagement with key Arab States and other States concerned. The Arab
Peace Initiative remains a significant contribution to such a regional settlement.
The Committee supports the efforts in that regard and will continue its
enhanced cooperation with LAS and OIC.
97. The Committee urges the Security Council, which has a primary
responsibility for maintaining peace and security under the Charter of the
United Nations, and the General Assembly to play a constructive role in
reaffirming the long-standing parameters for peace based on the relevant
United Nations resolutions and defining a new peace architecture for resolving
the conflict. Positive consideration should be given to all proposals that
endeavour to offer a way out of the current impasse. The Committee intends to
contribute to a healthy and necessary discussion of these issues through its
programme of work.
98. The Committee reiterates that the international community must intensify
its efforts, uphold its moral and legal responsibility and demand the lifting of
the Israeli blockade of Gaza. It notes that, two years after the devastating war of
2014, important strides in the reconstruction of Gaza have been made. However,
clean water, sanitation and electricity still remain scarce and the fact that more
than 65,000 people remain displaced continues to have a significant impact on
an already dire humanitarian situation. The Committee calls upon international
donors to fulfil without delay all pledges in order to expedite the provision of
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humanitarian assistance and the reconstruction process, essential for alleviating
the distress of the Palestinians, including women and children.
99. Ultimately, in order to ensure respect for the rights of the Palestinian
people, prevent deterioration beyond a breaking point and break the builddestroy-
rebuild cycle, the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip must end and there
must be a lifting of all closures within the framework of Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009). A Palestinian unity government is also essential to take up
governance and security functions in Gaza and exercise control over the
crossings.
100. The Committee reiterates that violations of humanitarian and human
rights law must be investigated and that perpetrators of such violations should
be brought to justice. The Committee expresses its concern at the limited
implementation by Israel, the occupying Power, of the findings and
recommendations contained in the report of the independent commission of
inquiry on the 2014 Gaza conflict (A/HRC/29/52). The Committee welcomes the
appointment of Stanley Michael Lynk as Special Rapporteur on the situation of
human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 and will strive to
facilitate the implementation of his mandate.
101. The Committee underscores the responsibility of States and private entities
not to contribute to grave Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights, in
particular in respect of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem. It welcomes in that regard the adoption by the
Human Rights Council of its resolution 31/36 calling for the creation of a
database of all actors conducting business in areas under Israeli military
occupation. The adoption of the resolution is in line with the appropriate stance
of the European Union on the importation of products from settlements,
encouraging its members and other organizations and States to adopt and
implement policies that guarantee adherence to international conventions in
regard of illegal settlements in occupied areas, in particular the Fourth Geneva
Convention. It welcomes further steps taken by Governments and private
businesses to dissociate themselves from policies that directly or indirectly
support settlements.
102. The Committee will continue, through its mandated activities, to generate
heightened international awareness of the question of Palestine and
international support for the rights of the Palestinian people, including their
right to self-determination and independence. In that connection, the Committee
emphasizes the useful contribution of the Division for Palestinian Rights of the
Secretariat in support of its mandate and encourages it to make such
adjustments to its approved programme of work as it may consider necessary in
the light of developments. It notes with satisfaction: (a) the sustained level of
dialogue, engagement and support on the part of the international community
for the objectives of the programme, as evidenced by the number of and
participation in international meetings and conferences as well as the
commemorations of International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(b) the continued involvement of civil society organizations in support of the
efforts of the Committee and the United Nations towards a comprehensive, just
and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine; and (c) an increase in
international awareness of the United Nations policies and activities on the
question of Palestine, as evidenced by the number of visitors to the Question of
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Palestine website and followers of the social media sites maintained by the
Division. The Committee wishes to express its deep appreciation to its partners,
in particular OIC, which contributed extrabudgetary resources, including for
their active participation in conferences and events.
103. The Committee will focus its programme of international meetings and
conferences in 2017, to be implemented by the Division, on amplifying
international support for the achievement of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, stressing the role and responsibility of the United Nations in
this regard and in this year marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Israeli
occupation and the seventieth anniversary of the General Assembly resolution
concerning the future government of Palestine and outlining the Plan of Partition
(resolution 181 (II)). The Committee intends to work closely with other United
Nations actors on the ground, such as the Office of the United Nations Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and UNRWA, to synergize efforts
in fields of common concern and uphold the permanent responsibility of the
United Nations towards the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its
aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy (see
Assembly resolution 70/12, tenth preambular para.).
104. The Committee will continue to mobilize support and assistance for
Palestinian institution-building and all other efforts to support and enhance the
viability of the State of Palestine, in particular in the light of its efforts to
implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It will reach out to and
engage Governments, parliamentarians and civil society and pay particular
attention to the inclusion and empowerment of women and young people and
their organizations.
105. The Committee also considers that the annual capacity-building
programme for staff of the Government of the State of Palestine, carried out by
the Division, directly contributes to Palestinian efforts to establish a more
efficient, accountable and transparent government. The Committee expresses its
appreciation for the funding of this programme in 2015 by the OPEC Fund for
International Development and strongly recommends that this important
mandated activity be continued and, where possible, further expanded. Special
attention should be paid to the gender balance of the programme, expanding the
pool of potential participants to all offices and departments of the Government
and optimizing the use of resources to allow the maximum number of
participants possible. Continued voluntary contributions from Member and
observer States and international organizations in line with their capacity are to
be encouraged in order to place the programme on a solid financial footing.
106. The Committee highly values civil society initiatives in support of the
Palestinian people. The Committee will continue to expand its efforts to engage
additional civil society organizations and the public at large that support a just
and peaceful solution to the question of Palestine, including in Israel. The
Committee encourages civil society partners to work with their national
Governments, parliamentarians and other institutions with a view to gaining
their full support for the work of the United Nations, including that of the
Committee, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the Palestinian
people of its inalienable rights.
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107. The Committee looks forward to further developing its cooperation with
parliamentarians and their umbrella organizations. Parliamentarians have a
special responsibility to ensure that their Governments actively promote and
support the realization of a peaceful and just settlement of the question of
Palestine and uphold their obligations under international law, including
humanitarian and human rights law.
108. The Committee will reach out to all regional groups at the United Nations
with a view to expanding its membership. It will actively work to organize more
thematic debates on the question of Palestine in various United Nations forums.
Recognizing the growing importance of cooperation with developing countries
and regional and subregional organizations in sharing and implementing
sustainable, cost-effective and replicable experiences and solutions that work, it
will make a special effort to step up engagement with such countries and
organizations in the context of the framework of South-South and triangular
cooperation.
109. The Committee requests the Division to continue its substantive and
secretariat support and the programme of research, monitoring and
publications and other informational activities, in support of the Committee’s
communication strategy. The Division should pay special attention to the
continued development of the Question of Palestine portal, the preparation of
publications and information materials on various aspects of the question of
Palestine and their widest possible dissemination, including in the official
languages of the United Nations, and the use of web-based social information
networks, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. It should also continue to
develop the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
document collection by reflecting current issues and events and by continuing to
digitize and upload historical documents and to add user-friendly search
features. The Division should continue to collaborate with the United Nations
libraries at Headquarters and in Geneva in the search for historic documents.
110. The Division should continue to organize the annual observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
111. The Committee intends to request that the General Assembly proclaim
2017 as “International Year to End the Israeli Occupation”.
112. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and the public of the relevant
issues. It requests the continuation of the programme, with the necessary
flexibility warranted by developments relevant to the question of Palestine.
113. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a comprehensive,
just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, and in view of the many
difficulties facing the Palestinian people and their leadership and besetting the
peace process, the Committee calls upon all States to join it in this endeavour
and to extend their cooperation and support to the Committee, and invites the
General Assembly again to recognize the importance of its role and to reconfirm
its mandate.
16-17272 (E) 241016
*1617272*
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-second Session
Supplement No. 35
A/72/35
United Nations New York, 2017
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations
document.
ISSN 0255-2035
17-15561 3/29
[5 September 2017]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
II. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
III. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
IV. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 71/20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance
with General Assembly resolutions 71/20 and 71/21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 71/22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
4/29 17-15561
Letter of transmittal
[7 September 2017]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly and circulation to all the competent bodies of the United Nations
for necessary action, as appropriate, in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 10 of its
resolution 71/20 of 30 November 2016.
The report covers the period from 4 October 2016 to 5 September 2017.
(Signed) Fodé Seck
Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. António Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The present report by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People has been submitted pursuant to resolution 71/20 (2016) of
the General Assembly adopted on 30 November 2016. It contains information on the
implementation by the Committee of its programme of work, designed to enable the
Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights, including through maintaining
international awareness of and mobilizing efforts aimed at achieving a just,
comprehensive and lasting solution of the question of Palestine, enhancing
international solidarity with the plight of the Pa lestinian people and supporting the
Government of the State of Palestine in its capacity -building efforts to build a viable
and sustainable future independent State of Palestine.
2. In chapter II the Committee reviews the situation relating to the questio n of
Palestine, including events that have taken place on the ground.
3. Chapters III and IV outline the mandate of the Committee as set out by the
General Assembly and provide information on the membership of the Committee
and the organization of its wor k from 4 October 2016 to 5 September 2017.
4. Chapter V covers the action taken by the Committee, including participation in
meetings of the Security Council and its continuing dialogue with intergovernmental
organizations and civil society. The chapter a lso contains information about the
international conferences and capacity-building workshops organized by the
Committee, as well as other mandated activities and events carried out by the
Division for Palestinian Rights on the Committee’s behalf.
5. Chapter VI provides an overview of the special information programme on the
question of Palestine carried out by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 71/22 of 30 November 2016.
6. The conclusions and recommendations of the Committee to the General
Assembly are set out in chapter VII of the report.
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Chapter II
Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine
Security Council and resolution 2334 (2016)
7. On 14 October 2016, Malaysia, with Angola, Egypt, Senegal and the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela, hosted an Arria formula meeting entitled “Illegal Israeli
settlements: obstacles to peace and the two-State solution”, concerning the negative
impact of Israeli settlements on the Palestinian people and their quest for self -
determination and independence, and the prospects for achieving a just, lasting and
peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The meeting heard first -hand
information from experts and civil society representatives, as well as statements
from members of the Security Council and other Member States condemning the
ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements and demand ing their cessation.
8. On 23 December 2016, the Security Council adopted resolution 2334 (2016),
sponsored by Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal and the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela, a landmark document in which the Council reiterated its vision of a
region where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, lived side by side in peace
within secure and recognized borders. The Council reaffirmed its relevant
resolutions, and the obligation of Israel, the occupying Power, to abide scrupulously
by its legal obligations and responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention. It
stressed that the status quo was not sustainable and that significant steps, consistent
with the transition contemplated by prior ag reements, were urgently needed (a) to
stabilize the situation and reverse negative trends on the ground, which were
steadily eroding the two-State solution and entrenchi ng a one-State reality; and
(b) to create the conditions for successful final status ne gotiations and for advancing
the two-State solution through those negotiations. The Council reaffirmed that
establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem, had no legal validity and constit uted a major
obstacle to the achievement of the two -State solution and a just, lasting and
comprehensive peace, and demanded their immediate and complete cessation. It
also condemned all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition,
character and status of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East
Jerusalem, and expressed grave concern that continuing Israeli settlement activities
were dangerously imperilling the viability of the two -State solution. The Council
also underlined that it would not recognize any changes to the 1967 lines, including
with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through
negotiations. It called for immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against
civilians, including acts of terror, as well as acts of provocation and destruction, and
called for accountability in that regard. The Council also called upon all parties to
continue to exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations on all final status
issues in the Middle East peace process. It urged in that regard the intensification of
international and regional diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving, without delay, a
just, lasting and comprehensive solution, on the basis of the relevant resolutions, the
Madrid terms of reference, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet road map, and
requested the Secretary-General to report to the Council every three months on the
implementation of the resolution.
9. In addition to reporting pursuant to resolution 2334 (2016), the Secretary-
General continued the efforts of his predecessors in support of a peaceful solution to
the question of Palestine. In his statements, including on 5 June 2017 on the
occasion of the fiftieth anniversar y of the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, he reiterated the
position of the international community, enshrined in the relevant resolutions of the
General Assembly and the Security Council, that the Israeli occupation of
Palestinian territory had to end through a neg otiated two-State outcome that would
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meet Israeli security needs and Palestinian aspirations for statehood and
sovereignty, and would achieve the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
From 28 to 30 August he visited Israel and the Occupied Palestin ian Territory,
where he held talks with the leaders of both States.
Human Rights Council
10. In his annual report to the Human Rights Council on the human rights
situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories ( A/HRC/35/19), the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights assessed the overall rate of “full
implementation” by Israel of its human rights obligations in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory at 0.4 per cent. In its response to the second report of the
Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, contained in the addendum to the
report, despite the fact that the International Court of Justice, Security Council and
General Assembly have clearly affirmed the applicability of the Fourth Geneva
Convention to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, along with the core international
human rights covenants, Israel expressed the view that the human rights
conventions do not apply beyond its territory (see A/HRC/25/15/Add.1, para. 56).
11. On 24 March, the Human Rights Council adopted four resolutions in which it:
(a) emphasized the need to ensure accountability and justice for all violations of
international law in the Occupied Palestinia n Territory, including East Jerusalem
(resolution 34/28); (b) reaffirmed the inalienable, permanent and unqualified right
of the Palestinian people to self-determination (resolution 34/29); (c) demanded that
Israel cease all practices and actions that viol ate the human rights of the Palestinian
people or alter the character, status and demographic composition of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory (resolution 34/30); and (d) demanded that Israel immediately
cease all settlement activities and reverse the set tlement policy, and requested that
all parties concerned, including United Nations bodies, ensure the implementation
of the recommendations contained in the report of the independent international
fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of set tlements on the civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (resolution 34/31).
12. Pursuant to resolution 31/36, the Human Rights Council requested the Office
of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to produce
a database of all business enterprises involved in the activities described in the
report of the independent international fact -finding mission to investigate the
implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and
cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem ( A/HRC/22/63, para. 96), to be updated
annually, and to transmit the data therein in the form of a report to the Council at its
thirty-fourth session. At its organizational meeting on 13 February 2017, the
Council decided, for one time only, to defer its consideration of that report to the
end of December 2017.
13. During its annual field visit to the region in July 2017 to gather information
for the annual report to the General Assembly, the Special Committee to Investigate
Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Right s of the Palestinian People and Other
Arabs of the Occupied Territories observed that the Israeli authorities continued
with policies and practices that negatively impact the human rights situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory.1
__________________
1 See OHCHR, “End of mission statement of the United Nations Special Committee to investigate
Israeli practices”, 17 July 2017. Available from http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages
/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21881&LangID=E.
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United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
14. On 2 May 2017, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) adopted resolution 201 EX/PX/DR.30.1, entitled “Occupied
Palestine”, in which it, inter alia, reaffirmed the importance of the Old City of
Jerusalem for the three monotheistic religions, reminded that all actions by Israel
altering the character of Jerusalem were null and void; and reaffirmed that the sacred
sites in Bethlehem and Hebron were an integral part of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, shared the conviction affirmed by the international community that the
two sites are of religious significance for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and
deplored the ongoing Israeli works which harmfully affect the integrity of the site as
well as the denial of access to places of worship. On 7 July (WHC/17/41.COM/18),
the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed Hebron/ Al-Khalil Old Town,
which is the site of the Cave of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque , sacred to Jews and
Muslims, on the World Heritage List, and stated that the property was faced with
serious threats which could have deleterious effects on its inherent characteristics
and for which an immediate action by the World Heritage Committee was n eeded.
Restrictions on non-governmental organizations and peace activists
15. On 3 March 2017, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Michael Lynk , and the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, expressed deep
concern about the escalating restrictions the Government of Israel was placing on
human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and called on Israel to
observe its obligations under international law to protect human rights defenders
and promote their work.
Intra-Palestinian reconciliation
16. The ongoing Palestinian political divide continued to be an impediment to the
fulfilment of Palestinian national aspirations. On 16 March, Hamas announced the
formation of an administrative committee to manage the Gaza Strip, a de facto
parallel government. On 3 May, the movement unveiled its new charter that, while
falling short of recognizing Israel, accepted for the first time the idea of a
Palestinian State within the 1967 borders.
17. Since April, the Government of the State of Palestine has reduced the
payments to nearly 60,000 public sector employees in the Gaza Strip, and in May
also reduced payment for electricity supplied to the enclave by Israel, arguing that
Hamas, as the receiver of taxes in Gaza, should pay for such services.
18. Municipal elections were held in the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem, on
13 May. A boycott by Hamas, in addition to Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for
the Liberation of Palestine, prevented the holding of elections in the Gaza Strip.
According to the Central Elections Commission, Fatah maintained a majority of the
3,253 local council seats (1,260 by acclamation, 429 in contest). Independent
candidates won 1,204 seats (195 by acclamation, 1,009 in contest). Other parties
and lists gained the remaining 360 seats.
19. Prospects of reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah remain low. Both
continue to issue calls for a unified government and open elections, including for
the Palestinian parliament and President, throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, but have not been able to agree on modalities. A number of reconciliation
meetings and efforts by third parties, including by Egypt, Qatar and the Russian
Federation, have not yielded any measurable progress.
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Security
20. The reporting period was marked by continuing tensions, military incursions
and raids by the Israeli occupying forces and clashes with Palestinian youth and
protesters in many parts of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, on an almost
daily basis. Settler violence against the Palestinian civilian people also continued.
During the reporting period, a total of 52 Palesti nians, including 4 women and
10 children, and 8 Israelis, including 5 women and 1 child, were killed in conflict -
related violence, and many more were injured (see figures I and II).
Figure I
Number of Israelis and Palestinians killed during the reporting period
Source: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Available from http://www.ochaopt.org/.
a As at 14 August 2017.
Figure II
Number of Israelis and Palestinians injured during the reporting period
Source: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Available from http://www.ochaopt.org/.
a As at 14 August 2017.
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Jerusalem
21. Israeli occupying forces in East Jerusalem have at times increased restrictions
on movement and access to the holy sites, fomenting discontent, resistance and even
violent actions. In July, an attack on Israeli security officers by Israeli Arab citize ns
at Al-Haram al-Sharif and the subsequent change of the historic status quo at the
holy site resulted in a crisis that also involved Jordan, custodian of the Muslim and
Christian holy sites in the City, and the Islamic Waqf. International efforts helped to
solve the crisis and the Government of Israel agreed to revert to the original security
procedures at the compound. In confrontations during the crisis, 14 people were
killed (6 Palestinians, 6 Israelis and 2 Jordanians) and over a thousand injured, the
vast majority of them Palestinians. On 21 July, in the course of the crisis,
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas suspended contacts of the State of Palestine
with Israel on all levels, including security coordination.
22. According to the Ministry of Interior of Israel, from the beginning of the
occupation in 1967 until the end of 2016, Israel revoked the residency status of at
least 14,595 Palestinians from East Jerusalem. The discriminatory system pushes
many Palestinians to leave in what amounts to for cible transfers, a serious violation
of international law, which could amount to a war crime under the Rome Statute of
the International Criminal Court.
The Gaza Strip
23. The blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip since 2007, in breach of
international law, continued into its tenth year. As the occupying Power, 2 Israel has
an obligation to the civilian population, in particular, to facilitate rapid and
unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief. Despite warnings issued for years,
including by the United Nations country team, Gaza has continued on its trajectory
of socioeconomic de-development. Ongoing humanitarian assistance and
international service delivery, especially through the services of the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), are
partially mitigating the impact, but cannot stop the downward spiral that would
make Gaza “unliveable” by 2020.3
24. Israel also continues to enforce access restrictions in unilaterally determined
wide buffer areas inside the enclave along Gaza’s perimeter areas and to severely
restrict access to the sea by Palestinian fishermen, routinely harassing them and
firing at them, endangering lives and impairing their livelihoods.
25. Agricultural land damaged in the 2014 conflict is years away from yielding a
harvest comparable to pre-conflict levels. Most of the damaged businesses have
been unable to fully resume operations. Over 1 million Palestinians in Gaza are
__________________
2 See Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136, para. 101. Available from http://www.icjcij.
org/files/case-related/131/131-20040709-ADV-01-00-EN.pdf. See also, for example, Security
Council resolutions 1860 (2009) and 2334 (2016); General Assembly resolutions 62/181 and
63/98); Human Rights Council resolution 10/18; and reports of the Secretary-General, including
A/HRC/34/38, para. 9. Claims by Israel that its disengagement from Gaza in 2005 amounted to
the end of the occupation of the Gaza Strip were rejected on the basis that the control that Israel
retained of Gaza’s air space, sea space and external borders continuously amounted to effective
control (see report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian
territories occupied since 1967, A/61/470, para. 7).
3 See United Nations country team in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, “Gaza ten years later”,
July 2017. Available from https://unsco.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/gaza_10_years_later_ -
_11_july_2017.pdf.
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moderately to severely food insecure, despite many of them already receiving food
assistance or other forms of social transfe rs.
26. The Gazan economy remains stagnant, and the p overty level stands at about
40 per cent. Over 42 per cent of Gazans are unemployed. Especially hard hit are the
youth; as of the end of 2016, 60.3 per cent of 20 to 24 -year-olds and 52.1 per cent of
25 to 29-year-olds were out of work, an increase of 10 and 16 per cent, respectively,
over the previous 10 years. In the last 10 years, unemployment among women
almost doubled, to 64.4 per cent, making women’s labour force participation in
Gaza among the lowest in the world. In the meantime the ability of Palestinians to
move in and out of Gaza remains an important lifeline for their living conditions.
27. Young persons in the Gaza Strip — 43 per cent of the population is below the
age of 15 — face many challenges. They face social, cultural and economic
marginalization and isolation. In exchange for protection or a shelter for them and
their families, some of them drop out of school to work low -skilled jobs, leave their
jobs or marry at an early age.
28. Recent months have seen a significant decline in energy supply, including
shortages caused by the continuing impasse between the Government of the State of
Palestine and Hamas. As the Government stopped waiving taxes on fuel for the
Gaza Power Plant and the de facto authorities refused to purchase the taxed fuel, the
operation of the power plant came to a halt in April. As a result, Gaza’s energy
supply was reduced to only 120 megawatts and daily blackouts reached 20 hours per
day (see figure III).
Figure III
Electricity in the Gaza Strip: supply and demand
Source: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Available from http://www.ochaopt.org/.
29. By the end of 2017, the only water source in Gaza will be depleted, and
irreversibly so by 2020, unless immediate remedial action is taken. Access to safe
drinking water in Gaza through the public water network plummeted from 98.3 per
cent in 2000 to a mere 10.5 per cent in 2014, compared to almost 97 per cent in the
West Bank. Palestinians in Gaza are forced to rely on, and pay for, water from water
tanks, containers and bottled water.
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Table
Water and sanitation in the Gaza Strip
Indicator 2012 2017 2020 (projection)
Share of aquifer water 10% 20% 0%
Year when aquifer may
become unusable
2016 2017 Aquifer will be
irreversibly damaged
Amount of untreated or
partially treated wastewater
pumped into the ocean
90,000 cm
per day
100,000-
108,000 cm
per day
120,000 cm per day
Source: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Available from http://www.ochaopt.org/.
Settlements
30. During the reporting period, there was an alarming increase in settlement
construction by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in violation of the Fourth
Geneva Convention and, most recently, Security Council resolution 2334 (2016).
31. On 23 November 2016, the occupying authorities decided to advance plans for
500 new settlement units in the illegal settlement of Ramat Shlomo, further
encroaching on the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Beit Hanina.
32. In January, two major announcements were made for a total of 5,500
settlement units in several settlements in Area C of the occupied West Bank. On
1 February 2017, the occupying Power announced its intention to establish a new
settlement to house the residents of the illegal Amona outpost, following the
demolition of the latter on 2 February by order of the Israeli High Court of Justice.
Construction in at least four East Jerusalem settlements was enabled by the granting
of building permits for over 900 units.
33. On 6 February, the Israeli Knesset passed a law (the so-called “regularization
bill”) that would retroactively “legalize” Israeli settlements on privately owned
Palestinian land. The bill was roundly condemned by the international community;
Israeli and Palestinian non-governmental organizations have since appealed the
ruling in the Israeli Supreme Court.
34. Spring 2017 saw a further substantial increase in settlement -related
announcements, with plans for nearly 4,000 settlement units advanced and 2,000
tenders issued. Plans for some 3,200 units were also advanced through the various
stages of the planning process in 22 settlements in Area C of the occupied West
Bank, including over 2,800 housing units. In East Jerusalem 770 units reached the
final approval stage, and building permits for more than 360 additional units were
granted by the occupying authorities.
35. In July, plans were advanced for over 2,300 settlement units in East Jerusalem —
30 per cent more than were advanced during all of 2016. This includes plans for some
1,600 units expanding a ring of settlements north of East Jerusalem, as well as other
plans that may involve demolition of Palestinian houses. In addition to the
confiscation of Palestinian land and properties as a result of such settlement
activities, the construction of all of the above-mentioned settlement units will entail
the transfer of tens of thousands more Israeli settlers to the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, in grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
36. On 25 July, Israeli settlers seized a n apartment in a building located in the
H2 area of Hebron city, in violation of an Israeli order declaring part of the building
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as a closed military area pending a three -year-old challenge by a Palestinian family
to the settlers’ ownership claims. A Palestinian family of 16, half of them children,
residing in another apartment of the same building, have reported access restrictions
and intimidation since the takeover.
37. There are currently at least 370,000 Israelis living in some 130 settlements in
Area C, including at least 85,000 settlers deep in the West Bank. Combined with
some 200,000 in East Jerusalem, this brings the total Israeli settler population in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory to at least 570,000.
Demolitions and displacement
38. No progress was noted during the reporting period on return to homes and
return of property of Palestine refugees. Meanwhile, the demolition of Palestinian
homes and structures escalated, with most destroyed under the pretext that they were
built without Israeli-issued permits, and continued to exacerbate Palestinian civilian
displacement, including among the Bedouin community (see figures IV and V).
Figure IV
Demolitions of Palestinian structures during the reporting period
Source: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Available from http://www.ochaopt.org/.
a As at 14 August 2017.
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Figure V
Number of Palestinians displaced through demolitions during the reporting period
Source: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Available from http://www.ochaopt.org/.
39. As noted by the Quartet, 70 per cent of Area C has been unilaterally taken for
exclusive Israeli use, mostly through inclusion in the boundaries of local a nd
regional settlement councils or designations of “State land”. Nearly all of the
remaining 30 percent of Area C, much of which is private Palestinian property, is
effectively off-limits for Palestinian development because it requires permits from
the Israeli occupying authorities that are almost never granted. The process of
designating additional “State land” in Area C, which potentially impacts any land
that cannot clearly be established as Palestinian private property, is ongoing,
causing high insecurity to hundreds of Palestinian families and threatening them
with forced displacement.
Restriction of movement
40. Israel continued to maintain security barriers restricting Palestinian movement
in Area C and other areas of the West Bank in addition t o those around the Gaza
Strip, resulting in the physical fragmentation of the Palestinian territory and the
separation and isolation of Palestinian communities. During the reporting period,
increased restrictions were imposed, affecting the access of farme rs to their
agricultural land isolated by the wall under construction by Israel since 2002, 88 per
cent of which is inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In East Jerusalem, the
wall physically divides Palestinian communities into two separate sides, i n place of
what was previously only a jurisdictional division. In May, Israeli occupying forces
added new measures to the already severe limitations on Palestinian movement in
Hebron, a city that is segregated into areas Palestinians are forbidden to enter and
areas where they are permitted to reside.
41. The construction of Israeli-only transportation corridors, or bypass roads, in
the occupied West Bank pointed to a steady effort towards annexation of those
areas. In the absence of measures to ease freed om of movement for Palestinians in
the occupied West Bank to Israel and the Gaza Strip, the location of the corridors
continued to be clearly aimed at facilitating and supporting the presence of settlers
in the West Bank.
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Palestinian prisoners
42. According to the Israel Prison Service, as of May 2017 a total of 6,020
Palestinians were held in Israeli prisons, 475 of them under administrative
detention. Palestinian detainees are jailed inside Israel, in contravention of
international law that stipulates that they be held within the occupied territory, in
turn leading to restrictions on family visits.
43. On 17 April 2017, 1,500 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel launched an open -
ended mass hunger strike to press for basic rights and draw attention to the difficult
humanitarian conditions endured by Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Following
international pressure and assurances from Israel, the strike ended on 27 May with
an agreement between Palestinian prisoners and Israeli authorities.
44. The United Nations has also documented a growing use of administrative
detention by Palestinian security forces in the West Bank and arbitrary detention by
Hamas against perceived political opponents, including members of Fatah and
former personnel of the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip. The Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has also consistently received
and documented reliable allegations of torture and ill -treatment of Palestinian
detainees in the West Bank and in Ga za, including cases that led to death.
Socioeconomic situation
45. As of early 2017, one in two Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
was in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs. All 4.8 million Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, are now affected by protection risks, including
350,000 Palestinians living in 67 West Bank communities vulnerable to settler violence.
46. On 22 February, the Government of the State of Palestine launched the
National Policy Agenda for 2017-2022,4 in which it identified ending the occupation
as its first national priority. Aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, the agenda has three pilla rs: path to independence, Government
reform and sustainable development. It identifies 30 national policies. The United
Nations Development Assistance Framework for the State of Palestine aims to
support those national development priorities.
47. Israel, as the occupying Power, controls all shared surface and ground water
resources, leaving only 15 per cent for Palestinian use. In January both sides agreed
to renew the activity of the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Water Committee to improve
water infrastructure and supply in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
48. The protracted occupation has significantly undermined agriculture in
Palestine, as both horizontal and vertical expansion of the agriculture sector has
been restricted for decades. In addition to const raints on water use resulting from
access restrictions, land resources in Area C are underutilized. Irrigating the
unexploited area as well as accessing additional range and forest land could deliver
an additional $704 million in value-added to the Palestinian economy, equivalent to
7 per cent of gross domestic product.
49. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the wall
has had a significant impact on agricultural productivity in the West Bank, with
some farmers having been separated from their lands on the other side of the wall.
For example, the yield of olive trees in the area between the wall and the Green
Line has been reduced by approximately 65 per cent in comparison with equivalent
trees in areas accessible all year round.
__________________
4 Available from https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/npa_english_final_approved_20_2_2017
_printed.pdf.
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Chapter III
Mandate of the Committee
50. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights to self-determination and
to national independence and sovereignty, and to return to the homes and property
from which they had been displaced, as recognized by the Assembly in its resolution
3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974. The mandate of the Committee has evolved
considerably over the years into greater advocacy for the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people and the mobilization of assistance. Additional information about
the Committee is available on the website mai ntained by the Division for
Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat at http://www.un.org/unispal/.
51. Most recently, on 30 November 2016, the General Assembly renewed the
mandate of the Committee (resolution 71/20), requested the Secretary-General to
continue to provide the Division for Palestinian Rights with the necessary resources
to carry out its programme of work (resolution 71/21) and requested the
continuation of the special information programme on the question of Palestine of
the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat (resolution 71/22). The
Assembly also adopted resolution 71/23, entitled “Peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine”, in which it reaffirmed the near-consensus international
position regarding the components of a just, lasting and compre hensive solution.
52. The work of the Committee is fully aligned with the decisions of the main
United Nations intergovernmental bodies such as the Security Council, the General
Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, and with the work of the Secretary -
General and the programmes, funds and specialized agencies of the United Nations
system, with which it collaborates extensively.
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Chapter IV
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
53. The Committee is composed of 26 Member States, rep resenting different
regional groups and supporting the international consensus for a two -State solution:
Afghanistan, Belarus, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador,
Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic ,
Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela.
54. The 24 observers at the Committee meetings are Algeria, Bangladesh, Bul garia,
China, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates,
Viet Nam and Yemen, as well as the State of Palestine, the African Union, the
League of Arab States (LAS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
55. The day-to-day tasks of the Committee are undertaken by its Bureau. At its
381st meeting, on 16 February 2017, the Committee elected Fodé Seck (Senegal) as
Chair, and Mahmoud Saikal (Afghanistan), Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo (Cuba), Dian
Triansyah Djani (Indonesia), Neville Melvin Gertze (Namibia) and María Rubiales
de Chamorro (Nicaragua) as Vice-Chairs, and Carmelo Inguanez (Malta) as
Rapporteur. The State of Palestine participates in the Bureau’s work as an observer.
56. The current composition of the Security Council includes, as elected members,
four members and observers of the Committee: Bolivia, Egypt, Senegal and Ukraine.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
57. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of
the United Nations and observers wishing to participate in its work were welcome to
do so. In accordance with established practice, the State of Palestine participated in
the work of the Committee as an observer, attended all of its meetings, conducted
briefings and made observations and proposals for consideration by the Committee
and its Bureau. All efforts were made by the Working Group of the Committee to
guarantee participation of civil society organizations, including Israeli pro -peace
actors.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 71/20
1. Action taken in the Security Council
58. During the open debates at the Security Council held on 19 October 2016 and
17 January, 20 April and 25 July 2017, the Committee delivered statements
highlighting the situation and calling upon the Council to take appropriate actions to
address ongoing violations and to uphold its responsibilities to contribute to a
peaceful settlement of the conflict (see S/PV.7792; S/PV.7863; S/PV.7929;
S/PV.8011 (resumption 1)).
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee
59. The Members of the Bureau represented the Committee at all internation al
conferences organized in accordance with the programme of work. On the margins
of those events, the Committee delegation met with senior officials from the
respective host countries. In particular, in Managua, the Committee delegation met
with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua and parliamentarians. In Mexico
City, the Committee delegation held consultations with high -ranking officials of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico and parliamentarians. In Baku, the
Committee delegation met with high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Azerbaijan.
60. On 2 November 2016, the Bureau held its second annual retreat to review the
work of the Committee. Issues discussed included the 2017 programme of work of
the Committee, the goals for and organization of international events of the
Committee and ideas for better outreach to and engagement with Member States and
civil society.
61. On 22 March 2017, the Bureau met with the new Secretary -General, António
Guterres, to familiarize him with the work of the Committee and to ensure his
continuing support. The Bureau conveyed the sense of urgency among Member
States regarding the implementation of the two -State solution on the basis of the
pre-1967 borders, in the face of the continuing I sraeli occupation and the
deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation, the spike in settlement
activities and the one-State reality emerging. The alleviation of the suffering of the
Palestinian people and the realization of their inalienable righ ts continues to be
perceived as a litmus test of the credibility of the Organization. In particular, the
Bureau requested the Secretary-General to make full use of one of the main tools
currently at his disposal, his quarterly reports on the implementation of Security
Council resolution 2334 (2016).
62 On 18 May 2017, in a letter addressed to the Secretary -General, the
Committee conveyed its position regarding the quarterly report, namely, that the
report should be substantive, in writing, and should clearly indicate whether the
relevant parties are in compliance with the provisions of the resolution.
63. The Chair of the Committee delivered a statement at the meeting of the
Council of Foreign Ministers o f OIC, held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on 10 and
11 July 2017.
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B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 71/20
and 71/21
1. Committee meetings at Headquarters
64. During the reporting period, the Committee held six periodic meetings at
United Nations Headquarters in New York, in addition to the eight informal
meetings of its Bureau and the meetings of its Working Group. At its 378th meeting,
on 3 October 2016, the Committee adopted its annual report. At its 379th meeting,
on 15 November, the Committee approved for submission to the General Assembly
four draft resolutions entitled “Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People”, “Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat”,
“Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of
Public Information of the Secretariat” and “Peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine”. The 380th meeting, on 29 November, marked the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. At its 381st meeting, on
16 February 2017, attended by the Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary -General, the
Committee re-elected its Chair, Vice-Chairs and Rapporteur and adopted its annual
programme of work. At its 382nd meeting on 17 May, the Committee focused on the
reports of the international conferences already held and approved the programmes
for upcoming international conferences. At its 383rd meeting, on 8 Augu st, the
Committee received reports on its most recent international meetings.
65. On 17 March, the Committee organized a public event on the margins of the
sixty-first session of the Commission on the Status of Women at United Nations
Headquarters in New York, entitled “In conversation with Dr. Hanan Ashrawi”.
Ms. Ashrawi is a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organization.
66. To mark Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, on 18 April, the Committee, in
cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the
United Nations, organized the screening of the film, Ghost Hunting.
67. The above-mentioned public events and others organized by the Working
Group of the Committee (see paras. 80 -85) were attended by representatives of
Governments, intergovernmental organizations and entities of the United Nations
system, as well as parliamentarians and representatives of civil society and the media.
2. Programme of international meetings and conferences
68. During the reporting period the following international events were held under
the auspices of the Committee:
(a) United Nations Roundtable on the Question of Palestine, entitled “Building Bridges
with the Palestinian Diaspora in Central America”, Managua, 4 February 2017,
and Committee delegation visit to Mexico City, 7 February 2017
69. The Round Table built on the outcome of the 2016 Palestinian diaspora
convention in Bethlehem and facilitated interaction between Palestinians in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and the diaspora, the latter from 10 countries in
Central and South America. Participants discussed how to strengthen international
advocacy to end the Israeli occupation and promote socioeconomic development in
Palestine. The Round Table adopted the Man agua Declaration, committing
participants and their organizations to strengthening cooperation between a variety
of diaspora communities, with the aim of establishing a regional bloc in Central
America, attending upcoming meetings at Headquarters in June a nd in Santiago de
Chile in October 2017 and increasing the number of visits to Palestine.
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70. On 7 February, after participating in the Round Table, the Committee
delegation visited Mexico City for meetings with high -level officials of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and the Chairs of two foreign affairs commissions of the Senate,
as well as with the President of the Mexico -Palestine Friendship Group in the
Chamber of Deputies. The Permanent Representative of Nicaragua and the
Permanent Observer of Palestine also gave a presentation to students, policymakers
and diplomats at the Diplomatic Academy.
(b) United Nations Capacity-Building Workshop on Sustainable Development Goals
for Staff of the State of Palestine, entitled “Partnerships for Empowering a
Future State of Palestine: Sustainable Development Goal 17 and South -South
and Triangular Cooperation”, Beirut, 27 and 28 April 2017
71. The Workshop was organized in cooperation with the Economic and Social
Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) for mid -level Palestinian civil servants
engaged in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. It aimed to
establish a common understanding of the practice of South-South and triangular
cooperation as an important modality for attaining the Goals in Palestine and
provided practical tools and methods to comprehend the inherent challenges and
opportunities. The Workshop built in part on the 2016 United Nations Seminar on
Assistance to the Palestinian People, under the theme “Agenda 2030: paving the
way towards a peaceful, independent and sustainable State of Palestine”, and took
into account other capacity-building initiatives of the United Nations country team
in Palestine.
(c) United Nations Forum to Mark Fifty Years of Occupation, entitled “Ending the
Occupation: the Path to Independence, Justice and Peace for Palestine” and
“Creating the Space for Human Rights, Development and a Just Peace”, New York,
29 and 30 June 2017
72. The Forum consisted of two day-long events, the first of which focused on
diplomatic and political aspects of the ongoing occupation and the second on civil
society advocacy strategies and recommendations.
73. The first day brought together international experts, representatives of the
diplomatic community and civil society, including Palestinians and Israelis, as well
as academics and students of diverse backgrounds and views. A series of moderated
interactive panels underscored the importance of ending the occupation as an
antecedent step towards a peaceful resolution of the Israeli -Palestinian conflict.
Participants noted that, notwithstanding the costs to Israel, given its current
prosperity and growing international relations, including within the Group of 77 and
China, Israel does not have an incentive to end the occupation and act in favour of a
two-State solution. Participants stressed the need for the international community to
insist on ensuring accountability and enforcement of international law, including
relevant United Nations resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016). While
experts recognized that a peaceful and lasting solution was not imminent , they
nevertheless stressed the importance of multilateral peace efforts and of working
constructively with civil society partners towards an eventual two -State solution.
74. On the second day, participants included representatives of leading Palestinian ,
Israeli and international human rights organizations, conflict prevention and
diplomatic advisory groups, women’s and youth groups, political parties, churches,
the Jewish community in the United States and the Palestinian diaspora, including
in the United States and Chile. Discussions focused on field perspectives, the use of
alternative frameworks for analysis and policy recommendations to ensure
accountability and pave the way for a just and lasting peace, in addition to concerns
expressed about the shrinking space for civil society in the absence of political will.
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A common thread in the discussions was the call by and on civil society to make a
difference through its own actions while continuing to pressure Governments to take
measures to ensure respect for international law and United Nations resolutions.
(d) International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem, entitled “Jerusalem
and the International Community: Providing Political and Economic Support”,
Baku, 20 and 21 July 2017, in collaborati on with OIC
75. The Conference aimed to present ideas and proposals about ways in which the
international community, especially OIC member States, could provide concrete
support to the Palestinian population in Jerusalem, with a focus on education and
training to foster resilience and on economic recovery and development.
76. Against the backdrop of tensions and confrontations at the al -Aqsa Mosque,
participants warned that a continued violation of the historic status quo at the Haram
al-Sharif risked inflaming religious sensitivities and shifting the Israeli -Palestinian/
Arab conflict from a political to a religious one. To address the deteriorating
socioeconomic situation of the Palestinian population in East Jerusalem, the
participants called for an increase in outside support, for example, through direct
investment in tourism and education infrastructure, provision of education and
capacity-building opportunities abroad and permission for Arab Christians and
Muslims to go on pilgrimage to East Jer usalem while under occupation.
77. The Conference ended with the issuance of a communiqué on behalf of the
organizers, the Committee and OIC, strongly condemning the closure of the al -Aqsa
Mosque and calling upon the international community to reaffirm respect for the
historic status quo and to compel Israel to rescind all measures violating it.
3. Cooperation with intergovernmental and regional organizations
78. Throughout the year, the Committee continued its cooperation with
intergovernmental organizations. The Committee appreciates the active participation
of the representatives of those organizations in the various international events held
under its auspices and the co-sponsorship provided by OIC to organize the
International Conference on the Questio n of Jerusalem. The African Union, LAS
and OIC, as observers to the Committee, regularly attend the meetings of the
Committee and its Working Group and participate in their work.
79. On 10 and 11 July 2017, a Committee delegation attended the forty -fourth
session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Abidjan.
4. Cooperation with civil society
80. In October 2016, the Working Group of the Committee adopted a new strategy
with the overarching objective of promoting the realization of the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people through strengthened cooperation with civil society.
81. In accordance with its new strategy, the Working Group of the Committee,
chaired by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Malta, supported action by civil
society organizations promoting the rights of Palestinians and a just peace through
events at Headquarters, which all Member and observer States were invited to
attend, including the following:
(a) Briefing by Al Haq, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch on
issues related to the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
18 October 2016;
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(b) Address by Suhad Babaa, Executive Director of Just Vision, at the
special meeting of the Committee held in observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November 2016;
(c) Conversation with Palestinian politi cal leader Hanan Ashrawi, on
17 March 2017. The event was held on the margins of the sixty -first session of the
Commission on the Status of Women;
(d) Civil society forum held on 30 June 2017, entitled “Ending the
Occupation: Creating the Space for Human Rights, Development and a Just Peace”,
as part of a two-day event to mark fifty years of occupation.
82. Support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations was further
provided by inviting civil society representatives based in the Occupied Pal estinian
Territory and Israel to attend the Forum on 29 and 30 June. In addition, the Working
Group facilitated speaking engagements by civil society representatives at other
events, including a presentation by Nur Arafeh, Policy Fellow with Al Shabaka: th e
Palestinian Policy Network, at a summer course entitled “Palestine: Half a Century
of Occupation — a Legal, Political and Human Approach”, held in Madrid from 3 to
7 July 2017.
83. To expand its network of civil society partners, the Committee continued to
reach out to Palestinian, Israeli and other organizations through its Working Group
and the Division for Palestinian Rights. Civil society representatives were invited to
participate in all public international meetings organized under the auspices of the
Committee. Additional organizations and parliamentarians were involved in the
work of the Committee through activities in Nicaragua and Mexico; liaison with
United Nations field offices and focal points of non -governmental organizations at
Headquarters; participation in conferences and meetings organized by civil society
in New York and Washington, D.C.; informal consultations; and desk research.
84. During the reporting period, new civil society partnerships to mobilize
international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people were developed
with Palestinian diaspora communities in Latin America, Canada and the United
States.
85. The Division for Palestinian Rights continued to maintain a web page on civil
society and the question of Palestine (https://unispal.un.org/DPA/DPR/unispal.nsf
/ngo.htm), supporting outreach to civil society organizations, increasing their
awareness of Committee activities and fostering cooperation. The weekly online
bulletin NGO Action News (https://unispal.un.org/DPA/DPR/unispal.nsf/add2.htm)
kept the Working Group of the Committee updated on civil society action on the
question of Palestine. Through its dissemination among approximately 900 civil
society organizations from around the world, the publication supports efforts to
exchange information, build alliances and coordinate civil society initiatives to
promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, achieve
an end to the occupation and advance a just and lasting peace.
Parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations, and local governments
86. The Committee continued to attach great importance to developing its liaison
with national and regional parliaments and their organizations. Representatives of
parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations participated in international
events organized by the Committee during the reporting period. Among others,
members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Parliamentary Assembly of the
Mediterranean and the Israeli Knesset participate d in international meetings held
under the auspices of the Committee. The Committee delegation held meetings with
parliamentarians in Nicaragua and Mexico.
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5. Research, monitoring and publications
87. The Division for Palestinian Rights carried out res earch and monitoring
activities and responded to requests for information and briefings on the question of
Palestine. Under the guidance of the Committee, the Division prepared the
following publications for dissemination (see http://www.un.org/unispal):
(a) Monthly bulletin on action taken by the United Nations system and
intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine;
(b) Reports of international meetings and conferences organized under the
auspices of the Committee;
(c) Special bulletin and information notes on the observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(d) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General
Assembly, Security Council and Economic and Social Council rel ating to the
question of Palestine;
(e) Periodic reviews of developments related to the Middle East peace
process.
6. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
88. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevan t services of
the Secretariat, continued to administer, maintain, expand and upgrade the United
Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine to heighten international
awareness of the question of Palestine as well as international support for th e rights
of the Palestinian people and a just, peaceful solution through the work of the
Committee. The Division also maintained its Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages
to disseminate information about the work on the question of Palestine by the
Committee and the entities of the United Nations system.
7. Capacity-building programme for staff of the Government of the
State of Palestine
89. As mandated by General Assembly resolutions, including resolution 71/20,
and as part of its ongoing efforts to further expand the capacity -building programme
for staff of the Government of the State of Palestine aimed at supporting the
Government in enhancing the viability and sustainability of the future independent
State of Palestine, the Division for Palestinian Rights organized and administered a
number of capacity-building initiatives in consultation with the Permanent Observer
Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations in New York. They included
mobilizing international and regional support and resources, including within the
framework of South-South and triangular cooperation, for national efforts with
respect to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development,
which pledges to “leave no one behind”.
90. In October and November 2016, the Division organized the annual training
programme for the staff of the Government of the State of Palestine in New York
and Geneva, respectively. The training programmes allow Palestinian staff to
familiarize themselves with various aspects of the multilateral work of the
Secretariat and other United Nations organs and bodies, including the General
Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, as well as the
United Nations Office in Geneva. In addition, in November 2016 the Division
organized, in cooperation with the UNESCO -IHE Institute for Water Education, a
four-day training course on water conflict management for Palestinian civil servants
in Ramallah, designed for water managers, decision makers and others involved in
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integrated water resource management and negotiation. In the same month, the
Committee funded the participation of Palestinian staff in an online course entitled
“Introduction to Water Diplomacy”, developed by the Un ited Nations Institute for
Training and Research (UNITAR), to enhance their ability to assess, prevent and
respond to tensions arising from situations of water scarcity and mismanagement. In
March 2017, the Committee funded another online course through UN ITAR,
entitled “Climate Change Diplomacy: Negotiating Effectively under the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change”, enhancing the understanding
of the climate change policy framework by building an appreciation of the science,
causes and impacts of climate change and the history of the policymaking process.
Finally, in April, the Division organized, in Beirut, a workshop on the Sustainable
Development Goals entitled “Partnerships for Empowering a Future State of
Palestine: Sustainable Development Goal 17 and South-South and Triangular
Cooperation”.
91. The Committee paid special attention to expanding the pool of potential
participants to all offices and departments of the Government of the State of
Palestine and optimizing the use of resour ces to allow the maximum number of
participants possible. The Committee remains of the view that in selecting
candidates for its capacity-building and training programme, special consideration
should be given to achieving gender balance; of the 41 Palestin ian individuals
trained during the reporting period, 23 were men and 18 were women.
8. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
92. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
on 29 November 2016 at Headquarters, the United Nations offices in Vienna,
Geneva, and Nairobi and at the United Nations Information Centres and other
entities in many cities throughout the world. At Headquarters, the Committee held a
special meeting with the participation of the Deputy Secretary -General, the
President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council, and
organized an exhibit entitled “Palestinian Embroidery: Threads of Continuity,
Identity and Empowerment”.
93. The Committee also facilitated a presentation by Randa Siniora, General
Director of the Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling, and Ignacio
Álvarez-Ossorio, professor in the Department of Arab and Islamic Studies of
Alicante University, at the colloquium entitled “General Overview of the Human
Rights Situation in Palestine — Perspectives from the International Community and
Academia”, held on 18 November 2017 in Bogota, organized to ma rk the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 71/22
94. During the reporting period, the Department of Public Information continued
to implement its special information programme on the question of Palestine in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 71/22 of 30 November 2016.
95. The Department organized its annual training programme for Palestinian
journalists, from 7 November to 8 December, in which nine Palestinian media
practitioners attended meetings and participated in discussions at United Nations
Headquarters in New York and in Washington, D.C., and travelled to Doha to
undergo a training course at Al Jazeera.
96. The Department continued to produce and disseminate news and information
about the range of issues and developments related to the question of Palesti ne and
the Middle East peace process on all its multimedia and multilingual platforms. All
open intergovernmental meetings on the subject were covered by United Nations
Television, the United Nations Photo Unit and United Nations Web TV. In addition,
the Department produced a total of 76 press releases covering meetings, in both
English and French.
97. The multilingual United Nations News Centre, and the Arabic unit in particular,
produced numerous features on the question of Palestine, including a series of
interviews with senior officials and policymakers. The Centre also produced stories
from the field, for example, on the electricity and water crisis in the Gaza Strip.
98. The Yearbook of the United Nations reported regularly on relevant statements,
resolutions, events and actions taken by the Committee.
99. The Department’s global network of United Nations Information Centres
organized a number of outreach activities, and translated and disseminated
information materials on the inalienable rights of t he Palestinian people. For
example, the Information Centre in Tehran organized a workshop on the Plan of
Partition for Palestine (resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947); the Information
Centre in New Delhi organized its second International Utopia Model United
Nations Conference, raising awareness on the question of Palestine with youth; and
the Information Centre in Warsaw galvanized youth to join a panel discussion with
the visiting UNRWA Commissioner-General. Further activities and events were
organized by a number of Information Centres in November 2016 to commemorate
the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, including in
Canberra, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Manama, Nairobi, New Delhi and Tehran.
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
100. In the fiftieth year of the Israeli occupation, the Committee urges the
international community to redouble its efforts aimed at achieving, without
delay, a negotiated peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine in all its
aspects through an end to the Israeli occupation, the realization of the rights of the
Palestinian people, including to self-determination and independence, and
achievement of the two-State solution in accordance with the relevant United
Nations resolutions.
101. In its continued support to the revitalization of peace efforts, the Committee
aligns itself with the view that the model of bilateral negotiations, which after more
than two decades has not brought about the end of the Israeli occupatio n and the full
independence of the State of Palestine on the basis of the pre -1967 borders with
East Jerusalem as its capital, should be revised. The Committee welcomes serious
steps taken by the international community towards presenting an expanded
multilateral framework, including key regional partners, with a view to reviving
the peace process and a credible political horizon.
102. As has consistently emerged during meetings of the General Assembly and the
Security Council, as well as the international meetings organized by the Committee,
any resolution of the conflict will remain central to peace and stability throughout
the volatile Middle East region and the world. As such, the conflict clearly requires
a comprehensive regional solution that includes greater engagement with key Arab
States and other concerned States. The Arab Peace Initiative remains a significant
contribution to such a regional settlement. The Committee supports those efforts and
will continue its enhanced cooperation with the LAS an d OIC. The Committee also
welcomes the contributions of other States in the region and outside the Middle East
in exerting their influence to reach a peaceful solution of the question of Palestine.
103. The Committee urges the Security Council, which has a primary responsibility
for maintaining peace and security under the Charter of the United Nations, and the
General Assembly to play a constructive role in ensuring fullest accountability
and implementation of the long-standing parameters for peace reiterated in the
relevant United Nations resolutions in order to resolve the conflict. Positive
consideration should be given to all proposals that endeavour to overcome the
current impasse. In that regard, the Committee welcomes the adoption of Security
Council resolution 2334 (2016), which reaffirmed that the establishment by Israel of
settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East
Jerusalem, had no legal validity, and called for affirmative steps to be taken
immediately to reverse the negative trends on the ground that are imperilling the
two-State solution, thus generating a unique momentum for peace which needs to be
maintained. Pursuant to paragraph 12 of the resolution, the Committee requests the
Secretary-General to present his third and subsequent reports to the Council
on the implementation of the provisions of the resolution in a written format
and to propose practical ways and means to hold Israel accountable for its
illegal settlement activities and other violations.
104. The Committee acknowledges that intra-Palestinian relations are an obstacle
to progress towards an independent State of Palestine. Serious efforts are required to
overcome mistrust between the parties, including through confidence -building
efforts, and calls for a demonstration of the courage and leadership that i s required
at the present time. The Committee offers its services and support to local,
regional and international efforts, from any country and/or organization that is
able to advance the process.
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105. Recalling the upcoming seventieth anniversary of the expulsion of Palestine
refugees from their homeland in 1948, remembered as the “Nakba”
(catastrophe), the Committee emphasizes the importance of the acknowledgment of
that event and its impact upon the Palestinian people as a necessary requirement for
a viable and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as for future
reconciliation. It strongly advocates for the right to return (or compensation) of
the Palestine refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly
resolution 194 (III). The Committee further encourages all Member States to work
collectively to more sufficiently and predictably fund UNRWA as it is confronted
with an increased demand for services resulting from widespread instability and
socioeconomic decline in all fields of operation and the deepening poverty and
vulnerability of the Palestine refugee population, particularly in the Gaza Strip,
while facing severe shortfalls in budget, affecting the Agency’s capacity to provide
assistance and protection in accordance with its mandate.
106. The Committee reiterates that the international community must intensify its
efforts, uphold its moral and legal responsibility and demand an end to the 10-year
old Israeli air, land and sea blockade of Gaza and the lifting of all closures within
the framework of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009). It notes that, two years
after the devastating 2014 war, the reconstruction of Gaza has made some important
strides. However, clean water, sanitation and electricity still remain scarce, and the
fact that over 65,000 persons remain displaced continues to cause widespread
suffering and has a significant impact upon an already dire humanitarian situation.
The Committee calls upon international donors to fulfil without delay all pledges
in order to expedite the provision of humanitarian assistance and the re construction
process, essential for alleviating the distress of Palestinians, including women and
children, and to support an urgent move from humanitarian assistance to
development.
107. Ultimately, to ensure respect for the rights of the Palestinian peo ple, to prevent
deterioration beyond the breaking point and to stop the build -destroy-rebuild cycle,
the Committee recommends shifting from a humanitarian to a political and
human rights framework, which would take into account the legal obligations of
all stakeholders, including in context of the Gaza Strip. A Palestinian unity
government is also essential to take up governance and security functions in Gaza
and exercise control over the crossings.
108. The Committee reiterates that violations of humanitarian and human rights
law must be investigated, and that perpetrators of such violations should be
brought to justice. The Committee expresses its concern at the limited
implementation by Israel, the occupying Power, of the findings and
recommendations contained in the report of the independent commission of inquiry
on the 2014 Gaza conflict and of all other human rights recommendations directed
at Israel. The Committee welcomes the appointment of Stanley Michael Lynk as
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967 and will strive to facilitate the implementation of his mandate.
109. The Committee underscores the responsibility of States and private entities
not to contribute to grave Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights,
particularly in respect of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem. It looks forward to the establishment of a database of all actors
conducting business in areas under Israeli military occ upation, as mandated by
Human Rights Council resolution 31/36 of 2016. Within the context of that
resolution and in accordance with paragraph 5 of Security Council resolution 2334
(2016), which calls upon States to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between
the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967, the
Committee urges further steps by Governments, private businesses and other
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relevant bodies, including the European Union, to dissociate themselves from
policies that directly or indirectly grant legitimacy to or support for illegal Israeli
settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and the occupation at large.
110. The Committee notes with appreciation the useful contribution of the
Division for Palestinian Rights in support of its mandate and its activities through
the following:
(a) Efficient provision of substantive and secretariat support, including to
official meetings of the Committee as well as informal meetings of the Bureau and
Committee visits to the field, and effective liaison with and strategic guidance to the
Committee, its Bureau and the Working Group; organization of briefings, including
for new Committee delegates; execution of the decisions of the Committee,
including by preparing Committee correspondence to national authorities and
regional organizations; and timely preparation and issuance of the necessary
parliamentary documentation;
(b) Organization of four international meetings and confe rences contributing
to the sustained level of dialogue, engagement and support on the part of the
international community for the Committee’s programme objectives, as evidenced
by the number and level of participation in its international meetings and
conferences, and commemorations of the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People;
(c) An increase in international awareness of United Nations policies and
activities relating to the question of Palestine, through the preparation of
publications and information materials and their widest possible dissemination; and
maintenance, upgrading and continued development of The Question of Palestine
website as well as the use of such web -based social information networks as
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube;
(d) Enhanced assistance and support to the Government of the State of
Palestine in building efficient, accountable and resilient institutions through
workshops and training of Palestinian civil servants, particularly in the light of its
efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda;
(e) Continued involvement of civil society organizations in support of the
efforts of the Committee and the United Nations towards a comprehensive, just and
lasting settlement of the question of Palestine.
111. The Committee will continue, through its mandated activities implemented
by the Division for Palestinian Rights, to generate heightened international
awareness on the question of Palestine, as well as international support for the
rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and
independence, in this year marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Israeli
occupation and the seventieth anniversary of the General Assembly resolution
to partition Palestine.
112. The Committee requests the Division to continue its substantive and
secretariat support of all aspects of its mandate; the organization of the annual
observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People; the
programme of international meetings and conferences; th e programme of research,
monitoring and publications and other informational activities in support of the
Committee’s communications strategy; and the expansion of the training and
capacity-building programme, taking into account the National Policy Agenda of the
State of Palestine and its efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable
Development. In that context, the Committee recognizes the growing importance of
cooperation among developing countries and regional and subregional organizations
for sharing and implementing sustainable, cost-effective and replicable experiences
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and solutions that work, and supports special efforts by the Division to facilitate
such exchanges within the framework of South-South and triangular
cooperation. Lastly, it urges Committee Members and observer States and
others to actively participate in its programme, including through voluntary
contributions to offer training experiences and to put the programmes on a solid
financial footing.
113. The Committee is of the view that the special information programme on
the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an
important contribution to informing the media and the public of the relevant issues.
It requests the continuation of the programme, with the necessary flexibility
warranted by developments relevant to the question of Palestine.
114. The Committee highly values civil society initiatives in support of the
Palestinian people and will continue to expand its efforts to engage additional civil
society organizations, including by convening regular civil society forums, and the
public at large in its work to support a just and peaceful solution to the question of
Palestine, including in Israel. The Committee encourages civil society partners to
work with their national Governments, parliamentarians and other institutions
with a view to gaining their full support for the work of the United Nations and
the Committee, and for the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the
Palestinian people of their inalienable rights, full recognition of the State of
Palestine and its independence. Furthermore, following the productive
engagement with the Palestinian diaspora during the reporting period, the
Committee will continue to expand the engagement, with a view to synergizing
efforts to raise awareness and gain practical support for a just solution to the
question of Palestine and for the socioeconomic development of the Palestinian
people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
115. Wishing to make its contribution to the achievement of a comprehensive, just
and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, and in view of the many
difficulties facing the Palestinian people and their leadership and besetting the peace
process, the Committee intends to work closely with other United Nations actors
on the ground, including the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle
East Peace Process and UNRWA, to synergize efforts in fields of common concern
and uphold the permanent responsibility of the Organiz ation towards the question of
Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance
with international legitimacy (General Assembly resolution 71/20, last preambular
paragraph). The Committee wishes to express its deep appreciation to its partners,
in particular OIC, for the contribution of extrabudgetary resources and their
active participation in its conferences and events.
116. The Committee will also reach out to all regional groups at the United
Nations with a view to expanding its membership. It calls upon all States to join
it in this endeavour and to extend their cooperation and support to the Committee,
and invites the General Assembly again to recognize the importanc e of its role and
to reconfirm its mandate.
17-15561 (E) 220917
*1715561*
A/73/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-third Session
Supplement No. 35
A/73/35
Report of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-third Session
Supplement No. 35
A/73/35
United Nations • New York, 2018
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
18-14655 3/30
[4 September 2018]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
II. Review of the political context relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
III. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
IV. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
V. Action taken by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 72/13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance
with General Assembly resolutions 72/13 and 72/11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
VI. Action taken by the Department of Public Information in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 72/12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4/30 18-14655
Letter of transmittal
[4 September 2018]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly and circulation to all the competent bodies of the United Nations
for necessary action, as appropriate, in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 10 of
Assembly resolution 72/13 of 30 November 2017.
The report covers the period from 6 September 2017 to 4 September 2018.
(Signed) Cheikh Niang
Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr. António Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The present report by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People has been submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution
72/13, adopted on 30 November 2017. It covers the implementation by the Committee
of its programme of work (A/AC.183/2018/1), formulated to enable the Palestinian
people to exercise their inalienable rights. Its objectives include maintaining
international awareness, mobilizing efforts aimed at achieving a just, comprehensive
and lasting solution of the question of Palestine, enhancing international solidarity
with the plight of the Palestinian people and supporting the Government of the State
of Palestine in its capacity-building efforts towards a viable and sustainable future
independent State of Palestine.
2. Chapter II consists of a review of the political context relating to the question
of Palestine by the Committee during the reporting period, f rom 6 September 2017 to
4 September 2018.
3. Chapters III and IV outline the mandate of the Committee as set out by the
General Assembly and provide information on the membership of the Committee and
the organization of its work.
4. Chapter V covers the action taken by the Committee, including its participation
in meetings of the Security Council and its continuing dialogue with
intergovernmental organizations and civil society. It also covers international
conferences, delegation visits and capacity -building workshops organized by the
Committee, as well as other mandated activities carried out and events held by the
Division for Palestinian Rights on behalf of the Committee.
5. Chapter VI provides an overview of the special information programme on the
question of Palestine implemented by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 72/12 of 30 November 2017.
6. The conclusions and recommendations of the Committee to the General
Assembly are set out in chapter VII of the report.
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Chapter II
Review of the political context relating to the question
of Palestine
Jerusalem
7. During the reporting period, several unilateral measures threatened the status of
Jerusalem and the consensus on the two -State solution. In October and November
2017, the Israeli authorities approved multiple building permits for housing units in
settlements in East Jerusalem. 1 On 6 December, the United States of America
announced its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and its intention to
move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The Secretary -General immediately
reiterated that unilateral measures would jeopardize the prospect of peace for Israelis
and Palestinians2 and that Jerusalem remained a final status issue. The Committee
issued a statement3 calling upon the United States to rescind its decision, stressing
that there was no alternative to the two -State solution. On 14 May 2018, the United
States inaugurated its embassy in Jerusalem to coincide with the seventieth
anniversary of its recognition of Israel. In the week that followed, Guatemala and
Paraguay opened embassies in Jerusalem. In late May, Czechia reopened its honorary
consulate in Jerusalem; however, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Czechia issued
a statement expressing full respect for the common European Union position of
considering Jerusalem as the future capital of two States.
8. On 2 January, the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, passed a bill that stipul ated
that any measure to relinquish control over any portion of Jerusalem to a foreign
entity would require a two-third majority in the Knesset. On 17 July, the Knesset
passed an amendment to the law on administrative affairs courts, transferring judicial
authority over a range of issues in the Occupied Palestinian Territory from the High
Court of Justice to the Jerusalem District Court, including freedom of information
requests, planning and constructions matters, entry permits into Israel and freedom of
movement and access.
9. On 3 July, the Prime Minister of Israel lifted the ban that prohibited members
of the Knesset from visiting the Temple Mount, and on 8 and 9 July, several members
of the Knesset violated the media ban by filming their visits. On 18 July, the Knesset
passed a bill entitled “Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People”,
which provided that the State viewed the development of Jewish settlements as a
national value and would act to encourage and promote their establishment and
consolidation. The law will apply within Israel as well as in areas annexed since 1967,
including East Jerusalem. On 21 July, the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage
of Israel called upon Jews to “ascend the Mount”. On 27 July, on the first anniversary
of the 2017 unrest at the Holy Esplanade, 10 Palestinians and 4 Israeli police officers
were injured in clashes at the site (see S.PV/8329). The Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to
the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority conducted a series
of meetings with Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders in Jerusalem to
ensure that the status quo was preser ved at the holy sites.
__________________
1 .See https://unsco.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/security_council_briefing_ -_
20_november_2017.pdf.
2 See https://news.un.org/en/story/2017/12/638412 -issue-jerusalem-must-be-resolved-throughdirect-
negotiations-between-parties-un.
3 Available at www.un.org/unispal/document/committee -of-palestinian-rights-committeestatement-
on-recognition-of-jerusalem-as-the-capital-of-israel/.
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The Gaza Strip
10. The political and security situation in the Gaza Strip continued to be volatile.
Lack of progress in implementing the intra -Palestinian reconciliation agreement,
compounded by the Israeli blockade and access restrictions, continued to aggravate
an already dire humanitarian situation. 4
11. From 30 March to 15 May 2018, thousands of Palestinians staged the “Great
March of Return”, weekly demonstrations to mark Land Day along the fence
separating Gaza from Israel and call for the right of Palestine refugees to return to
their homes lost in 1948. Israeli forces responded with live and other ammunition,
killing and wounding civilians. On 31 March, the Secretary -General called for an
independent inquiry into those a cts of violence. On 6 April, the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that unjustified recourse to live
fire could amount to wilful killing of civilians, which would be a breach of the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. The Chief
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court warned that acts of violence against
civilians would constitute a crime under the Rome Statute, adding that the situation
in Palestine was under preliminary examination by her office. The Committee issued
a statement5 on 14 May demanding that the occupying power abide by its obligation
to protect civilians under its control, in accordance with international law, and called
for an end to the illegal blockade o f the Gaza Strip that continued to punish the Gazan
population collectively. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
reported that, between 30 March and 16 August, 177 Palestinians, including 29
children, had been killed and 18,006 had been wounded in the context of
demonstrations and hostilities in Gaza.
12. July and August witnessed the largest escalation in violence in Gaza since the
conflict of 2014. After one Israeli soldier was killed and another wounded in gunfire
shot from Gaza on 20 July, Israeli airstrikes and ensuing clashes led to the deaths of
more than 20 Palestinians, including eight children, and to more than 1,000
Palestinians suffering injuries. On 21 July, the Secretary -General called upon Hamas
and other Palestinian militants to cease the launching of rockets and incendiary kites
and provocations along the fence, and stressed that Israel must exercise restraint to
avoid inflaming the situation further. With support from Egypt and the United
Nations, an informal ceasefire was reached on 9 August. From 17 July to 15 August,
the fishing zone was reduced by Israel from nine to three nautical miles. On 2 August,
Israel reinstated the ban on the entry of fuel into Gaza, bringing critical services to
the brink of collapse and prompting the United Nations Coordinator for Humanitarian
and Development Activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to call for United
Nations-purchased emergency fuel to be immediately allowed in to keep hospitals and
essential water and sanitation fac ilities running.6 On 22 August, the Under-Secretary-
General for Political Affairs informed the Security Council of a critical shortage of
medicines and of funding for United Nations emergency fuel supplies (see
S/PV.8329).
__________________
4 See www.ochaopt.org/content/only-marginal-improvement-humanitarian-situation-gaza-stripwake-
intra-palestinian.
5 Available at www.un.org/unispal/document/palestinian -rights-committee-statement-on-the-gravesituation-
in-gaza/.
6 See www.ochaopt.org/content/entry-emergency-fuel-urgently-needed-avoid-closure-hospitalsand-
overflow-sewage-gaza.
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Efforts to resume the peace process
13. On 20 February, the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas,
presented to the Security Council a peace plan 7 calling for a multilateral international
mechanism emanating from an internation al peace conference bringing together
Israel, the State of Palestine and international stakeholders, notably the permanent
members of the Security Council and the Quartet, in the same framework as the
Conference for Peace in the Middle East held in Paris i n 2017 and the meeting
proposed to be held in Moscow in resolution 1850 (2008). He said that the outcome
of the conference should include, inter alia, the admission of the State of Palestine as
a full Member of the United Nations and the establishment of an international
multilateral mechanism to facilitate time -bound negotiations between the two parties
to resolve all permanent status issues. The terms of reference for negotiations would
include respect for international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, the
Arab Peace Initiative and signed agreements; the preservation of the principle of two
States; the acceptance of minimal land swaps; East Jerusalem as the capital of the
State of Palestine; ensuring the security of two States without undermining the
independence and sovereignty of either of them; and a just and agreed solution for
the Palestine refugees on the basis of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), as well
as support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in
the Near East (UNRWA), pending a just resolution for the refugees issue. The League
of Arab States echoed the calls for a multilateral mechanism. 8
Intra-Palestinian reconciliation efforts
14. On 12 October 2017, with the support of Egypt, Fatah and Hamas signed an
agreement to enable the Government of the State of Palestine to resume its
responsibilities in Gaza. The agreement was welcomed by the Committee. On
1 November, the Government of the State of Palestine regained control over Gaza
crossings, while on 18 November, the Rafah crossing opened under government
control for the first time in a decade. However, on 25 January 2018, the Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process reporte d to the Security Council that
the implementation of the agreement had effectively ground to a halt, as Hamas and
Fatah were unable to agree on key issues. On 13 March, the situation was further
strained by an assassination attempt against the Prime Minist er of the State of
Palestine, Rami Hamdallah, during his visit to Gaza. Negotiations facilitated by Egypt
have since resumed between Hamas and Fatah.
Protection of Palestinian civilians
15. The reporting period was marked by almost daily military incursions and raids
by Israeli forces and clashes with young Palestinian people and Palestinian protesters
in many parts of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. On 22 May, the
State of Palestine submitted a State referral to the Prosecutor of the International
Court of Justice, requesting investigation of past, ongoing and future crimes in all
parts of the territory of the State of Palestine. On 13 July, the International Court of
Justice called upon the “victims of the situation in Palestine ” to approach the court
with reports about crimes committed against them.
16. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, from
1 September 2017 to 30 July 2018, 171 Palestin ian civilians were killed and 24,938
were injured (see figure I and the table below it), while attacks on Israelis resulted in
five civilian deaths and 41 people injured in conflict -related casualties. Continued
and disproportionate violence against Palest inian civilians and incitement have
perpetuated mutual fear and suspicion. On 14 August, the Secretary -General issued a
report on the protection of the Palestinian civilian population ( A/ES-10/794),
__________________
7 See www.un.org/press/en/2018/sc13213.doc.htm.
8 See http://english.wafa.ps/page.aspx?id=OyEgt7a96306934317aOyEgt7.
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pursuant to General Assembly resolution ES-10/20, in which he laid out options for
affording better protection to the Palestinian civilian population, including by means
of a more robust presence of the United Nations on the ground; dedicated civilian
observers; better humanitarian access; and a mandated United Nations mission to
provide physical protection. He noted that, in order to be viable, each of those options
would require the cooperation of the parties concerned, including Israel, the sustained
cessation of hostilities and additional resources.
Figure I
Number of Palestinians and Israelis killed during the reporting period a
Source: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 9
a As at 30 July 2018.
Number of Palestinians and Israelis injured during the reporting perioda
September October November December January February March April May June July
Palestinians 125 108 90 4 580 542 909 2 879 4 968 7 306 1 827 1 604
Israelis 2 4 8 1 2 5 1 5 6 0 7
Source: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 10
a As at 30 July 2018.
Settlements
17. Settlements have continued to expand, despite several Security Council
resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016), in which all settlements in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory were declared illegal under international law.
Reporting on behalf of the Secretary-General pursuant to Security Council resolution
2334 (2016), the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process noted that,
during the period from 20 September to 18 December 2017, Israel approved the
construction of 1,200 units in the occupied West Bank. Plans were also advanced to
build units for settlers evicted from illegal outposts under court orders. The authorities
also conditionally approved building permits for 31 housing units in the H2 zone of
Hebron, the first such approvals since 2001. During the period from 1 8 December
2017 to 25 March 2018, Israel advanced 22 plans for some 1,500 housing units in
Area C settlements. For the period from 26 March to 12 June, Israel advanced,
approved or tendered out some 3,500 housing units in settlements in Area C, one third
of which were in settlements in o utlying locations deep in the West Bank. On
__________________
9 See also www.ochaopt.org/content/monthly-figures.
0
20
40
60
80
Conflict-related civilian deaths
Palestinians Israelis
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1 August, Israel confirmed its intention to legalize the settler outpost of Adei Ad, in
the first such instance since 2014.
18. On 23 January, in line with European Union policy, the Parliament of Denmark
passed a resolution with reference to Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) urging
the inclusion of a clear statement in future agreements between Denmark and Israel
indicating their inapplicability to occupie d territory and encouraging the Government
of Denmark to strengthen its guidance to private and public investors. On 11 July, the
Seanad Éireann (the upper house) of Ireland passed a bill prohibiting trade with and
economic support for settlements in occup ied territory.10
Demolitions and displacement
19. Demolitions and confiscation of Palestinian -owned structures continued in 2018
across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem (see figure II), albeit at a
marginally lower rate than in the prev ious year (see S/2018/614). In his briefings to
the Security Council, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
repeatedly expressed concern11 about Israeli plans to evict communities, including
Bedouin herding communities through demolitions. On 19 July, the Special
Coordinator, among others, called upon Israel to cancel plans to demolish the Khan
al-Ahmar — Abu al-Helu Bedouin community’s dwellings, in Area C. 12 The
demolitions were accompanied b y residency restrictions on those evicted, especially
in East Jerusalem, and denial of access to essential services, such as water and
sanitation (see A/72/564, para. 64). On 1 August, the High Court of Justice o f Israel
ordered a hold on the demolition of the village of Khan al -Ahmar, stating that it did
not find sufficient reason for the action.
Figure II
Demolitions of Palestinian structures and displacement of Palestinians during
the reporting perioda
Source: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
a As at 30 July 2018.
__________________
10 See www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/11/irish -senate-approves-ban-on-products-fromisraeli-
settlements.
11 See S/PV.8072, S/PV.8108, S/PV.8128, S/PV.8138, S/PV.8139, S/PV.8167 and S/PV.8183.
12 https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/nickolay-mladenov-specialcoordinator-
middle-east-peace-13.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Demolitions and displacement of Palestinians
Structures demolished Civilians displaced
A/73/35
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Detention, trial and imprisonment
20. During the reporting period, the number of Palestinians arrested by Israeli forces
ranged from 300 to 700 a month. On 19 December 2 017, Palestinian teenager Ahed
Tamimi, aged 16, was arrested and sentenced to eight months in prison for slapping
an Israeli soldier. On 13 February, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 a nd the Chair-Rapporteur of
the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued a joint statement 13 stating that the
facts of the case did not appear to justify the teenager ’s detention before her trial, in
particular given the concerns expressed by the Committe e on the Rights of the Child.
They observed in their statement that Israel detained and prosecuted between 500 and
700 Palestinian children in military courts every year. As of June 2018, 5,667
Palestinians remained in Israeli prisons, charged for offences related to the Israeli
occupation.9
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near
East and Palestine refugees
21. UNRWA, which provides core essential services to Palestine refugees in the
region, was confronted with a major shortfall in budget during the reporting period,
owing to an increase in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the growing
extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. Despite new contributions,
as of June 2018, the Agency continued to face a shortfall of $248 million in its
programming budget of $440 million. Its ability to continue education programmes is
in question. In that context, UNRWA has launched a global fund -raising campaign.
Impact of the occupation on Palestinian women
22. Women continue to be adversely affected by the occupation. In a report issued
in May 2018, the International Labour Organization (ILO) determined that women ’s
unemployment rate in the Occupied Palestinian Territory was now the highest in the
world, rising to 47.4 per cent in 2017, from 44.6 the previous year. 14 In the Gaza Strip,
even though job vacancy rates have shrunk steadily, the number of women seeking
employment has increased by 200 per cent. On 8 June, the United Nations Population
Fund reported that the negative impact of the blockade of Gaza had worsened
women’s conditions, by increasing psychological stress and threatening the stability
of families. Mothers whose children were injured in the Great March of Return
protests reported increased gender-based violence, 15 and the risk of economic
violence increased for women widowed during Israeli military action against protestors.
Freedom of movement
23. The numerous restrictions to freedom of movement imposed by Israel, as an
occupying power, had a severe impact on access to economic, social and cultural
rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and on the enjoyment of the right to
family life (see A/HRC/37/38). Gazan residents continued to face Israeli restrictions
on movement into Israel through the Erez crossing (see figure III). During the month
of Ramadan, Egypt kept the Rafah crossing open. 16 Since 5 August, the import of
__________________
13 Available at www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22654&LangID=E.
14 See www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_norm/---relconf/documents/meetingdocument/
wcms_629263.pdf.
15 See http://palestine.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub -pdf/Situation%20Report%20Gaza%20 -%
208%20June%202018%20 -%20Great%20Return%20March%20 -%20final.pdf.
16 See https://unsco.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/statement_by_un_special_coordinator_mladenov_ -
_18_may_2018.pdf.
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cooking gas to Gaza has compensated for shortages due to Israeli rest rictions.17 From
9 July to 15 August, Israel temporarily suspended the import and export of all items
through the Kerem Shalom crossing, except for basic humanitarian supplies. 18 On
19 August, Israel closed the Erez crossing for Gaza and West Bank residents, except
for humanitarian cases.
24. The enforcement measures used by the Israeli authorities in Gaza undermine the
right of Palestinian fishermen and farmers to a livelihood and have a devastating
impact on the rights to life and to physical and mental hea lth (see A/HRC/31/44,
para. 43). The approval rate of Israeli exit permits from Gaza decreased from 72 per
cent during the previous reporting period to 32.8 per cent during the present reporting
period.19 Restrictions on movement also severely affected access to health care. The
World Health Organization reported that dozens of patients died while waiting for
their permits to be approved or after their applications had been denied. 20
Impediments to Palestinians’ freedom of movement were further consolidated in the
H2 zone of Hebron with the addition of new closures and the fortification of existing
checkpoints. Israel continued to revoke the East Jerusalem residency status of
Palestinians as a form of collective p unishment (see A/72/565, paras. 21–25),
violating the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose residence (see
A/HRC/37/43, para. 54, and A/HRC/34/38, paras. 62–66). Restrictions on
Palestinians’ access to agricultural land and to critical natural resources in Area C
remained in place, and markets in occupied East Jerusalem remained out of reach,
severely curbing livelihood opportunities (see A/HRC/37/38, para. 42).
__________________
17 See https://www.ochaopt.org/content/protection -civilians-report-31-july-13-august-2018.
18 See https://unsco.unmissions.org/statement-un-special-coordinator-mladenov-new-restrictionskerem-
shalom-crossing.
19 Palestinian General Authority of Civil Affairs communications to OHCHR, 16 and 18 October
2016 and 26 November 2017.
20 See www.emro.who.int/pse/publications -who/monthly-referral-reports.html.
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Figure III
Exits and entries of people at the Erez crossing in Gaza a
(Thousands)
Source: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.21
a As at 3 August 2018.
25. ILO noted that Palestinian access to farming remained restricted around and
within Israeli settlements, as well as in the seam zone, where prior coordination or
special permits were required. The approval rate for permit applications to access land
in this area during the olive harvest fell from 58 per cent in 2016 to 55 per cent in
__________________
21 See www.ochaopt.org/page/gaza -crossings-movement-people-and-goods.
26 28
41
53
60
70 73
181
158
83
64
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Exits by year
6 5.6
7
6
7.1 7.4
9.9
7.4
9.7
10.5
12.5
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Exits by month
2017 2018
A/73/35
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2017. Access to education, training and employment for Palestinians living on the
West Bank side of “the Barrier” also remained severely constrained.14
26. In a research paper published on 27 March, the World Bank showed that the
route deviations forced by the construction of the West Bank barrier by Israel had an
economic impact, as seen in the deviation between 2006 and 2012 in the route from
Ramallah to Qalqilyah (see figure IV). The World Bank also found that, during the
period 2005–2012, market access constraints resulting from road closure obstacles
reduced gross domestic product per capita in the West Bank by 4.1 to 6.1 p er cent
annually.22
Figure IV
Impact of “the Barrier” on freedom of movement inside the West Bank
Source: World Bank report, 27 March 2018.
Socioeconomic situation
27. In a report released on 3 April, the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development stated that restrictions on movement and access by Israel had stifled
investment and limited the Palestinian private sector to small -scale operations with
low capital intensity and efficiency. 23 Israel continued to maintain restrictions in
several areas, including telecommunication spectrum, airspace, tourism, the
exploitation of natural gas resources and water. Since the onset of the occupation, in
1967, Palestinians have lost access to more than 60 per cent of West Bank land and
more than two thirds of grazing land, while, in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians have lost
access to half the cultivable area. In the waters off Gaza, 85 per cent of fishery
resources are inaccessible to Palestinian fishermen owing to limitations imposed by
Israel on the distance that fishing boats may sail off the coast of Gaza, in violation of
the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.
28. The occupation has severely affected economic prospects for young Palestinian
people. In its report released on 30 May,14 ILO found that the unemployment rate in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory had now risen to the highest level in the world, at
27.4 per cent in 2017, and that women and young people were particularly affected.
__________________
22 See http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/135611522172009978/pdf/WPS8385.pdf.
23 See http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/gdsapp2017d2_en.pdf.
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The Palestinian labour force participation ra te was currently the eleventh lowest in
the world. A large number of Palestinian workers employed in Israel d id not enjoy
social benefits and were not employed with a written contract. ILO also observed that
ending the occupation was a prerequisite for rea lizing workers’ rights and for making
decent work a reality.
Palestinian role in international institutions
29. In a sign of growing recognition of the role that the State of Palestine could play
in multilateral forums, the State of Palestine was elect ed on 24 July 2018 to chair the
Group of 77 group at the United Nations in 2019. Before that, the Intergovernmental
Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) had elected the
State of Palestine to its Bureau at its 12th session, held in Jeju, Republic of Korea,
from 4 to 9 December 2017.
30. In a welcome breakthrough, on 19 April 2018, Palestinian and Israeli diplomats
agreed on the text of a UNESCO resolution on occupied Jerusalem. Earlier on, on
12 October 2017, the United States had announced its withdrawal from UNESCO,
accusing the agency of “anti-Israel bias”. On 22 December 2017, Israel also
announced its withdrawal from the agency. Both withdrawals , if followed through,
will come into effect at the end of 2018.
Action in the General Assembly
31. On 22 December 2017, at an emergency special session and following a failed
attempt in the Security Council,24 the General Assembly adopted resolution ES -10/19
on the status of Jerusalem, after the unilateral decision by the United States to
recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in contravention of Security Council
resolution 478 (1980). In its resolution, adopted by a majority of 128 countries in
favour, to 9 against and 35 abstentions, the Assembly stressed that Jerusalem was a
final status issue and affirmed that any decisions that purported to have altered the
character, status or demographic composition of Jerusalem had no legal effect and
were null and void.25 On 13 June, at an emergency meeting, the Assembly adopted
resolution ES-10/20 by 120 votes in favour to 8 against, deploring the use of
excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate force by Israeli forces against
Palestinian civilians, in particular in the Gaza Strip. It requested the Secretary -
General to submit a report within 60 days outlining proposals on ways and means for
ensuring the safety of Palestinian civilians, including recomm endations regarding an
international protection mechanism. 26
32. From 17 to 20 July 2018, the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices
Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the
Occupied Territories visited Amman, where it met community representatives,
non-governmental organizations, officials from the Government of the State of
Palestine and United Nations representatives. The delegation was told that
discriminatory measures against the Palestinians were on the r ise in a climate of
impunity, with the continuation by the occupying power of deliberate and unlawful
policies and practices. The Government of Israel mainta ined its practice of
__________________
24 See further details below, under “Action in the Security Council ”.
25 For the full text of this and other relevant resolutions adopted on the question of Palestine in
2017, see the Committee’s publication on resolutions, decisions and voting records of the
General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council relating to the
Question of Palestine.
26 See also www.un.org/press/en/2018/ga12028.doc.htm.
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non-cooperation with the Committee and the delegation was unable to visit the
Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Action in the Security Council
33. On 18 December, owing to the negative vote exercised by a permanent member,
the Security Council failed to adopt (with 14 votes in favour and 1 against) draft
resolution S/2017/1060, tabled by Egypt, in which regret was expressed at the
unilateral decision of a Member State to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel
and move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. On 15 May, the Council also failed
to put to vote a draft resolution by Kuwait to condemn the killing of civilians in Gaza.
34. The Secretary-General continued to use his good offices to promote a peaceful
settlement of the conflict based on the two -State solution. On 20 February, he
expressed concern to the Security Council that the global consensus for a two -State
solution could be eroding and that obstacles on the ground had the potential to create
an irreversible one-State reality (see S/PV.8183). He also noted that conditions for
Palestinians in Gaza were dire and felt that the shortfalls in the funding of UNRWA
were a matter of international concern and called for concerted action by all parti es.27
35. In the monthly meetings of the Council on the situation in the Middle East,
including the Palestinian question,11 the Special Coordinator for the Middle East
Peace Process reported that the failure of the forces of moderation was a win for the
forces of radicalization and that unilateral moves that blocked the way back to the
negotiating table would drive the situation further towards a one -State reality of
perpetual occupation. He also highlighted the need to maintain support for Palestine
refugees as a fundamental issue to the pursuit of peace and security in the region. The
Special Coordinator also presented three reports on behalf of the Secretary -General
on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), the third of which
was presented on 19 June and, in response to repeated requests by the Committee and
other Member States, made available in writing. 28
36. On 22 February, Council members attended the Arria -formula meeting entitled
“Prospects for the two-State solution for peace”. Participants in the briefing found
that challenges to the prospect of a two -State solution included tensions regarding
Jerusalem; a sharp deterioration in the humanitarian situation, in particular in G aza;
the financial difficulties faced by UNRWA; and the shrinking space for civil society,
in particular human rights defenders and civilian protesters.
Action in the Economic and Social Council
37. On 25 July, ECOSOC adopted resolution 2017/30, in which it stressed the
urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that had begun in
1967. The Council stated that it was convinced that the Israeli occupation had gravely
impeded the efforts to achieve environmentally sustainable development and a sound
economic environment in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
It demanded that Israel comply with the Protocol on Economic Relations between the
Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Org anization signed in Paris on
29 April 1994.
__________________
27 See also the Committee’s monthly bulletins for relevant statements of the Secretary -General and
other United Nations officials on the question of Palestine (available at www.un.org/unispal/datacollection/
monthly-bulletin/).
28 Available at www.un.org/undpa/en/speeches -statements/20062017/middleeast.
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Action in the Human Rights Council
38. In a report (A/HRC/37/39) submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council
resolution 31/36, in which the Council called for a database of all business enterprises
either explicitly linked to the settlements or forming part of processes that enabled
and supported the establishment, expansion and maintenance of the settlements (see
A/HRC/22/63, para. 4), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights (OHCHR) identified 206 companies that would be named in a future
update after they had all been contacted. While asking for more res ources to update the
database, OHCHR stated that the presence of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory served to depress the Palestinian economy and reduce opportunities for
Palestinian businesses to thrive, which had a direct effect on the job market.
39. On 23 March, the Human Rights Council adopted four resolutions relating to
the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Council reaffirmed the inalienable, permanent
and unqualified right of the Palestinian people to self -determination (resolution
37/34); demanded that Israel cease all practices and actions that violated the human
rights of the Palestinian people (resolution 37/35); demanded that Israel cease all
settlement activities in all the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and called upon Israel to cease
immediately all actions causing the alteration of the character, status and demographic
composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (resolution 37/36); and called upon
all duty bearers and United Nations bodies to pursue the implementation of
recommendations of, inter alia, the independent international fact -finding mission to
investigate the implications of settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and
cultural rights of the Palestinian people (resolution 37/37).
40. In his second report to the Human Rights (A/72/556), in October 2017, the
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories
occupied since 1967 stated that the role of Israel as occupier had crossed the line into
illegality, and he recommended to the General Assembly to commission a study and
consider the advantages of seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court
of Justice on the legality of the occupation. He also recommended to the Assembly to
consider the adoption of a Uniting-for-Peace resolution with respect to the question
of Palestine. In his third report (A/HRC/37/75), considered at the thirty-seventh
session of the Council, the Special Rapporteur emphasized the urgent need to improve
the desperate state of right to health in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the
plight of Palestinian children.
41. At the same session, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
submitted a report on ensuring accountability and justice for all violations of
international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem
(A/HRC/37/41), pursuant to resolution 34/28. In that report, the Commissioner called
for accountability for the escalation of hostilities in Gaza in 2014 and observed that
recent developments undermined confidence in the Israeli military justi ce system, as
they appeared to reinforce a culture of impunity. The Commissioner also highlighted
a lack of accountability for alleged violations impeding the work of human rights
defenders and journalists in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including E ast
Jerusalem.
42. On 23 July, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights briefed
the Committee, stressing that the root causes of the Great March of Return protests in
Gaza needed to be addressed. He stated that only an end to the occupation c ould bring
about lasting peace.29
__________________
29 See www.un.org/unispal/document/human-rights-commissioner-briefing-to-ceirpp-on-thehuman-
rights-situation-in-the-opt/.
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Chapter III
Mandate of the Committee
43. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly by resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975, with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights to self -determination,
national independence and sovereignty, and to return to the homes and property from
which they had been displaced, as rec ognized by the Assembly in its resolution 3236
(XXIX) of 22 November 1974. The mandate of the Committee has evolved
considerably over the years into greater advocacy for the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people and the mobilization of assistance. A dditional information about
the Committee is available on the website maintained by the Division for Palestinian
Rights of the Secretariat at http://www.un.org/unispal/.
44. On 30 November 2017, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee (resolution 72/13), requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide
the Division for Palestinian Rights with the necessary resources to carry out its
programme of work (resolution 72/11) and the continuation of the special information
programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of
the Secretariat (resolution 72/12). The Assembly also adopted resolution 72/14,
entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine ”, in which it reaffirmed the
near-consensus international position regarding the components of a just, lasting and
comprehensive solution.
45. The work of the Committee is fully aligned with the decisions of the main
United Nations intergovernmental bodies, such as the Security Council, the General
Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, as wel l as with the work of the
Secretary-General and the programmes, funds and specialized agencies of the United
Nations system, with which it collaborates extensively.
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Chapter IV
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
46. The Committee is composed of 26 Member States, representing different
regional groups and supporting the international consensus for a two -State solution:
Afghanistan, Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador,
Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, La o People’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar,
Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
47. The 24 observers of the Committee are Alger ia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China,
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Viet
Nam and Yemen, as well as the State of Palestine, the African Union, the League of
Arab States (LAS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
48. The day-to-day tasks of the Committee are undertaken by its Bureau. At its
388th meeting, on 5 February 2018, the Committee elected, in their personal capacity,
Fodé Seck (Senegal) as Chair; Mahmoud Saikal (Afghanistan), Anayansi Rodríguez
Camejo (Cuba), Dian Triansyah Djani (Indonesia), Neville Melvin Gertze (Namibia)
and María Rubiales de Chamorro (Nicaragua) as Vice -Chairs; and Carmelo Inguanez
(Malta) as Rapporteur. At its 390th meeting, on 23 July 2018, the Committee elected
Cheikh Niang (Senegal) as the new Chair. The State of Palestine participates in the
Bureau’s work as an observer.
49. The Committee members and observers have actively advocated the righ ts of
the Palestinian people, including in the Security Council. Currently, a member and an
observer of the Committee, the Plurinational State of Bolivia and Kuwait,
respectively, serve on the Council as elected members.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
50. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all Member States of the
United Nations and observers wishing to participate in its work were welcome to do
so. In accordance with established practice, the State of Palestine parti cipated in the
work of the Committee as an observer. All efforts were made by the Committee to
guarantee participation of civil society organizations, including from Israel.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee
A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 72/13
1. Action taken in the Security Council
51. During the debates held by the Security Council on 18 October 2017 and
25 January, 26 April and 24 July 2018, the Committee delivered statements
highlighting the deteriorating situation and calling upon the Council to uphold its
responsibilities, take appropriate actions and contribute to a just, comprehensive and
peaceful settlement of the conflict.30
2. Action taken by the Bureau of the Committee
52. The members of the Bureau represented the Committee at all international
conferences organized by the Committee and in all delegation visits, and they chaired
and moderated various sessions of the conferences. On the ma rgins of the conferences
and during delegation visits, they held meetings with senior officials from the
respective host countries.
53. On 3 October 2017 and 2 August 2018, respectively, the Bureau held its third
and fourth annual retreats. Issues discuss ed on those occasions included the
programmes of work of the Committee for 2018 and 2019, including priorities and
proposals for the holding of international events; and better outreach to and
engagement with Member States (including in the Security Council, in particular its
elected members), regional organizations and civil society. Several strategic decisions
were taken to guide the future work of the Committee.
54. On 15 August, the Bureau met with the Secretary-General and conveyed its
concern regarding the deteriorating humanitarian, economic and social situation in
Gaza and the urgency to establish a protection mechanism for Palestinian civilians,
following the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution ES -10/20. The Bureau
also conveyed the need to solve as a matter of urgency the shortfall in funding of
UNRWA.
55. The Chair, on behalf of the Committee, issued three statements: in December
2017, to call upon the United States to rescind its decision to move its embassy from
Tel Aviv to Jerusalem; in February 2018, to share the outcome of the Committee
delegation visit to Uganda; and in May, to call upon Israel to abide by its international
obligations as an occupying power and ensure the protection of civilians in Gaza.
B. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian
Rights in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 72/13
and 72/11
1. Committee meetings at Headquarters
56. During the reporting period, the Committee held six open meetings in New
York, in addition to the six informal meetings of its Bureau. At the open meetings,
the Committee received updates on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
reports of meetings organized by the Committee, reports from members of the
__________________
30 See S/PV.8072, S/PV.8167, S/PV.8244 and S/PV.8316.
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Committee on their activities in support of the Palestinian people, and briefings from
invited speakers. Key aspects of those meetings included the following:
(a) At its 385th high-level meeting, on 15 November 2017, the Committee
approved for submission to the General Assembly four draft resolutions entitled
“Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People ”,
“Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat ”, “Special information programme
on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the
Secretariat” and “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine ”, respectively. At
the same meeting, the Committee heard a briefing by the Special Rapporteur on the
situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967;
(b) The 386th high-level meeting, on 29 November, marked the observance of
the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(c) At its 387th meeting, on 14 December, the Committee heard the report of
the Committee delegation visit to the United Republic of Tanzania and of its meetings
with civil society organizations;
(d) At its 388th meeting, on 5 February 2018, attended by the Secretary -
General, the Committee re-elected its Chair, Vice-Chairs and Rapporteur and adopted
its annual programme of work;
(e) At its 389th meeting, on 28 March, the Committee heard a briefing by the
Director of the UNRWA New York Liaison Office. The report of the Comm ittee
delegation visit to Uganda was also presented;
(f) At its 390th meeting, on 23 July, the Committee reviewed reports on its
delegation visit to Panama, the United Nations Forum on the Question of Palestine,
held at Headquarters on 17 and 18 May, and the International Conference on the
Question of Jerusalem, held in Rabat from 26 to 28 June. At the same meeting,
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights briefed the Committee on
the deteriorating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territo ry, the funding shortfall
of UNRWA and the adoption by Israel of the discriminatory “Basic Law: Israel as the
Nation-State of the Jewish People”.
2. United Nations Forum on the Question of Palestine: “70 Years after 1948 —
Lessons to Achieve a Sustainable Peace”
57. The United Nations Forum on the Question of Palestine, held at Headquarters
on 17 and 18 May, brought together Palestinian, Israeli and international experts and
representatives of the diplomatic community and civil society to highl ight the need
to address issues related to the 1948 war and subsequent mass displacement of
Palestinians. Panels focused on an evaluation of the Nakbah ( “the catastrophe”) and
its continued relevance today, the ongoing displacement of Palestinians, questio ns of
accountability and transitional justice.
58. Key findings and recommendations included: the fact that ending the Israeli
occupation was a necessary prerequisite for the freedom of the Palestinian people and
a two-State solution; the need to address the root causes of the conflict and the
interlinkages among development, peace and security, and human rights; the need for
the international community to acknowledge the Nakbah and to hold Israel
accountable for crimes committed in 1948 and thereafter; th e need to establish a truthseeking,
reparations and reconciliation mechanism prior to a political agreement; the
need to remind Israel of its obligations under international law and to request that it
provide better international protection to Palestinian s, including refugees; and the
need to treat Palestine refugees as dispossessed nationals of a country — Palestine —
rather than as stateless refugees.
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59. On 15 May, just before the Forum was held and to mark the seventieth
anniversary of the Nakbah, the Committee supported the Permanent Observer Mission
of the State of Palestine to the United Nations in New York in organizing a
commemorative concert by a renowned Palestinian music band, Trio Joubran.
60. On 16 May, closed consultations were held with civ il society organizations
based in Palestine and Israel.
3. Annual observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
61. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed
on 29 November 2017 at Headquarters, the United Nations offices in Vienna, Geneva,
and Nairobi, and at the United Nations information centres and other entities in many
cities throughout the world. At Headquarters, the Committee held a special meeting
with the participation of the De puty Secretary-General, the President of the General
Assembly and the President of the Security Council. In accordance with General
Assembly resolution 72/11, the Committee organized an exhibit, entitled “The
Palestinian People: Everlasting Roots, Infinite Horizons”, showcasing photos of
eminent Palestinian individuals and groups in different walks of life. Palestinian Arab
Idol Star Ameer Dandan performed on the occasion.
4. Programme of international meetings and conferences
62. During the reporting period, the Committee organized several international
events,31 including:
Committee delegation visit to the United Republic of Tanzania
63. The purpose of the visit to the United Republic of Tanzania (3–6 December
2017) was to mobilize engagement for the two -State solution in that country and to
inform local public opinion about the life of the Palestinian people after 50 years of
Israeli occupation.
64. The delegation held meetings with the Minister for Foreign Affairs a nd East
African Cooperation and the Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports. The
delegation also met with representatives of civil society organizations and the media
and with a former Prime Minister and erstwhile Secretary -General of the African
Union. A public lecture was organized at a local conference centre.
65. Interlocutors reaffirmed that the United Republic of Tanzania was opposed to
the foreign occupation of territory or its acquisition by force, and that it remained
committed to the two -State solution. The delegation received requests for more
outreach and information in East Africa, including in the major regional language,
Kiswahili.
Committee delegation visit to Uganda
66. The objective of the visit to Uganda (26–28 February 2018) was to strengthen
political and diplomatic ties, enhance the support of that country for the two-State
solution and understand the evolving position of the African countries on the question
of Palestine.
67. The delegation held meetings with the President, the Prime Minister and the
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, as well as the Speaker of Parliament and
the Chair of the Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs. At Makerere University,
__________________
31 For detailed reports of each event, see www.un.org/unispal/events/international-conferences/ and
www.un.org/unispal/delegation-visit/.
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the delegation had an interactive discussion with faculty and stu dents. The delegation
also met with representatives of civil society organizations.
68. Interlocutors reiterated the support of Uganda for the work of the Committee
and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. They also inquired about the
concrete actions that the Committee was undertaking at United Nations Headquarters.
They urged the Committee to focus on links between businesses and the Israeli
occupation and to mobilize civil society, especially in the United States and Europe.
Committee delegation visit to Panama
69. The purpose of the visit to Panama (9 and 10 April 2018) was to enhance the
support of that country for the two-State solution and advocate the recognition of the
State of Palestine. The visit took place as part of the Committe e’s outreach efforts in
Latin America.
70. The delegation held meetings with the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and
with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly. Other activities
included a briefing to trainees at the Diplomatic Academy and a conference hosted by
the Departments of Law and Political Science and of Public Administration of the
University of Panama. The delegation also met with representatives of local
Palestinian solidarity groups and of the Palestinian diaspora.
71. Government interlocutors highlighted the traditional position of Panama, which
was to foster dialogue and facilitate solutions. They informed the Committee about
the intention to open a liaison office of Panama in Ramallah, as a first step toward
strengthening relations with the State of Palestine. The encounters with the public and
local media attention to the visit also indicated strong interest in the question of
Palestine and support for the rights of the Palestinian people.
International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem in Rabat, supported by the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation
72. The International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem, held in Rabat from
26 to 28 June 2018 under the theme “The question of Jerusalem after 50 years of
occupation and 25 years of the Oslo Accords ”, brought together Palestinian, Israeli
and international experts and representatives of the diplomatic community and of civil
society to provide up-to-date information on the current situation in East Jerusalem,
examine the latest legal developments having an impact on the political and social
status of Palestinians, and explore practical ways for the international community to
support the resilience and development of Jerusalem, in particular its youth.
73. The key messages and recommendations included the following: Jerusalem is a
final status issue that must be resolved through direct negotiations; recent
developments in Jerusalem, taken against international consensus and Security
Council resolutions, have turned the focus back on the conflict, including the question
of Jerusalem; the fundamental problem is the Israeli occupation, and Israeli reluctance
to recognize the Palestinian people as an equal has resulted in a colonizer/colonized
power dynamic between the two peoples; Israeli proposals for Palestinians in East
Jerusalem to participate in local governance are a call for a de facto acceptance of the
annexation of East Jerusalem; initiatives should be launched to provide
socioeconomic and political support to Pa lestinians in Jerusalem and to enable them
to stay in the city; international and regional organizations, such as the European
Union, should take a more active political role and not restrict themselves to
development funding; and future meetings on the qu estion of Jerusalem should also
be held outside the Arab Islamic world.
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5. Cooperation with intergovernmental and regional organizations
74. Throughout the year, the Committee continued its cooperation with
intergovernmental organizations. The Committee appreciates the active participation
of the representatives of those organizations in the various international events held
under its auspices and the co-sponsorship provided by OIC to organize the
International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem. The African Union, LAS and
OIC, as observers to the Committee, regularly attend the meetings of the Committee
and its Working Group and participate in their work.
75. The Chair of the Committee delivered a statement at the forty -fifth session of
the Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC, in Dhaka, on 5 and 6 May 2018.
6. Cooperation with civil society
76. The Working Group of the Committee, chair ed by Malta and supported by the
Division for Palestinian Rights, collaborates with civil society organizations,
promoting the rights of Palestinian through the following activities:
(a) Briefings provided by civil society organizations (B ’Tselem, Gisha: Legal
Center for Freedom of Movement, Human Rights Watch, Women ’s Centre for Legal
Aid and Counselling and Terrestrial Jerusalem) and organized by the Israel -Palestine
NGO Working Group and United Nations agencies. The Division for Palestinian
Rights facilitated briefings by the Association of International Development
Agencies, the Norwegian Refugee Council and One Voice following the publication
of the report of the Association of International Development Agencies entitled
“50 Years of Occupation: Dispossession, Deprivation and De-development”. The
briefings raised awareness of the situation following recent developments in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the Great
March of Return protests and the legal and political impact of new Israeli laws on
Palestinians;
(b) A meeting of the Committee Bureau with the Israel -Palestine NGO
Working Group on 23 February. Participants in the meeting were provided with
updated information on the work of faith -based organizations of the United States in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
(c) Civil society organization participation in the Forum on the Question of
Palestine;
(d) Closed consultations with civil society organizations based in Palestine
and Israel on 16 May, just before the Forum on the Question of Palestine. The
consultations, attended by more than 20 organizations, provided an opportunity to
meet with the Committee Working Group and member States. The civil society
organizations recommended that the Committee adopt a more proactive advocacy
policy within the United Nations to call for a systematic investigation into war crimes,
compile research on best practices in relation to legal solutions for protracted
displacement, and explicitly address the issue of busi ness transactions in and with
illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, even in absence of an official United Nations database.
77. The Committee also invited youth representatives from East Jerusalem to a ttend
the International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem and share their
perspectives about the challenges that they faced under occupation.
78. The Division for Palestinian Rights continued to issue the weekly NGO Action
News bulletin and maintain the Committee web page on civil society to increase
awareness and foster cooperation.
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79. The Committee Working Group is currently reviewing the policy for civil
society organization accreditation and the mechanism for selecting such organizations
for participation in Committee events.
7. Cooperation with parliaments and interparliamentary organizations
80. The Committee continued to attach great importance to developing its relations
with national and regional parliaments and their interparliamentary organizations, and
it held meetings with parliamentarians in Panama, Uganda and the United Republic
of Tanzania during Committee delegation visits, as well as with parliamentarians in
Morocco in the margins of the International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem.
8. Research, monitoring and publications
81. The Division for Palestinian Rights carried out research and monitoring
activities and responded to requests for information and briefings on the question of
Palestine. Under the guidance of the Committee, the Division prepared the following
publications for dissemination:
(a) A monthly bulletin on actions taken by the United Nations system and
intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine; 32
(b) Reports of international meetings and conferences organized under the
auspices of the Committee;33
(c) An annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General
Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the Human
Rights Council relating to the question of Palestine.34
82. The Committee is of the view that the Division should continue a review of the
continued relevance of existing publications in consultation with the Bureau,
discontinue those that are no longer considered relevant and realloca te resources to
other publications.
9. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
83. The Division for Palestinian Rights, in cooperation with relevant services of the
Secretariat, continued to administer, maintain, expand and upgrad e the United
Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine 35 to heighten international
awareness of the question of Palestine as well as international support for the rights
of the Palestinian people and a just, peaceful solution through the work of the
Committee. The Division also maintained its Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages
to disseminate information about the work on the question of Palestine by the
Committee and the entities of the United Nations system. The Division, in
cooperation with the Department of Public Information, undertook a major redesign
and expansion of the Information System, which is now and for the first time available
in all six official United Nations languages, on a more modern technological platform.
10. Capacity-building programme for staff of the Government of the State
of Palestine
84. As mandated in General Assembly resolutions, including resolution 72/11, and
as part of its ongoing efforts to further expand the capacity -building programme for
__________________
32 See www.un.org/unispal/?s=monthly+bulletin.
33 See www.un.org/unispal/events/international-conferences/.
34 See www.un.org/unispal/document/compilation -of-resolutions-and-decisions-adopted-in-2017-
english-and-french-dpr-publication/.
35 www.un.org/unispal.
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staff of the Government of the State of Palestine aimed at supporting the Government
in enhancing the viability and sustainability of the future independent State of
Palestine, the Division for Palestinian Rights organized and administered the
following capacity-building initiatives, in consultation with the Permanent Observer
Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations in New York:
(a) In October 2017, the programme facilitated and funded a training session
on effective multilateral environmental agreements, organized by the United Nations
Environment Programme in collaboration with the University of Eastern Finland;
(b) The same month, the programme implemented, in collaboration with the
United Nations System Staff College, a training session entitled “United Nations
catalytic support to South-South and triangular cooperation in implementing the 2030
Agenda”;
(c) From 30 October to 1 November 2017, the programme collaborated with
OHCHR and organized a study visit to observe the sixty -eighth session of the
Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women in order
to help Palestinian officials to prepare for the Convention ’s session in 2018, when the
report of the State of Palestine would be discussed;
(d) In December 2017, the programme funded the participation of Palestinian
officials in a workshop on conference diplomacy and multilateral negotiations;
(e) In February 2018, the programme funded the participation of Palestinian
officials in an online course organized by the United Nations Institute for Training
and Research (UNITAR), entitled “Women, leadership and peacebuilding”;
(f) In March 2018, the Programme funded the pa rticipation of Palestinian
officials in another online UNITAR course, entitled “Multilateral conferences and
diplomacy”.
85. The Committee paid special attention to expanding the pool of potential
participants to all offices and departments of the Governme nt of the State of Palestine,
and it gave special consideration to achieving gender balance in the selection of
candidates for its capacity-building programme. The Committee notes that, in
September 2017, the annual capacity-building programme for Palestinian officials at
United Nations Headquarters was not implemented for the first time since its advent,
because candidates selected for the programme were unable to obtain visas to travel
to New York in time.
86. The Division is currently undertaking a compr ehensive evaluation of the
programme, to make it more responsive to Palestinian capacity -building needs.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Public Information in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 72/12
87. During the reporting period, the Department of Public Information continued to
implement its special information programme on the question of Palestine in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 72/12.
88. The Department held an international media seminar on peace in the Middle
East in Vienna, on 5 and 6 October 2017, which focused on media narratives and
public perceptions from Israeli and Palestinian perspectives; and the confli ct through
the lens of international media.
89. The Department organized its annual training programme for 10 Palestinian
journalists from 30 October to 1 December 2017, thereby bringing to 190 the number
of journalists trained under the programme since its inception, in 1995.
90. The Department completed a major review and update of its permanent exhibit
on the question of Palestine, located along the guided tour route of United Nations
Headquarters.
91. The Department issued a total of 90 press release s covering meetings, in English
and French, and disseminated news and information about issues and developments
related to the question of Palestine. All open intergovernmental meetings on the
subject were covered by the United Nations Television and Video , United Nations
Photo and the Webcast Unit.
92. United Nations News, and its Arabic unit in particular, produced a series of
interviews with senior officials and policymakers. The Yearbook of the United
Nations continued to cover relevant statements, resolutions, events and actions taken
by the Committee. The first issue of UN Chronicle in 2018 contained an article
focusing on a training programme in Palestine to achieve environmental sustainability
in the region.36
93. The global network of United Nations information centres organized a wide
range of activities, including briefings, exhibitions, film screenings, workshops,
social media campaigns and commemorations of the International Day of Solidarity
with the Palestinian People. Information centres acro ss the world also helped to
promote at the local level “Dignity is priceless”, the global fundraising campaign
launched by UNWRA in January 2018.
__________________
36 Available at https://unchronicle.un.org/article/cewas -middle-east-supporting-entrepreneursaddress-
water-sanitation-and-resource-management.
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
94. On the basis of its deliberations at Co mmittee and Bureau meetings, Committee
briefings, delegation visits, international conferences and events involving Member
States, civil society organizations, and regional organizations, the Committee has
developed the recommendations listed below.
95. Recalling that 2018 marked the seventieth anniversary of the expulsion of
Palestine refugees from their homeland in 1948, remembered as the Nakbah (the
catastrophe), and fifty-first anniversary of the Israeli occupation, the Committee urges
the international community to redouble its efforts towards the achievement of the
two-State solution based on the 1967 borders, in accordance with relevant United
Nations resolutions, the Madrid principles, the Arab Peace Initiative and the road map
of the Quartet.
96. The Committee reiterates the need to reframe the Palestinian -Israeli conflict. It
is not a conflict between two parties over disputed territory. It is one of one State
occupying, colonizing and annexing the territory of another State.
97. The Committee supports revising the existing model of bilateral negotiations
into an expanded multilateral framework that includes key regional partners, with a
view to reviving the peace process with a credible political horizon. In this context,
the Committee welcomes the eight-point plan presented to the Security Council by
President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, on 20 February 2018.
98. Any resolution of the conflict requires a comprehensive regional solution, such
as that offered by the Arab Peace Initiative. The Committee will enhance its
cooperation with LAS and OIC. The Committee calls upon other international and
regional organizations, such as the European Union, to take on a more politically
active role in mediating an end to the conflict.
99. The Committee acknowledges that intra-Palestinian unity is critical to achieving
an independent State of Palestine. The Committee offers its services and support to
local, regional and international efforts to advance the unity process.
100. The Committee urges the Security Council and the General Assembly to ensure
the accountability and implementation of the long -standing parameters for peace
stated in relevant United Nations resolutions, including Security Council resolution
2334 (2016). The Committee requests the Secretary-General to continue to present
his reports to the Council on the implementation of the resolution in a written format
and, pursuant to paragraph 5 of the resolution, to include in his rep orts references to
implementation by Member States. Pursuant to paragraph 11 of the resolution, the
Committee also calls upon the Council to examine practical ways and means to secure
the full implementation of relevant Council resolutions.
101. The Committee underscores the responsibility of States and private entities not
to contribute to grave Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights, in particular with
respect to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
It looks forward to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights producing expeditiously a database of all business enterprises engaged in certain
Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as mandated by the
Human Rights Council in its resolution 31/36.
102. The Committee calls upon the international community to shift from a
humanitarian to a political and human rights framework in addressing the plight of
the Palestinian people. It demands an end to the 11 -year old Israeli air, land and sea
blockade of Gaza and the lifting of all closures within the framework of Security
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Council resolution 1860 (2009). It calls upon international donors to fulfil without
delay all pledges to expedite the provision of humanitarian assistance, the
reconstruction process and economic recovery, which are essential to alleviate the
distress of Palestinians, including women and children.
103. The Committee deems unilateral decisions by Member States to recognize
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the transfer of embassies in Israel from Tel Aviv
to Jerusalem as null and void, as they are in violation of Security Council resolutions,
including resolutions 476 (1980) and 478 (1980). The Committee calls upon Member
States to rescind those decisions. Jerusalem remains a final status issue that m ust be
resolved through direct negotiations between the two parties on the basis of relevant
United Nations resolutions.
104. The Committee deplores the use of excessive, disproportionate and
indiscriminate force by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians, including during
the protests in the Gaza Strip in 2018. The Committee hopes that every support will
be provided to the Commission of Inquiry mandated by the Human Rights Council to
conclude expeditiously its investigation into violations committed o n the fence
between Israel and the Gaza Strip during those protests.
105. The Committee urges Member States and the Organization to remind Israel of
its obligations under international law. It welcomes the report of the Secretary -
General pursuant to resolution ES-10/20 and emphasizes the need for the
implementation of an international protection mechanism that can credibly ensure the
safety and welfare of Palestinian civilians.
106. The Committee emphasizes the importance of the acknowledgment by Israel o f
the Nakbah and its impact upon the Palestinian people as a necessary requirement for
a viable and lasting peace. Palestine refugees should be treated as dispossessed
nationals of a country — Palestine — rather than stateless refugees. It strongly
advocates the right to return (or compensation) of the Palestine refugees, as provided
for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III). The Committee further
encourages all Member States to work collectively to fund UNRWA sufficiently and
predictably, in particular in view of the unprecedented shortfall in its funding.
107. The Committee notes with appreciation the diligent contribution of the Division
for Palestinian Rights in support of its mandate and requests the Division to continue
its substantive and secretariat support for all aspects of its mandate.
108. The Committee will continue, through its mandated activities implemented by
the Division, to raise international awareness as well as international support for the
rights of the Palestinian people. In that context, the Committee recognizes the
growing importance of cooperation among developing countries and regional and
subregional organizations within the framework of South -South and triangular
cooperation for sharing replicable experiences of achieving self-determination and
independence.
109. The Committee requests the continuation of the special information programme
on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information, which has made
an important contribution to informing the media and the public of the relevant issues.
110. The Committee highly values civil society initiatives in support of the
Palestinian people and will continue to expand its efforts to engage civil society
organizations, including by regularly convening civil society forums. It encourages
civil society partners to work with their national Governments, parliamentarians and
other institutions to promote the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and full
recognition of the State of Palestine and its independence.
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111. The Committee intends to work closely with other United Nations actors and
entities, including the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and
UNRWA, to synergize efforts in fields of common concern and uphold the p ermanent
responsibility of the Organization towards the question of Palestine until it is resolved
in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner and in accordance with international law.
The Committee wishes to express its deep appreciation to its partners, and in
particular OIC, for the contribution of extrabudgetary resources and their active
participation in its conferences and events.
112. Lastly, the Committee urges its members, observer States and others to
participate actively in its programme of acti vities. The Committee will also enhance
its outreach to all Member States and regional groups at the United Nations to take a
more effective approach towards the achievement of the two -State solution, and to
expand the Committee’s membership as a form of political support for the resolution
of the question of Palestine. The Committee calls upon all Member States to join in
this endeavour, and invites the General Assembly to reconfirm its mandate in
recognition of the importance of its role.
18-14655 (E) 280918
*1814655*
A/74/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-fourth Session
Supplement No. 35
A/74/35
Report of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-fourth Session
Supplement No. 35
A/74/35
United Nations • New York, 2019
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
19-14025 3/23
[4 August 2019]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
II. Overview of the political context relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
III. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
IV. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
V. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance with
General Assembly resolutions 73/18 and 73/21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
B. Mobilization of the diplomatic community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
C. Raising awareness of the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
D. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations, non -governmental organizations and
United Nations system entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
E. Capacity-building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
VI. Action taken by the Department of Global Communications in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 73/20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
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Letter of transmittal
[4 September 2019]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly and circulation to all the competent bodies of the United Nations
for necessary action, as appropriate, in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 10 of
Assembly resolution 73/18 of 30 November 2018.
The report covers the period from 5 September 2018 to 3 September 2019.
(Signed) Cheikh Niang
Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The present report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People has been submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution
73/18, adopted on 30 November 2018. It covers the implementation by the Committee
of its programme of work (A/AC.183/2019/1), formulated to promote the realization
of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self -
determination. Its objectives include maintaining international awareness, mobilizing
efforts aimed at achieving a just and comprehensive solution of the question of
Palestine and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace, enhancing international solidarity with
the plight of the Palestinian people until those objectives are achieved and supporting
the Government of the State of Palestine in its capacity -building efforts towards a
viable and sustainable future independent State of Palestine.
2. Chapter II consists of an overview of the political context relating to the
question of Palestine during the reportin g period, from 5 September 2018 to
3 September 2019.
3. Chapters III and IV contain an outline of the mandate of the Committee as set
out by the General Assembly and information on the membership of the Committee
and the organization of its work.
4. Chapter V covers the action taken by the Committee, including its participation
in meetings of the Security Council and its continuing dialogue with intergovernmental
organizations and civil society. It also covers international conferences, visits of
delegations and capacity-building workshops organized by the Committee, as well as
other mandated activities carried out and events held by the Division for Palestinian
Rights on behalf of the Committee.
5. Chapter VI provides an overview of the special information programme on the
question of Palestine implemented by the Department of Global Communications in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 73/20.
6. The conclusions and recommendations of the Committee to th e General
Assembly are set out in chapter VII of the report.
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Chapter II
Overview of the political context relating to the question
of Palestine
7. During the reporting period, the deteriorating political, security, human rights,
humanitarian and socioeconomic situation continued unabated as a result of the
further entrenchment of the 52 -year Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory,
including East Jerusalem, and diminishing prospects for realizing the two -State
solution and a just peace.
8. Despite the demand reiterated by the Security Council in resolution 2334
(2016), no steps were taken by Israel to immediately and completely cease all
settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
Settlement activity, facilitated through such measures as the approval of 6,000
additional housing units on 31 July, the seizure and demolition of Palestinian -owned
structures and the forcible displacement of Palestinian families, continued and
escalated across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, not only in Area C, but also
in Areas A and B, negatively affecting the Palestinian population, including women,
girls and Bedouin communities. Those steps further undermined the contiguity of the
Palestinian territory and the physical viability of the two -State solution based on the
1967 lines, making what is supposed to be a temporary situation of occupation
indistinguishable from a one-State reality (see A/73/447).
9. To ensure accountability, the Committee and the wider membership reiterated
calls for the implementation of relevant resolutions, including Security Council
resolution 2334 (2016), and for reports on the implementation of that resolution to
include information on compliance with its paragraph 5, in which States are called
upon to distinguish in their dealings between Israel and the Palestinian territo ry
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem (see S/2019/251 and S/2018/614).
They also reiterated their call for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights to publish in an expeditious manner the database of companies operating in
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
10. The 12-year illegal Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip continued to lead t o human
rights violations as well as humanitarian and socioeconomic distress among the
Palestinian civilian population, which had no prospects for development or improved
living conditions. The ongoing fuel and electricity crisis severely undermined the
delivery of essential health, water and sanitation services, affecting women and girls
in particular (see E/CN.6/2019/6). Moreover, demonstrations at the perimeter fence
between Gaza and Israel continued on an almost daily basis. On 30 March 2019 alone,
18 demonstrators were killed and 703 wounded by Israeli security forces on the first
anniversary of the Great March of Return, for which between 40,000 and 50,000
Palestinian protesters had gathered near the Isr aeli fence. In the report of the
independent commission of inquiry established by the Human Rights Council to
investigate violations committed during the large -scale civilian demonstrations held
between 30 March and 31 December 2018, an investigation into possible war crimes
and the prosecution of suspected perpetrators of international crimes were
recommended (see A/HRC/40/74).
11. The protection of civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory continued to be
an issue of the utmost concern (see General Assembly resolution ES -10/20).
Regrettably, on 29 January, the mandate of the Temporary International Presence in
Hebron was not renewed, and the international monitors left the city, removing an
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essential element of protection for the local population. 1 The Special Representative
of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict has continued to report on
the violations suffered by children, verifying that the past year witnessed the highest
number of Palestinian child casualties since the 2014 Israeli war on the Gaza Strip,
and the continued arrest, interrogation, detention and imprisonment of Palestinian
children by Israel, the occupying Power ( A/73/907-S/2019/509, paras. 84–97).
12. The implementation of the Egyptian-brokered reconciliation agreement of
October 2017 among Palestinian factions to advance the reunification of Gaza and
the West Bank under a single, democratic and legitimate national Government
remained stalled. In addition, a resolution to the serious financial crisis of the
Government of the State of Palestine was not reached following the decision of Israel
to punitively withhold Palestinian tax revenue from March 2019 onward, in violation
of international law and existing agreements, in particular the Protocol on Economic
Relations between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization (see, e.g., S/PV.8583). The support announced by the League of Arab
States (LAS) and some Member States in April 2019 is expected to provide much -
needed funding to ensure continuity in the functions of the Government of the State
of Palestine.
13. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near
East (UNRWA) and its core programme of providing educational, health, relief and
social services and emergency assistance, including food aid, to more than 5.4 million
Palestine refugees registered with it continued to be imperilled as a result of the lack
of a reliable and sustainable funding arrangement. Notwithstanding the additional
$60 million contributed by donor countries and organizations at the pledging
conference on 25 June, the Agency’s 2019 budget shortfall remained at $151 million,
and resource mobilization efforts continue.
14. Israel continued to pursue measures to alter the legal, demographic and
historical multicultural and multireligious character and status of Jerusalem and to
consolidate its control over the city and its surroundings. Those and other violations
of the basic rights of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, including the lack of freedom of
movement and worship, exposed the fragility of the status of the city. Tensions at the
flashpoint area of Haram al-Sharif continued, including during the last day of the
Muslim holy month of Ramadan, resulting in the loss of Palestinian lives. The
Committee, as well as world leaders, including Pope Francis, the King of Jordan and
the King of Morocco,2 reiterated that the historic status quo of the holy sites in
Jerusalem must be respected and that their preservation was the shared responsibility
of the international community.
15. The relocation of embassies and diplomatic offices from Tel Aviv to Jerusale m
by a small number of Member States, with recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of
Israel, was met with a strong response from the international community. The
Committee, the European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
were among the many entities that considered those actions to be a flagrant violation
of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions and reiterated calls for
all Member States to comply with, inter alia, Security Council resolutions 476 (1980),
__________________
1 United Nations, “UN chief hopes for new agreement after Israel concludes international
observation mission”. Available at https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/02/1031892.
2 Report on the International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem, Rabat, 26–28 June 2018,
annex III. Available at www.un.org/unispal/document/international -conference-on-the-questionof-
jerusalem-rabat-morocco-26-28-june-2018.
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478 (1980) and 2334 (2016) and to refrain from establishing diplomatic missions in
Jerusalem.3
16. The United States of America, as part of its efforts aimed at achieving Israeli -
Palestinian peace, organized the “Peace to Prosperity” workshop in Manama on
25 June 2019. Representatives of the international community reiterated that the
solution to the conflict remained political and that economic support for the
Palestinian people would not succeed without a politic al plan that addressed the
historic injustice of occupation and the fulfilment of their inalienable rights, including
to self-determination and independence.
17. The international community, including the African Union, the European Union,
OIC, LAS and the Non-Aligned Movement, continued to reaffirm overwhelmingly
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and uphold the long -standing
parameters of the two-State solution for a viable and just solution to the conflict, with
Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, based on the pre -1967
borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine and with
negotiated outcomes for all final status issues, in accordance with international law,
relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace
Initiative. The Committee reiterated that the ongoing occupation should not prevent
the State of Palestine from taking its rightful place among the community of nations
and that Member States should extend formal recognition to the State of Palestine and
support its full membership in the United Nations. As a reflection of that support, the
State of Palestine was elected the 2019 Chair of the Group of 77 and China, the largest
grouping in the General Assembly ( see S/PV.8375, S/PV.8449, S/PV.8517 and
S/PV.8583). In July 2019, Saint Kitts and Nevis became the 140th State to formally
recognize the State of Palestine.
18. The observance in 2018 of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the signing of the
Oslo Accords, a historic moment that filled Palestinians, Israelis and the world with
the hope that a genuine and lasting peace could finally be realized, served as a sad
reminder of a lost opportunity. Similarly, the seventieth anniversary of the adoption
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of the expulsion and flight of
Palestine refugees from their homeland in 1948, remembered as the Nakbah
(catastrophe), contrasted starkly with the unrealized rights and broken promises made
to an entire people of a life of dignity and freedom.
__________________
3 See, e.g., the statement of the Chair of the Committee to the International Conference on the
Question of Jerusalem (Geneva, 27–28 June 2019). Available at www.un.org/unispal/wpcontent/
uploads/2019/06/Chair-opening-statement-ENG.pdf.
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Chapter III
Mandate of the Committee
19. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by General Assembly resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10 November
1975 with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable the Palestinian
people to exercise their inalienable rights to self-determination, national
independence and sovereignty and return to the homes and property from which they
had been displaced, as recognized by the Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of
22 November 1974. The mandate of the Commit tee has evolved considerably over
the years into greater advocacy for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and
the mobilization of assistance. Additional information about the Committee is
available on the website maintained by the Division for Palestinian Rights of the
Secretariat (www.un.org/unispal).
20. On 30 November 2018, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee (resolution 73/18) and requested the Secretary-General to continue to
provide the Division for Palestinian Rights with the resources necessary for its
programme of work (resolution 73/21) and to continue to implement the speci al
information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public
Information (renamed Department of Global Communications) of the Secretariat
(resolution 73/20). The Assembly also adopted resolution 73/19, entitled “Peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine ”, in which it reaffirmed the near-consensus
international position regarding the components of a just, lasting and comprehensive
solution.
21. The work of the Committee is fully aligned with the decisions of the main
intergovernmental bodies of the United Nations, such as the General Assembly, the
Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, as well as with the work of
the Secretary-General and the programmes, funds and specialized agencies of the
United Nations system, with which it collaborates extensively.
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Chapter IV
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
22. The Committee is composed of 26 Member States, representing different
regional groups and supporting the international consensus for a two -State solution:
Afghanistan, Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador,
Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Lao People ’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar,
Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
23. The 24 observers of the Committee are Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China,
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, the Niger, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Viet
Nam and Yemen, as well as the State of Palestine, the African Union, LAS and OIC.
24. The Bureau of the Committee, with geographically balanced representation, is
elected each year from among the permanent representatives of Committee members.
At its 394th meeting, on 15 February 2019, chaired by the Secretary -General, the
Committee elected, in their personal capacity, Cheikh Niang (Senegal) as Chair;
Adela Raz (Afghanistan), Ana Silvia Rodríguez Abascal (Cuba), Dian Triansyah
Djani (Indonesia), Neville Melvin Gertze (Namibia) and Jaime Castillo Hermida
(Nicaragua) as Vice-Chairs for the year; and Carmelo Inguanez (Malta) as Rapporteur
until 15 May 2019. The State of Palestine participates in the Bureau ’s work as an
observer.
25. The day-to-day tasks of the Committee are undertaken by its Bureau. The
members of the Bureau represented the Committee at all international conferences
organized by the Committee and on all visits of delegations, and they chaired and
moderated various sessions of the conferences. On the margins of the conferences and
during visits, they held meetings with senior o fficials from the respective host
countries.
26. The Committee members and observers have actively advocated the rights of
the Palestinian people, including in the Security Council. Currently, Committee
members Indonesia and South Africa and observer Kuwai t serve on the Security
Council as elected members.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
27. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of the
United Nations and observers wishing to participate in its work were w elcome to do
so. In accordance with established practice, the State of Palestine participated in the
work of the Committee as an observer. The Committee made every effort to guarantee
the participation of civil society organizations, including those from I srael.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General Assembly
resolutions 73/18 and 73/21
A. Introduction
28. In the implementation of its programme of work, as a subsidiary body of the
General Assembly, the Committee is guided by its mandate to promote the realization
of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and support the achieveme nt without
delay of an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and of the two -State
solution on the basis of the pre-1967 lines. Its work and activities are also fully
aligned with Security Council resolutions on the question of Palestine; women a nd
peace and security; international and humanitarian law; human rights frameworks
such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and, more recently, the
Sustainable Development Goals and their achievement by the State of Palestine. As
authorized by the General Assembly, the Committee frequently made adjustments to
its approved programme of work that it considered appropriate and necessary in view
of developments. Taking a rights-focused approach, the Committee has made every
effort to support the universally recognized rights of an occupied people and the rights
of all States and people to live in peace and security. To that end, the Committee
utilized a wide range of instruments and activities, including engaging the diplomatic
community in a sustained dialogue on the question of Palestine through its formal and
informal intergovernmental processes; employing the good offices of the Secretary -
General; organizing awareness-raising activities for the public that involved
conferences, meetings, invited spe akers and the media, including social media;
promoting partnerships with Governments, relevant bodies of the United Nations
system, intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations; and building
the capacities of the future State of Palestin e.
B. Mobilization of the diplomatic community
29. The Committee utilized intergovernmental processes to continue to mobilize the
international community in support of the realization of the two -State solution and a
just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the question of Palestine in all its aspects
through its diplomatic engagement with permanent missions in New York and around
the world. It also held international conferences to allow the exchange of views
among delegates and a wide range of partners.
30. During the reporting period, the Committee held four meetings at United
Nations Headquarters, including a special meeting on the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People (see paras. 47–49 below). It also held seven
Bureau meetings, including with special guests and briefers, and one Bureau retreat.
31. On 17 October 2018, the Bureau met to decide on the priorities and focus of the
Committee’s activities for the remainder of 2018 and the programme of work for 2019
in the light of updated information on the current political situation.
32. On 23 October, the Committee was briefed via videoconference by Michael
Lynk, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories
occupied since 1967, on his forthcoming report (to be issued under the symbol
A/HRC/40/73), which pointed to the actions of an occupying Power seemingly bent
on further territorial annexation. Mr. Lynk warned that failure by the i nternational
community to stop the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, including East
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Jerusalem, and other Israeli legislative initiatives could prompt Israel to formalize de
jure annexation.
33. On 15 November, the Committee endorsed four draft res olutions for submission
to the General Assembly. They concerned the mandate of the Committee, the peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine, the special information programme on the
question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information (sinc e renamed the
Department of Global Communications) of the Secretariat, and the Division for
Palestinian Rights. On 30 November, the General Assembly, having before it the
report of the Committee (A/73/35), adopted the four draft resolutions (resolutions
73/18, 73/19, 73/20 and 73/21).
34. At its meeting on 15 February 2019, the Committee officially adopted its
programme of work for 2019 (A/AC.183/2019/1). At the same meeting, the
Committee also elected its Bureau members for 2019 ( see para. 24 above).
35. On 26 February, the Committee, through the Division for Palestinian Rights,
organized its annual briefing session, which was open to all permanent missions to
the United Nations, to familiarize delegates with the Committee ’s mandate and
programme of work. A total of 20 participants attended the informative and interactive
session, including 6 elected members of the Security Council. The Department of
Global Communications also gave a presentation on the special information
programme on the question of Palestine.
36. On 1 March, the Bureau, at the invitation of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation,
discussed with Jürgen Rüttgers, former Federal Minister of Germany, commonalities
between the visions of the Committee and Germany for a peacefu l and sustainable
solution to the question of Palestine based on the two -State solution, as well as
practical steps for its achievement, including by engaging young people on both sides
of the conflict.
37. On 20 March, the Bureau met with the Chair and a member of the independent
commission of inquiry established by the Human Rights Council to investigate all
alleged violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights
law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusal em. The briefing
included the screening of footage of Israeli security forces killing and injuring
Palestinian civilians at the Gaza fence.
38. As part of its priority to engage the European Union, the Committee sent
delegations to Brussels and Berlin. The visit of the delegation to Brussels from 4 to
6 March 2019 mobilized regional and national support for the two -State solution and
promoted concrete steps, such as the recognition of the State of Palestine and the
protection of Palestinian civilians under occupation. Key action -oriented points raised
during the visit included: accountability of Israel for its violations and the need for
the European Union and the United Nations to be at the forefront of action to end
impunity, with a view to safeguarding human rights and salvaging the prospects for
realizing the two-State solution; compliance with the European Union policy of
differentiation regarding products imported into the European Union from the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular from illegal Israeli settlements, and as a
requirement of Security Council resolution 2334 (2016); the publication by the United
Nations of a database of businesses profiting from the occupation of the Palestinian
territory; protection of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank,
especially in Hebron, and the lifting of the illegal blockade of Gaza; support for the
mandate of UNRWA and for predictable, sufficient and sustained financing; and
collective recognition of the State of Palestine by European Union member States as
a means of promoting the peace process.
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39. The United Nations Forum on the Question of Palestine was held at
Headquarters on 4 April and the International Conference on the Question of
Jerusalem was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva on 27 and 28 June. They
served as important platforms for raising awareness, exchanging ideas and mobilizing
the international community, Member States, international organizations and civil
society organizations in the United States and abroad to shoulder the collective
responsibility for safeguarding the two -State solution and exerting the efforts needed
to support the realization of Palestinian rights and the achievement of lasting Israeli -
Palestinian peace on the basis of that solution (see a lso paras. 55 and 56 below).
40. On 28 May, at Headquarters, the Bureau briefed the Group of African States on
its mandate priorities and forthcoming activities in order to raise awareness of the
Palestinian plight and foster support among regional United Nations groups.
41. On 21 June, the Bureau held its fifth annual retreat, at which it discussed the
implications of international developments for the Committee and its work and
identified priorities for 2019 and 2020. The Committee decided to strengthen o utreach
activities, including those regarding academia and the media, and to further develop
its communication strategy. The decisions adopted at the retreat were shared with the
Committee.
42. On 24 and 25 June, a Committee delegation visited Berlin and r equested
Germany to recognize the State of Palestine as a means of promoting the realization
of the right of the Palestinian people to self -determination. The delegation met with
officials from the Federal Chancellery and the Foreign Office and with parlia ment
members, who confirmed that Germany remained committed to the two -State solution
and opposed the annexation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
43. On 13 July, the Committee organized a visit to the Palestine Museum in
Woodbridge, Connecticut, United States, to celebrate Palestinian cultural and artistic
achievements through figurative art, music and dance. Representatives of Committee
members and observers as well as the wider United Nations membership attended a
lecture by a renowned Palestinian a rtist and scholar on the history and impact of
Palestinian paintings and other works of art through the decades despite the
occupation.
44. On 24 July, the Bureau held its annual meeting with the Secretary -General. The
Chair conveyed the Committee’s concerns regarding the deterioration of the situation
and the continuing plight of the Palestinian people. He stressed that, while an
overwhelming majority of Member States remained firmly committed to the two -
State solution, that commitment had yet to be transl ated into concrete steps, including
first and foremost the recognition of the State of Palestine as a sovereign and
independent State and support for its full membership in the United Nations. The
Secretary-General reaffirmed his unwavering support for the two-State solution.
45. The Chair delivered statements on behalf of the Committee at the quarterly
debates of the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the
Palestinian question, on 18 October 2018 ( S/PV.8375), 22 January 2019 (S/PV.8449),
29 April 2019 (S/PV.8517) and 23 July 2019 (S/PV.8583). He highlighted the
deteriorating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the Committee ’s key
activities and recommendations and called upon the Council to uphold its
responsibilities under international law and take appropriate action that would lead to
a just, comprehensive and peaceful settlement of the conflict in accordance with the
relevant resolutions of the Council.
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C. Raising awareness of the question of Palestine
46. The Committee has endeavoured to raise awareness of the political, human
rights and humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the
situation of Palestinian women, by facilitating up -to-date briefings by experts and
exchanges of ideas on specific issues at Committee meetings at Headq uarters, during
side events, international conferences and visits of Committee delegations and
through publications and its website. Details of each of the activities can be found on
the website of the United Nations Information System on the Question of P alestine
(www.un.org/unispal).
47. As the major awareness-raising event organized by the Committee, the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which was commemorated
on 28 November 2018, saw an impressive display of support and solidarity by
Member States, civil society and the public.
48. At the special meeting of the Committee on that date, statements were delivered
the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Security Council and the
Secretary-General. Other speakers included the Vice -Chair of the Special Committee
to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People
and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, high -level representatives of the African
Union, LAS, OIC and the Movement of Non -Aligned Countries and the Permanent
Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations. Messages of solidarity were
received from 22 Heads of State, six Heads of Government, nine Ministers for Foreign
Affairs and others and published on the Committee ’s website.
49. All speakers expressed their unwavering support for the realization of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and called upon the international
community to work towards that objecti ve. Many stressed the urgency of an
expeditious solution and the responsibility of world leaders to make the Palestinian
question a priority, underscoring the centrality of a just solution to regional and global
peace and stability.
50. As is customary, similar events were coordinated in observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People at the United Nations
Offices at Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi. The messages of the Chair and the Secretary -
General were delivered at those events, and the United Nations was represented at the
highest levels. The commemorations were attended by representatives of members
and observers of the Committee and of the membership at large, who expressed their
solidarity with the Palestinian people and suppo rt for the two-State solution. A
message from the Secretary-General was issued in all six official languages.
51. The annual exhibition organized by the Committee on the occasion of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in cooper ation with the
Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, was
entitled “Unrealized rights, unfulfilled promises: 70 years of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and of the Palestinian people ’s Nakbah”. It was
displayed from 29 November 2018 to 4 January 2019 in the Visitors Lobby at
Headquarters in the context of the seventieth anniversaries of both the expulsion and
flight of Palestine refugees from their homeland in 1948, remembered as the Nakbah,
and the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The exhibition served
to raise awareness among visitors about the Nakbah and the denial of the rights of
Palestine refugees that continues to this day.
52. The Chair, responding to an invitation from the Palestin ian Return Centre,
undertook a mission to London between 11 and 14 December 2018, where he met
Members of Parliament and representatives of charities and delivered a public lecture
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at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London. During the
visit, the Chair recalled the principles and parameters agreed upon by the international
community to find a just and lasting solution to the Israeli -Palestinian conflict and
informed key interlocutors about the Committee ’s work.
53. Several briefings and activities were organized within the framework of
Committee meetings to update Member States and participants on specific issues. On
15 February 2019, a Committee meeting at Headquarters featured a videoconference
with Amnesty International from East Jerusalem in which it presented a briefing on
its report entitled “Destination: occupation – digital tourism and Israel’s illegal
settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories ”. The briefing provided information
about the role of transnational e-tourism businesses in maintaining the Israeli
occupation and highlighted how, by listing accommodations, attractions and tours
located in settlements or run by settlers, four companies helped to sustain illegal
Israeli settlements in the West Bank. In it s report, Amnesty International
recommended that Member States take regulatory action to prevent digital tourism
companies domiciled or headquartered on their territory from providing or facilitating
tourism services in settlements in the Occupied Palestin ian Territory.
54. Similarly, a Committee side event, organized on 7 March 2019 on the margins
of the sixty-third session of the Commission of the Status of Women, featured the
screening of a documentary entitled Naila and the Uprising. The film described the
active role played by Palestinian women during the first intifada of 1987 and its
political aftermath. The screening was followed by a panel discussion with Zahira
Kamal, head of the Palestinian Democratic Union Party, and Rula Salameh, the
producer of the film, who had travelled for the occasion from Ramallah, as well as
Julia Bacha, the director of the producing company Just Vision. The event, chaired by
the Deputy Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, attracted about 300
attendees and generated wide media coverage.
55. The United Nations Forum on the Question of Palestine, held at Headquarters
on 4 April 2019 on the theme “The threat of de facto annexation: what next for
Palestine?”, raised awareness among Member States of Israeli measures wit h the
potential to produce a creeping annexation of the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, and highlighted viable and practical strategies to end that annexation in
accordance with international law. Experts and attendees underscored, inter alia, the
detrimental unilateral steps taken by some Member States and asserted that the
continuing construction of illegal Israeli settlements and infrastructure for the
exclusive use of Israelis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory amounted to a de facto
annexation along with the 1980 de jure annexation of East Jerusalem, in violation of
international law and United Nations resolutions. Other major impediments to
achieving a lasting solution included the development of archaeological projects and
tourist sites privileging an Israeli nationalistic narrative. Participants emphasized that
Member States and civil society could play an important role in upholding
international law, including human rights and humanitarian law, through bilateral
pressure on Israel and domestic legislative and judicial action, such as the recognition
of the State of Palestine and the implementation of paragraph 5 of Security Council
resolution 2334 (2016).
56. The International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem, organized in
cooperation with OIC, was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva on 27 and
28 June 2019 on the theme “Preserving the cultural and religious character of
Jerusalem”. It raised awareness of Israeli policies and me asures aimed at changing
the cultural and religious character of Jerusalem, which have significant political,
legal and socioeconomic ramifications, including the threat of derailing prospects for
a peaceful solution to the question of Palestine. Panellist s and participants
highlighted, inter alia, that Jerusalem was a final status issue and that, without a just
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solution to its status, no Israeli-Palestinian agreement was possible; that Israeli plans
risked upending the demographic make -up of the city; that the international
community had a shared responsibility to preserve the historic status quo of the holy
sites; that any unilateral actions, including by Member States, in contravention of
United Nations resolutions and international law were null and void ; that violations
of the status quo could turn a political conflict into a religious conflagration, with
repercussions throughout the region and beyond; and that there must be guarantees of
free access for all worshippers to the city, with each group respe cting the sanctity of
the other’s established holy sites.
57. The United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, now in its
twenty-fifth year of operation, remains a valuable resource on the question of
Palestine for diplomats and researchers around the world, averaging 35,000 visitors
per month. It consists of more than 37,000 documents and is considered to be the
largest and most comprehensive online repository on the subject. The collection
ranges from the latest United Nations documents to rare records dating back decades.
In June 2019, with the support of the Department of Global Communications and an
external consultant, the Division for Palestinian Rights completed a two -and-a-half
year project to migrate the information system to a modern technological platform.
Since its launch, the new site has received more than double the number of page views
per month. Efforts to make all of the information on the website available in all six
official languages of the United Nations are under way.
58. The Committee maintained a social media presence to disseminate information
on the question of Palestine. During the reporting period, the Committee ’s Facebook4
and Twitter5 accounts recorded steady growth in the number of visitors.
59. Further to its monitoring mandate, the Committee also produced monthly
bulletins compiling all official documents of the United Nations and other
intergovernmental organizations relating to the question of Palestine, 6 an annual
compendium of United Nations resolutions distributed to 4,095 recipients, including
research libraries and universities, and other relevant studies and publications on
topics of interest.
60. Moreover, through its weekly publication entitled “NGO Action News”, the
Committee continued to raise awareness of the work of civil society and United
Nations actors in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and
around the globe towards the achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people.
D. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations,
non-governmental organizations and United Nations
system entities
61. The Committee continued its cooperation with intergovernmental organizations,
non-governmental organizations and United Nations system entities and expressed its
appreciation for the active participation of representatives of those bodies at various
events held under its auspices. It also expressed its appreciation to OIC for its annual
co-sponsorship of the International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem. The
African Union, LAS and OIC regularly attended the meetings of the Committee as
observers and participated in its work. At its meeting on 4 September 2018, the
Committee was briefed by the Director of the New York office of UNRWA. The
__________________
4 Reaching 2,234 people per month on average.
5 With 37,000 impressions per month on average and more than 16,000 followers.
6 Available at www.un.org/unispal/data-collection/monthly-bulletin.
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Committee’s interaction with the European Union was strengthened through its
delegation’s visit to Brussels from 4 to 6 March.
62. In the context of cooperation with OIC, on 1 and 2 March 2019, the Chair
delivered a statement at the forty-sixth session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of
OIC, held in Abu Dhabi.
63. The Committee continued to attach great importance to enhancing relations with
national and regional parliaments and their interparliamentary organizations. In
March and June 2019, Committee delegat ions held meetings with Belgian and
German parliamentarians as well as members of the European Parliament, focusing
on their role in ensuring that Member States and intergovernmental organizations
implement United Nations resolutions and relevant provision s of international law
and contribute to a just, peaceful and lasting solution to the Israeli -Palestinian
conflict.
64. At the United Nations Forum on the Question of Palestine on 4 April, the
Committee invited Senator Frances Black of Ireland, who had spe arheaded a bill in
line with paragraph 5 of Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) and the European
Union policy of differentiation regarding products imported from the Occupied
Palestinian Territory. During those meetings, interlocutors recommended that the
Committee organize events focused on the role of parliamentarians in finding a just
solution for the question of Palestine.
65. Also on 4 April, the Chair delivered a statement at the event entitled “Palestinian
Day on the Hill”, organized by the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group.
The Chair stressed that parliaments had an important role to play as representatives
of the will of the people that can demand accountability from the ir own Governments
and ensure that international law is ultimately applied. Ahead of the visit, the Chair
and the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine met in New York with the
Foreign Minister of Canada.
66. During its activities, the Committee, through the Division for Palestinian Rights,
continued its long-standing cooperation with the United Nations system, including
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Uni ted Nations
country teams, UNRWA, the Department for General Assembly and Conference
Management, the Department of Global Communications (including the United
Nations information centres and the United Nations Regional Information Centre for
Western Europe, in Brussels), the Human Rights Council and the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The Division also liaised
with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
(UN-Women) on the 2019 report of the Secretary-General on the situation of and
assistance to Palestinian women ( E/CN.6/2019/6) and with the United Nations
Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in the context of the capacity -building
programme.
67. On the margins of the International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem, a
Committee delegation held bilateral meetings with the President of the Human Rights
Council, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Pr esident
of the International Committee of the Red Cross to consider the stark humanitarian
and human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and progress on
publishing the Human Rights Council-mandated database on businesses operating in
the Israeli settlements.
68. The Committee continued its collaboration with civil society organizations
promoting the rights of the Palestinian people. As is customary, a civil society
representative was invited to speak at the special meeting of the Committe e held on
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28 November 2018 to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People. The Bureau held closed consultations with civil society
representatives, including from Israel and the State of Palestine, in the margins of that
observance as well as on the margins of the United Nations Forum on the Question
of Palestine, held in New York on 3 March 2019. On 4 March, a Committee delegation
met with Belgian and European civil society groups during its visit to Brussels.
69. Those meetings and interactions allowed the Committee to inform civil society
about its mandate and activities, at Headquarters and abroad, as well as to learn about
civil society concerns and actions. In turn, the rich exchanges have informed the
programme of work, statements and reports of the Committee. The Committee has
also continued to provide a space in which Israeli and Palestinian civil society
organizations can interact, through the facilitation of their participation in Committee
events, at a time when such interaction is increasingly circumscribed on the ground.
E. Capacity-building
70. As requested in General Assembly resolution 73/21, the Committee continued
to develop training opportunities and programmes in order to expand the capacity of
officials of the State of Palestine.
71. From 16 to 19 September 2018, a staff member of the Division for Palestinian
Rights visited Ramallah and assessed the impact of the Committee ’s capacitybuilding
programme, meeting with representatives of 10 ministries and 20 United
Nations agencies. Apart from ensuring the alignment of the programme with activities
of the rest of the United Nations system on the ground, the staff member conducted a
needs assessment during the visit and identified specific areas and gaps in Palestinian
capacity on which the Committee will now focus its efforts. The work undertaken
serves to cement a demand-driven, national priority-focused capacity-building
approach. An impact assessment of the a nnual training programme held in New York
was also performed, and terms of reference for the selection of officials for the
programme were also clarified and finalized.
72. From 5 September to 12 October 2018, the Committee carried out its annual six -
week capacity-building training programme on multilateral diplomacy for Palestinian
diplomats in New York, coinciding with the seventy-third session of the General
Assembly. The objectives of the programme were revised and the classroom training
element of the programme was strengthened, with the training content more
customized to the job functions of participating Palestinian officials. The programme
served to acquaint two female Palestinian diplomats with the work of the United
Nations, its legal foundations, rules and regulations, and the functioning of its main
organs and major items on their respective agendas, with a special focus on the
question of Palestine. In December 2018, the Committee funded the participation of
six Palestinian officials in an online course organized by UNITAR, entitled “Women,
leadership and peacebuilding”. The Committee, in cooperation with OHCHR, also
supported the attendance, from 29 April to 3 May 2019, of a female Palestinian
official at the ninety-eighth session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination, held in Geneva, in preparation for the presentation of the report of
the State of Palestine to that Committee in August.
73. In response to multiple requests from Palestinian authorities, the Committee is
collaborating with UNDP, UNESCO and the Office of the Prime Minister of the State
of Palestine to build the communications and media relations capacity of officials in
various ministries, including at the cabinet level.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Global Communications
in accordance with General Assembly resolution 73/20
74. The Department of Global Communications continued to implement its special
information programme on the question of Pa lestine pursuant to General Assembly
resolution 73/20.
75. During the reporting period, the Department held its annual International Media
Seminar on Peace in the Middle East in Moscow on 5 and 6 September 201 8, in which
the Chair of the Committee also participated. The seminar, organized in cooperation
with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation with the support of the
United Nations Association of Russia, the Russian Peace Foundation and th e United
Nations information centre in Moscow, was attended by participants from the State
of Palestine, Israel, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland and the United States, among others, who discussed a variety o f
issues relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
76. The Department organized its annual training programme for Palestinian
journalists in New York from 29 October to 30 November 2018 and in Washington,
D.C., for the week beginning on 12 November. Si x Palestinian journalists from Gaza,
the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Jordan graduated in 2018, bringing the
total number of journalists benefiting from the training programme to 196.
77. During the reporting period, all relevant open and intergovernmental meetings
held at Headquarters were covered by United Nations Web TV and United Nations
Photo.
78. The Meetings Coverage Section of the Department of Global Communications
issued 73 press releases relating to the question of Palestine and the Middle East peace
process in English and French. In addition, the Department produced a wealth of
multimedia news articles and features about issues affecting the inalienable rights of
the Palestinian people across its news and social media platforms i n the six official
languages, as well as in Kiswahili and Portuguese. United Nations News stories and
social media posts on the flagship United Nations accounts were further amplified by
media outlets and social media influencers. UNifeed video packages we re aired 3,639
times by 315 global broadcasters, including Al Jazeera, the British Broadcasting
Corporation, China Global Television News and Russia Today.
79. The Department’s news and video teams conducted two field missions to the
region, gathering information for features with a particular focus on children.
Materials included exclusive reports, interviews and photos of senior United Nations
officials visiting schools and training programmes sponsored by UNRWA in Gaza,
the West Bank and Jordan.
80. With funding from Oman, the Department has been digitizing its audiovisual
assets and has now posted 223 historical films and videos relating to the question of
Palestine on its audiovisual library website.
81. Regarding the observance of the International Day of Solidarity in 2018, the
Department worked closely with the Committee and the Department of Political and
Peacebuilding Affairs to provide communications support for all of the events that
were held at Headquarters on 28 November. The Department continu ed to update the
website for the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in the six
official languages and supported the revitalization of the website of the United
Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, including the migration of
data to preserve its rich historical record.
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82. In addition, the global network of United Nations information centres organized
a series of activities to highlight issues relating to the question of Palestine, including
events in Brussels, Cairo, Canberra, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of
Tanzania, Geneva, Mexico City, Nairobi, Vienna and Washington, D.C.
83. The Dag Hammarskjöld Library was host to a series of four customized library
training and coaching sessions for Palestinian dele gates from 18 September to
8 October 2018, including training on United Nations documentation, treaty research
and legal resources.
84. More than 256,700 visitors were briefed on the question of Palestine in front of
the updated permanent exhibit, located along the route of the guided tour of
Headquarters. Also during the reporting period, the updated permanent exhibit was
mounted at the United Nations Office at Geneva.
85. The Envoy of the Secretary-General on Youth visited the West Bank and Gaza
in June 2019 to raise awareness of the activities of UNRWA, in particular health and
education services provided to young Palestine refugees. At the invitation of the
Envoy, a delegation of UNRWA student parliamentarians attended the launch of the
United Nations Youth Strategy on 24 September 2018.
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
86. On the basis of its deliberations at Committee and Bureau meetings, briefings,
visits of delegations, international conferences and events involving M ember States,
civil society organizations and regional organizations, the Committee has developed
the recommendations set out below.
87. Recalling that 2019 marks the seventy-first anniversary of the expulsion and
flight of Palestine refugees from their ho meland in 1948, remembered as the Nakbah
(catastrophe), and the fifty-second anniversary of the Israeli occupation, the
Committee urges the international community to redouble its efforts towards the
fulfilment of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including to selfdetermination
and independence, and the achievement of the two -State solution based
on the 1967 borders, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions, the
Madrid principles, the Arab Peace Initiative and the road map of the Quartet.
88. The Committee reiterates the need to reframe the Palestinian -Israeli conflict. It
is not a conflict between two equal parties over disputed territory. It is a conflict
emanating from one State occupying, colonizing and annexing the territo ry of another
State under oppressive, inhumane and discriminatory conditions.
89. Consistent with the responsibilities and obligations of the international
community, the Committee supports revising the existing model of bilateral
negotiations into an expanded multilateral framework, with a view to reviving the
peace process with a credible political horizon. In this context, the Committee
welcomes the eight-point plan presented to the Security Council by the President of
the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, on 20 February 2018, reiterating the agreed
long-standing international consensus on the question of Palestine and calling for the
mobilization of efforts to actualize that consensus.
90. Any resolution of the conflict, apart from having the two -State formula at its
core, requires a comprehensive regional solution, such as that offered by the Arab
Peace Initiative. The Committee calls upon international and regional organizations,
such as the European Union, LAS and OIC, to take on a more politically ac tive role
in mediating an end to the conflict.
91. The Committee acknowledges that intra -Palestinian unity is critical to the
reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under a single, democratic and legitimate
national Government and to achieving an independ ent State of Palestine. The
Committee offers its support to local, regional and international efforts to advance the
unity process.
92. The Committee urges the Security Council and the General Assembly to ensure
the implementation of the long-standing parameters for peace affirmed in relevant
United Nations resolutions, including Council resolution 2334 (2016) and Assembly
resolution 73/19. The Committee requests the Secretary-General to continue to submit
his reports to the Council on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016) in written
format and to include references to implementation by Member States of the provision
contained in paragraph 5 of resolution 2334 (2016). Pursuant to paragraph 11 of the
resolution, the Committee also calls upon the Council to examine practical ways and
means to secure the full implementation of relevant Council resolutions.
93. The Committee underscores the responsibility of States and private entities not
to contribute to grave Israeli violations of Pale stinian human rights, in particular with
respect to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
It looks forward to the publication, by OHCHR, of a database of all business
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enterprises engaged in certain Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, as mandated by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 31/36.
94. The Committee calls upon the international community to shift from a
humanitarian to a human rights framework in addressing the plight of the Palestinian
people. It demands an end to the 12 -year Israeli air, land and sea blockade of Gaza
and the lifting of all closures within the framework of Security Council resolution
1860 (2009). It calls upon international donors to fulfil without delay all pledges to
expedite the provision of humanitarian assistance, the reconstruction process and
economic recovery, which are essential to alleviate the distress of Palestinians,
including women and children, who face additional and gender-specific challenges
that need to be addressed through targeted actions.
95. The Committee deems unilateral decisions by Member States to recognize
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the transfer of embassies in Israel from Tel Aviv
to Jerusalem as null and void, as they are in violation of Security Council resolutions,
including resolutions 476 (1980) and 478 (1980). The Committee calls upon Member
States to rescind those decisions and reiterates tha t the historic status quo of the holy
sites in Jerusalem must be respected and that the international community shares the
responsibility to preserve the legal, demographic and historical multicultural and
multireligious character and status of the city.
96. The Committee deplores the use of excessive, disproportionate and
indiscriminate force by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians, including during
the protests in the Gaza Strip in 2018 and 2019. The Committee calls for the
implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the commission of
inquiry, mandated by the Human Rights Council to investigate violations committed
on the fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip during those protests.
97. The Committee urges Member States and th e Organization to remind Israel of
its obligations under international law to protect civilians. It regrets that, on
29 January, the mandate of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron was not
renewed, and that the international monitors left the cit y, removing an essential
element of protection for the local population. Further to the report of the Secretary -
General pursuant to General Assembly resolution ES -10/20, the Committee
emphasizes the need for the implementation of an international protectio n mechanism
that can credibly ensure the safety and welfare of Palestinian civilians.
98. The Committee emphasizes the importance of the acknowledgment by Israel of
the Nakbah and its impact upon the Palestinian people as a necessary requirement for
a viable and lasting peace. Palestine refugees should be treated as dispossessed
nationals of a country – the State of Palestine – rather than as stateless refugees. It
strongly advocates the right to return as well as just compensation for Palestine
refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III).
The Committee further encourages all Member States to work collectively to fund
UNRWA sufficiently and predictably.
99. The Committee notes with appreciation the diligent contributio n of the Division
for Palestinian Rights in support of its mandate and requests the Division to continue
its substantive and secretariat support for all aspects of its mandate.
100. The Committee will continue, through its mandated activities implemented b y
the Division, to raise international awareness as well as international support for the
rights of the Palestinian people in conformity with international law and United
Nations resolutions. In that context, the Committee recognizes the growing
importance of cooperation among developing countries and regional and subregional
organizations within the framework of South -South and triangular cooperation for
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sharing replicable experiences towards the achievement of self -determination and
independence.
101. The Committee requests the continuation of the special information programme
on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information (now the
Department of Global Communications), which has made an important contribution
to informing the media and the public.
102. The Committee commends civil society initiatives in support of the Palestinian
people and will continue to expand its efforts to engage civil society organizations,
including by regularly convening civil society forums. It encourages civ il society
partners to work with their national Governments, parliamentarians and other
institutions to promote the achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people and the full recognition of the State of Palestine and its independence.
103. The Committee intends to continue to work closely with other United Nations
actors and entities, including the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace
Process and UNRWA, to synergize efforts in fields of common concern and uphold
the permanent responsibility of the Organization towards the question of Palestine
until it is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner and in accordance with
international law. The Committee wishes to express its deep appreciation to its
partners, and in particular OIC, for the contribution of extrabudgetary resources and
their active participation in its conferences and events.
104. Lastly, the Committee urges its members, observers and others to participate
actively in its programme of activities. The Committe e will also enhance its outreach
to all Member States and regional groups at the United Nations to take a more active
and effective approach towards the achievement of the two -State solution, and to
expand the Committee’s membership as a form of political support for the resolution
of the question of Palestine. The Committee calls upon all Member States to join in
this endeavour and invites the General Assembly to reconfirm its mandate in
recognition of the importance of its role.
19-14025 (E) 090919
*1914025*
A/75/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-fifth Session
Supplement No. 35
A/75/35
Report of the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-fifth Session
Supplement No. 35
A/75/35
United Nations • New York, 2020
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
20-11092 3/25
[25 August 2020]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
II. Overview of the political context relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
III. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
IV. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
V. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance with
General Assembly resolutions 74/10 and 74/12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
B. Mobilization of the diplomatic community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
C. Raising awareness of the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
D. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations, non -governmental organizations and
United Nations system entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
E. Capacity-building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
VI. Action taken by the Department of Global Communications in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 74/13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
A. Immediate action by the Committee in response to annexation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
B. Action taken with the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Human Rights
Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
C. Advocacy and outreach activities with the international community and civil society . . . 23
D. Action by Member States and regional organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
E. Support action in response to the coronavirus disease pandemic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
F. Action by the Secretariat and other United Nations entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
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Letter of transmittal
[1 September 2020]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly and circulation to all the competent bodies of the United Nations
for necessary action, as appropriate, in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 10 of
Assembly resolution 74/10 of 3 December 2019.
The report covers the period from 4 September 2019 to 1 September 2020.
(Signed) Cheikh Niang
Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The present report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People has been submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution
74/10, adopted on 3 December 2019. It covers the implementation by the Committee
of its programme of work (A/AC.183/2020/1), formulated to promote the realization
of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self -
determination. Its objectives include maintaining international awareness, mobilizing
efforts aimed at achieving a just and comprehensive solution of the question of
Palestine and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace, enhancing international solidarity with
the plight of the Palestinian people until those objectives are achieved and supporting
the Government of the State of Palestine in its capacity -building efforts towards a
viable and sustainable future independent State of Palestine.
2. Chapter II consists of an overview of the political context relating to the
question of Palestine during the reporting period, from 4 September 2019 to
1 September 2020.
3. Chapters III and IV contain an outline of the mandate of the Committee as set
out by the General Assembly and information on the membership of the Committee
and the organization of its work.
4. Chapter V covers the action taken by the Committee, including its participation
in meetings of the Security Council and its continuing dialogue with
intergovernmental organizations and civil society. It also covers international
conferences, visits of delegations and capacity -building workshops organized by the
Committee, as well as other mandated activities carried out and events held by the
Division for Palestinian Rights on behalf of the Committee.
5. Chapter VI provides an overview of the special information programme on the
question of Palestine implemented by the Department of Global Communications in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 74/13.
6. The conclusions and recommendations of the Committee to the General
Assembly are set out in chapter VII of the report.
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Chapter II
Overview of the political context relating to the question
of Palestine
7. During the reporting period, the political, security, human rights, humanitarian
and socioeconomic situation continued to deteriorate across the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, owing to the ongoing entrenchment of the 53-year
Israeli occupation and its illegal settlement activity, compounded by the ongoing
illegal Gaza blockade and the threat of further de jure annexation of Palestinian lands.
Moreover, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has inflicted an additional
negative shock on the fragile socioeconomic fabric of the State of Palestine and its
vulnerable population, especially in the Gaza Strip.
8. As documented in regular United Nations reports to the Security Council, 1
Israel, the occupying Power, took no steps to abide by Council resolution 2334 (2016),
including to immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Instead, the construction
and expansion of settlements, the construction of the separation barrier and bypass
roads, the confiscation of land, the demolition of homes, the seizure of Palestinian -
owned structures, the destruction of agricultural, water, sanitation and hygiene
facilities, evictions and threats of the forcible transfer of Palestinian families, human
rights abuses and settler violence, including the intimidation, injuring and killing of
Palestinians, continued to negatively affect the lives and livelihoods of the Palestinian
population, including women and girls.
9. Arbitrary arrests, discrimination, administrative detention, including of children
(see A/74/845-S/2020/525), restrictions on freedom of movement, violations of the
right to worship, restrictions on access to education and health care and killings by
Israeli security forces continued in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. 2
10. The United Nations has frequently stated that the 53 -year-old Israeli occupation
prevents the Palestinian people from enjoying their human rights in freedom and
peace. The actions described above constitute violations of international law and the
human rights of the Palestinian people, are contrary to the legal obligation of Israel
to protect the life and health of Palestinians under occupation and further jeopardize
the possibility of realizing the two-State solution on the basis of the 1967 lines and a
just peace.3 Furthermore, the impunity with which Israeli forces operate in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory have been deemed a serious threat to a rules -based
international order (see A/74/507).
11. The Secretary-General has reported limited compliance with paragraph 5 of
resolution 2334 (2016), in which Member States were called upon to distinguish, in
their relevant dealings, between Israel and the Palestinian territories occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem. The database of business enterprises operating in
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, was
published by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on
28 February 2020 (A/HRC/43/71).
__________________
1 A list of briefings to the Security Council on the question of Palestine is available at
www.un.org/unispal/document-source/security-council.
2 United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Longstanding access
restrictions continue to undermine the living conditions of West Bank Palestinians”,
Humanitarian Bulletin: Occupied Palestinian Territory, March–May 2020.
3 United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and others, Humanitarian
Response Plan: OPT (2020).
A/75/35
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12. The illegal Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip entered its thirteenth year,
inflicting ongoing human rights violations and humanitarian and socioeconomic
distress on the Palestinian civilian population, including Palestine refugees who
constitute most of that population. The situation of Palestinian residents in Gaza has
been described as “collective punishment” (see A/74/507). On 20 November 2019,
the Committee was briefed by the Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East
Peace Process, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator
for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, who indicated that the overflow of injuries
caused by Israeli security forces firing on Palestinian civilian protesters during the
Great March of Return, coupled with severe underfunding and the ongoing fuel and
electricity shortages in Gaza, severely undermined the delivery of essential health,
water and sanitation services. In addition, the chronic shortage of medicines and
hospital beds, combined with population density, could have an irrepara ble impact if
the COVID-19 pandemic spreads throughout the Strip.
13. The threat of conflict has persisted, as tensions and the cycle of violence
between the two sides has remained inflamed. Israeli forces continued to carry out
daily military raids and to perpetrate acts of violence against the Palestinian civilian
population under occupation. In mid-November 2019, rockets were fired from the
Gaza Strip into Israel, followed by Israel Defense Forces military strikes, two days
after Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad had agreed to an Egyptian-mediated
ceasefire. Additional exchanges of fire occurred in March, late June and early July
2020; in August, following the launch of incendiary balloons from Gaza, Israel
retaliated with airstrikes, the prevention of fuel imports to the Strip and the reduction
of the Gaza fishing zone from 15 to 8 nautical miles, causing serious distress among
civilians. In April 2020, following the call issued on 23 March by the Secretary -
General for a global ceasefire,4 the five United Nations Special Envoys for the Middle
East, including the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and
Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation
Organization and the Palestinian Authority, appealed for a ceasefire in the region and
for an increase in local, regional and global cooperation to stop the rapid spread of
the COVID-19 virus.5
14. The implementation of the Egyptian-brokered intra-Palestinian reconciliation
agreement of October 2017 in view of reuniting Gaza and the West Bank under a
single, democratic and legitimate national Government made limited progress,
despite ongoing efforts to revive unity talks. In June 2020, Fatah and Hamas issued
an unprecedented joint press statement against Israeli threats and plans to annex parts
of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
15. Measures taken by Israel to consolidate its unlawful annexation of Jerusalem
and its surroundings threatened the legal status of the city, as well as its demographic
composition and its historically multicultural and multireligious character. A new
bypass connecting Jewish settlements to the north and south of Jerusalem – the
so-called “American Road” – risks cutting off the eastern part of the occupied city
from the rest of the West Bank. Incitement and provocation by Israeli officials and
extremist settlers against the Haram Al-Sharif and the Aqsa Mosque also continued,
violating the historic and legal status quo and aggravating religious tensions.
16. The humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has
underscored the vital role played by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). In a context characterized by
__________________
4 United Nations, “Secretary-General calls for global ceasefire, citing war-ravaged health systems,
populations most vulnerable to novel coronavirus”, 23 March 2020.
5 Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, “Joint appeal by the United
Nations Secretary-General’s envoys to the Middle East”, 11 April 2020.
A/75/35
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worsening living conditions, widespread poverty and underdevelopment, the Agency
provides vital educational, health, relief and social services and emergency assistance,
including food aid, to more than 5.6 million Palestine refugees. On 31 August 2018,
the Government of the United States of America announced that it would stop funding
UNRWA, depriving the Agency of a long-standing source of donor support. At an
extraordinary ministerial-level meeting hosted by the Governments of Jordan and
Sweden on 23 June 2020, 75 Governments and non -governmental organizations
(NGOs) pledged $130 million in financial aid to sustain UNRWA operations, a
contribution that was still far short of the funding gap. The Secretary -General has
repeatedly echoed calls for the international community to guarantee predictable
financing to sustain the work of the Agency at a time of regional instability, volatility
and great vulnerability for Palestine refugees in its five fields of operation in Jordan,
Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
17. The “Peace to Prosperity” plan, unveiled by the United States Administration
on 28 January 2020, was rejected by the Government of the State of Palestine, the
African Union Commission,6 the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)7 and the
League of Arab States (LAS), along with other individual Governments, who cited
the failure of the plan to guarantee the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and
to achieve international consensus on a just solution in accordance with international
law and the relevant United Nations resolutions. Following the release of the plan,
the Government of Israel announced its intention to annex 30 per cent of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory by 1 July, including most of the Jordan Valley and more than
230 illegal Israeli settlements. Although settlement activity and de facto annexation
measures have continued, the 1 July date passed with no formal action taken by the
Israeli Government.
18. At the Security Council debate held on 24 June 2020 (see S/2020/596), the
Secretary-General called the predicament in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, a
“watershed moment” and urged Israel to abandon its annexation plans. Most Council
members warned that annexation would constitute a grave breach of international law.
At its 43rd session, the Human Rights Council condemned Israeli annexation plans
and called on the High Commissioner to compile a report on the impact of annexation,
to be presented in March 2021. On 16 June, the Spec ial Rapporteur on the situation
of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967 and
47 other independent experts of the United Nations human rights system issued a
statement8 expressing that the annexation of occupied territory was a serious violation
of the Charter of the United Nations and the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949,
and contrary to the fundamental rule affirmed many times by the Security Council
and General Assembly that the acquisition of territory by war or f orce is inadmissible.
19. On 19 May 2020, the Palestinian leadership declared that it did not consider
itself bound by “agreements and understandings” with the Governments of the United
States and Israel, or by any of the obligations based on those unders tandings and
agreements, including those related to security. The President of the State of Palestine,
Mahmoud Abbas, reiterated his call for negotiations under an international
framework, first made at the Security Council debate held on 11 February (see
__________________
6 Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, statement at the thirty -
third ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, Addis Ababa,
9 February 2020.
7 Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), “Against the background of the US administration’s
announcement of its ‘Peace Plan’: OIC holds on to UN resolutions and the Arab peace plan”,
29 January 2020.
8 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, “Israeli annexation of parts
of the Palestinian West Bank would break international law – United Nations experts call on the
international community to ensure accountability”, 16 June 2020.
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S/PV.8717), including an expanded Quartet, and pledged to return to negotiations
without preconditions. Several diplomatic initiatives, including by the Secretary -
General, have been or are being pursued to cr eate the conditions for such a meeting.
20. International and regional opposition to annexation has been widespread, 9 from
leaders in Europe, including the High Representative10 of the European Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, leaders across the Arab world, OIC (see
A/74/926-S/2020/584), LAS (see A/74/835-S/2020/356), the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries (see S/2020/341) and leaders in Latin America. Members and
representatives of Israeli and Palestinian civil society, humanitarian organizations and
think tanks, as well as legal scholars and academics, also express ed their opposition
to annexation, as did hundreds of individuals from the professional sphere and the
world of sports, arts and culture, trade union and political representatives and human
rights activists, as well as faith-based leaders, members of the Elders group and
Palestinian and international women leaders. On 25 June 2020, several members of
the United States Congress and over 20 advocacy organizations sent a letter 11 to the
Government of Israel, calling on it to shelve annexation plans and negotia te with the
Palestinians. Multiple opinion polls revealed division among Israelis over the issue
as well.
21. On 20 December 2019, the International Criminal Court announced that the
statutory criteria under the Rome Statute of the Court had been met for t he opening
of a war crimes probe regarding the situation of Palestine and alleged crimes
committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Prosecutor requested from
Pre-Trial Chamber I a jurisdictional ruling on the scope of the territorial jurisdiction
of the Court under article 12 (2) (a) of the Rome Statute in the State of Palestine. 12
The Pre-Trial Chamber will rule on the matter in due course. 13
22. The reporting period has seen the unprecedented spread of COVID -19. On
5 March 2020, the Prime Minister of the State of Palestine, Mohammad Shtayeh,
declared a state of emergency after the first confirmed cases. Stringent measures and
aggressive testing by the Government of the State of Palestine, combined with
coordination with Israeli authorities, initially contained the spread of COVID-19 in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory. As reported by the World Health Organization
(WHO), by 27 August, the total number of cases amounted to 26,762 infected persons
and 152 deaths. The socioeconomic repercussions of the pandemic are dire, including
economic contraction and gender-based violence, which reportedly increased by
47 per cent, and violence against children, a trend regrettably also seen in many parts
of the world. The public health implications of the pandemic and the negative shock
to the Israeli and Palestinian economies will have profound implications for public
welfare, employment, social cohesion, financial and institutional stability in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. On 21 July, the Special Coordi nator for the Middle
East Peace Process warned the Security Council that the Palestinian Authority was on
the verge of “total collapse” owing to the impact of COVID-19 and Israel’s pending
__________________
9 United Nations, Division for Palestinian Rights, “Bulletin on action by the United Nations
system and intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine”, vol. XLIII,
No. 6 (June 2020).
10 United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, “Middle East peace process
discussed at European Union conference of Foreign Ministers (press conference by High
Representative Borrell, excerpts)”, 16 June 2020.
11 Members of Congress, United States of America, letter to Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister
of Israel, Benjamin Gantz, Alternate Prime Minister, Defense Minister, and Gabriel Ashkenazi,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, 25 June 2020.
12 Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor, International Criminal Court, statement on the conclusion of the
preliminary examination of the situation in Palestine, and seeking a ruling on the scope of the
Court’s territorial jurisdiction, 20 December 2019.
13 International Criminal Court, “Preliminary examination: State of Palestine”, 2020.
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annexation plans (see S/2020/736), although that assessment was rejected by the
Government of the State of Palestine. On 3 April, the Chair of the Ad Hoc Liaison
Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians called
for strong international donor support, and, on 2 June, 25 donor countries of the
Liaison Committee committed themselves to creating conditions for a viable two -
State solution.
23. The international community, including the African Union, the European Union,
OIC, LAS and the Non-Aligned Movement, continued to reaffirm its support for the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and their quest for statehood, sovereignty
and independence. The 140 countries that have formally recognized the State of
Palestine and the compendium of United Nations resolutions adopted to date
exemplify the international consensus on the question. In 2019, the State of Palestine
served as Chair of the Group of 77 and China, the largest grouping in the General
Assembly, demonstrating its ability and competence to engage as a rightful member
of the international community and upholding its rights and obligations in that regard.
24. On 13 August 2020, the United States announced that it had brokered an
agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to work towards the full
normalization of relations between the latter two countries. 14 Under the deal, Israel
would “suspend declaring sovereignty” over areas of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory. The three States would continue their efforts “to achieve a just,
comprehensive and enduring resolution to the Israeli -Palestinian conflict”.
25. The State of Palestine subsequently rejected and denounced that agreement. 15
Some regional partners expressed concern about the unilateral action taken by the
United Arab Emirates. On 19 August 2020, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi
Arabia confirmed that his country remained committed to peace with Israel on the
basis of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative (see A/56/1026–S/2002/932). The Secretary-
General expressed the hope that the agreement could create an opportunity for Israeli
and Palestinian leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations that would realize a
two-State solution in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, international law
and bilateral agreements.16 Several European countries and other Arab countries
welcomed the decision by Israel to suspend its planned annexation. Other Member
States from Africa, Asia and Latin America expressed concern as to whether the
agreement was aligned with earlier global and regional agreements and about the fact
that that it did not involve the full participation of the people of Palestine.
__________________
14 White House, “Joint statement of the United States, the State of Israel and the United Arab
Emirates”, 13 August 2020.
15 Palestine Liberation Organization, Department of Public Diplomacy and Policy, “Statement b y
the Palestinian leadership”, 13 August 2020.
16 Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, statement attributable to the
Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the announcement of an agreement between Israel and
the United Arab Emirates, 13 August 2020.
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Chapter III
Mandate of the Committee
26. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by General Assembly resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10 November
1975 with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable the Palestinian
people to exercise their inalienable rights to self -determination, national
independence and sovereignty and return to the homes and property from which they
had been displaced, as recognized by the Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of
22 November 1974. The mandate of the Committee has evolved considerably over
the years into greater advocacy for the inalienable rights of the Palesti nian people and
the mobilization of assistance. Additional information about the Committee is
available on the website maintained by the Division for Palestinian Rights of the
Secretariat (www.un.org/unispal).
27. On 3 December 2019, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee (resolution 74/10) and requested the Secretary-General to continue to
provide the Division for Palestinian Rights with the resources necessary for its
programme of work (resolution 74/12) and to continue to implement the special
information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Global
Communications of the Secretariat (resolution 74/13). The Assembly also adopted
resolution 74/11, entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”, in which
it reaffirmed the near-consensus international position regarding the components of a
just, lasting and comprehensive solution.
28. The work of the Committee is fully aligned with the decisions of the main
intergovernmental bodies of the United Nations, such as the General Assembly, the
Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, as well as with the work of
the Secretary-General and the programmes, funds and specialized agencies of the
United Nations system, with which it collaborates extensively.
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Chapter IV
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
29. The Committee is composed of 25 Member States, representing different
regional groups and supporting the international consensus for a two -State solution:
Afghanistan, Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador,
Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar,
Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
30. The 24 observers of the Committee are Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China,
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, the Niger, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emir ates, Viet
Nam and Yemen, as well as the State of Palestine, the African Union, LAS and OIC.
31. The Bureau of the Committee is elected each year from among the permanent
representatives of Committee members. At its 399th meeting, on 4 February 2020,
chaired by the Secretary-General, the Committee elected, in their personal capacity,
Cheikh Niang (Senegal) as Chair; Adela Raz (Afghanistan), Ana Silvia Rodríguez
Abascal (Cuba), Dian Triansyah Djani (Indonesia), Neville Melvin Gertze (Namibia)
and Jaime Castillo Hermida (Nicaragua) as Vice-Chairs for the year. Adela Raz
(Afghanistan) was also elected as Acting Rapporteur. In accordance with established
practice, the State of Palestine participates in the work of both the Committee and the
Bureau as an observer.
32. The day-to-day tasks of the Committee are undertaken by its Bureau. Members
of the Bureau represented the Committee at all international conferences organized
by the Committee, including by chairing and moderating conference sessions, and on
all delegation visits. On the margins of the conferences and during delegation visits,
they held meetings with senior officials of the respective host countries.
33. The Committee members and observers have actively advocated the rights of
the Palestinian people, including in the Security Council. Currently, three Committee
members, Indonesia, South Africa and Tunisia, and two observers, the Niger and Viet
Nam, serve on the Security Council as elected members.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
34. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of the
United Nations and observers wishing to participate in its work were welcome to do
so. Committee activities regularly involve civil society organizations, in cluding those
from Israel.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General Assembly
resolutions 74/10 and 74/12
A. Introduction
35. In the implementation of its programme of work, as a subsidiary body of the
General Assembly, the Committee is guided by its mandate to promote the realization
of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and support the achievement without
delay of an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and of the two -State
solution on the basis of the pre-1967 lines. Its work and activities are also fully
aligned with Security Council and Assembly resolutions on the question of Palestine;
the women and peace and security agenda; the programme of the United Nations
country team; international law, including humanitarian law; human rights
frameworks such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Inte rnational
Covenants on Human Rights; and, more recently, the Sustainable Development Goals
and their achievement by the State of Palestine. As authorized by the Assembly, the
Committee has adjusted its approved programme of work in view of developments.
36. Taking a rights-focused approach, the Committee has made every effort to
support the universally recognized rights of an occupied people and the rights of all
States and peoples to live in peace and security. To that end, the Committee engaged
the diplomatic community on the question of Palestine through formal and informal
intergovernmental processes; employed the good offices of the Secretary -General;
organized public awareness-raising activities that involved conferences, meetings,
speakers’ panels and the media, including social media; promoted partnerships with
Governments, relevant bodies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental
organizations, regional bodies and civil society organizations; and built capacities for
the future State of Palestine.
37. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdowns, starting from
April 2020, the Committee converted its meetings and activities to online events,
using a variety of platforms, in line with General Assembly decision 74/544, in order
to ensure continuity in the delivery of its mandate.
B. Mobilization of the diplomatic community
38. Through its diplomatic engagement with permanent missions in New York and
around the world, the Committee continued to mobilize the international community
in support of the realization of the two-State solution and a just, comprehensive and
lasting solution to the question of Palestine in all its aspects on the basis of
international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
39. During the reporting period, the Committee held seven meetings at United
Nations Headquarters (four of which were held online), including a special meeting
on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (see paras. 54 –58
below). It also held eight Bureau meetings, including with special guests and briefers,
and the annual Bureau retreat.
40. On 3 October 2019, prior to a legal seminar convened by the Committee in
Galway (see para. 77 below), a Committee delegation led by the Chair of the
Committee met in Dublin with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign
Affairs and Defense of Ireland, Simon Coveney, to discuss the situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Mr. Coveney assured the
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delegation of his country’s continued engagement and support for Palestinian rights
and for a just solution to the question of Palestine, which ranked high on the foreign
policy agenda of Ireland.
41. On 20 November 2019, the Committee endorsed four draft resolutions for
submission to the General Assembly. They concerned the mandates of the Committee
and the Division for Palestinian Rights, the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine, and the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the
Department of Global Communications of the Secretariat. On 3 December, the
Assembly, having before it the report of the Committee (A/74/35), adopted the four
draft resolutions (resolutions 74/10, 74/11, 74/12 and 74/13).
42. At its meeting on 4 February 2020, the Committee elected its Bureau members
for 2020 (see para. 31 above). At the same meeting, the Committee officially adopted
its programme of work for 2020 (A/AC.183/2020/1).
43. On 24 February, the Committee, through the Division for Palestinian Rights,
organized its annual briefing session, which was open to all permanent missions to
the United Nations, to familiarize delegates with the Committee’s mandate and
programme of work. A total of 35 participants attended the informative and interactive
session, including members of the Security Council. The Department of Global
Communications also gave a presentation on the special information programme on
the question of Palestine.
44. On the margins of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine,
held on 28 February in Kuala Lumpur, on the theme “South -East Asian support for
the Rights of the Palestinian People” (see para. 59 below), the Committee delegation
met, inter alia, with the then-Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir bin Mohamad,
who reiterated his country’s commitment to supporting the cause of the Palestinian
people and to finding a just solution to the question of Palestine in line with the two -
State solution based on the pre-1967 borders.
45. On 2 and 3 March, a Committee delegation visited New Delhi and met with
representatives of the Government, political parties and think tanks. The delegation
discussed the implications of the plan proposed by the United States and the crucial
role of India, as a member of the Committee having good relations with both Israel
and the State of Palestine and a non-permanent member of the Security Council for
the 2021–2022 term, in contributing to a just, peaceful and lasting solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
46. On 5 May, the Committee issued a statement17 in which it warned that the
planned annexation of parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory by Israel threatened
the two-State solution and called on the international community, in pa rticular the
Security Council, to shoulder its responsibilities and take urgent action to counteract
the threat of annexation.
47. At its 400th meeting, held online on 18 May, the Committee heard a briefing by
the Prime Minister of the State of Palestine, who elaborated on the steps that his
Government and the international community should take in order to support the two -
State solution. The Prime Minister called upon the international community to use its
political and economic weight to salvage the two -State solution and prevent Israeli
annexation. The briefing also included an update of the impact of COVID -19 in
Palestine.
__________________
17 United Nations, “Israel’s planned annexation of occupied territory threatens two -state solution,
Palestinian rights committee warns, urges global community to counter threat”, press release,
5 May 2020.
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48. At the 401st meeting, held online on 14 July, Committee members called for
sustained international pressure to stop the planned annexation by Israel of parts of
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as it represented a threat to the two -State solution
based on the pre-1967 borders and, if carried out, would grossly violate international
law and United Nations resolutions, undermine th e credibility of the United Nations,
increase the suffering of the Palestinian people, who were already hit hard by the
COVID-19 pandemic, and undermine the prospects for the achievement of a just and
lasting solution.
49. On 16 July, the Bureau held its annual meeting with the Secretary-General, who
outlined his vision on the question of Palestine and efforts to restart dialogue within
an international framework. The Chair conveyed the Committee’s appreciation for the
principled position expressed by the Secretary-General at the Security Council
meeting on 24 June and called for sustained international pressure to stop the
annexation by Israel of parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The need for
accountability was stressed.
50. On 22 July, the Bureau held its sixth annual retreat to discuss activities planned
for the remainder of 2020 and for 2021. The Bureau agreed to support United Nations
and other efforts to overcome the current impasse; to step up outreach to key partners
and to continue to adapt the Committee’s working methods in the context of
COVID-19. The Bureau also reviewed the proposed programme budget for 2021. The
decisions adopted at the retreat were shared with the Committee.
51. Statements on behalf of the Committee were delivered before or provided to the
Security Council in the context of its quarterly debates on the situation in the Middle
East, including the Palestinian question, on 28 October 2019 and 21 January, 23 April
and 21 July 2020 (see S/PV.8648, S/PV.8706, S/2020/341 and S/2020/736). In those
statements, the Committee highlighted the deteriorating situation in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, called for a halt to the illegal policies and practices of Israel,
the occupying Power and drew attention to its key activities and recommendations. It
also appealed to the Security Council to take appropriate action that would lead to a
just, comprehensive and peaceful settlement of the conflict in accordance with
international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions.
C. Raising awareness of the question of Palestine
52. The Committee has raised awareness about the political, human rights and
humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the situation
of Palestinian women, by facilitating up-to-date briefings by experts and exchanges
of ideas on specific issues at Committee meetings at Headquarters, during side events,
international conferences and visits of Committee delegations, as well as through the
dissemination of publications, information and the Committee’s website. Details of
each of the activities can be found on the website.
53. The Committee maintained an expanded social media presence to disseminate
information on the question of Palestine. During the reporting period, the Committee
Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter accounts recorded s teady growth in the
number of visitors. All Committee events, including those held online, are regularly
broadcast via United Nations Web TV and across its social media pages, garnering
thousands of viewers per event, resulting in an aggregate total of 57,484 views since
March 2020 (see para. 45). These efforts resulted in increased engagement with the
public, extended outreach to new audiences and higher numbers of followers across
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. In addition to English, the Commi ttee is
also increasingly posting in Arabic on its website and social media channels.
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54. As the major awareness-raising event organized by the Committee, the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, commemorated on
27 November, saw an impressive display of support and solidarity by Member States,
civil society and the public.
55. At the special meeting of the Committee on that date, statements were delivered
by the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Security Council and
the Secretary-General. Other speakers included the Chair of the Special Committee
to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People
and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, high-level representatives of the African
Union, LAS, OIC and the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and the Permanent
Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations. Messages of solidarity were
received from 19 Heads of State, 6 Heads of Government, 8 Ministers for Foreign
Affairs and others and were published on the Committee’s website.
56. All speakers expressed their unwavering support for the realization of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and called upon the international
community to work towards that objective. Many stressed the urgency of an
expeditious solution and the responsibility of world leaders to make the Palestinian
question a priority, underscoring the centrality of a just solution to regional and global
peace and stability.
57. As is customary, similar events were coordinated in observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People at the United Nations
Offices at Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi. The messages of the Chair and the Secretary -
General were delivered at those events, and the United Nations was represented at the
highest levels. The commemorations were attended by representatives of members
and observers of the Committee and other Member States, who expressed their
solidarity with the Palestinian people and suppo rt for the two-State solution. A
message from the Secretary-General was issued in all six official languages.
58. The annual exhibition organized by the Committee on the occasion of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in cooper ation with the
Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, was
entitled “Palestine: the most universal national cause”. It was displayed from
26 November 2019 to 6 January 2020 in the Visitors Lobby at Headquarters. The
display represented advocates and activists from a wide range of disciplines,
including political and religious leaders, diplomats, artists and athletes who, through
their words and action, expressed their solidarity with the Palestinian People.
59. The International Conference on the Question of Palestine on the theme “South-
East Asian support for the rights of the Palestinian People” was held in Kuala Lumpur
on 28 and 29 February in cooperation with the Government of Malaysia and the
Perdana Global Peace Foundation. The event brought together Palestinian and
international experts, as well as civil society actors in South -East Asia, in support of
the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The then Prime
Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, delivered the keynote address. Speakers
highlighted activism against the Israeli occupation and urged the United Nations and
its Member States to fulfil their obligations under the Charter and international law
towards the Palestinian people, including through sanctioning Israel.
60. On 14 April, the Bureau of the Committee held a public online event with the
Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza, Matthias Schmale, on the theme “The
COVID-19 pandemic in Gaza and ways to mitigate its impact on Palesti ne refugees”.
The event addressed developments in the occupied Gaza Strip, the latter’s
preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic, the assistance to Palestine refugees in the
Strip provided through UNRWA and the need for continued international resolve to
support the Agency, including with emergency funding.
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61. On 21 April, the Committee held an online conversation with representatives of
Palestinian civil society on the theme “The COVID-19 pandemic under occupation –
national resilience and international support”. The event highlighted how the
Palestinian population in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza was
coping with the COVID-19 pandemic under the ongoing occupation and political
uncertainty in Israel and threats of annexation.
62. The United Nations Forum on the Question of Palestine was held online on
4 June, on the theme “The Question of Palestine: threats of annexation and the
prospects for peace”. Prominent speakers – a member of the Executive Committee of
the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and former member of the Palestinian
negotiation team, Hanan Ashrawi; a former Israeli Minister and participant in the
1993 Oslo Accord negotiations, Yossi Beilin; and the founder and president of the
Arab American Institute, James Zogby – raised awareness among Member States and
civil society of the imminent threat posed by the illegal plans of Israel to annex areas
in the occupied West Bank and the dangerous repercussions thereof, if implemented.
They called for international efforts to avert such illegal actions and to mobilize
efforts to achieve a just solution.
63. On 18 June, the Chair issued a video message in support of a solidarity campaign
marking “53 years of occupation” initiated by the Negotiations Affairs Department of
PLO.
64. The International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem, jointly organized
with OIC, was held online in two separate panel discussions, on 28 July, on the theme
“Annexation in practice – Palestinian lives in Jerusalem” and on 27 August, on the
theme “Annexation in practice – Palestinian youth in Jerusalem”. The Conference
raised the awareness of Member States and civil society on the situation of the
Palestinian population in the occupied city after over 50 years of Israeli annexation
policies and measures. The Conference also demonstrated how actions in Jerusalem
epitomize gradual annexation by Israel of Palestinian land.
65. The United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, now in its
twenty-sixth year of operation, remains a valuable reso urce on the question of
Palestine for diplomats and researchers around the world, averaging 35,000 visitors
per month. It consists of more than 37,000 documents and is considered to be the
largest and most comprehensive online repository on the subject. Th e collection
ranges from the latest United Nations documents to rare records dating back decades.
Since its launch, the new site has received more than double the number of page views
per month. Efforts to make all of the information on the website availab le in all six
official languages of the United Nations are under way, with a special emphasis on
Arabic.
66. Further to its monitoring mandate, the Committee also produced monthly
bulletins compiling all official documents of the United Nations and other
intergovernmental organizations relating to the question of Palestine. The Committee
also produced a compilation of United Nations resolutions and decisions and a
quarterly newsletter on the activities of the Committee and has introduced an annual
compilation of United Nations reports on the question of Palestine.
67. Through its weekly publication entitled “NGO Action News”, the Committee
continued to raise awareness of the work of civil society and United Nations actors
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and around the globe
towards the achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
68. All publications of the Committee are disseminated through a mailing list of
over 5,000 subscribers, including research libra ries and universities, as well as
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prominent personalities and opinion leaders active on the question of Palestine, and
are published on the Committee’s website under the Publications section.
D. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations,
non-governmental organizations and United Nations
system entities
69. The Committee continued its cooperation with intergovernmental organizations,
NGOs and United Nations system entities and expressed its appreciation for the active
participation of representatives of those bodies at various events held under its
auspices. OIC continued to jointly organize the Committee’s annual International
Conference on the Question of Jerusalem. The African Union, LAS and OIC regularly
attended the meetings of the Committee as observers and participated in its work.
70. The Committee continued to attach great importance to enhancing relations with
national and regional parliaments and their interparliamentary organizations. In
March, as part of its visit to India, the Committee delegation held a meeting with a
representative of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to appeal for support to promote a
just, peaceful and lasting solution to the Israeli -Palestinian conflict.
71. During its activities, the Committee, through the Division for Palestinian Rights,
which conducted regular visits to Palestine, continued its long -standing cooperation
with the United Nations system, including the United Nations Development
Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Org anization,
United Nations country teams, UNRWA, the Department for General Assembly and
Conference Management, the Department of Global Communications (including the
United Nations information centres and the United Nations Regional Information
Centre for Western Europe, in Brussels), the Human Rights Council and the Office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the United
Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, the United Nations Entity for Gender
Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), the United Nations Institute
for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the United Nations System Staff College.
72. On 5 November, the Chair of the Committee met with a group of Palestinian
journalists participating in the annual training programme organized by the
Department of Global Communications (see para. 81 below). The Chair briefed the
group about the work of the Committee and engaged the journalists in a lively
informal discussion on the situation in the Middle East and the work of the United
Nations.
73. The Committee continued its collaboration with civil society organizations
promoting the rights of the Palestinian people. As is customary, a civil society
representative was invited to speak at the special meeting of the Committ ee held on
27 November to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People. On the margins of the commemoration, the Chair held closed consultations
with civil society representatives, including from Israel and the State of Pales tine.
74. Representatives of civil society organizations, including from Israel, were
invited to attend all public events of the Committee. Those meetings and interactions
allowed the Committee to inform civil society about its mandate and activities, at
Headquarters and abroad, as well as to learn about civil society concerns and actions.
In turn, the rich exchanges have informed the programme of work, statements and
reports of the Committee. The Committee has also continued to provide a space in
which Israeli and Palestinian civil society organizations can interact, through the
facilitation of their participation in Committee events, at a time when such interaction
is increasingly circumscribed on the ground.
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E. Capacity-building
75. As requested in General Assembly resolution 74/12, the Committee continued
to identify training opportunities to expand the capacity of officials of the State of
Palestine. The Committee continued to assess the impact of its programmes.
76. In November, on behalf of the Committee, staff of the Division for Palestinian
Rights met with Palestinian and United Nations country team counterparts in
Jerusalem to explore areas of cooperation. The Committee is suppor ting the
development of a Palestinian-owned communications strategy led by experts in the
field. The Committee is sponsoring diplomatic protocol training, in collaboration with
the Government of Jordan, in the spirit of South-South cooperation. Owing to the
COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 those two in-person activities were postponed.
77. On 4 and 5 October, the Committee convened a closed -door legal seminar at the
Irish Centre for Human Rights of the National University of Ireland in Galway on
ongoing settlement activities by Israel and the threat of annexation of occupied
Palestinian territory and third-party responsibilities under Security Council resolution
2334 (2016). The seminar brought together 12 prominent practitioners in the fields of
international law and human rights and yielded practical recommendations on
possible ways to hold the occupying Power accountable for settlements, annexation
or other international law violations, highlighting accounta bility as essential for
enabling the achievement of a just solution.
78. From 21 to 25 October, the Government of Senegal and the Committee
organized a study visit for Palestinian officials on best practices in water management
and promoting South-South cooperation, held in Dakar. Through briefings and
discussions with 15 Senegalese experts, the 10 Palestinian participant hydrologists
and officials from the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates working
on the issue of water resources gained an overview of the legal and institutional
framework of the Senegal River Basin Development Organization, its main
achievements and challenges.
79. In collaboration with the United Nations System Staff College, the Committee
supported the participation of two diplomats, from the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Expatriates and the Palestinian International Cooperation Agency, in a
training session on South-South and triangular cooperation in implementing the 2030
Agenda on 29–31 October, in Turin.
80. From 28 October to 6 December, the Committee carried out its annual six -week
capacity-building training programme on multilateral diplomacy for two Palestinian
diplomats in New York, coinciding with the seventy-fourth session of the General
Assembly. The objectives of the programme were revised, and the classroom training
element of the programme was customized to the job functions of participating
Palestinian officials.
81. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Committee prioritized online training.
From 22 to 24 April, the Committee, in collaboration with UNITAR, supported the
participation of three senior officials of the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Expatriates in the online training workshop on leadership in crisis. From 18 to
20 May, the Committee, in collaboration with UNITAR, supported the participation
of three senior female Palestinian Government officials in an online workshop on
women’s leadership.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Global Communications
in accordance with General Assembly resolution 74/13
82. The Department held its annual International Media Seminar on Peace in the
Middle East on 11 and 12 September in Ankara. The Seminar was organized in
cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey. During the two -day event,
diplomats, journalists, media experts and youth representatives of Israel, Palestine,
Turkey, European countries, the United States and other parts of the world discussed,
among many issues, media-related dynamics as they relate to coverage of the Israel -
Palestine conflict and awareness and misperceptions in that regard.
83. The Department organized its annual training programme for Palestinian
journalists from 4 November to 6 December at Headquarters, and in Washington,
D.C., for the week beginning 18 November. Seven Palestinian journalists from Gaza,
the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab
Republic participated in the 2019 programme, bringing the total number of graduates
of the programme to 203.
84. During the reporting period, all of the open intergovernmental meetings held at
Headquarters related to the question of Palestine were covered by United Nations
Web TV, United Nations Photo and aired live and on demand for viewers around the
world by United Nations Web TV.
85. The Meetings Coverage Section issued 67 press releases related to the question
of Palestine and the Middle East peace process in English and French.
86. From September 2019 to June 2020, UNifeed produced 30 stories related to the
question of Palestine.
87. On 5 September, the Department signed an agreement with the Palestinian
Broadcasting Corporation, which now carries content from United Nations News, a
trusted international news source for the people in the region.
88. The Social Media Section featured issues relating to the question of Palestine
on all its social media accounts (in all six official languages, as well as in Portuguese,
Kiswahili and Hindi), which have a total follower count of over 30 million.
89. United Nations News teams produced more than 200 stories and content on
issues affecting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. These included an
interview with the Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process,
United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied
Palestinian Territory on the situation of youth in the Gaza Strip, and an Arabic feature
story highlighting an initiative by the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization in Palestine called “Creative Palestine,”18 which is a joint creative
laboratory for Palestinians that connects designers and businessmen with various arts
and design institutions and universities.
90. As part of the COVID-19 communications response, Arabic News provided
authoritative facts on the pandemic and produced inspiring stories, in a region where
mistrust of news outlets is high, including about the welcoming by the Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process of the strong Palestinian-Israeli
cooperation to curb the spread of COVID-19, and an interview with the Head of WHO
in Gaza about the Palestinians’ right to health as related to the pandemic.
__________________
18 United Nations Industrial Development Organization, “Energizing Palestinian products, creating
positive impact”, 20 January 2020.
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91. In the light of the COVID-19 crisis and the shift to different ways of work, the
Department used available online networks, platforms and social media accounts to
promote virtual events and activities organized by the Committee, including the
United Nations Forum on the Question of Palestine on 4 June, the online conversation
with Prime Minister of the State of Palestine, Mohammad Shtayyeh, on 18 May (see
para. 47 above), and two other special events, on 14 April and 21 April, related to the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
92. With regard to the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People in 2019, the Department worked closely with the Committee and
Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs to provide communications suppo rt
for a number of public events that were held at Headquarters on 27 November. The
Department updated the International Day of Solidarity website in the six official
languages and supported the revitalization of the Committee’s website, including by
assisting in migrating data to preserve its rich historical records.
93. The global network of United Nations information centres organized
commemorative events to mark the International Day of Solidarity in various capitals,
including Ankara, Cairo, Canberra, Harare, Lusaka, Moscow, Nairobi, Pretoria and
Rabat. Messaging about the Day was promoted across the centres’ social media
accounts and websites. For example, the information centre in Beirut promoted the
Secretary-General’s message and posts about the Day on its social media platforms.
The message was also promoted on the website of the information centre in Beirut,
which recorded more than 4,000 page views in November and December. The
information centre in Cairo organized a media briefing at its premises to launch the
2019 report on United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
assistance to the Palestinian People by the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (TD/B/EX(68)/4), which was attended by media professionals from
Egypt and the region. The information centre promoted the event on its website and
social media platforms and facilitated interviews with the UNCTAD representative.
94. From September 2019 to March 2020, approximately 110,000 visitors were
briefed on the question of Palestine at the updated permanent exhibit located along
the route of the guided tour of Headquarters. Tours have subsequently been suspended
owing to the closure of United Nations premises to the general public in line with
COVID-19 safety measures.
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
95. On the basis of its deliberations at Committee and Bureau meetings, briefings,
visits of delegations, international conferences and events involving Member States,
civil society organizations and regional organizations, the Committee has developed
the recommendations set out below.
A. Immediate action by the Committee in response to annexation
96. As affirmed in its statement of 5 May,19 the Committee rejects the stated
intention of the Government of Israel to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, which
would constitute a most serious violation of international law, including the Charter
of the United Nations and the 1949 Geneva Conventions and would undermine the
contiguity of the Palestinian territory and the physical viability of the two -State
solution based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of
Palestine, in accordance with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions,
internationally agreed parameters, the Madrid terms of reference and the Arab Peace
Initiative.
97. The Committee supports the Secretary-General’s clear position on the question
of Palestine, based on international law, countless United Nations resolutions and the
search for a just solution.
98. The Committee will continue to advocate the resolution of the question of
Palestine on the basis of an international framework and against annexation and in
support of the right of the Palestinian people to self -determination and independence.
99. The Committee notes the concerns expressed by the Palestinian leadership, and
the response of the international community, with regard to the agreement between
Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which suspended, but did not commit Isra el to
halting, plans to further extend its sovereignty over Palestinian territory and its
people. The agreement neither bound Israel to negotiations with the Palestinians,
guided by the internationally agreed parameters, nor included the Palestinian people .
To that end, the Committee reiterates that annexation of any part of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory is illegal. Any initiative aimed at a just solution to the question
of Palestine must, foremost, consider the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinia n
people, engage the Palestinian leadership and be based on the two -State solution,
according to international law, United Nations resolutions and agreements between
the parties.
B. Action taken with the Security Council, the General Assembly and
the Human Rights Council
100. The Committee urges the Security Council and the General Assembly to ensure
the implementation of the long-standing parameters for peace affirmed in relevant
United Nations resolutions, including Council resolution 2334 (2016) and Assembly
resolution 74/11. The Committee requests the Secretary-General to continue to submit
his reports to the Council on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016) in written
format and, pursuant to paragraph 5 of the resolution, to include references to
implementation of the provision by Member States. Pursuant to paragraph 11 of the
resolution, the Committee also calls upon the Council to examine practical ways and
__________________
19 United Nations, “Israel’s planned annexation of occupied territory threatens two -State solution”.
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means to secure the full implementation of relevant Council resolutions, including
the use of sanctions on States and private entities violating Council resolutions.
101. The Committee deplores the use of excessive, disproportionate and
indiscriminate force by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians,
including during the protests in the Gaza Strip in 2018 and 2019, and reiterates its
call for the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the
independent international commission of inquiry on the protests in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory (A/HRC/40/74). The Commission was mandated by the Human
Rights Council to investigate violations committed in the proximity of the fence
between Israel and the Gaza Strip during those protests.
C. Advocacy and outreach activities with the international
community and civil society
102. The Committee will continue to mobilize the international community to stop
Israel’s annexation plan and exert efforts to achieve the two -State solution on the
pre-1967 borders. As the United Nations marks the seventy -fifth anniversary of the
signing of the Charter of the United Nations, the Committee reiterates that the
question of Palestine, whose fate is inherently bound to the history and existence of
the Organization, should prompt the Member States to act on their commitment to the
ideals and shared values of democracy, accountability and prosp erity for everyone.
The international community must redouble its efforts to advance the long -overdue
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and regional peace in the
Middle East and maintain international peace and security.
103. Any resolution of the conflict requires a comprehensive regional solution, such
as that offered by the Arab Peace Initiative. The Committee calls upon regional
organizations, such as the European Union, LAS and OIC, to take on a more
politically active role in mediating an end to the conflict.
104. The Committee calls upon the international community to shift from a
humanitarian to a human rights framework in addressing the plight of the Palestinian
people. It demands an end to the 13-year Israeli air, land and sea blockade of Gaza
and the lifting of all closures within the framework of Security Council resolution
1860 (2009). It calls upon international donors to fulfil without delay all pledges to
expedite the provision of humanitarian assistance, the reconstruction process and
economic recovery, which are essential to alleviate the distress of Palestinians,
including women and children, who face additional and gender-specific challenges
that need to be addressed through targeted actions. It stresses the urgency of providing
funding to UNRWA to ensure its vital humanitarian and development assistance to
the Palestine refugees.
D. Action by Member States and regional organizations
105. The Committee urges Member States and the Organization to call upon Israel to
respect its obligations under international law to protect civilians. Further to the report
of the Secretary-General pursuant to General Assembly resolution ES-10/20, the
Committee emphasizes the need for the implementation of an international protection
mechanism that can credibly ensure the safety and welfare of Palestinian civilians.
106. The Committee emphasizes the importance of the ackn owledgement by Israel
of the Nakba and its impact upon the Palestinian people as a necessary requirement
for a viable and lasting peace. Palestine refugees should be treated as dispossessed
nationals of a country – the State of Palestine – rather than as stateless refugees. It
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strongly advocates the right to return as well as just compensation for Palestine
refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III).
107. The Committee deems unilateral decisions by Member States to recognize
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the transfer of embassies in Israel from Tel Aviv
to Jerusalem as null and void, as they are in violation of Security Council resolutions,
including resolutions 476 (1980) and 478 (1980). The Committee calls upon Member
States to rescind those decisions and reiterates that the historic status quo of the holy
sites in Jerusalem must be respected and that the international community shares the
responsibility to preserve the legal, demographic and historical multicultural and
multireligious character and status of the city.
108. The Committee underscores the responsibility of States and private entities not
to contribute to grave Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights, including with
respect to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
It welcomes efforts by Governments, parliamentarians and civil society actors to
sanction support, including economic, for illegal Israeli settlement activities in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory.
109. The Committee welcomes the release of the database of all business enterprises
involved in certain activities relating to Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the
West Bank (A/HRC/43/71), prepared by OHCHR pursuant to Human Rights Council
resolution 31/36 and calls upon Member States to implement the relevant obligations
under international law, including as set out in paragraph 5 of Security Council
resolution 2334 (2016), in which the Council called upon Member States to
distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and
the territories occupied since 1967.
110. The Committee looks forward to the report of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights on the effects of annexation, as requested by the Human Rights Council
in paragraph 16 of its resolution 43/31. The Committee expresses appreciation for the
work of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian
territories occupied since 1967 and his reports submitted to the Human Rights Council.
111. The Committee underscores the importance of preventing the annexation of any
part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and is encouraged by the numerous
statements in support of international legality by members of the international
community, including international civil society. Such a collective position, including
in the Arab world, will be paramount to prevent annexation and to bring an end to the
occupation in line with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions.
E. Support action in response to the coronavirus disease pandemic
112. The Committee expresses concern about the unprecedented spread of
COVID-19 throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and commends the
stringent measures adopted by the Government of the State of Palestine to contain the
spread in the region. The Committee urges the international community to direct its
attention to the dire socioeconomic situation, the deteriorating living conditions of
Palestinians in the occupied territory and the predicament of the Palestinian
Government, which is on the verge of “total collapse” owing to the twin combination
of the adverse impact of COVID-19 and the ongoing Israeli occupation and pending
annexation plans, and provide support and assistance.
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F. Action by the Secretariat and other United Nations entities
113. The Committee notes with appreciation the contribution of the Division for
Palestinian Rights in support of its mandate and requests the Division to continue its
substantive and secretariat support for all aspects of its mandate and highlights the
growing importance of cooperation among developing countries and regional and
subregional organizations within the framework of South -South and triangular
cooperation for sharing replicable experiences towards the achievement of self -
determination and independence.
114. The Committee encourages the Division for Palestinian Rights to continue with
efforts to disseminate information on the question of Palestine by broadening
outreach and promoting multilingualism, with a special emphasis on Arabic, on its
website and social media platforms. It also requests the Division to continue to
implement projects aimed at further promoting the Committee’s mandate.
115. The Committee requests the continuation of the special information programme
on the question of Palestine of the Department of Global Communic ations, which has
made an important contribution to informing the media and the public.
116. The Committee intends to continue to work closely with other United Nations
actors and entities, including the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace
Process and UNRWA, to synergize efforts in fields of common concern and uphold
the permanent responsibility of the Organization towards the question of Palestine
until it is justly resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner and in accordance
with international law. The Committee wishes to express its deep appreciation to OIC
and other partners for the contribution of extrabudgetary resources and their active
participation in its conferences and events.
117. The Committee further encourages all Member States to work collectively to
sufficiently and predictably fund UNRWA.
118. The Committee will continue to promote inclusivity and gender balance in all
its activities, including its capacity-building programme for the civil servants of the
State of Palestine, and encourages a full utilization of online capacity -building
opportunities, especially in the context of COVID-related travel restrictions.
20-11092 (E) 071020
*2011092*
A/76/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-sixth Session
Supplement No. 35
A/76/35
Report of the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-sixth Session
Supplement No. 35
A/76/35
United Nations • New York, 2021
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
21-11081 3/25
[31 August 2021]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
II. Overview of the political context relating to the question of Palestine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
III. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
IV. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
V. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance with
General Assembly resolutions 75/20 and 75/21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
B. Mobilization of the diplomatic community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
C. Raising awareness of the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
D. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations, non -governmental organizations and
United Nations system entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
E. Capacity-building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
VI. Action taken by the Department of Global Communications in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 75/23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
A. Immediate action by the Committee in response to annexation and settlement activities . 21
B. Immediate action by the Committee in response to the conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
C. Immediate action by the Committee in response to postponement of elections in
Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
D. Action taken with the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Human Rights
Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
E. Advocacy and outreach with the international community and civil society . . . . . . . . . . . 23
F. Action by Member States and regional organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
G. Support action in response to the coronavirus disease pandemic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
H. Action by the Secretariat and other United Nations entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
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Letter of transmittal
[1 September 2021]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly and circulation to all the competent bodies of the United Natio ns
for necessary action, as appropriate, in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 10 of
Assembly resolution 75/20 of 2 December 2020.
The report covers the period from 2 September 2020 to 31 August 2021.
(Signed) Cheikh Niang
Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The present report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People has been submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution
75/20, adopted on 2 December 2020. It covers the implementation by the Committee
of its programme of work (A/AC.183/2021/1), formulated to promote the realization
of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self -
determination. Its objectives include maintaining international awareness, mobilizing
efforts aimed at achieving a just and comprehensive solution to the question of
Palestine and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace, enhancing international solidarity with
the plight of the Palestinian people until those objectives are achieved and supporting
the Government of the State of Palestine in its capacity -building efforts towards a
future viable and sustainable independent State of Palestine.
2. Chapter II consists of an overview of the political context relating to the
question of Palestine during the reporting period, from 2 September 2020 to
31 August 2021.
3. Chapters III and IV contain an outline of the mandate of the Committee as set
out by the General Assembly and information on the membership of the Committee
and the organization of its work.
4. Chapter V covers the action taken by the Committee, including its participation
in meetings of the Security Council and its continuing dialogue with
intergovernmental organizations and civil society. It also covers international
conferences, including in virtual format, capacity-building workshops organized by
the Committee and other mandated activities carried out by the Division for
Palestinian Rights on behalf of the Committee.
5. Chapter VI provides an overview of the special information programme on the
question of Palestine implemented by the Department of Global Communications in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 75/23.
6. The conclusions and recommendations of the Committee to the General
Assembly are set out in chapter VII of the report.
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Chapter II
Overview of the political context relating to the question
of Palestine
7. During the reporting period, several developments and trends continued to
threaten the prospects of a two-State solution.
8. Israeli settlements continued to be constructed and expanded in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory despite several Security Counci l resolutions, including
resolution 2334 (2016), declaring them illegal under international law. As
documented regularly to the Security Council by the Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Process, including in his briefings to the Security Council of
25 March 20211 and 24 June,2 contrary to international law and United Nations
resolutions, Israel has entrenched its illegal occupation of the Palestinian territory,
including East Jerusalem, through settlement construction, wall construction,
demolitions and seizures of homes and structures, as well as expulsions and the forced
displacement of Palestinian families. On 14 October, the Israeli authorities advanced
plans for building some 5,000 settlement units in Area C settlements. In early
November, United Nations human rights experts condemned the demolition of the
homes and property belonging to a Palestinian Bedouin community in Khirbat
Humsah, on 12 July in the northern Jordan Valley. At leas t 73 inhabitants, including
41 children, were displaced, and more than 75 structures were destroyed. In January,
1,200 units were built in the East Jerusalem settlement of Giv ‘at Hamatos, and 800
Palestinians were evicted from their homes in the same perio d.
9. Demolitions and confiscation of Palestinian property throughout the occupied
West Bank and East Jerusalem continued relentlessly, according to data collected by
the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. On 26 January 2021, the
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process reported to the Security
Council that, in the previous three months, Israeli authorities had demolished, seized
or forced owners to demolish 71 Palestinian -owned structures, including 19
residential structures, displacing 73 Palestinians, including 17 women and 37 children
(see S/2021/91, annex 1). On 7 July, Israeli forces destroyed all standing structures in
Khirbat Humsah in the Jordan Valley, forcing the transfer of the entire community
situated adjacent to the settlement of Beqa‘ot. Illegal actions intensified in East
Jerusalem in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, where Palestinian residents live under
a perpetual threat of forced expulsion and are subject to restriction of movement.
Palestinians in the neighbourhoods of Shaykh Jarrah and Silwan in occupied East
Jerusalem remain under threat of imminent evictions and forced displacement as
Israeli settler organizations continue their attempts to seize their homes.
10. Violent incidents and provocations have continued daily throughout the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, with an alarming increase in scale and intensity, as
reported by the Secretary-General (see S/2021/584). The Special Coordinator noted
the increase in settler-related violence against Palestinians and urged Israel to ensure
the safety and security of the Palestinian population, in line with its responsibilities
as the occupying Power under international law. Clashes have also repeatedly broken
out in Bayta village near Nablus in the West Bank, in the context of Palestinian
protests against the seizure of land by Israeli settlers and the construction of a new
Israeli settlement outpost. The deployment of Israeli forces at the Aqsa Mosque
compound restricted access to thousands of Muslim worshippers during the final days
of Ramadan, triggering tensions and clashes leading to widespread unrest and the
military escalation between Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip and Israel. On
24 June, the Security Council was informed by the Special Coordinator for the Middle
__________________
1 https://unsco.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/security_council_briefing_ -_25_march_2021_2334.pdf.
2 https://unsco.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/security_council_briefing_ -_24_june_2021_0.pdf.
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East Peace Process that, on 15 June, several thousand Israeli extremists marched
chanting racist slogans and threats against Arabs and Muslims, amid a heavy Israeli
police presence, through the Old City of Jerusalem, leading to protests and clashes in
East Jerusalem and other parts of the West Bank , where 66 Palestinians, including 12
children, were injured by rubber bullets, sound grenades and physical assaults. The
Special Coordinator warned about the potential for Jerusalem to become the trigger
for a larger conflict. Clashes continued throughout the West Bank. According to the
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, from 1 January to 21 July 2021,
Israeli forces killed 50 Palestinians, including 11 children, and injured at least 11,231,
including 584 children,3 throughout the West Bank.
11. Hostilities between Palestinian militant groups in Gaza and Israel broke out on
11 May and led to 11 days of intense fighting, the most severe and deadly escalation
of violence since 2014. Israeli military airstrik es and bombardment caused a
considerable number of casualties, humanitarian suffering and significant destruction
to infrastructure in Gaza, including to educational facilities, hospitals, health centres
and water pipes. Israeli air strikes on Gaza were co nsidered disproportionate and
failing to protect civilians. On 27 May, the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights reported that at least 242 Palestinians, including 68 children, 37
women, 3 persons with disabilities and 1 journalist, were killed in Gaza by Israeli
bombing of civilian areas. In some cases, entire Palestinian families, including
women, children and infants, were killed in their homes. Long -range rockets launched
from Gaza by Palestinian militants claimed the lives of 12 persons in Israel, including
foreign nationals and two children. The hostilities displaced some 77,000
Palestinians, many of whom sheltered in United Nations Relief and Works Agency
for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools throughout Gaza. 4
12. In his statement of 16 May to the Security Council, the Secretary -General
demanded an immediate stop to the conflict. The international community welcomed
a ceasefire reached on 20 May, following intense mediation efforts by Egypt, Jordan
and Qatar and the United Nations. Continued Israeli evictions and demolitions
threatened to undermine the ceasefire. For example, on 7 June, the Jerusalem
Municipality issued demolition orders to 119 Palestinian families (1,500 persons)
from al-Bustan suburb in the Silwan neighb ourhood of occupied East Jerusalem to
make way for an Israeli archaeological park. When Israeli officials allowed an
extremist march in Old City of Jerusalem on 15 June, violent clashes between Israeli
Forces and residents ensued. Militant groups in Gaza l aunched incendiary balloons
into southern Israel allegedly as a response, to which Israel responded with reprisal
military attacks. On 16 May, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights directly linked the escalation to protests and heavy respon se by Israeli forces,
first in East Jerusalem then spreading to the entire Occupied Palestinian Territory and
within Israel.5 On 27 May, while welcoming the ceasefire, the High Commissioner
warned of further violence and civilian suffering on all sides un less the root causes
of the violence were addressed in a genuine and inclusive peace process to bring the
occupation to an end.6 Following the violence throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory and Israel in May, some 200 Israeli and Palestinian women ’s organizations
released a joint statement7 on 30 June calling for negotiations, based on the principles
of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), to achieve long-term
solutions to the conflict. Noting the particular importance of protecting women from
all forms of violence, and ensuring women’s representation in decision -making
positions, they urged broader efforts towards a negotiated, long -term solution, “and
not just a temporary calm.”
__________________
3 Latest reports available at https://www.ochaopt.org/updates.
4 See www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=27116&LangID=E .
5 See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27095&LangID=E .
6 See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27116&LangID=E .
7 See www.itach.org.il/wp-content/uploads/English.pdf .
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13. The violent escalation had severe humanitarian consequences, in particular in
Gaza, which remains under a 14-year blockade imposed by Israel by air, land and sea.
Humanitarian access to the enclave was severely curtailed owing to the hostilities.
Border crossing points, including the two Gaza crossing points with Israel – Erez and
Kerem Shalom – remained closed during and after the outbreak of hostilities. In the
immediate aftermath of the cessation of hostilities and ceasefire agreement, on
27 May, Member States made financial pledges to the United Nations humanitarian
country team flash appeal of $95 million for Gaza, which included UNRWA needs. 8
Several donors expressed a willingness to contribute to reconstruction efforts in Gaza,
including Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, the
European Union and the World Bank. On 6 July, a joint rapid damage and needs
assessment report9 was released by the World Bank Group, the United Nations and
the European Union, in close cooperation with the Palestinian Authority and in
consultation with civil society in Gaza, in which recovery needs of up to $485 million
during the first 24 months were estimated.
14. During the emergency General Assembly debate on the situation in the Middle
East (Assembly agenda item 37) and the question of Palestine (Assembly agenda item 38)
on 20 May, many Member States condemned the violence and called for a ceasefire,
for the protection of civilians and for a resumption of negotiations on the basis of the
relevant United Nations resolutions, to lead to a long -term solution of the conflict,
while the President of the General Assembly issued an appeal for peace.10 On 22 May,
the Security Council issued a press statement (SC/14527) stressing the immediate
need for humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular
in Gaza, and supporting the Secretary General’s call for a ceasefire. 11
15. At a special session on 27 May, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution
S-30/1, establishing an ongoing independent, international commission of inquiry to
investigate in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in
Israel all alleged violations and abuses of international humanitarian law and
international human rights law leading up to and since 13 April 2021, and all
underlying root causes of recurrent tensions, instability and protraction of conflict,
including systematic discrimination and repression based on national, ethnic, racial
or religious identity.
16. Throughout the reporting period, human rights violations have continued with
impunity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as reported
by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory
occupied since 1967, Michael Lynk, at the thirtieth special session of the Human
Rights Council on 27 May.12 Human rights abuses have taken a particularly heavy toll
on women, children and minority groups. It is estimated that 234,000 children need
mental health and psychosocial support, as a result of the humanitarian situation in
the Gaza Strip.
17. In a significant move towards ending impunity and ensuring justice, the
International Criminal Court on 5 February confirmed its jurisdiction over grave
crimes committed in the Occup ied Palestinian Territory, including potential war
crimes, which led the Court’s Prosecutor on 3 March to initiate an investigation
covering crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court alleged to have been committed
since 13 June 2014. Israel, which is not a member of the Court, chose not to cooperate
__________________
8 See www.unocha.org/story/un-and-ngos-launch-humanitarian-plan-support-palestinians-affectedrecent-
escalation.
9 https://unsco.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/gaza_rapid_damage_and_needs_assessment_
july_2021_1.pdf.
10 See www.un.org/unispal/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PGALETTER_200521.pdf .
11 See www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2021 -05-20/secretary-general%E2%80%99s-pressstakeout-
following-the-ceasefire-announcement-between-gaza-and-israel.
12 See www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/PS/SS_OPT_Statement_SR_OPT_27May2021.pdf .
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with the ruling. On 9 July, the Special Rapporteur called on the international
community to designate Israeli settlements as a war crime under the Rome Statute of
the International Criminal Court.13
18. On 15 January, the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, issued
a decree calling for legislative, presidential and Palestinian National Council
elections in 2021. The Central Elections Commission embarked on voter and
candidate registration, resulting in a published list of 36 parties and independent
candidates for legislative elections, and a total of 2.55 million registered voters,
including 1.247 million women and up to 800,000 young eligible voters. The
Palestinian Government subsequently cancel led the legislative and presidential
elections in the entire Occupied Palestinian Territory following the failure by Israel,
the occupying Power, to guarantee that it would not impede the holding of the
elections in East Jerusalem. In his June statement to the Security Council,14 the
Special Coordinator described the postponement as compounding frustrations and
undermining hope for many Palestinians.
19. The ongoing Palestinian political divide continued, while the Egyptian -led
intra-Palestinian reconciliation, scheduled for June, failed to take place. In his
statement of 24 June to the Security Council, the Special Coordinator also reiterated
the firm support of the United Nations for Egyptian efforts and called upon all
Palestinian factions to make seriou s efforts to ensure the reunification of Gaza and
the West Bank under a single, legitimate, democratic, national government.
20. A new Israeli coalition government, with a member from the United Arab List,
was sworn in on 13 June, under the Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, and the Alternate
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid.
21. In November, UNRWA, which provides essential core services to Palestinian
refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the region, co nfronted a major
budgetary crisis due to the halt of United States funding and aggravated by the
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The Commissioner-General of UNRWA,
Philippe Lazzarini, welcomed the resumption by the United States of assistance to
UNRWA in 2021 and confirmed plans by Jordan and Sweden to host an international
conference later in 2021 to ensure sufficient, predictable and sustained funding for
the Agency.
22. The COVID-19 pandemic in the Occupied Palestinian Territory saw a sharp
increase in cases and remained a genuine threat to the health, security and prosperity
of Palestinians and Israelis alike. In January, United Nations human rights experts 15
called on Israel to ensure swift and equitable access to COVID -19 vaccines for the
Palestinian people under occupation.
23. In its periodic deliberations, the Security Council encouraged the Middle East
Quartet to revitalize the stalled peace process with the goal of resuming meaningful
negotiations on the question of Palestine. The new Un ited States administration
outlined a different policy on the question of Palestine from that of its predecessor
and in support of a mutually agreed two -State solution, renewed diplomatic
engagement and resumption of United States assistance for the Palest inian people.
The President of the United States, Joseph Biden, and the Secretary of State, Anthony
Blinken, subsequently engaged directly with Israeli and Palestinian leadership during
the May conflict.
__________________
13 See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27295.
14 https://unsco.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/security_council_briefing_ -_24_june_2021_0.pdf.
15 www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26655 .
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Chapter III
Mandate of the Committee
24. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by General Assembly resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10 November
1975 with the task of recommending a programme designe d to enable the Palestinian
people to exercise their inalienable rights to self -determination, national independence
and sovereignty and return to the homes and property from which they had been displaced,
as recognized by the Assembly in its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974.
The mandate of the Committee has evolved considerably over the years into greater
advocacy for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the mobilization of
assistance. Additional information about the Committee is available on the website
maintained by the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat. 16
25. On 2 December 2020, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee (resolution 75/20), and requested the Secretary-General to continue to
provide the Division for Palestinian Rights with the reso urces necessary for its
programme of work (resolution 75/21), and to continue to implement the special
information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Global
Communications of the Secretariat (resolution 75/23). As of 2020, the mandates of
the Committee and the Division are biennial. The Assembly also adopted resolution
75/22, entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”, in which it
reaffirmed the near-consensus international position regarding the components of a
just, lasting and comprehensive solution.
26. The work of the Committee is fully aligned with the decisions of the main
intergovernmental bodies of the United Nations, such as the General Assembly, the
Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the International Court of
Justice, as well as with the work of the Secretary -General and the programmes, funds
and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, with which it collaborates
extensively.
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16 www.un.org/unispal.
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Chapter IV
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
27. The Committee is composed of 25 Member States, representing different
regional groups and supporting the international consensus for a two -State solution:
Afghanistan, Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador,
Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar,
Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
28. The 24 observers of the Committee are Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China,
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, the Niger, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates,
Viet Nam and Yemen, as well as the State of Palestine, the African Union, the League
of Arab States (LAS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
29. The Bureau of the Committee is elected each year from among the permanent
representatives of Committee members. At its 402nd meeting, on 4 February 2021,
chaired by the Secretary-General, the Committee elected, in their personal capacity,
Cheikh Niang (Senegal) as Chair; Adela Raz (Afghanistan), Pedro Luis Pedroso
Cuesta (Cuba), Mohammad Kurniadi Koba (Indonesia), Neville Melvin Gertze
(Namibia) and Jaime Hermida Castillo (Nicaragua) as Vice-Chairs for the year. Adela
Raz (Afghanistan) was also elected as Acting Rapporteur. In accordance with
established practice, the State of Palestine participates in the work of both the
Committee and the Bureau as an observer.
30. The day-to-day tasks of the Committee are undertaken by its Bure au. Members
of the Bureau represented the Committee at all international conferences organized
by the Committee, including by chairing and moderating conference sessions, and on
all delegation visits. On the margins of the conferences and during delegation visits,
they held meetings with senior officials of the respective host countries.
31. The Committee members and observers have actively advocated the rights of
the Palestinian people, including in the Security Council. Currently, two Committee
members, India and Tunisia, and two observers, the Niger and Viet Nam, serve on the
Security Council as elected members.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
32. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of the
United Nations and observers wishing to participate in its work were welcome to do
so. Committee activities regularly involve civil society organizations, including those
from Israel.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General Assembly
resolutions 75/20 and 75/21
A. Introduction
33. In the implementation of its programme of work, as a subsidiary body of the
General Assembly, the Committee is guided by its mandate to promote the realization
of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and support the achievement,
without delay, of an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and of the two -
State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 lines. Its work and activities are also fully
aligned with Security Council and Assembly resolutions on the question of Palestine;
the women and peace and security agenda; the programme of the United Nations
country team; international law, including humanitarian law; human rights
frameworks such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International
Covenants on Human Rights; and, more recently, the Sustainable Development Goals
and their achievement by the State of Palestine. As authorized by the Assembly, the
Committee has adjusted its approved programme of work in view of developments.
34. Taking a rights-focused approach, the Committee has made every effort to
support the universally recognized rights of an occupied people and the rights of all
States and peoples to live in peace and security. To that end, the Committee engaged
the diplomatic community on the question of Palest ine through formal and informal
intergovernmental processes; employed the good offices of the Secretary -General;
organized public awareness-raising activities that involved conferences, meetings,
speakers’ panels and the media, including social media; prom oted partnerships with
Governments, relevant bodies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental
organizations, regional bodies and civil society organizations; and built capacities for
the future State of Palestine.
35. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdowns, starting from
April 2020, the Committee converted its meetings and activities to online events,
using a variety of platforms, in line with General Assembly decision 74/544, in order
to ensure continuity in the delivery of its mandate.
B. Mobilization of the diplomatic community
36. The Committee continued to mobilize the international community in support
of the realization of the two-State solution and a just, comprehensive and lasting
solution to the question of Palestine in all its aspects on the basis of international law
and relevant United Nations resolutions.
37. During the reporting period, all the Committee meetings were held in virtual
format, including a special meeting on the International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People (see para. 52 below). It also held seven virtual Bureau meetings.
38. On 23 November 2020, the Committee endorsed four draft resolutions for
submission to the General Assembly. They concerned the mandates of the Committee
and the Division for Palestinian Rights, the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine and the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the
Department of Global Communications of the Secretariat. On 2 December, the
Assembly, having before it the report of the Committee (A/75/35), adopted the four
draft resolutions (resolutions 75/20, 75/22, 75/21 and 75/23).
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39. On 10 February, the Bureau met with the President of the seventy -fifth session
of the General Assembly, Volkan Bozkır, and agreed to increase collaboration on
mobilizing Member States’ and regional groups’ efforts to resolve the question of
Palestine in accordance with United Nations resolutions and to increase support for
UNRWA.
40. In a meeting officiated by the Secretary -General on 4 February 2021, the
Committee elected its Bureau members for 2021 (see para. 31 above) and officially
adopted its programme of work for 2021 (A/AC.183/2021/L.2).
41. On 25 February 2021, the Committee, through the Division for Palestinian
Rights, held its annual briefing session to familiarize delegates with the Committee’s
mandate and programme of work. A total of 20 participants attended the info rmative
and interactive session, including members of the Security Council. The Department
of Global Communications also gave a presentation on the special information
programme on the question of Palestine.
42. In March 2021, the Bureau initiated a series of outreach meetings to members
of the Middle East Quartet and the Security Council, advocating for the long overdue
realization of the Palestinian people’s rights and a reinvigoration of the Middle East
Peace Process. Bureau delegations met with th e European Union (5 March), the
Russian Federation (18 March), China (24 March), France (26 April), Ireland
(12 May) and Mexico (30 June), with more meetings planned, in line with the Bureau
decision to adapt the Committee’s programme of work to fast -evolving developments
and needs on the ground. Member States that met with the Bureau underlined the need
to resolve the question of Palestine on the basis of the two -State solution and in line
with relevant United Nations resolutions. As part of its outreach e fforts, the Bureau
also met with the President of the General Assembly on 10 February, the President of
the Security Council on 28 April and the Secretary -General on xx August.
43. On 28 April, the Bureau sent a letter to the President of the Security Coun cil on
behalf of the Committee, asking him to ensure that Israel comply with its obligations
and allow unhindered elections in East Jerusalem, and on 10 May issued a press
statement on its concerns and calling for Security Council action.
44. The Chair made statements on behalf of the Committee to the Security Council
in the context of its quarterly debates on the situation in the Middle East, including
the Palestinian question, on 26 October 2020 and 26 January, 22 April and 28 July
2021. In those statements, the Committee highlighted the deteriorating situation in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, called for a halt to the illegal policies and practices
of Israel, the occupying Power, and drew attention to the Committee’s key activities
and recommendations. It also appealed to the Security Council to take appropriate
action that would lead to a just, comprehensive and peaceful settlement of the conflict
in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions. It
reiterated its appeals for humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people and
support for UNRWA.
45. On 10 May, the Bureau, on behalf of the Committee, issued a press statement
expressing grave concern at the violence at the Aqsa Mosque compound and
condemning the acts against Palestinian worshippers and acts of provocation,
incitement and inflammatory rhetoric. It further expressed alarm at the escalation of
Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip and the firing of rockets by Palestinian militants and
called for all indiscriminate attacks against civilians to stop.
46. On 20 May, the Chair addressed the General Assembly formal plenary convened
under agenda items 37 (The situation in the Middle East) and 38 (The Question of
Palestine) in the context of the escalation in Jerusale m and conflict in Gaza.
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C. Raising awareness of the question of Palestine
47. The Committee continued to raise awareness about the political, human rights
and humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the
situation of Palestinian women, by facilitating up-to-date briefings by experts and
exchanges of ideas on specific issues during virtual Committee meetings, side events
and virtual conferences, as well as through the dissemination of publications and
information via several electronic platforms and the Committee’s website. Details
regarding each activity can be found on the website.
48. The Committee maintained an expanded and enhanced social media presence to
disseminate information on the question of Palestine. During th e reporting period, the
Committee Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter accounts recorded steady
growth in the number of visitors and followers, as shown in the figure. The Twitter
account alone had gained 3,429 new followers by 31 July (total 20,062), while the
Committee mailing list grew by 2,032 new subscribers (total 74,114). The website
was visited 1,114,994 times during the reporting period. All Committee public events,
including those held online, are regularly broadcast via United Nations Web TV and
across its social media pages, garnering thousands of viewers per event. As at 31 July,
this has resulted in an aggregate total of 926,726 views since November 2020. These
efforts resulted in increased engagement with the public, extended outreach to n ew
audiences and higher numbers of followers across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and
YouTube. In addition to English, the Committee is also increasingly disseminating its
documents in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish on its website.
Conferences and events organized by the Committee during the reporting period were
livestreamed on UN Web TV and United Nations social media platforms.
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,
social media statistics
Abbreviation: UNISPAL, United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine.
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49. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, organized by
the Committee and commemorated on 1 December, saw an impressive display of
support and solidarity by Member States, civil society and the public despite the
constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
50. All speakers expressed their unwavering support for the realization of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and called upon the international community
to work towards that objective. Many stressed the urgency of an expeditious solution
and the responsibility of world leaders to make the Palestinian question a priority,
underscoring the centrality of a just solution to regional and global peace and stability.
51. As is customary, similar events were coordinated in observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People at the United Nations
Offices at Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi. The me ssages of the Chair and the Secretary -
General were delivered at those events, and the United Nations was represented at the
highest levels. The commemorations were attended by representatives of members
and observers of the Committee and other Member State s, who expressed their
solidarity with the Palestinian people and support for the two -State solution. A
message from the Secretary-General was issued in all six official languages.
52. The 2020 exhibit organized for the observance of the International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People was entitled “The writing is on the wall:
annexation – past and present”. The virtual exhibit displayed striking images of the
separation wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and
included murals, pieces of art and graffiti painted onto the Wall by, among others,
international activists such as Banksy, Blu, several Palestinian artists and activists, as
well as anonymous visitors expressing solidarity. The exhibit was launched virtuall y
on 29 November 2020, and can be viewed on the United Nations Information System
on the Question of Palestine website. 17 In addition, the Bureau decided to reproduce
and print, with a funding contribution by the Organization for Islamic Cooperation
(OIC), the four past exhibits (2017 –2020) into individual booklets, to be distributed
physically and digitally to enhance the Committee’s advocacy and reach a wider
global audience. On XX August, the Bureau presented the Secretary -General with the
2017 and 2018 booklets, featuring prominent Palestinian personalities, which were
distributed to all Member and Observer States of the United Nations.
53. On 12 November, the Committee held a virtual event, “International
Parliamentarians and the Palestine Question”, which brought together members of
parliament from the European Union, South Africa and the United States. The
speakers and participants – among them, some from the Inter-Parliamentary Union
and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean – emphasized the need for
unified actions to keep the protection of Palestinians and their rights on the
international agenda, to strengthen multilateral approaches to solve the Israeli -
Palestinian conflict and to provide urgent support to UNRWA. Participants called for
closer interaction between legislative bodies and international organizations,
requesting the Committee to organize further such events in the future.
54. A virtual event on “Women, peace and security and Beijing+25: progress and
challenges for women and girls in Palestine” was organized on 10 March in the
margins of the sixty-fifth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The
women speakers – former and current Palestinian officials and civil society
representatives from throughout the Occupied P alestinian Territory – focused on the
unique situation of Palestinian women under occupation and traditional norms, their
roles and challenges since the first intifada to date, including in the upcoming
Palestinian elections, as well as the shrinking space of civil society in the Occupied
__________________
17 www.un.org/unispal/event/2020-solidarity-day/.
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Palestinian Territory. They also called for the number of women in leadership
positions and in parliament to be increased.
55. On 7 April, the Committee organized a virtual event on “Delivering critical
assistance for Palestine refugees: challenges and opportunities in a complex context”,
featuring briefings by the UNRWA Commissioner-General, Mr. Lazzarini, and the
Director of UNRWA Operations in the West Bank, Gwyn Lewis. The President of the
General Assembly, Mr. Bozkır, delivered a keynote address. The aim of the event was
to strengthen international support for the rights of Palestine refugees and mobilize
political and financial support to UNRWA, ahead and in support of a planned
international UNRWA conference. UNRWA r epresentatives called to protect the
Agency’s mandate and the rights of Palestine refugees against a campaign using
misinformation to deter donors and supporters.
56. On 18 May, the Committee held its annual United Nations forum, under the theme
“International parliamentarian support to the question of Palestine” with a two -panel
interactive discussion, moderated by a Member of Parliament of Portugal and the Vice -
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, and included
parliamentarians from Canada, Chile, France, South Africa and the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The forum focused on parliamentary support on the
full implementation of Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), including through
incorporation of its requirements into national legislation, and the revival of multilateral
efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Recommendations included establishing
an international commission to investigate crimes of “apartheid” of Israel, revising
bilateral agreements with Israel to include the 1967 borders and prohibiting tax benefits
for companies operating in the settlements and the importation of their goods and
services.
57. On 1 July, the Committee held the annual International Conference on the
Question of Jerusalem, with support from OIC, under the theme “Forced demographic
change in Jerusalem – grave breaches and a threat to peace”. The discussion panel
comprised Palestinian, Israeli and internatio nal experts and community activists from
East Jerusalem and highlighted decades-long Israeli policies and actions to promote
Jewish settlement into and Palestinian emigration from Jerusalem, enabled by an
Israeli legal system ignoring international law and excluding the political context of
a power imbalance between Jewish Israelis and Palestinians. The young Palestinian
representatives shared their daily struggles against the indignities and coercion of the
occupation and their means of peaceful resistance , highlighting the power of social
media and international support.
58. The United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, now in its
twenty-seventh year of operation, remains a valuable resource on the question of
Palestine for diplomats and researchers around the world, averaging 100,000 page
views per month. Accessed through the Committee’s website, it consists of more than
40,000 documents and is the largest and most comprehensive online repository on the
subject. The collection ranges from the latest United Nations documents to rare
records dating back decades. On 7 June, the System completed a comprehensive four -
year migration and technological upgrade and progressed to make the website
information in all six official languages of the United Nations, with a special emphasis
on Arabic. Efforts are under way to improve the accessibility of the Committee’s
website for the visually impaired. The Division for Palestinian Rights has initiated a
project to deploy a virtual chatbot on the Syst em to enhance user experience on the
Committee’s website.18
59. Further to its monitoring mandate, the Committee also produced several
publications disseminated by the Division for Palestinian Rights. They include
__________________
18 http://un.org/unispal.
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monthly bulletins, compiling all official documents of the United Nations and other
intergovernmental organizations relating to the question of Palestine, assembled
United Nations resolutions and decisions, widely disseminated quarterly newsletters
on the activities of the Committee and an annual compilation of United Nations
reports on the question of Palestine, as well as an annual compilation of all resolutions
issued by United Nations bodies on the question of Palestine.
60. Through its weekly publication entitled “NGO Action News”, the Committ ee
continued to raise awareness of the work of civil society and United Nations actors
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and around the globe
towards the achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
61. The Committee commissioned a legal study for the Irish Centre for Human
Rights at the National University of Ireland to examine the legality of the Israeli
occupation. It is expected to be finalized in 2021.
62. The Committee’s publications were disseminated through a growing mailing list
that includes more than 8,000 subscribers, including research libraries, universities
and key stakeholders such as community leaders, political figures, members of the
diplomatic community, students, university professors, n on-governmental
organizations (NGOs), intergovernmental organizations and journalists, as well as
prominent personalities and opinion leaders. All the publications of the Committee
are posted on the Committee’s website.
D. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations,
non-governmental organizations and United Nations system entities
63. The Committee continued its cooperation with intergovernmental organizations
and United Nations system entities and expressed its appreciation for the active
participation of representatives of those bodies at various events held under its
auspices. OIC continued to support the annual International Conference on the
Question of Jerusalem, organized by the Committee. The African Union, LAS and
OIC regularly attended the meetings of the Committee as observers and participated
in its work.
64. During its activities, the Committee, through the Division for Palestinian Rights,
continued its long-standing cooperation with the United Nations system, including
the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations country teams,
UNRWA, the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, the
Department of Global Communications (including the United Nations information
centres and the United Nations Reg ional Information Centre for Western Europe, in
Brussels), the Human Rights Council and the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the United Nations Entity for Gender
Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), the United Nations Institute
for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the United Nations System Staff College.
65. The Committee also continued its collaboration with NGOs promoting the rights
of the Palestinian people. Representatives of civil society organizat ions, including
from Israel, were invited to attend all public events of the Committee. Those meetings
and interactions allowed the Committee to be informed about civil society concerns
and actions and to share the Committee’s mandate and activities with t hem. These indepth
exchanges have informed the programme of work, statements and reports of the
Committee. The Committee also continues to provide a space in which Israeli and
Palestinian civil society organizations can interact, through the facilitation of their
participation in Committee events, at a time when such interaction is increasingly
restricted on the ground. As is customary, a civil society representative was invited to
speak at the special meeting of the Committee held on 1 December to commemo rate
the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The Committee
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continued to send out a weekly NGO Action News. As part of its periodic interactions
with civil society organizations, on 3 August, the Committee organized a virtual
engagement with civil society organization representatives from Palestine, Israel and
the international community to receive first -hand briefings on the situations in
Jerusalem and Gaza and on advocacy in the United States.
E. Capacity-building
66. As requested in General Assembly resolution 75/21, the Committee continued
to identify training opportunities to expand the capacity of officials of the State of
Palestine. The Committee continued to assess the im pact of its programmes. In
response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Committee prioritized online training during the
reporting period.
67. The Committee, in collaboration with the United Nations System Staff College
supported the participation of three diploma ts from the Palestinian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in a five-week online training course on effective writing skills that
took place from 7 September to 9 October 2020. Furthermore, in collaboration with
UNITAR, the Committee supported the participation o f four diplomats from the
Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in a virtual immersion training
course on the workings of the United Nations in Geneva from 9 to 20 August 2021.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Global Communications
in accordance with General Assembly resolution 75/23
68. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 75/23 of 2 December 2020, the
Department of Global Communications continued to implement its special
information programme on the question of Palestine, organizing its activities and
outreach in mostly online formats, owing to the COVID -19 pandemic.
69. The Department worked with the Al-Jazeera Media Institute to organize a
special virtual training programme for Palestinian journalists, from 23 November to
3 December. The online course was focused on three themes: mobile journalism; data
journalism; and news verification; and benefited 12 Palestinian journalists from Gaza,
the West Bank, Jerusalem and the diaspora. The International Media Seminar on
Peace in the Middle East, held virtually on 8 and 9 December 2020, was officially
opened by the Committee Chair, with speakers from Israel, Palestine the United
Kingdom and the United States, as well as United Nations representatives, to discuss
two themes: “The Israel-Palestine conflict and challenges of the new decade”, and
“A tale of two narratives: misinformation a nd disinformation”. The International Day
of Solidarity website was updated in the six official languages. The Department
continued to provide guidance and assistance for maintenance of the website,
including in the six official languages. In collaboration with the Office of Information
and Communications Technology, the Department assisted with modernizing the
presentation and searchability of digital materials on multiple aspects of the question
of Palestine.
70. The Department provided communications sup port for live and on-demand
streaming coverage of the Committee’s meetings and events outlined in section V.C
of the report, in all available languages on UN Web TV. The Department issued 75
press releases, in English and French, related to the question of Palestine and the
Middle East peace process, including coverage of the Committee, the General
Assembly and the Security Council, as well as statements and messages by the
Secretary-General. UN News in the six official languages, as well as Hindi, Kiswahil i
and Portuguese, produced some 300 stories and multimedia products related to the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including stories about COVID -19 and
interviews with representatives of United Nations agencies in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory.
71. The Department’s UNifeed service produced 42 packages for broadcasters
related to the question of Palestine during the reporting period. UNifeed coverage of
the escalation of the situation in Gaza and Israel was aired 20,298 times in May,
breaking all previous monthly records for broadcast pick -up. UN Video also produced
news and social media videos to highlight the voice of the United Nations and its
leaders during the period of escalation. These videos were widely viewed and
generated strong audience engagement. UNifeed videos received close to 60 hours of
airtime during this period. Audience engagement was also strong, with two news
videos produced by UN Video on the conflict, both rating among the top three
produced for the month of May on YouTube and Twitter. On YouTube, the video
featuring the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly speaking
about the deadly violence generated more than 76,000 views, 2,400 reactions and
500 comments. On the Secretary-General’s Twitter account, the video on his stakeout
reacting to the ceasefire received more than 53,000 views, some 700 retweets and
110 comments.
72. During the reporting period, the United Nations social media platforms
continued to cover news and provide information about issues related to the question
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of Palestine in the six official languages, as well as Hindi, Kiswahili and Portuguese.
United Nations social media platforms continued to promote virtual events and
activities organized by the Committee, including by drawing traffic to the United
Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine and the Committee’s social
media accounts, and by making the information available for use on public -facing
platforms, such as Trello.19
73. Together with UNRWA, the Office of the Secretary -General’s Envoy on Youth
invited a young member of the first-ever “UNRWA Student Parliament” to speak at
the ministerial round table of the Economic and Social Council youth forum), 20 which
was held on 7 and 8 April. Following the event, the young Palestinian speaker was
featured on the Office’s blog series titled “Meet 23 young people leading on resilient
recovery in the decade of action”.21
74. On 15 July, the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth participated in the
“Palestine refugee youth empowerment” virtual event, hosted by the UNRWA
Representative Office in New York, which aimed to put the spotlight on Palestine
refugee youth success stories.
75. The quest for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine was highlighted
in the UN75 commemorative book: “Achieving our common humanity: Celebrating
global cooperation through the United Nations” 22 under the “Self-determination of all
peoples” section.
76. On the International Day of Solidarity, the Department facilitated a virtual
exhibit, discussed in paragraph 52, to engage a wide range of audiences and
collaborated with the United Nations Regional Information Centr e for promotions of
the event in Western Europe in Brussels, and Centres in Ankara, Beirut, Brussels,
Cairo, Canberra, Nairobi and Pretoria.
__________________
19 https://trello.com/b/772QZEh1/question -of-palestine.
20 www.un.org/ecosoc/en/content/ecosoc -youth-forum-2021.
21 www.un.org/youthenvoy/meet-23-young-people-leading-resilient-recovery-in-the-decade-ofaction-
aseel-2/.
22 https://cdn.un.org/unyearbook/yun/un75/achieving_our_common_humanity.pdf .
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
77. In developing its recommendations set out below, the Committee has taken into
account the deliberations at Committee and Bureau meetings, briefings received,
outreach, international conferences and events involving Member States, civil society
organizations and regional organizations.
A. Immediate action by the Committee in response to annexation and
settlement activities
78. The Committee expresses concern about the failure of the Government of Israel
to halt the creeping annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, which would
constitute a most serious violation of international law, including the Charter of the
United Nations and the Geneva Conventions, and would undermine the contiguity of
the Palestinian territory and the physical viability of the two -State solution based on
pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine, in
accordance with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions,
internationally agreed parameters, the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace
Initiative. The Committee calls on Israel, the occupying Power, to halt all such illegal
measures and to act towards bringing an end to its illegal occupation, in accordance
with the relevant United Nations resolutions, including Security Council resolution
2334 (2016).
79. The Committee supports the Secretary-General’s clear position on the question
of Palestine, based on international law, countless United Nations resolutions and the
search for a just solution and calls for Isr ael to uphold its obligations under
international humanitarian and international human rights law, respect the status quo
at the holy sites in Jerusalem, including for the historic and legal status quo at Aqsa
Mosque compound and the right of Muslims to pe acefully worship there free from
threats, intimidation and violence. The Committee calls on the Secretary-General to
continue to utilize his good offices and mediation capacities, as well as on all parties
with influence, to act with urgency to de -escalate this volatile situation.
80. The Committee will continue to advocate the resolution of the question of
Palestine on the basis of an international framework and against annexation and in
support of the right of the Palestinian people to self -determination and independence.
81. The Committee notes that any initiative aimed at a just solution to the question
of Palestine must, first and foremost, consider the legitimate rights and aspirations of
the Palestinian people, engage the Palestinian leadership, and be based on the two -
State solution, according to international law, United Nations resolutions and
agreements between the parties. In this context, the Committee notes the concerns
expressed by the Palestinian leadership, and the response of the international
community, that the bilateral agreements between Israel and some Arab countries did
not commit Israel to halting plans to further extend its sovereignty over Palestinian
territory and its people. To this end, the Committee reiterates that annexation of any
part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory is illegal.
82. The Committee expresses concerns at the occupying Power ’s continued
expansion of its illegal settlement network and related infrastructure, including the
wall, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in an d around East Jerusalem
and deep inside the West Bank, in grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and
deemed illegal under international law, as reaffirmed, inter alia, in Security Council
resolution 2334 (2016). The Committee calls on Israel to immediately halt all
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settlement construction and expansion and its ongoing transfer of its population to
those settlements as they are unlawful and constitute an obstacle to peace and are
destroying the viability of the two-State solution.
83. The Committee expresses its deep concern about the imminent evictions of
Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan
neighbourhoods of occupied East Jerusalem settlements and Bayta village and
reiterates its calls for a halt to all illegal Israeli policies and practices, including all
settlement activities, home demolitions, evictions, forced displacement and all other
acts of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population.
B. Immediate action by the Committee in response to the conflict
84. The Committee expresses its deep alarm at the dramatic deterioration of the
situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially following the escalation of
violence in May and continuous acts of provocation and incitement, in particular by
Israeli extremists in occupied East Jerusalem. The Committee reminds Israel and
Palestinian militants that indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks and failure to
distinguish between military and civilian objects, and their use, thereby constitute
clear violations of international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes.
85. The Committee calls on all parties to the May conflict in Gaza and Israel to
respect a ceasefire to allow for medical, humanitarian and reconstructions efforts, and
for an investigation by the International Criminal Court into the attacks on civilian
populations and other gross violations of human rights. It emphasizes the need to
address the root causes of the violence to avoid the next round of violence with further
pain and suffering for civilians on all sides and to advance the realization of a just
solution.
C. Immediate action by the Committee in response to postponement
of elections in Palestine
86. The Committee regrets the postponement of parliamentary and presidential
elections in the State of Palestine and underlines that those democratic elections are
a crucial factor for the full realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people. To this end, the Committee urges the Palestinian leadership to announce new
dates for holding the elections and urges the Security Council to ensure that Israel
guarantees the holding of democratic Palestinian elections throughout the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
D. Action taken with the Security Council, the General Assembly and
the Human Rights Council
87. The Committee urges the Security Council and the General Assembly to ensure
the implementation of the long-standing parameters for peace affirmed in relevant
United Nations resolutions, including Council resolution 2334 (2016) and Assembly
resolution 74/11 (2019). The Committee requests the Secretary-General to continue
to submit his reports to the Council on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016)
in written format and, pursuant to paragraph 5 of the resolution, to include references
to implementation of the provision by Member States. Pursuant to paragraph 11 of
the resolution, the Committee also calls upon the Council to examine practical ways
and means to secure the full implementation of relevant Council reso lutions,
including the use of sanctions on States and private entities violating Council
resolutions.
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88. The Committee further urges the Security Council and the Middle East Quartet
to revitalize the stalled peace process in view of resuming meaningful negotiations
towards the achievement of a just and peaceful solution for the Israeli -Palestinian
conflict. The international community has an abiding responsibility towards the
question of Palestine until it is resolved in all aspects, in accordance with international
law and the relevant United Nations resolutions and must act without delay.
89. The Committee deplores the use of excessive, disproportionate and
indiscriminate force by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians,
including during the protests in the Gaza Strip in 2018 and 2019 and during the 11-day
conflict in May 2021 and reiterates its call for the implementation of the
recommendations contained in the report of the independent international commission
of inquiry on the protests in the Occupied Palestinian Territory ( A/HRC/40/74). The
Commission was mandated by the Human Rights Council to investigate violations
committed in the proximity of the fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip during
those protests. The Committee also calls for an end to all violations of human rights
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including arbitrary arrests and detentions,
restrictions to freedom of movement, discrimination and collective punishment, as
well as the denial of the rights to self-determination and independence.
90. The Committee is of the view that only full respect for the human and collective
rights of the Palestinian people will ensure a lasting and just resolution to the question
of Palestine. In support of justice and respect for the rule of law and human rights
that are indispensable for peace, the Committee welcomes Human Rights Council
resolution S-30/1 for an independent, international commission of inquiry to
investigate all violations and abuses of international humanitarian law a nd
international human rights law since 1 April 2021.
91. The Committee urges Member States and the Organization to call upon Israel, as
the occupying Power, to respect its obligations under international law to protect civilians.
Further to the report of the Secretary-General pursuant to General Assembly resolution
ES-10/20, the Committee emphasizes the need for the implementation of an international
protection mechanism that can credibly ensure the safety and welfare of Palestinian
civilians. The Committee calls upon the international community to shift from a
humanitarian to a human rights framework in addressing the plight of the Palestinian
people, and demands also an end to the 14-year Israeli air, land and sea blockade of Gaza
and the lifting of all closures under Security Council resolution 1860 (2009).
E. Advocacy and outreach with the international community and
civil society
92. The Committee will continue to mobilize the international community to stop
Israel’s annexation plan and will exert efforts to contribute to the achievement of the
two-State solution on the pre-1967 borders and is encouraged by the numerous
statements in support of international legality by members of the international
community, including the Arab world and international civil society. Any
comprehensive resolution of the conflict will require a regional approach, such as that
offered by the Arab Peace Initiati ve. The Committee calls upon regional
organizations, such as the European Union, LAS and OIC, to take on a more
politically active role in mediating an end to the conflict.
93. The Committee calls upon the international donors to fulfil without delay all
pledges to expedite the provision of humanitarian assistance, the reconstruction
process and economic recovery, which are essential to alleviate the distress of
Palestinians, including women and children, who face additional and gender -specific
challenges that need to be addressed through targeted actions. It stresses the urgency
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of sufficient and predictable funding to UNRWA to ensure its vital humanitarian and
development assistance to the Palestine refugees.
F. Action by Member States and regional organizations
94. The Committee emphasizes the importance of the acknowledgement by Israel
of the Nakba and its impact upon the Palestinian people as a necessary requirement
for a viable and lasting peace. Palestine refugees should be treated as dispossessed
nationals of a country – the State of Palestine – rather than as stateless refugees. It
strongly advocates the right to return as well as just compensation for Palestine
refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III).
95. The Committee deems unilateral decisions by Member States to recognize
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the transfer of embassies in Israel from Tel Aviv
to Jerusalem as null and void, as they are in violation of Security Council resolutions,
including resolutions 476 (1980) and 478 (1980). The Committee calls upon Member
States to rescind those decisions and reiterates that the historic status quo of the holy
sites in Jerusalem must be respected and that the international community shares the
responsibility to preserve the legal, demographic and historical multicultural and
multireligious character and status of the city.
96. The Committee underscores the responsibility of States, private entities and
corporations not to contribute to grave Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights,
including with respect to their activities in settlements in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem. It welcomes efforts by Governments,
parliamentarians and civil society actors to sanction support, including economic, for
illegal Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Pa lestinian Territory.
97. The Committee calls upon Member States to implement the relevant obligations
under international law, including as set out in paragraph 5 of Security Council
resolution 2334 (2016), in which the Council called upon Member States to
distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and
the territories occupied since 1967.
98. The Committee looks forward to the report of the United Nations High
Commissioner of Human Rights on the effects of annexation, as requested by the
Human Rights Council in paragraph 16 of its resolution 43/31 on 23 June 2020. The
Committee expresses appreciation for the work of the Special Rapporteur on the
situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 and his
reports submitted to the Human Rights Council.
99. As the international community embarks on renewed efforts to restart
meaningful negotiations within a credible peace process on the basis of the
longstanding international parameters for a just solution, the Committee commits to
continue its outreach to key stakeholders with influence on the question of Palestine
and to offer support for initiatives, including by the Middle East Quartet, with a view
to holding an international peace conference leading to a two -State solution, as
highlighted in the 23 March 2021 statement of the Middle East Quartet envoys. The
Committee will continue to encourage all supporters of the two-State solution to assist
the parties to resume negotiations towards the achievement of a peaceful settlement
in line with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions.
G. Support action in response to the coronavirus disease pandemic
100. The Committee expresses concern about the unprecedented spread of the
COVID-19 pandemic throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and commends
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the stringent measures adopted by the Government of Palestine to con tain its effects
throughout the region.
101. The Committee draws the attention of the international community to the dire
socioeconomic situation, the deteriorating living conditions of Palestinians in the
occupied territory, in particular in the Gaza Strip, as well as to the predicament of the
Palestinian Government, due to the twin combination of the adverse impact of
COVID-19 and the ongoing Israeli occupation and creeping annexation policies.
102. The Committee echoes the concern of the international community about the
way in which Israeli authorities are rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine, disregarding
their obligations as the occupying Power to ensure public health in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory. The Committee calls upon Israel to immediately comply with
its duties under international humanitarian law by ensuring the provision of vaccines
for the Palestinian population under its control in Gaza and the West Bank, including
East Jerusalem, as well as to Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israeli jails.
H. Action by the Secretariat and other United Nations entities
103. The Committee notes with appreciation the contribution of the Division for
Palestinian Rights in support of its mandate and requests the Division to continue its
substantive and secretariat support for all aspects of its mandate. The Committee also
highlights the growing importance of cooperation among developing countries and
regional and subregional organizations within the framework of South -South and
triangular cooperation for sharing replicable experiences tow ards the achievement of
self-determination and independence.
104. The Committee encourages the Division for Palestinian Rights to continue with
efforts to disseminate information on the question of Palestine by continue
broadening outreach and promoting multilingualism, with a special emphasis on
Arabic, on its website and social media platforms. It also requests the Division to
continue to implement projects, including capacity -building for officials of the State
of Palestine, that are aimed at further promoting the Committee’s mandate.
105. The Committee requests the continuation of the special information programme
on the question of Palestine of the Department of Global Communications, which has
made an important contribution to informing the media and t he public.
106. The Committee intends to continue to work closely with other United Nations
actors and entities, including the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace
Process and UNRWA, to synergize efforts in fields of common concern and uphold
the permanent responsibility of the Organization towards the question of Palestine
until it is justly resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner and in accordance
with international law. The Committee wishes to express its deep appreciation to OIC
and other partners for the contribution of extrabudgetary resources and their active
participation in its conferences and events.
107. The Committee will continue to promote inclusivity and gender balance in all
its activities, including its capacity -building programme for the civil servants of the
State of Palestine, and encourages a full utilization of online capacity -building
opportunities, especially in the context of COVID-related travel restrictions.
21-11081 (E) 080921
*2111081*
A/77/35
United Nations
Report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-seventh Session
Supplement No. 35
A/77/35
Report of the Committee on the Exercise
of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People
General Assembly
Official Records
Seventy-seventh Session
Supplement No. 35
A/77/35
United Nations • New York, 2022
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with
figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
ISSN 0255-2035
22-12739 3/27
[31 August 2022]
Contents
Chapter Page
Letter of transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
II. Overview of the political context relating to the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
III. Mandate of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
IV. Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
A. Membership and officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
B. Participation in the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
V. Action taken by the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights in accordance with
General Assembly resolutions 75/20 and 75/21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
B. Mobilization of the diplomatic community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
C. Raising awareness of the question of Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
D. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and
United Nations system entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
E. Capacity-building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
VI. Action taken by the Department of Global Communications in accordance with General
Assembly resolution 75/23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
VII. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
A. Immediate action by the Committee in response to the conflict and human rights
violations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
B. Immediate action by the Committee in response to annexation and settlement
activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
C. Action taken with the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Human Rights
Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
D. Advocacy and outreach with the international community and civil society . . . . . . . . . . 25
E. Action by Member States and regional organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
F. Action by the Secretariat and other United Nations entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4/27 22-12739
Letter of transmittal
[1 September 2022]
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the
Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the
General Assembly and circulation to all the competent bodies of the United Nations
for necessary action, as appropriate, in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 10 of
Assembly resolution 75/20 of 2 December 2020.
The report covers the period from 2 September 2021 to 31 August 2022.
(Signed) Cheikh Niang
Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
A/77/35
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Chapter I
Introduction
1. The present report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People has been submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution
75/20, adopted on 2 December 2020. It covers the implementation by the Committee
of its programme of work (A/AC.183/2022/1), formulated to promote the realization
of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self -
determination. Its objectives include maintaining international awareness of the plight
of the Palestinian people, mobilizing efforts aimed at achieving a just and
comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine and lasting Israeli -Palestinian
peace, enhancing international solidarity with the Palestinian people and supporting
the Government of the State of Palestine in its capacity -building efforts towards a
future viable and sustainable independent State of Palestine.
2. Chapter II consists of an overview of the political context relating to the
question of Palestine during the reporting period, from 2 September 2021 to
31 August 2022.
3. Chapters III and IV contain an outline of the mandate of the Committee as set
out by the General Assembly and information on the membership of the Committee
and the organization of its work.
4. Chapter V covers the action taken by the Committee, including its participation
in meetings of the Security Council and its continuing dialogue with Member States,
intergovernmental organizations and civil society. It also covers international
conferences, including in virtual format, capacity-building activities organized by the
Committee and other mandated activities carried out by the Division for Palestinian
Rights on behalf of the Committee.
5. Chapter VI provides an overview of the special information programme on the
question of Palestine implemented by the Department of Global Communications in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 75/23.
6. The conclusions and recommendations of the Committee to the General
Assembly are set out in chapter VII of the report.
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Chapter II
Overview of the political context relating to the question
of Palestine
7. Throughout the reporting period, the realization of the two-State solution,
pursuant to the prevailing international consensus, failed to advance. The Middle East
peace process did not resume, and the Middle East Quartet did not create
opportunities for negotiations between Israel and the State of Palestine. Israeli leaders
continued to publicly cast doubt on their commitment to a two -State solution,
expanding illegal Israeli settlements throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory
instead and openly declaring their intention to alter the demographic balance,
character and status of East Jerusalem in favour of a Jewish majority. Although the
United States of America resumed humanitarian aid to Palestinians, most notably to
the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA), and restarted dialogue with the Palestinian Authority, it did not reverse all
measures taken by the previous administration. The stalled peace process and the lack
of new initiatives to benefit the Palestinian people’s quest for self-determination have
highlighted the need for enhanced global cooperation to reinvigorate negotiations and
provide a political horizon leading to a just solution to the question of Palestine and
lasting peace.
8. The peace process was also hampered by persistent negative trends, including
ongoing and systematic violations by Israel of international law and United Nations
resolutions. The unrelenting expansion of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, further entrenched the Israeli occupation and
threatened the viability of a future independent State of Palestine. Israel continued to
transfer its population to settlements in the occupied territory, confiscate Palestinian
land and property, evict Palestinians from their homes and land, forcibly displace
Palestinians and destroy their homes and structures, as thoroughly documented by the
United Nations and others. Settlement expansion in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory was accompanied by a dramatic ri se in Israeli settler violence, tolerated and
in some cases assisted by Israeli occupation forces, and the Palestinian population
continued to endure systematic human rights violations as a result. The Israeli
blockade of the Gaza Strip, now in its fifteen th year, in conjunction with the
Palestinian Government’s poor financial situation, has contributed to the continued
suffering of civilians under dire humanitarian and socioeconomic conditions and the
slow reconstruction there.
9. High levels of violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially in East
Jerusalem, resulted in numerous Palestinian casualties. On 28 May, the Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, expressed concern
at the high level of Palestinian and Israeli casualties, following months of violence.
According to sources from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
and the Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, from
2 September 2021 to 26 June 2022, 80 Palestinian fatalities were recorded. Following
another Israeli military aggression against the Gaza Strip from 5 to 7 August 2022, a
further 49 Palestinians were killed, among them 17 children. On 11 August, the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, expressed alarm
at the high number of Palestinians, including children, killed and injured in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. 1 This period was also marked by the most serious
terrorist attacks inside Israel in years, in which 13 Israelis and 3 foreign nationals
were killed. Indiscriminate rocket attacks fired from Gaza toward Israel continued
__________________
1 See www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/08/bachelet-alarmed-number-palestinian -children -
killed-latest-escalation-urges.
A/77/35
22-12739 7/27
intermittently. Mounting violence was further exacerbated by provocative steps and
inflammatory rhetoric.2
10. On 11 May, Shireen Abu Aqleh, a Palestinian-American journalist, was killed
while covering clashes near the Jenin refugee camp. According to a United Nations
investigation and other accounts, Israeli occupation forces were responsible for the
killing, while the United States concluded that Israeli forces might have killed the
journalist, albeit, according to their view, “unintentionally”. The incident drew strong
criticism from human rights organizations and the international community. The
Secretary-General and the Committee – among others – called for an independent and
transparent investigation into the incident,3 which Israel has yet to undertake. Since
2000, over 40 Palestinian media workers have reportedly been killed, and hundreds
have been maimed, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory according to United Nations
experts on human rights. 4
11. In his 2022 report on Children and armed conflict (A/76/871–S/2022/493), the
Secretary-General expressed alarm at the rise in grave violations against Palestinian
children, particularly the sharp increase in live ammunition killings, rocket attacks
and maiming. The Secretary-General confirmed 2,934 grave violations committed
against 1,208 Palestinian children and 9 Israeli children; the detention of 637 children
by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem; and the killing of 86
Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.
In the report, the Secretary-General called for the listing of Israel among the
systematic perpetrators of violations against children should it continue the same
pattern of violations witnessed in May 2021.
12. Despite mounting criticism, Israel continued to expand its settlements in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, in grave breach of international law and in direct
violation of United Nations resolutions, including in particular Security Council
resolution 2334 (2016). On 11 March, Israel announced the construction of 730 new
housing units in Pisgat Ze’ev, a settlement in East Jerusalem, ending a halt in
construction that followed the December 2021 appeal by t he United States Secretary
of State, Anthony Blinken, for Israel to refrain from implementing construction plans
for some 9,000 housing units within Jerusalem’s municipal boundaries. On 12 May,
the High Planning Council of the Israeli Ministry of Defence a dvanced plans to build
over 4,000 housing units in Area C settlements of the occupied West Bank. 5 These
measures came after Israel issued tenders in October 2021 for more than 1,300
housing units, which later increased to more than 3,000 housing units, in the occupied
West Bank. In December, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Michael Lynk, highlighted that since
2016, when Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) was adopted, the number of
Israeli settlers had increased by 12 per cent, from 400,000 in the West Bank and
218,000 in East Jerusalem to 475,000 and 230,000 respectively.6
13. Israel, the occupying Power, continued to confiscate land and demolish homes
and structures belonging to Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
seriously threatening the viability of the State of Palestine. After a de facto
__________________
2 See https://unsco.unmissions.org/security -council-briefing-situation-middle-east-including -
palestinian -question-delivered-special.
3 See www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2022 -05-11/statement-attributable-the-spokespersonfor-
the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93%C2%A0-the-killing-of-the-al-jazeera-journalist-shireenabu-
akleh%C2%A0.
4 See www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/05/un-experts -condemn-journalist-killing-amidrising-
west-bank-violence.
5 See www.un.org/press/en/2022/sc14909.doc.htm .
6 See www.un.org/unispal/document/five -years-after-unsc-resolution-2334-internationalaccountability-
to-end-the-israeli-occupation-is-more-important-than-ever-un-special-rapporteur/.
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moratorium during the Muslim month of Ramadan, Israel resumed the demolition of
homes in early May in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan and displaced
Palestinians from the southern Hebron hamlet of Masafer Yatta (see S/PV.9046),
which is slated to be expropriated by the Israeli military. Israeli settlements in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, were the subject of a
Human Rights Council resolution on 1 April (resolution 49/29), in which the Council
urged Israel to end without delay its occupation of the territories occupied since 1967
and to stop the establishment of new settlements and the expansion of existing
settlements immediately. During the reporting period, Israel destroyed over 540
buildings (93 of which were supported by international donors) and uprooted and
rendered homeless over 680 Palestinians, negatively impacting over 20,800 people,
including many children. 7 Despite the decision of the Israeli Supreme Court, on
1 March, to put off the potential eviction of four Palestinian families, the situation in
the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah remained uncertain, and
Palestinian residents there continued to live under th e constant threat of forcible
eviction. When clashes intensified in February, after right -wing groups attempted to
set up a temporary office there and vowed not to dismantle it until Israeli police
provided protection to Jewish settlers, many members of th e Security Council called
on Israel to refrain from provocative acts that increased tensions. 8
14. Provocation of Palestinians by extremist Jewish groups persisted unabated. On
29 March, during the annual flag march for Jerusalem Day, in which 70,000 Isr aelis
took part, marchers violently attacked Palestinians and chanted threats and racial slurs
against them. During five consecutive events in May, Israeli settlers and Israeli
occupation forces entered Palestinian communities, injuring 100 Palestinians. 9 In
December, Israeli settlers reportedly attacked several Palestinian villages – notably
Burqa village and its surroundings – damaging Palestinian homes and injuring
approximately 150 locals.10
15. During the Muslim month of Ramadan in April, nightly cla shes took place
between Israeli forces and Palestinians in Jerusalem, including near the Aqsa Mosque.
During the Islamic festival of al-Israa wa al-Miraj on 28 February, Israeli occupation
forces and Palestinians also clashed in Jerusalem. Israeli forces u sed stun grenades,
rubber bullets and skunk water, resulting in the injury of 37 Palestinians, including
an 11-year-old girl with special needs. In October, Israeli forces clashed with
Palestinians over religious ceremonies at the holy sites, namely at the Haram al-Sharif
(the Holy Esplanade) and the Yusufiya cemetery in Jerusalem’s Old City and the
Damascus Gate.
16. After 15 years of a land, air and sea blockade by Israel, resulting in harsh
socioeconomic conditions and de-development, the situation in Gaza continued to
deteriorate. In May 2021, the military escalation of Israel against Gaza resulted in the
deaths of 261 Palestinians, including 41 women, 67 children and 3 people with
disabilities, compounding the suffering of its residents, as highlighted in a statement
by the Bureau of the Committee issued on 10 May. 11 In March, the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, noted the harmful impact
on the civilian population of Gaza of the collective punishment by Israel for 15
__________________
7 See https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiMmJkZGRhYWQtODk0MS00MWJkLWI2NTktMD
g1NGJlMGNiY2Y3IiwidCI6IjBmOWUzNWRiLTU0NGYtNGY2MC1iZGNjLTVlYTQxNmU2Z
GM3MCIsImMiOjh9.
8 See www.un.org/press/en/2022/sc14769.doc.htm .
9 See www.un.org/unispal/document/security -council-middle-east-press-release-sc-14909/.
10 See www.un.org/press/en/2022/sc14769.doc.htm .
11 See www.un.org/unispal/document/statement -by-palestinian-rights-committee-on-escalation-ofviolence-
in-occupied-east-jerusalem/.
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consecutive years, despite express prohibitions in international humanitarian law. 12
On 1 January, and against the backdrop of the death of the Palestinian prisoner,
Hisham Abu Hawwash, mounting tensions between Palestinian militant groups in
Gaza and Israel resulted in rocket fire from Gaza towards Israel and reprisal attacks
by Israel. In a joint statement on 7 December, Palestinian militant factions accused
Israel of deliberately delaying reconstruction efforts in Gaza and warned of renewed
escalations should delays continue.
17. From 5 to 7 August, Israel carried out air and artillery strikes against Gaza, 13
reportedly killing 49 Palestinians, including 17 children and 4 women, 14 injuring
hundreds, destroying hundreds of homes, displacing more than 1,00 0 people and
aggravating an already fragile humanitarian situation. Militant groups responded by
firing hundreds of rockets towards Israel, reportedly injuring 70 persons and causing
limited material damage. 15 On 7 August, the Secretary-General welcomed the
ceasefire brokered by Egypt and expressed his deep sadness at the loss of life and
injuries.16 On 8 August, the Security Council met to discuss the upsurge in violence,
and the Bureau of the Committee welcomed the ceasefire, condemned the Israeli
attack against Gaza and called for a lifting of the Gaza blockade and the immediate
start of negotiations leading to the two-State solution.17
18. In its report (A/HRC/50/21), the Independent International Commission of
Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and in Israel,
established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution S-30/1, found that
discrimination against Palestinians and the continued Israeli occupation of the
Palestinian territory since 1967 were the main causes of the region ’s ongoing tensions,
instability and conflict. The Commission added that recurrent cycles of violence were
exacerbated by the culture of impunity that had resulted from the lack of
accountability for violations, forced transfers, threats of forced displacement,
demolitions, settlement construction and growth, settler violence and the siege of
Gaza.
19. Six Palestinian civil society organizations were labelled as “terrorist
organizations” by Israel in October, a decision strongly criticized by the international
community. United Nations experts and activists condemned the designation 18 and
claimed that the actions by Israel were intended to pr event Palestinian civil society
monitoring of the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and
cooperation with the International Criminal Court. During a closed -door Committee
event on 7 December, NGOs warned that such actions were “a blueprint, replicable
elsewhere, to silence civil society”. The United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights also criticized the designation at a Committee briefing and warned
against Israel’s overly broad definition of terrorism. Many Member States i ssued
separate and joint statements announcing the resumption of funding and cooperation
with the six civil society organizations, citing a lack of evidence to substantiate the
Israeli claims. On 17 August, the Israeli occupation forces raided and closed t he
offices of seven Palestinian non-governmental organizations (NGOs), seizing
documents and equipment. The Chair of the Committee joined the United Nations,
__________________
12 See www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2022/03/occupied -palestinian-territory.
13 See www.ochaopt.org/poc/2-15-august-2022.
14 See www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/08/bachelet-alarmed-number-palestinian -children -
killed-latest-escalation-urges.
15 See www.ochaopt.org/content/escalati on-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-2-august-2022.
16 See www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2022-08-07/statement-attributable-the-spokespersonfor-
the-secretary-general-the-ceasefire -gaza-and-israel.
17 See www.un.org/unispal/document/ceirpp -bureau-welcomes-ceasefire-agreement-in-gaza-andcalls-
for-the-immediate -implementation-of-the-two-state-solution-statement/.
18 See www.un.org/press/en/2021/gapal1443.doc.htm.
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the European Union, Member States and dozens of other NGOs from Israel, Palestine
and elsewhere in expressing alarm and calling on the Government of Israel to revoke
the designations.
20. At its meetings in November 2021 and May 2022, the Ad Hoc Liaison
Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians
acknowledged the dire financial situation of the Palestinian Authority, the ongoing
humanitarian and development crisis facing Palestinians in Gaza and the historically
low level of budget contributions from donors. In the World Bank economic
monitoring report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee of May 2022, Gaza’s economy
is described as sluggish, marked by high unemployment and poor socioeconomic
conditions.19 To put the Palestinian Authority on a sustainable fiscal path, enhance
living standards and strengthen institutions, the members of the Ad Hoc Liaison
Committee, at the meeting of the Committee in May 2022, committed to deepening
their cooperation to address the socioeconomic challenges of the State of Palestine.
21. Despite its crucial role, UNRWA continued to experience a precarious financial
situation. At the meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly for the
Announcement of Voluntary Contributions to UNRWA in June 2022, the
Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, outlined the Agency ’s urgent
need for $817 million for critical services, including education, health and social
protection for Palestine refugees during 2022. The Secretary -General appealed to
Member States to bring the Agency’s current shortfall down to zero.20 Member States
pledged a total of $160 million at the event. The United States gave further economic
assistance to Palestine during President Biden’s visit in July, totalling $316 million,
including a new multi-year contribution of $100 million for the East Jerusalem
Hospital Network and an additional $201 million for UNRWA.
__________________
19 See www.worldbank.org/en/country/westbankandgaza/publication/economic -monitoring-reportahlc.
20 See www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2022 -06-23/secretary-generals-remarks-the-ad-hoccommittee-
of-the-general-assembly-for-the-announcement-of-voluntary -contributions -unrwa.
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Chapter III
Mandate of the Committee
22. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People was established by the General Assembly in its resolution 3376 (XXX) of
10 November 1975 with the task of recommending a programme designed to enable
the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights to self -determination,
national independence and sovereignty and return to the homes and property from
which they had been displaced, as recognized by the Assembly in its resolution 3236
(XXIX) of 22 November 1974. The mandate of the Committee has evolved
considerably over the years into greater advocacy for the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people and the mobilization of assistance. Additional information about
the Committee is available on the website maintained by the Division for Palestinian
Rights of the Secretariat.21
23. On 2 December 2020, the General Assembly renewed the mandate of the
Committee (resolution 75/20) and requested the Secretary-General to continue to
provide the Division for Palestinian Rights with the resources necessary for its
programme of work (resolution 75/21) and to continue to implement the special
information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Global
Communications of the Secretariat (resolution 75/23). As of 2020, the mandates of
the Committee and the Division are biennial, and the Committee ’s report is produced
annually. The Assembly also adopted resolution 75/22, entitled “Peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine”, in which it reaffirmed the near-consensus international
position regarding the components of a just, lasting and comprehensive solution.
24. The work of the Committee is fully aligned with the decisions of the main
intergovernmental bodies of the United Nations, such as the General Assembly, the
Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the International Court of
Justice, as well as with the work of the Secretary -General and the programmes, funds
and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, with which it collaborates
extensively.
__________________
21 www.un.org/unispal .
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Chapter IV
Organization of work
A. Membership and officers
25. The Committee is composed of 25 Member States, representing different
regional groups and supporting the international consensus for a two-State solution:
Afghanistan, Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador,
Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Lao People ’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar,
Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan , Senegal, Sierra Leone,
South Africa, Tunisia, Türkiye and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
26. The 24 observers of the Committee are Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China,
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, the Niger, Qat ar,
Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Viet
Nam, Yemen, as well as the State of Palestine, the African Union, the League of Arab
States (LAS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
27. The Bureau of the Committee is elected each year from among the permanent
representatives of Committee members. At its 406th meeting, on 8 February 2022,
chaired by the Secretary-General, the Committee elected, in their personal capacity,
Cheikh Niang (Senegal) as Chair; Pedro Luis Pedroso Cuesta (Cuba), Arrmanatha
Christiawan Nasir (Indonesia), Neville Melvin Gertze (Namibia) and Jaime Hermida
Castillo (Nicaragua) as Vice-Chairs for the year. In accordance with established
practice, the State of Palestine participates in the work of both the Committee and the
Bureau as an observer.
28. The day-to-day tasks of the Committee are undertaken by its Bureau. Members
of the Bureau represented the Committee at all international conferences organized
by the Committee, including by chairing and moderating conference sessions, and on
all delegation visits. On the margins of the conferences and during delegation visits,
they held meetings with senior officials of the respective host countries.
29. The Committee members and observers have actively advocated the rights of
the Palestinian people, including in the Security Council. Currently, one Committee
member, India, and one observer, United Arab Emirates, serve on the Security Council
as elected members.
B. Participation in the work of the Committee
30. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of the
United Nations and observers wishing to participate in its work were welcome to do
so. Committee activities regularly involve civil society organizations, including those
from Israel.
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Chapter V
Action taken by the Committee and the Division for
Palestinian Rights in accordance with General Assembly
resolutions 75/20 and 75/21
A. Introduction
31. In the implementation of its programme of work, as a subsidiary body of the
General Assembly, the Committee is guided by its mandate to promote the realization
of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and support the achievement,
without delay, of an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and of the two -
State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 lines. Its work and activities are also fully
aligned with Security Council and Assembly resolutions on the Question of Palestine;
the women and peace and security agenda; the programme of the United Nations
country team; international law, including humanitarian law; human rights
frameworks such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International
Covenants on Human Rights; the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and, more
recently, the Sustainable Development Goals and their achievement by the State of
Palestine. As authorized by the Assembly, the Committee has adjusted its approved
programme of work in view of developments to include mobilization of the
diplomatic community, raising awareness of the question of Palestine, cooperation
with intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and
United Nations system entities, and capacity-building.
32. Taking a rights-focused approach that emphasizes meeting obligations and
encourages feedback and continuous improvement, the Committee has made every
effort to support the universally recognized rights of an occupied people and the rights
of all States and peoples to live in peace and security. To that end, the Committee
engaged the diplomatic community on the question of Palestine through formal and
informal intergovernmental processes; conducted Bureau delegation visits (see
para. 45 below); organized a Bureau retreat; organized public awareness -raising
activities that involved conferences, meetings, speakers’ panels and the media,
including social media with the support of t he Department of Global
Communications; promoted partnerships with Governments, relevant bodies of the
United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations, regional bodies and civil
society organizations; and built capacities for the future State of Pal estine.
33. With the lingering impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and with some
restrictions remaining in place throughout the Secretariat, the Committee continued
to hold some meetings and activities virtually, using a variety of platforms to ensure
continuity in the delivery of its mandate, including the special meeting on the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (see para. 51 below) and
eight Bureau meetings. However, the Committee swiftly re -adapted to holding
in-person meetings and Bureau delegation visits with 17 in-person meetings taking
place during the reporting period.
B. Mobilization of the diplomatic community
34. The Committee continued to mobilize the international community, formally
inviting all Member States to actively participate in its events in support of the
realization of the two-State solution and a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to
the question of Palestine in all its aspects on the basis of international law and relevant
United Nations resolutions.
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35. On 4 November, after a long hiatus due to COVID-19, the Bureau held its annual
retreat in person to take stock and adapt the implementation of the programme of
work in line with developments on the ground and to include follow-up actions from
its exchange with the Secretary-General.
36. On 1 December, the General Assembly debated the annual report of the
Committee (A/76/35), resulting in a broad call for the realization of the two -State
solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders. With three resolutions endorsed by the
Committee now considered on a biennial basis, the Assembly adopted only the
resolution on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine (resolution 76/10),
with a voting pattern similar to 2020. Sponsored by the Committee and 30 co -sponsors,
the resolution obtained 148 votes in favour, 9 against and 13 abstentions.
37. In a meeting officiated by the Secretary-General on 8 February 2022, the
Committee elected its Bureau members for 2022 (see para. 27 above) and officially
adopted its programme of work for the year (A/AC.183/2022/L.2).
38. On 28 February, the Committee, through the Division for Palestinian Rights and
with the support of the Department of Global Communications, held its annual
briefing session for new United Nations delegates, in person, to familiarize them with
the Committee’s mandate and programme of work.
39. On 22 and 23 March, the Chair delivered a statement to the forty -eighth session
of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad highlighting the strategic
partnership between the Committee and OIC and calling for the latter ’s membership
to step up their solidarity with the Palestinian people and mobilize the international
support needed to make the two-State solution a reality.
40. On 30 March, during its annual consultation with the President of the General
Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, the Committee appealed for efforts to sustain the focus
and attention of Member States on the question of Palestine and to ensure that new
global crises do not divert the international community’s attention from the grave
situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and
emphasized the need for a horizon towards the achievement of a just, lasting and
peaceful solution.
41. On 24 March, a Vice-Chair participated in a breakfast discussion held at the
Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations with the European Union Special
Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, in which he voiced concern about
the stalled Middle East peace process and highlighted the urgency of addressing
human rights violations and reviving global coopera tion to resolve the question of
Palestine.
42. On 20 April, a Bureau delegation participated in a special briefing on the
situation in Palestine convened by Kenya as the coordinator of the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries caucus of the Security Council. The Bureau urged the caucus
to advocate for the rights of the Palestinian people, and most importantly the right to
self-determination, within the Council and beyond Council debates.
43. The Bureau continued to meet with Member States to advocate for the l ongoverdue
realization of the Palestinian people ’s rights and to reinvigorate the Middle
East peace process. Bureau delegations met with representatives of the United States
(3 September), Brazil (23 February), Gabon (22 April), Ghana (15 March) and
Albania (4 August). Member States that met with the Bureau agreed on the need to
resolve the question of Palestine on the basis of the two -State solution and in line
with relevant United Nations resolutions.
44. On 11 May, the Bureau, on behalf of the Committe e, issued a press statement
condemning the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was fatally
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shot while reporting for Al-Jazeera News on an Israeli occupation force operation in
Jenin, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Recalling the crucial role played by
journalists in conflict zones, the Bureau called for an immediate, independent and
thorough international investigation into the killing and for bringing to justice those
responsible.22
45. On 5 May, a Bureau delegation visited Dublin to discuss ways to relaunch the
Middle East peace process. The delegation called on Ireland to recognize the State of
Palestine as a means of promoting the realization of the right of the Palestinian people
to self-determination. The delegation met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Defence, Simon Coveney, and parliamentary parties, stressing the significant role that
parliamentarians can play in promoting a just and lasting solution to the question of
Palestine.
46. On 22 June, a Bureau delegation met with the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, to share ideas
on concrete actions to prevent rampant violations of the rights of Palestinian children
by Israel, the occupying Power, and on ways t o revive global attention with respect
to the Convention on the Rights of Child, the implementation of which is key to
protecting children in conflict.
47. On 25 July, the Chair met in Amman with the Director of the Negotiations
Coordination Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan,
Mohammed Hindawi. Both parties agreed on the importance of the continued support
of the international community for the Palestinian people and UNRWA and discussed
possible joint capacity-building activities for Palestinian officials.
C. Raising awareness of the question of Palestine
48. The Committee continued to raise awareness about the political, human rights
and humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the
situation of Palestinian women, by facilitating up-to-date briefings by experts and
exchanges of ideas on specific issues during virtual and in -person Committee
meetings, side events and conferences, as well as through the dissemination of
publications and information via several electronic platforms and the Committee ’s
website. Details regarding each activity can be found on the website.
49. The Committee maintained an expanded and enhanced digital advocacy to
disseminate information on the question of Palestine . During the reporting period, the
Committee’s Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram accounts recorded steady
growth in the number of visitors and followers, as shown in the figure below. The
Twitter account alone had gained 1,723 new followers by the end of August (total
21,785), while the Committee mailing list grew by 2,293 new subscribers (total
11,050). The website was visited 875,149 times during the reporting period. All
Committee public events, including those held online, are regularly broa dcast via
United Nations Web TV and across its social media pages, garnering thousands of
viewers per event. These efforts resulted in increased engagement with the public,
including via expanded content in Arabic, extended outreach to new audiences and
higher numbers of followers across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. In
addition to English, the Committee is also increasingly disseminating its documents
in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish on its website.
__________________
22 See www.un.org/unispal/document/ceirpp -bureau-condemns-the-senseless-killing-of-al-jazeerajournalist-
shireen-abu-akleh/.
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Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,
social media statistics
Abbreviation : UNISPAL, United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine.
50. On 16 November 2021, the Chair participated in the International Media
Seminar on Peace in the Middle East organized by the Department of Global
Communications, stressing the importance of media for the Committee in delivering
its General Assembly mandate, and urged accurate and reliable reporting on
developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (see
para. 75 below).
51. As mandated by the General Assembly (resolution 75/21), the International Day
of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observ ed on 29 November. The special
meeting of the Committee to commemorate the Day was attended by 73 Member
States and 3 regional organizations. The event remains of importance, as it serves as
a reminder of the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights and their lack of national
independence and sovereignty. As is customary, the President of the General
Assembly, the President of the Security Council and the Chair delivered statements.
The Chef de Cabinet conveyed the Secretary-General’s message. The African Union,
LAS, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and OIC also delivered remarks. The
Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine read out a message from the President
of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas. Five prominent women civil society
representatives – the former President of Finland, Tarja Halonen; the Secretary -
General of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard; activist and Nobel Peace Prize
laureate, Malala Yousafzai; and Palestinian teacher and Global Teacher Prize winner,
Hanan Hroub – along with prominent Palestinian rights activist, Mohammed El -Kurd,
who shared his personal experience about forced evictions of Palestinians in Sheikh
Jarrah (East Jerusalem), stressed the need for accountability for Israeli actions in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and appealed for international efforts to realize justice
for the Palestinian people and a life of freedom and dignity. The Chair acknowledged
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solidarity messages from 40 Member States, the European Union and LAS. The
observance of the Day was also marked in the United Nations Office at Geneva and
at the United Nations Office at Vienna. The Division outreach efforts ensured live
views on United Nations Web TV, Palestinian TV and social media platforms.
52. On 7 December, the Committee held a virtual event entitled “Supporting human
rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territory: reality, challenges and
obligations” to discuss the shrinking space for human rights activism in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory owing to repressive measures by the Israeli authorities.
Highlighting designation by Israel of six Palestinian civil society organizations as
terrorist entities, the event included a representative from one of those organizations
(Al-Haq), as well as Amnesty International and Human Right s Watch, and a
prominent Israeli human rights lawyer. Speakers called on Member States to confront
the unlawful actions by Israel and urged the Committee to continue to offer its
platform to the voices that Israel is trying to suppress.
53. Also on 7 December, the Committee received a briefing by the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights, who recounted the deteriorating situation of
human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, decried the use of excessive force
by Israel against Palestinian civilians, condemned impunity and settler-related
violence and raised alarm at the designation of six Palestinian civil society
organizations as terrorist organizations.
54. On 23 March, on the margins of the sixty-sixth session of the Commission on
the Status of Women, the Committee organized a virtual event on the impact of forced
displacement on Palestinian women, focusing on the threat of eviction by Israeli
authorities and related settlers violence, especially in the East Jerusalem
neighbourhoods of Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan. The all-female panel included a
representative from the Israeli NGO Ir Amim, two Palestinian residents of Sheikh
Jarrah and Silwan, who shared their personal experiences, as well as representatives
of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations
Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women). The event
provided a platform for exchange and served to reaffirm the Committee ’s support for
the rights of Palestinian women through international mechanisms, such as Security
Council resolution 1325 (2000).
55. On 27 April, the Committee convened a virtual event entitled “Al-Khalil/
Hebron: a case study for the impact of Israeli se ttlements on Palestinian rights under
occupation” to highlight the critical situation caused by the ongoing illegal Israeli
settlement campaign in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and its impact on the rights
of the Palestinian people. Panellists from the Hebron Defence Committee, the
Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy and Combatants for Peace focused on the
situation in Hebron as a case study illustrating discriminatory Israeli policies, while
reiterating that all settlements are illegal under international law and constitute a
substantial obstacle to peace.
56. On 16 June, the Committee, in line with increased concerns and ongoing
awareness of the situation, facilitated a public virtual conversation on apartheid,
international law and the Occupied Palestinian Territory with Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein,
President of the International Peace Institute and former United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights, and Agnès Callamard, Secretary -General of
Amnesty International. They discussed the findings of Amnesty International’s 2022
report entitled “Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians: cruel system of domination
and crime against humanity” and the way forward. In her video message, the Minister
of International Relations and Cooperation of Sout h Africa, Grace Naledi Mandisa
Pandor, pointed to analogies between apartheid South Africa and the current situation
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in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Speakers discussed the reestablishment of the
Special Committee against Apartheid to consider the ca se of Palestine.
57. On 20 July, the Committee, with support from OIC, organized its annual
International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem, in virtual format, on the theme
of “Palestinian youth in East Jerusalem under occupation ”. The President of the
General Assembly (by video message) and an OIC representative from Jeddah
addressed the Conference. Four speakers, including three women, one of which was
from Israel, highlighted the challenges facing young Palestinians in East Jerusalem
and discussed ways to support them as catalysts for change via empowerment and
political engagement.
58. The United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, now in its
twenty-eighth year of operation, remains a valuable resource for diplomats,
researchers and the general public around the world, averaging 100,000 page views
per month. Accessed through the Committee’s website, it consists of more than 41,200
documents and is the largest and most comprehensive online repository on the subject.
The collection ranges from the latest United Nations documents to rare records dating
back decades. The collection saw a significant surge in access and in the volume of
documents uploaded during the Gaza conflict in May 2021. Efforts are now under
way to improve the accessibility of the Committee’s website for the visually impaired.
59. The Bureau, supported by the Division for Palestinian Rights, continued to
prioritize multilingualism. While content in Arabic is expanding, an agreement was
reached with the Department of Global Communications to maintain the United
Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine in Chinese. The Division
continued to update the website with current documents and has identified historic
documents from the early years of the United Nations involvement in the question of
Palestine.
60. In collaboration with the Office of Information and Communications Technology,
the Division for Palestinian Rights built an artificial -intelligence-based chatbot for
the website of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine,
which became the first such tool available on any United Nations website. A project
implemented by the Bureau, with support from the Division for Palestinian Rights, to
map the positions of Member States on the question of Palestine was nominated for
the United Nations Secretary-General Awards and was featured as a best practice use
case at the Secretariat for the key role it plays in advancing the resolution of the
question of Palestine.
61. Further to its monitoring mandate, the Committee also produced several
publications disseminated by the Division for Palestinian Rights. They include
monthly bulletins, compiling all official documents of the United Nations and other
intergovernmental organizations relating to the question of Palestine, quarterly
newsletters on the activities of the Committee, an annual compilation of United
Nations reports on the question of Palestine, as well as an annual compilation of all
resolutions issued by United Nations bodies on the question of Palestine.
62. Through its weekly publication “NGO Action News”, the Committee continued
to raise awareness of the work of civil society and United Nations actors in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and else where towards the
achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
63. The Committee’s publications were disseminated through a growing mailing list
that includes 10,757 subscribers, including research libraries, universities and key
stakeholders such as community leaders, political figures, members of the diplomatic
community, students, university professors, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations
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and journalists, as well as prominent personalities and opinion leaders. All the
publications of the Committee are posted on the Committee ’s website.
64. In collaboration with and with funding from OIC, the Committee, with support
from the Division of Palestinian Rights, reproduced four advocacy booklets from past
United Nations exhibits of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People that convey critical messages on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory and the question of Palestine. The booklets complement the Committee ’s
global advocacy activities; a total of 2,724 booklets have been distributed to Member
States and United Nations offices throughout the world sinc e the beginning of the
project. The electronic format of the booklets has reached 9,362 subscribers and can
viewed on the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine. 23
D. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations,
non-governmental organizations and United Nations
system entities
65. The Committee continued to cooperate with intergovernmental organizations.
OIC continued to support the annual International Conference on the Question of
Jerusalem, organized in cooperation with the Committee. The African Union, LAS
and OIC regularly attended the meetings of the Committee as observers and
participated in its work.
66. During its activities, the Committee, through the Division for Palestinian Rights,
continued its long-standing cooperation with the United Nations system, including
the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations country teams,
UNRWA, the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, the
Department of Global Communications (including the United Nations information
centres), the Human Rights Council and the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights, the Office of the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, UN-Women, the United Nations
Institute for Training and Research and the United Nations System Staff College.
67. The Committee also continued to collaborate with NGOs in promoting the rights
of the Palestinian people. Representatives of civil society organizations, including
from Israel, are invited to attend all public events of the Committee. Those meetings
and interactions allowed the Committee to be actively informed about civil society
concerns and actions and provided a space in which Israeli and Palestinian civil
society organizations could interact, especially at a time of increasing restrictions on
the ground.
68. As part of the Committee’s periodic interactions with civil society
organizations, on 22 November and 1 March, the Committee organized virtual closed
consultations with representatives of civil society organization from Palestine, Israel
and elsewhere to receive first-hand briefings on the situation in Jerusalem and Gaza
and on advocacy throughout the world. As is customary, a civil society representative
was invited to speak at the special meeting of the Committee held on 29 November
to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The
Committee continued to prepare and disseminate the weekly NGO Action News.
69. At its 407th meeting, the Committee approved the accreditation of three civil
society organizations recommended by the Bureau who will partner with the
Committee in implementing its mandate.
__________________
23 www.un.org/unispal/exhibits-on-the-occasion-of-international -day-of-solidarity/ .
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E. Capacity-building
70. As requested in General Assembly resolution 75/21, the Committee continued
to identify training opportunities to expand the capacity of officials of the State of
Palestine. The Committee also continued to assess the impact of its programmes.
Following the lifting of most COVID-19-related restrictions, the Committee
continued to prioritize hybrid (online and in-person) training.
71. In collaboration with the Irish Centre for Human Rights of the National
University of Ireland, the Committee organized a closed -door seminar on the legality
of the Israeli occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem. The seminar was held in Dublin on 6 and 7 May and was attended by
international legal experts, Palestinian diplomats and government officials , as well as
members of the Bureau.
72. A two-day communication strategy workshop for 21 officials of the Government
of Palestine was organized in Amman on 25 and 26 July. The workshop equipped
participants with skills to develop a full suite of strategic communications tools to
help the Government of Palestine communicate and engage with its audiences more
effectively.
73. The Division for Palestinian Rights created a database containing capacity -
building opportunities offered to Palestinian Government officials by the members
and observers of the Committee. The purpose of the database, which will be updated
on a regular basis, is to improve coordination among participating sponsors.
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Chapter VI
Action taken by the Department of Global Communications
in accordance with General Assembly resolution 75/23
74. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 75/23 of 2 December 2020, the
Department of Global Communications continued to implement its special
information programme on the question of Palestine.
75. The Department continued to engage with the media o n the question of
Palestine. It held its annual International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East
virtually on 16 and 17 November 2021. At the seminar, the Chair of the Committee
(see para. 50 above) joined a panel of six experts from Egypt, Israel, the United States
and the State of Palestine to discuss two relevant themes: “The thirtieth anniversary
of the Madrid Peace Conference: can hope prevail? ” and “Solutions journalism in the
coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict”.
76. The Department held its annual training programme for Palestinian broadcasters
and journalists virtually from 19 November to 22 December 2021. Nine Palestinian
journalists from Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and the diaspora took part in the
training. The online courses, which were provided by Al-Jazeera Media Institute,
focused on five themes: writing humanitarian stories, storytelling for digital
platforms, occupational safety for journalists, data journalism and television reporting
skills.
77. On 31 May 2022, the Department announced that it had renamed the training
programme to “Shireen Abu Akleh Training Programme for Palestinian Broadcasters
and Journalists”, in honour of the Palestinian-American Al-Jazeera reporter who was
killed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory on 11 May 2022.
78. The Department updated the website for the International Day of Solidarity with
the Palestinian People in the six official languages and distribute d information about
relevant events and seminars. The Department ’s Digital Support Unit continued to
support the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine,
including by facilitating the implementation of “Ask UNPal” (see para. 86 below).
79. The Department provided live and on-demand streaming coverage of relevant
press conferences, open meetings and events, in all available languages, through its
global UN Web TV (see paras. 50–57 above). The Department has also facilitated the
first live broadcasts of Committee events on Palestinian TV.
80. The Department issued 80 press releases, in English and French, related to the
question of Palestine and the Middle East peace process. The press releases covered
events and meetings of the Committee, the General Assembly and the Security
Council, as well as statements and messages by t he Secretary-General.
81. UN News produced more than 200 stories and features on the topic during the
reporting period, in the six official languages, plus Hindi, Kiswahili and Portuguese,
including a special highlight on the contributions to humanity of t he Palestinian
diaspora, as shown in the UN News feature “First person: from Gaza to the red
planet”24 about Loay Elbasyouni, a Palestinian electrical engineer on the 2021 United
States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Mars exploration
mission team.
82. During the reporting period, UNifeed published 15 video packages on the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, which were aired by broadcasters a
combined total of 1,231 times. These video packages covered a range of issues,
__________________
24 https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1114222 .
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including the Secretary-General’s remarks at the opening of the 2022 session of the
Committee, the International Ministerial Conference on UNRWA, meetings of the
Security Council and the general debate of the General Assembly.
83. The Department’s flagship United Nations social media accounts, in all six
official languages, as well as Hindi, Kiswahili and Portuguese, continued to cover
news and provide information related to the question of Palestine and to promote
virtual events and activities organized by the Committee. The promotion of events
and activities was accomplished by driving traffic to the United Nations Information
System on the Question of Palestine and the Committee ’s social media accounts. The
information was also made available on key collaborat ive and project management
platforms, such as Trello.25
84. During the reporting period, the Dag Hammarskjöld Library digitized 165
historic documents (some 1,330 pages) of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Palestinian
Question and the Special Committee on Palestine. Among those, 143 documents from
the Ad Hoc Committee on the Palestinian Question have also been uploaded to the
United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine website.
85. The Visitors’ Service Section continued to conduct briefings on the subject
matter, especially through the permanent exhibit “The United Nations and the
question of Palestine”, which is part of the United Nations guided tour route. Since
the resumption of in-person guided tours at Headquarters on 7 April 2022, over 43,000
visitors have taken the tour and seen the exhibit.
86. The United Nations information centres in Lusaka, Moscow, Nairobi, Pretoria
and Rabat, among others, disseminated information and organized commemorative
events on and around the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
(29 November). During the reporting period, the information centres also promoted
events of the Committee as well as of United Nations offices. For example, the
information centre in Cairo hosted a virtual press conference on the launch of the
2021 report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
on UNCTAD assistance to the Palestinian people. The regional information centre in
Brussels provided communications support, including the diss emination of press
releases and a media advisory related to the high-level conference to support UNRWA
and the signing of a joint European Union-UNRWA declaration marking 50 years of
strategic partnership. The Department also facilitated the dissemination of e-books of
the United Nations exhibit to United Nations information centres across the globe
(see para. 64 above).
__________________
25 See https://trello.com/b/772QZEh1/question -of-palestine .
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Chapter VII
Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee
87. In developing its recommendations set out below, the Committee has taken into
account the deliberations at Committee and Bureau meetings, briefings received,
outreach, international conferences and events involving Member States, civil society
organizations and regional organizations.
A. Immediate action by the Committee in response to the conflict and
human rights violations
88. The Committee is deeply concerned by consistent reports of the use by the
Israeli occupation forces of excessive lethal fo rce against Palestinian civilians,
including children, which has resulted in an increasing number of killings and injuries
and an entrenched climate of impunity, including during the annual flag march for
Jerusalem Day. The Committee laments the lack of ac countability for illegal Israeli
actions, including during the escalation of hostilities in Gaza in May 2021. The
Committee reiterates that the indiscriminate launching of rockets towards Israeli
population centres is prohibited by international humanitari an law and must stop
immediately.
89. The Committee expresses its deep concern about the deteriorating security
situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, especially the daily
violence that continues to claim the lives of both Palestin ians and Israelis. The
Committee is also disturbed by the significant increase in the use of force against
Palestinians by Israeli settlers. The Committee calls on political, religious and
community leaders to reject violence, speak up against those who tr y to inflame the
situation and refrain from actions and provocations that fuel tensions, while
exercising maximum restraint.
90. The Committee calls on the Government of Israel to conduct prompt,
independent, and impartial investigations into all incidents involving excessive use
of force and the loss of Palestinian life, including of children and including the killing
of Palestinian Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and at her funeral, and ensure
that perpetrators are held accountable and that vic tims are provided with appropriate
remedies. The Committee welcomes calls for the protection of Palestinians in line
with international humanitarian law, as well as the United Nations findings on the
killing of Ms. Abu Akleh, and reiterates that it is urge nt that a credible and transparent
international investigation be conducted.
91. The Committee calls on Israel to uphold its obligations under international
humanitarian and human rights law, respect the status quo at the holy sites in
Jerusalem, including the historic and legal status quo at the Aqsa Mosque compound,
and ensure that Muslims are able to peacefully worship and practice their religion
without fear of violence or retaliation. Special measures must be put in place by the
occupying Power to prevent future provocations by Israeli occupation forces in
Jerusalem during Ramadan.
92. The Committee welcomes the findings in the report of the Secretary -General on
children and armed conflict and calls for the parties to the Israeli -Palestinian conflict
to commit to protecting children. The Committee urges the Israeli occupation forces
and Palestinian armed groups to abide by their obligations under international
humanitarian and international human rights law and ensure that any military
operations are conducted in line with the principles of distinction, proportionality and
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precaution, and to immediately correct and reinforce existing measures to ensure the
protection of children affected by armed conflict.
93. The Committee concurs with the stance of the Secretary-General on the question
of Palestine, which is supported by international law, numerous United Nations
resolutions and the pursuit of a just resolution, and urges the Secretary -General to
continue to leverage his good offices to influence and mediate, with urgency, the
diffusion of this volatile situation.
B. Immediate action by the Committee in response to annexation and
settlement activities
94. The Committee is gravely concerned about the continued expropriation of and
encroachment on Palestinian land and the continued construction and expansion of
Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
despite the demands made by the Security Council, the Human Rights Council and
the General Assembly for the cessation of all such illegal activities. The Committee
further reiterates that annexation of any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, is illegal. The Committee calls on the Israeli authorities to
cease the advancement of all settlement activity and refrain from such unilateral and
provocative actions, which fuel instability and change the demographic composition,
status and character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Such actions undermine
the prospect of achieving a two-State solution by systematically eroding a contiguous,
independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian State, based on pre -1967 borders, with
East Jerusalem serving as the capital of Palestine, in accordance with international
law, pertinent United Nations resolutions, including Security Council resolution 2334
(2016), the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace Initiative.
95. The Committee urges the Government of Israel to refrain from seizing
Palestinian land, stop implementing its demolition orders and terminate all forced
evictions and forcible displacement of Palestinians, particularly in Area C of the West
Bank and East Jerusalem. The recent announcement by the occupying Power of
measures to expropriate Palestinian land and forcibly displace approximately 1,200
Palestinians from Masafer Yatta is particularly concerning and must be halted.
C. Action taken with the Security Council, the General Assembly and
the Human Rights Council
96. The Committee urges the Security Council and the General Assembly to ensure
the implementation of the long-standing parameters for peace affirmed in relevant
United Nations resolutions, including Council resolution 2334 (2016) and Assembly
resolution 74/11 (2019). The Committee requests the Secretary-General to continue
to submit his reports to the Council on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016)
in written format and, pursuant to paragraph 5 of the resolution, to include references
to the implementation of the provision by Member States. Pursuant to paragraph 11
of the resolution, the Committee also calls upon the Council to examine practical
ways and means to secure the full implementation of relevant Council resolutions,
including the use of sanctions on States and priv ate entities violating Council
resolutions.
97. The Committee concurs with the findings of the Independent International
Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and Israel, that discrimination against Palestin ians and the continued
occupation of Palestinian territory are the leading causes of the region ’s ongoing
tensions, instability and conflict. The Committee will continue to advocate for the
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resolution of the Palestine question based on an international fra mework against
occupation and in support of the right of the Palestinian people to self -determination
and independence. The Committee notes that any initiative aimed at a just solution to
the question of Palestine must, first and foremost, consider the leg itimate rights and
aspirations of the Palestinian people, engage the Palestinian leadership and be based
on the two-State solution, according to international law, United Nations resolutions
and agreements between both parties.
98. The Committee urges Member States and the Organization to call upon Israel,
as the occupying Power, to uphold its responsibilities to safeguard civilians under
international law. The Committee underscores the requirement for the implementation
of an international protection mechanism that legitimately guarantees the safety and
welfare of Palestinian civilians in accordance with General Assembly resolution
ES-10/20. The Committee insists that the Israeli air, land and sea blocka de of Gaza,
as well as all restrictions imposed by the occupying Power, be lifted in accordance
with Security Council resolution 1860 (2009), and urges the international community
to confront the plight of the Palestinian people with a human-rights-based approach
rather than a humanitarian one.
99. The Committee urges the United Nations and the international community to
remain focused on the question of Palestine despite other emerging global crises. I t
encourages the Security Council and the Middle East Quartet to continue the
relentless pursuit of any opportunity to revitalize the peace process and to seek
multilateral mechanisms to revive the much-needed dialogue between Palestine and
Israel, as it remains the only path to a just and peaceful solution to the conflict. Until
the Palestine question is fully resolved in line with international law and the pertinent
United Nations resolutions, the international community has an ongoing obligation to
take action.
D. Advocacy and outreach with the international community and
civil society
100. The Committee will continue to mobilize the international community to stop
Israel’s annexation plans and to work concertedly to bring an end to the occupation
and promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. It will
exert efforts to contribute to the achievement of the two -State solution on the
pre-1967 borders and is encouraged by the numerous statements in support of
international legality by members of the international community, including the Arab
world and global civil society. Any comprehensive resolution of the conflict will
require a regional approach, such as that offered by the Arab Peace Initiative. The
Committee calls upon regional organizations, such as the European Union, LAS, OIC
and the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, to take a more politically active role in
stopping the annexation and mediating an end to the conflict.
101. The Committee unequivocally condemns Israel’s designation of six Palestinian
NGOs as terrorist organizations, a move that contributes to the shrinking of space for
civil society in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, has potentially wide -
ranging legal implications and increases pressure on NGO operations and activities
that are important for the monitoring of the human rights situation on the ground and
the achievement of Palestinian rights and the two -State solution. It urges the Israeli
authorities to rescind the decision immediately.
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E. Action by the Member States and regional organizations
102. The Committee emphasizes the importance of the acknowledgement by Israel
of the Nakba and its impact upon the Palestinian people as a requirement for a viable
and lasting peace. Palestine refugees should be treated as dispossessed nationals of a
country – the State of Palestine – rather than as stateless refugees. It strongly
advocates the right to return and just compensation for Palestine refugees, as provided
for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III).
103. The Committee deems unilateral decisions by the Member States to recognize
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the transfer of embassies in Israel from Tel Aviv
to Jerusalem as null and void, as they violate Security Council resolutions, including
resolutions 476 (1980) and 478 (1980). The Committee calls upon the Member States
to rescind those decisions. It reiterates that the historic status quo of the holy sites in
Jerusalem must be respected and that the international community is responsible for
preserving the legal, demographic and historical multicultural and multireligious
character and status of the city.
104. The Committee underscores the responsibility of States, private entities and
corporations not to contribute to grave Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights,
including with respect to their activities in settlements in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem. It welcomes efforts by Governments,
parliamentarians and civil society actors to sanction support, including economic
support, for illegal Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
105. The Committee calls upon Member States to implement the relevant obligations
under international law, including as set out in paragraph 5 of Security Council
resolution 2334 (2016), in which the Council called upon Member States to
distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel an d
the territories occupied since 1967.
106. The Committee reminds Member States that preserving UNRWA services to the
Palestinian people is the international community’s joint responsibility. It reiterates
the call by the Secretary-General to provide UNRWA with predictable, sustained and
sufficient funding to assist Palestine refugees in the five fields of operation and notes
that any reduction or disruption of the Agency’s services can have significant
humanitarian, political and security consequences for the region and beyond. The
Committee encourages Member States and donors to provide the necessary financial
resources for UNRWA to meet growing demands and ensure that basic services meet
critical humanitarian needs. The Committee also calls for the renewal of the mandate
of UNRWA by the General Assembly at its seventy-seventh session.
107. The Committee calls on Member States to support the Palestinian Government ’s
fiscal stability and strengthen Palestinian institutions t o improve the economic and
social conditions of the population in the State of Palestine. The Committee notes that
efforts by the parties and the international community to stabilize and improve
conditions on the ground should be linked to a credible polit ical framework to justly
and comprehensively resolve the conflict.
108. The Committee will continue to encourage all supporters of the two -State
solution to assist the parties in resuming meaningful negotiations towards the
achievement of a peaceful settlement on the basis of the long-standing international
parameters for a just solution. The Committee commits to continuing its outreach to
key stakeholders with influence on the question of Palestine and to offer support for
initiatives, including by the Mid dle East Quartet, with a view to holding an
international peace conference leading to a two-State solution.
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F. Action by the Secretariat and other United Nations entities
109. The Committee conveys its deepest gratitude to the Division for Palestinia n
Rights of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs for its commitment
to the Committee’s mandate. It requests the Division to continue to provide
substantive and secretariat support for all aspects of its mandate. The Committee
encourages the Division to continue with efforts to disseminate information on the
question of Palestine by continuing to broaden its outreach and promoting
multilingualism, with a special emphasis on Arabic, on the Committee ’s website and
social media platforms. It also requests the Division to continue to implement
projects, including capacity-building for officials of the State of Palestine, that
promote inclusivity and gender balance and encourage South -South and triangular
cooperation between countries and regional and subregional organizations.
110. The Committee requests the continuation of the special information programme
on the question of Palestine of the Department of Global Communications, which has
made an important contribution to informing the media and the public.
111. The Committee intends to continue to collaborate and work closely with other
United Nations actors and entities, including the Special Coordinator for the Middle
East Peace Process, UNRWA, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human r ights
in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 and others, to synergize efforts in
fields of common concern and uphold the permanent responsibility of the
Organization towards the question of Palestine until it is justly resolved in all its
aspects in a satisfactory manner and in accordance with international law. The
Committee wishes to express deep appreciation to OIC and other partners for
contributing extrabudgetary resources to support Committee activities and projects,
including thematic conferences and events.
22-12739 (E) 280922
*2212739*
United Nations A/71/174
General Assembly
Distr.: General
21 July 2016
Original: English
16-12618 (E) 130916
*1612618*
Seventy-first session
Item 35 of the provisional agenda*
Question of Palestine
Economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the
Palestinian people
Note by the Secretary-General
The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the General Assembly the
report prepared by the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development on the economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian
people, in accordance with Assembly resolution 69/20.
* A/71/150.
A/71/174
2/22 16-12618
Report prepared by the secretariat of the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development on the economic costs of
the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people *
Summary
Throughout history, colonization and occupations have always had economic
dimensions. This is also the case in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, where the
occupation imposes heavy economic costs on the Palestinian people and their
economy. The estimation of these costs is an essential first step for reversing the
damage caused by the occupation, achie ving the Sustainable Development Goals in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory and forging a just and lasting peace in the Middle
East. However, not all losses inflicted by the occupation can be evaluated in
monetary terms, and no estimation of the cost of t he occupation should be used for
advocating monetary compensation as a substitute for ending the occupation. In the
previous century, there were several international legal precedents where economic
costs had been taken into account as key elements for neg otiating durable solutions
to intractable conflicts. Previous studies have suggested that the Palestinian economy
could be twice its current size, had the occupation not occurred. There is a need to
establish within the United Nations system a systematic, evidence-based,
comprehensive and sustainable framework for estimating the economic costs of the
occupation and to report on the results to the General Assembly, not only to fulfil the
request contained in resolution 69/20, but also to achieve the Sustaina ble
Development Goals in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
* Any designations employed and the presentation of the material in the present document do not
imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United
Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or
concerning the delineation of its frontiers or boundaries. In accordance with the relevant
resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Security Council, references to the
Occupied Palestinian Territory or territories pertain to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem. Use of the term “Palestine” refers to the Palestine Liberation
Organization, which established the Palestinian National Authority. References to the “State of
Palestine” are consistent with the decision of the General Assembly, in its resolution 67/19.
A/71/174
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Contents
Page
I. Objective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
II. From a thriving economy to a deformed economic structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
A. Some perspective on the economics of occupation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
B. Deformed economic structure with low productivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
III. Conceptual basis for the economic costs of occupation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
IV. Legal framework: historical precedents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
V. Some earlier estimates of the economic costs of the occupation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
VI. Typology of losses and methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
A. Concept of losses and their typology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
B. Methodology, periodicity and data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
VII. Institutional set-up, implementation and outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
A. Institutional set-up and implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
B. Outputs and activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
VIII. Conclusion and recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
A/71/174
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I. Objective
1. Almost half a century of Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank, including East Jerusalem (Occupied Palestinian Territory), has established
and continues to reinforce an asymmetrical power relationship between Israel and
Palestine. On the one hand, the Palestinian people are denied access to their own
land, water and natural resources, while their property and assets are being
confiscated or destroyed. On the other hand, Israeli settlements continue to expand
and new ones are built, the settler population continues to grow and the detrimental
consequences of the occupation are now engrained in the daily lives of the
Palestinian population under occupation. Forty-eight years of policies and measures,
imposed by the occupying authority, have set the Palestinian economy on a
debilitating path of dependence and inflicted on the Palestinian people enormous
direct and indirect costs.
2. On 25 November 2014, the General Assembly adopted resolution 69/20. In
paragraph 9 of the resolution, the Assembly requested the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to report to the Assembly on the
economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people. On
24 November 2015, the Assembly, in paragraph 9 of its resolution 70/12, noted with
appreciation the efforts of UNCTAD to compile the report and called for the
exertion of all efforts for the provision of necessary r esources to expedite the
completion of the report.
3. From the outset, it must be stated that any estimation of the economic costs of
the occupation is not to be, and should not be, considered a substitute for ending it.
Moreover, not all occupation-related damages can be measured in monetary terms.
No monetary value can be attached to the agony of the loss and destruction of life,
livelihood, liberty, community, shelter, culture and homeland. It must be made clear
that the assessment of the economic costs of the occupation is, at best, a partial
measure of the losses and costs incurred owing to the occupation and an essential
first step towards reversing its damaging impact, achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals in the Occupied Palestinian Territory a nd ultimately ending the
occupation.
4. Determining the economic costs of the occupation is a dynamic process that
changes and evolves with the intensity of actions taken by the occupying authority.
No single document is capable of reporting comprehensivel y on the historical,
ongoing and future economic costs of the occupation. Therefore, the objective of the
present report is to make the case for establishing within the United Nations system
a sustainable and comprehensive framework to systematically, rigo rously and
periodically report to the General Assembly on the economic costs of the occupation
for the Palestinian people, until the cessation of the occupation. Accordingly, the
report highlights historical precedents for similar situations, reviews some of the
previous work done in this area, elaborates on the degree of complexity and scope
of the proposed framework and reporting structure, reflects on how the assessment
could be accomplished and evaluates the resources required for UNCTAD to
establish the framework and report to the Assembly.
A/71/174
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II. From a thriving economy to a deformed economic structure
5. The economy of the Occupied Palestinian Territory was a viable and thriving
one before the occupation in June 1967. It generated significant production and
income that sustained a growing population of 1 million people and generated a
gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of about $1,349 in 2004 prices, 1 which was
sufficient for it to be considered a lower -middle-income economy at that time.
Tragically, it has become a land on the verge of economic and humanitarian
collapse.
6. In 2014, the GDP growth rate in the Occupied Palestinian Territory turned
negative, for the first time since 2006. The Gaza Strip is becoming increasingly
unliveable and could become totally unliveable by 2020 (see TD/B/62/3). According
to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate in Gaza was
45 per cent in 2014, with over 63 per cent of Gaza ’s young people unemployed,
which is the highest rate in the world. Female unemployment in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory was around 40 per cent and more than 60 per cent in Gaza.
Nearly 40 per cent of Palestinians live below the poverty line. Clean water is a
rarity, with at least 90 per cent of Gaza ’s water supply unfit for human consumption.
Electricity in Gaza is also sporadic and unreliable, available only four to six hours a
day, and a properly functioning sewage treatment system no longer exists. 2
A. Some perspective on the economics of occupation
7. Throughout history, colonization and military occupations have consistently
had economic objectives, which take various shapes and forms but have typically
involved the exploitation and the impoverishmen t of the occupied (see A/70/35,
annex). In its less severe form, the occupier changes the economic balance in the
occupied country in its favour and in favour of the settler population. In its most
severe form, the economic dimension entails the appropriation of the resources of
the occupied people, displacing, replacing, impoverishing and marginalizing them.
8. The economic dimension of occupation could be described as acts and
measures taken by the occupier to appropriate to itself the assets, natural resources
and economic benefits that rightfully belong to the colonized people and country
and undermine the capacity of the occupied people to access and use their resources,
move freely within their homeland and con duct normal trade, economic and social
transactions with neighbours and traditional trading partners.
9. Such measures deprive the people under occupation of not only their freedom,
land and resources, but also their internationally recognized human right to
development and the ability to produce, which thus forces them to consume
products mainly produced by the occupier. Denying the current generation of
occupied people their right to development also denies future generations their
rights to work, education, safe water and food security, as well as other basic
economic and human rights.
__________________
1 See L. Farsakh, “Palestinian employment in Israel 1967 -1997: a review”, Palestinian Economic
Policy Research Institute (August 1998), tables 2 and 5.
2 See S. Roy, “The Gaza Strip’s last safety net is in danger”, The Nation, 6 August 2015.
A/71/174
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10. In the Palestinian case, since the onset of the occupation in June 1967, Israel
assumed total control of the Occupied Palestinian Territory ’s economy until the
establishment of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994. However, the
Palestinian people have never enjoyed full, sovereign control over their economy
and society, for many reasons. The principal factors are set out in the following
paragraphs.
11. The decisive factor is that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, remain under occupation, under the following conditions: tight
restrictions on the movement of people and goods, the systematic erosion and
destruction of the productive base, lo ss of land, water and other natural resources, a
fragmented domestic market and separation from neighbouring and international
markets, the tight blockade on Gaza since 2007, the expansion of Israeli settlements,
the construction of the separation barrier and the establishment of the closure policy
in the West Bank and the isolation of East Jerusalem from the rest of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory.
12. The second factor is the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations, which was
intended to define the Palestinian economic policy framework and space during the
five-year interim period following the establishment of the Palestinian National
Authority in 1994. Two decades on, and to date, the Protocol continues to restrict
the policy space available to Palestini an policymakers and has practically reinforced
a quasi-customs union that ensures Palestinian economic dependence on Israel.
B. Deformed economic structure with low productivity
13. The relationship between the Israeli economy and that of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory remains that of two dissimilar and unequal economies,
whereby the large, dominant economy practices policies that keep the small
economy weak and dependent. The Palestinian labour market best epitomizes the
dynamics of the relationship. Immediately following the 1967 occupation, low -skill
employment of Palestinians in Israel became the most important factor in the
relationship between the two economies. In addition, the income from the export of
Palestinian labour to Israel, which could have been channelled into productive
investment in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, became instead a major source of
the financing of imports from Israel, deepening the dependence of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory on Israel and solidifyin g the system of benefits to the occupier
from the captive Palestinian economy.
14. The impact of the labour flows had two consequences. On the supply side,
they induced higher wages in the domestic economy that did not arise from any
increase in domestic productivity. That increased the cost of production, reduced the
profitability of local production and precipitated a contraction in domestic
agricultural and industrial production. On the demand side, the increase in income
from the earnings of workers in Israel increased aggregate demand without an
increase in production. That increase in demand for tradable goods was met by an
increase in imports, and the increase in demand for non -tradable goods was met by
an increase in prices.
15. This “Dutch disease” type of change in relative prices ultimately contributed
to a contraction in the tradable goods sectors (agriculture and industry) and
stimulated the non-tradable sectors (construction and services). It set in motion a
A/71/174
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continuous process of de-agriculturalization and de-industrialization,3 thus
depriving the Palestinian people of their ability to produce and, in the process,
cultivating a dependence on the Israeli economy and donor aid. Figure 1 shows the
structural deformation of the economy of the Occupi ed Palestinian Territory over
the past four decades. During the period 1975 -2014, the contribution of the tradable
goods sector to GDP dropped by half, from 37 to 18 per cent, while its contribution
to employment decreased from 47 to 23 per cent.
16. Another explanation for the ongoing de-agriculturalization and
de-industrialization processes in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is those sectors ’
particular vulnerability to the confiscation of Palestinian land and natural resources
and the excessive Israeli restrictions on the movement of Palestinian goods and
labour. Since the onset of the occupation in 1967, the Palestinian people have lost
access to more than 60 per cent of West Bank land and two thirds of its grazing
land. In Gaza, half of the cultivable area and 85 per cent of fishery resources are
inaccessible to Palestinian producers. Furthermore, Israel has been extracting water
above the level determined by article 40 of appendix 1 to annex III to the Israeli-
Palestinian Interim Agreement on the We st Bank and the Gaza Strip of
28 September 1995 by confiscating 82 per cent of Palestinian groundwater for use
inside its borders or its settlements, while the Palestinians are left with no choice
but to import from Israel over 50 per cent of the water nee ded for consumption.4
The World Bank has observed that only 35 per cent of irrigable Palestinian land is
actually irrigated, which costs the economy 110,000 jobs and 10 per cent of GDP. 5
__________________
3 See W. M. Corden and J. P. Neary, “Booming sector and de-industrialization in a small open
economy”, Economic Journal, vol. 92, pp. 825-848, December 1982, and UNCTAD, “Rebuilding
the Palestinian tradable goods sector: towards economic recovery and State formation ”,
document UNCTAD/GDS/APP/2010/1.
4 UNCTAD, “The besieged Palestinian agriculture”, document UNCTAD/GDS/APP/2015/1.
5 World Bank, “Assessment of restrictions on Palestinian water sector development ” (Washington,
D.C., April 2009).
A/71/174
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Figure 1
Structural deformation of the economy of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, 1975-2014
Sectoral share of the economy by factor cost in real GDP (2004 base year)
Sectoral share of total employment
Source: UNCTAD database, compiled on the basis of data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of
Statistics.
17. In the industrial sector, the occupation and the uncertainty it breeds stifles
investment and condemns the Palestinian private sector to small -scale operations
with low capital intensity and low efficiency. The World Bank indicated that micro
and small enterprises dominate the Palestinian business scene, with 90 per cent of
firms employing less than 20 workers.6 The small size of firms is correlated with
low capital intensity and low labour productivity, with labour productivity in small
firms at $10,000, which is only one third of that of large firms. According to the
International Monetary Fund, during the period 1994 -2010, the economy of the
Occupied Palestinian Territory experienced a techn ological regression, with a 0.5 per
cent annual decline in total factor productivity. Had the trend of growth of the
previous period continued, real GDP per capita in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
would have been 88 per cent higher than its level in 2010. In the period 2013 -2015,
__________________
6 World Bank, “West Bank and Gaza investment climate assessment: fragmentation and
uncertainty” (Washington, D.C., September 2014).
A/71/174
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the industrial sector wit nessed further deterioration, as indicated by a 9 per cent
drop in the industrial production index of the Palestinian Central Bureau of
Statistics.7
18. According to data released by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, in
the past two decades, most of the Palestinian economic indicators have deteriorated,
with serious ramifications for the welfare of the Palestinian people. Table 1 shows
that, during the period 1995-2014, the population grew by 3.6 per cent annually,
while real GDP per capita grew by only 1 per cent. Average productivity failed to
grow, and unemployment increased by 9 percentage points, to 27 per cent. The trade
deficit, at 40 per cent of GDP, continued to be extremely high, while economic
dependence on Israel increased, as reflected in Israel’s greater share in the
Palestinian trade deficit, which increased from 49 to 58 per cent during that period.
Efforts by the Government of Palestine to reduce expenditure and undertake serious
fiscal reforms notwithstanding, the budget deficit has not improved in the past 20
years. Reliance on donor support continues to be heavy, as reflected by the high
level of current transfers, which today hover around 10 per cent of GDP.
Table 1
Long-term changes in the economy of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 1995-2014
Real GDP per
capita (2004
dollars)
Populationa
(millions)
Real average
productivity
(dollars)
Unemployment
rate
(percentage)
Trade
deficit
(percentage
of GDP)
Trade deficit
with Israel
(percentage in
trade deficit)
Budget
deficit
(percentage
of GDP)
Net current
transfers
(percentage
of GDP)
1995 1 435 2.34 7 914 18.2 -57.2 49.1 -12.1 12.2
2014 1 737 4.55 8 123 26.9 -39.6 58.0 -12.5 9.4
Average annual
change (percentage) 1.0 3.6 0.1
Period change
(percentage) 8.7 17.6 8.9 -0.4 -2.8
a Except for population, all figures exclude East Jerusalem, owing to the fact that the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistic s has
no access to the city.
III. Conceptual basis for the economic costs of occupation
19. As early as the 1940s, contributions were made in the academic literature in
the field of economics with regard to the valuation of the cost of societal and
individual losses resulting from external injuries. 8 Those contributions pivot around
the compensation principle, which is based on the understanding that, if a change in
a situation would result in some persons being better off and others worse off, those
who gain could compensate those who lose in such a way that, on balance, everyone
would be better off. This conception of economic loss of injuries (compensation)
also assumes that societal welfare losses are the sum of individual losses owing to
__________________
7 Oussama Kanaan et al, “Macroeconomic and fiscal framework for the West Bank and Gaza ”,
report prepared for the meeting of the International Monetary Fund Ad Hoc Liaison Committee,
Brussels, April 2011.
8 See J. R. Hicks, A Revision of Demand Theory (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1951) and
D. W. Winch, Analytical Welfare Economics (Baltimore, Penguin, 1971).
A/71/174
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the loss of private goods, in addition to the societal losses of public goods (those
goods of which one individual’s consumption does not diminish their availability to
other members of society).
20. Economic loss owing to, or in compensation for, external injuries is
synonymous with indemnification in the legal meaning of the undoing of damage
done and losses suffered. Total indemnification means, in essence, a return to the
situation that existed before the loss was incurred. If it is done by way of restitution,
the prior situation is restored in specie. If it is done wholly or partially by way of
compensation, the consequences of the damage are liquidated, although the prior
situation is not restored in the true sense of the word.9
21. In economic theory, there are three approaches for ascertaining the cost for
those who suffer damages and losses as a consequence of actions by other parties.
The first approach, the income approach, is widely used, in particular by courts
around the world, to measure the losses of injured parties solely on the basis of the
income streams that would have prevailed in the absence of the injury as compared
with the existing streams. The second, the asset approach, builds on the income
approach by adding the missed opportunities to the income streams lost owing to the
injury. The third, the utility approach, is more general because it allows for the
inclusion of a wider range of losses and admits individual variations in re sponses to
and consequences of injuries.
22. It general, a more comprehensive approach anchored in the asset and utility
approaches would more aptly account for the range of losses than would the income
approach. However, the exact approach and the degree to which the asset and utility
approaches are combined should depend on the type and specific characteristics of
loss and the economic sector in which the loss occurred.
IV. Legal framework: historical precedents
23. The United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, which was
established by the President of the Human Rights Council on 3 April 2009,
concluded in its report to the General Assembly ( A/HRC/12/48) that Israel’s
continuing occupation emerged as the fundamental factor underlying violations of
international law and undermining prospects for development and peace.
24. In its note on the economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian
people, contained in the annex to the Re port of the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People ( A/70/35), UNCTAD detailed some
relevant precedents where economic costs had been taken into account as key
elements for negotiating durable solutions to complex and intractable conflicts. The
precedents included:
(a) Decision by the Permanent Court of International Justice of 1928 in the
landmark case concerning the factory at Chorzów; 10
__________________
9 See N. Robinson, Indemnification and Reparations: Jewish Aspects (New York, International
Press, 1944).
10 Case concerning the Factory at Chorzów (Claim for Indemnity) (Merits) (Germany v. Poland),
Publications of the Permanent Court of International Justice, Collection of Judgments, Series A,
No. 17, case No. 13
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(b) General Assembly resolution 194 (III) on the refugee question and
compensation;
(c) Pinheiro Principles on the refugees and reparation payments in the post -
Cold War era;11
(d) Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal
consequences of the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 12
V. Some earlier estimates of the economic costs of
the occupation
25. It follows from the previous discussion that there are costs borne by the people
under occupation and costs related to the damage caused by the actions of the
occupying authority (see A/AC.25/W.81/Rev.2, annexes I and II, and General
Assembly resolution 194 (III)). The structural deformation of the economy,
discussed in section II above, is just one element of those costs for the Palestinian
people. A comprehensive assessment of the economic costs of the occupation
requires the undertaking of a complicated, detailed and integrated process capable
of estimating the direct and indirect economi c costs in all economic sectors. To date,
however, no systematic assessment or comprehensive records have been made of the
economic costs and consequences of Israeli policies, actions and measures in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. Thus far, all effort s made to quantify the economic
costs of the occupation have been done on ad hoc basis, mostly by UNCTAD. The
literature on the subject includes the case studies described in the following
paragraphs.
26. In its report on UNCTAD assistance to the Palestini an people: developments in
the economy of the Occupied Palestinian Territory ( TD/B/62/3), UNCTAD indicated
that, in 2014, 9,333 productive trees were destroyed or vandalized in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, whereas, in January 2015 alone, another 5,600 trees were
vandalized. Furthermore, the direct damages of the three Israeli military operations
in Gaza, in the period between 2008 and 2014, were at least 3 times the amount of
Gaza’s GDP. The total cost of destruction is much higher when taking into account
the indirect costs that arise from the loss of human capital and the stream of future
incomes from destroyed or damaged productive assets.
__________________
11 See the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court of 17 July 1998 ( A/CONF.183/9); the
Principles on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons , June 2005;
and Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of
Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International
Humanitarian Law, General Assembly resolution 60/147 of 16 December 2005.
12 Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
Advisory Opinion, International Court of Justice Reports 2004 , p. 136.
A/71/174
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27. In its study on Palestinian fiscal revenue leakage to Israel under the Paris
Protocol on Economic Relations,13 UNCTAD estimated Palestinian revenue leakage
from taxes on imports and the fiscal loss incurred by smuggling goods from Israel
into the Occupied Palestinian Territory at $305 million annually, about 3.2 per cent
of GDP or 17 per cent of total Palestinian public revenue in 2010 -2011. If captured,
the leaked revenue could expand the Palestinian fiscal policy space and thereby
increase annual GDP by about 4 per cent and generate about 10,000 additional jobs
per year. Moreover, the study calls for further research to estimate fiscal losses from
other sources, including:
(a) Leakage of revenue from taxes levied by Israel on the incomes of
Palestinians working in Israel and settlements. Under the Paris Protocol on
Economic Relations, Israel is required to transfer social security, and other, tax
revenue to the Government of Palestine;
(b) Seigniorage revenue loss from using the Israeli currency in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, estimated to be between 0.3 -4.2 per cent of gross national
income;
(c) Revenue loss from under-pricing imported goods in invoices, owing to
the lack of Palestinian control and oversight over borders and the lack of access to
proper trade data;
(d) Revenue loss related to the lack of c ontrol over land and natural
resources;
(e) Financial resources loss related to goods and services imported through
the Palestinian public sector, such as petroleum, energy and water;
(f) Loss of customs revenue as a result of not applying the World Trad e
Organization rules of origin on goods with less than 40 per cent of Israeli content;
(g) Fiscal loss from the smaller tax base caused by the decimation of the
productive base and the loss of natural resources to the occupation.
28. In its report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, the World Bank 14 followed the
UNCTAD study and its account of losses by estimating other sources of Palestinian
revenue losses. The World Bank suggested a loss of $285 million (2.2 percent of
GDP in 2014) from seven sources in a s ingle year. The overlap between the World
Bank and UNCTAD estimates, however, is about $55 million. 15 After excluding
overlapping items, the sum of those estimates suggests an annual loss of 5 per cent
of GDP ($640 million in 2015). The World Bank report further indicated that Israel
also retained a stock of $668 million of un -transferred Palestinian revenues (5.3 per
cent of GDP). This is a cumulative, nominal figure, however, which does not take
into account the impact of inflation and interest earnings over time.
__________________
13 UNCTAD, “Palestinian fiscal revenue leakage to Israel under the Protocol on Economic
Relations”, document UNCTAD/GDS/APP/2013/1.
14 World Bank, “Economic monitoring report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee ”, 19 April 2016.
15 The $55 million of overlapping losses is the sum of $24.4 million estimated by UNCTAD from
loss of value added tax on imports (see UNCTAD, “Palestinian fiscal revenue leakage to Israel
under the Protocol on Economic Relations ”, document UNCTAD/GDS/APP/2013/1, table 7) and
$30.6 million described by the World Bank as losses from taxes on direct imports (see World
Bank, “Economic monitoring report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee ”, 19 April 2016, table 2).
A/71/174
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29. UNCTAD has been assessing different aspects of the economic and
employment costs incurred by the Palestinians on account of the Israeli occupation.
It is estimated that:
(a) From 2000-2005, cumulative GDP loss was $8.4 billion (real 1994
dollars), twice the size of the Palestinian economy;
(b) By 2005, at least one third of the pre -2000 physical capital of the
Occupied Palestinian Territory had been lost;
(c) Losses caused by the Israeli military campaign in Gaza from December
2008 to January 2009 were half the size of the economy of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory ($4 billion, real 2004 dollars);
(d) More than 2.5 million productive trees, including 800,000 olive trees,
have been uprooted since 1967;
(e) Only 35 per cent of the potentially irrigable land in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory is actually irrigated. This costs the economy 110,000 jobs per
year and 10 per cent of GDP;
(f) At least 10 per cent of the most fertile land of the West Bank has been
lost to the construction of the separation barrier;
(g) The Government of Palestine and Palestinian farmers are prohibited from
maintaining, upgrading or constructing water wells;
(h) Fishing off the coast of Gaza is restricted to a range of 3 to 6 nautical
miles, instead of the 20 miles stipulated in article XI of annex I to the Agreement on
the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area of 4 May 1994.
30. UNCTAD has assessed the cost of the shrunken economic policy space owing
to the occupation and the Paris Protocol on Economic Relati ons.16 The study used
the UNCTAD econometric model of the Palestinian economy to simulate the
prospects of the economy under various policy options. It assessed the impact of an
integrated policy alternative that includes features of expanded fiscal, exchan ge
rate, trade and labour policies. The study showed that if a sovereign State of
Palestine were empowered with the relevant policy instruments, annual GDP could
increase by 24 per cent and unemployment could drop by 19 per cent (see figs. 2
and 3).
__________________
16 UNCTAD, “Policy alternatives for sustained Palestinian development and State formation ”,
document UNCTAD/GDS/APP/2008/1.
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Figure 2
Impact of policy space on GDP
per capita
(in 1997 dollars)
Figure 3
Impact of policy space on
unemployment rate
(percentage)
31. In its study, the World Bank provided partial estimates of the costs of the
occupation in Area C (61 per cent of the West Bank) in the following sectors:
agriculture, Dead Sea minerals exploitation, stone mining and quarrying,
construction, tourism, telecommunications and cosmetics. 17 The study estimated the
costs of the occupation in Area C at 23 per cent of GDP ($2. 9 billion in 2015) in
direct costs, in addition to 12 per cent of GDP ($1.5 billion in 2015) in indirect
costs, for a total cost of 35 per cent of GDP. Furthermore, the fiscal cost of the
occupation in Area C was estimated at $800 million in lost revenue, equivalent to 50
per cent of the Palestinian fiscal deficit. The study also contended that Palestinian
employment could rise by 35 per cent if the occupation of Area C were ended.
32. Another recent study by the World Bank, on the Palestinian
telecommunications sector, concluded that the total revenue loss for the Palestinian
mobile telephone sector during the period 2013 -2015 was in the range of $436 to
$1,150 million, including the Palestinian fiscal loss of $70 to $184 million. 18 The
direct cost was in the range of 1 per cent of annual GDP.
33. In its resolution ES-10/17 of 24 January 2007, the General Assembly
established the United Nations Register of Damage Caused by the Construction of
the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The main focus of the Register of
Damage is on the damage emanating from the construction of the separation barrier
in the West Bank, and it does not cover any other measure taken by the occupying
Power. Its mandate is to serve only as a record of the damage caused to all n atural
and legal persons concerned as a result of the construction of the separation barrier
by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East
Jerusalem. As at February 2016, the Register of Damage had completed the claim of
damages in seven of nine affected Palestinian governorates. A total of 52,870 claim
forms and over 300,000 supporting documents were collected in 233 Palestinian
communities, with a population of 946,285. Of the total number of collected claims,
__________________
17 World Bank, “West Bank and Gaza: Area C and the future of the Palestinian economy ”
(Washington, D.C., October 2013).
18 World Bank, “Telecommunication sector note in the Palestinian territories: missed opportunity
for economic development” (Washington, D.C., 2016).
.00
.04
.08
.12
.16
.20
.24
.28
.32
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
Policy Package Scen. Baseline Scen.
Year
%
1,100
1,200
1,300
1,400
1,500
1,600
1,700
1,800
1,900
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
Policy Package Scen. Baseline Scen.
Year
A/71/174
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20,459 have been processed and reviewed by the Board of the Office of the Register
of Damage for inclusion in the Register of Damage. The vast majority of the claims
were categorized as agricultural losses.
34. The Ministry of National Economy of the State of Palestin e and the Applied
Research Institute — Jerusalem have estimated the cost of the occupation in 2010 at
$6.9 billion or 85 per cent of GDP.19 This cost does not include the impact of the
Israeli security measures but focuses mainly on the impact of the tight restrictions
imposed on the Palestinian people and their lack of ownership and access to their
own natural resources, most of which are exploited by Israel. The estimated cost
took into account the impact of the following factors: the blockade on Gaza,
restrictions on water and natural resources (including natural gas fields), mobility
and other restrictions on domestic and international trade and people, loss of Dead
Sea tourism, uprooted trees and public utility costs.
35. The Applied Research Institute — Jerusalem assessed the direct cost and
forgone revenue from the restrictions imposed by Israel on the mobility of people
and goods in the West Bank, as well as the restrictions on access to, and the
development of, the natural gas fields, fishery, irrigation water and agricultural
sectors.20 The assessment also calculated the direct cost of the destruction of
Palestinian infrastructure, house demolitions in the West Bank and the military
operation in Gaza in 2014. The study estimated these specific d irect costs at 74 per
cent of GDP ($9.95 billion). However, the study covered only the direct cost of
some, not all, of the constraints imposed by the occupation and therefore
significantly underestimated the total direct and indirect costs.
36. The study conducted by Walid Mustafa focused on the Israeli restrictions on
Palestinian activities in order to take advantage of natural resources in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including building stone, sand in the Gaza Strip, phosphate
and mineral resources in the Dead Sea, petroleum and natural gas. 21 The Israeli
expropriation of building stone in Area C was estimated at about $900 million
annually (0.7 per cent of 2015 GDP). The study maintained that Israel had seized
Gaza’s sea basin and had denied Palestinians the right to explore for and develop oil
and gas resources in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
37. Following General Assembly resolution 194 (III), in which the Assembly
stipulated refugees’ right to return and compensation, Atif A. Kubursi conduc ted a
study on Palestinian losses in 1948 and elaborated on the rights of refugees in terms
of restitution of property and compensation for lost opportunity from property and
human capital losses.22 The study indicated that, from 1948 to 2000, the cumulativ e
material and human capital losses suffered by Palestinian refugees stood at
$173 billion and $275 billion, respectively, in 2000 prices.
__________________
19 Ministry of National Economy of the State of Palestine and the Applied Research Institute —
Jerusalem, “The economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Occupied Palestinian Territory ”,
September 2011. Available from www.un.org/depts/dpa/qpal/docs/2012Cairo/p2%20jad%
20isaac%20e.pdf.
20 Applied Research Institute — Jerusalem, “The economic cost of the Israeli occupation of the
occupied Palestinian territories”, 2015.
21 Walid Mustafa, Palestine’s Natural Resources: Potential and Limitations on Exploitation
(Jerusalem and Ramallah, Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute, 2016). Available from
http://mas.ps/files/server/20162404092052 -1.pdf (accessed 5 August 2016).
22 Atif A. Kubursi, “Palestinian losses in 1948: calculating refugee compensation ”, information
brief prepared for the Center for Policy Analysis on Palestine, 3 August 2001.
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VI. Typology of losses and methodology
A. Concept of losses and their typology
38. As indicated in section I above, not all of the occupation -related costs can be
measured in monetary terms, and any assessment of the economic costs of the
occupation for the Palestinian people is, at best, a partial measurement of the losses
and costs incurred since the onset of the occupation. However, the first step towards
evaluating the economic costs of the occupation that can be measured monetarily is
to identify their type.
39. The typology of the costs incurred by the Palestinian people under the
occupation that follow from the “de-development” policies and measures imposed
by the occupying authority on the Palestinian economy calls for identifying,
monitoring and measuring such losses in a systematic and periodic manner. This
includes, but is not restricted to, the following types of losses:
(a) Physical;
(b) Water and other natural resources;
(c) Human capital;
(d) Opportunity and economic;
(e) Microeconomic, macroeconomic and fiscal;
(f) Community and neighbourhood;
(g) Psychosocial.
40. The identification and quantification of each of those losses is the critical core
of the methodology of metering the economic costs of the occupation. For each type
of loss, the conceptual question is to determine: (a) the actions taken by the
occupying Power that could be considered harmful to the Palestinian economy and
people; and (b) the appropriate monetary value of the cost that could be assigned to
each action taken by the occupying Power. Arriving at a tenable answer is
necessarily complicated and multidimensional, requiring expertise in economics,
law, history and politics.
41. Preliminary assessment suggests that the methodologies for evaluating the
economic costs of the occupation should depend on the specificity of the type of
loss under consideration and the economic sector in which it occurred. Therefore, to
avoid double counting and link each type of loss to the economic base from which it
arises, each type of loss would be assessed by sector and type of asset. Any
additional costs arising from the utility approach could be added to the list without
duplication. The best way to portray the essence of this approach is through the
matrix format shown in table 2.
42. Upon determining the type of losses, questions arise with regard to: (a) how
these losses can be measured and what is the appropriate methodology required to
do so; (b) how these losses span across the different sectors of the economy; and
(c) the extent to which the overlapping types of losses and classification of losses by
sector influence the methodology of quantifying these costs of the occupation.
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Table 2
Matrix of the economic costs of the occupation by type of loss and
economic sector
Sector
Type of loss
Physical
Water and
natural
resources
Human
capital
Opportunity and
economic
Micro- and
macroeconomic
and fiscal
Neighbourhood
and community Psychosocial
Agriculture
Mining
Manufacturing
Construction
Trade and
Services
B. Methodology, periodicity and data
43. A comprehensive evaluation of the economic costs of the occupation requires
detailed and interrelated methodologies capable of estimating the direct and indirect
economic costs of all types of losses in all sectors of the economy. The overall
methodology should ensure consistency of evaluation, on the basis of best practices
and sound theories, and should be:
(a) Concise, so that it may be treated as a stand -alone document. It should be
comprehensible, in particular to those involved in policymaking and nego tiation;
(b) Flexible. The methodology must be kept under regular review and should
be amended as and when necessary;
(c) Consistent, rather than subtle and arbitrary. The methodology should
allow easy processing, consistency and accuracy of the valuatio n work by relying on
generally accepted valuation principles and international valuation standards;
(d) Able to be audited and verified. The methodology should rely, as much
as possible, on reliable historical evidence from past assessments in order to
minimize areas of subjective judgment applied in the valuation and thus take into
account the difficulty of obtaining new evidence and records.
44. Although there are a number of specific methodologies that could be applied to
the estimation of the economic costs of the occupation, they could be grouped into
two general approaches, a macro (or top-down) approach and an accounting (or
bottom-up) approach. Each approach has its own positive and negative aspects, and
its use should depend on the type of loss and the sector within which the loss occurs,
as well as the availability of data and resources needed for the application of the
chosen approach. With this in mind, it seems that a social accounting matrix
(macro/top-down) approach is more appropriate for assessing the economic costs of
the occupation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, given the multiplicity of sectors,
types of losses and groups affected. Nevertheless, for a small number of losses, the
accounting approach will have to be considered. Ther efore, the methodology can be a
mix of more than one approach, depending on the type of loss and the economic
sector.
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45. In general, there is no shortage of methodologies but there may be shortage of
data. Prior to undertaking the full assessment exercise , exploration of the
availability of data and the possibility of accessing and generating new data should
take place. This will require additional resources and close cooperation with the
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, which should be one of the main national
partners in this exercise.
46. As for the periodicity and frequency of the evaluation exercise, it is envisaged
that an annual report will be submitted to the General Assembly, on an ongoing
basis. Any new costs emanating from the continuati on of the occupation and the
recent damaging measures will be included in the report under a separate heading.
In addition to this annual report, 8 to 10 analytical studies should be conducted to
build an inventory of the losses, which should be connected to earlier evaluations of
the historical cost of the occupation since 1967. A summary of these analytical
studies should be submitted to the Assembly in the context of the first three to four
annual reports.
VII. Institutional set-up, implementation and outputs
A. Institutional set-up and implementation
47. In the light of UNCTAD’s existing mandate, its proven expertise on the
Palestinian economy and its capacity to convene and coordinate the work of several
bodies within the United Nations system, the General Assembly, in its resolution
69/20, requested UNCTAD to report on the economic costs of the occupation for the
Palestinian people.
48. With a view to facilitating future negotiations for a just, lasting, peaceful
settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, UNCTAD is in a technical position to
establish within the United Nations system a framework to estimate the historical
and recurrent economic costs of the occupation in a systematic, comprehensive,
scientific and evidence-based way on regular basis, and will report, document,
update and keep an inventory of historical and new actions taken by the occupying
Power, specifically those which have a damaging economic impact on the
Palestinian people, their livelihoods and their immediate and fu ture ability to
maintain a viable and efficient economy.
B. Outputs and activities
49. The establishment of the framework for estimating the economic costs of the
occupation would involve substantial additional work, including defining the
conceptual dimension of the economic costs of the occupation within the United
Nations framework, proposing and identifying relevant methodologies, developing
models and calibrating, evaluating and maintaining them, developing databases and
compiling data annually, updating and assessing the ongoing and historical
economic costs of the occupation and regularly reporting to the General Assembly
on such matters. This will require a mix of both regular budget and extrabudgetary
resources.
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50. It is expected that the evaluation exercise and building an inventory of the
ongoing and historical economic costs of the occupation may take about four years
(two bienniums) of work. This would include producing three annual reports to the
General Assembly, beginning with the secon d year of implementation. The
quantification of the historical economic costs of the occupation would require two
to four studies focusing on issues related to methodology, data, legal precedents and
opinions and other pertinent issues. In addition, six to eight studies should be
conducted, each of dedicated to a specific type of loss.
51. Table 3 lists the expected outputs and activities for the implementation of the
exercise, for the first four years of the task of estimating and reporting the economic
costs of the occupation.
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Table 3
Four-year plan of outputs and activities for the evaluation of the economic costs
of the occupation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
Outputs
Annual report to the General
Assembly
Report Report Report
Background studies on legal
precedents, data and
methodology
2-4 studies
Studies on losses by type
and sector for the period
1967-2016
1-2 studies 3-4 studies 3-2 studies 1-2 studies
Activities
Identifying the concept of
the economic costs of the
occupation and
methodologies
Yes
Fieldwork and data and
information collection
Yes Yes Yes Yes
Development of quantitative
and econometric models
2-4 models
Estimation and calibration
of models
2-4 models 2-4 models 2-4 models 2-4 models
Estimation of the economic
costs of the occupation by
sector and type of loss
All sectors
and types
All sectors
and types
All sectors
and types
All sectors
and types
Expert group meeting 2 meetings 2 meetings 1-2 meetings 1 meeting
VIII. Conclusions and recommendations
52. The present report does not report on the qualitative or quantitative aspects of
the economic costs of the occupation for the Palestinian people, rather it
underscores to Member States the critical importance of this assignment and the
need to equip the international community with an objective understanding and
specific measurements of the effects of the occupation on the Palestinian people. An
accurate assessment of these costs may also ensure accountability on the part of the
occupying authority towards fulfilling its obligations under international law.
53. Furthermore, the examination of the economic costs of the occupation, as well
as other obstacles to trade and development in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, is
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essential for signifying the magnitude of the losses and the difficulties the
Palestinian people have endured and continue to endure under the occupation,
identifying policies for placing the Palestinian economy on the path of sustainable
development and facilitating future negotiations for a just settlement of the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict and for a lasting peace in the Middle East.
54. To make an accurate assessment of the damages inflicted by the occupation, a
calculation must first be made of the resources and policies required for ach ieving
the Sustainable Development Goals in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and
placing the economy on a sustainable development track that safeguards the
interests and capacities of the present generation while at the same time expanding
the potential of future generations. This would serve as the basis for peace in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, which would be solidified by a thriving, free
economy able to meet the present and future needs of its people and protect the
fragile environment from further degradation exacerbated by poverty.
55. It should be stressed that the economic costs of the occupation, and any
estimation of them, are not and should not be perceived as, nor used for, advocating
monetary compensation as a substitute for ending the occupation. Furthermore, not
all of the losses, damages and destruction inflicted by the occupation can be
evaluated or measured in monetary terms.
56. All previous studies on the economic costs of the occupation in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory were performed on ad hoc basis, and not within a single
comprehensive framework that could add up the different types of losses and the
direct and indirect costs in all economic sectors. They have just scratched the
surface of the much larger economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the
Palestinian people. Without the occupation, the Palestinian economy could easily
produce twice the GDP it currently generates, while the chronic trade and budget
deficits, as well as poverty and unemployment, could recede and the economic
dependence on Israel could end.
57. There is therefore an urgent need to establish within the United Nations system
a systematic, rigorous, evidence-based, comprehensive and sustainable framework:
(a) To take an inventory of, and regularly record and update, the actions
taken by the occupying authority, in particular those which continue to inflict
damage and economic costs for the Palestinian people and their lives and
livelihoods;
(b) To estimate and update the recurrent and new economic costs of such
actions in a systematic and evidence-based way and on regular basis;
(c) To report annually to the General Assembly on those costs;
(d) To identify the resources and policies required for achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
58. The need for such a framework was recognized by the General Assembly, and,
in paragraph 9 of its resolution 69/20, the Assembly requested UNCTAD to report to
it on the economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Pal estinian people. The
request is a testament to UNCTAD’s proven expertise on the Palestinian economy
and its constraints and development prospects, as well as to UNCTAD ’s technical
and professional capacity to lead and coordinate the work of other United Na tions
entities in implementing this important task.
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59. UNCTAD is technically well positioned within the United Nations system to
assume the responsibilities of the evaluation of the economic costs of the occupation
for the Palestinian people. The task ca nnot be implemented with the resources
currently available, however. Additional resources are required for UNCTAD to
fulfil the request of the General Assembly. Allocating those additional resources
should be done through the appropriate United Nations mec hanisms with support
from the donor community to secure additional extrabudgetary resources.
60. Member States are invited to consider requesting UNCTAD to take an
inventory of, and regularly record, update and estimate the economic costs of the
Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people and to report thereon to the General
Assembly on an annual basis.
United Nations A/73/201
General Assembly
Distr.: General
10 October 2018
Original: English
18-11919 (E) 161018
*1811919*
Seventy-third session
Agenda item 39
Question of Palestine
Economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the
Palestinian people*
Note by the Secretary-General
The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the General Assembly the
report prepared by the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Tr ade and
Development.
* The late submission of the present note is due to a backlog of documents for clearance.
A/73/201
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Report prepared by the secretariat of the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development on the economic
costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people
Summary
This report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 69/20, 70/12,
71/20 and 72/13, in which the Assembly requested the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development to assess and report on the economic costs of the Israeli
occupation for the Palestinian people.
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Contents
Page
I. Objective, mandate and limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
II. Some indicators of the cost of occupation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
III. Acts and measures that impose occupation-related cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
A. Construction of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
B. Construction of the “barrier” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
C. Failure to promote economic development under occupation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
D. Military operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
E. Acts affecting economic sectors, natural resources, labour market and social sectors . . . 8
IV. Conclusion and recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
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I. Objective, mandate and limitations
1. The present report is submitted in response to General Assembly resolutions
69/20, 70/12, 71/20 and 72/13, in which the Assembly requested the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to assess and report on the
economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people.
2. The report follows the report transmitted by the Secretar y-General to the
General Assembly at its seventy-first session (see A/71/174), in which UNCTAD
emphasized that occupation imposes heavy economic costs on the Palestinian people
and stressed the need to evaluate those costs and understand their impact on the
prospects for the welfare of the Palestinian people and the economic development in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory. UNCTAD recommended the establishment within
the United Nations system of a systematic, evi dence-based, comprehensive and
sustainable framework to estimate the economic costs of occupation and report the
results to the General Assembly, not only to fulfil the aforementioned resolutions, but
also to achieve a realistic pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and for forging a just and lasting peace in the Middle
East.
3. The report builds on the previous report on this subject by drawing the
framework and parameters for examining the economic cost of the Israeli occupation
for the Palestinian people, as well as guiding the future work of economists in their
implementation of the General Assembly resolutions. It has to be stressed, however,
that the detailed work of assessing, estimating and reporting on th e historical and
recurrent costs of occupation needs to be based on solid objective and scientific
grounds, and within the international framework set by the relevant United Nations
resolutions. This requires more resources than are currently available, an d therefore
has not been addressed in this report.
II. Some indicators of the cost of occupation
4. Not all occupation-related costs can be assigned a monetary value. Losses that
cannot be assigned a monetary value include, but are not limited to, loss of life,
normal family and community life, human dignity and loss of neighbourhood, culture,
shelter and homeland. Therefore, the most that any assessment of the costs of
occupation can achieve is a partial tally of a much greater loss.
5. The severe security measures and restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities over
the years have taken a heavy toll on the Palestinians. Those measures, along with
recurring periods of violence and hostilities, unilateral steps and internal Palestinian
divisions, have resulted in extensive and systemic damage to the Palestinian economy,
including inter alia an erosion of the productive base; the confiscation of land, water
and other natural resources; restrictions on the movement of people, labour and
goods; obstacles to accessing international markets; more than a decade of closure of
the Gaza Strip; and the costly fragmentation of the Palestinian economy into three
disjointed, disintegrated regions, in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem.
6. There are significant restrictions on Palestinian development in Area C (more
than 60 per cent of the West Bank area and some 10 per cent of its Palestinian
population) and more than two thirds of grazing land, and more than 2.5 million
productive trees have been destroyed under the occupation since 1967. 1 In 2013 the
World Bank estimated that if businesses and farms were permitted to develop in
__________________
1 TD/B/63/3 and TD/B/63/3/Corr.1, para. 42 (d).
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Area C, this would add as much as 35 per cent to the Palestinia n gross domestic
product (GDP).2
7. In the Gaza Strip, the cost of three conflicts between Israel and militant groups
in Gaza from 2008 to 2014 is estimated to be at least three times the potential annual
GDP of Gaza.3 In addition, restrictions on fishing off the coast of Gaza render 85 per
cent of fishery resources inaccessible to Palestinian fishermen, and half of the
cultivable area remains unreachable for producers.
8. Partial estimates from 2014 revealed that the Palestinian revenues that leak to
the Israeli treasury represent approximately 3.6 per cen t of GDP. If captured, these
revenues could expand Palestinian fiscal space and increase annual GDP by about
4 per cent and generate 10,000 additional jobs per year.4
9. By 2005, at least one third of pre-2000 Palestinian physical capital had been
lost. Had the pre-Oslo Accords growth trend continued, Palestinian GDP per capita
could have been at least double its current size. 5 In its report of 2016 to the Trade and
Development Board, UNCTAD stated that, without occupation, the economy of the
Occupied Palestinian Territory could produce twice the GDP it currently generates. 6
10. However, as indicated in the UNCTAD report of 2016 to the General Assembly
(A/71/174, para. 56), all previous studies on the economic cos ts of the occupation
were not conducted within a single comprehensive framework that could calculate the
different types of losses and the direct and indirect costs in all economic sectors.
UNCTAD concluded that the previous studies had merely scratched th e surface of the
much higher economic costs of occupation, and therefore recommended the
establishment within the United Nations system of a systematic, evidence -based,
comprehensive and sustainable framework for estimating, documenting and reporting
the economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people.
III. Acts and measures that impose occupation-related cost
11. There are many acts and measures that could impede economic development in
an occupied territory, and therefore could ad d to the economic cost of the occupation.
In this regard, UNCTAD in its report of 2018 to the Trade and Development Board
elaborated on how half a century of occupation and appropriation of land and
resources has impoverished the Palestinian people. 7
12. The following sections provide examples of impacts of the Israel occupation.
Further studies and research are needed to compile a full list of similar acts and to
assess the full negative impact of each act.
A. Construction of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
13. The settlements impose economic costs on the Palestinian population. Land is
taken for the area of the settlements, thereby depriving Palestinians of the use of the
land for productive purposes. Furthermore, large areas of land have been confiscated
__________________
2 World Bank, “West Bank and Gaza: Area C and the Future of the Palestinian Economy ”
(Washington, D.C., 2013).
3 TD/B/62/3, para. 38.
4 Mahmoud Elkhafif, Misyef Misyef and Mutasim Elagraa, Palestinian Fiscal Revenue Leakage to
Israel under the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations (New York and Geneva, UNCTAD, 2014).
5 UNCTAD, Policy Alternatives for Sustained Palestinian Development and State Formation (New
York and Geneva, 2009).
6 TD/B/63/3 and TD/B/63/3/Corr.1, para. 51.
7 TD/B/65(2)/3, para. 8.
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to connect the settlements with roads in the territory of Israel. The General Assembly,
in its resolution 72/13 of 30 November 2017, on the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, drew attention to the alarming
findings, as reflected in the recent report on UNCTAD assistance to the Palestinian
people: developments in the economy of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which,
among other things, contained information concerning the economic costs of the
settlements.8
14. According to a recent report of the Secretary-General, “Besides allocating land
for the purposes of constructing settlement housing and infrastructure, Israel supports
the maintenance and development of settlements through the delivery of public
services and the encouragement of economic activities, including agriculture and
industry. Population growth in Israeli settlements is stimulated by housing, education
and tax benefits. Similar incentives are provided for settlement industries. ” 9
According to Security Council resolutions 446 (1979) and 2334 (2016), the
establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967,
including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation
under international law.
15. In Addition, goods produced in the settlements compete with Palestinian
produced goods, as reflected by the fact that Palestinian imports from Israel were
consistently more than 50 per cent of Palestinian total imports. 10
B. Construction of the “barrier”
16. In its advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the constru ction of a wall
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the International Court of Justice indicated that
the wall inhibited economic activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 11 The
construction has caused major disruptions to economic activity and inv olved the
taking of significant tracts of land. It has particularly affected economic activity in
the “seam zone”, that is, areas on the western side of the “barrier” within the West
Bank. At least 10 per cent of the most fertile land in the West Bank has been lost
because of the construction of the “barrier”. Palestinians who live in the seam zone
need special permits to access their lands. A special permit or “prior coordination” is
required for Palestinian farmers to access farm land designated as “closed” in the
seam zone. If they are granted approval, farmers must cross designated gates along
the “barrier” or checkpoints in order to reach their land. During the olive harvest of
2017, 76 gates were designated for agricultural access, down from 84 gates t he
previous year. Limitations on access have therefore forced some permit holders to
stop cultivation altogether or shift to rain -fed and low-value crops. The takeover of
land by Israel for settlements, for the wall and for related purposes constitutes a c ost
of occupation for the Palestinian people.
17. The evident and extensive nature of the damage caused by the construction of
the wall led the General Assembly in 2006, by its resolution ES-10/17, to establish
the United Nations Register of Damage Caused by the Construction of the Wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. The only focus of the Register is on the damage
emanating from the construction of the wall; it does not cover any other measure
taken by the occupying Power. Its mandate is to serve only as a record, in
documentary form, of the damage caused to all natural and legal persons concerned
__________________
8 TD/B/63/3 and TD/B/63/3/Corr.1.
9 A/HRC/34/38, para. 17.
10 UNCTAD calculations based on the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and Israel Central
Bureau of Statistics. See also TD/B/65(2)/3, table 1.
11 See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1, paras. 133, 134, 136 and 152–153.
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as a result of the construction of the wall, including in and around East Jerusalem.
Damages are grouped into six categories, namely, agriculture (A); commercial (B);
residential (C); employment (D); access to services (E); public resources and other
(F). The vast majority of claims are categorized as agriculture losses. 12
C. Failure to promote economic development under occupation
18. If an occupying Power fails to ensure the economic development in the occupied
territory over a long period of time, the negative economic consequences can be
serious.
19. UNCTAD explains, for example, how the collection of P alestinian trade taxes
by Israel negatively affects economic development. In accordance with the Protocol
on Economic Relations between the Government of the State of Israel and the
Palestine Liberation Organization (Paris Protocol), signed in Paris in 199 4, Israel
collects value added tax on Palestinian imports from Israel, clears Palestinian imports
transiting through Israel’s ports, collects customs and value added tax on those
imports and transfers (clears) this tax revenue to the State of Palestine, wh ich
accounts for about three fourths of Palestinian public revenue; this enables it to
exercise undue control over Palestinian fiscal affairs. UNCTAD reports and studies
have highlighted the consequences of Israel ’s recurrent withholding of Palestinian
clearance revenue as well as the annual leakage of hundreds of millions of dollars of
Palestinian fiscal revenue to Israel because of this clearance mechanism. 13 The
UNCTAD report of 2013 estimates that preventing Palestinian revenue from leaking
to Israel would increase total public revenue by 17 per cent, covering 18 pe r cent of
the public wage bill.14
20. Subsection E below contains further discussion of the failure by the occupying
Power to promote economic development in different economic and social sector s in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
D. Military operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
21. Between 2008 and 2014, Gaza witnessed three major conflicts with Israel. Early
conservative estimates for the military operation between Decembe r 2008 and
January 2009 indicate economic losses to be around $2.5 billion. 15 The impact on the
productive base of the local economy of the Gaza Strip could be a complete economic
paralysis. A more recent estimate by the International Monetary Fund suggests that
the 2008–09 conflict damaged more than 60 per cent of Gaza ’s total capital stock,
while the 2014 conflict destroyed 85 per cent of what was left of the capital stock. 16
This indicates the destruction of 94 per cent of the capital stock in the Gaza Str ip.
22. In its report of 2015 to the Ad Hoc Liaison Commi ttee, the World Bank
estimated that the direct cost for the last two military operations of 2012 and 2014
was $3.2 billion. Therefore, the direct cost of the three wars could add u p to
$5.7 billion. However, this is a minimal estimate that does not include the indirect
costs that arise from lost or degraded human capital, the economic multiplier effect
__________________
12 TD/B/63/3 and TD/B/63/3/Corr.1, para. 46.
13 Ibid., paras. 16–17.
14 TD/B/60/3, para. 43.
15 TD/B/62/3, para. 38.
16 International Monetary Fund, “West Bank and Gaza: Report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee ”
(31 August 2017), annex III, para. 6.
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and backward and forward linkages and future income streams from destroyed or
damaged productive assets.17
E. Acts affecting economic sectors, natural resources, labour market
and social sectors
23. As indicated above, previous studies had only scratched the surface of the total
and cumulative cost of occupation, which suggests that the magnitude of the cost is
huge. The cost emanates from Israeli practices in numerous sectors of the Palestinian
society and economy. The following paragraphs list of some the sectors affected by
those practices.
24. Agriculture. An UNCTAD study entitled The Besieged Palestinian Agricultural
Sector indicates that Israel has taken control of large areas of Palestinian land for the
construction of settlements, roads for settlers and the “barrier”. Consequently, since
1967, Palestinians have lost access to more than 60 per cent of West Bank land and
more than two thirds of grazing land. In the Gaza Strip, half of the cultivable area is
inaccessible to Palestinian producers.18
25. Manufacturing. A recent UNCTAD study indicated that “in the industrial
sector, occupation and related uncertainty, and the restrictions on movement and
access, have stifled investment and limited the Palestinian private sector to small -
scale operations with low capital intensity and efficiency ”. Effectively, the Israeli
restrictions have stunted Palestinian industry through control of borders and by
restraining Palestinian production and importation of input mat erials needed in
manufacturing.19
26. Fisheries constitute part of the economic wealth of a country. H owever, fishing
off the coast of the Gaza Strip, the only area in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
with an access to the sea, was restricted at times to 3 nautical miles and sometimes
extended to 6 or 9 nautical miles, instead of the 20 miles stipulated in the Oslo
Accords. As a result, 85 per cent of fishery resources are inaccessible to Palestinian
fishers.20 The Palestinian fishing industry has collapsed almost completely, the reach
of fishermen steadily declining since 2000. Moreover, the yield from al lowed fishing
areas has declined, because of overfishing and the contamination caused by the
dumping of sewage water into the sea after the destruction of the sewage treatment
facility during the Israeli military operation in December 2008 to January 2009. 21 A
fact-finding mission of the Human Rights Council, which examined the 2008–2009
military operation of Israel in Gaza, noted that Israel “controls the territorial sea
adjacent to the Gaza Strip and has declared a virtual blockade and limits to the fishin g
zone, thereby regulating economic activity in that zone ”.22
27. Communications. Israel restricts Palestinian telephone providers with respect
to the bands they can use. A study on the Palestinian telecommunications sector
concluded that the loss for the Palestinian mobile telephone sector in 2013–2015 was
in the range of $436 million to $1,150 million. 23
__________________
17 TD/B/62/3, para. 37.
18 TD/B/63/3 and TD/B/63/3/Corr.1, para. 34.
19 Ibid., para. 35.
20 Ibid., paras. 34 and 42.
21 TD/B/59/2, para. 40.
22 Report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (A/HRC/12/48),
para. 278.
23 World Bank, “Telecommunication sector note in the Palestinian territories: missed opportunity
for economic development” (2016), p. 8.
A/73/201
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28. Tourism. The Occupied Palestinian Territory contains sites important to world
history, potentially making tourism a major industry. However, the occu pation has
damaged the Palestinian capacity to take advantage of tourism, because valuable
tourism assets, such as East Jerusalem, are under occupation. The Palestinian tourism
industry is also hindered by other factors such as the restrictions imposed by Israel
on movement, access and physical development.24
29. Mining and offshore minerals. Israel has granted leases for drilling in gas
fields off the coast of Gaza. As a result, Palestinians have not been able to develop
the gas field known as Gaza Marine, which was discovered in the 1990s.25 According
to a report by UNCTAD, two high-quality gas fields have been discovered: one
entirely within the waters of the Gaza Strip, the other on the border with Israel. The
occupying Power has not allowed Palestinians to develop and use the offshore natural
gas fields discovered off the Mediterranean coast, which could provide badly needed
energy for the development of the entire Occupied Palestinian Territory. 26 A recent
Palestinian study on restrictions placed by Israel on Palestinian activities relating to
natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory indicates that expropriation of
building stone in Area C by Israel was estimated at about $900 million annually (0.7
per cent of GDP in 2015), and stated that Is rael had denied Palestinians the right to
explore for oil and gas resources in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.27
30. Underground aquifers/water. Underground water is part of the wealth and
natural resources of a territory or a country. According to a Worl d Bank assessment
of 2009, only 35 per cent of irrigable Palestinian land is irrigated, costing the
Palestinian economy up to 110,000 jobs per year and 10 per cent of GDP. 28
Agricultural activities have therefore become less viable and many farmers have bee n
forced to abandon cultivation.
31. Labour market. Restrictions imposed by Israel limit employment opportunities
in the domestic Palestinian economy. 29 Therefore, a significant number of Palestinian
workers are resorting to jobs in Israel and its settleme nts. Palestinians workers can be
subjected to wage discrimination and violence from settlers. 30
32. Nutrition, housing and medical services. Measures targeting Palestinian
agriculture have hampered food production, and policies on labour and employment
have limited the income available for the purchase of food. 31 The housing situation is
rendered worse by demolitions, which are carried out as a punitive measure or for
inability to obtain construction permits, which are virtually impossible to obtain. 32
Israeli measures and restrictions on mobility in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
have had a negative impact on the medical sector and the quality of medical care
__________________
24 Orhan Niksic, Nur Nasser Eddin and Massimiliano Cali, Area C and the Future of the
Palestinian Economy, a World Bank study (Washington, D.C., World Bank, 2014), p. 32.
25 See Susan Power, Annexing Energy: Exploiting and Preventing the Development of Oil and Gas in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Ramallah, Al-Haq, 2015). See also Lydia de Leeuw, “Beneath
troubled waters: Noble Energy’s exploitation of natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea ”,
Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations, 2017; available at www.somo.nl/wp-content
/uploads/2017/05/Beneath-troubled-waters.pdf (accessed 27 September 2017).
26 TD/B/62/3, para. 49.
27 Walid Mustafa, Palestine’s Natural Resources: Potential and Limitations on Exploitation
(Jerusalem and Ramallah, Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute, 2016). Available at
http://mas.ps/files/server/20162404092052 -1.pdf (accessed 10 September 2018).
28 World Bank, West Bank and Gaza: Assessment of Restrictions on Palestinian Water Sector
Development, Report No. 47657-GZ (Washington, D.C., 2009).
29 TD/B/63/3 and TD/B/63/3/Corr.1, para. 6.
30 TD/B/64/4, paras. 53–54.
31 TD/B/63/3 and TD/B/63/3/Corr.1, para. 7.
32 Ibid, para. 8.
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10/10 18-11919
available to the Palestinians. Prolonged closure and three conflicts in Gaza have
impeded the importation of medical equipment.
33. The list above is an indicator of the magnitude, complication and
multi-dimensionality of the assessment and documentation of all aspects of the cost
of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people. It has to be str essed, however, that
this list is not exhaustive, and almost all the costs associated with it have not been
assessed. This will require securing new resources without which this task cannot be
accomplished.
IV. Conclusion and recommendations
34. Economic development is a policy goal, a desideratum for all peoples. It
becomes especially important for the entire international community to promote
development, and the international community should ensure that the occupying
Power promotes economic development.
35. There is an urgent need to establish within the United Nations system a
systematic, evidence-based, comprehensive and sustainable framework to assess the
costs of occupation and report the results to the General Assembly to fulfil the
requests in the relevant resolutions towards achieving a just and lasting peace in the
Middle East. The establishment of such a system will require securing additional
resources.
United Nations A/74/272
General Assembly
Distr.: General
2 August 2019
Original: English
19-13217 (E) 290819
*1913217*
Seventy-fourth session
Item (36) of the provisional agenda*
Question of Palestine
Economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the
Palestinian people: fiscal aspects
Note by the Secretary-General
The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the General Assembly the
report prepared by the secretariat of the United Nations C onference on Trade and
Development.
* A/74/150.
A/74/272
2/19 19-13217
Report prepared by the secretariat of the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development on the economic
costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people:
fiscal aspects
Summary
The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 69/20,
70/12, 71/20, 72/13 and 73/18, in which the Assembly requested the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development to assess and report on the economic costs of
the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people.
A/74/272
19-13217 3/19
I. Introduction
1. Since 1967, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip have
been under Israeli military occupation and the Palestinian people have endured
adverse policies that have affected their economy and all aspects of life. The signing
of the Protocol on Economic Relations between the Government of t he State of Israel
and the Palestine Liberation Organization in Paris in 1994, was expected to improve
the Palestinian economic situation. However, Palestinian economic development
remains elusive and characterized by poor growth performance, chronic fisca l and
trade deficits and high dependency on the economy of the occupying Power.
Following decades of denying the Palestinian people the right to freely access their
natural resources or to make optimal use of their financial resources, the issue of
economic losses incurred due to the occupation has been drawing increased attention.
Since 2014, various Palestinian and other studies have addressed Palestinian fiscal
losses resulting from current trade and economic relations with the occupying Power.
The first of those studies was published by the United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development (UNCTAD) in 2014 and addressed the leakage of Palestinian
revenue under the Protocol.1
2. In the present report, UNCTAD builds on findings made in previous studies and
reports as well as on new quantitative analysis, and examines the fiscal costs of the
occupation for the Palestinian people. Those costs severely constrain the capacity of
the State of Palestine to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The fiscal costs
of the occupation are a part of the overall economic losses caused by the occupation
and consist of two components: Palestinian fiscal leakage to Israel under the Protocol,
and other fiscal losses resulting from policies and measures imposed under the
prolonged occupation. In the present report, light is shed on both parts by estimating
the value of the fiscal leakage through some significant channels and by taking a new
look at other significant fiscal losses related to the occupation.
A. Objectives
3. Accordingly, the objectives pursued in the report are:
(a) To map channels of fiscal leakage that had not been not identified in
previous studies, such as leakage from direct taxes; tax evasion through
undervaluation of goods imported from Israel and the rest of the world in the
declaration of their actual value; and losses resulting from withholding Palestinian
clearance revenue;
(b) Based on a consistent estimation methodology, on reviews of studies by
international organizations and on agreements conclud ed, to update the estimate of
the fiscal leakage to Israel and of other fiscal losses incurred by the State of Palestine
as a result of restrictions imposed by the occupying Power, and documenting the
sources of that fiscal leakage and those fiscal losses;
(c) To estimate the fiscal leakage to Israel, which is part of the overall
Palestinian fiscal losses caused by the Israeli military occupation. As indicated
previously, those overall fiscal losses are a part of the overall economic costs of the
occupation borne by the Palestinian people.
__________________
1 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Palestinian Fiscal Revenue
Leakage to Israel under the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations (Geneva, 2014).
A/74/272
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B. Concepts and limitations of the analysis
4. The report focuses on one element of the economic costs of the occupation,
namely the Palestinian fiscal losses, or what could be termed the fiscal costs of the
occupation. One of the components of those fiscal costs is fiscal leakage to the Israeli
treasury. That includes all Palestinian public revenues, as identified in the Protocol,
that leak to the Israeli treasury because of the Protocol’s inadequate implementation
or because of measures imposed by Israel. Therefore, as stipulated in the Protocol,
those leaked resources should be reimbursed to the Palestinian treasury. In 2016, the
Palestinian Authority received two payments from Israel totalling $300 million to
compensate for previously leaked public revenues related to health stamps,
equalization levies, border exit fees and value added tax. 2
5. On the other hand, the fiscal costs of the occupation represent all Palestinian
public revenues lost as a result of the protracted occupation, regardless of whether
they leak to Israel. In other words, they represent the additional fiscal revenue that
the Palestinian Authority could have raised if the occupation had not existed and the
Palestinian people had had full control over their economic affairs.
6. Therefore, the fiscal costs of the occupation include both the fiscal resources
leaked to the Israeli treasury and fiscal revenues foregone because they have been
collected neither by Israel nor by the Palestinian Authority. However, there may well
be other sources of Palestinian fiscal losses that are not covered in the present report
and need further investigation. Those may include:
(a) Fiscal leakage resulting from the flow of Palestinian service imports from
Israel;
(b) Fiscal losses resulting from the lack of control over natural resources and
the inability of the Palestinian people to adopt economic, trade and industrial policies
of their own;
(c) Fiscal losses resulting from the delay in transferring deductibles fro m the
wages and compensations of Palestinians working in Israel and its settlements (such
as health stamps and pensions);
(d) Updated estimates of fiscal losses resulting from severely restricted access
to the parts of the West Bank designated by the Os lo Accords as Area C, which make
up more than 60 per cent of the West Bank,3 and the untapped investment potential
relating to natural resources such as oil, natural gas, minerals and resources in the
Dead Sea;
(e) Other economic losses caused by occupation measures and policies such
as military operations, siege, closure, demolition of buildings and uprooting of
productive trees.
II. The Protocol on Economic Relations and estimates of
Palestinian fiscal losses
7. As part of the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian economic, trade and taxation policy
framework was incorporated in the Protocol on Economic Relations of 1994. Under
the Protocol, the West Bank and Gaza Strip came under the jurisdiction of the
__________________
2 See the report on UNCTAD assistance to the Palestinian people – developments in the economy
of the Occupied Palestinian Territory ( TD/B/64/4).
3 See Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Occupied Palestinian Territory: Area C ”,
available at www.ochaopt.org.
A/74/272
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Palestinian Authority for a five-year transitional period. As the overarching policy
framework for the management by Palestinians of their economic affairs, the Protocol
constituted a precedent that legitimized previously unacknowledged Palestinian
economic rights, such as the right and power to levy direct taxes, to reconstitute direct
trade relations with Arab countries, to formulate policies related to importing,
banking, insurance, water, energy and other domains, and to establish the autonomous
Palestinian Monetary Authority to assume, to a limited extent, the supervisory tasks
of a central bank without issuing a national currency.
8. Originally the Protocol was intended to shape the Palestinian economic policy
framework during a five-year interim period ending in 1999. However, it continues
to shape the Palestinian economic policy framework to this day. 4 According to some
studies, a number of provisions of the Protocol have not been implemented by Israel. 5
9. As has been argued in several reports and studies, the policy framework, along
with measures imposed by Israel, are the main reason for the fiscal fragility of the
State of Palestine, and fiscal losses, including leakages to Israel. In its pioneering
2014 study,6 UNCTAD showed that the annual fiscal leakage re sulting from imports
from Israel and customs evasion represented 3.6 per cent of the Palestinian gross
domestic product (GDP) or 18 per cent of tax revenues. In another study, UNCTAD
estimated that goods smuggled from Israel accounted for 26 per cent of Pa lestinian
imports from Israel ($890 million) in 2013. In other words, customs duties and value
added tax on those goods leak to Israel. 7
10. The World Bank has estimated the Palestinian fiscal losses resulting from the
lack of access to Area C (over 60 per cent of the West Bank) at $800 million in 2012.8
In its report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee in 2016, 9 the World Bank estimated the
fiscal leakage resulting from the following sources: undervaluation or misdeclaration
of imported goods; compensation for Palestinian workers withheld by Israel;
excessive administrative fees levied by Israeli customs to process Palestinian imports
transiting through ports in Israel; and Palestinian indirect imports from Israel. In
another study, the World Bank estimated that between 2013 and 2015 the Palestinian
Authority lost value added tax in the range of $70 million to $184 million due to
losses in the Palestinian wired and wireless telecommunications sector. 10
11. In three reports to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, the State of Palestine pointed
out that the implementation of certain articles of the Protocol on Economic Relations
would increase Palestinian public revenue by about $300 million per year (2 per cent
__________________
4 In its resolution 73/256, the General Assembly stressed the need for the continued
implementation of the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations, including with regard to the full,
prompt and regular transfer of Palestinian indirect tax revenues.
5 UNCTAD, Palestinian Fiscal Revenue Leaka ge, p. III and pp. 9–15; report on UNCTAD
assistance to the Palestinian people – developments in the economy of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory (TD/B/63/3), para.16; World Bank, “Economic monitoring report to the Ad Hoc Liaison
Committee” (Washington, D.C., 19 April 2016), paras. 38–49; International Monetary Fund
(IMF), “West Bank and Gaza: report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee ” (Washington, D.C.,
5 April 2016), p. 10, box 1. Available at www.imf.org/~/media/Files/Countries/
ResRep/WBG/WBG040516.ashx.
6 UNCTAD, Palestinian Fiscal Revenue Leakage .
7 Ibid.
8 Orhan Niksic, Nur Nassser Eddin and Missimiliano Cali, Area C and the Future of the
Palestinian Economy (Washington, D.C., World Bank, 2014).
9 World Bank, “Economic monitoring report”.
10 World Bank, Telecommunications Sector Note in the Palestinian Territories: Missed Oppo rtunity
for Economic Development – Note for the Palestinian Ministry of Telecommunications and
Information Technology (Washington, D.C., 2016).
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of GDP in 2017).11 The sources of fiscal leakage mentioned in these reports were: the
outdated mechanism of clearance of Palestinian imports through Israel; the excessive
administrative fees levied to clear those imports; the unfair distribution of revenue
from exit fees paid by Palestinian passengers exiting the Occupied Palestinian
Territory; the withholding, by Israel, of deductions from wages of Palestinians
working in Israel and the settlements, in particular the equalization levy, the health
stamp, social security and the pension funds; indirect imports, and public revenue
from Area C.
12. In a recent study, the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia used
a computable general equilibrium model to measure the cost and impact of the
restrictive measures imposed on the Palestinian economy by the occupyi ng Power.
The study showed that those measures were the main reason for the weak economic
performance and restricted access to scarce Palestinian resources. The study
suggested that reducing the restrictions in Area C would increase Palestinian GDP by
12 per cent and reduce unemployment by 27 per cent .12
III. Estimating a part of the fiscal costs of the occupation for
the Palestinian people
13. As discussed in subsection I.B above, the fiscal costs of the occupation arise
from the current trade regime and current economic relations with Israel, fr om the
constraints created by the Israeli military occupation and from the lack of Palestinian
control in the economic sphere. The present section contains estimates of the fiscal
leakage and other fiscal losses based on data from 2015 and on previous stud ies. It
further includes an assessment of non-recurring sources of fiscal leakage and losses
resulting from the withholding by Israel of Palestinian clearance revenue. Those three
elements together result in an estimate for the fiscal costs of the Israeli occupation
borne by the Palestinian people over the period 2000–2017.
A. Estimated cost of fiscal leakage
14. In the present subsection, only those sources of Palestinian fiscal leakage to
Israel are examined for which data were currently available. H owever, it is important
to keep in mind that there are other potential sources of fiscal leakage; those should
be assessed once data become available.
1. Estimated fiscal leakage from indirect imports
15. Indirect imports are Palestinian imports that ar e registered as if they originate
from Israel, but that actually originate from a third country. As stipulated in the
Protocol on Economic Relations, Palestinian imports from Israel that satisfy rules of
origin are exempt from Palestinian import tax. There fore, revenues from taxes on
indirect imports (i.e., imports originating in a third country) should be transferred to
__________________
11 State of Palestine, “Government of the State of Palestine AHLC report ” (n.p., May 2017); State
of Palestine, “Government of Palestine’s report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee”, (Brussels,
20 March 2018); State of Palestine, “Stopping fiscal leakages: the Government of Palestine’s
report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee Meeting ” (Ramallah, 2018). Available at
http://www.lacs.ps/documentsShow.aspx?ATT_ID=36702 .
12 Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, “Measuring the costs of Israeli restrictions
on the Palestinian economy: A Computable Ge neral Equilibrium (CGE) approach” (Beirut,
2015).
A/74/272
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the Palestinian Authority but are leaked to the treasury of Israel instead. The
methodology used to estimate fiscal leakage from this sour ce was the following:
(a) Palestinian imports from Israel were assessed at the eight -digit level of the
Harmonized System Nomenclature and Classification of Goods of the World Customs
Organization. Each commodity was grouped by type of effective import ta x (customs
duties and purchase tax);
(b) The calculations excluded all imported goods on which import taxes had
already been paid, as well as goods that may be imported from Israel onl y (such as
public sector purchases, fuel, gas, energy, vehicles, engine s, fresh agricultural
products made in Israel, cigarettes and tobacco), because the Palestinian Authority
collects the majority of taxes on those commodities directly through the cleara nce
system. Since no value added tax is levied on agricultural products , those were also
excluded from the calculations;
(c) All goods imported from Israel but not subject to import taxes were
excluded;
(d) The Bank of Israel indicates that 38.3 per cent of Palestinian imports from
Israel are indirect imports.13 This percentage is used to calculate the tax revenues from
indirect imports based on the current Israeli tariff schedule for goods, based on the
following:
(i) The value of goods imported from Israel subject to customs duties
multiplied by the applicable tariff rate;
(ii) The value of goods imported from Israel subject to purchase tax multiplied
by the purchase tax rate;
(iii) Value added tax was calculated on import taxes, then the value added t ax
collected through the clearance system was deducted to obtain the ne t or value
added tax difference;
(iv) Applying the 38.3 per cent indicated by the Bank of Israel on the values
calculated for the above three items.
16. Based on this methodology and on data for 2015, fiscal leakage from all indirect
import taxes, whether customs duties, purchase tax or value added tax, was estimated
at $129 million, representing 1 per cent of Palestinian GDP and around 4.9 per cent
of total tax revenue.
2. Estimated fiscal leakage resulting from the evasion of customs duties and taxes
17. Although the evasion of customs duties and taxes is widespread, there are no
precise estimates owing to a lack of hard data, which in turn results from a lack of
control over borders and over Area C, which, as will be remembered, covers more
than 60 per cent of the West Bank. Therefore, estimates are based on the opinion of
experts and findings made in previous studies.
18. According to previous studies, it is estimated that 25 to 3 5 per cent of total
Palestinian goods imported from Israel enter the Pa lestinian market without any
documentation. 14 However, in an interview with UNCTAD conducted on 15 July
2018, the Head of the Tobacco Department of the Palestinian Customs Authority
estimated that, in addition to the officially registered imports from Israe l, another
40 per cent of that volume was being smuggled to the Palestinian market . The
methodology used for the present report is based on the conservative estimate that
__________________
13 Bank of Israel, “Recent economic developments”, No. 128 (Jerusalem, 2010), table 2.2, p. 23.
14 UNCTAD, Palestinian Fiscal Revenue Leakage .
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30 per cent on average of the goods that enter the Palestinian market do not have
documentation. However, that estimate is not applied to electricity imports, which
accounted for 16 per cent of Palestinian imports from Israel in 2015. To estimate fiscal
leakage from tax and customs evasion, the following calculations were made:
• Palestinian imports from Israel in 2015 – excluding electricity – were valued at
$2,565 million. Applying the 30 per cent estimate results in a value of smuggled
goods from Israel to the Palestinian market of some $770 million
• Not all smuggled imports from Isra el were subject to import taxes, thus some
smuggled imports did not result in revenue losses. Records of actual imports
show that 69 per cent of goods imported from Israel we re subject to import taxes
Accordingly, the value of smuggled goods subject to imp ort taxes amounts to
approximately $531 million
• The average rates of customs and purchase tax on all imports are 13 per cent
and 6 per cent, respectively
• The average customs rate on a basket of Palestinian imports from Israel was
13 per cent, while the average customs rate on a basket of Israeli imports from
the rest of the world was 6.5 per cent
• The rates of customs and purchase tax were calculated based on actual imports
from Israel in 2015 by classifying each commodity separately at the eight -digit
level of the Harmonized System and the Israeli tariff schedule in that year
• The customs rate of 13 per cent and the purchase tax rate of 6 per cent are
applied to the estimated $531 million of smuggled goods subject to customs and
purchase taxes in 2015
• A value added tax rate of 16 per cent is applied to the estimated value of
smuggled goods, as well as to the value of import taxes that were supposed to
have been paid on those goods
19. Based on those calculations, the leakage of Palestinian publi c revenues to the
Israeli treasury resulting from the evasion of customs duties and taxes is estimated to
have been no less than $202 million in 2015, equivalent to 1.6 per cent of Palestinian
GDP and 7.6 per cent of total Palestinian tax revenues that yea r.
3. Estimated fiscal leakage from administrative fees on clearance revenue
20. According to the Protocol on Economic Relations, Israel charges a 3 per cent
fee for collecting clearance revenue on behalf of the Palestinian Authority; this is
referred to as handling fees or administrative fees. When the Protocol was being
negotiated, in 1994, Palestinian clearance revenue amounted to only around
$624 million, resulting in handling fees of only $18 million in that year. Since then,
the revenues of the Palestinian Authority have tripled, leading to a significant increase
in the administrative fees paid to Israel. In 2017, Israel collected over $2.3 billion in
import taxes and deducted handling fees of around $70 million. 15 The World Bank
concludes that, based on the share of Palestinian imports within the total volume
handled by the Israeli customs service (i.e., Palestinian and Israeli imports put
together), the fee should be reduced from 3 per cent to 0.6 per cent, which would
increase Palestinian revenues by $40 million to $50 million, money that is currently
being deducted by Israeli customs.16
21. In addition, in 1996, Israel started collecting a 3 per cent handling fee on
Palestinian imports of fuels and petroleum derivatives such as gasoline, diesel and
__________________
15 State of Palestine, “Stopping fiscal leakage”.
16 World Bank, “Economic monitoring report”.
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kerosene. There are no administrative costs involved in direct imports from Israel,
similar to products purchased according to arrangements between the private sectors
in the two countries.17
22. According to data supplied by the Palestinian Central Burea u of Statistics,
between 1996 and 2017, Palestinian purchases of petroleum and its derivates
amounted to about $11.2 billion (subject to, on average, 65 per cent excise duty and
other taxes). The central clearing data of the Palestinian Ministry of Finance show
that, during the same period, excise levied on fuels contributed 32 per cent of total
clearance revenue. The total value of clearance revenue colle cted during the same
period was $23 billion. The 3 per cent administrative fees on that amount equals a bout
$699 million, of which $224 million was unilaterally deducted in the form of fees
imposed on Palestinian tax revenues accruing from direct fuel impo rts from Israel.
23. According to the State of Palestine, administrative fees deducted by Israel in
2015 amounted to $64 million. $24 million was charged for handling Palestinian
imports of petroleum products and fuel. 18 As discussed above, that amount should not
have been deducted as fees and therefore should be considered as part of the fiscal
leakage. The remaining $40 million should have been reduced to $8 million by
applying a rate for administrative fees reduced from 3 per cent to 0.6 per cent, as
recommended by the World Bank, which implies a fiscal leakage of $32 million.
Hence, in 2015, Palestinian fiscal leakage to the Israeli treasury in administrative and
handling fees relating to Palestinian clearance revenue are estimated at $56 million,
representing 0.44 per cent of GDP, or more: $24 million relating to petroleum excise,
and $32 million to other import taxes.
4. Estimated fiscal leakage associated with the Palestinian
telecommunications sector
24. The Palestinian telecommunications and information sector is of growing
significance to the Palestinian economy. The World Bank, in a report publish ed in
2016, was the first to address the sector ’s economic and financial losses owing to
constraints imposed by the occupying Power, estimated between $4 36 million and
$1,150 million during the period 2013–2015. This means that foregone value added
tax accounted for $70 to $184 million during that period, or an annual loss between
1.2 and 3 per cent of GDP. Assuming that the loss, in 2015, as a ratio to GD P, was the
midpoint of the upper and lower range percentages (i.e., 2.1 per cent), the losses in
terms of potential output in that sector stand at $266 million for that year, in addition
to the associated fiscal losses in foregone value added tax, estimate d at $42.6 million,
equivalent to 0.33 per cent of GDP or 1.6 per cent of total Palestinian tax revenue s in
2015.
5. Estimated fiscal leakage from commercial and economic activities in Area C
25. Under the Protocol on Economic Relations, Israel is oblig ed to apply the
Palestinian tax system to levy value added tax and income tax in Area C on behalf of
the Palestinian Authority and transfer that revenue to the Palestinian treasury based
on the principle of the place of final consumption and geographic loc ation of income
generation. Around 2,000 Israeli commercial enterprises or individuals work in Area
C performing various activities; services, industry, agriculture, fuel, gas, and retail. 19
Israel collected value added tax, income tax, property tax, and op erational fees from
those enterprises and transferred those to the Palestinian Authority until 2000. Is rael
__________________
17 Government of the State of Palestine (2017). Report to the AHLC meeting, May, 2017.
18 Government of Palestine’s Report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee. September, 2018.
19 Ibid.
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has since stopped doing so or has stopped providing any information about the
activities of the enterprises.
26. The Palestinian Government estimates that, during the period 2001–2017, Israel
collected $320 million in value added tax, income tax, prop erty tax and other fees in
Area C that was not transferred to the Palestinian treasury. 20 This figure represents
0.25 per cent of the Palestinian GDP duri ng that period. Hence, Palestinian fiscal
leakage resulting from commercial and economic activities in Area C in 2015 may be
estimated at $32 million, or 1.2 per cent of total tax revenues in that year.
6. Estimated fiscal leakage from the passenger exit fees at the Karamah/
Allenby bridge
27. In the Protocol concerning Redeployment and Security Arrangements, the two
sides agreed that Israel should collect a $26 fee from each passenger exiting across
the Karamah/Allenby bridge, and transfer to the Palestinian Authority its share,
calculated as follows:
• Fee revenues from the first 750,000 passengers wil l be equally divided between
the two sides. The Palestinian Authority will pay Israel $1 per passenger for
services. This means that 46.2 per cent of the revenue goes to the Palestinian
treasury and 53.8 per cent goes to the Israeli treasury.
• For fee revenues from all passengers thereafter, $16 per passenger is destined
for the Palestinian Authority and $10 per passenger for Israel, i.e., 61.5 per cent
goes to the Palestinian treasury and 38.5 per cent goes to the Israeli treasury.
28. Since 1994, transfers to the Palestinian Authority have been irregular and
partial. From time to time, Israel unilaterally raised the exit fees without consultation
with the Palestinian side. Based on estimates by the World Bank, in 2015, fiscal
leakage from this source amo unted to $12.2 million (0.1 per cent of GDP). 21 Based
on calculations by the Palestinian Autho rity, accumulated exit fees due to the
Palestinian treasury but withheld by Israel are estimated at around $145 million. 22
B. Estimated annual fiscal leakage from the sources surveyed
29. The total value of fiscal leakage resulting from the six main s ources discussed
above are estimated at $473.4 million in 2015, which represents about 3.7 per cent of
the Palestinian GDP or 17.8 per cent of total Palestinian ta x revenues that year. In
other words, had fiscal leakage to Israel been stopped, the budget d eficit of the
Palestinian Authority in 2015 (on a commitment basis) could have been reduced by
33 per cent, from $1,431 million to $ 950 million (from 11.3 per cen t to 7.6 per cent
of GDP). It is difficult to quantify the impact of the fiscal losses on the achievement,
or lack thereof, of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory. However, it is clear that severe shortages of public rev enue do prevent the
Palestinian Authority from making tangible progress towards achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 1 (End poverty in all its forms
everywhere), Goal 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well -being for all at all ages),
Goal 4 (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong
learning opportunities for all), Goal 6 (Ensure availability and sustainable
management of water and sanitation for all), Goal 8 (Promote sustained, inclusive and
sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for
all), and Goal 16 (Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable
__________________
20 Ibid.
21 World Bank, “Economic monitoring report”.
22 State of Palestine, “Stopping fiscal leakage”.
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development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and
inclusive institutions at all levels).
30. On 17 February, the Israeli Government began to implement the law adopted by
the Knesset in July 2018 that required the Israeli Government to freeze, from the
clearance revenue it collects on behalf of and transfers to the Palestinian Au thority,
an amount equal to the sums paid by the Palestinian Authority “directly or indirectly”
to Palestinians, or to the families of Palestinians convicted by Israeli courts of
involvement in alleged “terrorist activities” or other security-related offences, as
defined by Israeli law, or who were killed while carrying out such activities. The le gal
view of Israel is that such payments violate the obligation of the parties to the Oslo
Accords to take all measures necessary to prevent acts of terrorism, cri me and
hostilities directed against each other and to prevent incitement. Accordingly, on
17 February, Israel announced that it would freeze approximately $139 million of the
Palestinian Authority’s clearance revenue over the course of 2019, amounting to a
little over 6 per cent of the total amount of revenue transfers in 2018.
31. On 21 February, the Palestinian Authority informed the Israeli Government of
its rejection of this unilateral decision, stating that, under the Protocol on Economic
Relations, no amount may be deducted without the consent of both parties, and that
it would not cease its social welfare payments to the families of prisoners. The
Palestinian Authority has since refused to accept any clearance revenue transfers from
Israel, noting that it will accept the revenue only if the full amount payable is
transferred. Clearance revenue from Israel constitutes up to 65 per cent of the total
revenue of the Palestinian Government. The decision has prompted the Palestinian
Government to take severe austerity measures, including reduced salary payments to
Government employees, the cessation of all promotions, appointments, bonus
payments, purchases of property and cars and, and a reduction of expenses paid for
travel, hospitality and fuel. In additio n, the Palestinian Authority has delayed the
transfer of welfare payments to some of the poor est families. The Palestinian
Authority has not published a budget for 2019. The impact should be addressed in a
future analysis.
C. Other fiscal losses related to the occupation
32. Palestinian losses of public resources caused by the protracted occupation
represent all public revenue that could have been collected by the Palestinian treasury
in the absence of the occupation. There are direct and indirect fisc al losses resulting
from the occupation, which includes but is not limited to military operations and
actions, the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip, movement and access restrictions in
force on the West Bank, the demolition of buildings and the uprooting of trees.
1. Estimated fiscal losses resulting from Israeli control over Are a C
33. In a study, the World Bank discussed the huge output, labour and tax revenues
that Area C has the potential to contribute to the Palestinian economy. 23 Area C
represents 60 per cent of the land area of the West Bank. Since Area C is still under
Israeli control, the right of the State of Palestine to benefit from the Area ’s economic
potential is limited. According to the World Bank, the likely potential benefit from
alleviating the restrictions imposed by Israel in Area C is equal to 35 percent of
Palestinian GDP, a potential increase in tax revenue of 7.6 per cent of GDP ($960
million in 2015).24 In its more recent report, the World Bank again emphasized that
__________________
23 Niksic, Nasser Eddin and Cali, Area C and the Future of the Palestinian Economy.
24 The $960 million represents 7.6 per cent of 2015 GDP. The source of the 7.6 per cent estimate is
Niksic, Nasser Eddin and Cali, Area C and the Future of the Palestinian Economy .
A/74/272
12/19 19-13217
losses resulting from not tapping the economic potential of Area C were estimat ed at
$3.4 billion per year.25 This situation has weakened the Palestinian economy, stripping
it of the ability to benefit from those economic resources in agriculture, tourism, trade
and natural resources. The economic resources could have reduced the Pale stinian
budget deficit.
2. Estimated fiscal losses from undervaluation of imports
34. Manipulation of actual values of imports is common across many countries.
Often merchants opt to forge bills to reduce their tax liabilities. However, the
prevalence of undervaluation differs from one country to another, depending on how
strict or weak law enforcement is. In the Palestinian case, the World Bank indicates
that undervaluation is higher for imports from third countries than for imports from
Israeli sources. 26 This is ascribed to the higher costs entailed and the Israeli
restrictions affecting Palestinian direct importation from third countries, which may
explain why Palestinian merchants depend heavily on imports from Israel. The
following methodology was used to estimate losses from undervaluation of imports
from Israel:
• All goods that cannot be undervalued were excluded: public sector purchases of
electricity, fuel, gas and some other commodities that are imported into the
Palestinian market under agreements with large companies
• The World Bank estimate for undervaluation of imports from Israel of 23 per
cent was adopted.27 Thus, the real value of the imports in question is estimated
at the declared value divided by 77 per cent
• The value added tax rate of 16 per cent was applied on the difference between
the real and declared values in the customs declaration
35. The estimated undervaluation, i.e., the difference between the real a nd declared
values of imports from Israel, was $210 million in 2015, which impl ies that the loss
in Palestinian value added tax revenues amounted to $3 3.7 million.
36. Losses from undervaluation of imports from the rest of the world were estimated
using the same methodology, with two facts being taken into consideration: first, the
level of undervaluation of third -country imports was estimated at 32 per cent; 28
second, those imports were subject to all import taxes (including customs duties and
purchase tax). Unlike the World Bank approach, in which the Israeli average tariff
rate for the Palestinian import basket was used, the methodology followed in the
present report was based on detailed records of imports, at the eight -digit level of the
Harmonized System, to estimate the fiscal losses from undervaluation of imports from
third countries, specifically:
• All goods that cannot be undervalued, such as cars and cigarettes, were excluded
• Imports exempt from import taxes were excluded on the assumption that t hey
were not being undervalued
• The World Bank estimate of 32 per cent for undervaluation of imports from third
countries was adopted.29 Thus, the real value of those imports is estimated at the
declared value divided by 68 per cent
__________________
25 Niksic, Nasser Eddin and Cali, Area C and the Future of the Palestinian Economy .
26 World Bank, “Economic monitoring report”.
27 Ibid.
28 Ibid.
29 Ibid.
A/74/272
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• All Palestinian imports from third countries were identified at the eight -digit
level of the Harmonized S ystem. Based on the World Bank estimate of 32 per
cent (in the previous step), the real value – not the declared value – was used
and the relevant customs and purchase tax rates were applied to calculate the
import taxes that should have been collected
• The World Bank estimate of 32 per cent was applied to calculate tax revenues
based on the actual value of that imports, assuming that the collected taxes (for
undervalued imports) equalled 68 per cent of the total tax revenue that should
have been collected had the actual value of the goods been declared. In other
words, total tax revenue that should have been collected based on the estimated
real value of imports equalled actual collected taxes divided by 68 per cent
• The difference was calculated betwee n the estimated value of import taxes and
the actual amounts collected (for undervalued imports).
37. Using this methodology, the total losses resulting from the undervaluation of imports
from third countries are estimated at $138.6 million. That is more than the losses caused
by the undervaluation of imports from Israel because imports from third countries are
subject to customs duties, purchase tax and value added tax. In the case of imports from
Israel only the value added tax revenues are lost owing to undervaluation.
38. Hence, total tax revenue lost owing to undervaluation of Palestinian imports in
2015 are estimated at $172.3 million (1.3 6 per cent of GDP): $33.7 million re lating
to imports from Israel plus $138.6 million relating to imports fro m third countries. It
should be noted that the Israeli treasury could also incur losses in tax revenue if the
Israeli exporter undervalued the same goods.
3. Estimated fiscal losses from shuttle trading at the Karamah/Allenby crossing
with Jordan
39. In addition to losses associated with smuggling goods from Israel, there are fiscal
losses resulting from the smuggling of goods from the local market and the Jordanian
market as well, in particular of cigarettes and tobacco. The smuggling of cigarettes an d
tobacco is driven by the high taxes imposed on cigarettes of up to 85 per cent of the
value. Revenue from the tobacco tax constitute 25 per cent of domestic revenues.
40. The household survey of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics indicates
that tobacco imports make up 71 per cent of cigarettes and tobacco consumed. 30 Their
value is $450 million. On the other hand, the Head of the Tobacco Department of the
Customs Authority of the Palestinian Ministry of Finance stated on 15 July 2018 that
tobacco consumption was estimated at $550 million. The $100 million difference
between the two figures is an indication of the magnitude of the tobacco smuggling.
41. According to the same source, in 2017, tax revenues from tobacco amounted to
$420 million. The illicit trade in tobacco, in which tax and customs duties are evaded,
constituted 30 per cent of the Palestinian tobacco market, which resulted in
$110 million in lost revenues per year. Half of the smuggled cigarettes likely came
from Jordan across the Karamah/Allenby bridge.
42. Accordingly, if only the tax evasion from the smuggled tobacco from Jordan is
considered, and local products are excluded, the estimated fiscal loss is at least at
$55 million in 2015 (0.43 per cent of GDP). These losses are also t he result of the
fact that Israel prevents Palestinian customs personnel from being present to fulfil
their duties at border crossings and at the Karamah/Allenby bridge.
__________________
30 Palestinian Bureau of Statistics, “Palestinian Expenditure and Consumption Survey
(October 2016–September 2017): Press report on the levels of living in Palestine – expenditure,
consumption and poverty” (Ramallah, 15 April 2018).
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D. Recurrent fiscal leakage and losses: the fiscal cost of
the occupation
43. In sections B and C, estimates were given of the leakage of Palestinian fiscal
revenue to Israel and of Palestinian fiscal losses due to the occupation that are not the
result of leakage. The sum of these two components represents the fiscal costs of the
Israeli occupation to the Palestinian people. However, the assessments and estimates
in the present report do not exhaust all sources of probable fiscal leakage or fiscal
losses. They cover only those sources about which data are currently available. In
other words, the estimates presented in the report could be revised as more data and
evidence become available.
44. As concluded above, and summarized in table 1, the estimated total annual
recurrent Palestinian fiscal leakage and losses, i.e., fiscal costs, res ulting from the
occupation that can be quantitatively substantiated are enormous. They are estimated
at $1.66 billion, which is equivalent to 13.1 per cent of GDP or 62.6 per cent of to tal
tax revenue in 2015.
Table 1
Estimates of Palestinian fiscal costs of the occupation: leakage and other
losses, 2015
Source or type of leakage or loss
Amount (millions
of United States
dollars)
Percentage of
GDP
Percentage of
tax revenues
Fiscal leakage
Indirect imports 129 1.02 4.86
Smuggling and tax evasion 202 1.59 7.60
Administrative (handling) fees 56 0.44 2.11
Telecommunications sector 43 0.34 1.61
Israeli economic activities in Area C 32 0.25 1.21
Passenger exit fees at the Karamah/
Allenby crossing 12 0.10 0.46
Subtotal 474 3.74 17.84
Other fiscal losses
Fiscal losses from Area C 960 7.58 36.17
Fiscal losses from underinvoicing of
imports 172 1.36 6.49
Fiscal losses from smuggling from Jordan 55 0.43 2.07
Subtotal 1 187 9.37 44.37
Total 1 661 13.11 62.57
E. Estimated non-recurring fiscal leakage and losses from
withholding clearance revenue by Israel
45. Another measure is the repeated suspensions and delays by Israel in transferring
clearance revenue to the Palestinian Ministry of Finance without any prior
arrangement or warning. Israel collects Palestinian tax revenues on behalf of the
Palestinian Authority that it should transfer to the Palestinian Ministry of Finance on
a monthly basis through the clearing system. From 1997 to 2015, Israel froze
A/74/272
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Palestinian clearance revenue from time to time for varying periods, sometimes for
more than 24 months. The total of the dues withheld during that period amounted to
$2.4 billion.31
46. Vulnerability to the withholding of Palestinian clearance revenue not only
undermines the ability of the Palestinian Authority to plan and administer its finances
and development projects, it also poses a challenge to the Authority ’s ability to meet
its financial obligations, in particular the wage bill and current expenditures from the
public budget. To cope with the ensuing crises, the Authority is forced to resort to
borrowing from domestic banks, thereby incurring the costs of extremely high interest
rates accruing on credit denominated in new Israeli shekels. In addition, the Is raeli
treasury profits from the interest paid on the dues withheld at interest rates paid on
bank deposits in Israel. Interests on withheld revenue is another channel of costs
incurred by the Palestinian treasury and a source of leakage to the Israeli trea sury.
The fiscal costs have been estimated using the interest rates the Palestinian
Government pays on the loans it receives from domestic banks, while fiscal leakage
to Israel has been estimated using t he interest rate on bank deposits in Israel.
47. As shown in table 2, the cumulative Palestinian fiscal leakage and losses arising
from this source is estimated at $150.9 million (for leakage) and $336 million (for
losses).
Table 2
Estimated non-recurring fiscal leakage and losses from the withholding
of Palestinian clearance revenue
Clearance revenue withheld Fiscal leakage Fiscal loss/costs
From To
Duration
(months)
Amounta
(millions of
US dollars)
Interest
ratea
(per cent)
(millions of
US dollars)
Interest
rateb
(per cent)
Amount
(millions of
US dollars)
July 1997 August 1997 1 87 14.5 1.0 18.7 1.36
December
2000
December
2002 24 500 7.3 72.5 12.9 129.0
March 2006 July 2007 16 1 100 5.2 76.41 13.2 193.6
May 2011 May 2011 0.5 100 3.0 0.13 11.7 0.49
November
2011
November
2011 0.5 100 3.0 0.311 11.7 0.49
November
2012
January
2013 3 100 1.9 0.49 9.2 2.30
January
2015 April 2015 3 450 0.2 0.20 7.8 8.78
Total 2 437 150.9 336.0
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), “West Bank and Gaza: report to the Ad Hoc Liaison
Committee” (Washington, D.C., 5 April 2016). Available at www.imf.org/~/media/Files/
Countries/ResRep/WBG/WBG040516.ashx.
a Interest rates on bank deposits based on the rates of the Bank of Israel.
b Interest rates on lending in new Israeli shekels based on the PMA rates.
__________________
31 IMF, “West Bank and Gaza: report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee ”.
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IV. Estimated cumulative fiscal leakage and fiscal costs of
the occupation during the period 2000–2017
48. The estimates of the fiscal costs of the occupation given above are based on the
data and information available at the time of the analysis. That also applies to the
amount of Palestinian clearance revenue withheld by Israel. In the present section an
estimated monetary valuation is presented of the fiscal leakage and the fiscal costs of
the occupation as they accumulated over the period 2000–2017. The year 2000 has
been selected as the start because it was the first year after the Palestinian Interim
Self-Government Authority was to end its transitional mandate.
49. Fiscal leakage is an ongoing problem; resources had been leaking even before
2000. As shown in table 1, the annual fisca l leakage from the Palestinian treasury to
the Israeli treasury is estimated at 3.74 per cent of the Palestinian GDP. The annual
leakage for the period 2000–2017 has been estimated on the basis of that rate; the
total represents the accumulated leakage of funds that should have gone to the
Palestinian treasury during the 18 -year period under consideration (see table 3).
50. Since the Israeli treasury retained the funds instead of transferring them to the
Palestinian Authority, it is assumed that they were k ept as deposits in Israeli banks,
collecting interest at the rates applicable at the time. As shown in table 3, the
cumulative fiscal leakage that could be substantiated for the period 2000–2017 stands
at $5.6 billion without interest. The accumulated inte rest has been calculated at
$1 billion for the same period. Adding that amount results in an estimated total fiscal
leakage of $6.6 billion, or about 4.4 per cent of GDP over that period, equivalent to
21 per cent of total Palestinian public revenue.
Table 3
Estimated cumulative fiscal leakages and fiscal costs of the occupation, 2000–2017
Fiscal leakage Fiscal costs of the occupation
Year
Amounta
(millions of
US dollars)
Cumulative
amount
(millions of
US dollars)
Interest rateb
(per cent)
Cumulative
interest
(millions of
US dollars)
Cumulative
amount with
interest
(millions of
US dollars)
Amounta
(millions of
US dollars)
Cumulative
amount
(millions of
US dollars)
Interest ratec
(per cent)
Cumulative
interest
(millions of
US dollars)
Cumulative
amount with
interest
(millions of
US dollars)
2000 161.3 161.3 9.8 15.8 177.1 565.5 565.5 12.9 72.9 638.4
2001 149.7 311.1 7.1 38.9 349.9 524.9 1 090.4 16.4 263.3 1 353.7
2002 205.5 516.6 7.1 78.3 594.9 595.2 1 685.6 15.5 415.9 2 101.4
2003 148.4 665.0 7.8 136.1 801.1 520.2 2 205.8 13.7 774.0 2 979.7
2004 161.9 826.9 4.3 177.7 1 004.6 567.6 2 773.3 13.5 1 251.4 4 024.8
2005 180.7 1 007.6 3.7 221.9 1 229.5 633.4 3 406.8 13.5 1 880.2 5 287.0
2006 183.6 1 191.2 5.3 296.2 1 487.4 643.7 4 050.5 13.2 2 664.7 6 715.2
2007 282.3 1473.5 4.0 367.4 1 840.9 915.4 4 965.9 12.7 3 416.9 8 382.8
2008 249.6 1 723.1 3.7 445.6 2 168.7 874.9 5 840.8 12.0 4 531.7 10 372.5
2009 271.8 1 995.0 7.7 633.5 2 628.4 952.9 6 793.7 11.0 5 775.9 12 569.6
2010 333.4 2 328.3 1.6 681.5 3 009.8 1 168.5 7 962.2 10.9 7 277.0 15 239.2
2011 391.7 2 720.0 2.9 780.80 3 500.8 1 373.0 9 335.2 11.7 9 222.0 18 557.2
2012 421.9 3 141.8 2.4 874.2 4 016.0 1 478.7 10 813.9 11.3 11 485.0 22 298.9
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Fiscal leakage Fiscal costs of the occupation
Year
Amounta
(millions of
US dollars)
Cumulative
amount
(millions of
US dollars)
Interest rateb
(per cent)
Cumulative
interest
(millions of
US dollars)
Cumulative
amount with
interest
(millions of
US dollars)
Amounta
(millions of
US dollars)
Cumulative
amount
(millions of
US dollars)
Interest ratec
(per cent)
Cumulative
interest
(millions of
US dollars)
Cumulative
amount with
interest
(millions of
US dollars)
2013 466.7 3 608.5 1.4 936.9 4 545.4 1 637.9 12 451.8 11.6 14 254.1 26 705.9
2014 475.6 4 048.0 0.6 967.5 5 051.6 1 667.0 14 118.8 11.0 17 362.8 31 481.7
2015 474.2 4 558.2 0.1 974.7 5 532.9 1 670.2 15 789.0 10.2 20 729.2 36 518.2
2016 502.1 5 060.3 0.1 980.8 6 041.1 1 760.1 17 549.1 9.1 24 199.0 41 748.1
2017 542.2 5 602.3 0.1 987.3 6 589.9 1 900.7 19 449.8 9.3 28 241.6 47 691.4
Source: UNCTAD secretariat calculation.
a The annual fiscal leakage and the fiscal costs of the occupation have been calculated by multiplying the estimated rates of
3.74 per cent and 13.11 per cent shown in table 1 with the annual Palestinian GDP. The annual figures also include the interest
accumulated on the Palestinian clearance revenue withheld, as shown in table 2.
b Interest rates on bank deposits based on Ban k of Israel rates
c Interest rates on lending in new Israeli shekels based on the rates of the Palestine Monetary Authority.
51. The fiscal costs of the occupation, on the other hand, are a graver problem, as
those include both the fiscal leakage and th e loss of other public revenue that could
have been realized by the Palestinian treasury if the Palestinian Authority had full
control over its fiscal affairs and there were no occupation. As indicated in tab le 1,
the annual fiscal costs of the occupation are estimated at 13.1 per cent of GDP. The
costs resulting from lost public revenue is exacerbated by the fact that the Authority
is forced to bear additional costs because it has to borrow money from local b anks at
high interest rates to cope with the los s of resources and to meet its financial
obligations. Table 3 shows the estimated cumulative monetary value of the fiscal costs
of the occupation, including the cost of borrowing. The cumulative fiscal costs during
the 18 years under consideration, without interest, are estimated at $19.5 billion.
Adding the interest increases the losses by $28.2 billion, bringing the total valuation
to $47.7 billion. That amount is more than three times the output of the Pale stinian
economy in 2017, and some 32 per cent of cumulative GDP during those 18 years.
V. Summary of results
52. Estimates of the fiscal costs of the occupation in 2015, based on those that could
be mapped in the present analysis, came to $1.7 billion , or 13.1 per cent of GDP for
that year. Of that amount, fiscal leakage to the Israeli treasury accounted for
$473 million (3.7 per cent of GDP). Other fiscal losses – not leaked to Israel –
accounted for the remaining $1.2 billion (9.4 per cent of GDP).
53. An extrapolation of the analysis to cover the period 2000–2017 results in an
estimated cumulative fiscal leakage of more than $5.6 billion during those 18 years,
equivalent to 39 per cent of the 2017 GDP. This amount could have increased the
overall Palestinian tax revenues by 17.6 per cent and reduc ed the current public deficit
on a cash basis by 42 per cent. Interest accrued on fiscal revenue captured by the
Israeli treasury during the same period adds $1 billion, increasing the estimated
cumulative fiscal loss to the Palestinian Authority from leak age alone to $6.6 billion,
or an annual loss equivalent to 4.4 per cent of GDP.
54. In addition to the leakages to Israel, the cumulative fiscal cost of the occupation
for the Palestinian people for the perio d 2000–2017 is estimated at $19.4 billion,
A/74/272
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equivalent to 134 percent of the GDP in 2017, i.e., the output of the Palestinian
economy over one year and four months. When the compound interest of about
$28.2 billion is added, the estimated fiscal costs of th e occupation resulting only from
the sources surveyed in the present report amounts to $47.7 billion during the period
2000–2017. That equals more than three times of what the Palestinians produced in
2017.
VI. Conclusions and recommendations
55. The analysis and figures provided in the present rep ort highlight a number of
enduring problems that have worsened over the years, namely: the smuggling of
goods from Israel and from illegal settlements to the Palestinian market; increased
fiscal leakage resulting from indirect imports via Israel; the inability of the Palestinian
Authority to enforce the proper invoicing of imports and the transport of imports from
Israel or any third country; control by Israel of Area C (more than 60 per cent of the
West Bank) and lack of access enabling the Palestinians to operate there. All of these
and other measures imposed by the occupying Power have compounded the
challenges facing the Palestinian Government in collecting revenue and have resulted
in a loss of large parts of that revenue, which has led to a chronic bud get deficit and
has further shrunk the fiscal and policy space available to Palestinian policymakers.
56. To cover these fiscal costs caused by the occupation and the ensuing financing
gaps, the Palestinian Government has increasingly relied on internation al aid,
borrowed from local banks, accumulated arrears with the domestic private sector and
rationalized its expenditures. Those measures have slowed down the drivers of
economic growth by reducing developmen tal expenditure to less than 3 per cent of
total public expenditure in recent years. These conditions have resulted in an
increasingly weak and fragile Palestinian economy characterized by inadequate and
deteriorating public services and weak aggregate exp enditure, in particular
expenditure for investment and development purposes.
57. In conclusion, the fiscal losses, the narrow policy space available to Palestinian
decision makers and the lack of control over economic affairs have undermined the
capacity of the Palestinian Government to adopt effective financial, tax and
development policies. The economic policy framework and its implementation should
be consistent with Palestinian development needs and priorities, and should facilitate
the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory and the economic security of the State of Palestine as called for in several
resolutions adopted by the Security Council and the General Assembly, such as
Council resolutions 1850 (2008) and 1860 (2009), and Assembly resolution 72/13.
58. To achieve that, a fundamental change is needed in many working arrangements,
including those relating to: border crossing points and access by Palestinian officials
to those points, as well as to Area C; import policies and import surveillance
mechanisms; and the exchange of information, data and records concerning imports.
Furthermore, as was done in 2016, Israel and the Palestinian Authority may consider
negotiating some of the topics raised in the present report to address and rectify all
outstanding issues, resolve accumulated dues to the Palestinian people and establish
a mechanism by means of which the Government of Israel may share with the
Palestinians all the information related to Palestinian trade and fiscal resources.
59. Given the heavy fiscal costs of the occupation, the Palestinian people are much
farther away from reaching the Sustainable Development Goals, if it can reach them
at all, than it would be without the occupation. There is a need to secure additional
resources for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the Occupied
A/74/272
19-13217 19/19
Palestinian Territory and to strengthen the capacity of UNCTAD to support the
Palestinian people in those efforts.
60. Humanitarian and economic support are crucial to creating an environment that
favours negotiations to resolve the conflict. However, no amount of humanitarian or
economic support will resolve the conflict itself. Humanitarian or economic support
can only be complementary to a legitimate political process but will not replace
political rights or statehood. The United Nations maintains its long -standing position
that lasting and comprehensive peace can only be achieved through a negotiated
two-State solution. The Secretary-General will continue to ensure that the United
Nations works towards the establishment of an independent, democratic, contiguous
and viable Palestinian State, living side by side in peace with a secure Israel, with
Jerusalem as the capital of both States consistent with relevant Security Council
resolutions and international law.
United Nations A/75/310
General Assembly
Distr.: General
13 August 2020
Original: English
20-10461 (E) 141020
*2010461*
Seventy-fifth session
Item (37) of the provisional agenda*
Question of Palestine
Economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian
people: the Gaza Strip under closure and restrictions
Note by the Secretary-General
The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the General Assembly the
report prepared by the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development.
* A/75/150.
A/75/310
2/19 20-10461
Report prepared by the secretariat of the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development on the economic
costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people: the
Gaza Strip under closure and restrictions
Summary
The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 74/10,
in which the Assembly requested the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development to continue to report to it on the economic costs of the Israeli occupation
for the Palestinian people.
Since Hamas took control of Gaza, 2 million Palestinians have been subject to
an prolonged Israeli closure and sev ere economic and movement restrictions that in
effect amount to a blockade in the 365 km² Gaza Strip. Moreover, the Gaza Strip has
been the subject of three major rounds of military hostilities since 2008. The result is
the near collapse of the regional Ga za economy while trade is severely restricted from
the rest of the Palestinian economy and the world. Between 2007 and 2017, the poverty
rate in Gaza increased from 40 to 56 per cent; the poverty gap increased from 14 to
20 per cent; and the annual minimum cost of eliminating poverty quadrupled from
$209 million to $838 million (constant 2015 USD).
The endogeneity, overlapping of different causal factors and measurement
problems limit the methodologies that could be used to estimate the cost borne by the
Palestinian people due to the ongoing prolonged closure and severe economic and
movement restrictions on Gaza and the three major military operations that took place
during the period 2007–2018. Furthermore, the cost of the closure and restrictions
blockade cannot be estimated separately from that of military operations. Nonetheless,
an estimation of counterfactual growth paths (scenarios) for Gaza – that is, assuming
that the closure, restrictions and military operations did not occur – from 2007
onwards, gives some indication of the economic losses (in terms of Gross Domestic
Product (GDP)) by measuring the deviation of the counterfactual scenarios from the
historical GDP values.
Focusing on the period 2007–2018, and using econometric analysis of household
survey data, the estimated cumulative economic cost of the Israeli occupation in Gaza
under the prolonged closure and severe economic and movement restrictions and
military operations would amount to $16.7 billion (constant 2015 USD): equivalent to
six times the value of the GDP of Gaza, or 107 per cent of the Palestinian GDP, in
2018. Scenario analysis suggests that, had the pre -2007 trends continued, the poverty
rate in Gaza could have been 15 per cent in 2017 instead of 56 per cent, while the
poverty gap could have been 4.2 per cent instead of 20 per cent.
Lifting what amounts to the blockade of Gaza is essential for it to trade freely
with the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the world and restore the right
to free movement for business, medical care, education, recreation and family bonds.
Only by fully lifting the debilitating closure, in line with Security Council resolution
1860 (2009), can we hope to sustainably resolve the humanitarian crisis.
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I. Introduction, objective and scope
1. For 13 years, following the take-over of the Gaza Strip by Hamas in June 2007,
the Palestinian people living there have been under a prolonged Israeli closure and
severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade.
Effectively, nearly 2 million people are mostly confined to a 365 km² enclave with
one of the highest population densities in the world. The entry of goods into the Gaza
Strip has been reduced to only basic humanitarian products. 1 In addition to the
prolonged closure and severe economic and movements restrictions, Gaza was the
subject of three major rounds of hostilities during a six -year timespan (starting
December 2008) that have resulted in the destruction of the productive base, while
the ensuing severe crisis has transformed the Gaza Strip into a humanitarian case and
condemned it to profound aid-dependency. Moreover, the intra-Palestinian division
poses significant challenges to the development of Gaza.
2. Focusing on the period prior to 2012, the United Nations warned that the
ongoing trends should be reversed, for Gaza to be “a liveable place” in 2020. 2 Now,
in 2020, according to the analysis in the present report, Gaza has witnessed one of the
worst economic performances globally and the world’s highest unemployment rate, 3
and more than half of its population lives below the poverty line. The vast majority
of the population has no access to clean water, electricity or a proper sewage system,
and the Gaza Strip experiences major environmental deterioration. Since the
beginning of the closure and severe economic and movement restrictions in 2007, the
Palestinian people in Gaza have experienced 13 years of continued deterio ration in
the conditions surrounding them. Efforts at revival have been made, with
interventions focused on humanitarian relief and large infrastructure and other
development projects.
3. The objective of the report is to elaborate on the situation and to estimate the
economic cost of the Israeli closure and restrictions and recurrent hostilities for the
Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, with a focus on the socioeconomic conditions of
households during the period 2007 –2018.4 First, the report uses the household
expenditure and consumption survey and census data to estimate the impact of the
Israeli closure, restrictions and military operations on (a) the rate and gap of poverty
at the household level; and (b) the minimum cost of eliminating poverty. Se cond, the
report estimates the economic cost in terms of the potential economic growth that
could have been realized if the closure, restrictions and military operations had not
occurred. Third, the report proposes a set of recommendations to mitigate the impact
of the ongoing closure and restrictions on Gaza.
4. It should be emphasized that the scope of estimates in the report is limited to
the economic cost of the Israeli occupation that resulted from the prolonged closure,
severe economic and movement restrictions and recurrent military operations during
the period 2007–2018. The estimates do not assume an end to the occupation and all
the restrictive measures it imposes on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In other
words, the estimates account only for a part of the total cost of the Israeli occupation
for the Palestinian people in Gaza.
__________________
1 United Nations, “Gaza ten years later”, July 2017.
2 United Nations, “Gaza in 2020: A liveable place?”, August 2012.
3 International Labour Office (ILO), The Situation of Workers of the Occupied Arab Territories ,
ILC.107/DG/APP (Geneva, 2018).
4 The present report covers that period because it comprises the two most recent censuses,
produced by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, as well as the most up -to-date macro
data available at the time of writing.
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II. Gaza: the cost of closure, restrictions and recurrent hostilities
5. Many restrictions were imposed on the Gaza Strip in the early 1990s. Following
its takeover by Hamas in June 2007, Israeli restrictions were intensified to what in
effect amounted to a blockade, when the occupying power severely tightened the
restrictions on the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza. Despite some
fluctuations over the years, restrictions on movement remain tight. 5
A. Closure: land, sea and airspace
6. Prior to 2007, Gaza had five border crossing points with Israel for pedestrians
and goods: Karam Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) for goods; Beit Hanoun (Erez) for
pedestrians; the Ash Shuja’iah (Nahal Oz) fuel pipeline, closed since 2010; Al Montar
(Karni), closed since 2007; and the Sufa crossing point, closed since 2008. Only the
first two crossing points remain open, partially and for special cases. From June 2007 ,
Gaza crossing points were closed for nearly the entirety of the working day; in 1999,
they had been fully open. Effectively, the prolonged closure and severe movement
restrictions tightly confine 2 million people in an area of 365 km². The economic
significance is that trade and factors of production (labour or production inputs) are
allowed to move in or out of the Gaza Strip in a severely restricted manner.
7. In addition to its control over the commercial and pedestrian land crossings of the
Gaza Strip, Israel controls its sea and airspace. According to the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Israel has defined a risk zone that ranges from
100 to 500 metres into Gaza near the border and has instituted an access -restricted area
or “buffer zone” that ranges from 100 to 300 metres into Gaza, in which farmers’ access
is permitted only on foot, with a 100-metre no-go zone along the border with Israel. 6
Moreover, agricultural land near the fence has been subject to destruction. 7 At sea, the
area agreed upon in the Oslo Accords to be open to fishing extends to 20 nautical miles
(NM) from the coast, but has rarely exceeded 12 NM in practice. The area in which
fishing has been permitted by Israel has ranged between 3 and 6 NM since 2006, with
occasional extensions to 9 NM for a few weeks at a time and more recently to 12 to
15 NM. People working in the fishing industry are subjected to frequent violence, and
those deemed by the Israeli navy to have exceeded the boundaries are arrested, have
their boats confiscated and are sometimes shot at, killed or injured. 8
B. Restrictions on the mobility of people and goods
8. Only two crossings are currently used for pedestrian travel in and out of Gaza:
Beit Hanoun (Erez) to Israel and Rafah to Eg ypt. The Erez crossing is controlled by
Israel and mainly limited to humanitarian cases or people with special permits, in
addition to traders and businessmen. It is the only gateway to the West Bank and East
__________________
5 United Nations, “Gaza ten years later”.
6 See United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Gaza Strip: access
and movement map”, December 2018. Available at www.ochaopt.org/content/gaza-strip-accessand-
movement-december-2018-0.
7 Gisha, “Gaza up close”, 2019.
8 United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs , “Gaza’s fisheries: record
expansion of fishing limit and relative increase in fish catch; shooting and detention incidents at
sea continue”, Humanitarian Bulletin: Occupied Palestinian Territory, October 2019 . See also,
Gisha, “Gaza up close”.
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Jerusalem. Between 2007 and 2018, the Rafah cro ssing was open for 2,126 days and
closed for 2,257 days, with the closure mainly occurring from 2014 to 2017. 9
9. By 2010, three of the four crossings for goods between Gaza and Israel had been
shut down. From 2007 to 2010, Israel imposed additional restr ictions, allowing into
Gaza only basic humanitarian products “vital for the survival of the civilian
population”. From June 2007 until June 2010, an average of 2,400 trucks per month
entered Gaza from Israel, compared with 10,400 in 2005. 10 In 2018, that average
increased to 8,970, but it is still below the 2005 figure, when the population of Gaza
was 33 per cent smaller than its level in 2018.
10. According to the Israeli human rights organization Gisha, according to
documents from the Israeli Ministry of Defense, between 2007 and 2010, Israel
employed mathematical formulas to determine the minimum amount of goods that
could be allowed into Gaza. Those formulas were based on an estimate of the
inventory of basic goods and products, the daily per capita consumption for each good
and the number of inhabitants of Gaza. When a low warning limit was reached for
some products, the Israeli authorities increased the inflow of those products, unless
there was an intentional reduction policy. 11
11. Another constraint on productive activities is the list of “dual -use” civilian
goods that Israel does not allow Palestinians to import because they might have
potential military applications. The list contains 56 items requiring “special approval”
to be brought into Gaza and the West Bank, including civilian machinery, spare parts,
fertilizers, medical equipment, appliances, telecommunication equipment, metals,
chemicals, steel pipes, milling machines, optical equipment and navigation aids. For
Gaza the list contains an additional 61 items, including construction materials; raw
material for the productive sectors, for example wood and pesticides; medical
equipment; and water pumps, which are used during seasonal flooding. Despite some
easing of restrictions, in particular for construction materials, since the 2014 military
operation, applications for the import of other items on the dual -use list have been
subject to frequent rejections or significant delays. 12 In recent months, Israel has
granted one-off permits for certain items, particularly in Gaza. 13
C. Impact of recurrent hostilities
12. In addition to the prolonged closure and severe economic and movement
restrictions, the Gaza Strip was the subject of three consecutive major hostilities over
six years that claimed the lives of 3,804 Palestinians and 95 Israelis. 14 In October
2014, the Secretary-General said that the destruction following the operation between
8 July and 26 August had been “beyond description”. 15
__________________
9 For more information on movement through the Rafah and Erez crossing points, see United
Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Gaza Crossings: Movement of
People and Goods database, available at www.ochaopt.org/data/crossings.
10 Gisha, “Gaza up close”.
11 After prolonged legal proceedings, Gisha received official documents from the Israeli Ministry
of Defense (in Hebrew) containing the criteria according to which the Gaza closure was
implemented until mid-2010, see www.gisha.org/UserFiles/File/MatpashDoc.pdf .
12 World Bank, “Economic monitoring report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee”, 19 March 2018.
13 World Bank, “Economic monitoring report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee”, 26 September 2019.
14 For more information on casualties during the three military operations, please refer to United
Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Data o n Casualties database,
available at www.ochaopt.org/data/casualties ; and B’Tselem, Fatalities since Operation Cast
Lead database, available at www.btselem.org/statistics/fatalities/after-cast-lead/by-date-of-event.
15 See United Nations News, “In war-ravaged Gaza, Ban urges ministers of new government to
unite on ‘building one Palestine’”, 14 October 2014.
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13. In its report, the United Nations country team said that the three military
operations had had the following impacts: 16
(a) During the hostilities that lasted from 27 December 2008 to 18 January
2009, nearly 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed. In addition, 5,380 people
were wounded,17 and some 60,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving some
20,000 people homeless;
(b) During the eight-day hostilities in November 2012, 174 Palestinians,
including 107 civilians, and 6 Israelis, including 3 civilians, were killed, and some
10,000 homes damaged;
(c) During the hostilities from 8 July to 26 August 2014, 2,251 Palestinians,
including at least 146 civilians, and 71 Israelis, of whom 5 were civilians, were killed,
and 171,000 homes were damaged, 17,800 of which were rendered comp letely
uninhabitable, thereby displacing their 100,000 inhabitants.
III. Gaza: closure, restrictions, recurrent hostilities and
the economy
14. In the 24-year period from 1994 to 2018, the real GDP of Gaza grew by 48 per
cent (see figure 1 below), while its population grew by 137 per cent, resulting in a
37 per cent drop in real GDP per capita. The latter plummeted from the equivalent of
96 per cent of the West Bank GDP per capita in 1994 to 30 per cent in 2018.
Meanwhile, unemployment in Gaza jumped by 22 percentage points, reaching 52 per
cent, among the highest rates in the world (see figure 1). 18
Figure 1
Gaza Strip: real GDP growth and unemployment rates, 1995 to 2018
(Percentage)
Economic growth Unemployment
Source: Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, national accounts and labour market data.
A. Palestinian economy in the Gaza Strip, 1994 to 2018
15. The Palestinian economy in Gaza has gone through three structural phases. During
the period 1994–1999, following the signing of the Oslo Accords, optimism prevailed
for a final status solution; the regional Gaza economy grew on average by 6.1 per cent
__________________
16 United Nations, “Gaza ten years later”.
17 State of Palestine, Ministerial Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, Detailed Needs
Assessment (DNA) and Recovery Framework for Gaza Reconstruction (2015).
18 ILO, The Situation of Workers of the Occupied Arab Territories.
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
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annually, while the West Bank grew by 10.7 per cent. In 2000, following the outbreak of
the second intifada, Israel prohibited Palestinian workers from Gaza from working in
Israel. Between 2000 and 2006, much of the Palestinian public and private infrastructure
and institutions was destroyed, and the movement of Palestinian workers and goods was
severely restricted. The Gaza economy grew by just 2 per cent annually between 2000
and 2006. Gaza continues to suffer from severe restrictions on land, air and maritime
movement, coupled with recurrent hostilities since July 2007. From the onset of the
imposition of the closure and severe economic and movement restrictions from 2007 to
2018, the economic growth of Gaza fluctuated sharply and grew on average by just
0.8 per cent annually, while the West Bank ‒ also under occupation and facing
restrictions, measures and control ‒ grew by 6.6 per cent annually.
16. The share of Gaza in the Palestinian economy halved from 37 per cent in 1995 to
18 per cent in 2018 (see figure 2). Prior to 2007, its share in the Palestinian economy had
never dropped below 31 per cent and averaged around 35 per cent. Moreover, investment
in Gaza virtually disappeared, falling from 11 per cent of GDP in 1994 to just 2.7 per cent
in 2018.19 Non-building investment remained minimal, at 0.2 per cent of GDP.
Figure 2
Share of the Gaza Strip in the Palestinian economy
(Percentage of GDP)
Source: Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, national account data.
17. The performance of the regional Gaza economy has always been far below its
potential owing to the occupation and its accompanying restrictive measures. The
closure and severe economic and movement restrictions imposed on the Gaza Strip since
2007 and the subsequent recurrent hostilities continue to impede the realization of its
full economic potential and have cultivated a profound economic and humanitarian
crisis. Table 1 presents some economic indicators for 2006 (before) and 2018 (after).
18. In the 11-year period from 2007 to 2018, the economy of Gaza grew by just
4.8 per cent. Its share in the Palestinian economy contracted by 13 percentage points,
from 31 per cent in 2006 to 18 per cent in 2018; GDP per capita shrank by 27 per
cent, unemployment increased by 49 per cent and poverty increased by 42 per cent.
Almost all GDP components remain below their 2006 levels.
__________________
19 In late 2019, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics revised its national accounts data back to
2004, see www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_Rainbow/Documents/E_Na_accounts_2014_2015_constant.html .
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Table 1
Economy of Gaza before and after the imposition of the closure
(selected indicators)
Indicator 2006 2018 Percentage change
Population (thousands) 1 349 1 933 43
Population density (people/km2) 3 696 5 296 43
Real GDP (millions of 2015 USD) 2 691 2 819 4.8
Share of Gaza in Occupied Palestinian Territory GDP (%) 31.1 18.1 -42
Real GDP per capita (millions of 2015 USD) 1994 1 458 -26.9
Investment share in Occupied Palestinian Territory GDP (%) 9.5 2.7 -71.6
Unemployment rate (%) 34.8 52 49.4
Poverty (%) 39
(2007)
55.4
(2017)
42.1
Source: Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
B. Negatively affected productive sectors
19. In addition to the above-mentioned severe restrictions imposed on the
agricultural and fishing sectors, the agriculture and manufacturing (tradable goods)
sectors have also been hindered by restrictions on impor ts of technology and raw
materials, which have limited their ability to expand, maintain competitiveness and
create jobs. Certain fertilizers and a range of common pesticides feature on the Israeli
“dual-use” list. Similarly, the inputs necessary for even basic manufacturing have
been severely restricted, as they also feature on the list.
20. The destruction of infrastructure in Gaza by prolonged closure, severe economic
and movement restrictions and recurrent rounds of hostilities have had a grave impact
on access to electricity and clean water, as well as on the environment. Electricity
shortages have severely suppressed key productive activities. In 2017 and 2018,
electricity supply was restricted to 4 to 6 hours a day, and shortages continued to
disrupt everyday life and hinder the delivery of basic services. 20 The availability of
electricity in the whole Gaza Strip increased from about 6 hours per day in January
2018 to about 11 hours in January 2020. 21 However, that does not mean that an
average household in Gaza has access to electricity for 11 hours per day, as the
electricity supply is insufficient to power all households at the same time.
21. Consequently, the Gaza economy has undergone a reversal in industrialization
and agriculturalization. The sh are of agriculture and manufacturing in the regional
Gaza economy declined from 34 per cent in 1995 to 23 per cent in 2018 (see figure 3
below), while their contribution to employment fell from 26 to 12 per cent. This raises
a serious concern related to th e future development of the economy of the Gaza Strip
and its capacity to realize economies of scale and expand employment.
22. Section IV below further elaborates on the impact of the closure, restrictions
and recurrent hostilities in Gaza, with a focus o n how poverty has spread and
deepened between 2007 and 2017.
__________________
20 United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Occupied Palestinian
Territory: 2019 humanitarian needs overview”, December 2018.
21 United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Gaza Strip Electricity
Supply database, available at www.ochaopt.org/page/gaza-strip-electricity-supply.
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Figure 3
Sectoral structure of the regional Gaza economy (1995, 2006 and 2018)
(Percentage of regional Gaza economy)
IV. Impact of the closure, restrictions and recurrent hostilities
on poverty in Gaza
23. Using the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics surveys and census data, 22 the
present section traces the deterioration of household living conditions and welfare in
Gaza between 2007 and 2017. The impact that the pr olonged closure, severe economic
and movement restrictions and military operations have had in terms of the cost for
the Palestinian people will be assessed with respect to the poverty headcount and the
poverty gap.23 This makes it possible to estimate the increase in the minimal cost
required to lift all households out of poverty, between 2007 and 2017. 24
A. Poverty in Gaza between 2007 and 201725
24. The sections below contain an analysis of the evolution of the level and depth
of poverty in Gaza over the period 2007–2017 by applying two analytical methods:
__________________
22 See www.pcbs.gov.ps/default.aspx.
23 “Headcount” refers to the proportion of households below the poverty line. Headcounts are an
inaccurate measure of poverty in that they do not reflect its depth, and confound all households
below the poverty line, without considering the fact that the degree to which different poor
households fall below the poverty line may differ greatly. For example, the headcount poverty
index would count a household as being below the poverty line whether it was $0.01 below or $100
below. The “poverty gap” addresses that inaccuracy by summing up the “distan ce” (in monetary
terms) separating each household from the poverty line, ascribing a weight of 1 to all households
below the poverty line and zero to those above. Intuitively, it represents the average percentage
shortfall of households with respect to the poverty line. For the previous two hypothetical
configurations, for a poverty line of $200, the poverty gap would be equal to 0.01÷200=0.00005 in
the first case (a very small number), and equal to 100÷200=0.5 in the second.
24 Poverty measures include all government and non-government assistance to households, cash
and in-kind.
25 A more detailed analysis of poverty in Gaza is discussed in a forthcoming United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) technical paper entitled, “The economic
costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian People: the impoverishment of Gaza under
blockade” (We would advise against the use of the word “blockade”).
10
24
4
62
10
13
4
73
13
10
6
71
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Agriculture, forestry
and fishing
Manufacturing,
electricity and water
Construction Services
1995 2006 2018
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first using a sample from survey data; and second covering the population from the
census.26 The analysis covers poverty in Gaza, both over time and in comparison with
the West Bank.
1. Survey-based method
25. The survey-based method directly uses the sample data in the Palestinian
expenditures and consumption survey of 2007 and 2017 to calculate the relationship
between total expenditure per adult equivalent and individual, household and loca tion
characteristics in the survey.27 Taking the Eurostat and European Union definition of the
poverty line as being 60 per cent of the national median total household expenditures
per adult equivalent,28 the real poverty lines for the Occupied Palestinian Territory in
2007 and 2017 are $123 and $255 (constant 2015 USD), respectively, per month.
26. The sample data in the two Palestinian expenditures and consumption surveys
indicate severe deterioration in the welfare of households in Gaza between 2007 and
2017, as the proportion of households below the poverty line increased from 46.1 to
64.4 per cent and the poverty gap widened from 15.9 to 25.7 per cent.
2. Empirical best prediction method
27. One limitation of the above survey-based results is that they are based on relatively
small samples. Recent developments in poverty mapping and small area estimation make
it possible to improve the survey-based methods by combining survey and census data. 29
The Occupied Palestinian Territory is similar to most countries in that census data do
not include information on household or individual consumption, expenditures or
income. However, the Palestinian expenditures and consumption surveys and the
decadal censuses (2007 and 2017) do collect data on a relativ ely broad set of common
variables, including: location (urban, rural, refugee camp); characteristics of the
household head (e.g., educational attainment); household demographic characteristics;
employment status and sector of employment; access to basic se rvices, such as water,
through public networks; and the household’s dwelling and physical assets.
28. To obtain the headcount and depth of poverty, the empirical best prediction
method uses a three-step approach: first, the Palestinian expenditures and
consumption survey data are used to estimate statistical regression equations of
household expenditures per adult equivalent, as well as the household’s
characteristics (the estimation of the empirical best prediction is presented in the
__________________
26 The detailed data used in the analysis in the present section was received from the Palestini an
Central Bureau of Statistics in response to a request by UNCTAD. Data are obtained from the 2007
and 2017 Palestinian expenditures and consumption survey, and from the 2017 Palestinian census,
conducted by the Bureau. The reports on the main findings of living standards in Palestine
(expenditure, consumption and poverty) for 2007 and 2017 are available at www.pcbs.gov.ps/
Downloads/book1474.pdf and www.pcbs.gov.ps/Downloads/book2368.pdf?date=7_5_2018. See
also the Bureau’s report entitled, Preliminary Results of the Population, Housing and
Establishments Census 2017 (Ramallah, 2018).
27 Following the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Bank,
“adult equivalent” is defined as (1 + (number of adults – 1) × 0.8 + (number of children × 0.5)). It is
worth noting that the adult equivalent method is better than per capita for accounting for sources of
inter-household heterogeneity, and therefore provides a more accurate picture of poverty in Gaza. This
is because household structure in Gaza, like most developing countries, is highly heterogeneous, with
a large number of children. Consumption requirements in a household with six adults, for example,
will be different from those of a household made up of two adults and four children.
28 See https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics -explained/index.php/Glossary:At -risk-of-poverty_rate.
29 See Chris Elbers, Jean O. Lanjouw and Peter Lanjouw, “Micro –level estimation of poverty and
inequality”, Econometrica, vol. 71, No. 1 (January 2003); and Isabel Molina, J.N.K. Rao and
Gauri Sankar Datta, “Small area estimation under a Fay -Herriot model with preliminary testing
for the presence of random area effects”, Survey Methodology, vol. 41, No. 1 (June 2015).
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annex to the present report); second, the estimated coefficients obtained from the
regressions are combined with the census data (for a much larger number of
households) to impute the household’s level of expenditures per adult equivalent; and
third, the imputed measures of ho usehold expenditures are used to recalculate the
headcount and poverty gap measures for each year.
29. Following those three steps, the empirical best prediction poverty indicators for
2007 and 2017 are presented in table 2 below, along with those of the survey -based
method. The poverty headcount (rate) in 2007 is equal to 40.1 per cent, lower than
the 46 per cent estimate of the survey-based method. This rises to 56 per cent in 2017,
which is lower than the 64.5 per cent estimate of survey -based method, yet still
demonstrates a very large increase over the 10 -year period. Concomitantly, the
empirical best prediction measure of the poverty gap in Gaza increases from 13.9 to
19.9 per cent between 2007 and 2017. While the magnitudes are lower than those of
the survey-based method, they are still extremely large.
Table 2
Gaza 2007 and 2017: poverty gap and headcount (survey-based and empirical
best prediction methods)
Poverty headcount Poverty gap
Year Survey-based Empirical best prediction Survey-based Empirical best prediction
2007 0.4617 0.4007 0.1588 0.1395
2017 0.6447 0.5619 0.2574 0.1987
Source: UNCTAD calculations.
B. Estimated poverty cost of the closure, restrictions and recurrent
hostilities in Gaza
30. Building on the previous analysis, it is possible to calculate the smallest aggregate
annual lump-sum transfer that will suffice to lift all households out of poverty (i.e., the
minimum cost of eliminating poverty). A comparison between that cost in the two years
of the most recent census – 2007 and 2017 – captures the poverty cost of the prolonged
closure and severe economic and movement restrictions imposed and the military
operations conducted by the occupying power. This is calculated as follows:
Minimum cost of eliminating poverty = poverty gap × poverty line × 12 months ×
number of adult equivalents per household × number of households.
Using the poverty gap estimated by the empirical best prediction method (see table 2
above), the minimum real cost of eliminating poverty in constant 2015 USD in Gaza are:
2007 cost = 0.1395 × 123.7 × 12 × 4.49 × 224848 = real $209 m illion;
2017 cost = 0.1987 × 255.2 × 12 × 3.97 × 347035 = real $838 million.
31. The minimum yearly real cost of eliminating poverty has quadrupled between
2007 and 2017. The difference of $629 million (constant 2015 USD) between those
years measures the cost of the prolonged closure and severe economic, movement
restrictions and recurrent hostilities in terms of poverty. The difference represents
22.3 per cent of the Gaza GDP, or 4 per cent of the Occupied Palestinian Territory
GDP, in 2017. This points to the degree of the cost of reversing the impact of the Israeli
closure, restrictions and recurrent hostilities on the welfare of households in Gaza.
32. The above analysis indicates that Gaza has suffered heavy blows to its economy
and environment, as well as to the well-being of its population. However, the question
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remains as to what would have happened had Gaza not experienced closure, movement
and economic restrictions and military operations. Section V below focuses on that
question by estimating the loss of potential output during the period 2007–2018.
V. Estimated economic and poverty cost of the closure,
restrictions and recurrent hostilities: 2007–2018
A. Assessments of the impact of the closure, restrictions and
recurrent hostilities
33. Some attempts have been made to assess the impact of one or two of the military
operations that Gaza endured over the 10 years in question. However, no attempt has
been made to estimate the cumulative economic cost of the prolonged Israeli closure,
the severe economic and movement restrictions and the military operations in Gaza.
The present section contains a brief summary of previous assessments and estimates
of the cumulative cost between 2007 and 2018.
34. The International Monetary Fund estimates that the damage of the Israeli
military strike in 2008 and 2009 is equivalent to over 60 per cent of the total capital
stock of Gaza, while the damage of the 2014 strike is equivalent to 85 per cent of its
capital stock that existed after the 2008 –2009 strike,30 and that growth rates could
have been three times the actual rates if Gaza had had the same access to production
inputs as the West Bank.31
35. The World Bank indicates that, in 2014, in the 50 days that the hostilities took
place, $460 million was shaved off the Gaza economy,32 and that lifting the closure could
generate additional cumulative growth in the range of 32 per cent by 2025, while
relaxing the dual-use list could generate an additional 11 per cent growth by 2025. 33
36. UNCTAD indicates that the direct economic losses of the 50 -day military
operation that started in December 2008 was about $2.5 billion (see TD/B/56/3). It
also estimates that the value of assets damaged in Gaza as a result of the 2012 and
2014 military operations was more than $2.7 billion, and that, during the two
operations, over 64,000 residential units and at least 1,000 industrial and comme rcial
establishments were totally or partially damaged (see TD/B/62/3).
37. Following the 2014 military operation, the Palestinian National Authority
estimated the cost of the reconstruction and recovery of Gaza at $3.9 billion.34
B. Estimation of the economic cost of the closure, restrictions and
recurrent hostilities (2007–2018)
38. The endogeneity, overlapping of different causal factors and measurement
problems limit the methodologies that could be used to estimate the cost borne by the
Palestinian people due to the ongoing prolonged closure and severe economic and
movement restrictions on Gaza and the three major military operations that took place
__________________
30 International Monetary Fund (IMF), “West Bank and Gaza: report to the Ad Hoc Liaison
Committee”, 31 August.
31 IMF, “West Bank and Gaza: report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee”, 6 September.
32 World Bank, “Economic monitoring report to the Ad Hoc Liaiso n Committee”, 27 May 2015.
33 World Bank, Unlocking the Trade Potential of the Palestinian Economy: Immediate Measures
and a Long-Term Vision to Improve Palestinian Trade and Economic Outcomes , report No.
ACS22471 (Washington, D.C., 2017).
34 State of Palestine, Ministerial Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, Detailed Needs
Assessment (DNA) and Recovery Framework for Gaza Reconstruction (2015).
A/75/310
20-10461 13/19
during the period 2007–2018. Furthermore, the cost of this closure and restrictions
cannot be estimated separately from that of those military operations. Nonetheless, an
estimation of counterfactual growth paths (scenarios) for Gaza – that is, assuming that
the closure, restrictions and military operations did not occur – from 2007 onwards,
gives some indication of the economic losses (in terms of GDP) by measuring the
deviation of the counterfactual scenarios from the historical GDP values.
39. Based on Gaza growth trends prior to 2007 and th e relation between the regional
economies in Gaza and the West Bank, two counterfactual growth paths (scenarios)
were assessed. The actual historical economic performance in Gaza during the period
2007–2018 is used as a baseline scenario for estimating the potential economic losses.
Scenario 1 assumes that the Gaza economy follows its own average historical growth
for the period 1995–2006 and would continue to grow by 3.7 per cent annually from
2007 onwards. Scenario 2 assumes that, after 2007, the share of Gaza in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory’s economy remains the same as in 2006. That assumes that Gaza
grew at the same rate as the West Bank, i.e. 6.6 per cent annually, during the
assessment period 2007–2018.
40. As shown in table 3 below, scenario 1 suggests that the annual real GDP of Gaza
would have been, on average, 23.3 per cent higher than the baseline scenario, and that
the cumulative economic (GDP) loss for the period 2007 –2018 could reach
$7.8 billion (constant 2015 USD), or 50 per cent of the Palestinian GDP in 2018.
Scenario 2 indicates that the GDP of Gaza could have been, on average, 50 per cent
higher than the baseline, and the cumulative economic (GDP) loss for the period could
be $16.7 billion (constant 2015 USD); or 107 per cent of the Palestinian GDP in 2018.
41. As for the real per capita GDP (see figure 4 below), scenario 1 estimates that it
could have reached $2,153 (constant 2015 USD) in 2018, or 46.7 per cent ($695)
higher than the baseline level. Scenario 2, estimates that real GD P per capita could
have reached $2,997 in 2018, which is $1,539 or 105.5 per cent higher than the actual
level recorded in that year.
Table 3
Gaza Strip: estimated real GDP losses under two scenarios
(Millions of constant 2015 USD)
Year
Baseline
scenario Scenario 1 Difference
Percentage
difference Scenario 2 Difference
Percentage
difference
2007 2 393 2 790 397 16.6 2 868 475 19.9
2008 2 197 2 894 697 31.7 3 058 861 39.2
2009 2 351 3 001 650 27.6 3 260 909 38.7
2010 2 586 3 112 526 20.3 3 475 888 34.4
2011 2 841 3 227 386 13.6 3 704 864 30.4
2012 3 077 3 346 270 8.8 3 949 872 28.3
2013 3 321 3 470 150 4.5 4 209 889 26.8
2014 2 861 3 599 738 25.8 4 487 1 626 56.8
2015 2 900 3 732 832 28.7 4 783 1 883 64.9
2016 3 165 3 870 705 22.3 5 099 1 934 61.1
2017 2 921 4 013 1 092 37.4 5 435 2 514 86.1
2018 2 819 4 161 1 343 47.6 5 794 2 975 105.5
Total 33 431 41 215 7 784 23.3 50 121 16 690 49.9
Source: UNCTAD calculations.
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Figure 4
Gaza Strip: estimated real GDP per capita under two scenarios
(Constant 2015 USD)
42. The loss in potential GDP in the two counterfactual scenarios is significant, as
it indicates that GDP per capita could have been considerably higher than it is today.
However, it should be stressed th at in both scenarios assume growth rates under
occupation. In other words, they assume the persistence of all the restrictive measures
imposed by the occupation in Gaza and the West Bank, with the only difference being
the prolonged closure and severe econ omic and movement restrictions and the three
major military operations. Furthermore, scenario 2 is more relevant as it shows that,
if the closure and restrictions had not existed and those military operations had not
happened, there would have been no rati onal reason to prevent the regional Gaza
economy from maintaining its share in the Palestinian economy. Therefore, the
estimates presented here are conservative and partial and do not include the total cost
of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian peo ple in Gaza. Rather, they only capture
the economic cost that resulted from the prolonged closure, the severe economic and
movement restrictions and the military operations in Gaza during the period 2007 –
2018.
43. It is also important to emphasize that the above estimates do not include other
costs that occurred during the Israeli military operations, such as the destruction of
infrastructure, residential units and commercial structures. Evidently, the
reconstruction that followed cost the Palestinian peopl e and the international
community billions of dollars.
44. Unlocking the economic potential of Gaza – by measures such as the construction
of air and seaports, lifting all restrictions on access and movement, allowing full access
to water and electricity, and utilizing the oil and natural gas off the shore of Gaza –
would have a far greater impact than the estimates reported above.35
__________________
35 The Economic Costs of the Israeli Occupation for the Palestinian People: The Unrealized Oil
and Natural Gas Potential (United Nations publication, Sales No. E. 19.II.D.10), indicates that
the loss for the Palestinian people from being denied the right to exploit their natural resources
from oil and gas could be billions of dollars.
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
Baseline Scenario one Scenario two
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C. Impact of the economic cost of the closure, restrictions and
recurrent hostilities on poverty in Gaza
45. The present section extends the above analysis of the two counterfactual
scenarios to the household level data t o ascertain their implications on poverty. The
tool for doing so is the growth incidence curve. 36
46. Growth incidence curves offer a transparent way to understand changes in the
distribution of household expenditures over time. While the mean growth rate of
household expenditures over a period of time is a useful datum, it says nothing about
how different categories of households have benefitted (or not) from increases in
average expenditures. For example, we can consider two categories of households:
those below and those above the poverty line. If growth is pro -poor, a given mean
increase in household expenditures per adult equivalent should benefit poor
households more than non-poor households; the opposite is true if growth is not
pro-poor. The curve plots out that relationship for each quantile of the population
distribution: the horizontal axis represents each quantile of the distribution; and the
vertical axis measures the percentage change in each quantile’s total household
expenditures over the period under consideration.
47. The growth incidence curve estimated for the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
for the period 2007–2017 is presented in figure 5 below. The solid horizontal line in
the figure represents the mean growth rate of household expendit ures per adult
equivalent. Any quantile of the population that benefitted more than the mean will be
on a portion of the curve above that horizontal line; any quantile of the population
that benefitted less than the mean will be below the line in the curve . Pro-poor growth
corresponds, graphically, to a curve that is above the mean level of growth for lower
quantiles of the expenditure distribution and below it for higher quantiles, leading to
a downward-sloping curve. As indicated by the slope of the curve in figure 5,
economic growth in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has been largely pro -poor. The
poorest of the poor – those in the extreme left-hand portion of the curve – appear to
have benefited more than the rest of the population.
48. The economic growth rates estimated for scenarios 1 and 2 in the previous
section imply different levels of real GDP per capita over the period under
consideration. Real GDP per capita in 2017 for scenarios 1 and 2 would have been
37.4 and 86.1 per cent higher than the actual, respectively. The analysis here assumes
that the average level of expenditures per adult equivalent would have followed the
increases in GDP per capita of the two scenarios, but that those increases would have
been distributed to different househol ds proportional to their relative position along
the growth incidence curve in figure 5. 37 Once the counterfactual values of household
expenditures per adult equivalent are constructed, the direct (survey -based) and
empirical best prediction methods descri bed above are applied, while maintaining the
poverty line at its actual monthly 2017 level of $255 (constant 2015 USD) per adult
equivalent.
__________________
36 The growth incidence curve was first introduced in Martin Ravallion and Shaohua Chen,
“Measuring pro-poor growth”, Economics Letters, vol. 78, No. 1 (January 2003).
37 For example, according to the Occupied Palestinian Territory growth incidence curve, a
household in the twenty-fourth percentile of the distribution would have experienced a 70.2 per
cent increase in its expenditures per adult equivalent between 2007 and 2017. Since the mean
increase of household expenditures per adult equivalent was equal t o 65.33 per cent, that
household would then be assigned an increase in expenditures per adult equivalent of ( 70.24 ÷
65.33) × 37.4 per cent in scenario 1 and (70.24 ÷ 65.33) × 86.1 per cent in scenario 2.
A/75/310
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Figure 5
Occupied Palestinian Territory: growth incidence curve (2007–2017)
(Percentage change in total household expenditures)
Note: The solid horizontal line in the upper part of the figure is the mean growth rate, dotted line
is the growth at the mean and the dashed line is growth at the median.
Abbreviation: AE, adult equivalent.
Table 4
Estimated poverty in Gaza under two scenarios in 2017
Poverty headcount Poverty gap
Year Survey-based Empirical best prediction Survey-based Empirical best prediction
2017 – actual* 0.6447 0.5619 0.2574 0.1987
Scenario 1 0.4021 0.3512 0.1391 0.1188
Scenario 2 0.1680 0.1499 0.0365 0.0426
* From row 2 in table 2, above.
49. The results in table 4 represent another way of capturing the cost of the
prolonged closure and recurrent hostilities, which are part of the larger cost of
occupation, from a microeconomic perspective. Scenario 1, measured using the
empirical best prediction method, shows a reduction in the poverty rate from 56.2 per
cent to 35.1 per cent, while scenario 2 shows an even greater reduction, to 15 per cent.
Concomitantly, scenario 1 shows a reduction in the poverty gap from 19.9 per cent to
11.9, and to 4.3 per cent using scenario 2. Given that the minimum total annual cost
of eliminating poverty is directly proportional to the poverty gap, the results indicate
that under scenario 1 those costs would have been halved, whereas in scenario 2 they
would have been one-fifth only.
VI. Conclusion and recommendations
50. The increasing burden of poverty in Gaza calls for an immediate response.
Economic growth should be restored, and the economic trajectory should be freed of
the prolonged closure, the severe economic and movement restrictions and the
attendant destruction. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
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recommends that the international community, Israel and the State of Palestine
consider the following:
(a) Only by fully lifting the debilitating Israeli closure, in line with Security
Council resolution 1860 (2009), can we hope to resolve sustainably the humanitarian
crisis. Furthermore, the indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars towards
Israeli civilian population centres is prohibited by international humanitarian law, and
Palestinian militants must cease that practice imme diately. Gaza should be allowed to
trade freely with the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as with
neighbouring Arab and global markets, and free movement should be restored for
businesses, medical care, education, recreation and family u nification.
(b) Priority should be given to the reconstruction of infrastructure, private and
public structures and the productive base of Gaza, as well as the construction and
operation of air and seaports;
(c) The electricity crisis should be addressed by rehabilitating, upgrading and
securing fuel for the operation of the Gaza power plant at full capacity and
constructing a water desalination plant to secure clean water supply for the
population;
(d) The State of Palestine should be enabled to develop the offshore natural
gas fields discovered in the 1990s in the sea area off the coast of Gaza. As elaborated
by UNCTAD,38 this would secure the required resources for the rehabilitation,
reconstruction and recovery of the local Gaza economy.
51. Furthermore, given the widening gap in the living conditions between Gaza and
the West Bank, it is critical that the important Egyptian -led intra-Palestinian
reconciliation efforts continue. The United Nations stands firm in its support of the
efforts by Egypt in that regard, and the Secretary-General calls upon all Palestinian
factions to make serious efforts to ensure the reunification of Gaza and the occupied
West Bank under a single, democratic, national government. Gaza is and must remain
an integral part of a future Palestinian State as part of a two -State solution. It is high
time to reintegrate it politically, administratively, fiscally, economically and socially,
including East Jerusalem. The international community can play a key role in that
regard.
52. Humanitarian and economic support will not replace political rights or
statehood. The United Nations maintains its long -standing position that a lasting and
comprehensive peace can only be achieved through a negotiated two -State solution.
The Secretary-General will continue to ensure that the United Nations works towards
the establishment of an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable
Palestinian State, living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel, with Jerusalem
as the capital of both States.
__________________
38 The Economic Costs of the Israeli Occupation fo r the Palestinian People: The Unrealized Oil
and Natural Gas Potential (United Nations publication, Sales No. E. 19.II.D.10).
A/75/310
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Annex
Estimation of the empirical best prediction method
1. The first step of the empirical best prediction method is to estimate the statistical
relationship that links household expenditures per adult equivalent to the household’s
observable characteristics, where these must be available in both the census and the
household survey data. The table below shows the results of regressing log
expenditures per adult equivalent (in constant 2015 USD) on the set of standard
covariates, at the national level. To maximize comparability between the synthetic
income measures that will be constructed using census data and the estimated
coefficients, a common set of covariates over the two sample surveys were maintained
in the two regression for 2007 and 2017.
2. There are two differences in the set of covariates for 2007 and 2017 regressions:
(a) possession of a mobile telephone, which did not appear in the 2007 questionnaire;
and (b) access to electricity, which was an issue in 2007 but no longer in 2017 (note
that access to electricity does not take into account whether electricity is actually
available, which, more often than not, is not the case in Gaza).
3. The regression results in the table reveal several interesting features. First, the
divergence between households in Gaza and the West Bank is substantial: the
expenditures per adult equivalent for a household in Gaza, is lower than a household
in the West Bank by 44.1 and 43.2 per cent, in 2007 and 2017, respectively. Second,
the household head’s level of educational attainment remains an important
determinant of expenditures. Third, the household employment status is paramount in
terms of its expenditures. Employment in Israel, for instance, is associated with 21.3
and 16.3 per cent higher expenditures per adult equivalent, in 2007 and 2017,
respectively. However, employment in Israel is not available to the Gaza workforce,
which deepens the welfare divergence between Gaza and the West Bank. Fourth,
characteristics of the household’s dwelling, and its assets, are significantly associated
with its expenditures per adult equivalent.
Regression results: determinants of monthly real expenditures per adult equivalent
2007 Palestinian expenditures
and consumption survey
2017 Palestinian expenditures
and consumption survey
Intercept 5.254 (0.276) *** 5.722 (0.097) ***
Location (West Bank and urban are base categories)
Gaza Strip -0.441 (0.043) *** -0.432 (0.026) ***
Rural -0.059 (0.043) -0.051 (0.019) **
Camp -0.043 (0.051) -0.015 (0.029)
Characteristics of household head
Female head -0.041 (0.063) -0.015 (0.031)
Marital status of head 0.098 (0.131) 0.041 (0.058)
Educational level of head 0.099 (0.038) ** 0.066 (0.019) ***
Refugee status -0.067 (0.039) -0.033 (0.019)
Insurance 0.039 (0.046) 0.013 (0.023)
Demographic characteristics of household
Number of females -0.070 (0.012) *** -0.092 (0.008) ***
Number of males -0.041 (0.014) ** -0.068 (0.008) ***
Number of adult males -0.003 (0.015) 0.014 (0.009)
A/75/310
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2007 Palestinian expenditures
and consumption survey
2017 Palestinian expenditures
and consumption survey
Number of adult females 0.016 (0.021) -0.001 (0.012)
Sector of employment (services are base category)
Agriculture -0.095 (0.058) -0.069 (0.036)
Construction -0.037 (0.053) -0.025 (0.027)
Industry -0.108 (0.056) -0.027 (0.030)
Employment status
Number of employed household members 0.081 (0.019) *** 0.052 (0.011) ***
Employment in Israel 0.213 (0.058) *** 0.163 (0.027) ***
Employment in national Government -0.006 (0.048) 0.106 (0.025) ***
Access to basic services
Access to public water -0.169 (0.058) ** -0.160 (0.027) ***
Access to electricity -0.027 (0.161)
Connection to sewage network 0.129 (0.041) ** -0.028 (0.021)
Characteristics of dwelling
House ownership -0.264 (0.049) *** -0.052 (0.022) *
House is a villa 0.138 (0.160) 0.221 (0.104) *
Number of rooms -0.030 (0.018) -0.008 (0.009)
Number of rooms per adult 0.236 (0.047) *** 0.120 (0.019) ***
Main source of heating is diesel -0.115 (0.095) 0.241 (0.179)
Household assets
Car 0.246 (0.040) *** 0.380 (0.020) ***
Refrigerator 0.133 (0.083) 0.080 (0.052)
Boiler 0.093 (0.038) * 0.091 (0.017) ***
Central heating 0.300 (0.127) * 0.028 (0.081)
Vacuum 0.103 (0.043) * 0.080 (0.020) ***
Cooking stove -0.061 (0.191) 0.026 (0.030)
Washing machine 0.034 (0.067) -0.054 (0.017) **
Home library 0.171 (0.041) *** 0.087 (0.026) ***
Television -0.001 (0.085) 0.168 (0.019) ***
Telephone line 0.173 (0.038) *** 0.066 (0.019) ***
Satellite 0.208 (0.044) *** 0.067 (0.026) *
Computer 0.164 (0.038) *** 0.073 (0.019) ***
Mobile telephone 0.220 (0.025) ***
R2 0.522 0.552
Number of observations 1,223 3,720
Root mean square error 0.541 0.485
Note: Standard errors are in parentheses. *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05.
Abbreviation: R2, proportion of the variance for a dependent variable that is explained by an independent variable.
United Nations A/76/309
General Assembly
Distr.: General
30 August 2021
Original: English
21-11970 (E) 220921
*2111970*
Seventy-sixth session
Item 38 of the provisional agenda*
Question of Palestine
Economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian
people: poverty in the West Bank between 2000 and 2019
Note by the Secretary-General
The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the General Assembly the
report prepared by the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development.
* A/76/150.
A/76/309
2/20 21-11970
Report prepared by the secretariat of the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development on the economic
costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people:
poverty in the West Bank between 2000 and 2019
Summary
The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 75/20,
in which the Assembly requested the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development to report to it on the economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the
Palestinian people. The report builds on, and complements, the findings of the
previous report, issued in 2020 (A/75/310).
Following the outbreak of the second intifada in the occupied Palestinian
territory, on 28 September 2000, Israel tightened its closure policy and implemented
more stringent measures in the territory. The impact of those actions on the fragile
regional economy of the West Bank was not only a contraction by one third of its size
between 2000 and 2002. More importantly, they have had a long -lasting negative
impact that has affected all economic sectors for 20 years.
Even with high dependence on employment in Israel and its settlements, the
West Bank regional economy experienced two decades of jobless growth, fostering
an average of 18 per cent unemployment between 1995 and 2019. Without
employment in Israel and in the settlements, the unemployment rate coul d have been
16 percentage points higher, at par with the extremely high rate in Gaza. The
cumulative economic cost of the stricter Israeli measures during the period 2000 –
2019 is estimated at four and a half times the size of the West Bank regional economy
in 2019.
The cost of occupation, in poverty terms, is also substantial, with the poorer
segments of the population disproportionately affected. Had the tighter Israeli
restrictions, imposed after the second intifada, not occurred, the 2004 poverty rate in
the West Bank could have been 11.7 per cent, or only one third of the observed
35.4 per cent. The analysis conducted indicates that the real minimum cost of
eliminating poverty in the West Bank jumped from $73 million (constant 2015 United
States dollars) in 1998 (before the second intifada) to $356 million in 2004, and to
$428 million in 2007.
The evolving and cumulative cost of occupation cannot be reversed without
ending the occupation, in line with relevant United Nations resolutions. All mobility
restrictions in the occupied Palestinian territory need to be lifted, and the contiguity
of its constituent parts, including East Jerusalem, needs to be re-established.
Palestinian public and private operators should be allowed to function in Area C,
which represents at least 60 per cent of the West Bank. The United Nations maintains
its position that a lasting and comprehensive peace can only be achieved through a
negotiated two-State solution.
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I. Introduction, objective and limitation
1. The present report follows four previous reports prepared by the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and submitted to the General
Assembly, on the economic cost of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people
(A/71/174, A/73/201, A/74/272 and A/75/310). The topic of the present report builds
on, and complements, the findings of the previous report, which was focused on
poverty and the cost of occupation in the Gaza Strip. The same indicators are used,
and the same approach deployed, to evaluate the corresponding costs in the West Bank
during the period 2000–2019. The year 2000 was selected as a starting date for the
assessment because it was the first year that followed the imposition of additional
detrimental measures and a stricter closure policy by the occupying Power after the
outbreak of the second intifada, in September 2000.
2. As set out below, after the outbreak of the second intifada in the occupied
Palestinian territory, Israel imposed a complex system of mobility restrictions, 1 which
has effectively turned the West Bank into isolated islands. Those measures paralysed
economic activity, inflicted serious dislocations and significant income losses and thus
aggravated pre-existing and deep-seated structural weaknesses and vulnerabilities. They
have entailed long-lasting effects, including volatile economic growth, persistently high
unemployment and poverty rates and chronic internal and external deficits. Until the
occupation is ended, those ramifications will continue to restrict Palestinian economic
development and add to the cumulative cost of occupation for the Palestinian people.
3. The report provides details on and estimates of the economic cost of the Israeli
closures and restrictions for the Palestinian people, with a focus on the socioeconomic
conditions of households in the West Bank. The economic cost is estimated in terms
of the potential economic growth that could have been realized if the additional
harmful measures and stricter closure policy, imposed following the outbreak of the
second intifada, had not occurred. It uses dat a from household expenditures and
consumption surveys and census data to estimate the impact of Israeli policies on the
poverty rate and poverty gap at the household level, leading to estimates of the
minimum cost of eliminating poverty in the West Bank. The final section of the report
contains some conclusions and recommendations.
4. It should be stressed that the estimates in the report are limited to the economic
cost of occupation that resulted from the direct and long -lasting impact of the
additional restrictive measures imposed by Israel on the West Bank following the
outbreak of the second intifada, during the 2000 –2019 period. The estimates
presented therefore account only for a small part of the total cost of the Israeli
occupation of the West Bank.
5. Those estimates do not include the impact of the restrictions in 2020 and 2021
associated with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), nor the potentially substantial
economic cost of events triggered by the threat of eviction of Palestinian families and
confiscation of their properties in the Shaykh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem
in May 2021. The ensuing confrontations spread to the rest of the West Bank. According
to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 31 Palestinians were kil led,
7,516 injured and 798 arrested.2 Most of the fatalities resulted from the use by Israeli
security forces of live ammunition in the context of demonstrations or clashes or in
response to attacks or attempted attacks. On the Israeli side, 1 person was killed and 137
were injured, including 90 members of Israeli security forces (see S/2021/584).
__________________
1 United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “West Bank closure and
access”, April 2005.
2 United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “West Bank: escalation of
violence, 13 April–21 May 2021”, June 2021.
A/76/309
4/20 21-11970
6. The economic cost of the recent tensions in the occupied Palestinian territory is
likely to be enormous. Upon request by the General Assembly, that cost could be
assessed and accounted for, then reported to the Assembly.
II. The lasting impact of restrictions in the West Bank
7. Subsequent to the failure of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization to
reach an agreement at the conference held in July 2000 at Camp David, Maryland, in
the United States of America, the second Palestinian uprising (intifada) broke out on
28 September 2000. In response, Israel immediately tightened its existin g restrictions
and imposed a total closure on the occupied Palestinian territory. According to the
Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B’Tselem),
the number of closure days increased dramatically in October 2000, reachi ng
244 days in 2001, then declined to 122 in 2006 before dropping to 34 days in 2007. 3
8. On 29 March 2002, Israel launched its Operation Defensive Shield in the West
Bank, which started with the reoccupation of Ramallah, followed by the other Palestinian
cities. The Israel Defense Forces announced the official end of the operation on 21 April
2002. However, the incursions and re-incursions into Palestinian towns and cities from
which the Israeli forces had withdrawn continued even beyond 2002 (see A/ES-10/186).
9. The term “closure” refers to the restrictions that Israel imposed on the free
movement of Palestinian goods and labour across borders and within the West Bank and
Gaza. Israel claims that such restrictions are required for security reasons. They take
three forms: (a) internal closure within the West Bank and between the West Bank and
Gaza, reinforced periodically by curfews; (b) the external closure of crossings between
Israel and the West Bank and between Israel and Gaza; and (c) the external closure of
international crossings between the West Bank and Jordan and between Gaza and Egypt.4
10. Under external border closure, Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza are not
allowed to enter Israel or East Jerusalem or travel to Jordan. This contributes to
disconnecting them from the rest of the world. Under internal closure, Palestinians are
not allowed to move between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip or between urban centres
within the West Bank and surrounding villages. 5 Furthermore, Israel imposed full
curfews on Palestinian cities and villages, which sometimes lasted for several months.
That paralysed economic activity and deprived large segments of the population of their
income and heightened their vulnerability to various types of shocks. Palestinians who
worked in Israel could not make it to their workplace under curfew conditions, and the
demand for non-regular wage workers throughout the West Bank diminished. Self -
employed Palestinians in urban areas and refugee camps could not open shops.
11. In addition to the closures, curfews and destruction of private and public
infrastructure, Israel withheld, and did not transfer to the Palestinian National
Authority, public revenues from taxes on Palestinian imports (clearance revenues)
from December 2000 to December 2002. This not only und ermined the ability of the
Authority to plan and manage its finances and fund development projects, but also
posed a significant challenge to its ability to meet its financial obligations, in
particular footing civil service wages and covering current expe nditures.6
__________________
3 B’Tselem – Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, “Figures on
comprehensive closure days”, 31 May 2021.
4 World Bank, Four Years – Intifada, Closures and Palestinian Economic Crisis: An Assessment (2004).
5 World Bank, Fifteen Months – Intifada, Closures and Palestinian Economic Crisis: An
Assessment (2002); and World Bank, Twenty-Seven Months – Intifada, Closures and Palestinian
Economic Crisis: An Assessment (2003).
6 The Economic Costs of the Israeli Occupation for the Palestinian People: Cumulative Fiscal
Costs (United Nations publication, 2019).
A/76/309
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12. The complex system of mobility restrictions, which Israel tightened after
October 2000, has effectively turned the West Bank into an archipelago of islands
fragmented by physical barriers in the form of permanent and flying checkpoints,
metal gates, earth mounds, earth walls, roadblocks and trenches, in addition to curfews.
Palestinians were either restricted or entirely prohibited from using 41 roads covering
more than 700 km of roadway. By 2005, 300 of those barriers were still in place, and
the barrier wall constructed by Israel in the West Bank had created new physical and
economic constraints.7 In 2020, there were 593 movement obstacles in the West Bank,
and construction of the 710 km barrier wall, which is more than twice the length o f
the Green Line (corresponding to the June 1967 border), had reached 64 per cent.8
A. The direct impact of measures imposed by Israel following the
outbreak of the second intifada
13. The direct impact and costs of the additional restrictive measures and stricter
closure policy imposed by Israel on the West Bank after the outbreak of the second
intifada include the following:
(a) The cumulative economic cost in terms of lost potential income over the
2000–2004 period is estimated at $6.4 billion, or 82 per cent of the Palestinian gross
domestic product (GDP) in 1999 (see TD/B/52/2);
(b) The loss of physical capital is estimated at $3.5 billion, as a result of the
destruction of private and public infrastructure and capital stock and the overuse of
surviving physical capital, which represents 30 per cent of pre -2000 Palestinian
capital stock (ibid.);
(c) In 2004 alone, 1,399 houses in the West Bank and Gaza were destroyed,
rendering 10,683 people homeless. In the four years ending August 2004, 2,370
housing units were destroyed in the Gaza Strip, with approximately 22,800 people
left homeless (ibid.);
(d) Palestinians are restricted from conducting business in Area C, which
represents more than 60 per cent of the area in the West Bank. In 2013 the World Bank
estimated that the lifting of restrictions on Palestinian economic activities in Area C
would add 35 per cent to the Palestinian GDP;9
(e) The overall damage to the economy during the first 15 months following
the outbreak of the second intifada was estimated at $2.4 billion, raw physical damage
was estimated at $305 million, and lost investment opportunities were estimated at
$1.2 billion;10
(f) About half of Palestinian households lost more than 50 per cent of their
usual income, and about 16 per cent of them suffered from precarious living
conditions. It is reported that the median monthly income in the occupied Palestinian
territory decreased from NIS 2,500 ($750) before Sep tember 2000 to NIS 1,500
($450) at the end of 2004.11
__________________
7 United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “West Bank closure and
access”.
8 United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “West Bank access
restrictions”, June 2020.
9 World Bank, West Bank and Gaza: Area C and the Future of the Palestinian Economy , Report
No. AUS2922 (Washington, D.C., 2013).
10 World Bank, Fifteen Months – Intifada, Closures and Palestinian Economic Crisis.
11 Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Levels of Living in the Palestinian Territory: the Final
Report (January 2004–January 2005) (2005). Available at www.pcbs.gov.ps/Downloads/
book1188.pdf.
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B. The long-lasting impact of restrictions and closures
14. The additional restrictive measures and stricter closure policy imposed by Israel
on the West Bank after the second intifada have aggravated the Palestinian economy’s
pre-existing and deep-seated structural weaknesses and vulnerabilities to external shocks
arising from the prolonged occupation, as manifested by volatile economic growth,
persistently high unemployment rates and chronic internal and external deficits.12
15. Two decades after the second intifada, the complex matrix of restrictions and
controls over the Palestinian economy is still in place (see TD/B/65(2)/3). The only
contiguous part is Area C, which is inaccessible to Palestinian producers, even though
it has the most valuable natural resources, such as fertile land, minerals and stones,
as well as tourist attractions (see TD/B/67/5).
16. Daily life in the West Bank is constrained by measures taken by the occupying
Power that result in casualties among civilians and the demolition of homes and
productive assets. Moreover, the construction of the barrier wall and the instal lation
of hundreds of checkpoints by the occupying Power disrupt the movement of
Palestinian people and goods and hinder production and trade. 13 Furthermore, the
uncertainty of the permit system for the employment of Palestinian labour in the
Israeli economy and Israeli settlements has a negative impact on household
consumption and the entire economy. Those factors have been mutually reinforcing,
thereby deepening the structural distortions of the Palestinian economy. 14
C. Distorted, unsustainable and jobless growth
17. Since the Oslo Accords and the establishment of the Palestinian National
Authority in 1994, the Palestinian economy has gone through three phases. In the first
phase, corresponding to the period 1995–2000, hopes for a final status agreement
were high, Israeli restrictions were less severe, donor support was dedicated mainly
to finance development, and the Palestinian government was able to more or less
balance its recurrent budget. During that period, the West Bank regional economy
registered 10.7 per cent annual growth, with the unemployment rate reaching an all -
time low, at 9.5 per cent in 1999, as illustrated in figures I and II.
18. During the second phase, corresponding to the period 2000 –2006, Israel
tightened its closure policy and imposed further restrictive measures in the West
Bank, in addition to its military operations. Meanwhile, GDP per capita fell by 35 per
cent in three years, from $3,146 (2015 constant United States dollars) in 1999 to
$2,040 in 2002, while the unemployment rate tripled, from 9.5 per cent to 28.5 per
cent (see figure II). The poverty rate rose from 11.6 per cent in 1998 to 40.7 per cent
in the West Bank in 2004.
19. In the phase corresponding to the period 2007–2019, the annual growth rate of
real GDP and real GDP per capita in the West Bank were 6.2 per cent and 4.0 per cent,
respectively. After 2007, Israeli restrictions were eased, but they remained significant
obstacles to economic growth and development. During that period, growth was
volatile, ranging from 13.1 per cent in 2008 to 1.6 per cent in 2019. Such volatility is
__________________
12 The Palestinian War-Torn Economy: Aid, Development and State Formation (United Nations
publication, 2006).
13 United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “West Bank access
restrictions”.
14 The Occupied Palestinian Territory: Twin Deficits or an Imposed Resource Gap? (United
Nations publication, 2017).
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usually associated with a weak capacity for employment generation. During this third
phase, the unemployment rate in the West Bank was high, hovering around 18 per cent.
Figure I
West Bank: real economic growth
(Percentage)
Source: Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, national accounts data; UNCTAD calculations.
Figure II
West Bank: unemployment rates and share of employment in Israel and
the settlements
(Percentage)
Source: Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, labour survey, various issues; UNCTAD
calculations.
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
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20. The incapacity of the constrained West Bank regional economy to generate jobs
forces many Palestinians to seek employment in Israel and its settlements. 15 Figure II
shows a strong negative correlation between the share, in total West Bank
employment, of Palestinians working in Israel and the settlements and the overall
unemployment rate. This reflects the dependence of the West Bank regional economy
on Israel and its settlements for employment.
21. Without employment in Israel and its settlements, unemployment in the West
Bank would have been much higher, at levels not far from the extremely high rates in
Gaza, blockaded since 2007.16 On average, West Bank unemployment would have
been 16 percentage points higher during the period 1995–2019 (see figure II). In 2019,
without employment in Israel and its settlements, unemployment could have been as
high as 37 per cent, instead of the recorded 17 per cent. But even with e mployment
in Israel, the West Bank regional economy has not been able to reduce, or even
stabilize, its unemployment rate since 1999. In other words, the West Bank went
through two decades of jobless growth and arrested development.
III. Economic costs of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank,
2000–2019
22. In 2018, the World Bank estimated that a 10 per cent easing of road obstacles to
improve market access would increase local output by 0.6 per cent and that GDP per
capita would be much higher than its observed level. Furthermore, some relaxation
of other restrictions by Israel could, by 2025, enlarge the Palestinian economy by
33 per cent.17
23. According to a 2013 World Bank study, the closures reduce firm profitability
and labour demand and, consequently, decrease the probability of being employed.
They also reduce hourly wages and the number of days worked, while increasing the
number of working hours per day. The study estimated that checkpoints alone cost
the West Bank regional economy at least 6.0 per cent of its GDP, and that placing one
checkpoint one minute away from a locality reduces the probability of being
employed by 0.41 per cent, the hourly wage by 6.3 per cent and working days by
2.6 per cent.18 According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the economy
loses 60 million work-hours yearly (equivalent to $274 million) as a result of mobility
restrictions.19
24. Estimates of the economic costs incurred by the Palestinian people as a result
of the significant tightening of Israeli closures and restrictions in the West Bank, in
addition to its military operations, following the outbreak of the second intifada are
provided below. As explained above, the direct result was the shrinking of the regional
economy of the West Bank by one third during the period 2000 –2003. It should be
noted, however, that the reduction in the size of the economy has triggered a long -
__________________
15 The Economic Costs of the Israeli Occupation for the Palestinian People .
16 According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, after the imposition of the blockade on
Gaza in 2007, and during the period 2007–2019, the average unemployment rate in Gaza was
39.8 per cent – only 6 percentage points higher than the average rate in the West Bank after
excluding employment in Israel and its settlements.
17 Roy van der Weide and others, “Obstacles on the road to Palestinian economic growth”, Policy
Research Working Paper, No. 8385 (Washington, D.C., World Bank, 2018).
18 Massimiliano Calì and Sami H. Miaari, “The labour market impact of mobility restrictions:
evidence from the West Bank”, Policy Research Working Paper, No. 6457 (Washington, D.C.,
World Bank, 2013).
19 Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem, “Assessing the impacts of Israeli movement restrictions
on the mobility of people and goods in the West Bank”, 2019 .
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lasting cost that will continue to accumulate as long as those restrictions continue and
as long as the occupying Power prevents the rebuilding of the eroded economic base.
25. On 28 September 2000, immediately after the outbreak of the second intifada,
the occupying Power significantly tightened mobility and other restrictions imposed
on the West Bank. It is difficult to determine the date on which those restrictions were
relaxed to their pre-intifada levels. The estimation of the direct, long-lasting cost of
the Israeli restrictions imposed after the second intifada is therefore based on a
counterfactual growth path (scenario) of the West Bank regional economy that
assumes that the significantly tighter Israeli restrictions, stricter closure policy and
military operations were absent during the period 2000 –2006.
26. It should be stressed that this exercise is not aimed at answering the question,
“What if there was no occupation?” Rather, it is designed to explore the implications
and economic cost of the Israeli closures, restrictions and military operations that
followed the outbreak of the second intifada by exploring what the situation could
have been, had those events not occurred.
27. A counterfactual growth scenario was constructed, on the basis of the growth
rate in the West Bank in the period prior to the second intifada (1995 –1999) and the
period that followed (2007–2019), for the period 2000–2006. That alternative
scenario presumes that, between 2000 and 2003, the 29.5 per cent contraction of the
West Bank regional economy did not occur, nor did the economic rebound of the three
years that followed. Instead, it is assumed that, in the period 2000–2006, the economy
grew at the compounded annual rate of 7.1 per cent, which was the average annual
growth rate for the periods 1995–1999 and 2007–2019.
Figure III
West Bank: real gross domestic product, under baseline and
alternative scenario
(Billions of constant 2015 United States dollars)
Source: Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, national accounts data; UNCTAD calculations.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
Baseline Alternative scenario
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Table 1
West Bank: estimated GDP and GDP per capita losses under baseline and
alternative scenario
Real GDP
(millions of constant 2015
United States dollars)
Real GDP per capita
(constant 2015 United States dollars)
Year Baseline
Alternative
scenario Difference
Percentage
difference Baseline
Alternative
scenario Difference
2000 4 958 5 661 703 14.2 2 866 3 272 406
2001 4 366 6 064 1 698 38.9 2 456 3 411 955
2002 3 725 6 496 2 771 74.4 2 040 3 558 1 518
2003 4 091 6 958 2 868 70.1 2 181 3 710 1 529
2004 5 129 7 454 2 325 45.3 2 662 3 868 1 207
2005 5 469 7 985 2 516 46.0 2 759 4 028 1 269
2006 5 962 8 553 2 591 43.5 2 923 4 193 1 270
2007 6 588 9 086 2 499 37.9 3 139 4 329 1 191
2008 7 451 9 653 2 201 29.5 3 471 4 496 1 025
2009 8 126 10 254 2 128 26.2 3 703 4 672 970
2010 8 496 10 894 2 398 28.2 3 788 4 857 1 069
2011 9 306 11 573 2 267 24.4 4 063 5 052 990
2012 9 810 12 294 2 484 25.3 4 195 5 257 1 062
2013 10 172 13 060 2 888 28.4 4 262 5 473 1 210
2014 10 610 13 874 3 264 30.8 4 359 5 699 1 341
2015 11 072 14 739 3 667 33.1 4 461 5 938 1 477
2016 12 046 15 658 3 612 30.0 4 761 6 189 1 427
2017 12 506 16 634 4 128 33.0 4 851 6 452 1 601
2018 12 797 17 671 4 873 38.1 4 854 6 703 1 849
2019 12 999 18 772 5 773 44.4 4 823 6 964 2 142
Cumulative 165 679 223 333 57 654 34.8
Source: Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, national accounts data; UNCTAD calculations.
28. The results shown in figure III and table 1 suggest that the loss of potential GDP
reflected by the counterfactual scenario is significant, in the sense that per capita
output would have been significantly higher than it actually was. Under the alternative
scenario, during the period 2000–2019, annual West Bank GDP would have been, on
average, 35 per cent higher as compared with the observed (baseline) scenario,
leading to a cumulative loss in potential real GDP of $57.7 billion (constant 2015
United States dollars), which is equivalent to four and a half times the 2019 GDP of
the West Bank and three and a half times the 2019 GDP of the occupied Palestinian
territory.
29. Without the tighter Israeli restrictions, stricter closure policy and military
operations following the outbreak of the second intifada, it is estimated that the West
Bank GDP per capita would have been $2,142, or 44 per cent, higher than it was in
the baseline scenario in 2019 (see table 1). It is important to stress that the above
results are only estimates of lost potential GDP, they do not include the cost of damage
and destruction of assets by the Israeli military operations and other measures.
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IV. Estimated poverty cost of occupation
30. This section provides an assessment of the deterioration in the welfare and living
conditions of Palestinians in the West Bank as a result of the tighter restrictions that
Israel imposed on the West Bank after the second intifada. Using the Palestinian
Central Bureau of Statistics household survey data and census data, the poverty
headcount, poverty gap and minimal cost of eliminating poverty were estimated for
the period 1998–2017.20
31. To evaluate the impact of the Israeli restrictions, poverty indicato rs are also
estimated under the assumption that those restrictive measures had not been imposed,
as in the counterfactual growth scenario described above. For the following analysis,
the same terminologies and methodologies were applied as for the estimati on
presented by UNCTAD in its 2020 report to the General Assembly ( A/75/310).
32. The poverty headcount is defined as the proportion of households living below
the poverty line. 21 Headcounts do not take into account the severity or depth of
poverty, which is reflected by how far a given household falls below the poverty line.
The poverty gap addresses that issue by adding the distance, in monetary terms,
separating each household from the poverty line. The poverty gap therefore represents
the average percentage shortfall of households relative to the poverty line.
33. The two poverty indicators were measured for selected years to assess the
impact of the Israeli restrictive measures: (a) 1998, before the second intifada;
(b) 2004, during the second intifada; (c) 2007, soon after the second intifada; and
(d) 2017, more than a decade after the second intifada. As explained in the previous
report (A/75/310), poverty indicators are estimated using two methods: the survey -
based method and the empirical best prediction method. The latter improves the
accuracy of poverty measures by combining information from expenditure and
consumption surveys with the large sample available from census data.
A. Poverty in the West Bank22
34. Using the relatively smaller household survey data set, the mean expenditure per adult
equivalent23 and the poverty line of 60 per cent of the national median total household
expenditures per adult equivalent24 are calculated for 1998, 2004, 2007 and 2017. The
problem with that poverty line, when assessing the evolution of poverty in the West Bank
over time, is that the median level of income (and thus 60 per cent of that median level) fell
systematically in the wake of the second intifada, as can be seen in table 2.
__________________
20 A more detailed analysis of poverty in the West Bank is discussed in a forthcoming United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development technical paper entitled, “The economic costs of the Israe li
occupation for the Palestinian people: arrested development and poverty in the West Bank”.
21 Including all cash and in-kind assistance provided to households by the government and
non-governmental agencies.
22 The methodology and definitions used are discussed in detail in The Economic Costs of the
Israeli Occupation for the Palestinian People: the Impoverishment of Gaza under Blockade
(United Nations publication, 2020).
23 According to the Organization for Economic Co -operation and Development (OECD) and the
World Bank, “adult equivalent” is defined as follows: (1 + (number of adults - 1) × 0.8 +
(number of children × 0.5)). The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics uses a slightly different
definition, namely: ((number of adults + 0.46 × number of children) ^ 0.89). Using adult
equivalent terms, rather than per capita terms, reflects a more accurate picture of poverty,
because household structures are highly heterogeneous, with different numbers of adults and
children, who have different consumption requirements.
24 This measure is used by the European Union, OECD, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the
United Nations Development Programme. See also https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statisticsexplained/
index.php/Glossary:At-risk-of-poverty_rate.
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35. Using this method, only the level of poverty relative to each year’s income
distribution is considered, and not the precipitous fall in absolute livin g standards
engendered by the restrictive Israeli measures. It is therefore not surprising that, using
the above definition, the poverty rate and the poverty gap remained roughly constant.
In contrast, when the 1998 poverty line ($176) was used, the evolut ions of the poverty
headcount and poverty gap differed greatly, as they correctly reflected the fact that
the additional restrictive measures imposed after the second intifada led to a drastic
fall in living standards in the West Bank.
Table 2
West Bank: mean expenditures and 60 per cent of median expenditures per
adult equivalent
(Constant 2015 United States dollars)
Year
Mean expenditures per
adult equivalent
Poverty line (60 per cent of median
expenditures per adult equivalent)
1998 410 176
2004 284 118
2007 335 122
2017 453 195
Source: UNCTAD calculations.
1. Survey-based method
36. The survey-based method directly uses the sample data in the Palestinian
expenditures and consumption surveys to calculate the relationship between total
expenditure per adult equivalent and individual, household and location characteristics
in the survey. The survey samples indicate that the percentage of households in the
West Bank living below the corresponding year’s poverty line was 11.6 in 1998, 15.2
in 2004, 13.5 in 2007 and 13.7 per cent in 2017. Similarly, the poverty gap remained
stable over time, between 2.8 and 4.0 per cent in the selected years.
37. Nevertheless, when the poverty line was kept at its 1998 level (see table 3), the
poverty rate increased from 11.6 per cent in 1998 to 35.4 per cent in 2004, following
the introduction of the post-intifada restrictions. It declined slightly, to 30.2 per cent,
in 2007, but only returned to its pre-second intifada level 20 years later, in 2017. The
poverty gap quadrupled, from 2.8 per cent in 1998 to 11.0 per cent in 2004, and only
returned to its 1998 level in 2017.
38. The Gini coefficients generated from survey data also indicate that the impact
of the Israeli restriction was more severe on the poorer segments of the population.
This, in turn, led to an increase in inequality after the second intifad a.25 The Gini
coefficient increased from 0.325 in 1998 to 0.362 in 2004, and again to 0.393 in 2007,
before declining to 0.336 in 2017. Thus, it took 20 years for inequality to return to its
1998 level.
2. Empirical best prediction method
39. To mitigate the potential inefficiency of estimating of poverty indicators using
the small sample from the survey-based method, the empirical best prediction method
__________________
25 The Gini coefficient is a measure of the inequality of income distribution in a society. It equals 0
when income distribution is perfectly egalitarian and 1 when inequality reaches its maximum level.
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combines the survey data with much more extensive census data. 26 Explanations
concerning the empirical best prediction method and the underlying regression
analysis are presented in the annex to the present report.
40. As with most countries, Palestinian census data do not include information on
household consumption, expenditures or income. However, through the Palestinian
expenditures and consumption surveys of 2004, 2007 and 2017 and the censuses of 2007
and 2017, data are compiled on a relatively broad set of common variables, including
location (whether a household lives in an urban or rural area or in a refugee camp);
characteristics of the household head (such as educational attainment); demographic
characteristics of the household; sector of employment; employment status; access to
basic services, such as public water; characteristics of the dwelling; a nd household assets.
Table 3
West Bank: poverty headcount and poverty gap
Poverty headcount Poverty gap
Year Survey-based Empirical best prediction Survey-based Empirical best prediction
Poverty line = 60 per cent of the median level of expenditures per adult equivalent for each year
1998 0.116 0.028
2004 0.152 0.212 0.040 0.061
2007 0.135 0.188 0.034 0.054
2017 0.137 0.195 0.034 0.050
1998 poverty line
1998 0.116 0.028
2004 0.354 0.407 0.110 0.143
2007 0.302 0.352 0.090 0.120
2017 0.103 0.153 0.025 0.037
Source: UNCTAD calculations.
41. As shown in table 3, the poverty headcount and gap measured using the
empirical best prediction method are approximately 6 percentage points higher than
their survey-based counterparts. The poverty headcounts using the empirical best
prediction method in 2004, 2007 and 2017 are estimated at 21, 19 and 20 per cent,
respectively. Concomitantly, the measure of the poverty gap in the West Bank using
the empirical best prediction method is higher than the survey -based method by about
2 percentage points in each of those years.
42. However, when the 1998 poverty line of $176 is used, the evolutions of the
poverty headcount and the poverty gap are completely different, and it becomes clear
that the tighter restrictions, imposed following the intifada by the occupy ing Power,
led to a substantial increase in poverty. As shown in the bottom half of table 3, by
holding the poverty line at its 1998 level, the poverty rate increased from 11.6 per
cent in 1998 to 40.7 per cent in 2004, and was still at 35.2 per cent in 20 07. It only
returned to its pre-second intifada level 20 years later, in 2017. The poverty gap was
nearly two and half times higher in 2004 using the 1998 poverty line, reaching
14.3 per cent, and also only returned to its 1998 level in 2017.
__________________
26 See Chris Elbers, Jean O. Lanjouw and Peter Lanjouw, “Micro -level estimation of poverty and
inequality”, Econometrica, vol. 71, No. 1 (January 2003); and Isabel Molina, J.N.K. Rao and
Gauri Sankar Datta, “Small area estimation under a Fay -Herriot model with preliminary testing
for the presence of random area effects”, Survey Methodology, vol. 41, No. 1 (June 2015).
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B. Estimated post-second intifada poverty cost of restrictions and
closures in the West Bank
43. The minimum cost of eliminating poverty is equivalent to the least monetary
aggregate of annual lump-sum transfer needed to lift all households up to the poverty
line. It is calculated as follows:
minimum cost of eliminating poverty = poverty gap × poverty line × 12 months ×
number of adult equivalents per household × number of households.
Using the poverty gap estimated by the empirical best prediction method (se e table 3),
the minimum real cost of eliminating poverty in constant 2015 United States dollars in
the West Bank in 1998, 2004, 2007 and 2017 was calculated and is reported in table 4.
44. Following the tighter closures and restrictions imposed by Israel a fter the second
intifada, the annual minimum real cost of eliminating poverty in the West Bank increased
nearly fivefold between 1998 and 2004, from $73 million (constant 2015 United States
dollars) to $356 million, reaching $428 million in 2007 (almost six times the minimum
cost in 1998). The difference between the 1998 minimum cost and that of the years that
followed is a measure of the cost of the Israeli measures in terms of poverty. As presented
in table 4, that difference was equivalent to more than 5 per cent of the West Bank GDP
in 2004 and 2007. Some 17 years after the second intifada, the percentage difference
was 0.7 per cent of the GDP, which reflects the long-lasting effects of the restrictive
Israeli measures.
Table 4
West Bank: minimum annual cost of eliminating poverty
(Millions of constant 2015 United States dollars)
Year Minimum cost
Percentage of
West Bank GDP
Difference as
compared with 1998
Percentage of
West Bank GDP
1998 73 1.6 – –
2004 356 6.9 283 5.5
2007 428 6.4 355 5.3
2017 162 1.3 89 0.7
Source: UNCTAD calculations.
V. Impact of the economic cost of occupation on poverty in the
West Bank
45. The question of what the poverty rate and poverty gap would be had the tighter
Israeli restrictions, stricter closure policy and military operations not been imposed
following the outbreak of second intifada is addressed in this section. The answer is
determined by estimating the poverty indicators associated with growth rates of the
West Bank regional economy in the counterfactual scenario set out in table 1.
46. The device used for answering that question is the growth incidence curve, 27
which offers a transparent way to understand changes in the distribution of household
expenditures over time. The mean growth rate of household expenditures is a useful
indicator, but does not provide any idea about how different categories of households
have benefited, or not benefited, from increases in average expenditures. If growth is
pro-poor, a given mean increase in household expenditures per adult equivalent
__________________
27 The growth incidence curve was first introduced in Martin Ravallion and Shaohua Chen,
“Measuring pro-poor growth”, Economics Letters, vol. 78, No. 1 (January 2003).
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should benefit poor households more than non-poor households. Graphically, pro-poor
growth corresponds to a growth incidence curve that is above the mean level of growth
for lower quantiles of the expenditure distribution, and below it for higher quantiles,
leading to a downward-sloping curve (see figure IV).
47. The immediate effect of the tighter Israeli closures and restrictions imposed on
the West Bank after the second intifada was more severe for the poorer segments of the
population, as illustrated by the upward sloping nature of the top two growth incidence
curves shown in figure IV. It was only after the restrictive measures were somewhat
relaxed in the past decade that growth in the West Bank became relatively pro-poor
(bottom growth incidence curve in figure IV).
Figure IV
West Bank: growth incidence curves, 1998–2004, 2004–2007 and 2007–2017
(Percentage change in total household expenditures)
Source: UNCTAD calculations.
Note: The growth incidence curve plots the distribution of households’ expenditure per adult equivalent over the
entire population: the horizontal axis represents each quantile of the distribution, and the vertical axis
measures the percentage change in the total household expenditures of each quantile over the analysis period.
The horizontal solid line in each of the above graphs represents the mean growth rate of household
expenditures per adult equivalent, and the dotted line and the dashed line represent gr owth at the mean and
median, respectively. Any quantile of the population that benefited more than the mean will be on the curve
above the horizontal solid line; any quantile of the population that benefited less than the mean will be on the
curve below that line. A pro-poor growth therefore corresponds to a downward-sloping curve.
Abbreviation: AE, adult equivalent.
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48. The counterfactual poverty headcount and poverty gap were estimated by
applying the economic growth rate of the counterfactual scenario ( see table 1), the
survey-based method and the monthly poverty line of 1998, namely, $176 per adult
equivalent (constant 2015 United States dollars). For 2004, it was assumed that the
relative growth of each household’s expenditures per adult equivalent wou ld have
followed that of the 1998–2004 growth incidence curve. For 2017, in order to
ascertain what might have happened had a more pro -poor growth pattern been
obtained, it was assumed that the relative growth of each household’s expenditures
per adult equivalent would have followed the 2007–2017 growth incidence curve for
the entire 1998–2017 period.
49. The results are in line with the previous analysis: the counterfactual poverty rate
in 2004 would have been 11.7 per cent, in contrast to the actual rate of 35.4 per cent.
Similarly, the poverty gap in the counterfactual scenario would have been 4.8 per cent
instead of the recorded 11.0 per cent (see table 5). For 2017, the counterfactual
poverty rate would have been 6.0 per cent instead of 10.3 per cent, and the poverty
gap would have increased slightly, to 4.5 instead of 2.5 per cent. 28
Table 5
West Bank: poverty headcount and poverty gap under baseline and
alternative scenario
Poverty headcount Poverty gap
Year
Survey-based
scenario (baseline) Alternative scenario
Survey-based
scenario (baseline) Alternative scenario
1998 poverty line
1998 0.116 0.028
2004 0.354 0.117 0.110 0.048
2017 0.103 0.060 0.025 0.045
Source: UNCTAD calculations.
50. The clear finding is that the post-second intifada closure policy and restrictions
thwarted West Bank economic expansion and led to massive losses in inhabitants’
livelihoods, in particular for households living below the 1998 poverty line.
VI. Conclusions and recommendations
51. The tighter closures and restrictions imposed by Israel on the West Bank after
the second Palestinian intifada have aggravated the economy’s deep -seated and
structural weaknesses and vulnerability to internal and external shocks. This is
manifested by volatile economic growth, chronic fiscal and external deficits and
persistently high unemployment and poverty rates. Not only did those measures have
harmful short-term effects, but, more importantly, they also had long-lasting impacts
that continue to constrain the regional economy of the West Bank until today.
52. The West Bank regional economy experienced two decades of jobless growth,
with the unemployment rate averaging 18 per cent between 1995 and 2019. Without
employment in Israel and its settlements, the unemployment rate would have been
16 percentage points higher, at par with the extremely high rate in the Gaza Strip,
__________________
28 The reason for the slight increase in the 2017 counterfactual poverty gap is that most of the poor
households that moved above the poverty line were not actually far below it; only those who
were actually very far below the line remained poor in the counterfactual scenario.
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which has been under closure since 2007. The cumulative economic cost of the tighter
Israel restrictions during the period 2000–2019 is estimated at $58 billion (constant
2015 United States dollars), equivalent to four and a half times the size of the regional
economy of the West Bank, or three and a half times the size of the enti re economy
of the occupied Palestinian territory in 2019.
53. In terms of poverty, the impact of the tighter Israeli restrictions was severe and
long-lasting, especially for the poorer segments of the population in the West Bank,
who were less able to benefit from the economic recovery after the second intifada
until 2007. Without the tighter Israeli restrictions imposed after the second intifada,
the poverty rate in the West Bank would have been equal to 11.7 per cent in 2004,
instead of 35.4 per cent, while the poverty gap would have been equal to 4.8 per cent
instead of 11.0 per cent. Furthermore, the real minimum cost of eliminating poverty
in the West Bank jumped from $73 million (constant 2015 United States dollars) in
1998 to $356 million in 2004, and $428 million in 2007.
54. Member States may wish to consider the following:
(a) Terminating and reversing the evolving and cumulative cost of the Israeli
occupation for the Palestinian people cannot be realized without ending the
occupation, in line with the relevant United Nations resolutions;
(b) The fulfilment of paragraph 9 of General Assembly resolution 75/20
requires the establishment, within the United Nations system, of a systematic, evidencebased,
comprehensive and sustainable framework to assess the costs of occupation and
report the results to the Assembly. The establishment of such a framework will require
securing additional resources (see A/71/174, paras. 2, 10 and 35; and A/73/201).
55. Israel, as the occupying Power, should:
(a) Enable the Palestinian public and private sectors to develop agricultural,
industrial, commercial and mining business in Area C (at least 60 per cent of the area
in the West Bank), which contains the most valuable natural resources, including fertile
land, minerals, stones and tourist attraction sites in the occupied Palestinian territory;
(b) Lift all the mobility restrictions in the occupied Palestinian territory and
re-establish the contiguity of the territory by reconnecting East Jerusalem and all the
cities and villages in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with each other. Gaza is, and
must remain, an integral part of a future Palestinian State as part of a two -State
solution. The focus must be on lifting the debilitating closures in Gaza, in line with
Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) and, ultimately, returning to a peace process
that will end the occupation and create a viable two -State solution;
(c) End and reverse all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian
territory, including East Jerusalem, as called for by the Security Council in its
resolution 2334 (2016), in which it reaffirms that the establishment by Israel of
settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, has no
legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law.
56. The State of Palestine may wish to consider implementing pro -poor and
inclusive growth strategies that target the poor and involve large-scale investment in
employment-intensive sectors, so as to reduce poverty and generate sufficient decent
job opportunities in the domestic economy and, consequently, reduce dependence on
the precarious employment situation in Israel and its settlements.
57. The Palestinian people’s right to statehood cannot be replaced by humanitarian
and economic assistance, essential as these may be in the interim. The United Nations
will continue to work towards the realization of a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace in the Middle East on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, including
resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003), 1850 (2008), 1860
(2009) and 2334 (2016), an end to the occupation that began in 1967 and the
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establishment of a sovereign, democratic, viable and contiguous Palestinian State,
existing side by side in peace with a secure Israel. It is only by realizing the vision of
two States living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition, with
Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and the State of Palestine, and all final status
issues resolved permanently through negotiations, that the legitimate aspirations of
both peoples will be achieved.
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Annex
Estimation of the empirical best prediction method
1. The empirical best prediction method follows three steps to estimate the poverty
headcount and gap. First, data from the expenditures and consumption surveys are
used to estimate regression equations for household expenditures per adult equivalent
on the basis of the observable characteristics of households. Second , the estimated
coefficients of the regressions are combined with the census data to impute household
expenditures per adult equivalent for the larger sample of households included in the
census. 1 Third, the imputed measures of household expenditures are used to
recalculate the poverty headcount and poverty gap measures for each year. For the
statistical relationship linking household expenditures per adult equivalent to the
household characteristics to be estimated, this information must be available in b oth
the survey data and the census data that constitute the basis for the estimation.
2. The table below shows the results of regressing log expenditures per adult
equivalent (in constant 2015 United States dollars) on the set of standard covariates,
at the national level. To maximize comparability between the synthetic income
measures that will be constructed using census data and the estimated coefficients, a
common set of covariates over the three sample surveys were maintained in the
regressions for 2004, 2007 and 2017. There are three exceptions, namely: employment
abroad in 2004; employment in Israel and the settlements in 2004; and access to
electricity in 2017. Of course, the regressions should not be interpreted in causal terms.
Regression results: determinants of monthly real expenditures per adult equivalent
(Constant 2015 United States dollars)
Palestinian expenditures and consumption survey
Independent variables 2004 2007 2017
Intercept 4.991 (0.157)a 5.442 (0.462)a 5.641 (0.148)a
Location (West Bank and urban are the base categories)
Gaza Strip -0.120 (0.024)a -0.414 (0.045)a -0.408 (0.027)a
Rural 0.070 (0.025)b -0.045 (0.044) -0.053 (0.020)b
Camp -0.012 (0.026) -0.038 (0.052) -0.016 (0.029)
Characteristics of household head
Gender 0.102 (0.035)b 0.078 (0.061) 0.036 (0.031)
Marital status 0.072 (0.064) -0.008 (0.130) -0.019 (0.058)
Refugee status -0.066 (0.021)b -0.064 (0.038) -0.032 (0.019)
Education level 0.066 (0.022)b 0.093 (0.039)c 0.064 (0.019)a
Demographic characteristics of household
Number of females -0.098 (0.006)a -0.105 (0.011)a -0.118 (0.007)a
Number of males -0.087 (0.007)a -0.077 (0.013)a -0.089 (0.007)a
Number of adult males -0.001 (0.009) -0.002 (0.016) 0.003 (0.009)
Number of adult females 0.003 (0.011) 0.018 (0.021) -0.008 (0.012)
Sector of employment (services are the base category)
Agriculture -0.142 (0.031)a -0.110 (0.058) -0.067 (0.036)
__________________
1 To impute the household level of expenditure per adult equivalent for 2004, the estimated coefficients
obtained from the regression using the Palestinian expenditures and consumption surveys from 2004
were combined with the data from the 2007 census, which covered a greater number of households.
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Palestinian expenditures and consumption survey
Independent variables 2004 2007 2017
Industry -0.039 (0.031) 0.012 (0.169) -0.032 (0.030)
Construction -0.079 (0.027)b -0.019 (0.052) -0.030 (0.027)
Employment status
Number of employed household members 0.044 (0.011)a 0.066 (0.019)a 0.048 (0.011)a
Employment in Israel and the settlements 0.209 (0.058)a 0.166 (0.027)a
Employment abroad -0.198 (0.199) 0.021 (0.127)
Employment in government 0.074 (0.027)b -0.001 (0.048) 0.107 (0.025)a
Access to basic services
Access to public water 0.013 (0.031) -0.134 (0.059)c -0.158 (0.027)a
Connection to sewage network 0.122 (0.021)a 0.146 (0.041)a -0.023 (0.021)
Access to electricity -0.085 (0.078) 0.027 (0.167)
Characteristics of dwelling
House ownership -0.201 (0.034)a -0.237 (0.050)a -0.053 (0.023)c
Number of rooms 0.014 (0.006)c 0.049 (0.016)b 0.039 (0.012)a
Number of bedrooms 0.047 (0.014)a -0.049 (0.029) -0.007 (0.017)
Gas for cooking energy 0.136 (0.058)c -0.148 (0.112) 0.026 (0.070)
Gas for heating 0.073 (0.023)b 0.031 (0.040) -0.015 (0.021)
House has a kitchen 0.030 (0.103) 0.371 (0.344) 0.053 (0.115)
House has a bathroom 0.077 (0.085) 0.076 (0.325) -0.067 (0.028)c
House has a toilet -0.219 (0.107)c -0.391 (0.328) 0.034 (0.020)
Household assets
Car 0.199 (0.023)a 0.236 (0.040)a 0.379 (0.020)a
Refrigerator 0.119 (0.040)b 0.083 (0.085) 0.098 (0.052)
Boiler 0.014 (0.021) 0.109 (0.039)b 0.096 (0.018)a
Central heating 0.283 (0.068)a 0.323 (0.128)c 0.072 (0.078)
Vacuum 0.146 (0.027)a 0.097 (0.043)c 0.075 (0.020)a
Cooking stove 0.139 (0.086) -0.030 (0.193) 0.025 (0.030)
Washing machine 0.079 (0.034)c 0.062 (0.068) -0.057 (0.017)b
Home library 0.129 (0.024)a 0.151 (0.041)a 0.090 (0.026)a
Television 0.072 (0.042) 0.082 (0.082) 0.170 (0.019)a
Telephone line 0.204 (0.021)a 0.197 (0.038)a 0.072 (0.019)a
Computer 0.133 (0.022)a 0.155 (0.038)a 0.060 (0.019)b
Mobile telephone 0.214 (0.023)a 0.267 (0.051)a 0.191 (0.025)a
R2 0.495 0.515 0.535
Adjusted R2 0.489 0.498 0.530
Number of observations 3 089 1 223 3 708
Source: UNCTAD calculations.
Note: Standard errors are in parentheses.
Abbreviation: R2, proportion of the variance for a dependent variable that is explained by an independent variable.
a Where p-value is less than 0.001.
b Where p-value is less than 0.01 but greater than 0.001.
c Where p-value is less than 0.05 but greater than 0.01.
United Nations A/77/295
General Assembly
Distr.: General
16 August 2022
Original: English
22-12719 (E) 120922
*2212719*
Seventy-seventh session
Item 34 of the provisional agenda*
Question of Palestine
Economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian
people: the toll of the additional restrictions in Area C,
2000–2020
Note by the Secretary-General
The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the General Assembly the
report prepared by the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development.
* A/77/150.
A/77/295
2/20 22-12719
Report prepared by the secretariat of the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development on the economic costs of
the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people: the toll of the
additional restrictions in Area C, 2000–2020
Summary
The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 75/20, in
which the Assembly requested the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development to report to it on the economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the
Palestinian people. This report complements the findings of previous UNCTAD reports
submitted to the Assembly (A/71/174, A/73/201, A/74/272, A/75/310 and A/76/309).
With the onset of the occupation in 1967, Israel implemented a long -term policy
for the establishment of settlements in Area C of the occupied West Bank and in
occupied East Jerusalem. To facilitate the expansion of settlements, Israel imposed
strict restrictions on Palestinian economic activities in Area C, over and above those
imposed in Areas A and B of the West Bank. Israel, the occupying Power includes 70
per cent of Area C within the boundaries of the regional councils of settlements,
rendering that area off limits for Palestinian development. Meanwhile, Palestinian
access to the remainder of Area C remains heavily restricted.
A variety of controls imposed by occupation constrain economic deve lopment
in Areas A and B in the West Bank. These include the ban on the importation of certain
technology and inputs under the dual-list system and a myriad of mobility and other
restrictions which inflate the cost of production and undermine competitivene ss of
Palestinian producers in domestic and foreign markets.
This report estimates the economic cost of the additional restrictions on
Palestinian economic activity in the remainder of Area C. The annual cost of these
restrictions is estimated at 25.3 per cent of West Bank gross domestic product (GDP)
and the cumulative GDP loss during the period 2000 –2020 is estimated at $50 billion
($45 billion constant 2015 dollars), about three times West Bank GDP in 2020 and
over 2.5 times Palestinian GDP in the same year. The cost is estimated based on an
innovative, well-established methodology which uses nighttime luminosity captured
by satellite sensors over a span of time.
Moreover, the contribution of Area C settlements and of occupied East
Jerusalem, to the economy of Israel is estimated at an average of $30 billion (constant
2015 dollars) per year, or 2.7 times annual Palestinian GDP during the period 2000 –2020.
In other words, the cumulative contribution of settlements to the economy of Israel
between 2000 and 2020 is estimated at $628 billion (constant 2015 dollars), or 2.7
times Palestinian GDP during that period.
Full Palestinian access to all of Area C is a sine qua non for the sustainable
development of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and for the emergence of a viable,
contiguous Palestinian State based on the two -State solution, in line with relevant
United Nations resolutions. This requires ending and reversing settlement activities
and lifting all restrictions on Palestinian development in Area C and beyond. As
envisioned in General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, a lasting and
comprehensive peace can be achieved only through a negotiated two -State solution.
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I. Objective and limitation
1. The present report is an addition to five previous reports, prepared by the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and submitted to the
General Assembly, on the economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian
people. This report adds to the findings of its predecessors, providing further aspects
of the complex and extensive economic cost exacted by the Israeli occupation of the
Palestinian territory in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
2. The present 2022 report focuses on the economic cost of the Israeli occupation
of Area C, which accounts for about 60 per cent of the total area of the occupied West
Bank. While the occupation also imposes significant restrictions on Palestinian
economic activity in Areas A and B, it imposes more restrictions in Area C. This report
estimates the cost of these additional restrictions to economic activities in Area C,
outside the settlements. The cost to economic activities is estimated by applying an
innovative yet well-established methodology that uses nighttime luminosity (NTL),
captured by satellite sensors over a span of time, to estimate economic activity.
3. The estimation covers the period 2000–2020. The year 2000 was chosen as a
starting point for the estimation, as it was supposed to be the first year following the
end of the five-year “interim period” 1 stipulated by the 1993 Oslo Accords.
Nevertheless, more than two decades later, the political and economic arrangements of
the said interim period continue to shape the reality of Palestinian life on the ground
and Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law, continue to expand in
Area C, inflicting considerable damage on the livelihood of the Palestinian people not
only in Area C but throughout the entire Occupied Palestinian Territory. The inability
of Palestinian producers to access the resources of Area C pre -empts positive spillover
effects to the rest of the Palestinian economy through forward and backward linkages.
Furthermore, the loss of potential income undermines the fiscal capacity of the
Palestinian Government and thus undermines the development of the whole economy. 2
4. The report considers these economic costs from two perspectives. First, it
estimates conservatively the potential Palestinian gross domestic product (GDP) that
has been lost but could have been realized if Palestinian economic activities in Area C
(excluding the settlements in that Area and not including East Jerusalem) had been
subjected to the same level of restrictions imposed by the occupying Power on
economic activities in Areas A and B in the West Bank. Second, it offers an estimation
of the portion of Israeli GDP produced in East Jerusalem and in settlements elsewhere
in the West Bank.
5. It should be stressed that the estimation in this report accounts for only a fraction
of the cost for the Palestinian people emanating from the Israeli occupation of Area C
during the period 2000–2020. The estimation includes neither the cost of the presence
of settlements and the associated loss of land and natural resources nor the cost of the
first layer of restrictions deployed in Areas A, B and C. The cost estimated here
pertains only to the additional restrictions on economic activity applied in Area C over
and above those imposed on Areas A and B. It is an even smaller fraction of the
staggering total cost that occupation imposes on the whole of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, as documented by UNCTAD and other international organizations.
__________________
1 The interim period was a pe riod of five years for reaching a permanent settlement in accordance
with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) from the date of signature of the
Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area of 4 May 1994.
2 See Security Council resolution 2334 (2016).
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II. Settlements, restrictions and the fragmentation of the West Bank
6. The occupying Power deploys a matrix of administrative and physical controls
over Palestinian resources, trade and the movement of people. It claims that such
restrictions are required for security reasons. In the West Bank, divided into different
administrative areas, the multilayer control system that impedes the movement of
Palestinian people and goods includes application of a stringent permit regime,
bureaucratic controls and hundreds of permanent and flying checkpoints, gates, earth
mounds, roadblocks and trenches in addition to the Wall and the physical presence of
settlements and the infrastructure networks that sustain them. This matrix of control
transforms the West Bank into an archipelago of scat tered islands and increases the
travel distance between towns and localities as well as the transportation cost.
Elements of this complex control system are mutually reinforcing and ultimately
contribute to the expansion of settlements.
7. In accordance with the stipulations of the 1993 Oslo Accords, the occupied West
Bank was divided into three administrative areas. Area A was placed under the civil
and security administration of the Palestinian National Authority. It represents about
18 per cent of the total area of the West Bank and includes the Palestinian cities and
most of the Palestinian population of the West Bank. Area B, which represents
approximately 22 per cent of the area of the West Bank, is largely rural and subject
to Palestinian civil control and joint Israeli-Palestinian security control. Area C,
which accounts for about 60 per cent of the area of the West Bank, incorporates all
Israeli settlements and is fully under Israeli civil and security control.
8. The Oslo Accords stipulate that Area C would gradually be transferred to the
Palestinian National Authority over the course of a five -year period, ending in 1999.
However, settlements continued to grow relentlessly, further fragmenting the West
Bank and undermining Palestinian livelihoods n ot only in Area C but throughout the
Occupied Palestinian Territory.
9. Areas A and B are subdivided into 166 islands with no contiguity and
surrounded by Area C, which is the only contiguous part of the West Bank. Area C is
largely inaccessible to Palestinian producers, although it is the largest area and has
the most valuable natural resources, such as fertile land, minerals, stone, tourist
attractions and ingredients for cosmetic products. The wall, together with the
settlements, deepens the economic, physical, administrative and legal fragmentation
of the occupied Palestinian territory (figure I).
10. In 1967, Israel began establishing settlements in the occupied West Bank, with
the growth of settlements in recent years bringing 70 per cent of Area C within the
boundaries of their regional councils and rendering that chunk off limits for Palestinian
use and development (figure II). Palestinian access to the remainder of Area C is
heavily restricted. The present report estimates the economic cost of the additional
restrictions on Palestinian economic activity in the remaining 30 per cent of Area C.
Those restrictions facilitate the establishment of settlements and their expansion, they
foster the setting aside of land and natural resources for settlers and create a difficult
environment which forces the Palestinian population to leave Area C.
11. The occupying Power provides significant incentives to facilitate industrial and
agricultural ventures, and hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens were encouraged
to move to subsidized settlements, where standards of living are, on average, higher
than in Israel.3
__________________
3 B’Tselem – Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, “This is ours,
and this, too: Israel’s settlement policy in the West Bank”, 2021. Available at www.btselem.org/
publications/202103_this_is_ours_and_this_too . See also UNCTAD, Trade and Development Board,
“Report on UNCTAD assistance to the Palestinian people: developments in the economy of the
Occupied Palestinian Territory”, note by the UNCTAD secretariat (TD/B/EX(71)/2), 20 September
2021, para. 41.
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12. The settler population rose from 198,315 in 2000 to 311,136 in 2010 and to more
than 650,000 in early 2021.4 However, in several resolutions, the Security Council
emphasized the illegality of settlements and the acquisition of territory by force. In
its resolution 2334 (2016), the Council reaffirmed that establishment by Israel of
settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and
a major obstacle to the achievement of the two -State solution and a just, lasting and
comprehensive peace.
Figure I
Mobility restrictions (2018) and the wall (2017 –2018)
Source: United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, occupied Palestinian territory.
__________________
4 Ibid.
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Figure II
Israeli settlements: Built-up areas (2020) and municipal boundary (2014)
Source: United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, occupied
Palestinian territory.
13. Through settlements and by supporting and subsidizing related residential and
agricultural activities, the occupying Power appropriates Palestinian natural
resources, including water, while limiting the ability of Palestinian farmers to dig
wells and access the water they need.5
14. Settlements create a structure of dispossession, they determine the land and
roads Palestinians cannot use, the route of the wall and the location of checkpoints,
and otherwise restrict the movement of Palestinian people, including workers, and
goods. Palestinians and settlers do not have equal rights in the territory controlled by
Israel, as attested, inter alia, by different laws and unequal access to factors of
production, land, roads, infrastructure, water resources and basic services. 6
15. “Outposts” in the occupied West Bank are als o being established. In the first
half of 2021, there were 150 outposts, devoted mostly to agricultural and animal
production. Outposts are illegal even under Israeli law, yet some receive public and
State support through various direct and indirect means. 7 They are often integrated
into the infrastructure networks serving settlements, which enables them to receive
water and electricity, among other vital services. Settlers in some outposts have access
to mortgages, roads and, in some cases, schools and ot her facilities. Once outposts
__________________
5 Marco Allegra and Erez Maggor, “The metropolitanization of Israel ’s settlement policy: the
colonization of the West Bank as a strategy of spatial restructuring”, Political Geography,
vol. 92. No. 2 (January 2022), 102513.
6 United Nations, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, “Concluding observations on
the combined seventeenth to nineteenth reports of Israel” (CERD/C/ISR/CO/17-19), 27 January 2020.
7 Peace Now, “From de jure to de facto annexation: 2020 settlement construction report”, March
2021. Available at https://peacenow.org.il/en/settlement -construction-report-2020.
A/77/295
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have been established, the occupying Power retroactively regularizes some of them
and integrates them into official settlements. In 2020, plans were advanced to
retroactively authorize four outposts as “neighbourhoods” of exis ting settlements.8
16. Another factor detrimental to the economy of the Occupied Palestinian Territory
has been the construction of the “Barrier” by Israel in the West Bank, which began in
2002. The wall encroaches deeply into Palestinian land: 85 per cen t of the wall will
be built on Palestinian land and not along the internationally recognized pre -1967
borders (the Green Line). As a result, when finished, its length will be 712 km, or
more than twice the length of the Green Line (320 km). Consequently, 9 .4 per cent of
the area of the West Bank (527 km2), including East Jerusalem, now lies in the “seam
zone”, between the wall and the Green Line (figure I), resulting in a significantly
negative impact on economic activity inside the zone. 9
17. The legal position on the wall was set out by the International Court of Justice
following the request of the General Assembly for an advisory opinion. The
International Court of Justice found that the construction of the wall by the occupying
Power in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem
and its associated regime, are contrary to international law. 10 The loss to Palestinian
industry and agriculture stemming from this takeover of land constitutes a cost of
occupation for the Palestinian people.
18. Settlements, outposts and the wall in the occupied West Bank inflict a heavy
economic cost on the Palestinian people, dispossess them of their inalienable right to
development, entrench occupation and pre-empt a meaningful, sustainable two -State
solution.
19. A dearth of jobs in the constrained domestic economy forces a large number of
Palestinian workers to seek employment in Israel and settlements in the occupied
territory. This dependency on employment in the Israeli economy has accelerated in
recent years. With the exception of a small percentage employed in the information
technology and health sectors, most Palestinians are employed as unskilled workers
in different sectors, such as construction and agriculture. By early 2022, the number
of Palestinians employed in Israel and settlements had reached 153,000, or one fifth
of the West Bank employed labour force. Employment in Israel and settlements
generates substantial income for West Bank workers who earn close to $3 billion per
year, about a quarter of West Bank GDP, and thus support aggregate demand in all
sectors of the Palestinian economy.11
20. However, Palestinians employed in Israel and settlements lack social protection
and are exposed to exploitation, under a permit regime, by middlemen and employers
who wield undue power over them.12
21. Empirical research suggests that employment in Israel and s ettlements exerts a
variety of negative impacts on Palestinian GDP growth. 13 It undermines the
competitiveness of the Palestinian economy by dampening the incentives to invest in
human capital, decreasing skill supply in some sectors and raising domestic w ages
without corresponding productivity growth. Furthermore, employment is
__________________
8 Ibid.
9 B’Tselem, ”The Separation Barrier”, 11 November 2017. Available at
www.btselem.org/separation_barrier.
10 Legal Consequence of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory
opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136, para. 163.
11 World Bank, Economic Monitoring Report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, M ay 2022.
12 International Labour Organizations, The Situation of Workers of the Occupied Arab Territories
(Geneva, International Labour Office, 2020).
13 Johanes Agbahey, Khalid Siddig and Harald Grethe, “Access to Israeli labour markets: effects on
the West Bank economy”, 2016.
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unpredictable, precarious and extremely sensitive to political and security crises. It
cannot be a substitute for rejuvenating the Palestinian labour market by lifting all
economic restrictions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
III. Previous estimates of the economic impact of occupation
22. In addition to the reports prepared for submission to the General Assembly,
UNCTAD has produced a series of studies on the economic costs of the Israeli
occupation for the Palestinian people. Those studies cover a wide range of issues
including the impact of occupation on the human right to development of the Palestinian
people, the economic cost of the unrealized oil and natural gas potential in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory and the leakage of Palestinian fiscal resources to Israel. Below is a
brief overview of some of the quantitative assessments of the cost of occupation.
23. UNCTAD (2021) assessed the cost associated with the major shock to the occupied
West Bank economy resulting from the restrictions and closure policy implemented by
the occupying Power following the outbreak of the second Intifada, which erupted in
September 2000. The study estimates that if these restrictions had been less stringent,
the GDP of the West Bank would have been, on average, 35 per cent higher than its
actual level, leading to a cumulative real GDP increase of $58 billion (in constant 2015
dollars) between 2000 and 2019, equivalent to 4.5 times the GDP of the West Bank in
2019 or 3.5 times the GDP of the occupied Palestinian territory in 2019. Had it not been
for these restrictions, the poverty rate in the West Bank in 2004 could have been 11.7
per cent, one third of the actual rate of 35. 4 per cent.14
24. UNCTAD (2020) assessed the impact of the prolonged Israeli blockade and
economic and movement restrictions on poverty and socioeconomic conditions in Gaza.
It estimated the cumulative economic cost of these factors and of military operati ons at
$16.7 billion (in constant 2015 United States dollars), equivalent to six times the value
of Gaza GDP, or 107 per cent of Palestinian GDP, in 2018. In addition, the poverty rate
in Gaza could have been 15 per cent in 2017 instead of the actual rate of 56 per cent.15
25. UNCTAD (2019) examined the economic cost of the unrealized oil and natural
gas potential in Gaza and Area C; with reference to the Meged oil and natural gas
field, located inside the occupied West Bank in Area C and exploited by Israe l. Its
reserves are estimated at about 1.525 billion barrels of oil, in addition to some natural
gas. The potential of the Meged field ranges between 375 and 534 barrels per day. 16
26. UNCTAD (2019) assessed the leakage of Palestinian fiscal resources to t he
treasury of the occupying Power. Most of the leakage originates in the occupied West
Bank and is rooted in the asymmetric economic relation between the Palestinian
Authority and Israel enshrined in the Protocol on Economic Relations (Paris
Protocol).17 The study estimated Palestinian fiscal losses in 2015 at $1.7 billion, or
13.1 per cent of GDP. Furthermore, cumulative total fiscal leakage and losses during
the period 2000–2017 were estimated at $5.6 billion, equivalent to 39 per cent of
Palestinian GDP in 2017. Adding cumulative interest on fiscal leakage for the same
period ($1 billion) raises the cumulative total to $6.6 billion.
__________________
14 UNCTAD, “The economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people: arrested
development and poverty in the West Bank” (UNCTAD/GDS/APP/2021/2 and Corr.1), December 2021.
15 UNCTAD, “The economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people: the
impoverishment of Gaza under blockade”, (UNCTAD/GDS/APP/2020/1), December 2020.
16 UNCTAD, “The economic costs of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people: the
unrealized oil and natural gas potential” (UNCTAD/GDS/APP/2019/1), 2019.
17 UNCTAD, The Economic Costs of the Israeli Occupation for the Palestinian People: Cumulative
Fiscal Costs (UNCTAD/GDS/APP/2019/2), 2019.
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27. Restrictions on Palestinian movement have increased the travel time between all
Palestinian major population centres by a median of 51 per cent and the cumulative
economic cost of longer travel time is substantial. For example, before the construction
of the wall, Palestinians travelled from Ramallah to Hebron, through East Jerusalem,
over a 50 km road. The restrictions have resulted in a lengthening of the road to 80 km
which, together with the checkpoints, has led to a doubling of the average travel time
from 55 to 107 minutes. Delays in the movement of the Palestinian workforce caused
by longer roads and procedural restrictions are estimated to have cost the economy
$274 million annually, or 1.7 per cent of GDP in 2018. The environmental costs of
longer travel and vehicular delays at gates and checkpoints are self -evident.18
28. The World Bank (2013) assessed the impact of closures in the occupied West Bank
and concluded that they substantially reduced the probability of being employed, hourly
wages and the number of days worked, while increasing the number of working hours
per day. Much of that impact was driven by reduced firm profitability and labour
demand. Checkpoints alone cost the West Bank economy a minimum of 6 per cent of its
GDP. Furthermore, placing one checkpoint one minute away from a locality reduced its
residents’ probability of being employed by 0.4 1 percentage points, their hourly wage
by 6.3 percentage points and working days by 2.6 percentage points. 19
29. The World Bank (2018) concluded that lifting road obstacles just enough to
improve market access by 10 per cent would increase local output in the occupied
West Bank by 0.6 per cent. Furthermore, in the absence of roadblocks, West Bank
GDP per capita would increase by up to 6.1 per cent above the observed level; 20 and
some easing of other restrictions by Israel would, by 2025, triple the economic growth
rate in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 21
30. The World Bank (2013) estimated that if restrictions on Palestinian producers
were removed, the potential additional output gains alone would amount to at least
$2.2 billion annually, or 23 per cent of 2011 Palestinian GDP.22
IV. Methodology: nighttime luminosity and economic activity
A. Nighttime luminosity in economic analysis
31. Nighttime luminosity (NTL) is a measure of visible night lights on Earth
captured by satellites from outer space. NTL has considerable potential for economic
analysis because it reflects human economic activities. Consequently, NTL has
recently been increasingly used to estimate GDP in countries where economic data
are poor and in areas and subregions where such data do not exist.
__________________
18 Applied Research Institute–Jerusalem, “Assessing the impacts of Israeli mo vement restrictions
on the mobility of people and goods in the West Bank”, 2019. Available at www.arij.org/wpcontent/
uploads/2021/08/mobility_2019.pdf .
19 Massimiliano Calì and Sami H. Miaari, “The labor market impact of mobility restrictions:
evidence from the West Bank”, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper , No. 6457
(Washington, D.C., World Bank, May 2013).
20 Roy van der Weide and others, “Obstacles on the road to Pa lestinian economic growth”, World
Bank Policy Research Working Paper, No. 8385 (Washington, D.C., World Bank, March 2018).
21 World Bank, Unlocking the Trade Potential of the Palestinian Economy: Immediate Measures and a Long
Term Vision to Improve Palestinian Trade and Economic Outcomes. Report No. ACS22471 (Washington,
D.C., 2017). Available at https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/29057?locale-attribute=fr.
22 Orhan Niksic, Nur Nasser Eddin and Massimiliano Cali, Area C and the Future of the
Palestinian Economy (Washington, D.C., World Bank, 2014).
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32. In this report. a measure of NTL in a specific area on Earth is obtained by
averaging pixel-level NTL values within that area.23 The unit of measurement is light
intensity which is equal to the number of nanowatts per square centimetre per steradian
(nWcm-2sr-1). For a specific area, NTL is usually presented as an average over a
specific period: a month, a quarter or a year. T he source of NTL data used in the
following analysis is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). 24
33. The use of NTL as a proxy for economic activity was pioneered in a
groundbreaking 2012 paper by Henderson, Storeygard, and Weil. 25 The authors of the
study had developed a statistical framework for using satellite data on night lights to
enhance official income measures, especially in countries with poor national income
accounts. The study was followed by many others, whose aim was to quan tify the
relationship between NTL and economic activity. 26 NTL has also been used to
forecast GDP or growth rates using elasticity of GDP with respect to NTL. 27 In recent
years, the World Bank and IMF published several studies that use NTL data as a proxy
for economic activity.28,29
34. Levin and others (2020) showed a primary advantage of NTL over official
statistics: NTL permits the estimation of GDP at the lev el of disaggregated
geographical units especially where GDP data do not exist or are of poor quality. 30
This is of the utmost relevance to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including to the
analysis presented in this report, because NTL would allow the e stimation of separate
GDPs for Area C, for East Jerusalem and for Israeli settlements elsewhere in the
occupied West Bank, as well as disaggregation of Israeli GDP following exclusion of
the value of output produced in occupied East Jerusalem and in settle ments elsewhere
in the West Bank.
__________________
23 Satellite NTL images consist of pixels organized in rows and columns. The spatial resolution of
the sensor determines the size of a given pixel. Each pixel stores an NTL value and has a
geographical location.
24 The annual NTL data were obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) Black Marble annual product (VNP46/VJ146). NASA generated this product based on
state-of-art application of the data from the Day/Night Band (DNB) sensor of the Visible Infrared
Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). Black Marble annual NTL data have a spatial resolution of
15 arc-second and are available from January 2012 to the present. The data are cloud -free and
atmospheric-, terrain-, vegetation-, snow-, lunar- and stray light-corrected. See
https://blackmarble.gsfc.nasa.gov for further details.
25 J. Vernon Henderson, Adam Storeygard and David N. Weil, “Measuring economic growth from outer
space”, American Economic Review, vol. 102, No. 2 (April 2012), pp. 994–1028. In the 10 years
since this pioneering study was published, it has been cited in mor e than 880 academic papers.
26 For instance, Pinkovskiy and Sala-i-Martin (2016) assessed the relative quality of GDP per capita
and survey means by comparing them with NTL; Storeygard (2016) investigated the role of
transport costs on the economic activity of cities proxied by NTL; Alesina, Michalopoulos, and
Papaioannou (2016) used NTL to study ethnic inequality; and Henderson and others (2016)
studied the spatial distribution of economic activity proxied by NTL.
27 Elasticity measures the percentage change in NTL when GDP changes by 1 percentage point, or
vice versa.
28 Yingyao Hu and Jiaxiong Yao, “Illuminating economic growth”, IMF Working Paper, No. 19/77
(International Monetary Fund, 2019); and Mark Roberts, “Tracking economic activi ty in
response to the COVID-19 crisis using nighttime lights: the case of Morocco”, World Bank
Policy Research Working Paper, No. 9538 (February 2021).
29 Hu and Yao (2019) found that NTL data are most useful for measuring economic levels for
middle- and low-income countries where traditional GDP per capita data are usually imprecise.
30 Noam Levin and others, “Remote sensing of night lights: a review and an outlook for the future”,
Remote Sensing of Environment , vol. 237 (February 2020), 111443.
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B. Trends in NTL in the West Bank: settlements and Areas A, B and C
35. Over the period 2012–2020, annual average NTL exhibited a noticeable upward
trend across the entire occupied West Bank but was much higher in settlements compared
with the rest of the West Bank (figure III). Annual average NTL in occupied East
Jerusalem and in settlements elsewhere in the West Bank was about 16 nWcm-2sr-1 and
tended upward from 2012 to 2020. If East Jerusalem is excluded, the an nual average
NTL in settlements was slightly lower but still relatively high at above 10.4 nWcm -2sr-1.
Moreover, the NTL of those settlements alone was about twice that of the whole West
Bank (excluding East Jerusalem), for which the average annual NTL was about 5.2
nWcm-2sr-1. Such significant differences are indicative of substantial economic
disparities between Israeli settlements and Palestinian-controlled areas in the West Bank.
36. Furthermore, the data indicate significant disparities across areas A, B, and C in
terms of growth and levels of NTL between 2012 and 2020 (figure IV). The right
panel of figure IV shows that between 2012 and 2020 for the whole Area C (including
settlements) the NTL grew from 4.8 to 5.9 nWcm -2sr-1. This is a much more intense
level of growth of NTL compared with that for Area C when settlements are excluded.
In the latter case, annual average NTL grew from 3.5 to 4.5 nWcm -2sr-1.
37. NTL increased during the period 2012 –2020 in all three Areas of the West Bank,
but Area C had the lowest level of growth of NTL compared with Areas A and B, with
Area A registering the highest annual average NTL (left panel of figure IV). The NTL
gap between Area C and Areas A and B is even greater if NTL from settlements
elsewhere in the West Bank is removed from NTL of Area C.
38. Figure V shows the trends in NTL in the three West Bank administrative areas,
where NTL from occupied East Jerusalem is not included and NTL from settlements
elsewhere in the occupied West Bank has been excluded. Over t he period 2012–2020,
average annual NTL in Area C, excluding settlements in the Area and not including
East Jerusalem, was 46 per cent lower than in Areas A and B.
Figure III
Trends in annual average NTL in different geographical parts of the occupied
West Bank, 2012–2020 (nWcm-2sr-1)
Source: UNCTAD calculation based on NASA Black Marble NTL data and other sources.
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Figure IV
Trends in NTL in Areas A, B and C, 2012–2020 (nWcm-2sr-1)
Source: UNCTAD calculation based on NASA Black Marble NTL data and other sources.
Note: The two lines for Areas A and B almost fully overlap.
Figure V
Annual average NTL in the occupied West Bank: Areas A, B and C (nWcm-2sr-1)
Source: UNCTAD calculation based on NASA Black Marble NTL data and other sources.
Note: NTL in Area C excludes lights from East Jerusalem and from settlements elsewhere in the
West Bank.
Figure VI
Annual average NTL in the occupied West Bank, including occupied East
Jerusalem and settlements (nWcm-2sr-1)
Source: UNCTAD calculation based on NASA Black Marble NTL data and other sources .
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39. There is a large difference between average annual NTL in the area under
Palestinian control (composed of the occupied West Bank, excluding occupied East
Jerusalem and the settlements elsewhere in the West Bank) and average annual NTL
in the area under the complete control of Israel (Area C, occupied East Jerusalem and
those Israeli settlements).
40. As shown in figure VI, that difference is vast, implying a huge dispari ty in the
levels of economic activity in occupied East Jerusalem and in settlements elsewhere
in the occupied West Bank compared with areas under Palestinian control. During the
period 2000–2020, average annual NTL in the areas of the occupied West Bank th at
were under partial control of the Palestinian National Authority grew from 4.2 to 6.1
nWcm-2sr-1. Meanwhile, in the area controlled by the occupying Power, average
annual NTL grew from 14.1 to 17 nWcm-2sr-1. Average annual NTL in the areas of
the occupied West Bank under Palestinian control was in the range of one third of that
in areas under the complete control of Israel. This indicates that economic activity in
areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority is much weaker compared with
economic activity in areas controlled by the occupying Power.
V. Cost of occupation and size of the economy of the
settlements in Area C and occupied East Jerusalem
41. Area C accounts for about 60 per cent of the area of the occupied West Bank.
Area C is the only contiguous part of the West Bank and has the most fertile land and
the most valuable natural resources. Furthermore, it has geographical space badly
needed for Palestinian demographic expansion and economic development. The
boundaries of Area C now incorporate Israeli settlements and have been reinforced
by closure points and the wall. The ongoing expansion of settlements dispossesses
Palestinians of large swaths of Area C land and inflicts huge economic and human
costs on the Palestinian people.
42. The present section estimates part of this economic cost of occupation of Area C in
terms of the potential Palestinian GDP lost since the end of the Oslo interim period
(1994–1999) as a result of the inability to develop the 30 per cent of Area C located
outside the boundaries of the regional councils of Israeli settlements and not including
East Jerusalem at the same rate observed in Areas A and B. It is crucial to note that the
calculated cost does not assume the dismantling of settlements, full Palestinian access to
Area C or the lifting of any restrictions imposed on areas A and B: it assumes only that
the level of restrictions on Palestinian development in the 30 per cent of Area C concerned
was the same as the level of restrictions applied by Israel in Areas A and B. This section
therefore estimates only the cost of the additional restrictions imposed on Palestinian
economic activity in Area C, over and above those imposed on Areas A and B.
43. This partial estimate is followed by an estimation of the cumulative contribution
of settlements to the economy of Israel between 2000 and 2020 as a direct result of
occupation and control of the resources of Area C and of East Jerusalem.
A. Some aspects of the economic cost of the occupation of Area C
44. Section V.A attempts to answer the following question: What if, in the year 2000,
30 per cent of Area C of the West Bank had been available for Palestinian expansion and
development while being subjected to the same level of economic restrictions im posed
in Areas A and B, which are significant but not as stringent as those applied in Area C?
Section V.A consequently provides indicators of the economic cost of the occupation of
Area C by estimating the potential level of GDP which was not realized bec ause of the
additional restrictions imposed on Area C following the end of the interim period in
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1999, when a permanent settlement of the conflict was expected to bring to an end the
occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
45. Official GDP statistics pertaining to the Occupied Palestinian Territory
compiled by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics are at the national level and
are disaggregated only to the levels of the West Bank and Gaza. However, as
mentioned earlier, this issue can be overcome using NTL to estimate economic
activity at disaggregated levels of smaller geographical units.
46. Figure V depicts NTL trends in West Bank administrative areas where, for Area C,
NTL from settlements has been excluded and NTL from E ast Jerusalem is not
included. On average, over the period 2012 –2020, luminosity in this part of Area C
was 46 per cent lower than that in Areas A and B.
47. This section estimates the cost of the additional restrictions imposed on Area C
by using NTL as a proxy for economic activity and calculating the elasticity of GDP
with respect to NTL. For this purpose, a counterfactual scenario has been developed
based on the conservative assumption that if Area C had been subjected to the same
level of restrictions as that imposed on Areas A and B, Palestinian economic
development in Area C would have been on a par with the level of development in
Areas A and B. The assumption implies that average NTL (per unit of area) in Area C
would be equal to the mean of average NTL in Area A and average NTL in area B
during the sample period 2012 –2020.31
48. Accordingly, the mean of average NTL of Area A and average NTL of Area B is
applied to Area C, with the assumption that the actual level of average NTL in Area C,
outside settlements and not including East Jerusalem, is derived entirely from
Palestinian activities. The fact that such NTL reflects activities by settlers and other
Israelis suggest that the assumption will bias the estimated cost downward. This bias
would reinforce the conservativism of the estimation of the economic loss resulting
from the restrictions on Palestinian development in Area C.
49. The weighted average mean of NTL in Area A, NTL in Area B and NTL in Area C
in the occupied West Bank is calculated using the relative sizes of Areas A, B and C as
weights. Figure VII compares the actual average NTL in the West Bank with the
counterfactual weighted average NTL implied by the counterfactual scenario. The gap
between them is an indicator of unrealized GDP. It turns out that the annual counterfactual
NTL is, on average, 28 per cent higher than the actual NTL in the West Bank.
50. Following the methodology developed by Henderson, Storeygard and Weil (2012),
the elasticity of GDP with respect to NTL is utilized to estimate the unrealized potential
GDP gains in the counterfactual scenario. Through use of quarterly GDP and NTL data,
the elasticity in the occupied West Bank is estimated at 0.903. This means that a 1 per
cent increase in average NTL is associated with a 0.903 per cent increase in GDP.32
51. Applying this elasticity to the difference between the actual and counterfactual
NTL levels provides an estimation of lost potential GDP resulting from the additional
restrictions on Palestinian economic activities in Area C. The methodology suggests
that if Palestinian economic activity in 30 per cent of Area C had been subjected to
the same level of restrictions that had been imposed by the occupying Power on Areas A
__________________
31 Areas A and B are the best comparator for establishing what the Palestinian economic activity
level in Area C could have been if Palestinian s had been allowed to develop Area C under the
same level of restrictions. Actual NTL data for Area A and B are driv en by economic activity and
population density, given that Palestinians are allowed to develop those areas to some degree,
while Area C is largely off limits. That is the whole point of the analysis.
32 The elasticity is calculated using the equation X = Y(β) + C, where X is quarterly NTL, Y is
quarterly GDP and β is the elasticity. Rearranging the equation and taking the log on both sides
give log(Y) = 1/β * log(X) + log(C). Therefore, from the equation, elasticity of GDP with respect
to NTL is equal to 1/β, i.e. 1/1.108 = 0.903.
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and B, the size of the West Bank economy would have been 25.3 per cent larger than
what was observed.
52. The cumulative GDP losses during the period 2000 –2020 amount to $45 billion
(in constant 2015 dollars) or $50 billion in 2020 dollars (figure VIII an d table 1). This
is equivalent to about three times GDP in the occupied West Bank in 2020 and over
2.5 times Palestinian GDP in the same year.
Figure VII
Estimated actual and counterfactual NTL in the occupied West Bank 2012–2020
(nWcm-2sr-1)
Source: UNCTAD calculations.
Note: NTL from settlements in Area C is excluded and NTL from East Jerusalem is not included.
Figure VIII
Estimated GDP in the occupied West Bank: actual and counterfactual scenario,
2000–2020
(Millions of constant 2015 dollars)
Source: UNCTAD calculations.
Table 1
West Bank’s GDP: estimated actual and counterfactual, 2000 –2020
(Millions of constant 2015 dollars)
Year Actual GDP Counterfactual GDP Difference
2000 4 958 6 214 1 256
2001 4 366 5 472 1 106
2002 3 725 4 668 944
2003 4 091 5 127 1 036
2004 5 129 6 428 1 299
2005 5 469 6 854 1 385
2006 5 962 7 472 1 510
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Year Actual GDP Counterfactual GDP Difference
2007 6 588 8 256 1 669
2008 7 451 9 339 1 888
2009 8 126 10 185 2 059
2010 8 496 10 648 2 152
2011 9 306 11 663 2 357
2012 9 810 12 295 2 485
2013 10 172 12 749 2 577
2014 10 610 13 298 2 688
2015 11 072 13 877 2 805
2016 12 046 15 098 3 052
2017 12 506 15 673 3 168
2018 12 797 16 039 3 242
2019 12 999 16 292 3 293
2020 11 564 14 494 2 929
Total 177 243 222 143 44 899
Total in 2020 dollars 49 910
Source: UNCTAD calculations.
B. Size of the economy of settlements in Area C and occupied
East Jerusalem
53. Section V.A assessed part of the cost of occupation of Area C in terms of the
additional restrictions imposed by occupation outside settlements. Section V.B
provides some indicators of the cost imposed by the presence of the settlements in
Area C by assessing their contribution to the economy of Israel. For this purpose, this
section estimates the GDP generated by the occupying Power in those settlements
between 2000 and 2020 using Palestinian land and natural resources.
54. As Palestinians face severe restrictions on developing or investing in Ar ea C,
Israel’s long-term policy for the establishment and expansion of settlements in the
occupied West Bank continues despite adoption of numerous General Assembly and
Security Council resolutions. By early 2021, Israel had established more than 280
settlements in the West Bank, populated by mo re than 440,000 Israeli citizens
excluding East Jerusalem.33
55. The Government of Israel provides generous incentives to settlers and
entrepreneurs, notably underpriced land taken from Palestinians, reduced land fees
for investors, tax benefits, housing benefits, business subsidies, industrial zone
subsidies and employment subsidies.34 In some areas, corporations pay one third of
the tax rate paid in Israel. Generous support is provided for farming cooperatives to
accommodate new farmers; in some areas, farmers are exempt from the levy on
employing migrant workers; and new farmers receive financial subsidies of up to
$307,000 and up to $25,000 per herd for open field livestock grazing. 35 In addition,
__________________
33 B’Tselem, “This is ours, and this, too: Israel’s settlement policy in the West Bank” (2021).
Available at www.btselem.org/publications/202103_this_is_ours_and_this_too .
34 UNCTAD, “Report on UNCTAD assistance to the Palestinian people: developments in the
economy of the Occupied Palestinian Territory” (TD/B/EX(71)/2), September 2021, para. 40.
35 B’Tselem, “This is ours, and this, too: Israel’s settlement policy in the West Bank” (2021).
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the Government of Israel encourages teachers in key disciplines to move to designated
national priority areas by offering them a wage increase of up to 70 per cent for
several years. Such incentives and benefits have resulted in significant expansion of
industrial zones and of investment in agricultural production. By 2019, there were 11
Israeli industrial complexes in Area C. The various incentives motivated hundreds of
thousands of Israeli citizens to move to subsidized settlements in the occupied West
Bank, where standards of living are higher than those prevailing in Israel. 36
56. As a result of the expansion of economic activity in settlements in Area C, the
average annual NTL emanating from occupied East Jerusalem and from settlements
in Area C is twice that emanating from Israel (figure IX), indicating that GDP per
capita generated in East Jerusalem and in settlements in the West Bank is higher than
that in Israel.
57. It is therefore possible to use the ratio of the population of East Jerusalem and
of settlements elsewhere in the West Bank in the total Israeli population, as reported
by Israel, to conservatively estimate the lower bound of Israeli GDP, also as reported
by Israel, that could be attributed to occupied East Jerusalem and to settlements
elsewhere in the occupied West Bank. This can be done by assuming that the relative
contribution of the population to GDP in both areas is the same. While this may
underestimate the GDP generated in East Jerusalem and in those settlements, it does
provide a useful indicator for assessing the economic dimension of the occupation
and the settlement enterprise.
Figure IX
Average annual NTL in East Jerusalem, in settlements elsewhere in the West
Bank and in Israel (nWcm-2sr-1)
Source: UNCTAD calculations based on NASA Black Marble NTL data.
Table 2
Estimated GDP and population: Israel, settlementsa and East Jerusalem, 2000–2020
(Billions of constant 2015 dollars)
Year Real GDP of Israel Population of Israelb
Population of East
Jerusalem and settlements
(percentage of total)
GDP of East Jerusalem
and settlements
2000 180.80 6 289 000 11.0 19.8
2001 180.98 6 439 000 11.0 19.9
2002 180.63 6 570 000 11.0 19.9
2003 182.70 6 689 700 11.1 20.3
2004 191.68 6 809 000 11.2 21.4
__________________
36 Ibid.
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Year Real GDP of Israel Population of Israelb
Population of East
Jerusalem and settlements
(percentage of total)
GDP of East Jerusalem
and settlements
2005 199.65 6 930 100 11.2 22.4
2006 211.19 7 053 700 11.3 24.0
2007 224.07 7 180 100 11.5 25.7
2008 231.82 7 308 800 11.6 26.9
2009 234.47 7 485 600 11.5 26.9
2010 247.80 7 623 600 11.6 28.7
2011 261.54 7 765 800 11.7 30.5
2012 268.92 7 910 500 11.8 31.8
2013 281.77 8 059 500 11.9 33.6
2014 293.39 8 215 700 11.9 34.8
2015 300.08 8 380 100 12.0 36.0
2016 313.47 8 546 000 12.1 37.8
2017 327.19 8 713 300 12.1 39.7
2018 340.22 8 882 800 12.2 41.5
2019 353.06 9 054 000 12.3 43.4
2020 345.46 9 216 900 12.4 42.9
Total 627.8
Total in 2020 dollars 851.7
Sources: World Bank, World Development Indicators database for GDP; Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
for population in East Jerusalem; and B’Tselem for population in settlements.
a Population of East Jerusalem and of the settlements in the West Bank inc luding East Jerusalem settlements.
b Population of East Jerusalem and of the settlements in the rest of the West Bank is included.
58. Table 2 shows that over the period 2000–2020, the population in Israel, in occupied
East Jerusalem and in the settlements elsewhere in the occupied West Bank, if added
together, grew from 6.3 million to 9.2 million and the share of that population living in
East Jerusalem and in settlements elsewhere in the West Bank grew from 11 per cent in
2000 to 12.4 per cent in 2020. The GDP produced by the occupying Power in East
Jerusalem and in those settlements is estimated by multiplying the share of East
Jerusalem and of those settlements in that population by the total reported Israeli GDP. 37
59. GDP generated by Israel through the occupation of East Jerusalem and Area C
of the West Bank between 2000 and 2020 is estimated at minimum, at $628 billion
(constant 2015 dollars), or $852 billion in 2020 dollars. The estimated average annual
GDP produced in East Jerusalem and in settlements elsewhere in the West Bank at
current dollars is $41 billion or 227 per cent of total Palestinian GDP in 2021. The
estimated size of GDP produced by Israel in settlements in Area C and East Jerusalem,
using Palestinian land and natural resources, is an indicator of the cost of the presence
of settlements there for the Palestinian people and suggests that ending the occupation
of Area C will enable the Palestinian people to grow their economy severalfold.
__________________
37 Using the population in East Jerusalem and settlements and multiplying that figure by GDP per
capita would yield the same result.
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VI. Conclusion and recommendations
60. The negative impact of the multilayered Israeli control system on Palestinian
development and economic activity throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory is
substantial. The restrictions on Palestinian economic activity are pronounced in Area C
but are by no means limited to it. Gaza remains under closures that have gutted its
economy and decimated its productive base. As the Palestinian people do not have a
national currency, they use mainly the Israeli new shekel whose exchange rate is
incompatible with the needs and level of development of the Palestinian economy.
The exchange rate is one of the most important determinants of the prices in any
economy. As the Israeli new shekel is too strong for the competitiveness of Palestinian
producers, it can foster a high level of imp orts and weakens exports, GDP growth and
job creation.
61. The annual cost of the imposition of additional restrictions on Palestinian
economic activity in 30 per cent of Area C is estimated at one quarter of West Bank
GDP and the cumulative cost over the period 2000–2020 is estimated at three times
West Bank GDP in 2020. These estimates are extremely conservative and should be
interpreted as lower bound indicators of only a fraction of the total economic cost of
the occupation of Area C.
62. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development recommends that
the international community call on Israel to shoulder its responsibilities under
international law and:
(a) End and reverse all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, consistent with Security Council resolution 2334
(2016), in which the Council reaffirmed that the establishment of such settlements
has no legal validity and “constitutes a flagrant violation under international law” and
a major obstacle to the achievement of the two -State solution and a just, lasting and
comprehensive peace;
(b) Lift all restrictions on Palestinian economic activity in Area C, pending a
comprehensive settlement, and allow for substantially increased Palestinian economic
activity. Lifting such restrictions would provide the Palestinian economy with a badly
needed economic and natural resource base for developing and reversing the current
trend of increasing socioeconomic deprivation.
63. Furthermore, Member States may wish to consider the following:
(a) In line with the relevant United Nations resolutions, to exert all efforts
necessary to bring an end to the occupation and reverse the evolving and substantial
economic cost of the Israeli occupation for the Palestinian people;
(b) The cost of occupation poses a huge challenge in terms of resource
mobilization. The Palestinian Government is saddled with a responsibility far greater
than the resources and the limited policy space at its disposal. Palestinian national
self-sufficiency may be pursued but cannot be fully achieved under occupation. Until
the occupation is ended, to avert sharp socioeconomic and humanitarian crises, there
is no substitute for reversing the ongoing negative trend in foreign aid and
strengthening donor support to the Palestinian people to alleviate the adverse
socioeconomic conditions imposed by occupation;
(c) The fulfilment of paragraph 9 of General Assembly resolution 75/20
requires the establishment, within the United Nations system, of a systematic,
evidence-based, comprehensive and sustainable framework to a ssess the costs of
occupation and report the results to the Assembly. The establishment of such a
framework requires securing additional resources.
A/77/295
20/20 22-12719
64. The Palestinian people’s right to Statehood cannot be replaced by humanitarian
and economic assistance, essential as these may be in the interim. The United Nations
continues to work towards the realization of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace
in the Middle East on the basis of relevant Security Council resolutions, including
resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003), 1850 (2008), 1860
(2009) and 2334 (2016), to end the occupation that began in 1967 and establish a
sovereign, democratic, viable and contiguous Palestinian State, living side by side in
peace and security with Israel within recognized borders, based on the pre -1967
borders. It is only by realizing the vision of two States living side by side in peace,
security and mutual recognition, with Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and the
State of Palestine, and all final status issues resolved permanently through
negotiations, that the legitimate aspirations of both peoples will be achieved.
UNITED A
NATIONS
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/RES/51/26
12 December 1996
Fifty-first session
Agenda item 35
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/51/L.36 and Add.1)]
51/26. Peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions,
Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, including
resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General1 submitted
pursuant to the request made in its resolution 50/84 D of 15 December 1995,
Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East,
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of
peoples is among the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by war,
Affirming also the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the
territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the
status of Jerusalem,
1 A/51/678-S/1996/953.
96-77569 /...
A/RES/51/26
Page 2
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in
peace within secure and internationally recognized borders,
Aware of the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people, and the signing by the two parties of the Declaration of
Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements2 in Washington, D.C., on
13 September 1993, as well as the subsequent implementation agreements,
including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,
Noting with satisfaction the withdrawal of the Israeli army, which took
place in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area in accordance with the agreements
reached by the parties, and the initiation of the Palestinian Authority in
those areas, as well as the beginning of the redeployment of the Israeli army
in the rest of the West Bank,
Noting also with satisfaction the successful holding of the first
Palestinian general elections,
Aware that the United Nations has participated as a full, extraregional
participant in the work of the multilateral working groups of the Middle East
peace process,
Noting the establishment of the Office of the United Nations Special
Coordinator in the Occupied Territories and its positive contribution,
Welcoming the convening of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace
in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, and all follow-up meetings,
Concerned over the serious difficulties facing the Middle East peace
process and the deterioration of the socio-economic conditions of the
Palestinian people as a result of the Israeli positions and measures,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its
aspects;
2. Expresses its full support for the ongoing peace process which
began in Madrid and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements2 of 1993, as well as the subsequent implementation agreements,
including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip of 1995, and expresses the hope that the process will lead to the
establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East;
3. Stresses the necessity for the immediate and scrupulous
implementation of the agreements reached between the parties and the
commencement of the negotiations on the final settlement;
4. Calls upon the concerned parties, the co-sponsors of the peace
process and the entire international community to exert all the necessary
efforts to ensure the success of the peace process;
2 A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
/...
A/RES/51/26
Page 3
5. Stresses the need for:
(a) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, primarily the right to self-determination;
(b) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied
since 1967;
6. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine
refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
7. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic and
technical assistance to the Palestinian people during this critical period;
8. Emphasizes the importance for the United Nations to play a more
active and expanded role in the current peace process and in the
implementation of the Declaration of Principles;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the
parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for the
promotion of peace in the region and to submit progress reports on
developments in this matter.
72nd plenary meeting
4 December 1996
UNITED A
NATIONS
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/RES/52/52
28 January 1998
Fifty-second session
Agenda item 36
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/52/L.52 and Corr.1 and Add.1)]
52/52. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions adopted at the tenth emergency special session,
Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of
22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973,
Aware that 1997 marks fifty years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and
thirty years since the occupation of Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General1 submitted pursuant to the request made in its
resolution 51/26 of 4 December 1996,
Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle
East,
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is among the purposes and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war,
Affirming also the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli
actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem,
1 A/52/581-S/1997/866. For the final text, see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-second Year,
Supplement for October, November and December 1997, document S/1997/866.
98-76087 /...
A/RES/52/52
Page 2
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and
internationally recognized borders,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, and the signing by the two parties of
the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on
13 September 1993,2 as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian
Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September
1995,3
Recalling also the withdrawal of the Israeli army, which took place in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho
area in 1995 in accordance with the agreements reached by the parties, and the initiation of the Palestinian
Authority in those areas, as well as the beginning of the redeployment of the Israeli army in the rest of the
West Bank in 1996,
Noting with satisfaction the successful holding of the first Palestinian general elections,
Noting with appreciation the work of the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator in the
Occupied Territories and its positive contribution,
Welcoming the convening of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace in Washington, D.C., on
1 October 1993, as well as all follow-up meetings and the international mechanisms established to provide
assistance to the Palestinian people,
Concerned about the serious difficulties facing the Middle East peace process, including the lack of
implementation of the agreements reached and the deterioration of the socio-economic conditions of the
Palestinian people as a result of the Israeli positions and measures,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of
the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects;
2. Expresses its full support for the ongoing peace process which began in Madrid and the Declaration
of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993,2 as well as the subsequent implementation
agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip of
1995,3 and expresses the hope that the process will lead to the establishment of a comprehensive, just and
lasting peace in the Middle East;
3. Stresses the necessity for commitment to the principle of land for peace and the implementation
of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), which form the basis of the Middle East peace
process, and the need for the immediate and scrupulous implementation of the agreements reached between
the parties, including the redeployment of the Israeli forces from the West Bank and the commencement of
the negotiations on the final settlement;
4. Calls upon the concerned parties, the co-sponsors of the peace process and other interested parties,
as well as the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts and initiatives to bring the
peace process back on track and to ensure its continuity and success;
2 A/48/486-S/26560, annex. For the final text, see Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-eighth
Year, Supplement for October, November and December 1993, document S/26560.
3 A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. For the final text, see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-second
Year, Supplement for April, May and June 1997, document S/1997/357.
/...
A/RES/52/52
Page 3
5. Stresses the need for:
(a) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to selfdetermination;
(b) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967;
6. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with its
resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
7. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic and technical assistance to the
Palestinian people during this critical period;
8. Emphasizes the importance for the United Nations to play a more active and expanded role in the
current peace process and in the implementation of the Declaration of Principles;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned and, in consultation
with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in the region and to submit progress reports on
developments in this matter.
68th plenary meeting
9 December 1997
UNITED A
NATIONS
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/RES/53/42
20 January 1999
Fifty-third session
Agenda item 39
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/53/L.51 and Add.1)]
53/42. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions adopted at the tenth emergency special session,
Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of
22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973,
Aware that 1997 marked fifty years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947
and thirty years since the occupation of Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General1 submitted pursuant to the request made in
its resolution 52/52 of 9 December 1997,
Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle
East,
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is among the purposes and
principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations,
1 A/53/652–S/1998/1050; see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-third Year, Supplement for
October, November and December 1998, document S/1998/1050.
99-76309 /...
A/RES/53/42
Page 2
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war,
Affirming also the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied since 1967 and of
Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and
internationally recognized borders,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, and the signing by the two parties
of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on
13 September 1993,2 as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, including the Israeli-
Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on
28 September 1995,3
Recalling also the withdrawal of the Israeli army, which took place in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho
area in 1995 in accordance with the agreements reached by the parties, and the initiation of the Palestinian
Authority in those areas, as well as the beginning of the redeployment of the Israeli army in the rest of
the West Bank in 1996,
Noting with satisfaction the successful holding of the first Palestinian general elections,
Noting with appreciation the work of the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator in the
Occupied Territories and its positive contribution,
Welcoming the convening of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace in Washington, D.C., on
1 October 1993, as well as all follow-up meetings and the international mechanisms established to provide
assistance to the Palestinian people,
Concerned about the serious difficulties facing the Middle East peace process, and expressing the
hope that the Wye River Memorandum, signed in Washington, D.C., on 23 October 1998, will be fully
implemented towards full compliance with the existing agreements,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core
of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects;
2. Expresses its full support for the ongoing peace process which began in Madrid and the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993,2 as well as the subsequent
implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip of 1995,3 and expresses the hope that the process will lead to the establishment of a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East;
2 A/48/486–S/26560, annex; see Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-eighth Year, Supplement
for October, November and December 1993, document S/26560.
3 A/51/889–S/1997/357, annex; see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-second Year,
Supplement for April, May and June 1997, document S/1997/357.
/...
A/RES/53/42
Page 3
3. Stresses the necessity for commitment to the principle of land for peace and the implementation
of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), which form the basis of the Middle East peace
process, and the need for the immediate and scrupulous implementation of the agreements reached between
the parties, including the redeployment of the Israeli forces from the West Bank and the commencement
of the negotiations on the final settlement;
4. Calls upon the concerned parties, the co-sponsors of the peace process and other interested
parties, as well as the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts and initiatives to
bring the peace process back on track and to ensure its continuity and success;
5. Stresses the need for:
(a) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to selfdetermination;
(b) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967;
6. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with its
resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
7. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic and technical assistance to the
Palestinian people during this critical period;
8. Emphasizes the importance for the United Nations to play a more active and expanded role in
the current peace process and in the implementation of the Declaration of Principles;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in
consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in the region and to submit progress
reports on developments in this matter.
76th plenary meeting
2 December 1998
1 A/54/457–S/1999/1050; see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-fourth Year, Supplement
for October, November and December 1999, document S/1999/1050.
00 23628 /...
UNITED A
NATIONS
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/RES/54/42
21 January 2000
Fifty-fourth session
Agenda item 44
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/54/L.45 and Add.1)]
54/42. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions adopted at the tenth emergency special session,
Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of
22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973,
Aware that it has been more than fifty years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) of 29 November
1947 and thirty-two years since the occupation of Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General1 submitted pursuant to the request made in its
resolution 53/42 of 2 December 1998,
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine
until the question is resolved in all its aspects,
A/RES/54/42
Page 2
2 A/48/486–S/26560, annex; see Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-eighth Year, Supplement
for October, November and December 1993, document S/26560.
3 A/51/889–S/1997/357, annex; see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-second Year,
Supplement for April, May and June 1997, document S/1997/357.
/...
Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East,
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is among the purposes and
principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war,
Affirming also the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli
actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and
internationally recognized borders,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, and the signing by the two parties of the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September
1993,2 as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim
Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,3
Recalling also the withdrawal of the Israeli army, which took place in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho
area in 1995 in accordance with the agreements reached by the parties, and the initiation of the Palestinian
Authority in those areas, as well as the subsequent redeployments of the Israeli army in the rest of the West
Bank,
Noting with satisfaction the successful holding of the first Palestinian general elections,
Noting with satisfaction also the signing of the Memorandum at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on
4 September 1999,
Noting the appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation
Organization and the Palestinian Authority, and its positive contribution,
Welcoming the convening of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace in Washington, D.C., on
1 October 1993, as well as all follow-up meetings and the international mechanisms established to provide
assistance to the Palestinian people, including the donor meeting held at Tokyo on 14 October 1999,
A/RES/54/42
Page 3
Expressing the hope that the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum will be fully implemented towards full
compliance with the existing agreements and the conclusion of the final settlement by the agreed time of
September 2000,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core
of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects;
2. Expresses its full support for the ongoing peace process which began in Madrid and the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993,2 as well as the subsequent
implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip of 19953 and the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum of 1999, and expresses the hope that the process
will lead to the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East;
3. Stresses the necess ity for commitment to the principle of land for peace and the implementation
of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), which form the basis of the Middle East peace
process, and the need for the immediate and scrupulous implementation of the agreements reached between
the parties, including the redeployment of the Israeli forces from the West Bank, and takes note with
satisfaction of the commencement of the negotiations on the final settlement;
4. Calls upon the concerned parties, the co-sponsors of the peace process and other interested
parties, as well as the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts and initiatives to ensure
the continuity and success of the peace process and its conclusion by the time agreed upon;
5. Stresses the need for:
(a) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to selfdetermination;
(b) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967;
6. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with its
resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
7. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic and technical assistance to the
Palestinian people during this critical period;
8. Emphasizes the importance for the United Nations to play a more active and expanded role in the
current peace process and in the implementation of the Declaration of Principles;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in
consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in the region and to submit progress reports
on developments in this matter.
68th plenary meeting
1 December 1999
United Nations A/RES/55/55
General Assembly Distr.: General
25 January 2001
Fifty-fifth session
Agenda item 41
00 56269
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/55/L.48 and Add.1)]
55/55. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions adopted at the tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973,
Aware that it has been more than fifty years since the adoption of resolution
181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and thirty-three years since the occupation of
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General1 submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 54/42 of 1 December 1999,
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects,
Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of a
comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East,
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
war,
Affirming also the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied
since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian
people, and the signing by the two parties of the Declaration of Principles on Interim
1 A/55/639-S/2000/1113.
A/RES/55/55
2
Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993,2 as
well as the subsequent implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian
Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington,
D.C., on 28 September 1995,3
Recalling also the withdrawal of the Israeli army, which took place in the Gaza
Strip and the Jericho area in 1995 in accordance with the agreements reached by the
parties, and the initiation of the Palestinian Authority in those areas, as well as the
subsequent redeployments of the Israeli army in the rest of the West Bank,
Noting with satisfaction the successful holding of the first Palestinian general
elections,
Noting the signing of the Memorandum at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on
4 September 1999,
Noting the appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the
Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, and its positive contribution,
Welcoming the convening of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace in
Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, as well as all follow-up meetings and the
international mechanisms established to provide assistance to the Palestinian people,
including the donor meeting held in Tokyo on 15 October 1999,
Expressing its deep concern over the tragic events in Occupied East Jerusalem
and the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 28 September 2000, which have
resulted in a high number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians,
and concerned also about the clashes between the Israeli armed forces and the
Palestinian police and the casualties on both sides,
Expressing its deep concern also over the serious deterioration of the situation
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the difficulties
facing the Middle East peace process,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects;
2. Expresses its full support for the ongoing peace process which began in
Madrid and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements
of 1993,2 as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, including the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip of 19953
and the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum of 1999, and expresses the hope that the
process will lead to the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in
the Middle East;
3. Stresses the necessity for commitment to the principle of land for peace
and the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973),
which form the basis of the Middle East peace process, and the need for the
immediate and scrupulous implementation of the agreements reached between the
parties, including the redeployment of the Israeli forces from the West Bank, and
2 A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
3 A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex.
A/RES/55/55
3
calls for the speedy conclusion of the final settlement agreement between the two
sides;
4. Calls upon the concerned parties, the co-sponsors of the peace process
and other interested parties, as well as the entire international community to exert all
the necessary efforts and initiatives to reverse immediately all measures taken on the
ground since 28 September 2000, in implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh
understandings and in order to ensure a successful and speedy conclusion of the
peace process;
5. Stresses the need for:
(a) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination;
(b) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967;
6. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees
in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
7. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic and
technical assistance to the Palestinian people during this critical period;
8. Emphasizes the importance for the United Nations to play a more active
and expanded role in the current peace process and in the implementation of the
Declaration of Principles;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace
in the region and to submit progress reports on developments in this matter.
78th plenary meeting
1 December 2000
United Nations A/RES/56/36
General Assembly Distr.: General
18 December 2001
Fifty-sixth session
Agenda item 41
01 47869
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/56/L.22 and Add.1)]
56/36. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions adopted at the tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973,
Aware that it has been more than fifty years since the adoption of resolution
181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and thirty-four years since the occupation of
Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 55/55 of 1 December 2000,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects,
Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of a
comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East,
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
war,
Affirming also the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied
since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian
people, and the signing by the two parties of the Declaration of Principles on Interim
_______________
1 A/56/642-S/2001/1100.
A/RES/56/36
2
Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993,2 as
well as the subsequent implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian
Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington,
D.C., on 28 September 1995,3
Recalling also the withdrawal of the Israeli army, which took place in the Gaza
Strip and the Jericho area in 1995 in accordance with the agreements reached by the
parties, and the initiation of the Palestinian Authority in those areas, as well as the
subsequent redeployments of the Israeli army in the rest of the West Bank,
Noting with satisfaction the successful holding of the first Palestinian general
elections,
Noting the appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the
Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, and its positive contribution,
Welcoming the convening of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace in
Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, as well as all follow-up meetings and the
international mechanisms established to provide assistance to the Palestinian people,
including the donor meetings held in Lisbon on 7 and 8 June 2000 and in Stockholm
on 11 April 2001,
Expressing its deep concern over the tragic events in Occupied East Jerusalem
and the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 28 September 2000, which have
resulted in a high number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians,
and concerned also about the clashes between the Israeli armed forces and the
Palestinian police and the casualties on both sides,
Expressing its deep concern also over the continued imposition of closures and
restrictions by Israel on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, as
well as the serious incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas and actions against
Palestinian institutions,
Expressing its grave concern over the serious deterioration of the situation in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the difficulties facing
the Middle East peace process,
Affirming the urgent need for the parties to implement the recommendations of
the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee (Mitchell Committee) and to resume
negotiations towards a final peaceful settlement,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects;
2. Expresses its full support for the peace process, which began in Madrid,
and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of
1993,2 as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, and expresses the hope
that the process will be reinvigorated and will soon lead to the establishment of a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East;
_______________
2 A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
3 A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex.
A/RES/56/36
3
3. Stresses the necessity for commitment to the principle of land for peace
and the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973),
which form the basis of the Middle East peace process;
4. Calls upon the concerned parties, the co-sponsors of the peace process
and other interested parties, as well as the entire international community to exert all
the efforts and initiatives necessary to reverse immediately all measures taken on the
ground since 28 September 2000, in implementation of the recommendations of the
Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee (Mitchell Committee), and in order to
ensure a successful and speedy resumption of negotiations and conclusion of the
peace process;
5. Stresses the need for:
(a) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to establish their independent
State;
(b) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967;
6. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees
in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
7. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic and
technical assistance to the Palestinian people during this critical period;
8. Emphasizes the importance for the United Nations to play a more active
and expanded role in the current peace process and in the implementation of the
Declaration of Principles;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace
in the region and to submit progress reports on developments in this matter.
72nd plenary meeting
3 December 2001
United Nations A/RES/57/110
General Assembly Distr.: General
14 February 2003
Fifty-seventh session
Agenda item 35
02 54510
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/57/L.37 and Add.1)]
57/110. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at the tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 1397 (2002)
of 12 March 2002,
Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and
recognized borders,
Noting that it has been fifty-five years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II)
of 29 November 1947 and thirty-five years since the occupation of Palestinian
territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 56/36 of 3 December 2001,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects,
Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of a
comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East,
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
war,
Affirming also the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied
since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem,
_______________
1 A/57/621-S/2002/1268.
A/RES/57/110
2
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,2 as well as the existing agreements concluded between the two
sides, and the need for full compliance with those agreements,
Noting with satisfaction the establishment of the Palestinian Authority and the
holding of the first Palestinian general elections, as well as the preparations being
undertaken for the second elections,
Noting the appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative
of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, and its positive contribution,
Welcoming the convening of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace in
Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, as well as all follow-up meetings and the
international mechanisms established to provide assistance to the Palestinian people,
Expressing its grave concern at the tragic events in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000 and the continued
deterioration of the situation, including the rising number of deaths and injuries,
mostly among Palestinian civilians, the deepening humanitarian crisis facing the
Palestinian people and the widespread destruction of Palestinian property and
infrastructure, both private and public, including many institutions of the Palestinian
Authority,
Expressing its grave concern also at the repeated incursions into Palestiniancontrolled
areas and the reoccupation of many Palestinian population centres by the
Israeli occupying forces,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the
whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against
civilians on both sides,
Gravely concerned at the increased suffering and casualties on both the
Palestinian and Israeli sides, the loss of confidence on both sides and the dire
situation facing the Middle East peace process,
Affirming the urgent need for the parties to cooperate with all international
efforts, including the efforts of the Quartet of the United States of America, the
Russian Federation, the European Union and the United Nations, to end the current
tragic situation and to resume negotiations towards a final peace settlement,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects and of
intensifying all efforts to that end;
2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, which
began in Madrid, and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian
sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and
lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the efforts of the
Quartet;
_______________
2 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
A/RES/57/110
3
3. Welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League
of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002;3
4. Stresses the necessity for a commitment to the vision of the two-State
solution and the principle of land for peace, as well as the implementation of
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 1397 (2002);
5. Also stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian
population centres and for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including
military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
6. Calls upon the concerned parties, the Quartet and other interested parties
to exert all efforts and initiatives necessary to halt the deterioration of the situation
and to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000, and to
ensure the successful and speedy resumption of the peace process and the
conclusion of a final peaceful settlement;
7. Stresses the need for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
8. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees
in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
9. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
Authority during this critical period to help to alleviate the suffering of the
Palestinian people, rebuild the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and support
the restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
66th plenary meeting
3 December 2002
_______________
3 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
United Nations A/RES/58/21
General Assembly Distr.: General
22 January 2004
Fifty-eighth session
Agenda item 38
03 45417
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 3 December 2003
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/58/L.26/Rev.1 and Add.1)]
58/21. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at the tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002 and 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,
Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and
recognized borders,
Noting that it has been fifty-six years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II)
of 29 November 1947 and thirty-six years since the occupation of Palestinian
territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 57/110 of 3 December 2002,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects,
Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of a
comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
war,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied
since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem, and
affirming that the construction by Israel of a wall inside the Occupied Palestinian
_______________
1 A/58/416-S/2003/947.
A/RES/58/21
2
Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, is in contravention of relevant
provisions of international law,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,2 and the existing agreements concluded between the two sides,
and the need for full compliance with those agreements,
Welcoming the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet performance-based road map to a permanent two-State
solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,3 and stressing the need for its
implementation and compliance with its provisions,
Noting with satisfaction the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, and
recognizing the urgent need to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged
institutions,
Welcoming the positive contribution of the United Nations Special Coordinator
for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-
General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority to the
peace process, including in the framework of the activities of the Quartet,
Welcoming the convening of international donor meetings, as well as the
establishment of international mechanisms to provide assistance to the Palestinian
people,
Expressing its grave concern over the tragic events in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000 and the continued
deterioration of the situation, including the rising number of deaths and injuries,
mostly among Palestinian civilians, the deepening humanitarian crisis facing the
Palestinian people and the widespread destruction of Palestinian property and
infrastructure, both private and public, including many institutions of the Palestinian
Authority,
Expressing its grave concern also over the repeated incursions into
Palestinian-controlled areas and the reoccupation of many Palestinian population
centres by the Israeli occupying forces,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the
whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against
civilians on both sides, including the suicide bombings and extrajudicial executions,
Gravely concerned over the increased suffering and casualties on both the
Palestinian and Israeli sides, the loss of confidence on both sides and the dire
situation facing the Middle East peace process,
Aware of the urgent need for revitalized and active international involvement
to support both parties in overcoming the current dangerous impasse in the peace
process,
_______________
2 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
3 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/58/21
3
Affirming the urgent need for the parties to cooperate with all international
efforts, including the efforts of the Quartet, to end the current tragic situation and to
resume negotiations towards a final peace settlement,
Welcoming recent initiatives and efforts undertaken by civil society in pursuit
of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end;
2. Reaffirms also its full support for the Middle East peace process, which
began in Madrid, and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian
sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and
lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the efforts of the
Quartet;
3. Welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League
of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002;4
4. Calls upon both parties to fulfil their obligations in implementation of
the road map3 by taking parallel and reciprocal steps in this regard, and stresses the
importance and urgency of establishing a credible and effective third-party
monitoring mechanism including all members of the Quartet;
5. Stresses the necessity for a commitment to the vision of the two-State
solution and the principle of land for peace, and the implementation of Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003);
6. Also stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian
population centres and for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including
military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
7. Calls upon the concerned parties, the Quartet and other interested parties
to exert all efforts and undertake initiatives necessary to halt the deterioration of the
situation and to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000,
and to ensure a successful and speedy resumption of the peace process and the
conclusion of a final peaceful settlement;
8. Stresses the need for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
9. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees
in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
10. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
Authority during this critical period to help to alleviate the suffering of the
Palestinian people, rebuild the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and support
the restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions;
_______________
4 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
A/RES/58/21
4
11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
68th plenary meeting
3 December 2003
United Nations A/RES/59/31
General Assembly Distr.: General
31 January 2005
Fifty-ninth session
Agenda item 37
04-47812
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 1 December 2004
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/59/L.37 and Add.1)]
59/31. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at the tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further the relevant Security Council resolutions, including
resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973,
1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003 and 1544 (2004)
of 19 May 2004,
Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region where
two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders,
Noting with concern that it has been fifty-seven years since the adoption of
resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and thirty-seven years since the occupation
of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 58/21 of 3 December 2003,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2 and recalling also its resolution ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004,
Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of
comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
_______________
1 A/59/574-S/2004/909.
2 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
A/RES/59/31
2
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied
since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem,
Reaffirming also that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a
wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem,
and its associated regime, are contrary to international law,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,3 and the agreements concluded between the two sides, and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict,4 and stressing the urgent need for its implementation and
compliance with its provisions,
Noting the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, and recognizing the
urgent need to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions,
Welcoming the contribution to the peace process of the United Nations Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the
Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, including in the framework of the activities of the Quartet,
Welcoming also the convening of international donor meetings, as well as the
establishment of international mechanisms to provide assistance to the Palestinian
people,
Expressing its grave concern over the tragic events in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000 and the continuing
deterioration of the situation, including the rising number of deaths and injuries,
mostly among Palestinian civilians, the deepening humanitarian crisis facing the
Palestinian people and the widespread destruction of Palestinian property and
infrastructure, both private and public, including institutions of the Palestinian
Authority,
Expressing its grave concern also over the repeated military actions in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and the reoccupation of Palestinian population
centres by the Israeli occupying forces,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the
whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against
civilians on both sides, including the suicide bombings, the extrajudicial executions
and the excessive use of force,
_______________
3 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
4 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/59/31
3
Gravely concerned over the increased suffering and casualties on both the
Palestinian and Israeli sides, the loss of confidence on both sides and the dire
situation facing the Middle East peace process,
Aware of the urgent need for revitalized and active international involvement
to support both parties in overcoming the current dangerous impasse in the peace
process,
Affirming the urgent need for the parties to cooperate with all international
efforts, including the efforts of the Quartet, to end the current tragic situation and to
resume and accelerate negotiations towards a final peace settlement,
Welcoming the initiatives and efforts undertaken by civil society in pursuit of a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Taking note of the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose
a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby
establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,5
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end;
2. Reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, which began
in Madrid, and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides,
stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting
peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of the
Quartet;
3. Welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League
of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002;6
4. Calls upon both parties to fulfil their obligations in implementation of
the road map4 by taking parallel and reciprocal steps in this regard, and stresses the
importance and urgency of establishing a credible and effective third-party
monitoring mechanism including all members of the Quartet;
5. Stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian
population centres and for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including
military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
6. Calls upon the parties, with the support of the Quartet and other
interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the
situation, to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000 and
to facilitate a speedy resumption of the peace process and the conclusion of a final
peaceful settlement;
7. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal
obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion,2 and calls upon all States
Members of the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations as mentioned
in the advisory opinion;
_______________
5 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161.
6 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
A/RES/59/31
4
8. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
9. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions;
10. Stresses the need for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
11. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees
in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
12. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
Authority during this critical period to help to alleviate the suffering of the
Palestinian people, rebuild the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and support
the restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions;
13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on these
efforts and on developments on this matter.
64th plenary meeting
1 December 2004
United Nations A/RES/60/39
General Assembly Distr.: General
16 February 2006
Sixtieth session
Agenda item 15
05-48994
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 1 December 2005
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/60/L.31 and Add.1)]
60/39. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at the tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003 and 1544 (2004) of 19 May
2004,
Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and
recognized borders,
Noting with concern that it has been fifty-eight years since the adoption of
resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and thirty-eight years since the occupation
of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 59/31 of 1 December 2004,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2 and recalling also its resolution ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004,
Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of
comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
_______________
1 A/60/539-S/2005/701.
2 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
A/RES/60/39
2
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
war,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied
since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem,
Reaffirming also that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a
wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem,
and its associated regime, are contrary to international law,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,3 and the agreements concluded between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict,4 and stressing the urgent need for its implementation and
compliance with its provisions,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, with
international support, to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions,
Welcoming the important contribution to the peace process of the United
Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal
Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization
and the Palestinian Authority, including in the framework of the activities of the
Quartet,
Welcoming also the convening of international donor meetings, as well as the
establishment of international mechanisms to provide assistance to the Palestinian
people,
Expressing its concern over the tragic events that have occurred in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000,
including the large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian
civilians, the deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the
Palestinian people and the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian
property and infrastructure,
Expressing its grave concern over the repeated military actions in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and the reoccupation of Palestinian population
centres by the Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in this regard the need for
the implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the
whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against
_______________
3 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
4 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/60/39
3
civilians on both sides, including the suicide bombings, the extrajudicial executions
and the excessive use of force,
Acknowledging the importance of the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza
Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and of the dismantlement of the
settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map,
Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement,
including by the Quartet, to support both parties in revitalizing the peace process
towards the resumption and acceleration of direct negotiations between the parties
for the achievement of a final peace settlement, in accordance with the road map,
Welcoming the initiatives and efforts undertaken by civil society in pursuit of a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Taking note of the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose
a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby
establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,5
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end;
2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, which
began in Madrid, and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian
sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and
lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of
the Quartet;
3. Welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League
of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002;6
4. Calls upon both parties to fulfil their obligations in implementation of
the road map4 by taking parallel and reciprocal steps in this regard, and stresses the
importance and urgency of establishing a credible and effective third-party
monitoring mechanism including all members of the Quartet;
5. Welcomes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of
the northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step
towards the implementation of the road map;
6. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, in this regard, to comply strictly
with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian
law, with respect to the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
7. Emphasizes the need for the parties, with the help of the international
community, speedily and fully to resolve all remaining issues in the Gaza Strip,
including a durable arrangement for the border crossings, the airport, the
construction of the seaport, the removal of the rubble and the establishment of a
permanent physical link between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and welcomes
_______________
5 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161.
6 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
A/RES/60/39
4
the positive role being played in this regard by the Quartet Special Envoy for
Disengagement;
8. Stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian
population centres and for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including
military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
9. Also stresses the need for the immediate implementation of the Sharm
el-Sheikh understandings;
10. Calls upon the parties, with the support of the Quartet and other
interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the
situation, to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000 and
to facilitate a speedy resumption of the peace process and the conclusion of a final
peaceful settlement;
11. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal
obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion2 and as
demanded in resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15 of 20 July
2004 and, inter alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States
Members of the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned
in the advisory opinion;
12. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
13. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions;
14. Stresses the need for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
15. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of Palestine refugees in
conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
16. Welcomes the recent agreement on movement and access between the two
sides, and stresses the need to ensure that the commitments made therein are fully
implemented in accordance with the timeline set out in the agreement;
17. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
Authority during this critical period to help to alleviate the humanitarian crisis being
faced by the Palestinian people, rebuild the Palestinian economy and infrastructure
and support the restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions;
A/RES/60/39
5
18. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
60th plenary meeting
1 December 2005
United Nations A/RES/61/25
General Assembly Distr.: General
2 March 2007
Sixty-first session
Agenda item 14
06-49593
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 1 December 2006
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/61/L.34)]
61/25. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted by its tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003 and 1544 (2004) of 19 May
2004,
Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and
recognized borders,
Noting with concern that it has been fifty-nine years since the adoption of
resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and thirty-nine years since the occupation
of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 60/39 of 1 December 2005,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2 and recalling also its resolution ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004,
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
_______________
1 A/61/355-S/2006/748.
2 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
A/RES/61/25
2
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
war,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967,
Reaffirming also the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of
Jerusalem, including measures such as the so-called E-l plan and all other unilateral
measures aimed at altering the status of the city and the territory as a whole,
Reaffirming further that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a
wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem,
and its associated regime, are contrary to international law,
Expressing deep concern about the Israeli policy of closure and the severe
restrictions, including curfews and the permit regime, that continue to be imposed
on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and humanitarian
personnel and goods, throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and the consequent negative impact on the socio-economic situation of
the Palestinian people, which remains that of a dire humanitarian crisis,
Concerned about the continued establishment of Israeli checkpoints in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the transformation of
several of these checkpoints into structures akin to permanent border crossings
inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which are severely impairing the
territorial contiguity of the Territory and severely undermining efforts to rehabilitate
and develop the Palestinian economy,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,3 and the agreements concluded between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict,4 and stressing the urgent need for its implementation and
compliance with its provisions,
Welcoming the efforts of the Arab Foreign Ministers, demonstrated in the
meeting of the Security Council on 21 September 2006, who called for, among other
things, a solution to the conflict on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions,
especially from the Security Council, the Arab Peace Initiative and the road map,
Welcoming also the important contribution to the peace process of the United
Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal
Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization
_______________
3 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
4 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/61/25
3
and the Palestinian Authority, including in the framework of the activities of the
Quartet,
Welcoming further the “Stockholm Donor Conference on the Humanitarian
Situation in the Palestinian Territories” of 1 September 2006 and encouraging
further donor meetings, as well as the establishment of international mechanisms,
and in this regard acknowledging the Temporary International Mechanism, to
provide assistance to the Palestinian people to alleviate the financial crisis and the
dire socio-economic and humanitarian situation being faced by the Palestinian
people,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, with
international support, to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions, and
emphasizing the need to preserve the Palestinian institutions and infrastructure,
Expressing its concern over the tragic events that have occurred in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000,
including the large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian
civilians, the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property and
infrastructure, the internal displacement of civilians, and the serious deterioration of
the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people,
Expressing its grave concern over the repeated military actions in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and the reoccupation of Palestinian population
centres by the Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in this regard the need for
the implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings,
Welcoming the Palestinian truce initiative and its acceptance by Israel that
came into effect on 26 November 2006, and urging both sides to maintain this truce,
which could pave the way for genuine negotiations towards a just resolution to the
conflict, and extend it to the West Bank,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the
whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against
civilians on both sides, including the suicide bombings, the extrajudicial executions
and the excessive use of force,
Noting the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the
northern West Bank and the importance of the dismantlement of the settlements
therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map,
Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement,
including by the Quartet, to support both parties in revitalizing the peace process
towards the resumption and acceleration of direct negotiations between the parties
for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement, in
accordance with the road map,
Welcoming the initiatives and efforts undertaken by civil society in pursuit of a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Taking note of the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose
A/RES/61/25
4
a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby
establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,5
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end;
2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, which
began in Madrid, and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian
sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and
lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of
the Quartet;
3. Welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League
of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002;6
4. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and
other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the
situation, to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000 and
to immediately resume direct peace negotiations towards the conclusion of a final
peaceful settlement on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, especially
from the Security Council, the Arab Peace Initiative, the terms of reference of the
Madrid Conference and the road map;4
5. Calls upon the Quartet, together with the international community, to
take immediate steps, including confidence-building measures between the parties,
aimed at stabilizing the situation and restarting the peace process;
6. Stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian
population centres and for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including
military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
7. Also stresses the need for the immediate implementation of the Sharm
el-Sheikh understandings;
8. Calls upon both parties to fulfil their obligations in respect of the
implementation of the road map by taking parallel and reciprocal steps in this
regard, and stresses the importance and urgency of establishing a credible and
effective third-party monitoring mechanism, including all members of the Quartet;
9. Notes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the
northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step
towards the implementation of the road map;
10. Emphasizes the need for the parties, with the help of the international
community, speedily and fully to resolve all remaining issues in the Gaza Strip,
including a durable arrangement for the border crossings, the airport, the
construction of the seaport, the removal of the rubble and the establishment of a
permanent physical link between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and stresses
also the need for the full implementation by both parties of the Agreement on
Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, of
15 November 2005;
_______________
5 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161.
6 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
A/RES/61/25
5
11. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and
that it cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and unilateral
actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are
aimed at altering the character and status of the Territory, including via the de facto
annexation of land, and thus at prejudging the final outcome of peace negotiations;
12. Demands accordingly that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its
legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion2 and
as demanded in resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15 of 20 July
2004 and, inter alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States
Members of the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned
in the advisory opinion;
13. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions;
14. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
15. Stresses the need for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
16. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of Palestine refugees in
conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
17. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
Authority during this critical period to help to alleviate the humanitarian crisis being
faced by the Palestinian people, rehabilitate the Palestinian economy and
infrastructure and support the rebuilding, restructuring and reform of Palestinian
institutions;
18. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
63rd plenary meeting
1 December 2006
United Nations A/RES/62/83
General Assembly Distr.: General
21 January 2008
Sixty-second session
Agenda item 18
07-46875
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 10 December 2007
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/62/L.21/Rev.1)]
62/83. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003 and 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004,
Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and
recognized borders,
Noting with concern that it has been sixty years since the adoption of
resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and forty years since the occupation of
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 61/25 of 1 December 2006,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
_______________
1 A/62/344-S/2007/553.
2 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
A/RES/62/83
2
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
war,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
Reaffirming also the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of
Jerusalem, including measures such as the so-called E-l plan and all other unilateral
measures aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the
city and the territory as a whole,
Reaffirming further that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a
wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem,
and its associated regime, are contrary to international law,
Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policy of closures and
severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and
humanitarian personnel and goods, via imposition of crossing closures as well as of
checkpoints and a permit regime throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, and the consequent negative impact on the socioeconomic
situation of the Palestinian people, which remains that of a dire
humanitarian crisis,
Concerned about the continued establishment of Israeli checkpoints in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the transformation of
several of these checkpoints into structures akin to permanent border crossings
inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which are severely impairing the
territorial contiguity of the Territory and severely undermining efforts and aid aimed
at rehabilitating and developing the Palestinian economy,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,3 and the agreements concluded between the two sides and the
need for full compliance with those agreements,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict,4 and stressing the urgent need for its implementation and
compliance with its provisions,
Welcoming the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,5
Welcoming also the convening of the international conference held at
Annapolis, United States of America, on 27 November 2007, in particular the
decision by the parties to launch meaningful, direct negotiations towards the
achievement of a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian
_______________
3 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
4 S/2003/529, annex.
5 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
A/RES/62/83
3
conflict and ultimately the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole for the realization of a
comprehensive peace in the Middle East,
Noting the important contribution to the peace process of the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative
of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, including in the framework of the activities of the Quartet,
Welcoming the convening of the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for
the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the
chairmanship of Norway, on 24 September 2007, as well as the Paris donors’
conference of 17 December 2007 to mobilize donors in follow-up to the Annapolis
conference to provide financial support to the Palestinian Authority to enable it to
build a prosperous and viable Palestinian State and, in the meantime, to also provide
assistance to alleviate the socio-economic and humanitarian crisis being faced by
the Palestinian people, and acknowledging the contribution of the Temporary
International Mechanism in this regard,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, with
international support, to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions, and
emphasizing the need to preserve the Palestinian institutions and infrastructure,
Expressing its concern over the negative developments that have continued to
occur in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the
large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the
widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property and infrastructure,
the internal displacement of civilians and the serious deterioration of the socioeconomic
and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people,
Expressing its grave concern over repeated military actions in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory and the reoccupation of Palestinian population centres by the
Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in this regard the need for the
implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the
whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against
civilians on both sides,
Noting the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the
northern West Bank and the importance of the dismantlement of the settlements
therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map,
Expressing concern over the unlawful takeover of Palestinian Authority
institutions in the Gaza Strip in June 2007, and calling for the restoration of the
situation to that which existed prior to June 2007 to allow for the resumption of a
dialogue for the restoration of Palestinian national unity,
Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement,
including by the Quartet, to support both parties in revitalizing the peace process
towards the resumption and acceleration of direct negotiations between the parties
for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement, on the
basis of United Nations resolutions, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative,
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Taking note of the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
A/RES/62/83
4
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose
a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby
establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,6
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end;
2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, which
began in Madrid, and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian
sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and
lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of
the Quartet and of the League of Arab States;
3. Welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by the Council of the
League of Arab States at its fourteenth session5 and the follow-up steps being
undertaken by the Ministerial Committee formed after reaffirmation of the Initiative
by the Riyadh summit in March 2007;
4. Welcomes also the international conference convened at Annapolis, and
encourages the parties to undertake immediate steps in follow-up to their joint
understanding, including through active and serious resumed bilateral negotiations;
5. Welcomes further the appointment of the Quartet’s Special
Representative, Tony Blair, and his efforts to strengthen Palestinian institutions,
promote Palestinian economic development and mobilize international donor
support;
6. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and
other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the
situation, to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000 and
to sustain and accelerate direct peace negotiations towards the conclusion of a final
peaceful settlement on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, especially of
the Security Council, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, the road
map4 and the Arab Peace Initiative;
7. Underscores the need for the parties to undertake, with the support of the
Quartet and the international community, confidence-building measures aimed at
improving the situation, promoting stability and fostering the peace process,
recognizes in this respect recent developments such as the opening of a Gaza border
crossing for agricultural goods and the release of some prisoners, and emphasizes
the contribution of such measures to the overall environment between the two sides
and the well-being of the Palestinian people in particular;
8. Calls upon both parties to fulfil their obligations in respect of the
implementation of the road map by taking parallel and reciprocal steps in this
regard;
9. Stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian
population centres, inter alia, by easing movement and access, including by the
removal of checkpoints within the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and the need for
_______________
6 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161.
A/RES/62/83
5
respect and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
10. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts
of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
11. Notes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the
northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step
towards the implementation of the road map, and the need for the parties to resolve
all remaining issues in the Gaza Strip;
12. Stresses the need for the full implementation by both parties of the
Agreement on Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah
Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, in specific, to allow for the opening
of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian supplies, movement
and access as well as for commercial flows, which are essential for improving the
living conditions of the Palestinian people and ensuring the viability of the
Palestinian economy;
13. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to
cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and unilateral actions
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at
altering the character and status of the Territory, including via the de facto
annexation of land, and thus at prejudging the final outcome of peace negotiations;
14. Demands, accordingly, that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its
legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion2 and
as demanded in resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15 and, inter
alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of
the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the
advisory opinion;
15. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions;
16. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
17. Stresses the need for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
18. Also stresses the need for justly resolving the problem of Palestine
refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
19. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
Authority during this critical period to help to alleviate the humanitarian crisis being
faced by the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the
A/RES/62/83
6
Palestinian economy and infrastructure and to support the rebuilding, restructuring
and reform of Palestinian institutions;
20. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
65th plenary meeting
10 December 2007
United Nations A/RES/63/29
General Assembly Distr.: General
22 January 2009
Sixty-third session
Agenda item 16
08-47253
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 26 November 2008
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/63/L.35 and Add.1)]
63/29. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003 and 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004,
Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized
borders,
Noting with concern that it has been more than sixty years since the adoption
of resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and forty-one years since the
occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 62/83 of 10 December 2007,0F
1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory,1F
2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July
2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
_______________
1 A/63/368-S/2008/612.
2 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.
A/RES/63/29
2
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
war,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
Reaffirming also the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of
Jerusalem, including measures such as the so-called E-l plan and all other unilateral
measures aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the
city and the territory as a whole,
Reaffirming further that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a
wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem,
and its associated regime, are contrary to international law,
Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policy of closures and
severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and
humanitarian personnel and goods, via the imposition of crossing closures as well as
the continued establishment of checkpoints and the imposition of a permit regime
throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the
consequent negative impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestinian
people, which remains that of a dire humanitarian crisis, as well as on efforts aimed
at rehabilitating and developing the damaged Palestinian economy, and on the
contiguity of the Territory,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,2F
3 and the need for full compliance with the agreements concluded
between the two sides,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict,3F
4 and stressing the urgent need for its implementation and
compliance with its provisions,
Recalling further the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League
of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,4F
5
Recalling the convening of the international conference held at Annapolis,
United States of America, on 27 November 2007, in particular the decision by the
parties to launch meaningful, direct negotiations towards the achievement of a just,
lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ultimately the
Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole for the realization of a comprehensive peace in the
Middle East,
Noting the important contribution to the peace process of the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative
_______________
3 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
4 S/2003/529, annex.
5 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
A/RES/63/29
3
of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, including in the framework of the activities of the Quartet,
Welcoming the reconvening of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the
Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship
of Norway, at United Nations Headquarters on 22 September 2008, and affirming
the importance of continued follow-up and fulfilment of pledges made at the Paris
donors’ conference of 17 December 2007 to mobilize donors to provide financial
support to the Palestinian Authority to enable it to build a prosperous and viable
Palestinian State and, in the meantime, to also provide assistance to alleviate the
socio-economic and humanitarian crisis being faced by the Palestinian people, and
acknowledging the contribution of the Palestinian-European Mechanism for the
Management of Socio-Economic Aid of the European Commission in this regard,
Welcoming also the convening of the Bethlehem Conference on Private-Sector
Investment from 21 to 23 May 2008, aimed at promoting an enabling environment
for Palestinian private-sector growth and development,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, with
international support, to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions, and
emphasizing the need to preserve the Palestinian institutions and infrastructure,
Welcoming the outcome of the Berlin Conference in Support of Palestinian
Civil Security and the Rule of Law, held on 24 June 2008, and calling for its speedy
implementation,
Welcoming also the progress observed in Jenin, and calling upon the parties to
continue cooperation benefiting both Palestinians and Israelis, in particular for
promoting security and building confidence, and expressing the hope that such
progress will be extended to other major population centres,
Expressing its concern over the negative developments that have continued to
occur in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the
large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the acts of
violence and brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in
the West Bank, the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property
and infrastructure, the internal displacement of civilians and the serious
deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian
people,
Expressing its grave concern over continuing military actions in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory and the reoccupation of Palestinian population centres by the
Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in this regard the need for the
implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings,
Taking note of the calm prevailing between the Gaza Strip and southern Israel
since June 2008, and calling for its continued respect by both sides,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the
whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against
civilians on both sides,
Expressing concern over the unlawful takeover of Palestinian Authority
institutions in the Gaza Strip in June 2007, and calling for the restoration of the
situation to that which existed prior to June 2007 and for the continuation of serious
efforts for the resumption of dialogue and the restoration of Palestinian national
unity,
A/RES/63/29
4
Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement,
including by the Quartet, to support both parties in advancing and accelerating the
peace process negotiations between the parties for the achievement of a just, lasting
and comprehensive peace settlement, on the basis of United Nations resolutions, the
road map and the Arab Peace Initiative,
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Taking note of the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose
a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby
establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,5F
6
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end;
2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, which
began in Madrid, and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian
sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and
lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of
the Quartet and of the League of Arab States;
3. Further reaffirms the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by
the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session,5 and encourages
continued serious efforts to follow up and promote the Initiative, including by the
Ministerial Committee formed at the Riyadh summit in March 2007;
4. Reaffirms the importance of the international conference convened at
Annapolis, and urges the parties to undertake, with the support of the Quartet and
the international community, immediate and concrete steps in follow-up to their
joint understanding, including through active and serious resumed bilateral
negotiations;
5. Calls upon both parties to fulfil their obligations in respect of the
implementation of the road map4 by taking immediate parallel and reciprocal steps
in this regard;
6. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and
other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the
situation and to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000;
7. Underscores the need for the parties to take confidence-building
measures aimed at improving the situation on the ground, promoting stability and
fostering the peace process, including the need for the further release of prisoners;
8. Stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian
population centres, inter alia, by easing movement and access, including by the
removal of checkpoints and other obstructions to movement, and the need for
_______________
6 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161; see also Legal Consequences of the
Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.
A/RES/63/29
5
respect and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
9. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts
of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
10. Notes the Israeli withdrawal in 2005 from within the Gaza Strip and parts
of the northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step
towards the implementation of the road map, and the need for the parties to resolve
all remaining issues in the Gaza Strip;
11. Reiterates the need for the full implementation by both parties of the
Agreement on Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah
Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, in specific, to allow for the opening
of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian supplies, movement
and access as well as for commercial flows, which are essential for improving the
living conditions of the Palestinian people and ensuring the viability of the
Palestinian economy;
12. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to
cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and unilateral actions
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at
altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Territory,
including via the de facto annexation of land, and thus at prejudging the final
outcome of peace negotiations;
13. Demands, accordingly, that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its
legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion2 and
as demanded in resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15 and, inter
alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of
the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the
advisory opinion;
14. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions;
15. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
16. Stresses the need for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
17. Also stresses the need for justly resolving the problem of Palestine
refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
18. Calls upon the parties to accelerate direct peace negotiations towards the
conclusion of a final peaceful settlement on the basis of relevant United Nations
resolutions, especially of the Security Council, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative;
A/RES/63/29
6
19. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
Authority during this critical period to help to alleviate the humanitarian crisis being
faced by the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the
Palestinian economy and infrastructure and to support the rebuilding, restructuring
and reform of Palestinian institutions;
20. Welcomes, in this regard, the continuing efforts of the Quartet’s Special
Representative, Tony Blair, to strengthen Palestinian institutions, promote
Palestinian economic development and mobilize international donor support;
21. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
60th plenary meeting
26 November 2008
United Nations A/RES/64/19
General Assembly Distr.: General
25 January 2010
Sixty-fourth session
Agenda item 16
09-46297
*0946297* Please rec cle ♲
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2009
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/64/L.23 and Add.1)]
64/19. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004
and 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008,
Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and
recognized borders,
Noting with concern that it has been more than sixty years since the adoption
of its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and forty-two years since the
occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 63/29 of 26 November 2008,0F
1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory,1F
2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
_______________
1 A/64/351-S/2009/464.
2 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.
A/RES/64/19
2
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
war,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
Stressing the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and
activities on efforts to resume the peace process and achieve peace in the Middle
East,
Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of
Jerusalem, including measures such as the so-called E-l plan and all other unilateral
measures aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the
city and of the Territory as a whole,
Reaffirming also that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a
wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem,
and its associated regime are contrary to international law,
Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policy of closures and
severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and
humanitarian personnel and goods, via the imposition of prolonged closures and
severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade,
crossing closures, checkpoints and a permit regime throughout the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the consequent negative impact
on the socio-economic situation of the Palestinian people, which remains that of a
dire humanitarian crisis, as well as on efforts aimed at rehabilitating and developing
the damaged Palestinian economy and on the contiguity of the Territory,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,2F
3 and the need for full compliance with the agreements concluded
between the two sides,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict3F
4 and the call in Council resolution 1850 (2008) for the
parties to fulfil their obligations under the road map, as affirmed in the
Israeli-Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the international conference held in
Annapolis, United States of America, on 27 November 2007,4F
5 and to refrain from
any steps that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations,
_______________
3 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
4 S/2003/529, annex.
5 Available from http://unispal.un.org.
A/RES/64/19
3
Noting the Israeli withdrawal in 2005 from the Gaza Strip and parts of the
northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step
towards the implementation of the road map,
Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,5F
6
Expressing support for the agreed principles for bilateral negotiations, as
affirmed by the parties at the Annapolis conference, aimed at concluding a peace
treaty resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues, without exception,
for the achievement of a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict and ultimately of the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole for the
realization of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East,
Expressing support also for the convening of an international conference in
Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850 (2008), for the
advancement and acceleration of a resumed peace process,
Noting the important contribution to the peace process of the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative
of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, including within the framework of the activities of the Quartet,
Welcoming the reconvening of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the
Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship
of Norway, at United Nations Headquarters on 22 September 2009, affirming the
importance of continued follow-up and fulfilment of pledges made at the
International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the
Reconstruction of Gaza, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 2 March 2009, for the
provision of emergency assistance and support for reconstruction and economic
recovery in the Gaza Strip and alleviation of the socio-economic and humanitarian
crisis being faced by the Palestinian people, and acknowledging the contribution of
the Palestinian-European Mechanism for the Management of Socio-Economic Aid
of the European Commission in this regard,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, with
international support, to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions,
emphasizing the need to preserve and develop the Palestinian institutions and
infrastructure, and welcoming in this regard the Palestinian Authority’s plan for
constructing the institutions of a Palestinian State within a twenty-four-month
period as a demonstration of its serious commitment to an independent State that
provides opportunity, justice and security for the Palestinian people and is a
responsible neighbour to all States in the region,
Welcoming the efforts and progress made in the security sector by the
Palestinian Authority, calling upon the parties to continue cooperation that benefits
both Palestinians and Israelis, in particular by promoting security and building
confidence, and expressing the hope that such progress will be extended to all major
population centres,
Reiterating its concern over the negative developments that have continued to
occur in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the
large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the acts of
_______________
6 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
A/RES/64/19
4
violence and brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in
the West Bank, the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property
and infrastructure, the internal displacement of civilians and the serious
deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian
people,
Expressing grave concern, in particular, over the crisis in the Gaza Strip as a
result of the continuing prolonged Israeli closures and severe economic and
movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade and the military
operations in the Gaza Strip between December 2008 and January 2009, which
caused extensive loss of life and injury, particularly among Palestinian civilians,
including children and women, widespread damage and destruction to Palestinian
homes, properties, vital infrastructure, public institutions, including hospitals and
schools, and United Nations facilities, and internal displacement of civilians,
Stressing the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security
Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009 and General Assembly
resolution ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009,
Expressing concern over continuing military actions in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including raids and arrest campaigns, and over the continued
imposition of hundreds of checkpoints and obstacles to movement in and around
Palestinian population centres by the Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in
this regard the need for the implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh
understandings,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well-being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and
terror against civilians on both sides,
Expressing concern over the unlawful takeover of Palestinian Authority
institutions in the Gaza Strip in June 2007, and calling for the restoration of the
situation to that which existed prior to June 2007 and for the continuation of the
serious efforts being exerted by Egypt, the League of Arab States and other
concerned parties for the promotion of dialogue towards reconciliation and the
restoration of Palestinian national unity,
Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement,
including by the Quartet, to support both parties in resuming, advancing and
accelerating the peace process negotiations for the achievement of a just, lasting and
comprehensive peace settlement, on the basis of United Nations resolutions, the
road map and the Arab Peace Initiative,
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Recalling the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose
a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby
establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,6F
7
_______________
7 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161; see also Legal Consequences of the
Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004,
p. 136.
A/RES/64/19
5
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end;
2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, based
on the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative
adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session0H
6 and
the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict,1H
4 and for the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides,
stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting
peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of the
Quartet and of the League of Arab States;
3. Encourages continued serious regional and international efforts to follow
up and promote the Arab Peace Initiative, including by the Ministerial Committee
formed at the Riyadh summit in March 2007;
4. Urges the parties to undertake, with the support of the Quartet and the
international community, immediate and concrete steps in follow-up to the
Israeli-Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the international conference held in
Annapolis, United States of America, on 27 November 2007,2H
5 including through the
resumption of active and serious bilateral negotiations;
5. Encourages, in this regard, the convening of an international conference
in Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850 (2008), for the
advancement and acceleration of a resumed peace process;
6. Calls upon both parties to act on their previous agreements and
obligations, in particular adherence to the road map, irrespective of reciprocity, in
order to create the conditions necessary for the resumption of negotiations in the
near term;
7. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and
other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the
situation and to reverse all unilateral and unlawful measures taken on the ground
since 28 September 2000;
8. Underscores the need for the parties to take confidence-building
measures aimed at improving the situation on the ground, promoting stability and
fostering the peace process, including the need for the further release of prisoners;
9. Stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian
population centres, inter alia, by easing movement and access, including through the
removal of checkpoints and other obstructions to movement, and the need for
respect and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
10. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts
of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
11. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009);
12. Reiterates the need for the full implementation by both parties of the
Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah
A/RES/64/19
6
Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, specifically, to allow for the
sustained opening of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian
supplies, movement and access, as well as for commercial flows and all necessary
construction materials, which are essential for alleviating the dire humanitarian
crisis, improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people and promoting the
recovery of the Palestinian economy;
13. Stresses, in this regard, the urgent necessity for the advancement of
reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, including through the completion of numerous
suspended projects managed by the United Nations, according to the proposal of the
Secretary-General, and the commencement of United Nations–led civilian
reconstruction activities;
14. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to
cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and unilateral actions
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at
altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Territory,
including via the de facto annexation of land, and thus at prejudging the final
outcome of peace negotiations;
15. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions;
16. Calls for the cessation of all provocations, including by Israeli settlers, in
East Jerusalem, including in and around religious sites;
17. Demands, accordingly, that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its
legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion
rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice3H
2 and as demanded in
General Assembly resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15, and,
inter alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of
the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the
advisory opinion;
18. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
19. Stresses the need for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
20. Also stresses the need for a just resolution of the problem of Palestine
refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
21. Calls upon the parties to resume and accelerate direct peace negotiations
towards the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement on the basis of relevant United
Nations resolutions, especially of the Security Council, the terms of reference of the
Madrid Conference, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative;
A/RES/64/19
7
22. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
Authority during this critical period in order to help to alleviate the humanitarian
crisis being faced by the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip, to
rehabilitate the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and to support the
rebuilding, restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions and Palestinian
State-building efforts;
23. Encourages, in this regard, the continuing efforts of the Quartet’s Special
Representative, Tony Blair, to strengthen Palestinian institutions, promote
Palestinian economic development and mobilize international donor support;
24. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
54th plenary meeting
2 December 2009
United Nations A/RES/65/16
General Assembly Distr.: General
25 January 2011
Sixty-fifth session
Agenda item 37
10-51350
*1051350* Please rec cle ♲
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 November 2010
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/65/L.17 and Add.1)]
65/16. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004
and 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008,
Recalling the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and
recognized borders,
Noting with concern that it has been more than sixty years since the adoption
of its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and forty-three years since the
occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 64/19 of 2 December 2009,0F
1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law and relevant resolutions,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory,1F
2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
_______________
1 A/65/380-S/2010/484 and Add.1.
2 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.
A/RES/65/16
2
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory
by war,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
Stressing the extremely detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies,
decisions and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, on efforts to resume and advance the peace process and to achieve peace
in the Middle East,
Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of
Jerusalem, including measures such as the so-called E-l plan, home demolitions,
evictions of Palestinian residents, excavations in and around religious and historic
sites, and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the character, status and
demographic composition of the city and of the Territory as a whole,
Reaffirming also that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a
wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem,
and its associated regime are contrary to international law,
Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policy of closures and
severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and
humanitarian, via the imposition of prolonged closures and severe economic and
movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade, as well as of checkpoints
and a permit regime throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and the consequent negative impact on the socio-economic situation of
the Palestinian people, which remains that of a humanitarian crisis, and on the
efforts aimed at rehabilitating and developing the damaged Palestinian economy and
on the contiguity of the Territory, while taking note of recent developments
regarding the situation of access to the Gaza Strip,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,2F
3 and the need for full compliance with the agreements concluded
between the two sides,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict3F
4 and the call in Council resolution 1850 (2008) for the
parties to fulfil their obligations under the road map, as affirmed in the Israeli-
Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the international conference held in
_______________
3 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
4 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/65/16
3
Annapolis, United States of America, on 27 November 2007,4F
5 and to refrain from
any steps that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations,
Noting the Israeli withdrawal in 2005 from the Gaza Strip and parts of the
northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step
towards the implementation of the road map, and recalling in this regard the road
map obligation upon Israel to freeze settlement activity, including so-called “natural
growth”, and to dismantle all settlement outposts erected since March 2001,
Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,5F
6
Expressing support for the agreed principles for bilateral negotiations, as
affirmed by the parties at the Annapolis conference, aimed at concluding a peace
treaty resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues, without exception,
for the achievement of a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict and ultimately of the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole for the
realization of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East,
Reiterating support for the convening of an international conference in
Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850 (2008), for the
advancement and acceleration of a resumed peace process,
Noting the important contribution to the peace process of the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative
of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, including within the framework of the activities of the Quartet,
Welcoming the reconvening of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the
Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship
of Norway, at United Nations Headquarters on 21 September 2010, affirming the
importance of continued follow-up and fulfilment of pledges made at the
International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the
Reconstruction of Gaza, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 2 March 2009, for the
provision of emergency assistance and support for reconstruction and economic
recovery in the Gaza Strip and alleviation of the socio-economic and humanitarian
crisis being faced by the Palestinian people, and acknowledging the contribution of
the Palestinian-European Mechanism for the Management of Socio-Economic Aid
of the European Commission in this regard,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, with
international support, to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions,
emphasizing the need to preserve and develop the Palestinian institutions and
infrastructure and affirming, in this regard, its support for the Palestinian
Authority’s August 2009 plan for constructing the institutions of an independent
Palestinian State within a twenty-four-month period, and commending the
significant progress towards that goal, as confirmed by international institutions,
including the World Bank in its Economic Monitoring Report of 13 April 2010 to
the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee,
Welcoming the continued efforts and tangible progress made in the security
sector by the Palestinian Authority, calling upon the parties to continue cooperation
_______________
5 Available from http://unispal.un.org.
6 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
A/RES/65/16
4
that benefits both Palestinians and Israelis, in particular by promoting security and
building confidence, and expressing the hope that such progress will be extended to
all major population centres,
Reiterating its concern over the negative developments that have continued to
occur in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the
large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the
construction and expansion of settlements and the wall, acts of violence, vandalism
and brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in the West
Bank, the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property and
infrastructure, the internal displacement of civilians and the serious deterioration of
the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people,
Expressing grave concern, in particular, over the crisis in the Gaza Strip as a
result of the continuing prolonged Israeli closures and severe economic and
movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade and the military
operations in the Gaza Strip between December 2008 and January 2009, which
caused extensive loss of life and injury, particularly among Palestinian civilians,
including children and women, widespread damage and destruction to Palestinian
homes, properties, vital infrastructure, public institutions, including hospitals and
schools, and United Nations facilities, and internal displacement of civilians,
Stressing the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security
Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009 and General Assembly resolution
ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009,
Expressing concern over continuing military actions in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including raids and arrest campaigns, and over the continued
imposition of hundreds of checkpoints and obstacles to movement in and around
Palestinian population centres by the Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in
this regard the need for the implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh
understandings,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well-being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and
terror against civilians on both sides,
Expressing concern over the unlawful takeover of Palestinian Authority
institutions in the Gaza Strip in June 2007, and calling for the restoration of the
situation to that which existed prior to June 2007 and for the continuation of the
serious efforts being exerted by Egypt, the League of Arab States and other
concerned parties for the promotion of dialogue for the achievement of
reconciliation and the restoration of Palestinian national unity,
Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement,
including by the Quartet, to support both parties in resuming, advancing and
accelerating the peace process negotiations for the achievement of a just, lasting and
comprehensive peace settlement, on the basis of United Nations resolutions, the
road map and the Arab Peace Initiative,
Noting the Quartet’s determination in the recent period to support the parties
throughout the negotiations, which can be completed and resolve all final status
issues within one year, and in the implementation of an agreement between the two
sides that ends the occupation which began in 1967 and results in the emergence of
an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian State living side by side in peace
and security with Israel and its other neighbours,
A/RES/65/16
5
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Recalling the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose
a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby
establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,6F
7
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end;
2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, based
on the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative
adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session,0H
6 and
the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict,1H
4 and for the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides,
stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting
peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of the
Quartet and of the League of Arab States;
3. Encourages continued serious regional and international efforts to follow
up and promote the Arab Peace Initiative, including by the Ministerial Committee
formed at the Riyadh summit in March 2007;
4. Urges the parties to undertake, with the support of the Quartet and the
international community, immediate and concrete steps in follow-up to the Israeli-
Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the international conference held in
Annapolis,2H
5 including through the resumption of active and serious bilateral
negotiations;
5. Encourages, in this regard, the convening of an international conference
in Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850 (2008), for the
advancement and acceleration of a resumed peace process;
6. Calls upon both parties to act on the basis of international law and their
previous agreements and obligations, in particular adherence to the road map,
irrespective of reciprocity, in order to create the conditions necessary for the
resumption and accelerated advancement of negotiations in the near term;
7. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and
other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the
situation and to reverse all unilateral and unlawful measures taken on the ground
since 28 September 2000;
8. Calls upon the parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from
provocative actions and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in areas of religious and
cultural sensitivity;
_______________
7 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161; see also Legal Consequences of the
Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004,
p. 136.
A/RES/65/16
6
9. Underscores the need for the parties to take confidence-building
measures aimed at improving the situation on the ground, promoting stability and
fostering the peace process, including the need for the further release of prisoners;
10. Stresses the need for the removal of checkpoints and other obstructions
to the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the need for respect and preservation of the
territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem;
11. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts
of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
12. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009);
13. Reiterates the need for the full implementation by both parties of the
Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah
Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, specifically, to allow for the
sustained opening of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian
supplies, movement and access, as well as for commercial flows and all necessary
construction materials, which are essential for alleviating the humanitarian crisis,
improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people and promoting the
recovery of the Palestinian economy;
14. Stresses, in this regard, the urgent necessity for the advancement of
reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, including through the completion of numerous
suspended projects managed by the United Nations and the commencement of
United Nations-led civilian reconstruction activities;
15. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to
cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and unilateral actions
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at
altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Territory,
including via the de facto annexation of land, and thus at prejudging the final
outcome of peace negotiations;
16. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions;
17. Stresses, in this regard, the need for Israel forthwith to abide by its road
map obligation to freeze all settlement activity, including so-called “natural
growth”, and to dismantle settlement outposts erected since March 2001;
18. Calls for the cessation of all provocations, including by Israeli settlers, in
East Jerusalem, including in and around religious sites;
19. Demands, accordingly, that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its
legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion
rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice3H
2 and as demanded in
General Assembly resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15, and,
inter alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of
the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the
advisory opinion;
A/RES/65/16
7
20. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
21. Stresses the need for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
22. Also stresses the need for a just resolution of the problem of Palestine
refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
23. Calls upon the parties to resume and accelerate direct peace negotiations
towards the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement on the basis of relevant United
Nations resolutions, especially of the Security Council, the terms of reference of the
Madrid Conference, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative;
24. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
Authority during this critical period in order to help to alleviate the humanitarian
crisis being faced by the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip, to
rehabilitate the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and to support the
rebuilding, restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions and Palestinian Statebuilding
efforts;
25. Encourages, in this regard, the continuing efforts of the Quartet’s Special
Representative, Mr. Tony Blair, to strengthen Palestinian institutions, promote
Palestinian economic development and mobilize international donor support;
26. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
55th plenary meeting
30 November 2010
United Nations A/RES/66/17
General Assembly Distr.: General
26 January 2012
Sixty-sixth session
Agenda item 37
11-45984
*1145984* Please rec cle ♲
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 November 2011
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/66/L.18 and Add.1)]
66/17. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004
and 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008,
Recalling the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and
recognized borders,
Noting with concern that it has been more than sixty years since the adoption
of its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and forty-four years since the
occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 65/16 of 30 November 2010,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law and relevant resolutions,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
_______________
1 A/66/367-S/2011/585.
2 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.
A/RES/66/17
2
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory
by war,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
Stressing the extremely detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies,
decisions and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, on efforts to resume and advance the peace process and to achieve peace
in the Middle East,
Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of
Jerusalem, including settlement construction and expansion, home demolitions,
evictions of Palestinian residents, excavations in and around religious and historic
sites, and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the character, status and
demographic composition of the city and of the Territory as a whole,
Reaffirming also that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a
wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem,
and its associated regime are contrary to international law,
Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policy of closures and
severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and
humanitarian, via the imposition of prolonged closures and severe economic and
movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade, as well as of checkpoints
and a permit regime throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and the consequent negative impact on the contiguity of the Territory and
the serious socio-economic and humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people,
which is critical in the Gaza Strip, and on the efforts aimed at rehabilitating and
developing the damaged Palestinian economy, while taking note of recent
developments regarding the situation of access to the Gaza Strip,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,3 and the need for full compliance with the agreements concluded
between the two sides,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict4 and the call in Council resolution 1850 (2008) for the
parties to fulfil their obligations under the road map and to refrain from any steps
that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations, and
_______________
3 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
4 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/66/17
3
recalling further in this regard the relevant Quartet statements, including that of
23 September 2011,5
Noting the Israeli withdrawal in 2005 from the Gaza Strip and parts of the
northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step
towards the implementation of the road map, and stressing in this regard the roadmap
obligation upon Israel to freeze settlement activity, including so-called “natural
growth”, and to dismantle all settlement outposts erected since March 2001,
Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,6
Expressing support for the agreed principles for bilateral negotiations, as
affirmed by the parties in the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the
international conference held in Annapolis, United States of America, on
27 November 2007,7 aimed at concluding a peace treaty resolving all outstanding
issues, including all core issues, without exception, for the achievement of a just,
lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ultimately of
the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole for the realization of a comprehensive peace in
the Middle East,
Reiterating support for the convening of an international conference in
Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850 (2008) and the
Quartet statement of 23 September 2011, for the advancement and acceleration of a
resumed peace process,
Noting the important contribution to the peace process of the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative
of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, including within the framework of the activities of the Quartet,
Noting also the continuing efforts of the Quartet’s Special Representative
towards the resumption of the peace process, in particular the efforts to strengthen
Palestinian institutions, promote Palestinian economic development and mobilize
donor support,
Welcoming the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination
of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship of Norway, at
United Nations Headquarters on 18 September 2011, at which, based on relevant
reports by the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund,
the donor countries reconfirmed the assessment that the institutions of the Palestinian
Authority are above the threshold of a functioning State in the key sectors studied
and reaffirmed the necessity of continued donor support for the Palestinian Authority,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, with
international support, to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions,
emphasizing the need to preserve and further develop Palestinian institutions and
infrastructure and commending, in this regard, the implementation of the Palestinian
Authority’s August 2009 plan for constructing the institutions of an independent
Palestinian State within a twenty-four-month period, and the significant achievements
made, as confirmed by international institutions, including the World Bank, the
_______________
5 Available from www.unsco.org.
6 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
7 Available from http://unispal.un.org.
A/RES/66/17
4
International Monetary Fund and the United Nations, in their reports to the meeting
of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee on 13 April 2011,
Welcoming the continued efforts and tangible progress made in the security
sector by the Palestinian Authority, calling upon the parties to continue cooperation
that benefits both Palestinians and Israelis, in particular by promoting security and
building confidence, and expressing the hope that such progress will be extended to
all major population centres,
Reiterating its concern over the negative developments that have continued to
occur in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the
large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the
construction and expansion of settlements and the wall, acts of violence, vandalism
and brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in the West
Bank, the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property and
infrastructure, the internal displacement of civilians and the serious deterioration of
the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people,
Expressing grave concern, in particular, over the crisis in the Gaza Strip as a
result of the continuing prolonged Israeli closures and severe economic and
movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade and the military
operations in the Gaza Strip between December 2008 and January 2009, which
caused extensive loss of life and injury, particularly among Palestinian civilians,
including children and women, widespread damage and destruction to Palestinian
homes, properties, vital infrastructure, public institutions, including hospitals and
schools, and United Nations facilities, and internal displacement of civilians,
Stressing the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security
Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009 and General Assembly resolution
ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009,
Expressing concern over continuing military actions in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including raids and arrest campaigns, and over the continued imposition
of hundreds of checkpoints and obstacles to movement in and around Palestinian
population centres by the Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in this regard
the need for the implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well-being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and
terror against civilians on both sides,
Expressing the hope for speedy progress towards Palestinian reconciliation for
the restoration of Palestinian unity, under the leadership of the President of the
Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and consistent with Palestine Liberation
Organization commitments, and of the situation in the Gaza Strip to that which
existed prior to June 2007, and calling for the continuation of the serious efforts
being exerted by Egypt, the League of Arab States and other concerned parties
towards the achievement of this aim,
Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement,
including by the Quartet, to support both parties in resuming, advancing and
accelerating the peace process negotiations for the achievement of a just, lasting and
comprehensive peace settlement, on the basis of United Nations resolutions, the
road map and the Arab Peace Initiative,
Noting the Quartet’s determination in the recent period to support the parties
throughout the negotiations, which can be completed and resolve all final status
issues within one year, and in the implementation of an agreement between the two
A/RES/66/17
5
sides that ends the occupation which began in 1967 and results in the independence
of a democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian State living side by side in peace
and security with Israel and its other neighbours,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,8
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Recalling the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose
a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby
establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,9
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end, and stresses in this regard the urgency of
salvaging the prospects for realizing the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine,
living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the
pre-1967 borders;
2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, based
on the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative
adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session,6 and
the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict,4 and for the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides,
stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting
peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of the
Quartet and of the League of Arab States;
3. Encourages continued serious regional and international efforts to follow
up and promote the Arab Peace Initiative, including by the Ministerial Committee
formed at the Riyadh summit in March 2007;
4. Urges the parties to undertake, with the support of the Quartet and the
international community, immediate and concrete steps in follow-up to the Israeli-
Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the international conference held in
Annapolis,7 including through the resumption of active and serious bilateral
negotiations;
5. Encourages, in this regard, the convening of an international conference
in Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850 (2008), for the
advancement and acceleration of a resumed peace process;
6. Calls upon both parties to act on the basis of international law and their
previous agreements and obligations, in particular adherence to the road map,
_______________
8 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
9 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction
of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.
A/RES/66/17
6
irrespective of reciprocity, in order to create the conditions necessary for the
resumption and accelerated advancement of negotiations in the near term;
7. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and
other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the
situation and to reverse all unilateral and unlawful measures taken on the ground
since 28 September 2000;
8. Calls upon the parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from
provocative actions and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in areas of religious and
cultural sensitivity;
9. Underscores the need for the parties to take confidence-building
measures aimed at improving the situation on the ground, promoting stability and
fostering the peace process, including the need for the further release of prisoners
following the exchange of prisoners in October 2011;
10. Stresses the need for the removal of checkpoints and other obstructions to
the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, and the need for respect and preservation of the territorial
unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem;
11. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts
of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
12. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009);
13. Reiterates the need for the full implementation by both parties of the
Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah
Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, specifically, to allow for the
sustained opening of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian
supplies, movement and access, as well as for commercial flows and all necessary
construction materials, which are essential for alleviating the humanitarian crisis,
improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people and promoting the
recovery of the Palestinian economy;
14. Stresses, in this regard, the urgent necessity for the advancement of
reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, including through the completion of numerous
suspended projects managed by the United Nations and the accelerated
implementation of United Nations-led civilian reconstruction activities;
15. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to
cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and unilateral actions
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at
altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Territory,
including via the confiscation and de facto annexation of land, and thus at
prejudging the final outcome of peace negotiations;
16. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions;
17. Stresses, in this regard, the need for Israel forthwith to abide by its roadmap
obligation to freeze all settlement activity, including so-called “natural
growth”, and to dismantle settlement outposts erected since March 2001;
A/RES/66/17
7
18. Calls for the cessation of all provocations, including by Israeli settlers, in
East Jerusalem, including in and around religious sites;
19. Demands, accordingly, that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its
legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion
rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice2 and as demanded in
General Assembly resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15, and, inter
alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of the United
Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion;
20. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
21. Stresses the need for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
22. Also stresses the need for a just resolution of the problem of Palestine
refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
23. Calls upon the parties to resume and accelerate direct peace negotiations
towards the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement on the basis of relevant United
Nations resolutions, especially of the Security Council, the terms of reference of the
Madrid Conference, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative;
24. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic, humanitarian
and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority
during this critical period in order to help to alleviate the serious humanitarian
situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which is
critical in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the Palestinian economy and infrastructure
and to support the development and strengthening of Palestinian institutions and
Palestinian State-building efforts in preparation for independence;
25. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
69th plenary meeting
30 November 2011
United Nations A/RES/67/23
General Assembly Distr.: General
28 February 2013
Sixty-seventh session
Agenda item 37
12-47998
*1247998* Please recycle
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 November 2012
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/67/L.20 and Add.1)]
67/23. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further relevant Security .Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004
and 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008,
Recalling the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and
recognized borders,
Noting with concern that it has been 65 years since the adoption of its
resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and 45 years since the occupation of
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 66/17 of 30 November 2011,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law and relevant resolutions,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
_______________
1 A/67/364-S/2012/701.
2 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
A/RES/67/23 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
2/8
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory
by war,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
Expressing grave concern about the extremely detrimental impact of Israeli
settlement policies, decisions and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, including on the contiguity, integrity and viability of the
Territory and the efforts to resume and advance the peace process and to achieve
peace in the Middle East,
Expressing grave concern also about acts of violence, intimidation and
provocation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and properties, including
homes, mosques, churches and agricultural lands,
Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of
Jerusalem, including settlement construction and expansion, home demolitions,
evictions of Palestinian residents, excavations in and around religious and historic
sites, and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the character, status and
demographic composition of the city and of the Territory as a whole,
Reaffirming also that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a
wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem,
and its associated regime are contrary to international law,
Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policy of closures and
severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and
humanitarian, via the imposition of prolonged closures and severe economic and
movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade, as well as of checkpoints
and a permit regime throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and the consequent negative impact on the contiguity of the Territory and
the serious socioeconomic and humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people,
which is critical in the Gaza Strip, and on the efforts aimed at rehabilitating and
developing the damaged Palestinian economy, while taking note of recent
developments regarding the situation of access to the Gaza Strip and in the West
Bank,
Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian
people,3 and the need for full compliance with the agreements concluded between
the two sides,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
_______________
3 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/67/23
3/8
Israeli-Palestinian conflict4 and the call in Council resolution 1850 (2008) for the
parties to fulfil their obligations under the road map and to refrain from any steps
that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations, and
recalling further in this regard the relevant Quartet statements, including that of
23 September 2011,
Stressing the road map obligation upon Israel to freeze settlement activity,
including so-called “natural growth”, and to dismantle all settlement outposts
erected since March 2001,
Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,5
Expressing support for the agreed principles for bilateral negotiations, as
affirmed by the parties in the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the
international conference held in Annapolis, United States of America, on
27 November 2007, aimed at concluding a peace treaty resolving all outstanding
issues, including all core issues, without exception, for the achievement of a just,
lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ultimately of
the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole for the realization of a comprehensive peace in
the Middle East,
Reiterating support for the convening of an international conference in
Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850 (2008) and the
Quartet statement of 23 September 2011, for the advancement and acceleration of a
resumed peace process towards the fulfilment of its stated objectives,
Noting the important contribution to the peace process of the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative
of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, including within the framework of the activities of the Quartet,
Noting also the continuing efforts of the Quartet’s Special Representative
towards the resumption of the peace process, in particular the efforts to strengthen
Palestinian institutions, promote Palestinian economic development and mobilize
donor support,
Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the
Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship
of Norway, and noting its recent meeting at United Nations Headquarters on
23 September 2012, at which the donor countries reconfirmed the assessment that
the institutions of the Palestinian Authority are above the threshold of a functioning
State in the key sectors studied and reaffirmed the necessity of continued and
increased donor support for the Palestinian Authority,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, with
international support, to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions,
emphasizing the need to preserve and further develop Palestinian institutions and
infrastructure and commending, in this regard, the implementation of the Palestinian
Authority’s August 2009 plan for constructing the institutions of an independent
Palestinian State within a twenty-four-month period and the ongoing implementation
of its National Development Plan, and the significant achievements made, as
_______________
4 S/2003/529, annex.
5 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
A/RES/67/23 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
4/8
confirmed in recent reports by international institutions, including the World Bank,
the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations, while also expressing
concern about the negative impact of the current financial crisis being faced by the
Palestinian Authority,
Welcoming the continued efforts and tangible progress made in the security
sector by the Palestinian Authority, calling upon the parties to continue cooperation
that benefits both Palestinians and Israelis, in particular by promoting security and
building confidence, and expressing the hope that such progress will be extended to
all major population centres,
Reiterating its concern over the negative developments that have continued to
occur in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the
large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the
construction and expansion of settlements and the wall, acts of violence, vandalism
and brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in the West
Bank, the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property,
including religious sites, and infrastructure, the internal displacement of civilians
and the serious deterioration of the socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions of
the Palestinian people,
Expressing grave concern, in particular, over the crisis in the Gaza Strip as a
result of the continuing prolonged Israeli closures and severe economic and
movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade and the continuing
negative repercussions of the military operations in the Gaza Strip between
December 2008 and January 2009, which caused extensive loss of life and injury,
particularly among Palestinian civilians, including children and women, widespread
damage and destruction to Palestinian homes, properties, vital infrastructure, public
institutions, including hospitals and schools, and United Nations facilities, and
internal displacement of civilians,
Stressing the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security
Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009 and General Assembly resolution
ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009,
Expressing concern over continuing military actions in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including raids and arrest campaigns, and the continued
imposition of hundreds of checkpoints and obstacles to movement in and around
Palestinian population centres by the Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in
this regard the need for the implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh
understandings,
Expressing grave concern about the imprisonment by Israel of thousands of
Palestinians, including children, under harsh conditions,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well-being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and
terror against civilians on both sides, including the firing of rockets,
Expressing the hope for speedy progress towards Palestinian reconciliation for
the restoration of Palestinian unity, under the leadership of the President of the
Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and consistent with Palestine Liberation
Organization commitments, and of the situation in the Gaza Strip to that which
existed prior to June 2007, and calling for the continuation of the serious efforts
being exerted by Egypt, the League of Arab States and other concerned parties
towards the achievement of this aim,
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/67/23
5/8
Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement,
including by the Quartet, to support both parties in resuming, advancing and
accelerating the peace process negotiations for the achievement of a just, lasting and
comprehensive peace settlement, on the basis of United Nations resolutions, the
road map and the Arab Peace Initiative,
Noting the Quartet’s efforts, and calling upon the parties to resume
negotiations with the aim of resolving all final status issues within one year and
implementing an agreement between the two sides that ends the occupation which
began in 1967 and results in the independence of a democratic, contiguous and
viable Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its
other neighbours,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,6
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Recalling the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose
a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby
establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,7
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end, and stresses in this regard the urgency of
salvaging the prospects for realizing the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine,
living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the
pre-1967 borders;
2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, based
on the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative
adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session,5 and
the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict,4 and for the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides;
3. Stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and
lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of
the Quartet and of the League of Arab States;
4. Encourages continued serious regional and international efforts to follow
up and promote the Arab Peace Initiative, including by the Ministerial Committee
formed at the Riyadh summit in March 2007;
5. Urges the parties to undertake, with the support of the Quartet and the
international community, immediate and concrete steps in follow-up to the Israeli-
Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the international conference held in
_______________
6 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
7 A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161.
A/RES/67/23 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
6/8
Annapolis, including through the resumption of active and serious bilateral
negotiations;
6. Calls for, in this regard, the timely convening of an international
conference in Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution
1850 (2008), for the advancement and acceleration of a resumed peace process;
7. Calls upon both parties to act on the basis of international law and their
previous agreements and obligations, in particular adherence to the road map,
irrespective of reciprocity, in order to create the conditions necessary for the
resumption and accelerated advancement of negotiations in the near term;
8. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and
other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the
situation and to reverse all unilateral and unlawful measures taken on the ground
since 28 September 2000;
9. Calls upon the parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from
provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in areas of
religious and cultural sensitivity;
10. Underscores the need for the parties to take confidence-building
measures aimed at improving the situation on the ground, promoting stability and
fostering the peace process, including the need for the further release of prisoners
following the exchange of prisoners in October and December 2011;
11. Stresses the need for the removal of checkpoints and other obstructions to
the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, and the need for respect and preservation of the territorial
unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem;
12. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts
of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
13. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009);
14. Reiterates the need for the full implementation by both parties of the
Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah
Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, specifically, to allow for the sustained
opening of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian supplies,
movement and access, as well as for commercial flows and all necessary construction
materials, which are essential for alleviating the humanitarian crisis, improving the
living conditions of the Palestinian people and promoting the recovery of the
Palestinian economy;
15. Stresses, in this regard, the urgent necessity for the advancement of
reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, including through the completion of numerous
suspended projects managed by the United Nations and the accelerated
implementation of United Nations-led civilian reconstruction activities;
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/67/23
7/8
16. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to
cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and unilateral actions
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at
altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Territory, including
via the confiscation and de facto annexation of land, and thus at prejudging the final
outcome of peace negotiations;
17. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions;
18. Stresses, in this regard, the need for Israel forthwith to abide by its road
map obligation to freeze all settlement activity, including so-called “natural
growth”, and to dismantle settlement outposts erected since March 2001;
19. Calls for the cessation of all provocations, including by Israeli settlers, in
East Jerusalem, including in and around religious sites;
20. Demands, accordingly, that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its
legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion
rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice2 and as demanded in
General Assembly resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15, and,
inter alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of
the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the
advisory opinion;
21. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
22. Stresses the need for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
23. Also stresses the need for a just resolution of the problem of Palestine
refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
24. Calls upon the parties to resume and accelerate direct peace negotiations
towards the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement on the basis of relevant United
Nations resolutions, especially of the Security Council, the terms of reference of the
Madrid Conference, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative;
25. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
Authority during this critical period in order to help to alleviate the serious
humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, which is critical in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the Palestinian
economy and infrastructure and to support the development and strengthening of
Palestinian institutions and Palestinian State-building efforts in preparation for
independence;
A/RES/67/23 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
8/8
26. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
47th plenary meeting
30 November 2012
United Nations A/RES/68/15
General Assembly Distr.: General
30 January 2014
Sixty-eighth session
Agenda item 36
13-44035
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Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 26 November 2013
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/68/L.15 and Add.1)]
68/15. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency
special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004
and 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008,
Recalling the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and
recognized borders,
Noting with concern that it has been 66 years since the adoption of its
resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and 46 years since the occupation of
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 67/23 of 30 November 2012,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law and relevant resolutions,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
_______________
1 A/68/363-S/2013/524.
2 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
A/RES/68/15 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
2/8
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory
by war,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
Expressing grave concern about the extremely detrimental impact of Israeli
settlement policies, decisions and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, including on the contiguity, integrity and viability of the
Territory and the efforts to advance the peace process and to achieve peace in the
Middle East,
Expressing grave concern also about all acts of violence, intimidation and
provocation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and properties, including
homes, mosques, churches and agricultural lands, and calling for accountability for
the illegal actions perpetrated in this regard,
Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of
Jerusalem, including settlement construction and expansion, home demolitions,
evictions of Palestinian residents, excavations in and around religious and historic
sites, and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the character, status and
demographic composition of the city and of the Territory as a whole,
Reaffirming also that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a
wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem,
and its associated regime are contrary to international law,
Encouraging all States and international organizations to continue to actively
pursue policies to ensure respect for their obligations under international law with
regard to all illegal Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly Israeli settlements,
Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policies of closures and
severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and
humanitarian, via the imposition of prolonged closures and severe economic and
movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade, as well as of checkpoints
and a permit regime throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem,
Expressing deep concern also about the consequent negative impact of such
policies on the contiguity of the Territory and the serious socioeconomic and
humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people, which is critical in the Gaza Strip,
and on the efforts aimed at rehabilitating and developing the damaged Palestinian
economy, despite some measures taken by Israel in 2012 and 2013,
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/68/15
3/8
Recalling the mutual recognition 20 years ago between the Government of the
State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,3 and the need for full compliance with the agreements concluded
between the two sides,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict4 and the call in Council resolution 1850 (2008) for the
parties to fulfil their obligations under the road map and to refrain from any steps
that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations, and
recalling further in this regard the relevant Quartet statements, including those of
23 September 2011 and 27 September 2013,
Stressing the road map obligation upon Israel to freeze settlement activity,
including so-called “natural growth”, and to dismantle all settlement outposts
erected since March 2001,
Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,5
Expressing support for the agreed principles for bilateral negotiations, as
affirmed by the parties in the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the
international conference held in Annapolis, United States of America, on
27 November 2007, aimed at concluding a peace treaty resolving all outstanding
issues, including all core issues, without exception, for the achievement of a just,
lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ultimately of
the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole for the realization of a comprehensive peace in
the Middle East,
Reiterating support for the convening of an international conference in
Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850 (2008) and the
Quartet statement of 23 September 2011, for the advancement and acceleration of a
resumed peace process towards the fulfilment of its stated objectives,
Noting the important contribution to the peace process of the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative
of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, including within the framework of the activities of the Quartet,
Noting also the continuing efforts of the Quartet’s Special Representative, in
particular the efforts to strengthen Palestinian institutions, promote Palestinian
economic development and mobilize donor support,
Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the
Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship
of Norway, and noting its recent meeting at United Nations Headquarters on
25 September 2013, at which donor countries reaffirmed the necessity of continued
and increased donor support in this critical period,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Government of the State of
Palestine, with international support, to reform, develop and strengthen its
institutions, emphasizing the need to preserve and further develop Palestinian
_______________
3 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
4 S/2003/529, annex.
5 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
A/RES/68/15 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
4/8
institutions and infrastructure, and commending in this regard the implementation of
the August 2009 plan of the Palestinian Authority for constructing the institutions of
an independent Palestinian State and the ongoing implementation of the National
Development Plan on governance, economy, social development and infrastructure
and the significant achievements made, as confirmed by the positive assessments
made by international institutions regarding readiness for statehood, including by
the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations and the Ad
Hoc Liaison Committee, while also expressing concern about the negative impact of
the current financial crisis being faced by the Government of the State of Palestine,
Welcoming the launch, on 15 August 2013, of the United Nations Development
Assistance Framework, which is aimed, inter alia, at enhancing developmental
support and assistance to the Palestinian people and strengthening institutional
capacity in line with Palestinian national priorities,
Welcoming also the continued efforts and tangible progress made in the
Palestinian security sector, calling upon the parties to continue cooperation that
benefits both Palestinians and Israelis, in particular by promoting security and
building confidence, and expressing the hope that such progress will be extended to
all major population centres,
Reiterating its concern over the negative developments that have continued to
occur in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the
large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the
construction and expansion of settlements and the wall, the arbitrary arrest and
detention of more Palestinian civilians, the acts of violence, vandalism and brutality
committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, the
widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property, including
religious sites, and infrastructure, the internal forced displacement of civilians and
the consequent deterioration of the socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions of
the Palestinian people,
Expressing grave concern, in particular, over the continuing crisis in the Gaza
Strip as a result of the prolonged Israeli closures and severe economic and
movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade and the continuing
negative repercussions of the military operations in the Gaza Strip in November
2012 and between December 2008 and January 2009, which caused extensive loss
of life and injury, particularly among Palestinian civilians, including children and
women, widespread damage and destruction to Palestinian homes, properties, vital
infrastructure, public institutions, including hospitals and schools, and United
Nations facilities, and internal displacement of civilians,
Stressing the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security
Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009 and General Assembly resolution
ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009,
Expressing concern over the continued imposition of hundreds of checkpoints
and obstacles to movement in and around Palestinian population centres by the
Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in this regard the need for the
implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings,
Expressing grave concern about the imprisonment and detention by Israel of
thousands of Palestinians, including children, under harsh conditions,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well-being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and
terror against civilians on both sides, including the firing of rockets,
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/68/15
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Expressing the hope for tangible progress towards Palestinian reconciliation
for the restoration of Palestinian unity, under the leadership of the President,
Mahmoud Abbas, and consistent with Palestine Liberation Organization
commitments, and of the situation in the Gaza Strip to that which existed prior to
June 2007, and calling for the continuation of the serious efforts being exerted by
Egypt, the League of Arab States and other concerned parties towards the
achievement of this aim,
Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement,
including by the Quartet, including through the proposed monthly meetings of its
envoys and initiatives to support the parties in building a climate for peace, to assist
the parties in advancing and accelerating the peace process negotiations for the
achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement that ends the
occupation which began in 1967 and results in the independence of a democratic,
contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security
with Israel and its other neighbours, on the basis of relevant United Nations
resolutions, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,6
Taking note also of its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter
alia, Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United
Nations, and taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,7
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Recalling the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose
a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby
establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,8
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end, and stresses in this regard the urgency of
salvaging the prospects for realizing the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine,
living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the
pre-1967 borders;
2. Reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process and the
establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, based on the relevant
United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference,
including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the
Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session,5 and the Quartet road
map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,4 and for
the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides;
_______________
6 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
7 A/67/738.
8 A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161.
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3. Welcomes the resumption, on 29 July 2013, of Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations aimed at resolving all core final status issues and concluding a final
peace agreement within the agreed nine-month time frame, and expresses
appreciation in this regard for the efforts and support of the United States
of America, the European Union, the Russian Federation and the United Nations, as
the members of the Quartet, and of the League of Arab States and all other
concerned States;
4. Encourages, in this regard, continued serious regional and international
efforts to follow up and promote the Arab Peace Initiative, including by the
Ministerial Committee formed at the Riyadh summit in March 2007;
5. Urges the parties to undertake, with the support of the Quartet and the
international community, immediate and concrete steps in follow-up to the Israeli-
Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the international conference held in
Annapolis;
6. Calls for, in this regard, the timely convening of an international
conference in Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution
1850 (2008), for the advancement and acceleration of the resumed peace process;
7. Calls upon both parties to act on the basis of international law and their
previous agreements and obligations, in particular adherence to the road map,
irrespective of reciprocity, in order to create the conditions necessary for the
advancement of negotiations within the nine-month time frame agreed to at the
resumption of negotiations;
8. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and
other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the
situation, to reverse all unilateral and unlawful measures taken on the ground since
28 September 2000, to take every possible step to promote conditions conducive to
the success of the negotiating process and to refrain from actions that undermine
trust or prejudge final status issues;
9. Calls upon the parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from
provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in areas of
religious and cultural sensitivity, including in East Jerusalem;
10. Underscores the need for the parties to take confidence-building
measures aimed at improving the situation on the ground, promoting stability and
fostering the peace process, including the need for the further release of prisoners,
and notes in this regard the exchange of prisoners in October and December 2011
and the release of prisoners by Israel in August and October 2013;
11. Stresses the need for the removal of checkpoints and other obstructions to
the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, and the need for respect and preservation of the territorial
unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem;
12. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts
of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
13. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009);
14. Reiterates the need for the full implementation by both parties of the
Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/68/15
7/8
Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, specifically, to allow for the
sustained opening of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian
supplies, movement and access, as well as for commercial flows and all necessary
construction materials, and stresses the urgent need to promote reconstruction,
including through the implementation of United Nations-led projects and civilian
reconstruction activities, all of which are essential for alleviating the humanitarian
crisis, improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people and promoting the
recovery of the Palestinian economy;
15. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to
cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and all unilateral
actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are
aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Territory,
including via the confiscation and de facto annexation of land, and thus at
prejudging the final outcome of peace negotiations;
16. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions;
17. Stresses, in this regard, the need for Israel forthwith to abide by its road
map obligation to freeze all settlement activity, including so-called “natural
growth”, and to dismantle settlement outposts erected since March 2001;
18. Calls for the cessation of all provocations, including by Israeli settlers, in
East Jerusalem, including in and around religious sites;
19. Demands, accordingly, that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its
legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion
rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice2 and as demanded in
General Assembly resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15, and,
inter alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of
the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the
advisory opinion;
20. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
21. Stresses the need for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
22. Also stresses the need for a just resolution of the problem of Palestine
refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
23. Calls upon the parties to continue urgently direct peace negotiations
towards the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement on the basis of relevant United
Nations resolutions, especially of the Security Council, the terms of reference of the
Madrid Conference, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative;
A/RES/68/15 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
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24. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Government
of the State of Palestine during this critical period in order to help to alleviate the
serious humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, which is critical in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the Palestinian
economy and infrastructure and to support the development and strengthening of
Palestinian institutions and Palestinian State-building efforts in preparation for
independence;
25. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
58th plenary meeting
26 November 2013
United Nations A/RES/69/23
General Assembly Distr.: General
12 December 2014
Sixty-ninth session
Agenda item 36
14-65717 (E)
*1465717* Please recycle
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 November 2014
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/69/L.24 and Add.1)]
69/23. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004
and 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008,
Recalling the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and
recognized borders,
Noting with concern that it has been 67 years since the adoption of its
resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and 47 years since the occupation of
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 68/15 of 26 November 2013,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law and relevant resolutions,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
_______________
1 A/69/371-S/2014/650.
2 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
A/RES/69/23 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
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Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory
by war,
Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,3 to the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, and reiterating the
importance of maintaining and strengthening international peace founded upon
freedom, equality, justice and respect for fundamental human rights and of
developing friendly relations among nations irrespective of their political, economic
and social systems or the level of their development,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
Expressing grave concern about the extremely detrimental impact of Israeli
settlement policies, decisions and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, including on the contiguity, integrity and viability of the
Territory and the efforts to advance a peaceful settlement in the Middle East,
Expressing grave concern also about all acts of violence, intimidation and
provocation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and properties, including
homes, mosques, churches and agricultural lands, and calling for accountability for
the illegal actions perpetrated in this regard,
Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of
Jerusalem, including settlement construction and expansion, home demolitions,
evictions of Palestinian residents, excavations in and around religious and historic
sites, and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the character, status and
demographic composition of the city and of the Territory as a whole,
Reaffirming also that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a
wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem,
and its associated regime are contrary to international law,
Encouraging all States and international organizations to continue to actively
pursue policies to ensure respect for their obligations under international law with
regard to all illegal Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly Israeli settlements,
Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policies of closures and
severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and
humanitarian, via the imposition of prolonged closures and severe economic and
movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade, as well as of checkpoints
and a permit regime throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem,
Expressing deep concern also about the consequent negative impact of such
policies on the contiguity of the Territory and the serious socioeconomic and
humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people, which is a disastrous humanitarian
crisis in the Gaza Strip, and on the efforts aimed at rehabilitating and developing the
_______________
3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/69/23
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damaged Palestinian economy, while taking note of developments regarding the
situation of access there, particularly the recent trilateral agreement facilitated by
the United Nations in this regard,
Recalling the mutual recognition 21 years ago between the Government of the
State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,4 and the need for full compliance with the agreements concluded
between the two sides,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict5 and the call in Council resolution 1850 (2008) for the
parties to fulfil their obligations under the road map and to refrain from any steps
that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations on a final
peace settlement,
Stressing the road map obligation upon Israel to freeze settlement activity,
including so-called “natural growth”, and to dismantle all settlement outposts
erected since March 2001,
Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,6
Urging renewed efforts by the international community aimed at advancing
and accelerating the conclusion of a peace treaty to attain without delay an end to
the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 by resolving all outstanding issues,
including all core issues, without exception, for a just, lasting and peaceful
settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in accordance with the internationally
recognized basis of the two-State solution, and ultimately of the Arab-Israeli
conflict as a whole for the realization of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East,
Reiterating support for the convening of an international conference in
Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850 (2008) and the
Quartet statement of 23 September 2011, for the advancement and acceleration of
the peace efforts towards the fulfilment of its stated objectives,
Noting the important contribution to peace efforts of the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative
of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, including within the framework of the activities of the Quartet and with
regard to the recent trilateral agreement regarding the Gaza Strip,
Noting also the continuing efforts of the Quartet’s Special Representative, in
particular the efforts to strengthen Palestinian institutions, promote Palestinian
economic development and mobilize donor support,
Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the
Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship
of Norway, and noting its recent meeting at United Nations Headquarters on
22 September 2014, at which donor countries reaffirmed the necessity of continued
and increased donor support in this critical period, in particular for urgently
addressing the disastrous humanitarian situation and immense reconstruction and
recovery needs in the Gaza Strip,
_______________
4 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
5 S/2003/529, annex.
6 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
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Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Government, with
international support, to reform, develop and strengthen its institutions, emphasizing
the need to preserve and further develop Palestinian institutions and infrastructure,
and commending in this regard the ongoing efforts to develop the institutions of an
independent Palestinian State, including through the implementation of the
Palestinian National Development Plan on governance, economy, social
development and infrastructure (2014–2016), including the National Strategic
Framework for Development Policies and Interventions in Area C, and the
significant achievements made, as confirmed by the positive assessments made by
international institutions regarding readiness for statehood, including by the World
Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations and the Ad Hoc Liaison
Committee, while also expressing concern about the negative impact of the current
financial crisis being faced by the Palestinian Government,
Recognizing also the positive contribution of the United Nations Development
Assistance Framework, which is aimed, inter alia, at enhancing development
support and assistance to the Palestinian people and strengthening institutional
capacity in line with Palestinian national priorities,
Welcoming the convening of the Cairo International Conference on Palestine:
Reconstructing Gaza, on 12 October 2014, and urging the timely and full
disbursement of pledges for expediting the provision of humanitarian assistance and
the reconstruction process,
Welcoming also the ministerial meetings of the Conference on Cooperation
among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development convened in Tokyo in
February 2013 and Jakarta in March 2014 as a forum for the mobilization of
political and economic assistance, including via exchanges of expertise and lessons
learned, in support of Palestinian development,
Recognizing the continued efforts and tangible progress made in the
Palestinian security sector, noting the continued cooperation that benefits both
Palestinians and Israelis, in particular by promoting security and building
confidence, and expressing the hope that such progress will be extended to all major
population centres,
Gravely concerned over the negative developments that have continued to
occur in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the
escalation of violence and any excessive use of force, resulting in a large number of
deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, including children and
women, the construction and expansion of settlements and the wall, the arbitrary
arrest and detention of more Palestinian civilians, the acts of violence, vandalism
and brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in the West
Bank, the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property,
including religious sites, and infrastructure, the internal forced displacement of
civilians, especially among the Bedouin community, and the consequent
deterioration of the socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian
people,
Deploring the conflict in and around the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014
and the civilian causalities caused, including the killing and injury of thousands of
Palestinian civilians, including children, women and the elderly, and the widespread
destruction of thousands of homes and civilian infrastructure, including schools,
hospitals, water, sanitation and electricity networks, economic, industrial and
agricultural properties, public institutions, religious sites and United Nations
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/69/23
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schools and facilities, as well as the internal displacement of hundreds of thousands
of civilians and any violations of international law, including humanitarian and
human rights law, in this regard,
Expressing grave concern over the disastrous humanitarian situation and
socioeconomic conditions in the Gaza Strip as a result of the prolonged Israeli
closures and severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a
blockade and the continuing negative repercussions of the military operations in the
Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, in November 2012 and between December
2008 and January 2009, particularly as a result of the widespread destruction and
trauma inflicted,
Recalling the statement of the President of the Security Council of 28 July 2014,7
Stressing the need for calm and restraint by the parties, including by
consolidating the ceasefire agreement of 26 August 2014, achieved under the
auspices of Egypt, to halt the deterioration of the situation,
Reiterating the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security
Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009 and General Assembly resolution
ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009,
Stressing that the situation in the Gaza Strip is unsustainable and that a durable
ceasefire agreement must lead to a fundamental improvement in the living
conditions of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, including through the
sustained and regular opening of crossing points, and ensure the safety and wellbeing
of civilians on both sides,
Affirming the need to support the Palestinian Government of national
consensus in its assumption of full government responsibilities in both the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip, in all fields, as well as through its presence at Gaza’s
crossing points,
Expressing concern over the continued imposition of hundreds of checkpoints
and obstacles to movement in and around Palestinian population centres by the
Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in this regard the need for the
implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings,
Expressing grave concern about the imprisonment and detention by Israel of
thousands of Palestinians, including children, under harsh conditions,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well-being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and
terror against civilians on both sides, including the firing of rockets,
Stressing the need for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and
protection of the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory,
Welcoming the formation of the Palestinian Government of national consensus
under the leadership of the President, Mahmoud Abbas, consistent with Palestine
Liberation Organization commitments and the Quartet principles, and emphasizing
the need for respect for and the preservation of the territorial integrity and unity of
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
_______________
7 S/PRST/2014/13.
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Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement,
including by the Quartet, and initiatives to support the parties in building a climate
for peace, to assist the parties in advancing and accelerating the peace process
negotiations for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace
settlement that ends the occupation which began in 1967 and results in the
independence of a democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side
by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbours, on the basis of
relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid
Conference, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,8
Taking note also of its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter
alia, Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United
Nations, and taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,9
Noting the accession by Palestine, on 1 April 2014, to several human rights
treaties and the core humanitarian law conventions,
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Recalling the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose
a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby
establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,10
Stressing the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end, and stresses in this regard the urgency of
salvaging the prospects for realizing the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine,
living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the
pre-1967 borders;
2. Calls for the intensification of efforts by the parties, including through
negotiations, with the support of the international community, towards the
conclusion of a final peace settlement;
3. Stresses the need for increased and renewed international efforts to
achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, based on the relevant United
Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the
principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the
League of Arab States at its fourteenth session,6 the Quartet road map to a
permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,5 and the existing
agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides;
_______________
8 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
9 A/67/738.
10 A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161.
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4. Also stresses the need for a resumption of negotiations based on clear
parameters and with a defined time frame aimed at expediting the realization of a
just, lasting and comprehensive settlement, and in this regard encourages serious
efforts by the United States of America, the European Union, the Russian Federation
and the United Nations, as members of the Quartet, and by the League of Arab
States and all other concerned States;
5. Encourages continued serious regional and international efforts to follow
up and promote the Arab Peace Initiative, including by the Ministerial Committee
formed at the Riyadh summit in March 2007;
6. Calls for, in this regard, the timely convening of an international
conference in Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution
1850 (2008), for the advancement and acceleration of the achievement of a just,
lasting and comprehensive peace settlement;
7. Calls upon both parties to act responsibly on the basis of international
law and their previous agreements and obligations, in particular adherence to the
road map, irrespective of reciprocity, in order to create the conditions necessary for
the advancement of peace efforts;
8. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and
other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the
situation, to reverse all unilateral and unlawful measures taken on the ground since
28 September 2000, to take every possible step to promote conditions conducive to
the success of peace negotiations and to refrain from actions that undermine trust or
prejudge final status issues;
9. Calls upon the parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from
provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in areas of
religious and cultural sensitivity, including in East Jerusalem;
10. Underscores the need for the parties to take confidence-building
measures aimed at improving the situation on the ground, promoting stability,
building trust and fostering the peace process, including the need for the further
release of prisoners and an end to arbitrary arrests and detentions, and notes in this
regard the recent release of prisoners;
11. Stresses the need for the removal of checkpoints and other obstructions to
the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, and the need for respect and preservation of the territorial
unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem;
12. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts
of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
13. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009);
14. Reiterates the need for the full implementation by both parties of the
Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah
Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, specifically, to allow for the
sustained opening of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian
supplies, movement and access, as well as for commercial flows and all necessary
construction materials, and stresses the urgent need to promote reconstruction,
including through the implementation of United Nations-led projects and civilian
reconstruction activities, all of which are essential for alleviating the disastrous
A/RES/69/23 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
8/9
humanitarian situation, including the impact of the large-scale displacement of
civilians in July and August 2014, improving the living conditions of the Palestinian
people and promoting the recovery of the Palestinian economy;
15. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to
cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and all unilateral
actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are
aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Territory,
including via the confiscation and de facto annexation of land, and thus at
prejudging the final outcome of peace negotiations, with a view to achieving
without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967;
16. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions;
17. Stresses, in this regard, the need for Israel forthwith to abide by its road
map obligation to freeze all settlement activity, including so-called “natural
growth”, and to dismantle settlement outposts erected since March 2001;
18. Calls for the cessation of all provocations, including by Israeli settlers, in
East Jerusalem, including in and around religious sites;
19. Demands, accordingly, that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its
legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion
rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice2 and as demanded in
General Assembly resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15, and,
inter alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of
the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the
advisory opinion;
20. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
21. Stresses the need for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
22. Also stresses the need for a just resolution of the problem of Palestine
refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
23. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
Government during this critical period in order to help to alleviate the serious
humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, which is disastrous in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the Palestinian
economy and infrastructure and to support the development and strengthening of
Palestinian institutions and Palestinian State-building efforts in preparation for
independence;
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/69/23
9/9
24. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its seventieth session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
61st plenary meeting
25 November 2014
United Nations A/RES/70/15
General Assembly Distr.: General
4 December 2015
Seventieth session
Agenda item 38
15-16769 (E)
*1516769* Please recycle
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 24 November 2015
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/70/L.13 and Add.1)]
70/15. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004
and 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008,
Recalling the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and
recognized borders,
Noting with concern that it has been 68 years since the adoption of its
resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and 48 years since the occupation of
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 69/23 of 25 November 2014,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law and relevant resolutions,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
_______________
1 A/70/354-S/2015/677.
2 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
A/RES/70/15 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
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Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory
by war,
Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,3 to the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, and reiterating the
importance of maintaining and strengthening international peace founded upon
freedom, equality, justice and respect for fundamental human rights and of
developing friendly relations among nations irrespective of their political, economic
and social systems or the level of their development,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
Expressing grave concern about the extremely detrimental impact of Israeli
settlement policies, decisions and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, including on the contiguity, integrity and viability of the
Territory, the viability of the two-State solution based on the pre-1967 borders and
the efforts to advance a peaceful settlement in the Middle East,
Expressing grave concern also about all acts of violence, intimidation and
provocation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians, including children, and
properties, including homes, mosques, churches and agricultural lands, condemning
acts of terror by several extremist Israeli settlers, and calling for accountability for the
illegal actions perpetrated in this regard,
Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of
Jerusalem, including settlement construction and expansion, home demolitions,
evictions of Palestinian residents, excavations in and around religious and historic
sites, and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the character, status and
demographic composition of the city and of the Territory as a whole, and demanding
their immediate cessation,
Expressing its grave concern, in particular, about tensions, provocations and
incitement regarding the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram al-Sharif,
and urging restraint and respect for the sanctity of the holy sites by all sides,
Reaffirming that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a wall in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its
associated regime are contrary to international law,
Encouraging all States and international organizations to continue to actively
pursue policies to ensure respect for their obligations under international law with
regard to all illegal Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly Israeli settlements,
Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policies of closures and
severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and
humanitarian, via the imposition of prolonged closures and severe economic and
_______________
3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/70/15
3/9
movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade, as well as of checkpoints and
a permit regime throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
Expressing deep concern also about the consequent negative impact of such
policies on the contiguity of the Territory and the serious socioeconomic and
humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people, which is a disastrous humanitarian
crisis in the Gaza Strip, and on the efforts aimed at rehabilitating and developing the
damaged Palestinian economy, while taking note of developments regarding the
situation of access there based on the trilateral agreement facilitated by the United
Nations in this regard and on the resumption of some trade from Gaza to the West
Bank for the first time since 2007, and calling for the full lifting of restrictions,
Recalling the mutual recognition 22 years ago between the Government of the
State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,4 and the need for full compliance with the agreements concluded
between the two sides,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution 1515 (2003),
of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict5 and the call in Council resolution 1850 (2008) for the parties to fulfil their
obligations under the road map and to refrain from any steps that could undermine
confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations on a final peace settlement,
Stressing the road map obligation upon Israel to freeze settlement activity,
including so-called “natural growth”, and to dismantle all settlement outposts
erected since March 2001,
Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,6
Urging renewed efforts by the international community aimed at advancing and
accelerating the conclusion of a peace treaty to attain without delay an end to the
Israeli occupation that began in 1967 by resolving all outstanding issues, including all
core issues, without exception, for a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict, in accordance with the internationally recognized basis of the
two-State solution, and ultimately of the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole for the
realization of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East,
Reiterating support for the convening of an international conference in Moscow,
as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850 (2008) and the Quartet
statement of 23 September 2011, for the advancement and acceleration of the peace
efforts towards the fulfilment of its stated objectives,
Noting the important contribution to peace efforts of the United Nations Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the
Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, including within the framework of the activities of the Quartet and with
regard to the recent trilateral agreement regarding the Gaza Strip,
Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the
Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship
of Norway, and noting its recent meeting at United Nations Headquarters on
_______________
4 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
5 S/2003/529, annex.
6 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
A/RES/70/15 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
4/9
30 September 2015, at which donor countries reaffirmed the necessity of continued
and increased donor support in this critical period for urgently addressing the
immense humanitarian, reconstruction and recovery needs in the Gaza Strip and
furthering Palestinian economic recovery and development,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Government, with
international support, to reform, develop and strengthen its institutions and
infrastructure, emphasizing the need to preserve and further develop Palestinian
institutions and infrastructure, despite the obstacles presented by the ongoing Israeli
occupation, and commending in this regard the ongoing efforts to develop the
institutions of an independent Palestinian State, including through the implementation
of the Palestinian National Development Plan on governance, economy, social
development and infrastructure (2014–2016), including the National Strategic
Framework for Development Policies and Interventions in Area C, and the significant
achievements made, as confirmed by the positive assessments made by international
institutions regarding readiness for statehood, including by the World Bank, the
International Monetary Fund, the United Nations and the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee,
while also expressing concern about the negative impact of the current instability and
financial crisis being faced by the Palestinian Government,
Recognizing also the positive contribution of the United Nations Development
Assistance Framework, which is aimed, inter alia, at enhancing development
support and assistance to the Palestinian people and strengthening institutional
capacity in line with Palestinian national priorities,
Welcoming the convening of the Cairo International Conference on Palestine:
Reconstructing Gaza, on 12 October 2014, and urging the timely and full
disbursement of pledges for expediting the provision of humanitarian assistance and
the reconstruction process,
Welcoming also the ministerial meetings of the Conference on Cooperation
among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development convened in Tokyo in
February 2013 and Jakarta in March 2014 as a forum for the mobilization of
political and economic assistance, including via exchanges of expertise and lessons
learned, in support of Palestinian development,
Recognizing the continued efforts and tangible progress made in the Palestinian
security sector, noting the continued cooperation that benefits both Palestinians and
Israelis, in particular by promoting security and building confidence, and expressing
the hope that such progress will be extended to all major population centres,
Recognizing also that security measures alone cannot remedy the tensions,
instability and violence, and calling for full respect for international law, including for
the protection of civilian life, as well as the promotion of human security, the deescalation
of the situation, the exercise of restraint, including from provocative actions
and rhetoric, and the establishment of a stable environment conducive to the pursuit of
peace,
Gravely concerned over the negative developments that have continued to occur
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the
escalation of violence and any excessive use of force, resulting in a large number of
deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, including children and
women, the construction and expansion of settlements and the wall, the arbitrary
arrest and detention of more Palestinian civilians, the acts of violence, vandalism and
brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank,
the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property, including
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/70/15
5/9
religious sites, and infrastructure and including the demolition of homes, including if
carried out as a means of collective punishment, the internal forced displacement of
civilians, especially among the Bedouin community, and the consequent deterioration
of the socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people,
Deploring the conflict in and around the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014
and the civilian casualties caused, including the killing and injury of thousands of
Palestinian civilians, including children, women and the elderly, and the widespread
destruction of thousands of homes and civilian infrastructure, including schools,
hospitals, water, sanitation and electricity networks, economic, industrial and
agricultural properties, public institutions, religious sites and United Nations
schools and facilities, as well as the internal displacement of hundreds of thousands
of civilians and any violations of international law, including humanitarian and
human rights law, in this regard,
Taking note of the report and findings of the independent commission of
inquiry established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-21/1, 7 and
stressing the need to ensure accountability for all violations of international
humanitarian law and international human rights law in order to end impunity,
ensure justice, deter further violations, protect civilians and promote peace,
Expressing grave concern over the persisting disastrous humanitarian situation
and socioeconomic conditions in the Gaza Strip as a result of the prolonged Israeli
closures and severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a
blockade and the continuing negative repercussions of the military operations in the
Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, in November 2012 and between December
2008 and January 2009, particularly as a result of the widespread destruction and
trauma inflicted and delays in reconstruction and recovery,
Recalling the statement of the President of the Security Council of 28 July 2014,8
Stressing the need for calm and restraint by the parties, including by
consolidating the ceasefire agreement of 26 August 2014, achieved under the
auspices of Egypt, to avert the deterioration of the situation,
Reiterating the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security
Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009 and General Assembly resolution
ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009,
Stressing that the situation in the Gaza Strip is unsustainable and that a durable
ceasefire agreement must lead to a fundamental improvement in the living
conditions of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, including through the
sustained and regular opening of crossing points, and ensure the safety and wellbeing
of civilians on both sides,
Expressing concern over the continued imposition of hundreds of checkpoints
and obstacles to movement in and around Palestinian population centres by the
Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in this regard the need for the
implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings,
_______________
7 A/HRC/29/52.
8 S/PRST/2014/13; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2013–31 July 2014
(S/INF/69).
A/RES/70/15 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
6/9
Expressing grave concern about the imprisonment and detention by Israel of
thousands of Palestinians, including children, under harsh conditions, and all
violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law which have
occurred in this regard,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well-being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and
terror against civilians on both sides, including the firing of rockets,
Stressing the need for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and
protection of the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, consistent with the provisions and obligations of international humanitarian
law,
Stressing also the need to respect the right of peaceful assembly,
Welcoming the formation of the Palestinian Government of national consensus
under the leadership of the President, Mahmoud Abbas, consistent with Palestine
Liberation Organization commitments and the Quartet principles, and emphasizing
the need for respect for and the preservation of the territorial integrity and unity of
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
Affirming the need to support the Palestinian Government of national
consensus in its assumption of full government responsibilities in both the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip, in all fields, as well as through its presence at Gaza’s
crossing points,
Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement,
including by the Quartet, and welcoming in this regard its statement of 30 September
2015, and for concerted initiatives to support the parties in building a climate for
peace, to assist the parties in advancing and accelerating the peace process
negotiations for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement
that ends the occupation which began in 1967 and results in the independence of a
democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and
security with Israel and its other neighbours, on the basis of relevant United Nations
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, the road map and the
Arab Peace Initiative,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,9
Taking note also of its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter
alia, Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United
Nations, and taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,10
Noting the accession by Palestine, on 1 April 2014, to several human rights
treaties and the core humanitarian law conventions,
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Recalling the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose
_______________
9 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
10 A/67/738.
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/70/15
7/9
a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby
establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,11
Stressing the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end, and stresses in this regard the urgency of
salvaging the prospects for realizing the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine,
living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the
pre-1967 borders;
2. Calls for the intensification of efforts by the parties, including through
negotiations, with the support of the international community, towards the
conclusion of a final peace settlement;
3. Urges the undertaking of renewed international efforts to achieve a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace, based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle
of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session,6 the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State
solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,5 and the existing agreements between the
Israeli and Palestinian sides;
4. Stresses the need for a resumption of negotiations based on clear
parameters and with a defined time frame aimed at expediting the realization of a
just, lasting and comprehensive settlement, and in this regard encourages serious
efforts by the United States of America, the European Union, the Russian Federation
and the United Nations, as members of the Quartet, and by the League of Arab
States and all other concerned States;
5. Encourages continued serious regional and international efforts to follow
up and promote the Arab Peace Initiative, including by the Ministerial Committee
formed at the Riyadh summit in March 2007;
6. Calls for, in this regard, the timely convening of an international
conference in Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution
1850 (2008), for the advancement and acceleration of the achievement of a just,
lasting and comprehensive peace settlement;
7. Calls upon both parties to act responsibly on the basis of international
law and their previous agreements and obligations, in particular adherence to the
road map, irrespective of reciprocity, in order to create the conditions necessary for
the advancement of peace efforts;
8. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and
other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the
situation, to reverse all unilateral and unlawful measures taken on the ground since
28 September 2000, to take every possible step to promote conditions conducive to
_______________
11 A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161.
A/RES/70/15 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
8/9
the success of peace negotiations and to refrain from actions that undermine trust or
prejudge final status issues;
9. Calls upon the parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from
provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in areas of
religious and cultural sensitivity, including in East Jerusalem, and calls for respect for
the historic status quo at the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram al-Sharif, in
word and in practice, and for immediate and serious efforts to defuse tensions;
10. Underscores the need for the parties to take confidence-building
measures aimed at improving the situation on the ground, promoting stability,
building trust and fostering the peace process, including an immediate halt to all
settlement activities and home demolitions, the undertaking of measures to address
settler violence and ensure accountability, the further release of prisoners and an end
to arbitrary arrests and detentions;
11. Stresses the need for the removal of checkpoints and other obstructions to
the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, and the need for respect and preservation of the territorial
unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem;
12. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts
of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
13. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009);
14. Reiterates the need for the full implementation by both parties of the
Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah
Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, specifically, to allow for the sustained
opening of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian supplies,
movement and access, as well as for commercial flows and all necessary construction
materials, and stresses the urgent need to promote reconstruction and address the
alarming unemployment rate, including among youth, including through the
implementation of United Nations-led projects and civilian reconstruction activities,
all of which are essential for alleviating the disastrous humanitarian situation,
including the impact of the large-scale displacement of civilians in July and August
2014, improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people and promoting the
recovery of the Palestinian economy;
15. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to
cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and all unilateral actions
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at
altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Territory, including
the confiscation and de facto annexation of land, and thus at prejudging the final
outcome of peace negotiations, with a view to achieving without delay an end to the
Israeli occupation that began in 1967;
16. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions;
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/70/15
9/9
17. Stresses, in this regard, the need for Israel forthwith to abide by its road
map obligation to freeze all settlement activity, including so-called “natural
growth”, and to dismantle settlement outposts erected since March 2001;
18. Calls for the cessation of all provocations, including by Israeli settlers, in
East Jerusalem, including in and around religious sites;
19. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal
obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on
9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice2 and as demanded in General
Assembly resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15, and, inter alia, that
it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of the United Nations to
comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion;
20. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
21. Calls for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
22. Stresses the need for a just resolution of the problem of Palestine
refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
23. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic, humanitarian
and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Government
during this critical period in order to help to alleviate the serious humanitarian
situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which is
disastrous in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the Palestinian economy and infrastructure
and to support the development and strengthening of Palestinian institutions and
Palestinian State-building efforts in preparation for independence;
24. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
64th plenary meeting
24 November 2015
United Nations A/RES/71/23
General Assembly Distr.: General
15 December 2016
Seventy-first session
Agenda item 35
16-20711 (E)
*1620711* Please recycle
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 November 2016
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/71/L.21 and Add.1)]
71/23. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004
and 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008,
Recalling the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and
recognized borders,
Noting with concern that it has been 69 years since the adoption of its
resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and 49 years since the occupation of
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 70/15 of 24 November 2015,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law and relevant resolutions,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2 and recalling also its resolutions E S-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab -Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
_______________
1 A/71/359-S/2016/732.
2 See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1.
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Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory
by war,
Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 1 2 August 1949,3 to the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, and reiterating the
importance of maintaining and strengthening international peace founded upon
freedom, equality, justice and respect for fundamental human rights and of
developing friendly relations among nations irrespective of their political, economic
and social systems or the level of their development,
Noting with deep regret the onset of the fiftieth year of the Israeli occupation,
and stressing the urgent need for efforts to reverse the negative trends on the ground
and to restore a political horizon for advancing a nd accelerating meaningful
negotiations aimed at the achievement of a peace agreement that will bring a
complete end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the resolution of all
core final status issues, without exception, leading to a peaceful, just, lasting and
comprehensive solution of the question of Palestine,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
Expressing grave concern about the extremely detrimental impact of Israeli
settlement policies, decisions and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, including on the contiguity, integrity and viability of the
Territory, the viability of the two -State solution based on the pre-1967 borders and
the efforts to advance a peaceful settlement in the Middle East,
Expressing grave concern also about all acts of violence, intimidation and
provocation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians, including children, and
properties, including homes, mosques, churches and agricultural lands, condemning
acts of terror by several extremist Israeli settlers, and calling for accountability for
the illegal actions perpetrated in this regard,
Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of
Jerusalem, including settlement construction and expansion, home demolitions,
evictions of Palestinian residents, excavations in and around religious and historic
sites, and all other unilateral measures aimed at alt ering the character, status and
demographic composition of the city and of the Territory as a whole, and demanding
their immediate cessation,
Expressing its grave concern about tensions, provocations and incitement
regarding the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram al-Sharif, and urging
restraint and respect for the sanctity of the holy sites by all sides,
Reaffirming that the construction by Israel, the occupyi ng Power, of a wall in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its
associated regime are contrary to international law,
_______________
3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
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Encouraging all States and international organizations to continue to actively
pursue policies to ensure respect for their obligations under international law with
regard to all illegal Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly Israeli settlements,
Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policies of closures and
severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and
humanitarian and economic, via the imposition of prolonged closures and severe
economic and movement restrictions that in effect a mount to a blockade, as well as
of checkpoints and a permit regime throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem,
Expressing deep concern also about the consequent negative impact of such
policies on the contiguity of the Territory and the critical socioeconomic and
humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people, which remains a disastrous
humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, as well as on the efforts aimed at
rehabilitating and developing the damaged Palestinian economy, inc luding reviving
the agricultural and productive sectors, while taking note of developments regarding
the situation of access there based on the trilateral agreement facilitated by the
United Nations in this regard and on the resumption of some trade from G aza to the
West Bank for the first time since 2007, and, while recalling Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009, calling for the full lifting of restrictions
on the movement and access of persons and goods, taking into account the
Agreement on Movement and Access of November 2005, including exports, which
are crucial for social and economic recovery,
Recalling the mutual recognition 23 years ago between the Government of the
State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,4 and stressing the urgent need for efforts to ensure full compliance
with the agreements concluded between the two sides,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in its resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two -State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict 5 and the call in Council resolution 1850 (2008) for the
parties to fulfil their obligations under the road map and to refrain from any steps
that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations on a final
peace settlement,
Stressing the road map obligation upon Israel to freeze settlement activity,
including so-called “natural growth”, and to dismantle all settlement outposts
erected since March 2001,
Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by the Council of the Lea gue of
Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 2 8 March 2002, and
stressing its importance in the efforts to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace,6
Urging renewed and coordinated efforts by the international community a imed
at restoring a political horizon and advancing and accelerating the conclusion of a
peace treaty to attain without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in
1967 by resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues, without
_______________
4 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
5 S/2003/529, annex.
6 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
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exception, for a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli -Palestinian
conflict, in accordance with the internationally recognized basis of the two -State
solution, and ultimately of the Arab -Israeli conflict as a whole for the realization of
a comprehensive peace in the Middle East,
Welcoming, in this regard, the initiative launched by France aimed at
mobilizing international support for Palestinian -Israeli peace and convening an
international peace conference, the ongoing efforts of the Quartet in t he recent
period to address the unsustainable situation on the ground and to promote
meaningful negotiations and the ongoing regional efforts to advance the Arab Peace
Initiative, as well as the respective efforts by Egypt and the Russian Federation,
Taking note of the joint communiqué, issued on 3 June 2016 at the Paris
ministerial meeting, reaffirming the commitment to the two -State solution and a
just, lasting and comprehensive resolution to the Israeli -Palestinian conflict, and
calling, inter alia, for efforts to support the efforts of the parties to advance the
prospects for peace,
Taking note also of the report of the Quartet of 1 July 2016,7 and stressing its
recommendations as well as its recent statements, including those of 3 0 September
2015, 23 October 2015, 12 February 2016 and 23 September 2016, in which, inter
alia, grave concerns were expressed that current trends on the ground are steadily
eroding the two-State solution and entrenching a one-State reality and in which
recommendations were made to reverse those trends in order to advance the two -
State solution on the ground and create the conditions for successful final status
negotiations,
Reiterating support for the convening of an international conference in
Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in its resolution 1850 (2008) and the
Quartet statement of 23 September 2011, for the advancement and acceleration of
the peace efforts towards the fulfilment of its stated objectives,
Noting the important contribution to peace efforts of the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative
of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, including within the framework of the activities of the Quartet and with
regard to the recent trilateral agreement regarding the Gaza Strip,
Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the
Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship
of Norway, and noting its recent meeting at United Nations Headquarters, on
19 September 2016, and the ongoing efforts to generate sufficient donor support in
this critical period for urgently addressing the immense hu manitarian, reconstruction
and recovery needs in the Gaza Strip, bearing in mind the detailed needs assessment
and recovery framework for Gaza developed with the support of the United Nations,
the World Bank and the European Union, and furthering Palestini an economic
recovery and development,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Government, with
international support, to reform, develop and strengthen its institutions and
infrastructure, emphasizing the need to preserve and further develop Palestinian
institutions and infrastructure, despite the obstacles presented by the ongoing Israeli
occupation, and commending in this regard the ongoing efforts to develop the
_______________
7 S/2016/595, annex.
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institutions of an independent Palestinian State, including through the
implementation of the Palestinian National Policy Agenda: National Priorities,
Policies and Policy Interventions (2017–2022),
Expressing concern about the risks posed to the significant achievements
made, as confirmed by the positive assessments made by international institutions
regarding readiness for statehood, including by the World Bank, the International
Monetary Fund, the United Nations and the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, owing to
the negative impact of the current instability and financial crisis b eing faced by the
Palestinian Government and the continued absence of a credible political horizon,
Recognizing the positive contribution of the United Nations Development
Assistance Framework, which is aimed, inter alia, at enhancing development
support and assistance to the Palestinian people and strengthening institutional
capacity in line with Palestinian national priorities,
Urging the full disbursement of pledges made at the Cairo International
Conference on Palestine: Reconstructing Gaza, on 1 2 October 2014, for expediting
the provision of humanitarian assistance and the reconstruction process,
Welcoming the ministerial meetings of the Conference on Cooperation among
East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development convened in Tokyo in February
2013 and Jakarta in March 2014 as a forum for the mobilization of political and
economic assistance, including via exchanges of expertise and lessons learned, in
support of Palestinian development, and encouraging the expansion of such efforts
and support in the light of worsening socioeconomic indicators,
Recognizing the continued efforts and tangible progress made in the
Palestinian security sector, noting the continued cooperation that benefits both
Palestinians and Israelis, in particular by promoting security and building
confidence, and expressing the hope that such progress will be extended to all major
population centres,
Recognizing also that security measures alone cannot remedy the tensions,
instability and violence, and calling for full respe ct for international law, including
for the protection of civilian life, as well as the promotion of human security, the de -
escalation of the situation, the exercise of restraint, including from provocative
actions and rhetoric, and the establishment of a stable environment conducive to the
pursuit of peace,
Gravely concerned over the negative developments that have continued to
occur in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the
escalation of violence and any excessive us e of force, resulting in a large number of
deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, including children and
women, as well as the continued construction and expansion of settlements and the
wall, the arbitrary arrest and detention of more Pa lestinian civilians, the acts of
violence, vandalism and brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli
settlers in the West Bank, the widespread destruction of public and private
Palestinian property, including religious sites, and infrastru cture and the demolition
of homes, including if carried out as a means of collective punishment, the internal
forced displacement of civilians, especially among the Bedouin community, and the
consequent deterioration of the socioeconomic and humanitarian c onditions of the
Palestinian people,
Deploring the conflict in and around the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014
and the civilian casualties caused, including the killing and injury of thousands of
Palestinian civilians, including children, women and the elderly, and the widespread
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destruction of thousands of homes and civilian infrastructure, including schools,
hospitals, water, sanitation and electricity networks, economic, industrial and
agricultural properties, public institutions, religious sites and United Nations
schools and facilities, as well as the internal displacement of hundreds of thousands
of civilians and any violations of international law, including humanitarian and
human rights law, in this regard,
Taking note of the report and findings of the independent commission of
inquiry established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-21/1, 8 and
stressing the need to ensure accountability for all violations of international
humanitarian law and international human rights law in order to end impunity,
ensure justice, deter further violations, protect civilians and promote peace,
Expressing grave concern over the persisting disastrous humanitarian situation
and socioeconomic conditions in the Gaza Strip as a result of the prolonged Israel i
closures and severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a
blockade and the continuing negative repercussions of the military operations in the
Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, in November 2012 and between December
2008 and January 2009, particularly as a result of the widespread destruction and
trauma inflicted and delays in reconstruction and recovery,
Expressing grave concern also about the lasting consequences of such
conflicts on the civilian population and the living cond itions in the Gaza Strip, as
reflected in numerous reports, including the report of 2 6 August 2016 of the United
Nations country team, entitled, “Gaza: two years after”, and stressing that the
situation is unsustainable and that urgent efforts are required to reverse the
de-development trajectory in Gaza and respond adequately and immediately to the
humanitarian needs of the civilian population,
Recalling the statement of the President of the Security Council of 2 8 July
2014,9
Stressing the need for calm and restraint by the parties, including by
consolidating the ceasefire agreement of 2 6 August 2014, achieved under the
auspices of Egypt, to avert the deterioration of the situation,
Reiterating the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security
Council resolution 1860 (2009) and General Assembly resolution ES-10/18 of
16 January 2009,
Stressing that a durable ceasefire agreement must lead to a fundamental
improvement in the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip,
including through the sustained and regular opening of crossing points, and ensure
the safety and well-being of civilians on both sides,
Expressing concern over the continued imposition o f hundreds of checkpoints
and obstacles to movement in and around Palestinian population centres by the
Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in this regard the need for the
implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings,
Expressing grave concern about the imprisonment and detention by Israel of
thousands of Palestinians, including children, under harsh conditions, and all
_______________
8 A/HRC/29/52.
9 S/PRST/2014/13; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2013–31 July 2014
(S/INF/69).
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violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law which have
occurred in this regard,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well -being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and
terror against civilians on both sides, including the firing of rockets,
Stressing the need for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and
protection of the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, consistent with the provisions and obligations of international
humanitarian law,
Stressing also the need to respect the right of peaceful assembly,
Welcoming the formation of the Palestinian Government of national consensus
under the leadership of the President, Mahmoud Abbas, consistent with Palestine
Liberation Organization commitments and the Quartet principles, and emphasizing
the need for respect for and the preservation of the territorial integrity and unity of
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
Affirming the need to support the Palestinian Government of national
consensus in its assumption of full government responsibilities in both the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip, in all fields, as well as through its presence at Gaza’s
crossing points,
Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement
and for concerted initiatives to support the parties in building a climate for peace, to
assist the parties in advancing and accelerating direct peace process negotiations for
the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement that ends the
occupation which began in 1967 and results in the independence of a democratic,
contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security
with Israel and its other neighbours, on the basis of relevant United Nations
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, the Quartet road map
and the Arab Peace Initiative,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 2 3 September 2011,10
Taking note also of its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter
alia, Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United
Nations, and taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,11
Noting the accession by Palestine, on 1 April 2014, to several human rights
treaties and the core humanitarian law conventions,
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Recalling the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli -Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose
a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby
establishing a just and lasting peace in the region, 12
_______________
10 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
11 A/67/738.
12 A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161.
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Stressing the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end, and stresses in this regard the urgency of
salvaging the prospects for realizing the two -State solution of Israel and Palestine,
living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the
pre-1967 borders, and making tangible progress towards implementing that solution
and justly resolving all final status issues;
2. Calls for the intensification of efforts by the parties, including through
negotiations, with the support of the international communi ty, towards the
conclusion of a final peace settlement;
3. Urges the undertaking of renewed international efforts to achieve a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace, based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid C onference, including the principle
of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session,6 the Quartet road map to a permanent two -State
solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,5 and the existing agreements between the
Israeli and Palestinian sides;
4. Stresses the need for a resumption of negotiations based on the long -
standing terms of reference and clear paramete rs and within a defined time frame
aimed at expediting the realization of a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement,
and in this regard encourages serious efforts by all concerned international and
regional partners, including by the United States of America, the European Union,
the Russian Federation and the United Nations, as members of the Quartet, and by
the League of Arab States;
5. Commends and encourages continued serious regional and international
efforts to follow up and promote the Arab Peace Initiative, including by the
Ministerial Committee formed at the Riyadh summit in March 2007;
6. Welcomes the initiative launched by France aimed at mobilizing
international support for Palestinian-Israeli peace and convening an international
peace conference, the ongoing efforts of the Quartet to address the unsustainable
situation on the ground and to promote meaningful negotiations, while stressing its
recommendations, and the respective efforts by Egypt and the Russian Federation to
promote dialogue and negotiations between the two parties;
7. Calls for the timely convening of an international conference in Moscow,
as envisioned by the Security Council in its resolution 1850 (2008), for the
advancement and acceleration of the achievement of a just, lasting and
comprehensive peace settlement;
8. Calls upon both parties to act responsibly on the basis of international
law and their previous agreements and obligations, in both their policies and
actions, in order to urgently reverse negative trends on the ground and create the
conditions necessary for the launching of a credible political horizon and the
advancement of peace efforts;
9. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and
other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/71/23
9/10
situation, to reverse all unilateral and unlawful measures taken on the ground since
28 September 2000, to take every possible step to promote conditions conducive to
the success of peace negotiations and to refrain from actions that undermine trust or
prejudge final status issues;
10. Calls upon the parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from
provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in areas of
religious and cultural sensitivity, including in East Jerusalem, and calls for respect
for the historic status quo at the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram
al-Sharif, in word and in practice, and for immediate and serious efforts to defuse
tensions;
11. Underscores the need for the parties to take confidence -building
measures aimed at improving the situation on the ground, promoting stability,
building trust and fostering the peace process, and stresses the need, in particular,
for an immediate halt to all settlement activities and home demolitions, ending
violence and incitement and undertaking measur es to address settler violence and
ensure accountability, and for the further release of prisoners and an end to arbitrary
arrests and detentions;
12. Stresses the need for the removal of checkpoints and other obstructions
to the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the need for respect and preservation of the
territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem;
13. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts
of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
14. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009);
15. Reiterates the need for the full implementation by both parties of the
Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah
Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, specifically, to allo w for the
sustained opening of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian
supplies, movement and access of persons and goods, as well as for commercial
flows, including exports, and all necessary construction materials, and stresses the
urgent need to promote accelerated and comprehensive reconstruction and to
address the alarming unemployment rate, including among youth, including through
the implementation of United Nations-led projects, civilian reconstruction activities
and job-creation programmes, all of which are essential for alleviating the disastrous
humanitarian situation, including the impact of the large -scale displacement of
civilians in July and August 2014, improving the living conditions of the Palestinian
people and promoting the recovery of the Palestinian economy;
16. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to
cease all of its measures that are contrary to inte rnational law and all unilateral
actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are
aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Territory,
including the confiscation and de facto annexation of l and, and thus at prejudging
the final outcome of peace negotiations, with a view to achieving without delay an
end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967;
17. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
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occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions and for the consideration of measures of accountability, in
accordance with international law, in the case of continued non-compliance,
stressing that compliance with and respect for international humanitarian law and
international human rights law is a cornerstone for peace and security in the region;
18. Reiterates, in this regard, the need for Israel forthwith to abide by its
road map obligation to freeze all settlement activity, including so -called “natural
growth”, and to dismantle settlement outposts erected since March 2001;
19. Calls for the cessation of all provocations, including by Israeli settlers, in
East Jerusalem, including in and around religious sites;
20. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal
obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered
on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice 2 and as demanded in General
Assembly resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15, and, inter alia,
that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of the United
Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in t he advisory
opinion;
21. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pr e-1967 borders;
22. Calls for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their inde pendent State;
23. Stresses the need for a just resolution of the problem of Palestine
refugees in conformity with its resolution 19 4 (III) of 11 December 1948;
24. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
Government during this critical period in order to help to alleviate the serious
humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, which is dire in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the Palestinian economy
and infrastructure and to support the development and strengthening of Palestinian
institutions and Palestinian State-building efforts in preparation for independence;
25. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sev enty-second session a report
on these efforts and on developments on this matter.
50th plenary meeting
30 November 2016
United Nations A/RES/72/14
General Assembly Distr.: General
7 December 2017
17-21322 (E) 301117 111217
*1721322*
Seventy-second session
Agenda item 38
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
on 30 November 2017
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/72/L.16 and A/72/L.16/Add.1)]
72/14. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth
emergency special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004,
1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008 and 2334 (2016) of 23 December 2016,
Recalling the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region
where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and
recognized borders,
Expressing its deep concern that it has been 70 years since the adoption of its
resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and 50 years since the occupation of
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, and that a just, lasting and
comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine has yet to be achieved,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to
the request made in its resolution 71/23 of 30 November 2016,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in
accordance with international law and relevant resolutions,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
__________________
1 A/72/368-S/2017/741.
A/RES/72/14 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Error! No 2/10 document variable supplied.
Occupied Palestinian Territory,2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of
20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory
by war,
Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,3 to the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, and reiterating the
importance of maintaining and strengthening international peace founded upon
freedom, equality, justice and respect for fundamental human rights and of
developing friendly relations among nations irrespective of their political, economic
and social systems or the level of their development,
Bearing in mind its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled
“Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in
particular Sustainable Development Goal 16,
Stressing the urgent need for efforts to reverse the negative trends on the
ground and to restore a political horizon for advancing and accelerating meaningful
negotiations aimed at the achievement of a peace agreement that will bring a
complete end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the resolution of all
core final status issues, without exception, leading to a peaceful, just, lasting and
comprehensive solution of the question of Palestine,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
Expressing grave concern about the extremely detrimental impact of Israeli
settlement policies, decisions and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, including on the contiguity, integrity and viability of the
Territory, the viability of the two-State solution based on the pre-1967 borders and
the efforts to advance a peaceful settlement in the Middle East,
Expressing grave concern also about all acts of violence, intimidation and
provocation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians, including children, and
properties, including homes, mosques, churches and agricultural lands, condemning
acts of terror by several extremist Israeli settlers, and calling for accountability for
the illegal actions perpetrated in this regard,
Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of
Jerusalem, including settlement construction and expansion, home demolitions,
evictions of Palestinian residents, excavations in and around religious and historic
sites, and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the character, status and
demographic composition of the city and of the Territory as a whole, and demanding
their immediate cessation,
__________________
2 See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.
3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/72/14
Error! No document variable supplied. 3/10
Expressing its grave concern about tensions, provocations and incitement
regarding the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram al-Sharif, and urging
restraint and respect for the sanctity of the holy sites by all sides,
Reaffirming that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a wall in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its
associated regime are contrary to international law,
Encouraging all States and international organizations to continue to actively
pursue policies to ensure respect for their obligations under international law with
regard to all illegal Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly Israeli settlements,
Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policies of closures and
severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and
humanitarian and economic, via the imposition of prolonged closures and severe
economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade, as well as
of checkpoints and a permit regime throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem,
Expressing deep concern also about the consequent negative impact of such
policies on the contiguity of the Territory and the critical socioeconomic and
humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people, which remains a disastrous
humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, as well as on the efforts aimed at
rehabilitating and developing the damaged Palestinian economy, including reviving
the agricultural and productive sectors, while taking note of developments regarding
the situation of access there based on the trilateral agreement facilitated by the
United Nations in this regard and on the resumption of some trade from Gaza to the
West Bank for the first time since 2007, and, while recalling Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009, calling for the full lifting of restrictions
on the movement and access of persons and goods, taking into account the
Agreement on Movement and Access of November 2005, including exports, which
are crucial for social and economic recovery,
Recalling the mutual recognition 24 years ago between the Government of the
State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,4 and stressing the urgent need for efforts to ensure full
compliance with the agreements concluded between the two sides,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in its resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict5 and the call in Council resolution 1850 (2008) for the
parties to fulfil their obligations under the road map and to refrain from any steps
that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations on a final
peace settlement,
Stressing the road map obligation upon Israel to freeze settlement activity,
including so-called “natural growth”, and to dismantle all settlement outposts
erected since March 2001,
Underscoring the demand by the Security Council, most recently in its
resolution 2334 (2016), that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it
fully respect all of its legal obligations in this regard,
__________________
4 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
5 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/72/14 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Error! No 4/10 document variable supplied.
Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,6 and
stressing its importance in the efforts to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace,
Urging renewed and coordinated efforts by the international community aimed
at restoring a political horizon and advancing and accelerating the conclusion of a
peace treaty to attain without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in
1967 by resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues, without
exception, for a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, in accordance with the internationally recognized basis of the two-State
solution, and ultimately of the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole for the realization of
a comprehensive peace in the Middle East,
Welcoming, in this regard, the initiative launched by France, and taking note of
the joint communiqué of 3 June 2016, aimed at mobilizing international support for
Palestinian-Israeli peace and convening an international peace conference, the
ongoing efforts of the Quartet in the recent period to address the unsustainable
situation on the ground and to promote meaningful negotiations and the ongoing
regional efforts to advance the Arab Peace Initiative, as well as the respective
efforts by China, Egypt, the Russian Federation and the United States of America,
Taking note of the report of the Quartet of 1 July 2016,7 and stressing its
recommendations as well as its recent statements, including those of 30 September
2015, 23 October 2015, 12 February 2016 and 23 September 2016, in which, inter
alia, grave concerns were expressed that current trends on the ground are steadily
eroding the two-State solution and entrenching a one-State reality and in which
recommendations were made to reverse those trends in order to advance the
two-State solution on the ground and create the conditions for successful final status
negotiations,
Reiterating support for the convening of an international conference in
Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in its resolution 1850 (2008) and the
Quartet statement of 23 September 2011, and stressing the importance of
multilateral support and engagement for the advancement and acceleration of peace
efforts towards the fulfilment of a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the
question of Palestine,
Noting the important contribution to peace efforts of the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative
of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the
Palestinian Authority, including within the framework of the activities of the
Quartet and with regard to the trilateral agreement and recent developments
regarding the Gaza Strip,
Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the
Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship
of Norway, and noting its recent meeting at United Nations Headquarters, on
18 September 2017, and the ongoing efforts to generate sufficient donor support in
this critical period for urgently addressing the immense humanitarian,
reconstruction and recovery needs in the Gaza Strip, bearing in mind the detailed
needs assessment and recovery framework for Gaza developed with the support of
the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Union, and furthering
Palestinian economic recovery and development,
__________________
6 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
7 S/2016/595, annex.
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/72/14
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Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Government, with
international support, to reform, develop and strengthen its institutions and
infrastructure, emphasizing the need to preserve and further develop Palestinian
institutions and infrastructure, despite the obstacles presented by the ongoing Israeli
occupation, and commending in this regard the ongoing efforts to develop the
institutions of an independent Palestinian State, including through the
implementation of the Palestinian National Policy Agenda: National Priorities,
Policies and Policy Interventions (2017–2022),
Expressing concern about the risks posed to the significant achievements
made, as confirmed by the positive assessments made by international institutions
regarding readiness for statehood, including by the World Bank, the International
Monetary Fund, the United Nations and the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, owing to
the negative impact of the current instability and financial crisis being faced by the
Palestinian Government and the continued absence of a credible political horizon,
Recognizing the positive contribution of the United Nations Development
Assistance Framework, which is aimed, inter alia, at enhancing development
support and assistance to the Palestinian people and strengthening institutional
capacity in line with Palestinian national priorities,
Urging the full disbursement of pledges made at the Cairo International
Conference on Palestine: Reconstructing Gaza, on 12 October 2014, for expediting
the provision of humanitarian assistance and the reconstruction process,
Recalling the ministerial meetings of the Conference on Cooperation among
East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development convened in Tokyo in February
2013 and Jakarta in March 2014 as a forum for the mobilization of political and
economic assistance, including via exchanges of expertise and lessons learned, in
support of Palestinian development, and encouraging the expansion of such efforts
and support in the light of worsening socioeconomic indicators,
Recognizing the continued efforts and tangible progress made in the
Palestinian security sector, noting the continued cooperation that benefits both
Palestinians and Israelis, in particular by promoting security and building
confidence, and expressing the hope that such progress will be extended to all major
population centres,
Recognizing also that security measures alone cannot remedy the tensions,
instability and violence, and calling for full respect for international law, including
for the protection of civilian life, as well as for the promotion of human security, the
de-escalation of the situation, the exercise of restraint, including from provocative
actions and rhetoric, and the establishment of a stable environment conducive to the
pursuit of peace,
Gravely concerned over the negative developments that have continued to
occur in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the
escalation of violence and excessive use of force, resulting in a large number of
deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, including children and
women, as well as the continued construction and expansion of settlements and the
wall, the arbitrary arrest and detention of more Palestinian civilians, the acts of
violence, vandalism and brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli
settlers in the West Bank, the widespread destruction of public and private
Palestinian property, including religious sites, and infrastructure and the demolition
of homes, including if carried out as a means of collective punishment, the internal
forced displacement of civilians, especially among the Bedouin community, and the
consequent deterioration of the socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions of the
Palestinian people,
A/RES/72/14 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
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Deploring the continuing, negative repercussions of the conflicts in and
around the Gaza Strip, the most recent in July and August 2014, which caused
thousands of civilian casualties, the widespread destruction of thousands of homes
and vital civilian infrastructure and the internal displacement of hundreds of
thousands of civilians, as well as any violations of international law, including
humanitarian and human rights law, in this regard, and continued delays in
reconstruction and recovery,
Taking note of the report and findings of the independent commission of
inquiry established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-21/1,8 and
stressing the need to ensure accountability for all violations of international
humanitarian law and international human rights law in order to end impunity,
ensure justice, deter further violations, protect civilians and promote peace,
Expressing grave concern over the persisting disastrous humanitarian situation
and socioeconomic conditions in the Gaza Strip as a result of the prolonged Israeli
closures and severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a
blockade,
Expressing grave concern also about the lasting consequences of such
conflicts and measures on the civilian population and the living conditions in the
Gaza Strip, as reflected in numerous reports, including the report of 26 August 2016
of the United Nations country team, entitled “Gaza: two years after”, and the report
of 11 July 2017, entitled “Gaza ten years later”, and stressing that the situation is
unsustainable and that urgent efforts are required to reverse the de-development
trajectory in Gaza and respond adequately and immediately to the immense
humanitarian needs of the civilian population,
Recalling the statement of the President of the Security Council of 28 July 2014,9
Stressing the need for calm and restraint by the parties, including by
consolidating the ceasefire agreement of 26 August 2014, achieved under the
auspices of Egypt, to avert the deterioration of the situation,
Reiterating the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security
Council resolution 1860 (2009) and General Assembly resolution ES-10/18 of
16 January 2009,
Stressing that a durable ceasefire agreement must lead to a fundamental
improvement in the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip,
including through the sustained and regular opening of crossing points, and ensure
the safety and well-being of civilians on both sides,
Expressing grave concern about the imprisonment and detention by Israel of
thousands of Palestinians, including children, under harsh conditions, and all
violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law which have
occurred in this regard,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well-being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and
terror against civilians on both sides, including the firing of rockets,
Stressing the need for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and
protection of the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, consistent with the provisions and obligations of international
humanitarian law,
__________________
8 A/HRC/29/52.
9 S/PRST/2014/13; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2013–31 July
2014 (S/INF/69).
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/72/14
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Stressing also the need to respect the right of peaceful assembly,
Welcoming the formation of the Palestinian Government of national consensus
under the leadership of the President, Mahmoud Abbas, consistent with Palestine
Liberation Organization commitments and the Quartet principles, and emphasizing
the need for respect for and the preservation of the territorial integrity and unity of
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
Affirming the need to support the Palestinian Government of national consensus
in its assumption of full government responsibilities in both the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip, in all fields, as well as through its presence at Gaza’s crossing points,
welcoming in this regard the efforts of Egypt to facilitate and support Palestinian
unity, and taking note of the Quartet statement of 28 September 2017,
Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement
and for concerted initiatives to support the parties in building a climate for peace, to
assist the parties in advancing and accelerating direct peace process negotiations for
the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement that ends the
occupation which began in 1967 and results in the independence of a democratic,
contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security
with Israel and its other neighbours, on the basis of relevant United Nations
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, the Quartet road map
and the Arab Peace Initiative,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,10
Taking note also of its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter
alia, Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United
Nations, and taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,11
Noting the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and the core
humanitarian law conventions,
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Recalling the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose
a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby
establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,12
Stressing the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of
intensifying all efforts towards that end, and stresses in this regard the urgency of
salvaging the prospects for realizing the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine,
living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the
pre-1967 borders, and making tangible progress towards implementing that solution
and justly resolving all final status issues;
__________________
10 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
11 A/67/738.
12 A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161.
A/RES/72/14 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
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2. Recalls Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) and, inter alia, the call
upon all parties to continue, in the interest of the promotion of peace and security, to
exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations on all final status issues in
the Middle East peace process and within the time frame specified by the Quartet in
its statement of 21 September 2010, and calls for its full implementation;
3. Calls once more for the intensification of efforts by the parties, including
through negotiations, with the support of the international community, towards the
conclusion of a final peace settlement;
4. Urges the undertaking of renewed international efforts to achieve a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace, based on the relevant United Nations
resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle
of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session,6 the Quartet road map to a permanent
two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,5 and the existing agreements
between the Israeli and Palestinian sides;
5. Stresses the need for a resumption of negotiations based on the longstanding
terms of reference and clear parameters and within a defined time frame
aimed at expediting the realization of a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement,
and in this regard encourages serious efforts by all concerned international and
regional partners, including by the United States of America, the European Union,
the Russian Federation and the United Nations, as members of the Quartet, and by
the League of Arab States;
6. Commends and encourages continued serious regional and international
efforts to follow up and promote the Arab Peace Initiative, including by the
Ministerial Committee formed at the Riyadh summit in March 2007;
7. Welcomes the initiative launched by France aimed at mobilizing
international support for Palestinian-Israeli peace, including the efforts to organize
an international peace conference in Paris in January 2017, and the ongoing efforts
of the Quartet to address the unsustainable situation on the ground and to promote
meaningful negotiations, while stressing its recommendations, and the respective
efforts by China, Egypt, the Russian Federation and the United States to promote
dialogue and negotiations between the two parties;
8. Calls for the timely convening of an international conference in Moscow,
as envisioned by the Security Council in its resolution 1850 (2008), for the
advancement and acceleration of the achievement of a just, lasting and
comprehensive peace settlement;
9. Calls upon both parties to act responsibly on the basis of international
law and their previous agreements and obligations, in both their policies and
actions, in order to urgently reverse negative trends on the ground and create the
conditions necessary for the launching of a credible political horizon and the
advancement of peace efforts;
10. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and
other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the
situation, to reverse all unilateral and unlawful measures taken on the ground since
28 September 2000 and to refrain from actions that undermine trust or prejudge
final status issues;
11. Calls upon the parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from
provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in areas of
religious and cultural sensitivity, including in East Jerusalem, and calls for respect
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/72/14
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for the historic status quo at the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram
al-Sharif, in word and in practice, and for immediate and serious efforts to defuse
tensions;
12. Underscores the need for the parties to take confidence-building
measures aimed at improving the situation on the ground, promoting stability,
building trust and fostering the peace process, and stresses the need, in particular,
for an immediate halt to all settlement activities and home demolitions, ending
violence and incitement and undertaking measures to address settler violence and
ensure accountability, and for the further release of prisoners and an end to arbitrary
arrests and detentions;
13. Stresses the need for the removal of checkpoints and other obstructions
to the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the need for respect and preservation of the
territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem;
14. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all
acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
15. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009);
16. Reiterates the need for the full implementation by both parties of the
Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah
Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, specifically, to allow for the
sustained opening of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian
supplies, movement and access of persons and goods, as well as for commercial
flows, including exports, and all necessary construction materials, and stresses the
urgent need to accelerate comprehensive reconstruction and to address the alarming
unemployment rate, including among youth, including through the implementation
of United Nations-led projects, civilian reconstruction activities and job-creation
programmes, all of which are essential for alleviating the disastrous humanitarian
situation, including the impact of the large-scale displacement of civilians in July
and August 2014, improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people and
promoting the recovery of the Palestinian economy;
17. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to
cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and all unilateral
actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are
aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Territory,
including the confiscation and de facto annexation of land, and thus at prejudging
the final outcome of peace negotiations, with a view to achieving without delay an
end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967;
18. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant
Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016), and for the
consideration of measures of accountability, in accordance with international law,
including without limitation in relation to the continued non-compliance with the
demands for a complete and immediate cessation of all settlement activities and
stressing that compliance with and respect for international humanitarian law and
international human rights law is a cornerstone for peace and security in the region;
19. Underscores in this regard the affirmation by the Security Council in its
resolution 2334 (2016) that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967
A/RES/72/14 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
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lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties
through negotiations, and its call upon States to distinguish in their relevant
dealings between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since
1967, as well as its determination to examine practical ways and means to secure the
full implementation of its relevant resolutions;
20. Reiterates the need for Israel forthwith to abide by its road map
obligation to freeze all settlement activity, including so-called “natural growth”, and
to dismantle settlement outposts erected since March 2001;
21. Calls for the cessation of all provocations, including by Israeli settlers, in
East Jerusalem, including in and around religious sites;
22. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal
obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered
on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice2 and as demanded in General
Assembly resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15, and, inter alia,
that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of the United
Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory
opinion;
23. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
24. Calls for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
25. Stresses the need for a just resolution of the problem of Palestine
refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
26. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian
Government during this critical period in order to help to alleviate the serious
humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, which is dire in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the Palestinian economy
and infrastructure and to support the development and strengthening of Palestinian
institutions and Palestinian State-building efforts in preparation for independence;
27. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, including with regard to
the reporting required pursuant to resolution 2334 (2016), towards the attainment of
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
60th plenary meeting
30 November 2017
United Nations A/RES/73/19
General Assembly
Distr.: General
5 December 2018
18-20707 (E) 071218
*1820707*
Seventy-third session
Agenda item 39
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
on 30 November 2018
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/73/L.32 and A/73/L.32/Add.1)]
73/19. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency
special session,
Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of
12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004,
1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008 and 2334 (2016) of 23 December 2016,
Recalling the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region where
two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized
borders,
Expressing deep concern that it has been over 70 years since the adoption of its
resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and 51 years since the occupation of
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, and that a just, lasting and
comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine has yet to be achieved,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the
request made in its resolutio n 72/14 of 30 November 2017,1
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in accordance
with international law and relevant resolutions,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
__________________
1 A/73/346-S/2018/597.
A/RES/73/19 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
2/10 18-20707
Occupied Palestinian Territory,2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July
2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab -Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory
by war,
Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 1 2 August 1949,3 to the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, and reiterating the
importance of maintaining and strengthening international peace founded upon
freedom, equality, justice and respect for fundamental human rights and of developing
friendly relations among nations irrespective of their political, economic and social
systems or the level of their development,
Bearing in mind its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled
“Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ”, in
particular Sustainable Development Goal 16,
Stressing the urgent need for efforts to reverse the negative trends on the ground
and to restore a political horizon for advancing and accelerating meaningful
negotiations aimed at the achievement of a peace agreement that will bring a complet e
end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the resolution of all core final
status issues, without exception, leading to a peaceful, just, lasting and
comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine,
Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
Expressing grave concern about the extremely detrimental impact of Israeli
settlement policies, decisions and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, including on the contiguity, integrity and viability of the
Territory, the viability of the two -State solution based on the pr e-1967 borders and
the efforts to advance a peaceful settlement in the Middle East,
Expressing grave concern also about all acts of violence, intimidation and
provocation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians, including children, and
properties, including homes, mosques, churches and agricultural lands, condemning
acts of terror by several extremist Israeli settlers, and calling for accountability for
the illegal actions perpetrated in this regard,
Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of
Jerusalem, including settlement construction and expansion, home demoli tions,
evictions of Palestinian residents, excavations in and around religious and historic
sites, and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the character, status and
demographic composition of the city and of the Territory as a whole, and demand ing
their immediate cessation,
__________________
2 See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.
3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/73/19
18-20707 3/10
Expressing grave concern about tensions, provocations and incitement
regarding the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram al-Sharif, and urging
restraint and respect for the sanctity of the holy sites by all sides,
Reaffirming that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a wall in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its
associated regime are contrary to international law,
Encouraging all States and international organizations to continue to actively
pursue policies to ensure respect for their obligations under international law with
regard to all illegal Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly Israeli settlements,
Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policies of closures and
severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and
humanitarian and economic, via the imposition o f prolonged closures and severe
economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade, as well as
of checkpoints and a permit regime throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem,
Expressing deep concern also about the consequent negative impact of such
policies on the contiguity of the Territory and the critical socioeconomic and
humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people, which remains a disastrous
humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, as well as on the international efforts and the
efforts of the Palestinian Government aimed at rehabilitating and developing the
damaged Palestinian economy, including reviving the agricultural and productive
sectors, and, while recalling Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January
2009, calling for the full lifting of restrictions on the movement and access of persons
and goods, which are crucial for social and economic recovery,
Recalling the mutual recognition 25 years ago between the Government of the
State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,4 and stressing the urgent need for efforts to ensure full compliance
with the agreements concluded between the two sides,
Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in its resolution
1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two -State solution to the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict5 and the call in Council resolution 1850 (2008) for the parties to
fulfil their obligations under the road map and to refrain from any steps that could
undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiati ons on a final peace
settlement,
Underscoring the demand by the Security Council, most recently in its
resolution 2334 (2016), that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it
fully respect all its legal obligations in this regard,
Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Be irut on 27 and 28 March 2002,6 and
stressing its importance in the efforts to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace,
Urging renewed and coordinated efforts by the international community aimed
at restoring a political horizon and advancing and a ccelerating the conclusion of a
peace treaty to attain without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967
__________________
4 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
5 S/2003/529, annex.
6 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
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4/10 18-20707
by resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues, without exception, for a
just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the I sraeli-Palestinian conflict, in accordance
with the internationally recognized basis of the two -State solution, and ultimately of
the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole for the realization of a comprehensive peace in
the Middle East,
Welcoming, in this regard, all regional and international efforts aimed at
promoting meaningful negotiations and achieving a two -State solution based on the
pre-1967 borders and on the long-standing terms of reference, as called for in Security
Council resolution 2334 (2016),
Taking note of the report of the Quartet of 1 July 2016, 7 and stressing its
recommendations as well as all its recent statements, in which, inter alia, grave
concerns were expressed that curre nt trends on the ground are steadily eroding the
two-State solution and entrenching a one -State reality and in which recommendations
were made to reverse those trends in order to advance the two -State solution on the
ground and create the conditions for successful final status negotiations,
Reiterating its support for the convening of an international conference in
Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in its resolution 1850 (2008) and the
Quartet statement of 23 September 2011, and stressing the importance of multilateral
support and engagement for the advancement and acceleration of peace efforts
towards the fulfilment of a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the question
of Palestine,
Noting the important contribution to peace efforts of the United Nations Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the
Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, including within the framework of the activities of the Quartet and with
regard to the trilateral agreement and recent developments regarding the Gaza Strip,
Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the
Coordination of the Internatio nal Assistance to Palestinians, chaired by Norway, and
noting its recent meeting at United Nations Headquarters, on 2 7 September 2018, and
the ongoing efforts to generate sufficient donor support in this critical period for
urgently addressing the immense humanitarian, reconstruction and recovery needs in
the Gaza Strip, bearing in mind the detailed needs assessment and recovery
framework for Gaza developed with the support of the United Nations, the World
Bank and the European Union, and furthering Palesti nian economic recovery and
development,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Government, with
international support, to reform, develop and strengthen its institutions and
infrastructure, emphasizing the need to preserve and further develop Palestinian
institutions and infrastructure, despite the obstacles presented by the ongoing Israeli
occupation, and commending in this regard the ongoing efforts to develop the
institutions of an independent Palestinian State, including through th e implementation
of the Palestinian National Policy Agenda: National Priorities, Policies and Policy
Interventions (2017–2022),
Expressing concern about the risks posed to the significant achievements made,
as confirmed by the positive assessments made b y international institutions regarding
readiness for statehood, including by the World Bank, the International Monetary
Fund, the United Nations and the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, owing to the negative
impact of the current instability and financial crisis being faced by the Palestinian
Government and the continued absence of a credible political horizon,
__________________
7 S/2016/595, annex.
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18-20707 5/10
Recognizing the positive contribution of the United Nations Development
Assistance Framework, which is aimed, inter alia, at enhancing development suppor t
and assistance to the Palestinian people and strengthening institutional capacity in
line with Palestinian national priorities,
Recalling the ministerial meetings of the Conference on Cooperation among
East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development c onvened in Tokyo in February
2013 and Jakarta in March 2014 as a forum for the mobilization of political and
economic assistance, including via exchanges of expertise and lessons learned, in
support of Palestinian development, and encouraging the expansion of such efforts
and support in the light of worsening socioeconomic indicators,
Recognizing the continued efforts and tangible progress made in the Palestinian
security sector, noting the continued cooperation that benefits both Palestinians and
Israelis, in particular by promoting security and building confidence, and expressing
the hope that such progress will be extended to all major population centres,
Recognizing also that security measures alone cannot remedy the tensions,
instability and violence, and calling for full respect for international law, including
for the protection of civilian life, as well as for the promotion of human security, the
de-escalation of the situation, the exercise of restraint, including from provocative
actions and rhetoric, and the establishment of a stable environment conducive to the
pursuit of peace,
Gravely concerned over the negative developments that have continued to occur
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the
escalation of violence and excessive use of force, resulting in a large number of deaths
and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, including children and women, as
well as the continued construction and expansion of settlements and the wall, the
arbitrary arrest and detention of Palestinian civilians, the acts of violence, vandalism
and brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in the West
Bank, the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property, including
religious sites, and infrastructure and the demolition of homes, including if carried
out as a means of collective punishment, the internal forced displacement of civilians,
especially among the Bedouin community, and the consequent deterioration of the
socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people,
Deploring the continuing negative repercussions of the conflicts in and around
the Gaza Strip and the large number of Palestinian civilian casualties in the recent
period, including among children, and any violations of international law, and calling
for full respect for the relevant principles of international humanitarian and human
rights law, including the principles of legality, distinction, precaution, limitation and
proportionality, as well as the need for independent and transparent investigation into
the use of force,
Stressing the need to ensure accountability for all violations of international
humanitarian law and international human rights law in order to end impunity, ensure
justice, deter further violations, protect civilians and promote peace,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well -being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, stressing that Israel must respect the right
to peaceful protest, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against civilians
on both sides, including the firing of rockets by armed groups against Israeli civilian
areas, resulting in loss of life and injury,
Deploring any actions that could provoke violence and endang er lives, and
calling upon all actors to ensure that protests remain peaceful,
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6/10 18-20707
Expressing grave concern over the persisting disastrous humanitarian situation
and socioeconomic conditions in the Gaza Strip as a result of the prolonged Israeli
closures and severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a
blockade, bearing in mind numerous United Nations agency reports, including the
reports of the United Nations country team, and stressing that the situation is
unsustainable and that urgent efforts are required to reverse the de -development
trajectory in Gaza and respond adequately and immediately to the immense
humanitarian needs of the civilian population,
Recalling the statement of the President of the Security Council of
28 July 2014,8
Stressing the need for calm and restraint by the parties, including by
consolidating the ceasefire agreement of 2 6 August 2014, achieved under the auspices
of Egypt, to avert the deterioration of the situation,
Reiterating the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security
Council resolution 1860 (2009) and General Assembly resolution ES-10/18 of
16 January 2009,
Stressing that a durable ceasefire agreement must lead to a fundamental
improvement in the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip,
including through the sustained and regular opening of crossing points, and ensure
the safety and well-being of civilians on both sides,
Expressing grave concern about the imprisonment and detention by Israel of
thousands of Palestinians, including children, under harsh conditions, and all
violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law that have occurred
in this regard,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well -being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and
terror against civilians on both sides, including the firing of rockets,
Stressing the need for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and
protection of the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, consistent with the provisions and obligations of international humanitarian
law, and taking note of the report of th e Secretary-General on the protection of the
Palestinian civilian population,9
Stressing also the need to respect the right of peaceful assembly,
Emphasizing the need for respect for and the preservation of the territorial
integrity and unity of the Oc cupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
Affirming the need to support the Palestinian Government of national consensus,
formed consistent with Palestine Liberation Organization commitments and the
Quartet principles, in its assumption of full government responsibilities in both the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in all fields, as well as through its presence at Gaza ’s
crossing points, welcoming in this regard the efforts of Egypt to facilitate and support
Palestinian unity, and taking note of the Quartet statement of 28 September 2017,
Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement and
for concerted initiatives to support the parties in building a climate for peace, to assist
the parties in advancing and accelerating direct peace process negotiations for the
achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement that ends the
__________________
8 S/PRST/2014/13; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2013–31 July
2014 (S/INF/69).
9 A/ES-10/794.
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18-20707 7/10
occupation that began in 1967 and results in the independence of a democratic,
contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security with
Israel and its other neighbours, on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions,
the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, the Quartet road map and the Arab
Peace Initiative,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 2 3 September 2011,10
Taking note also of its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter
alia, Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations,
and taking note further of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,11
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a
peaceful settlement of the questio n of Palestine,
Recalling the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory
opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to
redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli -Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose a
threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby establishing
a just and lasting peace in the region, 12
Stressing the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation
that began in 1967,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab -Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of intensifying
all efforts towards that end, and stresses in this regard the urgency of salvaging the
prospects for realizing the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by
side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pr e-1967 borders,
and making tangible progress towards implementing that solution and justly resolving
all final status issues;
2. Calls for the full implementation of Security Council resolution
2334 (2016), and stresses, inter alia, the call upon all parties to continue, in the
interest of the promotion of peace and security, to exert collective efforts to launch
credible negotiations on all final status issues in the Middle East peace process and
within the time frame specified by the Quartet in its statement of 21 September 2010;
3. Calls once more for the intensification of efforts by the parties, including
through negotiations, with the support of the international community, towards the
conclusion of a final peace settlement;
4. Urges in this regard the intensification and acceleration of renewed
international and regional diplomatic efforts and support aimed at achieving, without
delay, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the
relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, including the
principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative, 6 the Quartet road map5 and an
end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967, and underscores in this regard the
importance of the ongoing efforts, including by the European Union, the Russian
Federation, the United Nations and the United States of America, as members of the
__________________
10 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
11 A/67/738.
12 A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161.
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8/10 18-20707
Quartet, as well as efforts by the League of Arab States, Egypt, France, China and
other concerned States and organizations;
5. Stresses the need for a resumption of negotiations based on the long -
standing terms of reference and clear parameters and within a defined time frame
aimed at expediting the realization of a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement;
6. Calls for the timely convening of an international conference in Moscow,
as envisioned by the Security Council in its resolutio n 1850 (2008), for the
advancement and acceleration of the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace settlement;
7. Calls upon both parties to act responsibly on the basis of international law
and their previous agreements and obligations, in both their policies and actions, in
order to, with the support of the Quartet and other interested parties, urgently reverse
negative trends, including all measures taken on the ground that are contrary to
international law, and create the conditions necessary for the launching of a credible
political horizon and the advancement of peace efforts;
8. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to
cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and all unilateral actions
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Ea st Jerusalem, that are aimed at
altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Territory, including
the confiscation and de facto annexation of land, and thus at prejudging the final
outcome of peace negotiations, with a view to achievin g without delay an end to the
Israeli occupation that began in 1967;
9. Stresses the need, in particular, for an immediate halt to all actions contrary
to international law that undermine trust and prejudge final status issues;
10. Calls upon the parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from
provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in areas of
religious and cultural sensitivity, including in East Jerusalem, and calls for respect for
the historic status quo at the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram al-Sharif,
in word and in practice, and for immediate and serious efforts to defuse tensions;
11. Stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts of
violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;
12. Underscores the need for the parties to take confidence -building measures
aimed at immediately improving the situation on the ground, promoting stability,
building trust and fostering the peace process, and stresses the need, in particular, for
an immediate halt to all settlement activities and home demolitions, ending violence
and incitement and taking measures to address settler violence and ensure
accountability, and for the further release of prisoners and an end to arbitrary arrests
and detentions;
13. Stresses the need for the removal of checkpoints and other obstructions to
the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, and the need for respect for and p reservation of the
territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem;
14. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009);
15. Reiterates the need for the full implementation by both parties of the
Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah
Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, specifically, to allow for the sustained
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/73/19
18-20707 9/10
opening of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian supplies,
movement and access of persons and goods, as well as for commercial flows,
including exports, and economic recovery;
16. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the
occupied Syrian Golan, calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016), and for the consideration of
measures of accountability, in accordance with international law, including without
limitation in relation to the continued non -compliance with the demands for a
complete and immediate cessation of all settlement activities, and stresses that
compliance with and respect for international humanitarian law and international
human rights law is a cornerstone of peace and security in the region;
17. Underscores in this regard the affirmation by the Security Council in its
resolution 2334 (2016) that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines,
including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the pa rties through
negotiations, and its call upon States to distinguish in their relevant dealings between
the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967, as well as
its determination to examine practical ways and means to secure the full
implementation of its relevant resolutions;
18. Reiterates the need for Israel forthwith to abide by its road map obligation
to freeze all settlement activity, including so -called “natural growth”, and to
dismantle settlement outposts erected sin ce March 2001;
19. Calls for the cessation of all provocations, including by Israeli settlers, in
East Jerusalem, including in and around religious sites;
20. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal
obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on
9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice 2 and as demanded in the relevant
General Assembly resolutions;
21. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the two -
State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within
recognized borders, based on the pr e-1967 borders;
22. Calls for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
23. Stresses the need for a just resolution of the problem of Palestine refugees
in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
24. Calls upon all States, consistent with their obligations under the Charter
of the United Nations and relevant Security Council resolutions, inter alia:
(a) Not to recognize any changes to the pr e-1967 borders, including with
regard to Jerusalem, other than those ag reed by the parties through negotiations;
(b) To distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State
of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967;
(c) Not to render aid or assistance to illegal settlement activities, includin g
not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with
settlements in the occupied territories, in line with Security Council resolution
465 (1980) of 1 March 1980;
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25. Urges Member States and the United Nations to continue and expedite the
provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian
people and the Palestinian Government during this critical period in order to help to
alleviate the serious humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, which is dire in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the
Palestinian economy and infrastructure and to support the development and
strengthening of Palestinian institutions and Palestinian State -building efforts in
preparation for independence;
26. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, including with regard to the
reporting required pursuant to resolution 2334 (2016), towards the attainment of a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy -fourth session a report
on these efforts and on developments on this matter.
43rd plenary meeting
30 November 2018
United Nations A/RES/74/11
General Assembly
Distr.: General
9 December 2019
19-20904 (E) 111219
*1920904*
Seventy-fourth session
Agenda item 35
Question of Palestine
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
on 3 December 2019
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/74/L.15 and A/74/L.15/Add.1)]
74/11. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency
special session,
Recalling also its resolution 73/89 of 6 December 2018, entitled “Comprehensive,
just and lasting peace in the Middle East ”,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 478 (1980) of
20 August 1980, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,
1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004, 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008 and 2334 (2016) of
23 December 2016,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the
request made in its resolution 73/19 of 30 November 2018,1
Recalling its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with
international law and relevant resolutions,
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab -Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self -determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
__________________
1 A/74/333-S/2019/685.
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2/5 19-20904
Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
force,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, and reiterating the
importance of maintaining and strengthening international peace founded upon
freedom, equality, justice and respect for fundamental human rights and o f developing
friendly relations among nations irrespective of their political, economic and social
systems or the level of their development,
Emphasizing the need for respect for, and the preservation of, the territorial
integrity and unity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory,2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July
2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli settlement activities and all other unilateral
measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the
City of Jerusalem and of the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a whole, including the
wall and its associated regime, and demanding their immediate cessat ion,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well -being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and
terror against civilians on all sides,
Calling for full respect for international law, including for the protection of
civilian life, as well as for the promotion of human security, the de -escalation of the
situation, the exercise of restraint, including from provocative actions and rhetoric,
and the establishment of a stable environment condu cive to the pursuit of peace,
Stressing the need for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and
protection of the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, consistent with the provisions and obligations of inter national humanitarian
law, and taking note of the report of the Secretary -General on the protection of the
Palestinian civilian population,3
Stressing also the need to ensure accountability for all violations of international
humanitarian law and international human rights law in order to end impunity, ensure
justice, deter further violations, protect civilians and promote peace,
Recalling the mutual recognition 26 years ago between the Government of the
State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Orga nization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,4 and stressing the urgent need for efforts to ensure full compliance
with the agreements concluded between the two sides,
Stressing the need, in particular, for an immediate halt to all actions cont rary to
international law that undermine trust and prejudge final status issues,
Urging renewed and coordinated efforts by the international community aimed
at restoring a political horizon and advancing and accelerating the conclusion of a
peace treaty to achieve without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in
1967 by resolving all outstanding issues, including all final status issues, without
exception, for a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli -Palestinian
__________________
2 See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.
3 A/ES-10/794.
4 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
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19-20904 3/5
conflict, in accordance with the internationally recognized basis of the two -State
solution, and of the Arab -Israeli conflict, for the realization of a comprehensive
peace in the Middle East,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Government, with
international support, to reform, develop, strengthen and preserve its institutions and
infrastructure, despite the obstacles presented by the ongoing Israeli occupation,
commending in this regard the ongoing efforts to develop the institutions of an
independent Palestinian State, and stressing the need to promote intra -Palestinian
reconciliation,
Expressing concern about the risks posed to the significant achievements made,
as confirmed by the positive assessments by the international institutions regardin g
readiness for statehood, owing to the negative impact of the current instability and
financial crisis being faced by the Palestinian Government and the continued absence
of a credible political horizon,
Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Ad Hoc Liais on Committee for the
Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, chaired by Norway, and
noting its recent meeting at United Nations Headquarters, on 26 September 2019,
Recognizing the positive contribution of the United Nations Sustaina ble
Development Cooperation Framework, which is aimed, inter alia, at enhancing
development support and assistance to the Palestinian people and strengthening
institutional capacity in line with Palestinian national priorities,
Welcoming the holding of the meeting of the Conference on Cooperation among
East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development in Ramallah and Jericho in July
2019 to support Palestinian efforts towards an independent Palestinian State through
the sharing of the experience of East As ian countries in economic development and
exploring effective means of cooperation, aimed at contributing to the promotion of
Palestinian development, the Middle East peace process and regional stability,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011, 5
Taking note also of its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter
alia, Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations,
and taking note further of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,6
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Stressing the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation
that began in 1967,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002, 7 and
stressing its importance in the efforts to ach ieve a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace,
1. Reiterates its call for the achievement, without delay, of a comprehensive,
just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions, including Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), the Madrid terms of
__________________
5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
6 A/67/738.
7 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
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4/5 19-20904
reference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative 7 and the
Quartet road map,8 and an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967, including
of East Jerusalem, and reaffirms in this regard its unwavering support, in accordance
with international law, for the two -State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side
by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre -1967
borders;
2. Stresses the need to urgently exert collective efforts to launch credible
negotiations on all final status issues in the Middle East pe ace process based on the
long-standing terms of reference and clear parameters and within the time frame
specified by the Quartet in its statement of 21 September 2010, and calls once more
for the intensification of efforts by the parties, including throug h meaningful
negotiations, with the support of the international community, towards the conclusion
of a final just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement;
3. Calls for the timely convening of an international conference in Moscow,
as envisioned by the Security Council in its resolution 1850 (2008), for the
advancement and acceleration of the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace settlement;
4. Stresses that compliance with and respect for the Charter of the United
Nations and international law, including international humanitarian law and
international human rights law, is a cornerstone of peace and security in the region;
5. Calls upon both parties to act responsibly and in compliance with
international law and their previous agreements and obligations, in both their policies
and actions, in order to, with the support of the Quartet and other interested parties,
urgently reverse negative trends, including all measures taken on the ground that are
contrary to international law, and create the conditions necessary for a credible
political horizon and the advancement of peace efforts;
6. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law and to cease all of its measures that are contrary
to international law, including all unilateral actions in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at altering the demographic
composition, character and status of the Territory, and thus at prejudging the final
outcome of peace negotiations, and recalls in this regard the principle of the
inadmissibility of the acquisition of land by force and therefore the illegality of the
annexation of any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, which constitutes a breach of international law, undermines the viability
of the two-State solution and challenges the prospects for the achievement of a
peaceful settlement and of just, lasting and comprehensive peace;
7. Stresses the need, in particular, for an immediate halt to all settlement
activities, land confiscation and home demolitions, for the pursuit of measures to
ensure accountability and for the release of prisoners and an end to arbitrary arrests
and detentions;
8. Also stresses the need for respect for and preservation of the territorial
unity, contiguity and integrity of all the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem;
9. Further stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all
acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror, as well as
all acts of provocation and incitement;
__________________
8 S/2003/529, annex.
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19-20904 5/5
10. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and sec urity
within recognized borders, based on the pre -1967 borders;
11. Underscores in this regard the affirmation by the Security Council in its
resolution 2334 (2016) of its determination to examine practical ways and means to
secure the full implementation of its relevant resolutions;
12. Calls for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
(c) A just resolution of the problem of Palestine refugees in conformity with
its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
13. Calls upon all States, consistent with their obligations under the Charter
and relevant Security Council resolutions, inter alia:
(a) Not to recognize any changes to the pre -1967 borders, including with
regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations,
including by ensuring that agreements with Israel do not imply recognition of Israeli
sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel in 1967;
(b) To distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State
of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967;
(c) Not to render aid or assistance to illegal settlement activities, including
not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with
settlements in the occupied territories, in line with Security Council resolution
465 (1980) of 1 March 1980;
(d) To respect and ensure respect for international law, in all circumstances,
including through measures of accountability, consistent with international law;
14. Urges all States and the United Nations to continue and expedite the
provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian
people and the Palestinian Government during this critical period in order to help to
alleviate the serious humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, which is dire in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the
Palestinian economy and infrastructure and to support the development and
strengthening of Palestinian institutions and Palestinian State -building efforts in
preparation for independence;
15. Requests the Secretary-General, including through his Special Coordinator
for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative to the Palestine
Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, to continue his efforts with the
parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, including with
regard to the reporting required pursuant to resolution 2334 (2016), towards the
attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of
peace in the region and to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy -fifth session
a report on these efforts and on developments on this matter.
38th plenary meeting
3 December 2019
United Nations A/RES/75/22
General Assembly
Distr.: General
8 December 2020
20-16403 (E) 111220
*2016403*
Seventy-fifth session
Agenda item 38
Question of Palestine
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
on 2 December 2020
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/75/L.34 and A/75/L.34/Add.1)]
75/22. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency
special session,
Recalling also its resolution 73/89 of 6 December 2018, entitled “Comprehensive,
just and lasting peace in the Middle East”,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 478 (1980) of
20 August 1980, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,
1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004, 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008 and 2334 (2016) of
23 December 2016,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the
request made in its resolution 74/11 of 3 December 2019,1
Recalling its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with
international law and relevant resolutions,
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab -Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self -determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
__________________
1 A/75/195-S/2020/834.
A/RES/75/22 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
2/5 20-16403
Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
force,
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, and reiterating the
importance of maintaining and strengthening international p eace founded upon
freedom, equality, justice and respect for fundamental human rights and of developing
friendly relations among nations irrespective of their political, economic and social
systems or the level of their development,
Emphasizing the need for respect for, and the preservation of, the territorial
integrity and unity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory,2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July
2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli settlement activities and all other unilateral
measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the
City of Jerusalem and of the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a whole, including the
wall and its associated regime, and demanding their immediate cessation,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well -being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and
terror against civilians on all sides,
Calling for full respect for international law, including for the protection of
civilian life, as well as for the promotion of human security, the de -escalation of the
situation, the exercise of restraint, includin g from provocative actions and rhetoric,
and the establishment of a stable environment conducive to the pursuit of peace,
Stressing the need for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and
protection of the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, consistent with the provisions and obligations of international humanitarian
law, and taking note of the report of the Secretary -General on the protection of the
Palestinian civilian population,3
Stressing also the need to ensure accountability for all violations of international
humanitarian law and international human rights law in order to end impunity, ensure
justice, deter further violations, protect civilians and promote peace,
Recalling the mutual recognition 27 years ago between the Government of the
State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,4 and stressing the urgent need for efforts to ensure full compliance
with the agreements concluded between the two sides,
Stressing the need, in particular, for an immediate halt to all actions contrary to
international law that undermine trust and prejudge final status issues,
Urging renewed and coordinated efforts by the internatio nal community aimed
at restoring a political horizon and advancing and accelerating the conclusion of a
peace treaty to achieve without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in
1967 by resolving all outstanding issues, including all final statu s issues, without
exception, for a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli -Palestinian conflict,
in accordance with the internationally recognized basis of the two -State solution,
and of the Arab-Israeli conflict, for the realization of a comp rehensive peace in the
Middle East,
__________________
2 See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.
3 A/ES-10/794.
4 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/75/22 20-16403 3/5
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Government, with
international support, to reform, develop, strengthen and preserve its institutions and
infrastructure, despite the obstacles presented by th e ongoing Israeli occupation,
commending in this regard the ongoing efforts to develop the institutions of an
independent Palestinian State, and stressing the need to promote intra -Palestinian
reconciliation,
Expressing concern about the risks posed to the significant achievements made,
as confirmed by the positive assessments by the international institutions regarding
readiness for statehood, owing to the negative impact of the current instability and
financial crisis being faced by the Palestinian Gove rnment and the continued absence
of a credible political horizon,
Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the
Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, chaired by Norway, and
noting its recent meeting held virtually on 2 June 2020,
Recognizing the positive contribution of the United Nations Sustainable
Development Cooperation Framework, which is aimed, inter alia, at enhancing
development support and assistance to the Palestinian people and strengthening
institutional capacity in line with Palestinian national priorities,
Welcoming the holding of the meeting of the Conference on Cooperation among
East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development in Ramallah and Jericho in July
2019 to support Palestinian efforts towards an independent Palestinian State through
the sharing of the experience of East Asian countries in economic development and
exploring effective means of cooperation, aimed at contributing to the promotion of
Palestinian development, the Middle East peace process and regional stability,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011, 5
Taking note also of its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter
alia, Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations,
and taking note further of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,6
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,
Stressing the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation
that began in 1967,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in pe ace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by the Council of the League of
Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002, 7 and
stressing its importance in the efforts to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace,
1. Reiterates its call for the achievement, without delay, of a comprehensive,
just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions, including Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), the Madrid terms of
reference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the
Quartet road map,8 and an end to the Israeli occupation tha t began in 1967, including
of East Jerusalem, and reaffirms in this regard its unwavering support, in accordance
__________________
5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
6 A/67/738.
7 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
8 S/2003/529, annex.
A/RES/75/22 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
4/5 20-16403
with international law, for the two -State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side
by side in peace and security within recognized borders , based on the pre-1967
borders;
2. Stresses the need to urgently exert collective efforts to launch credible
negotiations on all final status issues in the Middle East peace process based on the
long-standing terms of reference and clear parameters and within the time frame
specified by the Quartet in its statement of 21 September 2010, and calls once more
for the intensification of efforts by the parties, including through meaningful
negotiations, with the support of the international community, towards the conclusion
of a final just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement;
3. Calls for the timely convening of an international conference in Moscow,
as envisioned by the Security Council in its resolution 1850 (2008), for the
advancement and acceleration of the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace settlement;
4. Stresses that compliance with and respect for the Charter of the United
Nations and international law, including inte rnational humanitarian law and
international human rights law, is a cornerstone of peace and security in the region;
5. Calls upon both parties to act responsibly and in compliance with
international law and their previous agreements and obligations, in both their policies
and actions, in order to, with the support of the Quartet and other interested parties,
urgently reverse negative trends, including all measures taken on the ground that are
contrary to international law, and create the conditions neces sary for a credible
political horizon and the advancement of peace efforts;
6. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law and to cease all of its measures that are contrary
to international law, including all unilateral actions in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at altering the demographic
composition, character and status of the Territory, and thus at prejudging the final
outcome of peace negotiation s, and recalls in this regard the principle of the
inadmissibility of the acquisition of land by force and therefore the illegality of the
annexation of any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, which constitutes a breach of international law, undermines the viability
of the two-State solution and challenges the prospects for the achievement of a
peaceful settlement and of just, lasting and comprehensive peace;
7. Stresses the need, in particular, for an immediate halt to a ll settlement
activities, land confiscation and home demolitions, for the pursuit of measures to
ensure accountability and for the release of prisoners and an end to arbitrary arrests
and detentions;
8. Also stresses the need for respect for and preservation of the territorial
unity, contiguity and integrity of all the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem;
9. Further stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all
acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror, as well as
all acts of provocation and incitement;
10. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre -1967 borders;
11. Underscores in this regard the affirmation by the Security Council in its
resolution 2334 (2016) of its determination to examine practical ways and means to
secure the full implementation of its relevant resolutions;
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/75/22 20-16403 5/5
12. Calls for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
(c) A just resolution of the problem of Palestine refugees in c onformity with
its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
13. Calls upon all States, consistent with their obligations under the Charter
and relevant Security Council resolutions, inter alia:
(a) Not to recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with
regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations,
including by ensuring that agreements with Israel do not imply recognition of Israeli
sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel in 1967;
(b) To distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State
of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967;
(c) Not to render aid or assistance to illegal settlement activities, includ ing
not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with
settlements in the occupied territories, in line with Security Council resolution
465 (1980) of 1 March 1980;
(d) To respect and ensure respect for international law, in all circumstances,
including through measures of accountability, consistent with international law;
14. Urges all States and the United Nations to continue and expedite the
provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian
people and the Palestinian Government during this critical period in order to help to
alleviate the serious humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, which is dire in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the
Palestinian economy and infrastructure and to support the development and
strengthening of Palestinian institutions and Palestinian State -building efforts in
preparation for independence;
15. Requests the Secretary-General, including through his Special Coordinator
for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative to the Palestine
Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, to continue his efforts with the
parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, including with
regard to the reporting required pursuant to resolution 2334 (2016), towards the
attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of
peace in the region and to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy -sixth session
a report on these efforts and on developments on this matter.
35th plenary meeting
2 December 2020
United Nations A/RES/76/10
General Assembly
Distr.: General
3 December 2021
21-17757 (E) 081221
*2117757*
Seventy-sixth session
Agenda item 39
Question of Palestine
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on
1 December 2021
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/76/L.14 and A/76/L.14/Add.1)]
76/10. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency
special session,
Recalling also its resolution 73/89 of 6 December 2018, entitled
“Comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East”,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 478 (1980) of
20 August 1980, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,
1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004, 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008 and 2334 (2016) of
23 December 2016,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the
request made in its resolution 75/22 of 2 December 2020,1
Recalling its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its as pects in accordance with
international law and relevant resolutions,
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab -Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self -determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
force,
__________________
1 A/76/299-S/2021/749.
A/RES/76/10 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
2/5 21-17757
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, and reiterating the
importance of maintaining and strengthening international peace f ounded upon
freedom, equality, justice and respect for fundamental human rights and of developing
friendly relations among nations irrespective of their political, economic and social
systems or the level of their development,
Emphasizing the need for respect for, and the preservation of, the territorial
integrity and unity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequence s of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory,2 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July
2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli settlement activities and all other unilateral
measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the City
of Jerusalem and of the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a whole, including the wall and
its associated regime, demanding their immediate cessation, and condemning any use of
force against Palestinian civilians in violation of international law, notably children,
Condemning the firing of rockets against Israeli civilian areas,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well -being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and
terror against civilians on all sides,
Calling for full respect for international law, including for the protection of
civilian life, as well as for the promotion of human security, the de -escalation of the
situation, the exercise of restraint, including from provocative actions and rhetoric,
and the establishment of a stable environment conducive to the pursuit of peace,
Stressing the need for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and
protection of the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, particularly in the Gaza Strip, consistent with the provisions and obligations
of international humanitarian law, and taking note of the report of the Secretary -
General on the protection of the Palestinian civilian population, 3
Stressing also the need to ensure accountability for all violations of international
humanitarian law and international human rights law in order to end impunity, ensure
justice, deter further violations, protect civilians and promote peace,
Calling for the release of the bodies that have not yet been returned to their
relatives, in line with international humanitarian law and human rights law, in order
to ensure dignified closure in accordance with their religious beliefs and traditions,
Recalling the mutual recognition 27 years ago between the Government of the
State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,4 and stressing the urgent need for efforts to ensure full compliance
with the agreements concluded between the two sides,
Stressing the need, in particular, for an immediate halt to all actions contrary to
international law that undermine trust and prejudge final status issues,
Urging renewed and coordinated efforts by the international community aimed at
restoring a political horizon and advancing and accelerating the conclusion of a peace
treaty to achieve without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 by
resolving all outstanding issues, including all final status issues, without ex ception, for
__________________
2 See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.
3 A/ES-10/794.
4 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/76/10
21-17757 3/5
a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in accordance
with the internationally recognized basis of the two-State solution, and of the Arab-
Israeli conflict, for the realization of a comprehensive peace in t he Middle East,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Government, with
international support, to reform, develop, strengthen and preserve its institutions and
infrastructure, despite the obstacles presented by the ongoing Israeli oc cupation,
commending in this regard the ongoing efforts to develop the institutions of an
independent Palestinian State, and stressing the need to promote intra -Palestinian
reconciliation,
Expressing concern about the risks posed to the significant achie vements made,
as confirmed by the positive assessments by the international institutions regarding
readiness for statehood, owing to the negative impact of the current instability and
financial crisis being faced by the Palestinian Government and the conti nued absence
of a credible political horizon,
Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the
Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, chaired by Norway, and
noting its recent meeting held with virtual and physi cal participation at the ministerial
level in Oslo on 17 November 2021,
Recognizing the positive contribution of the United Nations Sustainable
Development Cooperation Framework, which is aimed, inter alia, at enhancing
development support and assistance to the Palestinian people and strengthening
institutional capacity in line with Palestinian national priorities,
Welcoming the assistance extended by the Conference on Cooperation among East
Asian Countries for Palestinian Development, held in in Ramall ah and Jericho in July
2019, in support of Palestinian efforts towards an independent Palestinian State through
the sharing of the experience of East Asian countries in economic development and
exploring effective means of cooperation, aimed at contributin g to the promotion of
Palestinian development, the Middle East peace process and regional stability,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011,5
Taking note also of its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter
alia, Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations,
and taking note further of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,6
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote respect
for human rights and a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, stressing the
need for the protection of civil society actors to allow them to conduct their work
freely and without fear of attacks and harassment from any party, and rejecting any
attack against civil society,
Stressing the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation
that began in 1967,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the regi on to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by the Council of the League of Arab
States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002, 7 and stressing
its importance in the efforts to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace,
__________________
5 A/66/371-S/2011/592, annex I.
6 A/67/738.
7 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
A/RES/76/10 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
4/5 21-17757
1. Reiterates its call for the achievement, without delay, of a comprehensive,
just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions, including Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), the Madrid terms of
reference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the
Quartet road map,8 and an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967, including
of East Jerusalem, and reaffirms in this regard its unwavering support, in accordance
with international law, for the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by
side in peace and security within re cognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
2. Stresses the need to urgently exert collective efforts to launch credible
negotiations on all final status issues in the Middle East peace process based on the
long-standing terms of reference and clear parameters and within the time frame
specified by the Quartet in its statement of 21 September 2010, and calls once more
for the intensification of efforts by the parties, including through meaningful
negotiations, with the support of the international co mmunity, towards the conclusion
of a final just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement;
3. Calls for the timely convening of an international conference in Moscow,
as envisioned by the Security Council in its resolution 1850 (2008), for the
advancement and acceleration of the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace settlement;
4. Stresses that compliance with and respect for the Charter of the United
Nations and international law, including international humanitarian law and
international human rights law, is a cornerstone of peace and security in the region;
5. Calls upon both parties to act responsibly and in compliance with
international law and their previous agreements and obligations, in both their policies
and actions, in order to, with the support of the Quartet and other interested parties,
urgently reverse negative trends, including all measures taken on the ground that are
contrary to international law, and create the conditions necessary for a credible
political horizon and the advancement of peace efforts;
6. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with it s
obligations under international law and to cease all of its measures that are contrary
to international law, including all unilateral actions in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at altering the demographic
composition, character and status of the Territory and thus at prejudging the final
outcome of peace negotiations, and recalls in this regard the principle of the
inadmissibility of the acquisition of land by force and therefore the illegality of the
annexation of any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, which constitutes a breach of international law, undermines the viability
of the two-State solution and challenges the prospects for the achievement of a
peaceful settlement and of just, lasting and comprehensive peace;
7. Stresses the need, in particular, for an immediate halt to all settlement
activities, land confiscation and home demolitions, for the pursuit of measures to
ensure accountability, and for the release of prisoners and an end to arbitrary arrests
and detentions;
8. Also stresses the need for respect for and preservation of the territorial
unity, contiguity and integrity of all the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem;
9. Further stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all
acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror, as well as
all acts of provocation and incitement;
__________________
8 S/2003/529, annex.
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/76/10
21-17757 5/5
10. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the
two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security
within recognized borders, based on the pre -1967 borders;
11. Underscores in this regard the affirmation by the Security Council in its
resolution 2334 (2016) of its determination to examine practical ways and means to
secure the full implementation of its relevant resolutions;
12. Calls for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
(c) A just resolution of the problem of Palestine refugees in conformity with
its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
13. Calls upon all States, consistent with their obligations under the Charter
and relevant Security Council resolutions, inter alia:
(a) Not to recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with
regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations,
including by ensuring that agreements with Israel do not imply recognition of Israeli
sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel in 1967;
(b) To distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State
of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967;
(c) Not to render aid or assistance to illegal settlement activities, including
not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with
settlements in the occupied territories, in line with Security Council resolution 465 (1980)
of 1 March 1980;
(d) To respect and ensure respect for internati onal law, in all circumstances,
including through measures of accountability, consistent with international law;
14. Urges all States and the United Nations to continue and expedite the
provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian
people and the Palestinian Government during this critical period in order to help to
alleviate the serious humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, which is dire in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the
Palestinian economy and infrastructure and to support the development and
strengthening of Palestinian institutions and Palestinian State-building efforts in
preparation for independence;
15. Requests the Secretary-General, including through his Special Coordinator
for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative to the Palestine
Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, to continue his efforts with the
parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, including with
regard to the reporting required pursuant to resolution 2334 (2016), towards the
attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of
peace in the region.
42nd plenary meeting
1 December 2021
United Nations A/RES/77/25
General Assembly
Distr.: General
6 December 2022
22-27276 (E) 091222
*2227276*
Seventy-seventh session
Agenda item 33
Question of Palestine
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
on 30 November 2022
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/77/L.26)]
77/25. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
The General Assembly,
Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency
special session,
Recalling also its resolution 73/89 of 6 December 2018, entitled
“Comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East”,
Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 478 (1980) of
20 August 1980, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,
1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004, 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008 and 2334 (2016) of
23 December 2016,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the
request made in its resolution 76/10 of 1 December 2021,
Recalling its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,
Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to
the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspects in acc ordance with
international law and relevant resolutions,
Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,
Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is
among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
force,
A/RES/77/25 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
2/5 22-27276
Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, and reiterating the
importance of maintaining and strengthening international peace founded upon
freedom, equality, justice and respect for fundamental human rights and of developing
friendly relations among nations irrespective of their political, economic and social
systems or the level of their development,
Emphasizing the need for respect for, and the preservation of, the territorial
integrity and unity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory,1 and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July
2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,
Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli settlement activities and all other unilateral
measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the
City of Jerusalem and of the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a whole, including the
wall and its associated regime, demanding their immediate cessation, and condemning
any use of force against Palestinian civilians in violation of international law, notably
children,
Condemning the firing of rockets against Israeli civilian areas,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well -being of all
civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and
terror against civilians on all sides,
Calling for full respect for international law, including for the protection of
civilian life, as well as for the promotion of human security, the de -escalation of the
situation, the exercise of restraint, including from provocative actions and rhetoric,
and the establishment of a stable environment conducive to the pursuit of peace,
Stressing the need for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and
protection of the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, particularly in the Gaza Strip, consistent with the provisions and obligations
of international humanitarian law, and taking note of the report of the Secretary -
General on the protection of the Palestinian civilian population,2
Stressing also the need to ensure accountability for all violations of international
humanitarian law and international human rights law in order to end impunity, ensure
justice, deter further violations, protect civilians and promote peace,
Calling for the release of the bodies that have not yet been returned to their
relatives, in line with international humanitarian law and human rights law, in order
to ensure dignified closure in accordance with their religious beliefs and traditions,
Recalling the mutual recognition 30 years ago between the Government of the
State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the
Palestinian people,3 and stressing the urgent need for efforts to ensure full compliance
with the agreements concluded between the two sides,
Stressing the need, in particular, for an immediate halt to all actions contrary to
international law that undermine trust and prejudge final status issues,
Urging renewed and coordinated efforts by the international community aimed at
restoring a political horizon and advancing and accelerating the conclusion of a peace
treaty to achieve without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 by
__________________
1 See A/ES-10/273 and A/ES-10/273/Corr.1.
2 A/ES-10/794.
3 See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/77/25
22-27276 3/5
resolving all outstanding issues, including all final status issues, without exception, for
a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli -Palestinian conflict, in accordance
with the internationally recognized basis of the two-State solution, and of the Arab-
Israeli conflict, for the realization of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East,
Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Government, with
international support, to reform, develop, strengthen and preserve its institutions and
infrastructure, despite the obstacles presented by the o ngoing Israeli occupation,
commending in this regard the ongoing efforts to develop the institutions of an
independent Palestinian State, and stressing the need to promote intra -Palestinian
reconciliation,
Expressing concern about the risks posed to the significant achievements made,
as confirmed by the positive assessments by the international institutions regarding
readiness for statehood, owing to the negative impact of the current instability and
financial crisis being faced by the Palestinian Governme nt and the continued absence
of a credible political horizon,
Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the
Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, chaired by Norway, and
noting its recent meeting held at the ministerial level in New York on 22 September 2022,
Recognizing the positive contribution of the United Nations Sustainable
Development Cooperation Framework, which is aimed, inter alia, at enhancing
development support and assistance to the Palestinian people and strengthening
institutional capacity in line with Palestinian national priorities,
Welcoming the assistance extended by the Conference on Cooperation among East
Asian Countries for Palestinian Development, held in in Ramallah and Jericho in July
2019, in support of Palestinian efforts towards an independent Palestinian State through
the sharing of the experience of East Asian countries in economic development and
exploring effective means of cooperation, aimed at contributing to the promotion of
Palestinian development, the Middle East peace process and regional stability,
Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the
United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011, 4
Taking note also of its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter
alia, Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations,
and taking note further of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General,5
Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote respect
for human rights and a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, stressing the
need for the protection of civil society actors to allow them to conduct their work
freely and without fear of attacks and harassment from an y party, and rejecting any
attack against civil society,
Stressing the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation
that began in 1967,
Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within
secure and internationally recognized borders,
Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by the Council of the League of Arab
States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,6 and stressing
its importance in the efforts to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace,
__________________
4 A/66/371-S/2011/592 , annex I.
5 A/67/738.
6 A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.
A/RES/77/25 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
4/5 22-27276
1. Reiterates its call for the achievement, without delay, of a comprehensive,
just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions, including Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), the Madrid terms of
reference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the
Quartet road map,7 and an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967, including
of East Jerusalem, and reaffirms in this regard its unwavering support, in accordance
with international law, for the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by
side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
2. Stresses the need to urgently exert collective efforts to launch credible
negotiations on all final status issues in the Middle East peace process based on the
long-standing terms of reference and clear paramet ers and within the time frame
specified by the Quartet in its statement of 21 September 2010, and calls once more
for the intensification of efforts by the parties, including through meaningful
negotiations, with the support of the international community, towards the conclusion
of a final just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement;
3. Calls for the timely convening of an international conference in Moscow,
as envisioned by the Security Council in its resolution 1850 (2008), for the
advancement and acceleration of the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace settlement;
4. Stresses that compliance with and respect for the Charter of the United
Nations and international law, including international humanitarian law and
international human rights law, is a cornerstone of peace and security in the region;
5. Calls upon both parties to act responsibly and in compliance with
international law and their previous agreements and obligations, in both their policies
and actions, in order to, with the support of the Quartet and other interested parties,
urgently reverse negative trends, including all measures taken on the ground that are
contrary to international law, and create the conditions necessary for a credible
political horizon and the advancement of peace efforts;
6. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its
obligations under international law and to cease all of its measures that are contrary
to international law, including all unilateral actions in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at altering the demographic
composition, character and status of the Territory and thus at prejudging the final
outcome of peace negotiations, and recalls in this regard the principle of the
inadmissibility of the acquisition of land by force and therefore the illegality of the
annexation of any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, which constitutes a breach of international law, undermines the viability
of the two-State solution and challenges the prospects for the achievement of a
peaceful settlement and of just, lasting and comprehensive peace;
7. Stresses the need, in particular, for an immediate halt to all settlement activities,
land confiscation and home demolitions, for the pursuit of measures to ensure
accountability, and for the release of prisoners and an end to arbitrary arrests and detentions;
8. Also stresses the need for respect for and preservation of the territorial
unity, contiguity and integrity of all the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem;
9. Further stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all
acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror, as well as
all acts of provocation and incitement;
__________________
7 S/2003/529, annex.
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine A/RES/77/25
22-27276 5/5
10. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the two-
State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within
recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;
11. Underscores in this regard the affirmation by the Security Council in its
resolution 2334 (2016) of its determination to examine practical ways and means to
secure the full implementation of its relevant resolutions;
12. Calls for:
(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including East Jerusalem;
(b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;
(c) A just resolution of the problem of Palestine refugees in conformity with
its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
13. Calls upon all States, consistent with their obligations under the Charter
and relevant Security Council resolutions, inter alia:
(a) Not to recognize any changes to the pre -1967 borders, including with
regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations,
including by ensuring that agreements with Israel do not imply recognition of Israeli
sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel in 1967;
(b) To distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State
of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967;
(c) Not to render aid or assistance to illegal settlement activities, including
not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with
settlements in the occupied territories, in line with Security Council resolution 465
(1980) of 1 March 1980;
(d) To respect and ensure respect for international law, in all circumstances,
including through measures of accountability, consistent with international law;
14. Urges all States and the United Nations to continue and expedite the
provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian
people and the Palestinian Government during this critical period in order to help to
alleviate the serious humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, which is dire in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the
Palestinian economy and infrastructure and to support the development and
strengthening of Palestinian institutions and Palestinian State-building efforts in
preparation for independence;
15. Requests the Secretary-General, including through his Special Coordinator
for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative to the Palestine
Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, to continue his efforts with the
parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, including with
regard to the reporting required pursuant to resolution 2334 (2016), towards the
attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of
peace in the region.
42nd plenary meeting
30 November 2022
%ener$l Assembly Security Chwncil Distr.
GENEPAL
A/39/130
S/16409
13 March 1984
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Thirty-ninth session
Item 33 of the pre~liminary list*
QUESTION OF PALESTINE
SECURITY COUNCIL
Thirty-ninth year
Report of the Secretary-General
(in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 38/58 C)
1. The present report is submitted in pursuance of resolution 38/58 C on the
question of the convening of an interhational peace conference on the Middle East,
which was adopted by the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session, on
13 December 1983.
2. On 5 January 1984. the Secretary-General addressed a letter to the President
of the Security Council on this matter1 this letter, including the text of
resolution 38/58 C which was appended to it, is reproduced in annex I. On
30 January, the President of the Security Council for the month of Januaty,
Mr. Javier Chamorro Morar sent an interim reply to the Secretary-General
(annex II). On 21 February, the President of the Security Council for the month of
February, Mr. S. Shah Nawas, sent a further reply setting forth the results of his
and his predecessor's donsultations with the members of the Council on the matter
raised by the Secretary-General (annex 111)~
3. Following consultations with the Security Council, on 9 March 1984, the
Secretary-General addressed letters to the Governments and authorities specified in
paragraph 3 of his letter of 5 January (see annex I) to ascertain their views on
all issues relevant to the organisation and convening of the proposed conference,
including the question of identification of participants.
* A/39/50.
84-06701 0935n (E) / *..
A/39/130
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4. The Governments and authorities mentioned above were requested to communicate
their views on the subject to the Secretary-Genera.1 as soon as possible, preferably
no later than 30 April 1984. Upon receipt of their replies, the Secretary-General
will consider how best to proceed in regard to the implementation of General
Assembly resolution 38/58 C. All relevant information will be included at a later
stage in an addendum which the Secretary-General will issue to the present interim
report.
/ . . .
A/39/130
S/16409
English
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Annex I
LETTER DATED 5 JANUARY 1984 FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL
I have the honour to refer to resolution 38/58 C which was adopted by the
General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session on 13 ~December,l983 on the question
of the convening of an international peace conference on the Middle East. The text
of the resolution is attached for easy reference.
In paragraphs 5 and 6 of the resolution, the General Assembly requested the
Secretary-General, in consultation with the Security Council, urgently to undertake
preparatory measures to convene the conference and invited the Security Council to
facilitate the organisation of the conference. In paragraph 7, the General
Assembly requested the Secretary-General to report on his efforts no later than
15 March 1984.
The first problem to he settled would be that of the participation in the
proposed conference. Bearing in mind the provisions of paragraph 4 of the
resolution, the following Governments and authorities could be invited to
participate in the conferencea
(a) The fifteen members of the Security Council, namely, China, Egypt,
France, India, Malta, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, the
Ukranian Soviet Socialist Republic , the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics, the United Kindgom, the United States of America, Upper Volta
and Zimbabwer
(b) The Governments which are directly involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict
and which are not members of the Security Council, namely, Israel,
Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic)
(c) The Palestine Liberation Organisation.
It would be my intention, as a first indispensable step towards the
organisation and convening of the proposed conference, to address letters to the
Permanent Representatives of the above-mentioned Governments and to the Permanent
Observer of the Palestine Liberation Organisation to the United Nations in which I
would draw their attention to General Assembly resolution 38/5S C, inform them of
the list of participants as agreed in consultation with the Security Council and
.request their participation in the conference in accordance with the provisions of
the above-mentioned General Assembly resolution. I would ask each of them to give
me a reply by 1 March 1984 in order that I may report to the General Assembly and
the Security Council no later than 15 March 1984. I would also indicate in the
letters that I am making this approach after consultation with the Security Council.
If the members of the Security Council agree with the above plan of action, I
shall proceed accordingly. I would be grateful if you would bring this matter to
the urgent attention of the members of the Security Council.
(Signed) Javier PEREZ DE CUELLAR
/ . . .
A/39/130
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English
Page 4
Appendix
GENERAL ASSEX4BLY RESOLUTION 38/5S C
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 36/120 C of 10 December 1981, in which it decided to
COlWe”e, under the auspices of the United Nations , an International Conference on
the Question of Palestine on the basis of its resolution ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980,
Recalling also its resolution 37/86 C of 10 December 1982 in which it,
inter alia, reiterated the responsibility of the United Nations to strive for a
lasting peace in the Middle East through a just solution of the problem of
Palestine,
Having considered the report of the International Conference on the Question
of Palestine, held at Geneva from 29 August to 7 September 1983, v
Convinced that the Conference, in having adopted by acclamation the Geneva
Declaration on Palestine v and the Programme of Action for the Achievement of
Palestinian Rights, y made an important and positive contribution to the
attainment of a comprehensive, just and durable peace in the Middle East through a
just solution to the problem of Palestine , the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Conscious of the importance of the time factor in achieving a just solution t0
the problem of Palestine,
1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the International
Conference on the Question of Palestine)
2. Endorses the Geneva Declaration on Palestine, adopted by acclamation on
7 September 19831
3. Welcomes and endorses the call foe convening an International Peace
Conference on the Middle East in conformity with the following guidelines,
(a) The attainment by the Palestinian people of its legitimate inalienable
rights, including the right to return, the eight to self-determination and the
right to establish its own independent State in Palestine,
(b) The right of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative Of
the Palestinian people, to participate on an equal footing with other parties in
all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East)
Y A,'CONF.114/42.
Y- Ibid., chap. I, sect. A.
I/- Ibid., chap. I, sect. B.
/ . . .
A/39/130
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(C) The need to put an end to Israel's occupation of the Arab territories, in
accordance with the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by force, and, consequently, the need to secure Israeli withdrawal from
the territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem)
(d) The need to oppose and reject such Israeli policies and practices in the
occupied territories, including Jerusalem, and any de facto situation created by
Israel as are contrary to international law and relevant United Nations
resolutions, particularly the establishment of settlements, as these policies and
practices constitute major obstacles to the achievement of peace in the Middle East)
(e) The need to reaffirm as null and void all legislative and administrative
measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or
purported to alter the bharactee and status of the Holy.City of Jerusalem,
including the expropriation of land and property situated thereon, and in
particular the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel;
(f) The right of all States in the region to existence within secure and
internationally recognised boundaries , with justice and security for all the
people, the Sine qua non of which is the recognition and attainment of the
legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as stated in
subparagraph (a) above,
4. Invites all parties to the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the Palestine
Liberation Organisation, as well as the United States of America, the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics and other concerned States, to participate in the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East on an equal footing and with
equal rightsr
5. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Security
Council, urgently to undertake preparatory measures to convene the Conference)
6. Invites the Security Council to facilitate the organisation of the
Conference!
7. Also requests the Secretary-General to report On his efforts no later
than 15 March 19841
8. Decides to consider at its thirty-ninth session the report of the
.Secretary-General on the Conference.
95th plenary meeting
13 December 1983
/ . . .
I G
A/39/130
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Annex II
LETTER DATED 30 JANUARY 1984 FRD+l THE PRESIDENT OF THE
SECURITY COUNCIL TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
I have the honour to inform you that I,have drawn to the attention Of the
members of the Security Council your letter dated 5 January 1984, concerning
General Assembly resolution 38/58 C of 13 December 1983 on the question of the
Convening Of an InternatiOnal Peace Conference on the Middle East. I have the
honour to inform you also that it will be necessary to hold further consultations
on this question.
(Signed) Javier CHAMORRO MORA
/ . . .
8
A/39/130
S/16409
Englibh
Page 7
Annex III
LETTER DATED 27 FEBRUARY 1984 FRm THE PRESIDENT OF THE
SECURITY c0micIL TO TRR SECREIX~W-GENEFZAL
1. I have,,the honour to refer to your letter of 5 January 1984 in regard to
resolution ,38/58 C adopted by the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session on
13 December 1983 on the'question of the convening of the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East.
2. YOU Excellency would recall that in his letter of 30 January 1984, the
President of the Security Council for the month of January had informed you of the
need foe more consultations in regard to this matter. I have carried forward the'
process and completed my consultations with all the members of the Security
Council, as requested by Your Excellency.
3. Only one member Of the Security Council has conveyed its views in writing to
the President of the,Council. A copy of the letter is attached. The other members
of the Security Council chos,e to convey their views to me orally during my
individual consultatiOns with them.
4. The views expressed by the members of the Security Council were reflective of
their vqrying positions regarding the merits of the proposed Conference, without
infringing upon the Secretary-General's freedom to continue consultations on the
subject in any manner he deemed appropriate, not excluding addressing of letters to
the governments and authorities specified in paragraph 3 of your letter. These
letters would be issued for the purpose of consulting the addressees on all issues
relevant to the organization and convening of the proposed Conference but would not
constitute invitations to them to participate in a Conference. The question of
identification Of participants would be one of the subjects for the consultations.
5. I hope that this letter will facilitate YOU Excellency's carrying out the
mandate entrusted to you by General Assembly cesolution 38/5S C.
(Signed) S. SHAH NAWAZ
/ . . .
A/39/130
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Appendix
LETTER DATED 13 JANUARY 1984 FROM THE PERMANENT
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL
My Government has co.:?idered carefully the letter of 5 January that the
Secretary-General addressed to you on the question of convening an International
Peace Conference on the Middle East. The Secretary-General seeks the agreement of
the members of the Security Council on the course of action which he proposes for
organizing such a conference.
As you know, the United States voted against General Assembly reSOlUtiOn
38/58 C which endorsed the holding of this conference. We had earlier opposed the
International Conference on the Question of Palestine held in Geneva last Summer,
from which the idea of a Middle East peace conference originated.
The United States believes firmly that the only path to peace in the Middle
East lies in a process of negotiations among the parties based on Security Council
resolutions 242 and 338, a process that the United States has sought vigorously and
consistently to encourage, particularly in the Camp David Accords and in
Ptesident Reagan's initiative of 1 September 1982. Holding an international
conference as recommended by the General Assembly would only hinder this Process.
It would predictably become a forum for propagandistic and extreme positions, and
in the context proposed by the General Assembly and further articulated by the
Secretary-General it would very likely yield a one-sided outcome not acceptable to
one or nwre of the parties and therefore inoperable. The net result would be to
diminish the prestige of the United Nations as the sponsor of the conferende and
delay the day when peace will come to the troubled Middle East.
The United States will continue to focus its energies on the task of promoting
face-to-face negotiations among the parties directly concerned with the Arab-
Israeli dispute. We remain hopeful that this course will bring a just and lasting
settlement in the region at the earliest possible time.
You are authorized to inform the Secretary-General of the above views of my
Government. The United States considers the recommendation of a Middle East Peace
Conference in General Assembly resolution 38/58 C to be ill-considered and
harmful. We would regret any decision using the authority of the United Nations
for this purpose, or the use of United Natibns personnel and financial resources.
The United States has no intention of participating in such a conference or in any
preparatory activities for it.
(Signed) Jeane J. KIRKPATRICK
UNITED AS
NATIONS
-..-
General Assembly Security Council
lllstr.
GENERAL
A/39/130/Add.l
S/16409/Add.l
13 September 1984
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Thirty-ninth session
Item 33 of the provisional agenda*
QUESTION OF PALESTINE
SECURITY COUNCIL
Thirty-ninth year
Report of the Secretary-General
(in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 38/58 C)
Addendum
1. As indicated in the report of 13 March 1984 (A/39/130-S/16409), fOllOWi"g
consultations with the Security Council , on 9 March 1984, the Secretary-General
addressed letters to 19 Governments and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO)
to ascertain their views on all issues relevant to the organisation and convening
of an international peace conference in the Middle East as called for in General
Assembly resolution 38/58 C, including the identification of participants. The
19 Governments are the 15 members of the Security Council and the parties directly
concerned in the Middle East conflict which are not members of the Security Council.
2. The replies of 18 of the Governments consulted have been circulated as General
Assembly and Security Council documents, at their request, as follows:
Document symbol
Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) A/39/216-S/16509
China A/39/217-S/16510
Egypt
France
A/39/219-S/16512 and Corr.1
A/39/218-S/16511
* A/39/150.
84-21205 10171. (E) / . . .
A/39/13O/Add.l
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Page 2
,~A'
I :!
,,iIndia
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Malta
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Pakistan
Peru
Document symbol
A/39/227-5/16523
A/39/214-S/16507
A/39/238-5/16543
A/39/275-5/16504
A/39/231-S/16527
A/39/208-S/16503
A/39/259-S/16565
A/39/224-S/16517
A/39/225-S/16518
A/39/416-5/16708
A/39/235-6/16533
A/39/222-5/16516
Syrian Arab Republic
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
union of Soviet Socialist Republics
United King+om of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland A/39/202-S/16494
Zimbabwe A/39/255-5/16557
In her reply, the Permanent Representative of the United States of America
reaffirmed the position of her Government as set forth in her letter dated
13 January 1984 to~the President of the Security Council (A/39/130-5/16409,,
annex 111, appendix). The reply of PLO is reproduced in the annex to the Present
report.
3. On 31 July 1984, the,Charg& d'Affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General a letter enclosing the text bf a document dated 29 July 1984 and
entitled "Proposals by the Soviet Union on a Middle East settlement" which alS0
deals with the question of the organisation and convening of an int@rnat$Onal peace
conference on the Middle East (A/39/368-S/16685).
4. Prom the replies received and the discussions held with the Governments and
authorities concerned, it is evident that the convening of the proposed conference
would require, in the first place, the agreement in principle of the parties
directly concerned to participate in the conference, and also that of the two
States specifically mentioned in General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, namely the
United States and the USSR. Once such agreement exists, further consideration
/ . . .
A/39/130/Add.l
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Page 3
could more constructively be given to finalising other related issues, such as the
full list of participants, the date of the conference and an agenda acceptable to
all concerned. At present, however, it is clear from the, replies of the
Governments of Israel (A/39/214-.9/16507) and the United States of America
(A/39/130-.9/16409, annex III, appendix) that they are not prepared to participate
in the proposed conference.
5. The Secretary-General shall continue to follow this question closely and shall
keep Member States informed of any further developments.
/ . . .
P
A/39/13O/Add.l
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Page 4
” ANNEX
Letter dated 27 April 1984 from the Permanent Observer of the
Palestine Liberation Organization to the Secretary-General
I am instructed by Yasser Arafat, Chairman of,the Executive Committee of the
Palestine Liberation Organisation to refer to your letter of 9 March 1984,
concerning United Nations General Assembly resolution 38/58 C on the question of
the convening of an International Peace Conference on the Middle East. It should
be recalled that resolution,38/58 C has endorsed almost unanimously the call for
convenilig an International Peace Conference on the Middle East. The resolution has
also endorsed the guidelines for such a Conference (para. 3). Furthermore, the
resolution has specified the parties to the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the
Palestine Liberation Organisation.
We wish to refer to your letter dated 5 January 1984, addressed to the
President of the Security Council and we wish to thank you for having taken that
initiative. We fully agree with you that the Governments which are directly
involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict are Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian
Arab Republic, and that the Palestine Liberation Organisation is also an
“authority” which is directly involved in the conflict. However, we do not
understand where the provision for the agreement with the plan of action should be
sought from the Council., Resolution 38/5fJ C only calls for consultation with the
Security Council so that the Secretary-General may undertake preparatory measures
to convene the Conference.
Be that as it may, we completely disagree with the view expressed by the
distinguished representative of the Government of the United States of America
which considered the “holding of an international Conference as recommended by the
General Assembly would only hinder” the path to peace. It is clear that the
Government of the United States explicitly plans to undermine and foreclose the
option to a process within the framework of the United Nations. It may be recalled
that the General Assembly, in its resolution 34/65 B adopted on 29 November 1979,
“declared that the Camp David accords and other agreements have no validity in so
far as they purport to determine the future of the Palestinian people and of the
Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967”. President Reagan’s
initiative of 1 September 1982 precludes the exercise of the inalienable rights of
the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the establishment of an
independent, sovereign Palestinian State. Furthermore, it ignores completely the
provisions of numerous Security Council resolutions calling for the withdrawal of
Israel from all the territories occupied since 1967. The spirit of the letter of
the representative of the Government of the United States of America indicates
clearly that that permanent member of the Security Council rejects any process
leading to a peaceful settlement.
The Palestine Liberation Organization trusts that the Secretary-General will
maintain his contacts and endeavours with the aim that a Peace Conference be held
within the framework of the United Nations. It might be of help if His Excellency,
will consider a visit to the area to conduct on the spot contacts with the parties
/ . . .
A/39/130/Add.l
S/16409/Add.l
English
Page 5
to the Arab-Israeli conflict and make a personal assessment of the gravity of the
situation and the urgency for convening such a Peace Conference.
I would like to recall that in his statement before the International
Conference on the Question of Palestine, held at Geneva from 29 August to
1 September 1983, Chairman Arafat said the following:
“In this context, we wish to suggest to you the following ideas;
“(a) The Middle East is a very important and vital region with regard to
the establishment of peace since it has a direct effect on the international
situation as a whole. Consequently, that region must remain free from the
monopoly of any one power in the world, and free from balkanisation and the
threat of internal and external explosionr
“(b) The question of Palestine originated and developed as a result of
international conflicts before and after the First and Second World Wars and
international, political complications deriving from the changing and
conflicting positions and balances of power in the world. Hence, the
responsibility for the recovery of the rights of the Palestinian people is a
wholly international responsibility within the framework of international
legitimacy;
“(c) The Fez Summit resolutions constitute a unique opportunity for the
achievement of the minimum degree of justice required. This opportunity for
peace in the region, presented jointly by the Arab leaders at the Summit
Conference, should not be wasted!
“(d)’ The exercise by the people of Palestine of their right to return,
self-determination and national independence is the only basis for any peace
based on justice in the Middle Eastr.
“(e) Failure to deter the Zionist military aggressive mentality and the
continuation of unlimited United States support for this barbaric military
machine contradict any advocacy of international peace8
“(f) In the light of these principles we are struggling for peace and
reject the American-Israeli policies calling upon us to capitulate;
“(9) In the light of these principles we welcome all peace initiatives
based on the recognition of the rights of our people. We are ready to
co-operate with all forces , and primarily the United Nations and its agencies,
within the framework of international legitimacy and their resolutions
concerning the question of Palestine. In this connection, we are calling for
an international conference, under the auspices of the United Nations, in
which the two super-Powers would participate with the rest of the parties
concerned, on the basis of the United Nations resolutions relating to the
question of Palestine.”
(Siqned) Zuhdi Labib TRRZI
NATIONS
$- f”-_. . J._ .$.- .- ..- --.. -_ ---_.- _._. _ w General Assembly Security Amncil
\a-’,‘T Jf
Distr .
C&NERAL
A/40/168
--- s/17014
11 March 1985
ORIGINALS ENGLISH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Fortieth session
Items 33 and 38 oE the preliminary list*
QUESTION OF PALEST1 NE
THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
SECURITY COUNCIL
Fortieth year
Report of the Secretary-General
1. The present report is submitted in pursuance of resolution 39/49 D on the
question of the convening of an international peace conference on the Middle East,
which was adopted by the General
11 December 1984. The operative
“The General Assembly
‘I.. .
Assembly at its thirty-ninth session, on
part of that resolution read as follows:
“1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General; L/
“2. Reaffirms its endorsement of the call for convening the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East in conformity with the
provisions of General Assembly resolution 38/58 C;
“3. Expresses its regret at the negative response of the two Governments
and calls upon them to reconsider their position towards the Conference1
“4 l Urges all Governments to make additional constructive e;forts and to
strengthen their political will in order to convene the Conference without
delay and for the achievement of its peaceful objectives8
* A/40/50 and Corr.1.
Y A/39/130-S/16409 and Add. 1.
85-07001 2115b (E) / . . .
A/40/168
s/17014
English
Page
“5. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Security
Council, to continue his efforts with a view to convening the Conference and
to report thereon to the General Assembly not later than 15 March 19851
“6. Decides to consider at its fortieth session the report of the
Secretary-General on the implementation of the present resolution.”
2. In pursuance of that request , on 8 January 1985 the Secretary-General
addressed the following letter to the President of the Secllrity Council:
“1 have the honour to refer to resolution 39/49 D, which was adopted by
the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session, on 11 December 1984, on the
question of the convening of an international peace conference on the
Middle East. The text of the resolution is attached. [See para. 1 above.]
“As you know, this quest.ion was first raised by the General Assembly at
its thir ty-eiqhth session, when it adopted resolution 38/58 C of
13 December 1983. The activities which Y undertook in pursuance of that
resolution, including my consultations with the Security Council, are
described in my reports of 13 March and 13 September 1984 to the General
Assembly and the Security Council (A/39/130-S/16409 and Add.1).
“It is also relevant to mention that in my report of 26 October 1984 on
the situation in the Middle East (A/39/600-5/16792, paras. 40-49), I reviewed
my efforts relating to the proposed conference and the difficulties
encountered and commented on a possible approach to a Middle East peace
conference that could be orqanized in the context of the search for a
comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
“After considering my reports of 13 March and 13 September 1984, the
General Assembly adopted resolution 39/49 D, in which it ‘requests the
Secretary-General, in consultation with the Security Council, to continue his
efforts with a view to convening the conference and to report thereon to the
General Assembly not later than 15 March 1985’.
“Bearing in mind the efforts made last year and the difficulties
experienced, I feel that as a first step I should seek the views of the
Security Council on the action to be taken for the inlplementation of General
Assembly resolution 39/49 D. In the liqht of my reportinq responsibility
under that resolution , I hoPz that the views of the Security Council can be
conveyed to me not later than 1 March 1985.
“I should be grateful if you would bring this matter to the attention of
t.he Security Council.”
3. On 26 February 1985, the President of the Security Council sent the following
reply:
/ . . .
A/40/168
s/17014
Enqlish
Page 3
nI have the honour to refer to your letter of 8 January 1985, on the
question of the convening of an international peace conference on the
Middle East, in which you had indicated that you felt it necessary to start by
requesting the views of the Security Council regarding the action to be taken
for the implementation of General Aelembly resolution 39/49 D of
11 December 1984.
“You had also recalled the activities you had undertaken in 1984 of which
you gave an account in your reports of 13 March, 13 September and
26 October 1984 to the General Assembly and the Security Council, and noted
the difficulties experienced.
“Acting on your request that the matter be drawn to the attention of the
Security Council, the President of the Council for the month of January
consulted the members of the Council in order to obtain and communicate their
views to you by 1 March 1985 as requested. Having received the approval of
the members of the Security Council during consultations held on 15 January,
he had bilateral talks with each member of the Council during the following
days. As President of the Council for the month of February, I have carried
forward the process and completed my consultations with all members of the
Security Council,
“It is clear from these consultations that almost all members are in
favour of the principle of holding such a conference. Many of these members
feel that it should be convened as early as possible) some others consider
that the conditions that would make it possible to convene such a conference
have not been met as yet.
“In this context, members of the Council invite the Secretary-General to
continue consultations on the subject in any manner he deems appropriate in
the liqht of General Assembly resolution 39/49 D.”
4. The Secretary-General has taken note of the views conveyed to him by the
President of the Security Council. He intends to pursue consultations on the
subject and will inform the General Assembly and the Security Council of any new
developments,
-m-m-
.”
“. -. ‘. ”
UNITED
NATIONS
f ~
AS
General Assembly Security Council
Distr.
GENERAl.
A/42/277
~/18849
7 May 1987
ORIGINAL, ENGLISH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Forty-second session
Items 38 and 39 of the preliminary list·
QUESTION OF PALESTINE
THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Report of the Sp.cretary-General
H~CURITY COUNCIL
F'Jrty-sQCond year
1. The present repor~ la submitteo in accordance with General Assembly resolution
41/43 D of 2 December 1986 'm the question of convening an international peace
conference on the Middle E \t. The operative part of the resolution reads as
follows,
"The General Assembly,
11 ...
"l. Taken note with dppreciation of the reports ot the ~f.!Cretary-GeneralJ
"2. Determines that the question of Palestine is the core ot the
Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle EastJ
"3. Reaffirms once aqain its endorsement of the call for conveninq the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East in conformit~ with the
provisions of the resolution 38/58 CJ
"4. Stresses the II 'lent need for adcHtional concr~te and constructive
efforts hy all Governments in order to convene the Conference without further
delaYJ
* A/42/50.
R7-11499 2662j ("~) I . ..
lI./42/277
S/UJ84\.}
l'~nqliah
Paqe 2
"5. EndorseR the call for settinq up a preparatory committee, within the
tramework of the Security Council, with the participation of the permanent
members ot the Council, to take the necessary action to convene the Conference,
"6. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Security
Council, to continue his efforts with a view to conveninq the Conference and
to report thereon to the General Assambly not later than 15 M~V 1987,
"7. Decides to consider at its forty-second session the report of the
Secretary-General on the impl ementation of the pr esent resolution."
2. In accordance with the request contained in paraQraph 6 of the resolution,
consultations were held th the members of the Security Council individually
durinq the period from February to May 1987. The purpose of these consultations
was to determine their vi ews on the conveninq of the International Peace Conference
on the Middle ~ast aA callad for by the General Assembly. The consultations also
addressed the question of how such a conference should be prepared, with special
reference to the proposal for settinq up 0 preparatory committee, endors\~ in
paraqraph 5 of the resolution.
3. All members of the Securi ty Council wer e concerned about th e Midd le I!;ast
problem, and all expreseed support for a continuation of the Secretary-General's
efforts to brinq about a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Moreover, in
contrast wi th the experi ence of recent years, none of th e Counci 1 members opposed
in principle the idea of an international conference under United Nations
auspices. It was clear, however, that wide differences still existed reqardinq the
form that a conference should take, It was also qenerally aqreed that the
positions of the parties themselves remained far apart on a number of issueo of
procedure and of substance but that in recent months there had been indications of
Qreater flexibility in attitudes towards the neqotiatinq process and that this
ohould be encouraqed.
4. The memberl:i of the Council also agreed that a conference would have to be
carefUlly prepared, but opinions were divided on the proposal for the establishment
of .:l formal pr eparatory commi ttee. Some members of the Council favour ed ear ly
establishment of such a committee, others opposed the proposal or felt that further
consultations would be required on this question and that the views ot tile parties
themselves would be of especial importance in this context.
5. ~ first round of consultations was also held with representatives aL the
parties, namely the Member States directly concerned - Egypt, Israel, Jordan,
Lebanon, and the Syrian Arab Republic - and the Palestine Liberation OrQanization.
These conSUltations, which were held in New York durinq March and April, were
exploratory, with the objective of ascertaininQ the positions of the parties on the
conveninq of the International Conference a~d of neekinq their views as to how it
should he prepared. All the parties showed interest in a settlement of the
conflict in the Middle East, and some viewed it as a matter of qreat urqency.
Aqain, views differed both on the form the ConferenCE- should take and on how it
should be prepared, but there appeared to be u qeneral readiness to considur
o~tions for an acceptable neqotiatinq tormula.
I . ..
A/42/277
5/18849
Enqli eh
Paqe 3
OBSF.:RVATIONS
6. While it is apparent from this first round of consultations that at present,
sUfficient aqreement does not exist to permit the convel,inq of the Ir.ternational
Conference as called for in reso1l1tion 41/43 0, I am determined to continue my
efforts to establish a process that will le~d to a just and lastinq peace in the
Middle East. I am encouraqed by the increased interest on the part of the
international community in the idea of a conference t'lat ~/ould be convened under
United Nations auspices on a basis acceptable to all. I am also encouraged by the
indications of greater flexibility on this issue amongst the parties, since
obviously their views are of crucial importance in this matter. At the same time,
it is evident that very deep d1.fferences remain between the parti es, and I do not
underestimate the difficulties involvtd ii'\ resolvinq those differences and in
creati nq aqreernent on procedur es that wi 11 permi t eff ecti ve neqoti ations to th e
satisfaction of all concerned. To this end, I intend, in th~ months to come, to
intensify my contacts with the parties, in order to tty to fi~d ways of bridqinq
the gaps between them.
7. Ever since I was first appointed Secretary-General, I have teen strongly
committed to the search for a comprehensive settlement of the ~idjle East problem
and I have been explorinq ways of achievinq such a settlement. Since I last
reported on this subject to the General Assembly and the Security Council
(1\/41/768-S/18427),. I have had the opportunity to meet a number of leaders from the
reqion, all of whom have encouraqen me to make a special effort to promote the
start of a neqotiating process that would lead to 3 just and dura~le peace i~ the
reqion. If these efforts are to prove successful, they will need the full f,upport
and understandinq not only of the parties but also of the Security Council, with
whose members I will continue to consult. I am convin~ed that it is my
responsibility as SecretarY-General to strenqthen the ~esolve of those who seek a
peaceful solution.
8. I will keep the General Assembly and security Cou"cil fully informed of my
continuinq efforts to make proqrees towards a just and lastinQ peace in the Midrlle
East.
AS UNITED
NATIONS
Distr,
General Assembly Security Council GENERAT
A/44/73!
s/20968
16 Novenber
ENGLISH
ORIGINAT:
1989
ARABIC,/ENGLI SH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
ForLy-fourth session
Agenda itens 37 and. 39
QUESTION OF PALESTINE
THE SITUATION IN TIIE MIDDTE EAST
SECURITY CJUNCIL
Forty-fourth year
Reporl of the SecretarY-Gene ra1
1. The present report is submitted in accordance vj.th General Assembly resolution
43/176 of 15 Decernber 1988 on the question of convening the International Peace
Conference on the Middle East. The operative part of the resolution reads as
follows:
"The General Assenbl.y,
settfernent of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of which is the question of
Palestinei
'2. Cal1s for the convening of the Interlational Peace Conference on the
Middle East, under the auspices of the United Nations, vith the particiPation
of all parties of the conffict, including the Palestine Liberation
Organization, on an equal footing, anal the five permanent menbers of the
Security Couucif, based on security council resofutions 242 (1967) of
22 Novernber 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and the Leqitinate national
riqhts of the Pafestinian people, prirnarily the right to sel f-deterrninat ion;
"3. Affirns the foltolting princiPles for the achievenent of
cornprehensive peace:
"(a) The withdrawal of Israef from the Patestinian territory occupied
since 1967, including Jerusalen, and from the other occupied Arab territories;
89-28953 1406d (E)
A/44/73L
s/20968
Enqtish
Page 2
"(b) Guaranteeing alranqenents fo! security of all States in the region,
including those named iD resol.ution 181 (II) of 29 Novenber 1947, within
secure and internationalLv recoqnized. boundariesi
"(g) nesolving the problen of the Pafestine refug:ees in confornity t'rith
General Assenbly resolution f94 (III) of 11 Decenber L948. and subsequent
reLevant resolutions;
"(d) Dismantliaq the Israeli settlenents in the territories occupied
since 1967,
"(q) Guaranteeing freedom of access to Holy Places, religious buildings
and sites;
territory occupied since 1967. inclualiltg ,Jerusalem, under the supervision of
the United Nations for a limited period, as part of the peace processi
the rnternationaf Peace colference on the MiddLe East, incruding the
establishment of a preparatory comrnit.tee, and to consider guarantees for
security measures agr:eed upon by the Conference for all States in the regioni
"6. Requests the Secretary-Generaf to colrtinue his efforts with the
parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, to
faciLitate the convening of the ConfereDce, anal to subtnit progress reports on
developments in this matter. "
2. On 2 October 1989, the Secretary-General, in pursuance of the request
contained. in paragraph 6 of the above resolubion, addressed the fol-loiring letter to
the President of the Security Council:
"I have the honour to refer to resoluEioo 43/a76, adopted by ttre General
Assenbly on 15 December 1988, at its forty-third session, concerning the
convening of the InternationaL Peace Conference on the Middle East. The text
of the resofution is enclosed.
"Under operative paragraph 6 of resolutioa 43/L76, I am requested to
continue my efforts with the parties concerned., and in consultation with the
Securiby Council, to faciLitate the convening of the Conference, and to subnit
progress reports on developnents in this matter. In order to be assisted in
the preparation of ny report, I would be grateful if the vielrs of the Security
Council on the convening of the fnternatioDal Peace Conference on the Middle
East could be conveyed to ne by 30 October."
3. on 7 November 1989, the President of the Security Council sent the following
reply:
A/44/73L
s/20968
English
Paqe 3
"I have the honour to refer to your letter of 2 Oct.ober 1989 concerning
the question of bhe conveuing of the lDterDatioDal Peace Conference on the
Middle East, by which you inforned ne of your desire to cousult the Security
Council once again, taking into account the relevant provisions of General
AssernbLy resolution 43/L76 of 15 December 1988.
"ID accordance with your desire to be inforned of the vietrs of the
nembers of the Security Council on this question, my predecessor and I have
undertake[ the necessary consultaeions.
"ll?rile nembers of the Council have noted with appreciation some positive
steps and initiatives undertaken in the past. year, they remain preoccupied by
the continuing lack of progress in achieving peace in the Middle EasC and by
the increasingly serious situation in the occupied territories. They are
ttrerefore couvinced that. efforts must be continued ou an urgent basis to
achieve a conprehensive, just and Lasting settlement of the situation in the
Middle East, particularl.y a solut.ion to tl'e PalesEinian problern in al1 its
aspects. They reaffirrned their support for a! active peace process in which
all releva[t parties ]roul,d participate, leading to a conprehensive, just and
fasting peace in the regiou aad th6y invite the SecreEary-General to pursue
his efforts and consultations in respect of the convening of an International
Peace CoDference on the Middle East.
"Most members of the Council st.ressed that Ehe Confereuce sbould be
conveued on the baais of General Assembty resolution 43/L76, for which they
expressetl their support, and in rchich it, inter a1ia, called for the convening
of the International Peac€ Conference on the Middle East, uuder the auspices
of the United Natiols, with the participation of all parties to the conflict.,
including the Palestine Liberation Organization, on an equal footing, and the
five perrnanent members of the Security Council, based on Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967't of 22 Novenber 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973
and the Legitimate natiotral rights of the Pal.estinian people, primarily the
right to sel f-deterrnination. They further stressed that any settlement should
affirm and guarantee the right. of all States in the regiotr, iacl.uding Israel,
to exist within secure and internationatly recognized boundaries and should
also reaffirn and guarantee the right of the Palestinian people to
sel f-deterrnination, incl.uding the right to establish their own State.
"Several nenbera of the Council indicated Chat the Security Council
should begin urgent colsideratioa of the situation in the Middle East uith a
view to reaching early agreement, in particular on the establishmenE of a
preparatory convnittee for an International Peace Conference on the Middl,e
Easb. Sorne other mernbers itrd.icated that the parties direct.ly coDcerned must
reach agreement on the exact forn of a Conference, which should rtot prejudge
the outcome of, the negotiations.
"One menber of the Council indicated it could not support the convening
of an International Peace Conference in accordance with the fornula contained
in reso].ution 43/176 as this resol.ution failed Eo address the centrality of
A/44/73L
s/20968
English
Page 4
direct negotiations among the parties and purported to determine in advance
the outcome of issues lrhich nust be resolved in the course of negotiations.
In the view of this rnember, a properLy structured Conference could, at an
appropriate time, facititate direct negotiations. This menber, holrever,
considers that the tine is not riqht to convene an internationaL conference."
4, Irx a note verbale to the parties concerned, dateil 21 Septenber 1989, the
Secretary-General sought Lhe positions, respectively, of the Governments of EqypL,
Israel. Joralan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, anal of the Patestine
Liberation Organization, i! regard to the IlterDaEional Peace CoDference on tl^e
Middle East as called f,or i! General AssembLy resoLution 43/L76. The replies are
reproduced belor'3
Note fron the Permanent ReBresentative of Egypt
I'The Pernanent Missio! of the Arab Republic of Egypt ... with reference
to the Secretary-General ' s note dated 21 September 1989 rrhich referred to
General Assernbly resolutiou 43/176 anat requested the views of the Government
of Egypt on tbe convening of ttre International Peace Conference on the Middle
East ... has the honour to convey the following:
"t. The Government of the Arab Repubtic of Egypt shares the viel's of the
Sec retary-Gene raf that the present state of affairs 'is one that causes ...
grave concern' .
^2. It also agrees with the Secretary-General that despite the fact that
recent nonths have seen taDgible progress Cowards the setElement of many of
the rnajor corflicts r.hich beset Che t orld, these positive winds of change have
not yet reached the Arab-Israeli coaflict.
"3. It is therefore an agreed view that the need is urgent Eo establish
a process acceptable to alL for negotiations of a just, Iasting, and
comprehensive settLenent.
The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt welcomes the statenent
by the Secretary-Ceneral and his observations that he will continue to work
for that eud.
"5. olx che questio! of the IoternationaL Peace Conference on the Mialdle
EasE, the Governnetrt. of Egypt firmly considers the coavening of the said
conference to be the goa1 of the peace process which wouLd provide for a just,
lasting and conprehensive settlenent of the problem of Che Middle East.
"6. The Internatioral Conference should be convened afonq the follosrinq
lines:
242 (1967) and 338 (1973), as r.el1 as the
rights of the Palestiniat people.
A/ 44/7 3L
s/20968
English
Page 5
Council resolutions
lational politicaf
"3. Ahe goal is to achieve a negotiated cotnprelrensive peaceful
settleneut of the Palestinian problem in atl its aspects as
well as other related problens, also to ensure the achievement
of a just and lasting peace in the Miatdle East.
"4. The active participation of aLl parties conceraed aDd/or
involved, on an equal foot.ing, including the Palestine
Liberation Orgauization, the sole legitinate represetltative of
the Palestinian people.
"5. The participation as well of, the five permanent menbers of the
Security Council..
underLine the continuing relevance of bhe principles affirrned
by paragraph 3 of, General Assenbly resolution 43/L76, trafiely:
"a. The withdrawal from the Palestinian territory occupied
since 1967, including Jerusalen, and from the other
occupied Arab territories;
"b, Guaranbeeing arrangemeDts for security of aLl States in
che region, including those naned in resolution 181 (II)
of 29 Novenbe t 1947,
"c. Resolving the problern of the Palestire refugees in
conformity with General l,ssembly resolution 194 (III) of
11 December 1948, antl subsequent relevant resolutionsi
"al. Disnantling the IsraeLi settlements in ttre territiries
occupied since 1967i
"e. Guaranteeing freedon of access tso holy places, religious
buildings and sites. "
Note fron the Actinq Pernanent Representative of Israel
"The Acting Permanent Represeutative of Israel Co the United Nations
has the honour to refer to (the Secretary-General ' s ) note verbate dated
21 September 1989 regarding ceDeral Assembly resoluEion 43/L76 of
15 Decenber 1988, coucerning the conveniag of the InterlatioaaL Peace
Conference on the Midd]e East.
A/ 44/'l31,
s/20968
EDgtish
Page 6
"Israel has voted consiste[tly agaiast the General Assernbly resolutioDs
which called for the conveninq of ths lDterrational, Peace Confereuce on the
Mitldle 8ast.
"General Assembly resolution 43/176, shile iacluding a reference to
Security Couucil resolutions 242 (1967, and 338 (1973), also affirns in its
operative paragraph 3 to a series of prirciples shich Prejuttge and subvert the
possible outcome of peace negotiations and the very principles contained in
Security Council resolutions 242 anat 338, Moreover, it calls for the
participation in the InEerDational Conference of the PLO, a terrorist
orgaDization dedicated to the destruction of Israel lrhich cannot be considered
a partner to peace negotiatioDs.
"Israel has l,ong aalvocated direct negotiatio[s as the most Prornising
frannework to advance the peace process in the Middle East.. General Assenbly
resolution 43/176 proposes an IDEernational Conferenc€ that is designed to
su.bstitut€ for - rather thaD support - direct negotiaCious.
Cbaracteristical ly, the verb 'negotiate', or aly of its derivatives, is not to
be found in the resolution.
"Israel shares Ehe Secretary-Geleral ' s observation made in his report on
the situation in the Miatdle East (A/431867 ot 28 November 1988) that 'in the
prevailing circumstances it is insufficient to coacentrate solef,y on
procedural matters' and that there is a 'fundanental inportatce of devising an
effective negotiating process that can secure the interests of boCh Israelis
and Ara.bs and eDable them to 1iv€ ia peace trith each other'.
"fn seeking to advance Ehe peace process the GoverDmenE of Israel adopted.
oD 14 May 1989 a peace initiabive '$hich deals with the continuation of the
peace processi the termination of the state of rrar nith Ehe Arab Statesi a
solution for the Arabs of Judea, Sarnaria ard the Gaza Districti peace {ith
Jordani and a resol.ution of the problen of the residents of, Ehe refugee camps
in Jualea, Samaria and the Gaza District' <A/44/282 of 17 May 1989).
- "General Assenbly resolution 43/176 offers no viable alternative to
Israel's peace iuitiative and support for it ca! oDly prejudice ongoing
ef,forts to advance peace in the Middle East."
Note from the Pernanent Representative of Jordan
"with reference to (bhe secretary-ceneral. ' s ) letter of 2l Septenber 1979
conc€rning Ehe question of the coDveling of the Internatioaal Peace Conference
on the Middle East ia accordalce wiCh the provisious of General Assenbly
resolution 43/176, I have tbe honour to traasnit to you the position of the
Govertunert of the Hashemite Kingd.on of .Iordan oa the rnatter, as foflotrs:
"1. In keeping with its position that a political solution is a possible
and feasibte option for ending the Arab-Israeli conflict, at the core of which
is the questioD of Palestine. Jordan has constaDtly urged the need for the
al 44,t731,
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Paqe 7
convening of the International Peace Colference on the MiddLe East. Moreover,
Jordan for its part naturally supports the calL of the General Assenbly for
the convering of such a conference since it a'as among the first proponents of
the original idea aod since it has endeavoured to prornote it in various fonrms
and on various occasion6, His Majesty the Kiag was involved in a remarkable
effort in that connection I,heD the Arab Surrunit, meeting at Aman from 8 to
11 Novenber 1987, decitted thae the convening of the International Conference
a'as the appropriate franewor} for the achievement of a peaceful. just,
comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East. Accordingly, Jordan's
position in support of the convening of the Conference has been based on a
conviction that such an international forum would encourage afL the parties
concerned to reach a binaling settlement through direct negotiations.
"2. Alt aspects of the Conference are, of course, interfinked anal of
great import, whether they relate bo procedural or substantive matters. The
nost salient of those aspects are, however, bhose relating to representation
at the Conference, the designation of the parties that are to participate in
it antl it.s terns of reference, as well as the necessary preparations to ensure
agreement on these aad other aspects.
"3, With regard to participation in the work of the Conference, Jordan's
attitude is in keepiag rrith the Lrab position ard the international consensus,
both of lrhi ch Jordan shared itr formj.ag by procl.aiming che need for all parties
coacerned to participate, iacludiag the PaLestine Liberation Organization, the
sole represeDtative of the Patestiqiaa people, on equal footing, and the five
States permanent menhers of th€ Security Council, as bearing special
responsibility for the maintelalrce of international peace and security.
resolution 242 (L967), trhich Lays down the principle of the restitution of the
occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories in return for peace, and
Council resolutiou 338 (1973), which stipuLates that the international arena
is an appropriate framework for a political settlenent among the parties tO
the confLict in the Midtlle East. It is acknowledged that Chat would lead to
securing the tegitinate national rights of tshe Palestinian people, including
its right to sel f -determirat.ion on its natioaal soil as the essence of peace
and a future guarantee of peace.
"5. There is ro aeed to reaffirm
the crux of any possibl€ settlenert ill
interrabional consensus al]d support.
the fact tbat this principle represents
the Mialdle East which nould meet with
"6. with regard to the terns of reference of the Conferelc€, JordaD
believes that they should chief,Iy irclude, inter a1ia, the voicing of opinions
and the provision of advice and the lecessary direction for the achievemeut of
the required reconciliation of the various vievrpoints in order to ensure
sustained progress in the lrork of the Conference and constructive and positive
interactioa among the parties so as to attai! the basic Aoal, lralne1y to
achieve and guarantee a conprehensive, just atrd lasting settlenent. We do
a,/ 44/73L
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not, however, deen it judicious that the terms of reference of the Conference
shoulal be lirnited to mediation and oversighL alone or that the benefits to be
derived fron according it arbitral, powers and perhaps, in case of need, powers
of decisioD, shoul,d be excluded.
"7. Finally, in order to overcome the difficulties affecting the peace
process and facilitate the convening of the Conference, Jordan supports all
the efforts made, including the valuable effolts of the Sec retary-General, to
expedite the convening of such a conference in order to halt the suffering of
the Palestinian people in the occupied west Bank anal Gaza Strip and t.o uard
off the dangers of tension and eruption which threaten the Middle East region
as a trhole at a time when the ir].ternational conmunity is turning tolrards
d6tente and coexistence, "
Note fron the Actinq Permanent Representative of Lebanon
"with reference to your fetter of 21 Sept.enber 1989, I have the honour to
coDvey to you hereunder the officiaL position of principLe of the tebanese
Government on the convening of an International Peace Conference on the Midalle
East.
"1. Lebanon agrees in principfe to the convening of the Interuational Peace
Conference on the Middle East lrith a view Eo seeking a just, compreheasive and
lasting solution to the Middle East problen in accordance with the provisions
of the resofutions of the United Nations on ttre matter. It is prepared to
participate iD the said Conference, as previously conrnunicated to you
officially on 24 May 1984,
solution of its onn problem lrith that of the Middle East issue, since it
considers that its o$n probLem requires to be addressed separately and
expeditiously in view of ibs urgent cbaracter and its devastating irnpact on
its political, economic and social. structure.
"3. Lebanon's reaaliness to participate in the Int.ernational Peace Conference
stems from its being one of the States involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict,
from the fact that there are in its terribory rnore than half a nill,ion
Palestine refugees rrhose fate would be decided by the said Conference and from
its desire to participate in the discussion of issues that it deems bo be of
direct or indirect interest and concern to it'.
Palestinians shouLd be settled in its telriEory and, on the basis of its
support for the right of peoples to se If-deternination, calLs for the
recognition of the right of the Patestinian peopte to exercise
sel f-dete rnination and to estabfish its State on its olrn soil in accordance
with the provisions of the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembfy
in that connection.
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"5. Lebanon does not consider that it has a regional problem (a problen of
territory with any State whaCever) that is to be discussed or negotiated. It
has fixed and internatioually recognized frontiers, and it adheres to its
right to fulI sovereignty and independence.
"The question of the IsraeLi occupation and of Israef,i practices in the
South should be adalressed from the point of view of acceding to the wifl of
ttre i!.ternational community as represented by Security Couucil resofutions
425 (L978'), 508 (1982), and 509 (1982), which call for ful1 and unconditional
Israeli withdralral from Lebanese territory, by enabling the United Nations
forces to inpLeneat their mandate in fulf by deployiug up to the
international l.y recognized borders, by consolidating international peace and
security and by assisting Lhe Covernment to exercise itss right tso extend its
authority and sovereignty over its territory and, consequently, to transforn
the South irlto a zoDe of security and peace.
"6. Lebanon reaffirns its conunitrnent to the Arnistice Agreement of 1949,
which retnains in force, as affirned by the successive Security Council
resolutions of relevance, urt.il such tine as it is replaced by another
instrument with the establj.slunent of a just and comprehensive soLutioD to the
Arab-Israeli coDflict. "
Note from the Perrnanent. Representative of the Svrian Arab Republic
"The Permanent Representative of the Syriaa Arab Republic ... has the
honour to transmit the following reply of the Government of the Syrian Arab
Republic to (tbe Secretary-cene ral ' s ) note dated 21 Sept.ernber 1989 on the
convening of an iDternational conference o! tbe Middle East3
"The Syrian Arab Republic supported General Assernbly resofution
38/58 C on the convening of the International Peace Conference on the
Middle East, as indicated in its letter addressed to you and distributed
in document A./43/272 of 3l- March 1988, and supporEed ceneral Assembly
resolutions 42/66 D of 2 December 1987 anal 42/209 A of 11 Decenber 1987.
"The Syrian Arab RepubLic once again emphasizes the neetl !o continue
efforts for the conve.ning of the International Conference rrith the
parbicipation of all parties to the conflict, including the Patestine
Liberation Organization, and the permanent menbers of Che Security
Council vittr a view to achieving a just and conprehensive peace baseal on
the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and its resolutions
relating to the Arab-IsraeLi conflict, and also based on:
"Achievernent of a complete Israeli withdrawal from all the occuPied
Arab territories, including Jerus alem;
"Guarantee of the inalienable ltational rights of the Palestinian
A.rab peoDle in accordance with United Nations resotutions,"
Ll44/73r
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Note fron the Permanent Observer of Palest.ine
"The Permauent 0bserver of Palestine to the United Nations ... has the
hoaour to refer to the tnenorandun of 21 Septenber 1989 regarding the convening
of the lllternational Peace Corference on the Middte East pursuant to General
Assembl"y resolution 43/L76 of 15 December 1988.
"President Yasser Arafat has ilsbructed us to resPond recalling that the
said resol,ution iras adopted almost unanimously rrith only trro negative vobes
uamely Israel aDd the United States. He also wishes to note that it is of
significance that the ninth sunrniL Coufererce of the Heads of State or
Governfient of the non-aligned countries has unanimously endorsed the call for
the convening of the International Peace Couference on Che Middle East and
stressed the urgent need to coDvene the Conferetrce.
"President Arafat, further, wishes to take this opportunity to stress
that iu all endeavours and contacts concerning the achieveneut of a
conprehensive and just soluti,on, Palestine insists that a]l. such endeavours
for peace must be carried out under the auspices of the United Nations, and on
the basis of the principles of the Charber ard the rel.evant resolution 43/176.
"In the meanbine, President Arafat wishes to reniad Your Exceflency aBd,
through you, the international coftnunity of the pLight anA suffering of the
Pal.estinian people uDder Israefi occupat.ioD aDd the responsibility to provide
international protection and assistance to them.
"President. Arafat r.ishes to express his great appreciation to the
Secretarl-General for his efforts to expedite the convening of the Conference
and to reassure hirn of our support and cooperatioD in pursuing those efforts
and ir particular, in the efforts r'ith the permanenE members of the Security
CounciL and others. "
Observations
5, It is cLear fron the communications set out above that suf,ficient agreement
aloes not exist, either trithiD the Security Council or among the parties to the
conflict, to pernit the convening of the lDteraational Peace Conference on the
Midd]e East as cal1ed for in resoluLioa 43/L76. This is parEicularly unfortunate
since the resolution, $hich !|as adopted by the General Assenbly ia Geneva follo{ing
an inportant debate ou the question of Palestine a[d which welcomed the outcome of
the Extraordinary Session of the Palestine Natioaal Council held in Algiers in
Novenber 1988, received rnuch wider support than earlier resolutiotrs concerning an
itrternational conference. The vote in favour of Assenbly resolution 431176
reflected the conrnitnent of the internabioual cornmurity to th€ convening of the
International Peace Conference on the Middle East, with the particiPation of all
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parties to the conflicE, including the Palestine Liberation Organization, on an
equal footing, and the five permanent membets of the Security Councif. based on
Security Council resolutions 242 (L967 ) and 338 (1973) and the legitinate national
rights of the Palestinian people, prinarily ttre right to sel f-dete rnination.
6, When I Last reported to the General Assenbly on the prospects of convening an
InternationaL Peace Conference on the Middle East (A/43/691-5/202l-9 of
30 Septenber 1988), I drew attention to the fact that all the rnernbers of the
Security CounciL believed that it iras desirable to coDvene an internationaf
conference aud that. it lras at least possible to identify in the vielrs of the
parties agreement that there should be an international framelrork for the
Degotiation of a just and lasting settlement. The Security Councif has again
invited me to pursue ny efforts aDd consultations in respect of the convening of an
International Peace Conference on the MiatdLe East, and I shatl do so. But. in
light of the positions stated above, I cannot fail to note that there is still a
lack of unanirnity which inhibits the attaining of this objective.
7. Having said that, I fu1ly share ttte concern of the Security Council irhich,
while taking note of the positive steps and initiatives undertaken in the past.
year, rernains preoccupied by the continuing lack of progress in achieving peace in
tbe Midd.le East and by the increasingly serious situation in the occupied
territories. Moreover, I arn deepLy worried by the fact that tine is passing and.
that opportunities that have emerged in the past L2 months nright slip away. I
therefore welcorne efforts that seek to pursue these opportunities in the hope that
they will lead to an effective negotiating process. It remains my view that such a
process will be meaningful only if it invotves all the parties concerned and aims
at a comprehensive, just and lasting setElement of the Arab-rsraeli conflict based
on security couacir resolutions 242 (1967, and 338 (1973) anat the legitimate rights
of the Palestinian people, includiug sel f-determinatioD. Given the gravity of the
situation and of the urgent need for progress, f shalL spare no effort iD carrying
out the respons ibi fities entrusted to me by the General Assenbly and the Security
Council in this resard.
UNITED NATIONS A S
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.
GENERAL
A/48/607
S/26769
19 November 1993
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL
Forty-eighth session Forty-eighth year
Agenda items 34 and 35
THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
QUESTION OF PALESTINE
Report of the Secretary-General
1. The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 47/64 D of 11 December l992 on the question of Palestine. The
operative part of the resolution reads as follows:
"The General Assembly,
"...
"1. Reaffirms the urgent need to achieve a just and comprehensive
settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of which is the question
of Palestine;
"2. Welcomes the ongoing peace process, which started at Madrid, and
expresses the hope that it will lead to the establishment of a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region;
"3. Expresses the need for the United Nations to play a more active
and expanded role in the current peace process;
"4. Considers that the convening, at a certain stage, of an
International Peace Conference in the Middle East, under the auspices of
the United Nations, with the participation of all parties to the conflict,
including the Palestine Liberation Organization, on an equal footing, and
the five permanent members of the Security Council, based on Council
resolutions 242 (l967) of 22 November l967 and 338 (l973) of
22 October l973 and the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian
people, primarily the right to self-determination, would contribute to the
promotion of peace in the region;
"5. Reaffirms the following principles for the achievement of
comprehensive peace:
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"(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied
since l967, including Jerusalem, and from the other occupied Arab
territories;
"(b) Guaranteeing arrangements for peace and security of all States in
the region, including those named in resolution l8l (II) of
29 November l947, within secure and internationally recognized boundaries;
"(c) Resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity
with General Assembly resolution l94 (III) of ll December l948, and
subsequent relevant resolutions;
"(d) Dismantling the Israeli settlements in the territories occupied
since l967;
"(e) Guaranteeing freedom of access to Holy Places, religious
buildings and sites;
"6. Notes the expressed desire and endeavours to place the
Palestinian territory occupied since l967, including Jerusalem, under the
supervision of the United Nations for a transitional period or,
alternatively, to provide international protection for the Palestinian
people there, as part of the peace process;
"7. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the
parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for the
promotion of peace in the region, and to submit progress reports on
developments in this matter."
2. On 15 September 1993, the Secretary-General, pursuant to the request
contained in paragraph 7 of resolution 47/64 D, addressed the following letter
to the President of the Security Council:
"I have the honour to refer to resolution 47/64 D, which the General
Assembly adopted on ll December l992, at its forty-seventh session, under
the agenda item ’Question of Palestine’, the text of which is attached.
"Paragraph 7 of the resolution requests me to continue my efforts with
the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for
the promotion of peace in the region, and to submit progress reports on
development in this matter. I should be grateful if the Security Council
would convey to me its views no later than l5 October l993."
3. As at 1 November 1993, no reply had been received from the Security
Council.
4. In a note verbale dated l4 September l993 to the parties concerned, the
Secretary-General sought the positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, and of the Palestine Liberation
Organization, with regard to any steps taken by them to implement the relevant
provisions of the resolution. As at 1 November l993, the following replies had
been received:
/...
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Note verbale dated 12 October l993 from the Permanent Representative of Israel
to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
"The Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations presents
his compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and has the
honour to refer to the Secretary-General’s note of l4 September l993
concerning resolution 47/64 D, adopted by the General Assembly on
ll December l992.
"Israel has long advocated direct negotiations as the only framework
to advance peace in the Middle East. The negotiations presently taking
place in the framework of the Madrid peace process and the recent
achievements with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian and the
Israeli-Jordanian talks vindicate this approach. Resolution 47/64 D, on
the other hand, runs counter to this principle of direct negotiations.
This resolution, while referring to Security Council resolutions 242 (l967)
and 338 (l973), also offers, in paragraph 5, a series of principles that
prejudge and even predetermine the outcome of the negotiations. This is
contrary to any notion of genuine negotiations.
"This resolution is outdated and out of touch with reality. For these
reasons, Israel continues to oppose it and believes that it should not be
adopted again at the forty-eighth session of the General Assembly."
Note verbale dated 21 October 1993 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to
the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
"The Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations presents
his compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and has the
honour to refer to the note verbale, dated l4 September l993, regarding
General Assembly resolution 47/64 D, and seeks to convey the position of
the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which
retains the powers and responsibilities of the Provisional Government of
Palestine, on this matter.
"In paragraph 2 of resolution 47/64 D, the General Assembly ’welcomes
the ongoing peace process, which started at Madrid, and expresses the hope
that it will lead to the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting
peace in the region’.
"The most significant development emanating from that peace process
has been the recent signing at Washington, D.C., on l3 September l993, of
the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements,
including its Annexes and Agreed Minutes, by the Palestine Liberation
Organization and the Government of the State of Israel and by the United
States of America and the Russian Federation, as the co-sponsors of the
peace process [A/48/486-S/26560, annex]. That agreement and the mutual
recognition by the two sides constitute a very important and positive
development and step towards the establishment of a comprehensive, just and
lasting peace in the Middle East.
/...
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"According to the agreement, negotiations on the final settlement,
which include several crucial elements, have been postponed and will
commence as soon as possible, but not later than the beginning of the third
year of the interim period. The most crucial elements to be negotiated
include the final status of Jerusalem, the illegal settlements, the rights
of the Palestinian refugees and borders. A necessity for the smooth
proceeding of the process is the achievement of similar progress on other
tracks of the peace process between the concerned Arab States and Israel.
"Paragraph 3 of General Assembly resolution 47/64 D ’expresses the
need for the United Nations to play a more active and expanded role in the
current peace process’. The Palestine Liberation Organization strongly
stresses this need and calls for the full engagement of the United Nations
in the peace process, as well as in the provision of assistance to the
Palestinian people in their efforts to build their new life and own
authority and to effectively implement the Declaration of Principles.
"In paragraph 5 of the same resolution, the General Assembly
reaffirmed the principles for the achievement of comprehensive peace. The
Palestine Liberation Organization strongly believes that it is the duty of
the international community to maintain its position of principle with
regard to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the elements
of the final settlement. It is therefore the position of the Palestine
Liberation Organization that the Assembly should take it upon itself to
reaffirm once more the principles for the achievement of comprehensive
peace in the Middle East. The principle of the permanent responsibility of
the United Nations towards the question of Palestine, until the question is
actually resolved in all its aspects, is worth emphasizing in this regard.
"Finally, the Palestine Liberation Organization would like to
underscore the request made by the General Assembly in paragraph 7 for ’the
Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and
in consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in
the region, and to submit progress reports on developments in this matter’.
The Palestine Liberation Organization stands ready to cooperate fully with
the Secretary-General to carry out those efforts in an effective and
successful manner."
Observations
5. The United Nations has always supported a comprehensive, just and lasting
settlement in the Middle East based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967)
and 338 (1973), and taking into account the legitimate political rights of the
Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination.
6. In this connection, I have welcomed the Declaration of Principles on
Interim Self-Government Arrangements (A/48/486-S/26560, annex) signed by the
Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization on l3 September
l993. It is to be hoped that that agreement will lead to a comprehensive peace
in the region, acceptable to all the parties concerned.
/...
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7. The United Nations stands ready to lend its full support to the peace
process. In this connection, the Organization has, over the past year,
participated actively in the multilateral working groups established in the
framework established at the Madrid Conference in l99l. Furthermore, to help
sustain the momentum of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and in an effort to
support the implementation of the Declaration of Principles, the United Nations
has begun to enhance its economic and social assistance to the West Bank and
Gaza. Those efforts will intensify in the months ahead.
-----
UNITED NATIONS A S
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.
GENERAL
A/49/636
S/1994/1240
3 November 1994
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL
Forty-ninth session Forty-ninth year
Agenda items 38 and 40
THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
QUESTION OF PALESTINE
Report of the Secretary-General
1. The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 48/158 D of 20 December 1993 on the question of Palestine. The
operative part of the resolution reads as follows:
"The General Assembly,
"...
"1. Reaffirms the need to achieve a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its
aspects;
"2. Expresses its support for the ongoing peace process, which began
in Madrid, and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements, and expresses the hope that the process will lead to the
establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle
East;
"3. Stresses the need for the United Nations to play a more active
and expanded role in the current peace process and in the implementation of
the Declaration of Principles;
"4. Urges Member States to provide economic and technical assistance
to the Palestinian people;
"5. Also stresses the upcoming negotiations on the final settlement,
and reaffirms the following principles for the achievement of a final
settlement and comprehensive peace:
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"(a) The realization of the legitimate national rights of the
Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination;
"(b) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied
since 1967, including Jerusalem, and from the other occupied Arab
territories;
"(c) Guaranteeing arrangements for peace and security of all States
in the region, including those named in resolution 18l (II) of
29 November 1947, within secure and internationally recognized boundaries;
"(d) Resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity
with General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, and
subsequent relevant resolutions;
"(e) Resolving the problem of the Israeli settlements, which are
illegal and an obstacle to peace, in conformity with relevant United
Nations resolutions;
"(f) Guaranteeing freedom of access to Holy Places and religious
buildings and sites;
"6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the
parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for the
promotion of peace in the region and to submit progress reports on
developments in this matter."
2. On 10 August 1994, the Secretary-General, pursuant to the request contained
in paragraph 6 of the resolution, addressed the following letter to the
President of the Security Council:
"I have the honour to refer to resolution 48/158 D, which the General
Assembly adopted on 20 December 1993, at its forty-eighth session, under
the agenda item entitled ’Question of Palestine’.
"Paragraph 6 of the resolution ’requests the Secretary-General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with
the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in the region and to
submit progress reports on developments in this matter’.
"In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this
resolution, I should be grateful if you would be so kind as to convey to me
the views of the Security Council by 15 September 1994."
3. As of 17 October 1994, no reply had been received from the Security
Council.
4. In a note verbale dated 18 August 1994 to the parties concerned, the
Secretary-General sought the positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, and of the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO), with regard to any steps taken by them to implement the
/...
A/49/636
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English
Page 3
relevant provisions of the resolution. As at 17 October 1994, the following
replies had been received.
Note verbale dated 30 September 1994 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to
the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
"The Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations presents
his compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and has the
honour to refer to his note verbale dated 18 August 1994 regarding General
Assembly resolution 48/158 D, entitled ’Peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine’, and seeks to convey the position of the Executive Committee
of the PLO, which retains the powers and responsibilities of the
provisional Government of Palestine, on this matter.
"The co-sponsors of General Assembly resolution 48/158 D, while
retaining essential elements, introduced important changes in comparison
with previous years. The resolution provides support for the peace process
and a more active and expanded role for the United Nations in this process.
It also provides the basis for the just settlement of the question of
Palestine by the end of the process. As such, the resolution should
provide a more acceptable basis for all parties to work on these important
issues.
"In paragraph 2 of resolution 48/158 D, the General Assembly
’expresses its support for the ongoing peace process, which began in
Madrid, and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements, 1/ and expresses the hope that the process will lead to the
establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle
East’.
"Since that resolution, further positive developments on the
Palestinian-Israeli track of the peace process have taken place, in
particular the signing on 4 May 1994 in Cairo of the first implementation
agreement of the Declaration of Principles, namely the Agreement on the
Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. 2/ Other secondary agreements on early
empowerment were also reached, and the two parties recently declared their
intentions to negotiate the second implementation agreement on the
elections, which is of central importance to the Palestinian side, and also
on the extension of the self-government arrangements to the rest of the
West Bank.
"There have been delays in the implementation of the Declaration of
Principles and there has also been some lack of compliance with the
provisions of the agreement reached, such as the absence until now of the
safe passages between Gaza and Jericho. The Palestinian side,
nevertheless, hopes for positive progression of the situation, and wishes
to stress the importance of the full implementation of the Declaration of
Principles within the agreed time-frame. The same period has also
witnessed positive developments on the Jordanian-Israeli track, and it is
imperative to have similar progress on the Syrian-Israeli track, as well as
the Lebanese-Israeli track, for advancement towards a comprehensive and
lasting peace in the Middle East.
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"Paragraph 3 of the same resolution ’stresses the need for the United
Nations to play a more active and expanded role in the current peace
process and in the implementation of the Declaration of Principles’. The
PLO welcomes the progress made in this regard, particularly in the field of
providing economic, social and other assistance to the Palestinian people.
The creation of a coordinating mechanism for United Nations activities
throughout the occupied territory, through the appointment of the United
Nations Special Coordinator, at the under-secretary-general level, is a
welcome development. The PLO hopes, however, that the United Nations will
be more involved in the peace process itself. In this regard, the
participation of the United Nations in the steering committee of the
multilateral working groups would be a normal step forward. In general,
the Palestinian side believes that there is a need for broader acceptance
of the United Nations in order for it to play its natural role in the
historic search for peace in the Middle East. It is worth mentioning that
the Security Council played a very useful role, and directly contributed to
the peace process, when the Council adopted its resolution 904 (1994). The
PLO seeks the full implementation of the said resolution and further
involvement of the Security Council.
"In paragraph 5, while stressing the upcoming negotiations on the
final settlement, the General Assembly reaffirmed the principles for the
achievement of a final settlement and comprehensive peace. The PLO
strongly believes that the international community and the General Assembly
should always uphold the Charter of the United Nations, international law,
international humanitarian law and the validity of Security Council
resolutions. As such, the General Assembly has to uphold its positions
related to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and it should
maintain its positions related to the elements of the final settlement
(final status issues), where Israel has already created illegal, de facto
situations, until negotiations on those issues take place and conclude in
the second stage of the peace process and the final settlement is
effectively achieved.
"Finally, the PLO, as it did in previous years, would like to
underscore the request made by the General Assembly in resolution 48/158 D
for the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion
of peace in the region and to submit progress reports on developments in
this matter. The PLO stands ready to cooperate fully with the
Secretary-General to carry out those efforts in an effective and successful
manner and, in the light of the changes made and the new language of the
resolution, it expects the other parties to do the same."
Note verbale dated 3 October 1994 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to
the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
"The Permanent Representative of Israel wishes to recall that Israel
voted against resolution 48/158 D. This position remains unchanged.
Israel has long advocated the principle of direct negotiations without
preconditions as the only way to achieve genuine peace in the Middle East.
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The recent achievements in the framework of the peace process vindicate
this approach.
"The peace process begun at Madrid is based upon the above-mentioned
principle. Within the framework of the peace process, Israel and the PLO
signed the Declaration of Principles on 13 September 1993, and the
subsequent Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area on 4 May 1994,
and Israel and Jordan signed the Washington Declaration on 25 July 1994.
"Resolution 48/158 D stands in contradiction to the principle of
direct negotiations without preconditions, which is the agreed basis of the
ongoing peace process. Moreover, paragraph 5 of the resolution is intended
to predetermine the outcome of the negotiations between Israel and the
Palestinians as well as the negotiations on the other bilateral tracks of
the peace process. Such predetermination is contrary to any notion of
genuine negotiations.
"In the light of the above, the Permanent Representative of Israel
believes that this resolution should not be adopted again."
Observations
5. Since the signing by the Government of Israel and the PLO of the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, 1/ the peace
process has achieved important results on the road to a peaceful settlement of
the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho
Area, 2/ signed in Cairo on 4 May 1994, and the subsequent launching of early
empowerment, represent important steps forward in the implementation of the
Declaration of Principles. The signing of the peace treaty between Israel and
Jordan on 26 October 1994 is a historic achievement that will hopefully generate
further momentum in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and encourage progress
in the Israeli-Lebanese and Israeli-Syrian tracks of the peace process.
6. The United Nations warmly welcomes these developments. During the past
year, I have continued to follow the bilateral negotiations between the parties
concerned and have maintained close contacts with them as well as the
co-sponsors of the peace process. It is my fervent hope that the discussions
between Israel and the PLO will steadily progress through the transitional
period, achieving agreement on the interim arrangements and permanent status
issues outlined in the Declaration of Principles. Such steps will be important
in establishing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East,
based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
7. Over the past year, the United Nations has significantly enlarged its
programmes of economic, social and other assistance to the occupied territories
in order to support the implementation of the Declaration of Principles, and to
promote peace in the region as a whole. It has also continued to participate
actively in the multilateral negotiations on Middle East regional issues. With
a view to ensuring effective coordination and intensification of the United
Nations assistance, I appointed in June 1994 Ambassador Terje Rod Larsen of
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Norway as Special Coordinator in the occupied territories. His efforts have
focused primarily on Gaza.
8. As I have stated on numerous occasions, the United Nations is prepared to
undertake any role that would be helpful to the parties in advancing the peace
process. The Organization has been involved in the Middle East - through its
resolutions, through its peace-keeping operations, through its programmes of
economic and social assistance and through the good offices of the Secretary-
General - for nearly five decades. It has acquired great experience in the
area. For my part, I remain at the disposal of the parties concerned, and will
assist them upon request. I will also make every effort to ensure that the
United Nations system contributes its utmost in the fields of economic and
social development, which will be essential in building peace throughout the
region.
Notes
1/ A/48/486-S/26560.
2/ A/49/180-S/1994/727.
-----
UNITED NATIONS A S
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.
GENERAL
A/50/725
S/1995/930
7 November 1995
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL
Fiftieth session Fiftieth year
Agenda items 42 and 44
QUESTION OF PALESTINE
THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Report of the Secretary-General
1. The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 49/62 D of 14 December 1994 on the question of Palestine.
2. On 1 September 1995, the Secretary-General, pursuant to the request
contained in paragraph 8 of that resolution, addressed the following letter to
the President of the Security Council:
"I have the honour to refer to resolution 49/62 D, which the General
Assembly adopted on 14 December 1994, at its forty-ninth session, under the
agenda item ’Question of Palestine’.
"Paragraph 8 of the resolution requests the Secretary-General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with
the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in the region and to
submit progress reports on developments in this matter.
"In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this
resolution, I should be grateful if you would be so kind as to convey to me
the views of the Security Council by 29 September 1995."
3. On 25 September 1995, the following reply was received from the Security
Council:
"The Security Council continues to be determined to provide the
necessary backing to the Middle East peace process, giving full support to
its achievement, including the Declaration of Principles of
13 September 1993, as well as the subsequent implementation Agreements.
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"The Council believes that the parties should be further encouraged to
adhere to and fully implement the provisions of the Agreements reached."
4. In a note verbale dated 31 August 1995 to the parties concerned, the
Secretary-General sought the positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO), regarding any steps taken by them to implement
the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at 18 October 1995, the following
replies had been received.
Note verbale dated 11 September 1995 from the Permanent Representative of Israel
to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
"The Permanent Representative of Israel wishes to recall that Israel
voted against resolution 49/62 D. Its position remains unchanged. Israel
has long advocated direct negotiations without preconditions, freely agreed
upon by all parties concerned as the only framework to advance peace in the
Middle East.
"The peace process begun at Madrid is based upon this principle.
Within the framework of the peace process, Israel and the PLO signed the
Declaration of Principles on 13 September 1993 (A/48/486-S/26560, annex),
the subsequent Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area on
4 May 1994 (A/49/180-S/1994/727, annex) and the Agreement on Preparatory
Transfer of Powers and Responsibility on 25 August 1994. Additionally,
Israel and Jordan signed a treaty of peace on 26 October 1994 (A/50/73-
S/1995/83). Furthermore, bilateral and multilateral negotiations between
Israel and its neighbours continue, and Israel looks forward to progress on
all tracks of the peace process.
"Resolution 49/62 D stands in direct contradiction to the abovementioned
principle, which is the agreed basis of the ongoing peace
process. Moreover, paragraph 5 of the resolution is intended to
predetermine the outcome of the final status talks agreed upon by Israel
and the PLO in the Declaration of Principles, as well as the results of the
negotiations on the other tracks. This attempt is contrary to any notion
of genuine negotiations."
Note verbale dated 16 October 1995 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to
the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
"The Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations seeks to
convey the position of the Palestinian leadership of the Palestine
Liberation Organization and the Palestinian National Authority on this
matter.
"The sponsors of General Assembly resolution 49/62 D, while retaining
essential principles, introduced important changes to accommodate the
positions of some Member States. As a result, the resolution received
overwhelming support from Members of the Assembly. The resolution provides
support for the peace process and a more active and expanded role for the
United Nations in this process. It also provides the basis for the just
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settlement of the question of Palestine by the end of the process. As
such, the resolution should serve as an acceptable basis for all parties to
work on these important issues.
"In paragraph 2 of resolution 49/62 D, the General Assembly expressed
its support for the ongoing peace process, which began in Madrid, and the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements
(A/48/486-S/26560, annex), as well as subsequent implementation agreements,
and expressed the hope that the process would lead to the establishment of
a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
"Since that resolution, further positive developments on the
Palestinian-Israeli track of the peace process have taken place, in
particular the signing, on 28 September 1995 in Washington, D.C., of the
second implementation agreement of the Declaration of Principles, namely,
the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which provides,
inter alia, for the extension of the self-government arrangements to the
rest of the West Bank and the holding of general and democratic Palestinian
elections.
"During the past year there have been various delays in the
implementation of the Declaration of Principles and there has also been
some lack of compliance with the provisions of the agreement reached. The
two sides, however, have recently indicated their firm commitment to
implementing the interim agreement of 28 September 1995 in good faith,
fully and according to the agreed timetable. They also reaffirmed their
intention to enter into the final status negotiations according to the
relevant provisions of the Declaration of Principles.
"While in the seventh preambular paragraph of resolution 49/62 D the
General Assembly affirmed the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the
territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the
status of Jerusalem, in paragraphs 4 and 5, it stressed the need for the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily
the right to self-determination and the withdrawal of Israel from the
Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 and also stressed the need for
resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with its
resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948.
"The Palestine side strongly believes that the international community
and the General Assembly should always uphold the principles of the Charter
of the United Nations, international law, international humanitarian law
and the validity of Security Council resolutions. As such, the General
Assembly has to uphold its positions related to the inalienable rights of
the Palestinian people, and it should maintain its positions related to the
elements of the final settlement (final status issues), where Israel has
already created illegal, de facto situations, until negotiations on those
issues take place and conclude in the second stage of the peace process and
the final settlement is effectively achieved.
"In paragraph 7 of the same resolution the General Assembly emphasized
the importance for the United Nations to play a more active and expanded
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role in the current peace process and in the implementation of the
Declaration of Principles. The Palestine side welcomes the progress made
in this regard, especially in the field of providing economic, social and
other assistance to the Palestinian people. It welcomes in particular the
work of the United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories
in the field of coordinating United Nations, as well as international,
assistance to the Palestinian people. It also welcomes the steps taken to
move the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to the territory under the
Palestinian Authority, while affirming the continuation of the valuable and
important work of UNRWA in other fields of operation outside of these
areas.
"The Palestinian side hopes, however, that the United Nations will be
more involved in the peace process itself. In this regard, the
participation of the United Nations in the steering committee of the
multilateral working groups would be a normal step forward. Another step
would be the participation of the United Nations in the supervision of the
upcoming Palestinian elections. In general, the Palestinian side believes
that there is a need for broader acceptance of the United Nations in order
for it to play its natural, positive role in the historic search for peace
in the Middle East. Further involvement of the Security Council would also
be a very important element in the interest of the peace process.
"Finally, the Palestinian side, as it did in previous years, would
like to underscore the request made by the General Assembly in resolution
49/62 D for the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion
of peace in the region and to submit progress reports on developments in
this matter. The Palestinian side stands ready to cooperate fully with the
Secretary-General to carry out those efforts in an effective and successful
manner and, in the light of the changes made and the new language of the
resolution, it expects the other parties to do the same."
Observations
5. The past year has seen important progress in the Middle East peace process.
The Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,
which was signed on 28 September 1995, represented a significant step forward in
the implementation of the Declaration of Principles (A/48/486-S/26560, annex).
It provided a solid basis for the realization of the legitimate rights of the
Palestinian people, a goal that has long been sought by the United Nations.
I earnestly hope that the resolve and dedication to peace shown by Israeli and
Palestinian leaders will continue to guide them through the transitional stage
until a permanent settlement is reached on the basis of Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
6. I hope that these developments, together with the ongoing implementation of
the Israeli-Jordanian peace accord, will generate momentum for progress on the
Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese tracks of the Middle East peace talks,
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leading to a comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the Arab-Israeli
conflict.
7. The United Nations will continue to support the peace process, politically
and economically, in order to reinforce what has been achieved in the course of
negotiations and help build the foundations for a new post-conflict Middle East.
It already participates actively in the multilateral negotiations on regional
economic, security, environment, water and refugee issues. The United Nations
agencies and programmes are doing their utmost to assist the Palestinian people
in Gaza and the West Bank. The United Nations Special Coordinator,
Mr. Terje Rod Larsen of Norway, and his Office have been instrumental in
supporting and facilitating these activities, which are playing an important
role in building peace. In the transitional period, he will continue to serve
as a focal point for United Nations economic, social and other assistance to the
Palestinians throughout the occupied territories.
-----
UNITED NATIONS A S
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.
GENERAL
A/51/678
S/1996/953
18 November 1996
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL
Fifty-first session Fifty-first year
Agenda items 33 and 35
SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
QUESTION OF PALESTINE
Report of the Secretary-General
1. The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 50/84 D of 15 December 1995 on the peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine.
2. On 30 August 1996, the Secretary-General, pursuant to the request contained
in paragraph 8 of that resolution, addressed the following letter to the
President of the Security Council:
"I have the honour to refer to resolution 50/84 D, which the
General Assembly adopted on 15 December 1995, at its fiftieth session,
under the item Question of Palestine'.
"Paragraph 8 of the resolution requests the Secretary-General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation
with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in the region
and to submit progress reports on developments in this matter.
"In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this
resolution, I should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the
views of the Security Council by 30 September 1996."
3. On 4 October 1996, the following reply was received from the Security
Council:
"The members of the Security Council are gravely concerned about
the recent developments and clashes resulting in deaths and injuries
in Jerusalem and the areas of Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus and the Gaza
Strip.
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"The members of the Council stress the necessity for the
concerned parties to pursue negotiations and to fulfil their
obligations under the agreements achieved. The members of the Council
continue to be determined to provide the needed backing to the Middle
East peace process, giving full support to the agreements achieved as
well as to the timely implementation of those agreements."
4. In a note verbale dated 30 August 1996 to the parties concerned, the
Secretary-General sought the positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the Palestine
Liberation Organization, regarding any steps taken by them to implement the
relevant provisions of the resolution. As at 22 October 1996, the following
replies had been received:
Note verbale dated 30 September 1996 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to
the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
"The Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations seeks
to convey the position of the Palestinian leadership of the Palestine
Liberation Organization and the Palestinian National Authority on this
matter.
"Resolution 50/84 D was adopted in the General Assembly by an
overwhelming majority (143-3-3), a reflection of the strong
convictions of the international community with regard to the content
of the resolution. The resolution recalls several principles of
international law and the Charter of the United Nations. It provides
support for the peace process and a more active and expanded role for
the United Nations in this process. It also provides the basis for
the just settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, by the end of the process. As such, the
resolution should serve as an acceptable basis for all parties to work
on these important issues.
"In paragraph 2 of resolution 50/84 D, the General Assembly once
again expressed its full support for the ongoing peace process, which
began in Madrid, and the Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements, as well as the subsequent implementation
agreements, and expressed the hope that the process would lead to the
establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle
East.
"Since the adoption of that resolution, some additional positive
developments on the Palestinian-Israeli track of the peace process
have taken place, in particular the redeployment of the Israeli army
from major cities in the West Bank, with the exception of Al-Khalil
(Hebron), and the holding of the Palestinian general election for the
President of the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestinian
Legislative Council. Unfortunately, several negative developments
followed, including the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin, tragic bomb attacks against Israeli civilians, the
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imposition of an almost continuous Israeli siege of the Palestinian
territory and the postponement of the redeployment from Al-Khalil.
"Since the new Israeli Government of Prime Minister Netanyahu
took office, there has been further deterioration in both the
situation on the ground and the status of the peace process. The
Israeli Government has adopted guidelines which contradict the letter
and spirit of the two binding agreements signed with the Palestine
Liberation Organization, namely the Declaration of Principles of 1993
and the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip of 1995.
The Israeli Government has made it clear that the timetables agreed
upon will not be respected and it persists with dangerous violations
of the agreements, such as the continued siege of the Palestinian
territory and intentional delays in redeployment from Al-Khalil, as
well as ongoing attempts to create new facts with regard to occupied
East Jerusalem. The Government has also resumed colonial settlement
activities in the occupied territory, which violate the Fourth Geneva
Convention of 1949 and could reverse the peace process as a whole.
"In addition to the above-mentioned, on 24 September 1996, the
Israeli Government opened an entrance to a tunnel in the vicinity of
Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, which led to tragic events
resulting in a high number of casualties among Palestinian civilians
caused by the Israeli army and police, including more than 50 killed
and over 1,000 injured. Clashes also took place between Palestinian
police and the Israeli army. The situation remains a very tense and
dangerous one at this stage.
"In the seventh preambular paragraph of resolution 50/84 D, the
General Assembly affirmed the illegality of the Israeli settlements in
the territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at
changing the status of Jerusalem. That position acquires increasing
importance in the light of the resumption of Israeli settler
colonialism. Further, the Assembly, in paragraphs 4 and 5, stressed
the need for the realization of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination, and the
withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, and also stressed the need for resolving the problem of the
Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of
11 December 1948.
"The Palestinian side believes that paragraphs 4 and 5 are of
great importance and it strongly believes that the international
community, represented by the General Assembly, should always uphold
the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, international
law, international humanitarian law and the validity of the Security
Council resolutions. As such, the General Assembly has to uphold its
position related to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
and it should maintain its position related to the elements of the
final settlement (final status issues), where Israel has already
created illegal, de facto situations, until negotiations on those
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issues take place and conclude in the second stage of the peace
process and the final settlement is effectively achieved.
"In paragraph 7 of the resolution, the General Assembly
emphasized the importance for the United Nations to play a more active
and expanded role in the current peace process and in the
implementation of the Declaration of Principles. The Palestinian side
welcomes the progress made in this regard, especially in the fields of
providing economic, social and other assistance to the Palestinian
people. It welcomes in particular the work of the United Nations
Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories in the field of
coordinating United Nations and international assistance to the
Palestinian people. It also welcomes the moving of the headquarters
of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
in the Near East (UNRWA) to Gaza City and affirms the need for the
continuation of the valuable and important work of UNRWA in other
fields of operation outside the occupied Palestinian territory and the
continuation of all field offices, including the field office in
Jerusalem. Unfortunately, the United Nations did not participate in
the observation of the Palestinian elections as called for in
paragraph 7.
"The Palestinian side hopes that the United Nations will be
involved in keeping the peace process alive and in assisting in the
achievement of serious progress in the process. Involvement of the
Security Council would also be a very important factor in the interest
of the peace process.
"Indeed, the Security Council did contribute in salvaging the peace
process by responding to the most recent events in the occupied Palestinian
territory, including Jerusalem, by adopting resolution 1073 (1996) on
28 September 1996. We recall that the Council did similarly contribute
positively after the massacre in Al-Khalil (Hebron) in Al-Ibrahimi Mosque
by adopting resolution 904 (1994).
"The Palestinian side, as it did in previous years, would like to
underscore the request made by the General Assembly in resolution
50/84 D for the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the
parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for
the promotion of peace in the region and to submit progress reports on
developments in this matter.
"Finally, the Palestinian side believes that for the peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine to be achieved through the
continued success of the current Middle East peace process, it is
necessary to respect the basis upon which the process was initiated,
namely the principle of the return of land for peace and the
implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
338 (1973). It is equally important for the parties to comply with
the agreements reached and to implement those agreements in good faith
and without delay. The international community, especially the
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co-sponsors of the peace process, have a great responsibility in this
regard."
Note verbale dated 30 September 1996 from the Permanent Representative of Egypt
to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
"The adoption of this resolution in the General Assembly by an
overwhelming majority constituted an indication of the strong
commitment of the international community toward its contents. The
resolution has encompassed several important principles of the Middle
East process, namely in its reference to the Madrid Conference and the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, as
well as the relevant United Nations resolutions and the principles of
international law. Egypt fully supports these principles and works
tirelessly to bring the concerned parties towards a final settlement
of the question of Palestine.
"The new Government that took office in Israel in May 1996 has,
so far, adopted and implemented policies which were in clear
contradiction to the letter and spirit of the above-mentioned
principles, such as:
(a) Delaying the implementation of the agreed upon troop
withdrawal and redeployment from Al-Khalil (Hebron) and zones R and C
as determined by the agreement dated September 1995;
(b) Attempting to establish new facts that would change the
situation on the ground in occupied East Jerusalem;
(c) Resuming settlement activities in the occupied territories;
(d) Delaying the holding of negotiations on issues of final
settlement (final status issues).
"Many promises were made concerning the commitment of the Israeli
Government to the principles of peace, as mentioned in resolution
50/84 D, yet the whole international community witnessed a complete
stalemate in the peace negotiations as well as the adoption and
implementation by that Government of policies that could reverse the
peace process as a whole.
"Egypt opposes these policies and wishes to express its deep
concern over the future of the Middle East peace process. The
Government of Israel should fully respect and promptly implement the
agreements reached in order to bridge the existing gap of mistrust and
relaunch the peace process.
"Resolution 50/84 D (para. 7) emphasizes the importance of a more
expanded role of the United Nations in the peace process. Egypt
welcomes any progress in this regard, in particular in socio-economic
fields as well as any assistance to the Palestinian people. The
indispensable role of UNRWA in assisting the Palestinian people should
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be strengthened and the agency should dispose of adequate financial
resources to fulfil this role."
Observations
5. During the past year, the Middle East peace process has been challenged by
a series of tragic incidents, by the urgency of translating the signed
agreements into peace and security for all and by the need to find solutions to
outstanding issues acceptable to the parties concerned.
6. In accordance with the Interim Agreement of 28 September 1995 between
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, Israeli troops were withdrawn
from the major West Bank cities, with the exception of Hebron, paving the way
for the holding of the first Palestinian general election on 20 January 1996.
Negotiations on a permanent status were formally launched in May 1996, raising
hopes that tangible results would soon follow. However, these promising
developments were compromised by a series of acts of violence in Israel, such as
the bomb attacks of February and March 1996 by extremists. These acts of
violence have had a negative effect on the peace talks, while the prolonged
closure of the occupied territories imposed by Israel to prevent further
terrorist attacks has severely affected the Palestinian economy and resulted in
an increased level of unemployment.
7. The absence of progress in the peace process in the second half of this
year caused frustration and disappointment. These in turn have led, to the
Secretary-General’s deep regret and concern, to the tragic events of
September 1996 in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which threatened
to unravel the negotiating process and brought about a crisis of confidence
between its parties, namely the Israelis and the Palestinians. In response to
those events, the Security Council adopted resolution 1073 (1996) on
28 September 1996.
8. A few days later, on 2 October 1996, the Prime Minister of Israel and the
Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization took the reassuring decision
to resume negotiations aimed at solving outstanding issues and implementing the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements
(A/48/486-S/26560, annex).
9. It was expected from the outset of the negotiation process that the road to
peace would not be easy. However, the only alternative to that process is a
return to instability, endemic violence, regional tensions and uncertain
economic prospects. This imposes on all the participants in the peace talks a
duty to listen to reason and to show the determination and flexibility needed to
carry out the negotiations in earnest, in accordance with the principles agreed
at the Madrid Peace Conference of 1991 and other agreements already reached,
until a permanent settlement is achieved on the basis of Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967)and 338 (1973). In addition, it is clear that for the
Middle East peace process to produce truly comprehensive and lasting results,
progress must be made also on the Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese tracks of
negotiation.
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10. For its part, the United Nations will continue to support the peace process
and to respond in an integrated way to the economic, social and other needs of
the population in the West Bank and Gaza. The coordinated approach to the
delivery of assistance to the Palestinians implemented by the then United
Nations Special Coordinator, Mr. Terje Roed Larsen, has proved effective,
particularly in times of crisis. The relocation of the headquarters of the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees from Vienna to
Gaza City has resulted in closer contact between the Agency and the Palestine
refugees and helped to create additional jobs in Gaza. However, economic and
social conditions in the West Bank and Gaza remain dire and it is to be hoped
that ways will be found to improve them in the near future, including by further
easing and eventual lifting of the closure.
11. Following the departure of Mr. Larsen, who returned in October 1996 to
Norway to join the new Government there, the Secretary-General has asked the
Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Mr. Peter Hansen, to assume temporarily the
functions of United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories.
The Secretary-General would like to thank Mr. Larsen for his valuable work in
the service of the United Nations and the parties.
-----
UNITED NATIONS A S
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.
GENERAL
A/52/581
S/1997/866
6 November 1997
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL
Fifty-second session Fifty-second year
Agenda items 36 and 37
QUESTION OF PALESTINE
THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Report of the Secretary-General
1. The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 51/26 of 4 December 1996 on the question of Palestine.
2. On 9 September 1997, the Secretary-General, pursuant to the request
contained in paragraph 9 of resolution 51/26, addressed the following letter to
the President of the Security Council:
"I have the honour to refer to resolution 51/26, which the General
Assembly adopted on 4 December 1996, at its fifty-first session, under the
agenda item entitled 'Question of Palestine'.
"In paragraph 9 of the resolution the General Assembly requests the
Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and
in consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in
the region and to submit progress reports on developments in this matter.
"In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this
resolution, I should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views
of the Security Council by 6 October 1997."
3. On 18 September 1997, the following reply was received from the Security
Council:
"The Security Council is gravely concerned about the recent
developments in the Occupied Territories and the region.
"The Council calls upon the concerned parties to pursue the
negotiations and to fulfil their obligations under the Agreements achieved.
The Council continues to be determined to provide the needed backing to the
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Middle East peace process, giving full support to the Agreements achieved
as well as to the timely implementation of those Agreements."
4. In a note verbale dated 9 September 1997 to the parties concerned, the
Secretary-General sought the positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the Palestine
Liberation Organization, regarding any steps taken by them to implement the
relevant provisions of the resolution. As at 23 October 1997, the following
replies had been received:
Note verbale dated 6 October 1997 from the Permanent Representative of Egypt to
the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
"The adoption of resolution 51/26 in the General Assembly by an
overwhelming majority constituted a reaffirmation of the strong commitment
of the international community toward its content. The resolution has
stressed several important principles pertaining to peace in the Middle
East as well as the relevant United Nations resolutions and the principles
of international law. Egypt fully supports those principles and will
continue to work diligently with the parties with a view to reaching a
final settlement of the question of Palestine through the achievement of
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
"Since the adoption of the above-mentioned resolution on
4 December 1996, the Middle East peace process has regrettably witnessed a
series of setbacks, mostly owing to the lack of commitment of the Israeli
Government toward the achievement of the ultimate goal of establishing
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
"While in paragraph 3 of the resolution the General Assembly stresses
the necessity for the immediate and scrupulous implementation of the
agreements reached between the parties, the international community has
been, and continues to be, seized with a multitude of illegal unilateral
actions by Israel that are in clear violation of the agreements reached.
Those actions include attempts to alter the status and demographic
composition of Jerusalem, the unprecedented increase in settlement
activities throughout the occupied territory of the West Bank and
Jerusalem, as well as the continued delay in implementing fully the
provisions of the transitional agreement (with the exception of the part
related to Al-Khalil).
"In that context, the ongoing construction of a new Israeli settlement
in Jabal Abu Ghneim to the south of Occupied East Jerusalem has been of
particular concern to the international community, as manifested in a
number of General Assembly resolutions in both regular and extraordinary
sessions. This act constitutes one of the major illegal unilateral
measures undertaken by Israel with the aim of preempting the outcome of the
final status negotiations. Egypt, as well as the whole international
community, opposed this act and called for its halt and reversal.
Regrettably, Israel, in blatant challenge to and contempt for the will of
the international community, is still carrying on with the construction in
Jabal Abu Ghneim.
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"With regard to paragraph 8 of the resolution, concerning the
importance for the United Nations to play a more active and expanded role
in the current peace process, Egypt welcomes progress in this regard, in
particular in socio-economic fields and other assistance to the Palestinian
people. Egypt stresses the need to maintain the indispensable role of
UNRWA in assisting the Palestinian refugees, and believes that the Agency
should dispose of the necessary financial resources in order to fulfil this
vital role.
"Egypt is of the view that, for the achievement of the peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine, it is crucial that the Israeli
Government adhere to the basic principles upon which the Middle East peace
process was started, namely, Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
338 (1973) and the principle of exchanging land for peace. Egypt is also
of the view that Israel should commit itself to implementing the provisions
of all agreements reached in good faith and without delay, in particular
the withdrawal of its troops from areas B and C of the occupied West Bank.
Achieving significant progress in the peace process must be based on
refraining from undertaking unilateral measures that undermine the trust
between the parties and make the final status negotiations nearly
senseless. The international community represented by the United Nations
should assume its responsibility in upholding these principles and ensuring
respect for them."
Note verbale dated 13 October 1997 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to
the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
"General Assembly resolution 51/26 was adopted by an overwhelming
majority (152-2-4), a reflection of the strong convictions of the
international community with regard to the content of the resolution. The
resolution recalls several principles of international law and the Charter
of the United Nations, provides support for the peace process and
implementation of the agreements reached and also provides the basis for
the just settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-
Israeli conflict. The resolution also emphasizes the importance of a more
active and expanded role for the United Nations in this process. As such,
the resolution should serve as an acceptable basis for all parties to work
on these important issues.
"In paragraph 2 of resolution 51/26, the General Assembly once again
expresses its full support for the ongoing peace process, which began in
Madrid, and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements of 1993, as well as the subsequent implementation agreements,
including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and
the Gaza Strip of 1995, and expresses the hope that the process will lead
to the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the
Middle East. In paragraph 3, the Assembly stresses the necessity for the
immediate and scrupulous implementation of the agreements reached between
the parties and the commencement of the negotiations on the final
settlement.
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"Since the adoption of resolution 51/26, the Middle East peace process
has unfortunately deteriorated critically owing to the policies and actions
of the Israeli Government, which appear to aim at burying the existing
agreements between the parties. The transitional agreement has not been
implemented, with the exception of the part related to Al-Khalil (Hebron),
the negotiations on the final settlement have not been started and the
economic and living conditions of the Palestinian people have dramatically
deteriorated. Several tragic bombing attacks in West Jerusalem have also
contributed to the exacerbation of the situation.
"As indicated in our note to the Secretary-General with regard to this
resolution during the fifty-first session, the Israeli Government, since
taking office, has adopted guidelines contradicting the letter and spirit
of the agreements reached, made it clear that the timetable agreed upon
would not be respected, resumed colonial settlement activities in the
occupied territory and opened a tunnel in the vicinity of the Al-Aqsa
Mosque in Occupied East Jerusalem. Since then, the Israeli Government has
not closed the above-mentioned tunnel, in flagrant violation of Security
Council resolution 1073 (1996), and has continued with, and even
intensified, its colonial settlement activities, including the building of
a new settlement in Jabal Abu Ghneim to the south of Occupied East
Jerusalem. The Government has continued its drive to Judaize Jerusalem and
to change its status and demographic composition.
"In the seventh preambular paragraph of resolution 51/26, the General
Assembly affirmed the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the
territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the
status of Jerusalem. Further, the Assembly, in paragraphs 5 and 6,
stressed the need for the realization of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the
withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967,
and the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in
conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948.
"The Palestinian side believes that the seventh preambular paragraph
and paragraphs 5 and 6 are of great importance as they reflect established
positions of the international community consistent with international law.
The Palestinian side believes that the international community, represented
by the General Assembly, should always uphold the principles of the Charter
of the United Nations, international law, international humanitarian law
and the validity of Security Council resolutions. As such, the Assembly
has to uphold its positions in relation to the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, and it should maintain its positions related to the
elements of the final settlement (final status issues), including
Jerusalem, settlements and refugees, with regard to which Israel has
already created illegal de facto situations, until negotiations on those
issues take place and the final settlement is effectively achieved.
"In paragraph 8 of the same resolution, the General Assembly
emphasizes the importance for the United Nations to play a more active and
expanded role in the current peace process and in the implementation of the
Declaration of Principles. The Palestinian side welcomes the progress made
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in this regard, especially in the fields of providing economic, social and
other assistance to the Palestinian people. It welcomes in particular the
work of the United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories
in the field of coordinating United Nations, as well as international,
assistance to the Palestinian people. It also welcomes the transfer of the
headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to Gaza City and the presence of the
Commissioner-General and his important contribution. It affirms the need
for the continuation of the valuable and important work of UNRWA in other
fields of operation outside the Occupied Palestinian Territory as well as
the continuation of all field offices, including the field office in
Jerusalem.
"The Palestinian side hopes that the United Nations will be involved
in bringing the peace process back on track and in keeping it alive and in
assisting in the achievement of serious progress in this regard. The
involvement of the Security Council would also be a very important factor
in the interest of the peace process. Indeed, the Council has contributed
to the salvaging of the peace process by responding to some recent events
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, by adopting
resolution 1073 (1996) of 28 September 1996 and before that by adopting
resolution 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994 on the massacre in the Ibrahimi
Mosque in Al-Khalil.
"Unfortunately, the Council was twice prevented from playing the same
positive role and from discharging its responsibilities for the maintenance
of peace and security as a result of the two vetoes exercised by the United
States of America on 7 and 21 March 1997 on two draft resolutions dealing
with the illegal Israeli settlement in Jabal Abu Ghneim. The two vetoes
led to the convening of the tenth emergency special session of the General
Assembly on illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest
of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The convening of the emergency
special session indicated the determination of the membership of the United
Nations to remain engaged and to adhere to the Charter of the United
Nations and international law and to protect the Middle East peace process.
"The Palestinian side reiterates its appreciation to the Secretary-
General for his substantial and accurate report presented pursuant to
resolution ES-10/2 and, as it has in previous years, would like to
underscore the request made by the General Assembly in resolution 51/26 for
the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned,
and in consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace
in the region and to submit progress reports on developments in this
regard.
"Finally, the Palestinian side believes that for the peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine to be achieved through the current
Middle East peace process, it is necessary to respect the basis upon which
the process was initiated, namely, the principle of the return of land for
peace and the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
338 (1973). It is equally important for the parties to comply with the
agreements reached and to implement those agreements in good faith and
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without delay. Furthermore, all actions that violate international law,
relevant Security Council resolutions and those agreements must be ceased
completely. The international community, especially the co-sponsors of the
peace process, have a great responsibility in this regard."
OBSERVATIONS
5. The stagnation of the Middle East peace process during the past year is
disappointing. After prolonged and difficult talks, the protocol concerning the
redeployment in Hebron, concluded on 17 January 1997, inspired the hope that
confidence and mutual trust between Palestinians and Israelis would increase and
create a positive environment for subsequent negotiations that could be
successful. Regrettably, the start by Israel of construction of a settlement in
Jabal Abu Ghneim/Har Homa to the south of East Jerusalem thwarted that positive
trend and led to a dangerous and lengthy stalemate. Since then, I have
submitted two reports (A/ES-10/6-S/1997/494 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and
A/ES-10/6-S/1997/798 and Add.1) in this regard at the request of the tenth
emergency special session of the General Assembly, which addressed Israeli
actions.
6. I have been appalled by the horrifying terrorist bombings in Israel, which
took the lives of innocent people. These despicable acts of terror have further
shaken the confidence between Israelis and Palestinians and deepened the crisis
in the peace talks. Terrorism, whatever its motivation, can never be justified
and I condemn it unreservedly. It is the enemy of the Middle East peace
negotiations that hold the expectations of millions. Violence of this kind can
never advance any cause. I welcome and fully support measures being taken to
combat terrorism. Enhancing the role of the United Nations in that regard is a
part of my programme for reform.
7. The parties to the peace process bear responsibility for settling the Arab-
Israeli conflict in a just and comprehensive manner in accordance with Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). The people of the Middle East
have a right to live in peace, security and mutual respect and dignity.
Attempts to avoid implementing in full and on time the agreements signed since
1993 or to undermine them can only postpone the fulfilment of those aspirations
and weaken the peace process.
8. It is my earnest belief that both sides - Palestinians and Israelis -
should do everything possible so that mutual trust is restored, peace
negotiations are revitalized and steady progress is ensured through the
transitional period, leading to a permanent settlement as envisaged by the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements
(A/48/486-S/26560, annex). Courage, determination and commitment should guide
the parties along that path. To that end, Israel should refrain from unilateral
actions that have the effect of pre-empting the outcome of the talks and the
Palestinian Authority should spare no effort in fighting terrorism effectively.
I hope that the resumption of high-level meetings this autumn and the committee
talks on outstanding issues will create momentum to get the Israeli-Palestinian
talks back on track. Progress on the Israel-Syria and Israel-Lebanon tracks of
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negotiations is also essential for achieving a comprehensive and durable peace
in the region.
9. The United Nations will continue to support the peace process, politically
and through the provision of economic and social assistance to the Palestinian
people facilitated by the United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied
Territories. Improving living conditions in the West Bank and Gaza is
imperative for creating a favourable atmosphere for the peace process on the
ground. In that connection, it is important that UNRWA be put on a sound
financial footing so that the downgrading in its services to the Palestinian
refugees can be avoided.
-----
UNITED NATIONS A S
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.
GENERAL
A/53/652
S/1998/1050
10 November 1998
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL
Fifty-third session Fifty-third year
Agenda items 39 and 40
QUESTION OF PALESTINE
THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Report of the Secretary-General
1. The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 52/52 of 9 December l997 on the peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine.
2. On 25 August 1998, the Secretary-General, pursuant to the request contained
in paragraph 9 of the above-mentioned resolution, addressed the following letter
to the President of the Security Council:
"I have the honour to refer to resolution 52/52, which the General
Assembly adopted on 9 December 1997, at its fifty-second session, under the
agenda item ’Question of Palestine’.
"In paragraph 9 of the resolution, the General Assembly ’requests the
Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned and,
in consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in
the region and to submit progress reports on developments in this matter’.
"In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this
resolution, I should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views
of the Security Council by 30 September 1998."
3. On 22 September 1998, the following reply was received from the Security
Council:
"The Security Council remains gravely concerned about developments in
the occupied territories and the region.
"Recalling the statement by the President of the Council of
13 July 1998 (S/PRST/1998/21), the Security Council continues to be
determined to keep developments under review, and to provide the needed
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backing to the Middle East peace process, giving full support to the
agreements achieved as well as to the timely implementation of those
agreements.
"The Council calls upon the concerned parties to pursue the
negotiations and to fulfil their obligations under the agreements achieved,
so that progress can be made towards a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967
and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973."
4. In a note verbale dated 31 August 1998 to the parties concerned, the
Secretary-General sought the positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the Palestine
Liberation Organization, regarding any steps taken by them to implement the
relevant provisions of the resolution. As of 30 October 1998, the following
reply had been received:
Note verbale dated 9 October 1998 from the Permanent
Observer of Palestine to the United Nations addressed
to the Secretary-General
"General Assembly resolution 52/52 is the main political resolution on
the Palestinian issue, and it was adopted by an overwhelming majority
(155-2-3), a reflection of the strong convictions of the international
community with regard to the content of the resolution. As stated in the
note verbale dated 13 October 1997 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine
to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (see A/52/581-
S/1997/866, para. 4), the resolution recalls several principles of
international law and the Charter of the United Nations, provides support
for the peace process and implementation of the agreements reached and also
provides the basis for the just settlement of the question of Palestine,
the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The resolution emphasizes as well
the importance of a more active and expanded role for the United Nations in
this process. As such, the resolution should serve as an acceptable basis
for all parties to work on these important issues.
"In operative paragraph 2 of resolution 52/52, the General Assembly
once again ’expresses its full support for the ongoing peace process, which
began in Madrid, and the Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements of 1993, as well as the subsequent
implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim
Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip of 1995, and expresses the hope
that the process will lead to the establishment of a comprehensive, just
and lasting peace in the Middle East’. In operative paragraph 3, the
Assembly ’stresses the necessity for commitment to the principle of land
for peace and the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967)
and 338 (1973), which form the basis of the Middle East peace process, and
the need for the immediate and scrupulous implementation of the agreements
reached between the parties, including the redeployment of the Israeli
forces from the West Bank and the commencement of the negotiations on the
final settlement.’
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"Since the adoption of resolution 52/52, the deadlock in the Middle
East peace process has continued. No progress has been made with regard to
the implementation of the agreements reached; the situation on the ground,
including the economic and living conditions of the Palestinian people, has
continued to deteriorate; and tension has increased in the region as a
whole, all as a result of the policies and practices of the Israeli
Government. It is noteworthy that several letters of complaint regarding
those policies and practices were sent by the Permanent Observer of
Palestine to the United Nations during the past year to the
Secretary-General, the President of Security Council and the President of
the General Assembly.
"In fact, the Israeli Government, since taking office, has adopted
guidelines contradicting the letter and spirit of the agreements reached,
made it clear that the timetable agreed upon would not be respected,
resumed colonial settlement activities in the occupied territory and opened
a tunnel in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied East Jerusalem. The
Israeli Government did not close that tunnel, in flagrant violation of
Security Council resolution 1073 (1996) of 28 September 1996, and has
continued with, and even intensified, its colonial settlement activities,
including the building of a new settlement in Jabal Abu Ghneim to the south
of Occupied East Jerusalem, and attempted to build a settlement in Ras
al-Amud. From the above, it is clear that the Government has continued its
drive to Judaize Jerusalem and to change its status and demographic
composition. In this regard, the Israeli Government recently announced the
creation of an ’umbrella municipality’ which would expand the borders of
Jerusalem and extend the administrative powers of the illegal municipality
over nearby towns in Israel, as well as over some Jewish settlements in the
occupied West Bank.
"In the eighth preambular paragraph of resolution 52/52, the General
Assembly affirmed ’the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the
territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the
status of Jerusalem’. Furthermore, the Assembly, in operative paragraphs 5
and 6 of the same resolution, stressed the need for ’the realization of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to
self-determination’, and ’the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian
territory occupied since 1967’, and also stressed the need for ’resolving
the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution
194 (III) of 11 December 1948’.
"The Palestinian side believes that the eighth preambular paragraph
and operative paragraphs 5 and 6 of General Assembly resolution 52/52 are
of great importance, as they reflect established positions of the
international community consistent with international law. The Palestinian
side believes that the international community, represented by the
Assembly, should always uphold the principles of the Charter of the United
Nations, international law, international humanitarian law and the validity
of Security Council resolutions. As such, the Assembly has to uphold its
positions related to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and
it should maintain its positions related to the elements of the final
settlement (final status issues), including Jerusalem, settlements and
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refugees. It should be affirmed that illegal Israeli actions in these
fields and their results remain illegal regardless of the passage of time.
"Operative paragraph 8 of the same resolution, ’emphasizes the
importance for the United Nations to play a more active and expanded role
in the current peace process and in the implementation of the Declaration
of Principles’. The Palestinian side welcomes the progress made in this
regard, especially in the fields of providing economic, social and other
assistance to the Palestinian people. It welcomes in particular the work
of the United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories in
the field of coordinating United Nations, as well as international,
assistance to the Palestinian people. It welcomes as well the work done by
the Commissioner-General and the staff of the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), including the
work of UNRWA’s headquarters in Gaza City. It affirms the significance of
UNRWA in other fields of operation outside of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory as well as the continuation of all field offices, including the
field office in Jerusalem.
"The Palestinian side hopes that the United Nations will contribute to
the efforts being undertaken to salvage the peace process and to bring it
back on track. The involvement of the Security Council would also be a
very important factor in the interest of the peace process. Indeed, the
Council has contributed to the salvaging of the peace process by responding
to some serious events in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
Jerusalem, by adopting resolution 1073 (1996) of 28 September 1996 and
before that by adopting resolution 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994 on the
Al-Khalil (Hebron) massacre in the Al-Ibrahimi Mosque. After the adoption
of General Assembly resolution 52/52, on 30 June 1998, the President of the
Council made a statement on behalf of the Council (S/PRST/1998/21) on the
situation in the occupied Arab territories.
"It is to be recalled that, unfortunately, the Council was twice
prevented from playing the same positive role and from discharging its
responsibilities for the maintenance of peace and security, as a result of
the two vetoes exercised by the United States of America on 7 and
21 March 1997 on two draft resolutions dealing with the illegal Israeli
settlement in Jabal Abu Ghneim. The two vetoes led to the convening of the
tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly to discuss illegal
Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory. The emergency special session produced extremely
important resolutions, including Assembly resolution ES-10/5 of
17 March 1998, which will be subject to further serious follow-up by the
session, including by the convening of a conference of the High Contracting
Parties to the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, on measures to enforce the
Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and
the rest of the Arab territories occupied since 1967.
"The Palestinian side reiterates the expression of its appreciation to
the Secretary-General for his substantial and accurate report presented
pursuant to General Assembly resolution ES-10/2 of 25 April 1997 and, as it
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has done in previous years, would like to underscore the request made by
the Assembly in resolution 52/52 for the Secretary-General to continue his
efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security
Council, for the promotion of peace in the region and to submit progress
reports on developments in that regard. It is worth noting that during the
past year, the Secretary-General visited the Occupied Palestinian Territory
and the region, where he had a first-hand opportunity to experience the
extremely difficult conditions of the Palestinian people.
"Finally, the Palestinian side believes that for the peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine to be achieved through the current
Middle East peace process, it is necessary to respect the mutual
recognition between the two sides and the basis upon which the process was
initiated, namely, the principle of the return of land for peace and the
implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of
22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973. It is equally
important for the parties to comply with the agreements reached and to
implement those agreements in good faith and without delay. Furthermore,
all actions that violate international law, relevant Security Council
resolutions and those agreements must cease completely. The international
community, especially the co-sponsors of the peace process, has a great
responsibility in this regard.
"It should also be recalled that under the same agenda item, Question
of Palestine, the General Assembly, at its fifty-second session, adopted
resolution 52/250 of 7 July 1998, entitled ’Participation of Palestine in
the work of the United Nations’. In this regard, the legal, political and
practical significance of that resolution is emphasized."
OBSERVATIONS
5. The signing of the Wye River memorandum by the Government of Israel and the
Palestinian Liberation Organization is a promising development. This agreement
complements and adds details to the accords that the parties concluded in the
past and, more importantly, paves the way to permanent status negotiations. I
would like to take this opportunity to commend the dedication, courage and
tireless efforts of all participants in the Wye Plantation meetings.
6. It is to be hoped that the Wye agreement will bring to an end the delays
and unilateral actions that have hampered progress in the Middle East peace
process for far too long. The primary obligations of the Palestinians and
Israelis are clear: respectively, to take all legal measures to combat violence
and terrorism, and to carry out, on time, further redeployments in the West Bank
as laid down in the agreement. It is imperative that the good will demonstrated
at Wye Plantation be translated into scrupulous implementation of the
commitments made by both sides, thereby rebuilding confidence and raising new
hope for peace, stability and security for all in the region.
7. That the Wye agreement offers economic opportunities for the Palestinian
people is also to be welcomed. Such opportunities are essential if peace in the
Middle East is to prosper. The United Nations system will continue to support
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progress in the Israeli-Palestinian talks and to provide economic, social and
other assistance to the occupied territories.
8. It is to be hoped that advances in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations
will create favourable momentum for the resumption of the Israel-Syrian Arab
Republic and Israel-Lebanon talks. This will be essential for the settlement of
the Arab-Israeli conflict on the basis of Security Council resolutions
242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978.
-----
UNITED NATIONS A S
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.
GENERAL
A/54/457
S/1999/1050
12 October 1999
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL
Fifty-fourth session Fifty-fourth year
Agenda items 43 and 44
THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
QUESTION OF PALESTINE
Report of the Secretary-General
1. The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 53/42 of 2 December l998 on the peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine.
2. On 2 August 1999, the Secretary-General, pursuant to the request contained
in paragraph 9 of the above-mentioned resolution, addressed the following letter
to the President of the Security Council:
"I have the honour to refer to resolution 53/42, which the General
Assembly adopted on 2 December 1998, at its fifty-third session, under the
agenda item ’Question of Palestine’.
"In paragraph 9 of the resolution, the General Assembly ’requests the
Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and
in consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in
the region and to submit progress reports on developments in this matter’.
"In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this
resolution, I should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views
of the Security Council by 30 September 1999."
3. On 6 October 1999, the following reply was received from the Security
Council:
"The members of the Security Council view with interest the recent
developments in the Middle East region.
"The members of the Security Council welcome the signing of the
Sharm El-Sheikh Memorandum between Israel and the Palestine Liberation
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Organization as an important step forward in the Middle East peace process.
They express their belief that the new agreement opens the way for a just,
lasting and comprehensive peace within a reasonable time frame in the
entire region, based on all relevant Security Council resolutions, in
particular 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of
22 October 1973. They condemn vigorously all acts of terrorism and
violence in the region. They call upon all parties to implement in full
their commitments under existing agreements and to refrain from actions
that pre-empt the negotiations and worsen both the political and the
economic situation in the Palestinian territories, and to abide
scrupulously by their obligations under international law.
"The members of the Security Council continue to be determined to keep
developments under review and to provide the necessary backing, giving full
support to the agreements reached, as well as to the timely and speedy
implementation of those agreements."
4. In a note verbale dated 28 July 1999 to the parties concerned, the
Secretary-General sought the positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the Palestine
Liberation Organization, regarding any steps taken by them to implement the
relevant provisions of the resolution. As of 6 October 1999, the following
replies had been received:
Note verbale dated 31 August 1999 from the Permanent
Representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to
the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
"Jordan has always believed that it is important and indeed essential
to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace that will ensure that
Arab rights are restored and secured in accordance with resolutions that
have the force of international law, the principle of land for peace and
the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, particularly its
resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 425 (1978), so as to achieve
security, stability and development for all the States of the region and
for their peoples.
"Jordan is pursuing its ongoing endeavour to implement the provisions
of the Jordanian-Israeli Treaty of Peace signed in 1994 and the agreements
to which it gave rise, and it has given them effect with a view to
perpetuating and reinforcing the state of peace between the two sides.
"His Majesty King Hussein Bin Talal (may God rest his soul) played an
active and prominent role in the successful conclusion of the Wye River
Memorandum by the Palestinian and Israeli sides. Jordan, which believes
and understands that the question of Palestine represents the essence and
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, has made good use of its relations and
contacts with all the parties in order to advance the negotiating process
on the Palestinian-Israeli track.
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"Under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II Bin Hussein and
the Jordanian Government, the country is continuing its efforts in its
contacts and meetings with the regional and international parties concerned
to advance the peace process on all tracks, believing as it does in the
inclusive character of any solution that will achieve a just, comprehensive
and lasting peace, bring security and stability to the region and secure
prosperity for its peoples.
"Jordan is of the view that the outcome of the recent Israeli
elections and the assumption of office by the new Government constitute a
plebiscite in which Israeli society voted in favour of peace. The new
Israeli Government is urged to take decisive steps to honour the agreements
and commitments that have been entered into and, in particular, to
implement the Wye River Memorandum of October 1998 and to resume the
negotiations on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks from the point at which they
were suspended. Jordan stresses the importance of the historic opportunity
that presents itself for the achievement of peace. It must not be allowed
to slip away."
Note verbale dated 29 September 1999 from the Permanent
Observer of Palestine to the United Nations addressed
to the Secretary-General
"General Assembly resolution 53/42 is the main political resolution on
the Palestinian issue, and it was adopted by an overwhelming majority
(154-2-3), a reflection of the strong convictions of the international
community with regard to the content of the resolution. In addition,
similar texts have been adopted by the Assembly over the past few years by
overwhelming majorities, reflecting an established position by the
international community in this regard. As stated in my note verbale of
9 October 1998 (A/52/652-S/1998/1050), the resolution recalls several
principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations,
provides support for the peace process and implementation of the agreements
reached and also provides the basis for the just settlement of the question
of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The resolution
emphasizes as well the importance of a more active and expanded role for
the United Nations in this process. As such, the resolution should serve
as an acceptable basis for all parties to work on these important issues.
"In preambular paragraph 8 of resolution 53/42, the General Assembly
affirmed ’the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory
occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of
Jerusalem’. Over the past year, such illegal activities have continued,
particularly in Jabal Abu Ghneim to the south of Occupied East Jerusalem in
Ras al-Amud, in addition to other colonial settlement activities and
measures throughout the Palestinian territory. The General Assembly
responded by reconvening the tenth emergency special session on
5 February 1999 and adopting resolution ES-10/6 on 9 February 1999. The
international community responded as well by convening a Conference of the
High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on Measures to
Enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
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Jerusalem. This marked the first time in the history of the Geneva
Conventions that a conference was convened to consider a specific case of
violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention. In that Conference, the High
Contracting Parties ’reaffirmed the applicability of the Fourth Geneva
Convention to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem’, and ’reiterated the need for full respect for the provisions of
the said Convention in that Territory’. The Conference adjourned ’on the
understanding that it will convene again in the light of consultations on
the development of the humanitarian situation in the field’.
"In paragraph 2 of resolution 53/42, the General Assembly once again
expresses its full support for the ongoing peace process which began in
Madrid and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements of 1993, as well as the subsequent implementation agreements,
including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and
Gaza Strip of 1995, and expresses the hope that the process will lead to
the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle
East’. In paragraph 3, the Assembly stresses the necessity for commitment
to the principle of land for peace and the implementation of Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), which form the basis of the
Middle East peace process, and the need for the immediate and scrupulous
implementation of the agreements reached between the parties, including the
redeployment of the Israeli forces from the West Bank and the commencement
of the negotiations on the final settlement.
"Since the adoption of resolution 53/42, the deadlock in the Middle
East peace process has continued for most of the past year. Little
progress was made with regard to the implementation of the agreements
reached; the situation on the ground, including the economic and living
conditions of the Palestinian people, continued to deteriorate; and tension
increased in the region as a whole, all as a result of the policies and
practices of the Israeli Government. Several letters of complaint
regarding those policies and practices were conveyed by the Permanent
Observer of Palestine to the United Nations during the past year to the
Secretary-General, the President of Security Council and the President of
the General Assembly.
"Recently, however, with the new Israeli Government, the two parties
succeeded in reaching the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum. The Memorandum
addresses such issues as further redeployment of Israel from the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, the release of prisoners, and the implementation of
overdue prior commitments between the two sides, as well as the timetable
for permanent status negotiations. Initial steps in implementation of the
Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum have already begun. Moreover, the parties
agreed to reach the final settlement within a year from the signing of the
Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum, which is September 2000.
"In paragraphs 5 and 6, the Assembly stressed once more the need for
’the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
primarily the right to self-determination’; and ’the withdrawal of Israel
from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967’; and also stressed the
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need for ’resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity
with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948’.
"The Palestinian side believes that paragraphs 5 and 6 are of great
importance, as they reflect established positions of the international
community consistent with international law. The Palestinian side believes
that the international community, represented by the General Assembly,
should always uphold the principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
international law, international humanitarian law and the validity of
Security Council resolutions. As such, the General Assembly has to uphold
its positions related to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
and it should maintain its positions related to the elements of the final
settlement (permanent status issues), including Jerusalem, settlements and
refugees. It should be affirmed that illegal Israeli actions in these
fields and their results remain illegal, regardless of the passage of time.
"Paragraph 8 of the same resolution, ’emphasizes the importance for
the United Nations to play a more active and expanded role in the current
peace process and in the implementation of the Declaration of Principles’.
The Palestinian side welcomes the progress made in this regard, especially
in the fields of providing economic, social and other assistance to the
Palestinian people. It welcomes in particular the work of the Office of
the United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories in
the field of coordinating United Nations and international assistance
to the Palestinian people. In this regard, it wishes to extend its
thanks and appreciation to the outgoing Special Coordinator,
Mr. Chinmaya R. Gharekhan. It also welcomes the appointment of
Mr. Terje Roed-Larsen as the new United Nations Special Coordinator for
the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-
General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, the scope of whose work has clearly broadened, as reflected in
the new title. The Palestinian side welcomes as well the work done by the
Commissioner-General, Mr. Peter Hansen, and the staff of the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA),
including the work of UNRWA’s headquarters in Gaza City. It affirms the
need for the continuation of the valuable and important work of UNRWA in
other fields of operation outside of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and
in the maintenance of all field offices, including the field office in
Jerusalem.
"The Palestinian side hopes that the United Nations will contribute to
the efforts being undertaken to help push the peace process forward. The
involvement of the Security Council would also be a very important factor
in the interest of the peace process. Indeed, the Security Council has
contributed to the salvaging of the peace process by responding to some
serious events in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem,
by adopting resolution 1073 (1996) of 28 September 1996 and, before that,
by adopting resolution 904 (1994) on the massacre in Al-Khalil (Hebron) in
Al-Ibrahimi Mosque. On 30 June 1998, the President of the Security Council
issued a statement (S/PRST/1998/21) on the situation in the occupied Arab
territories. Since the adoption of resolution 53/42, the Council has taken
no action in that regard.
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"The Palestinian side would like to underscore the request made by the
General Assembly in resolution 53/42 for the Secretary-General to continue
his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, for the promotion of peace in the region and to submit
progress reports on developments in this regard.
"Finally, the Palestinian side believes that for the peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine to be achieved through the current
Middle East peace process, it is necessary to respect the mutual
recognition between the two sides and the basis upon which the process was
initiated - namely, the principle of the return of land for peace and the
implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
It is equally important for the parties to comply with the agreements
reached and to implement those agreements in good faith and without delay.
Furthermore, all actions that violate international law, relevant Security
Council resolutions and those agreements must cease completely. The
international community, especially the co-sponsors of the peace process,
has a great responsibility in this regard. There is an international
consensus that the final settlement should be concluded sometime between
May and September 2000. The Palestinian side believes that the Millennium
Summit should represent a deadline for reaching this. The Palestinian side
is determined to meet this deadline and strongly believes that Palestine
must participate as a Member State in that Millennium Summit."
Observations
5. The signing in Cairo of the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum on 4 September 1999
by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization brings with it cautious optimism that the Middle East peace process
has been brought back on track. The new agreement contains a timeline for
implementation of all the commitments the two sides have made since the signing
in Washington, D.C. on 13 September 1993 of the Declaration of Principles on
Interim Self-Government Arrangements. It also states that the two sides have
reaffirmed their understanding that the negotiations on the Permanent Status
will lead to the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and
338 (1973) and that they have agreed to conclude a comprehensive agreement on
all Permanent Status issues within one year from the resumption of those
negotiations - i.e., by September 2000. While the issues that remain to be
resolved are difficult - and there are those who may seek to hinder progress in
resolving them - five decades of conflict and unease must at last be brought to
an end so that all may envisage the time when a new generation of Israelis and
Palestinians will be born into conditions of peace and stability.
6. As the General Assembly has underscored on many occasions, achieving a
final and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of a comprehensive and
lasting peace in the Middle East. It is to be hoped that progress on the
Israeli-Palestinian track will lead soon to movement on the Syrian and Lebanese
tracks so that peace, security and stability may be achieved for all peoples in
the region on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973)
and 425 (1978) and the principle of land for peace.
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7. Given the recent encouraging developments in the Middle East peace process,
I have appointed Mr. Terje Roed-Larsen of Norway as the United Nations Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and my Personal Representative to
the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority. His
presence on the ground will help to ensure that United Nations support to the
peace process is fully integrated and coordinated, particularly in the area of
development assistance.
8. May I take this opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. Chinmaya R.Gharekhan, who
completed his assignment as my Special Representative to the multilateral talks
on Middle East peace and United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied
Territories on 30 September 1999.
-----
United Nations A/55/639–S/2000/1113
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
22 November 2000
English
Original: English/French
00-75895 (E) 271100
`````````
General Assembly
Fifty-fifth session
Agenda items 40 and 41
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Fifty-fifth year
Report of the Secretary-General*
I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted in pursuance of
General Assembly resolution 54/42 of 1 December
1999 on the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine.
2. On 7 August 2000, the Secretary-General,
pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 9 of the
above-mentioned resolution, addressed the following
letter to the President of the Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution
54/42, which the General Assembly adopted on 1
December 1999, at its fifty-fourth session, under
the agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“In paragraph 9 of the resolution, the
General Assembly ‘requests the Secretary-
General to continue his efforts with the parties
concerned, and in consultation with the Security
Council, for the promotion of peace in the region
and to submit progress reports on developments
in this matter’.
“In order to fulfil my reporting
responsibilities under this resolution, I should be
grateful if you would kindly convey to me the
views of the Security Council by 29 September
2000.”
3. On 29 September 2000 the following reply was
received from the Security Council:
“The members of the Security Council are
following with interest the developments of the
situation in the Middle East.
“They welcomed the participation of the
Israelis and Palestinians in the final status
negotiations which were held at Camp David in
July. These talks represented an important phase
in the Middle East peace process. They have no
doubt but that the efforts being made to smooth
the differences will help bring about a just,
durable and comprehensive peace, based on
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22
November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October
1973. They strongly condemn all acts of terrorism
and violence in the region. They urge all parties
to fully respect the commitments they have
assumed under existing agreements and to refrain
from any activities that might jeopardize the
success of the talks and aggravate the political
and economic situation in the Palestinian
territories, and to acquit themselves scrupulously
of their obligations under international law.
* In accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/248,
section C, paragraph 1, the present report is being
submitted on 22 November 2000 so as to include as much
updated information as possible.
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“The members of the Security Council are
more than ever determined to follow the ongoing
process and to provide it with the necessary
support. In that connection, they fully endorse the
agreements already concluded and would like to
see them promptly implemented.”
4. In a note verbale dated 9 August 2000 to the
parties concerned, the Secretary-General sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan,
Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the
Palestine Liberation Organization, regarding any steps
taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of
the resolution. As at 16 November 2000, the following
replies had been received:
Note verbale dated 11 September 2000
from the Permanent Representative of Israel
to the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General
“As the Secretary-General is aware, Israel
voted against this resolution, as well as against
similar resolutions adopted by the General
Assembly in previous sessions. At this
particularly sensitive time in the Middle East
peace process, Israel wishes to put on record,
once again, its position on this matter. This
response should not be construed in any way as
an acceptance of the legitimacy of these
resolutions.
“Israel views the aforementioned General
Assembly resolution not only as being
unbalanced, but also as an undue interference in
matters which lie at the very core of the bilateral
negotiations currently under way between Israel
and the Palestinians. As stated in the letter of
invitation to the Madrid Peace Conference of
October 1991 and reaffirmed in repeated legal
undertakings, most recently in the Trilateral
Statement (25 July 2000) issued at the conclusion
of the Camp David Peace Summit, the Middle
East peace process is predicated upon direct
bilateral negotiations between the parties
concerned. Both Israeli and Palestinian leaders
have agreed that ‘their differences will be
resolved only by good-faith negotiations’.
“The one-sided approach reflected in the
resolution threatens to prejudge the outcome of
this process, impede the progress of Israeli and
Palestinian negotiators and undermine the
prospects of achieving a just and lasting peace
settlement. A comprehensive solution to the
conflicts in the Middle East can only be based
upon directly negotiated and mutually agreed
solutions.
“Israel expresses its hope that the General
Assembly will, in respect of the negotiations
currently under way, offer its unwavering and
impartial support for the peace process. This is
especially important now, when the parties have
made significant advances towards, and appear to
be on the cusp of reaching, a final settlement.”
Note verbale dated 7 November 2000 from the
Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United
Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
“General Assembly resolution 54/42 is the
main political resolution on the Palestinian issue,
and it was adopted by an overwhelming majority
(149-3-2), a reflection of the strong convictions
of the international community with regard to the
content of the resolution. In addition, a similar
text has been adopted by the Assembly over the
past few years by overwhelming majorities,
reflecting an established position of the
international community. As stated in the
Palestinian note of the fifty-fourth session, the
resolution recalls several principles of
international law and the Charter of the United
Nations, provides support for the peace process
and implementation of the agreements reached
and also provides the basis for the just settlement
of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-
Israeli conflict. The resolution emphasizes as well
the importance of a more active and expanded
role for the United Nations in this process. As
such, the resolution should serve as an acceptable
basis for all parties to work on these important
issues.
“Despite the agreement on the Sharm el-
Sheikh Memorandum of 4 September 1999,
which included an agreement on the
implementation of a number of overdue prior
commitments and an extension for the
achievement of the final settlement between the
two sides until 13 September 2000, Israel failed
once again to implement most of the overdue
provisions and commitments agreed upon in
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Sharm el-Sheikh, including the third
redeployment of its occupying forces, the release
of Palestinian prisoners and the return of
Palestinian displaced persons, and failed also to
adhere to the agreed timetable.
“The optimistic expectations for a positive
change in the status of the peace process in the
Middle East and the conclusion of a final
settlement between the Palestinian and Israeli
sides have not been fulfilled. Unfortunately, we
have witnessed a dramatic deterioration of the
situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including Jerusalem, to an unprecedented level of
aggression against the Palestinian people,
including the use by the Israeli occupying forces
of rockets fired from helicopter gunships, tanks,
anti-tank missiles and the enforcement of a total
military blockade around Palestinian towns and
cities. The continued Israeli aggression against
the Palestinian people has resulted in the killing
of more than 160 Palestinians, as of 7 November
2000, and the injury of more than 3,000 people.
One third of the Palestinians killed and injured
have been children under the age of 18 years. In
addition, there has been extensive destruction to
the property and livelihood of the Palestinian
people.
“The recent tragic events, which began on
28 September 2000, started with the malintentioned
visit of the infamous Ariel Sharon to
Al-Haram Al-Sharif, the first qiblah and the third
of the holy sites of Islam, in Occupied East
Jerusalem and then what followed the next day
when the Israeli occupying forces stormed Al-
Haram Al-Sharif and attacked the innocent
worshippers. The Palestinian people saw all of
this as a flagrant aggression against their holy
places and as a prelude to other steps aimed at
undermining their rights and possibly establishing
other illegal realities by the occupying Power in
Occupied East Jerusalem. In confronting this, the
Palestinian people have expressed their rejection
of these acts and their rejection of the occupation
and their determination to defend their Islamic
and Christian holy places and the Arab nature of
East Jerusalem as well as their determination to
achieve their natural rights, including the
establishment of their independent State with
Jerusalem as its capital.
“In response to the Palestinian protests,
Israel, the occupying Power, has used its huge
war machine to launch a bloody campaign of
repression against our people, including a number
of wilful killings and wilfully causing numerous
serious injuries and great pain for Palestinian
civilians. These Israeli actions and measures
constitute grave and serious breaches of the
Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of
1949, and some of these acts even constitute war
crimes according to the Convention.
“The Security Council has dealt with the
bloody events in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including Jerusalem, with great
seriousness. A large number of Member States,
through their participation in the debate of the
Council, added more importance and seriousness
to the work of the Council. Following the debate
of the Security Council, resolution 1322 (2000) of
7 October 2000 was adopted despite the
numerous difficulties it faced. Resolution 1322
(2000) deplored the provocation carried out at Al-
Haram Al-Sharif in Jerusalem on 28 September
2000 and the subsequent violence throughout the
territories occupied by Israel since 1967, which
have resulted in many Palestinian deaths and
injuries. It also condemned acts of violence,
especially the excessive use of force against
Palestinians, and called for the immediate
cessation of violence and for the establishment of
a mechanism for a speedy and objective inquiry
into the tragic events with the aim of preventing
their repetition. The resolution also invited the
Secretary-General to continue to follow the
situation and to keep the Council informed.
“Despite the adoption of the resolution,
however, the situation on the ground did not
change and Israel, the occupying Power, did not
comply with any of the provisions of the
resolution. Instead, what followed was the
dangerous Israeli escalation of its military
campaign, including the shelling of some
Palestinian locations in Ramallah and Gaza,
which took place on 12 October and which were
tantamount to a declaration of war against the
Palestinian people.
“The Security Council was once again
called upon to adopt an immediate resolution to
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end the escalation and prevent the region as a
whole from plunging into a widespread
confrontation. Unfortunately, a permanent
member of the Security Council declared inside
the Council and outside the United Nations that it
would use its right to veto any resolution
regardless of its content. This clearly prevented
the Security Council from exercising its
responsibility and from taking any action. At that
point, the tenth emergency special session of the
General Assembly resumed in accordance with
the ‘uniting for peace’ formula to consider this
dangerous situation and the ‘illegal Israeli actions
in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the
Occupied Palestinian Territory’. Resolution ES-
10/7 was adopted by the tenth emergency special
session on 20 October 2000. The resolution, inter
alia, stresses the urgent need for providing
protection for the Palestinian civilians in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, condemns acts of
violence, especially the excessive use of force by
the Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians,
calls for the reversal of all measures taken since
28 September 2000, and calls for the prevention
of illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers. The
resolution supports also the establishment of a
mechanism of inquiry into the tragic events as
well as the efforts of the Secretary-General,
including his efforts for the establishment of the
committee of inquiry.
“In this context, we welcome the
participation of the Secretary-General of the
United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, representing
this international Organization in the Sharm el-
Sheikh Summit, as well as all his efforts exerted
during his visit to the region. We hope that this
will lead to the effective participation of the
United Nations in the mechanism of inquiry into
what has happened, which was called for by
Security Council resolution 1322 (2000) and
agreed upon by the parties in Sharm el-Sheikh.
We believe that the speedy establishment of this
committee and its immediate work will have an
effective impact on bringing an end to the
situation created during the latest tragic events.
“It also remains indispensable for Israel, the
occupying Power, to abide by and implement
United Nations resolutions and agreements
reached between the two sides, including the
Sharm el-Sheikh understandings, in order for the
situation to calm down and for negotiations to be
resumed on the final status issues.
“In conclusion, the many principles and
components of the important resolution entitled
‘Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine’,
including principles of international law and the
Charter of the United Nations, remain valid and
essential in the search for a just and lasting
solution to the decades-long question of
Palestine. Respect for and adherence to such
principles will surely assist the parties in arriving
at a peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine.”
II. Observations
5. At the Camp David Summit hosted by President
Clinton last July, the quest for a lasting peace between
Israel and the Palestinians reached a crucial stage.
Though an overall agreement was not reached, for the
first time the most difficult issues were seriously
addressed. In a trilateral statement at the conclusion of
the Summit the parties pledged to continue their efforts
to conclude an agreement on all permanent status
issues as soon as possible, to avoid violence and not to
take unilateral actions.
6. However, subsequently, as is well known, the
situation in the Middle East has become critical.
Following a visit of the Leader of the Opposition in
Israel, Ariel Sharon, to the Temple Mount/Haram al-
Sharif in Jerusalem on 28 September, a new wave of
protests and violence erupted in the occupied
Palestinian territory and Israel in which so far more
than 230 people, the vast majority of them Palestinians,
have been killed and many others suffered injuries.
Confrontations continue to mount and mutual mistrust
is growing. This tragic situation has made abundantly
clear to all sides that the cause of peace can only be
damaged by excessive use of force, indiscriminate
violence or terror.
7. The present crisis holds the potential for further
escalation, with dangerous consequences for the entire
region. It is therefore imperative that all efforts be
made to curtail the current wave of violence and
resume the peace process. The Israelis and the
Palestinians know well that they have to live side by
side with each other and must reconcile their
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differences through dialogue and cooperation. The
question is how to respond to the legitimate aspirations
of the Palestinian people to personal dignity and
national independence and to the legitimate security
concerns of the Government of Israel.
8. This grave new situation in the Middle East has
recently been the subject of extensive debates at the
United Nations, and resulted in the adoption of
resolution 1322 (2000) by the Security Council on 7
October 2000, and of resolution ES-10/7 by the
General Assembly at its resumed tenth emergency
special session on 20 October 2000. Also, on 19
October 2000, the Commission on Human Rights in
Geneva, meeting at a special session, adopted a
resolution on the current human rights situation of the
Palestinian people.
9. In view of the escalation of tensions in the
Middle East, I visited the region in October to explore
urgent means to end the current cycle of violence and
to revive the peace process. Over a period of 10 days, I
had a series of meetings with Prime Minister Barak and
President Arafat as well as with many other regional
and international leaders.
10. On 16 and 17 October 2000, Presidents Mubarak
and Clinton jointly chaired a Summit meeting in Sharm
el-Sheikh, Egypt, which was attended also by King
Abdullah II of Jordan, Prime Minister Barak, President
Arafat, Javier Solana of the European Union, and
myself. The Summit produced understandings in three
vital areas: on security cooperation and other measures
to end the current confrontation, on a committee of
fact-finding to inquire into the recent tragic events and
how to prevent their recurrence, and on renewing the
peace process. I briefed the Security Council and the
General Assembly on 20 October on the outcome of the
Summit and of my visit to the region.
11. On 7 November, as a follow-up to the Sharm el-
Sheikh Summit, President Clinton announced the
membership of the Fact-Finding Committee which was
developed with the parties and in consultation with me.
The committee is expected to provide an independent
and objective review of the current crisis with the goal
of preventing its recurrence. On 9 November, I met
with the chairman of the committee, former United
States Senator George Mitchell, and urged him to begin
the committee’s work as soon as possible.
12. I am concerned that the other understandings of
the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit, set out in paragraph 10
above, remain unimplemented. I continue to follow
developments closely and remain in touch with the
parties and other international leaders. I believe that
full and good-faith implementation by both sides of the
understandings reached at Sharm el-Sheikh is vital to
restore calm and to create the right atmosphere for the
resumption of the peace talks. In my view there is no
alternative to a return to the negotiating table. The two
sides will in the end have to negotiate a peaceful
settlement. The international community should
continue its efforts to help them resolve the present
crisis and to put the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations
back on track.
13. On 12 and 13 November, I participated in the
Summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
in Doha, Qatar. The current crisis in the Middle East, in
particular the ongoing violence, was a major topic of
my discussions with Heads of State and Foreign
Ministers. All of them expressed grave concern at the
situation and many deplored the excessive use of force
by Israel.
14. The present crisis has led to a serious
deterioration of the humanitarian and economic
situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. In order
to improve the coordination of the United Nations
humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians, a task force
has been established chaired by the United Nations
Special Coordinator in Gaza. Also, the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East (UNRWA), which has continued to deliver a
wide range of basic services to the Palestine refugees
despite severe financial constraints, has recently
launched an urgent appeal for $39 million to fund a
three-month contingency plan to buy food and medical
supplies.
15. As the General Assembly has underscored on
many occasions, achieving a final and peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment
of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle
East. It is to be hoped that there will also be movement
soon on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks so that peace,
security and stability may be achieved for all peoples
in the region on the basis of Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
16. For its part, the United Nations will continue to
support the resumption of the peace process and to
respond in an integrated way to the economic, social,
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humanitarian and other needs of the population in the
West Bank and Gaza. I call upon the international
community to provide the necessary resources in
support of the United Nations programmes to address
the deteriorating economic and humanitarian situation
of the Palestinian people.
17. I should like to pay special tribute to Terje Roed-
Larsen, United Nations Special Coordinator. Mr. Roed-
Larsen gave me invaluable assistance during my recent
peacemaking efforts in the region and will continue his
important mission in the region.
United Nations A/56/642–S/2001/1100
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
23 November 2001
English
Original: English/French
01-65393 (E) 261101 271101
*0165393*
General Assembly
Fifty-sixth session
Security Council
Fifty-sixth year
Agenda items 41 and 42
Question of Palestine
The situation in the Middle East
Report of the Secretary-General*
I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted in pursuance of
General Assembly resolution 55/55 of 1 December 2000
on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.
2. On 19 July 2001, the Secretary-General, pursuant
to the request contained in paragraph 9 of the abovementioned
resolution, addressed the following letter to
the President of the Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution
55/55, which the General Assembly adopted on 1
December 2000, at its fifty-fifth session, under
the agenda item entitled ‘Question of Palestine’.
“In paragraph 9 of the resolution, the General
Assembly ‘request[ed] the Secretary-General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and
in consultation with the Security Council, for the
promotion of peace in the region and to submit
progress reports on developments in this matter’.
“In order to fulfil my reporting
responsibilities under this resolution, I should be
grateful if you kindly convey to me the views of
the Security Council by 28 September 2001.”
3. On 28 September 2001, the following reply was
received from the Security Council:
“The members of the Security Council are
following with grave concern the tragic
deterioration of the situation in the Middle East.
They strongly condemn all acts of terrorism and
violence and urge the parties to apprehend and
punish the perpetrators. They call for the immediate
cessation of violence and for the resumption of
political dialogue towards the aim of achieving a
just, lasting and comprehensive settlement between
the Israeli and Palestinian sides. They urge all
parties to fully respect the commitments they have
assumed under existing agreements. They urge all
parties to scrupulously abide by their legal
obligations and responsibilities under international
law, in particular humanitarian law.
“In resolution 1322 (2000), adopted on 7
October 2000, the members of the Security Council
expressed their deep concern at the tragic events
that had led to numerous deaths and injuries, mostly
among Palestinians. They reaffirmed that a just and
lasting solution to the Arab and Israeli conflict must
be based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967)
of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October
1973, through an active negotiating process. They
called for the immediate resumption of negotiations
within the Middle East peace process on its
agreed basis with the aim of achieving an early
* The present report has been submitted after the
established deadline in order to include as much updated
information as possible.
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final settlement between Israeli and Palestinian
sides and urged the two sides to cooperate in
those efforts. They reaffirmed the need for full
respect by all of all of the Holy Places and
condemned any behaviour to the contrary. They
called for the immediate cessation of violence,
and for all necessary steps to be taken to ensure
that violence ceased and that new provocative
actions were avoided.
“They also welcomed the publication of the
Mitchell Committee report in May 2001. They fully
supported all its recommendations and called upon
the parties immediately to begin the steps required
to implement the recommendations, including those
on confidence-building measures. Many also
expressed their belief that a third-party
monitoring, accepted by both parties, would serve
their interest in implementing the report.
“The members of the Security Council are
more than ever determined to follow the ongoing
efforts towards a just, lasting and comprehensive
final settlement between the Israeli and Palestinian
sides and to provide it with the necessary support.
In that connection, they express their full backing to
all efforts, in particular the work of the Secretary-
General and his special envoy in the region, to bring
violence to an end, resume political dialogue,
rebuild confidence and advance the prospects for a
just and lasting peace. In this respect, they declare
their full support for the recent contacts between
the parties at a high level.”
4. In notes verbales dated 18 and 24 July 2001 to the
parties concerned, the Secretary-General sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan,
Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the
Palestine Liberation Organization, regarding any steps
taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of
the resolution. As at 15 November 2001, the following
replies had been received:
Note verbale dated 26 September 2001 from
the Permanent Representative of Israel to
the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General
“As the Secretary-General is aware, Israel
voted against this resolution, as well as against
similar resolutions adopted by the General
Assembly in previous sessions. In the light of the
urgent need to bring an end to all acts of violence
and terrorism in the region and to return to the
agreed negotiating process, Israel wishes to put
on record, once again, its position on this matter.
“Israel views the aforementioned General
Assembly resolution not only as being
unbalanced, but also as an undue interference in
matters which the parties have agreed to resolve
within the context of direct bilateral negotiations.
“The current violence in the region is a
result of a Palestinian decision to abandon peace
negotiations and pursue their goals through
violence and terrorism. The one-sided approach
reflected in the resolution, which seeks to dictate
the outcome of the negotiating process,
effectively rewards violence at a time when the
Palestinian side should be compelled to renounce
all acts of violence and terrorism and return to the
path of peaceful dialogue.”
Note verbale dated 17 October 2001 from the
Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United
Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
“General Assembly resolution 55/55 is the
main political resolution regarding the question of
Palestine, and it was adopted during the fifty-fifth
session by an overwhelming majority (149-2-3),
reflecting the firm convictions of the international
community with regard to the content and meaning
of the resolution. The Assembly has adopted a
similar text in recent years also by overwhelming
majorities, conveying a long-established position by
the international community on the issue. This
resolution recalls several principles of international
law and of the Charter of the United Nations,
provides support for the peace process and for
implementation of the agreements reached and also
sets forth the basis for the just settlement of the
question of Palestine, which is indeed the crux of
the Arab-Israeli conflict. The resolution
emphasizes as well the importance of a more
active and expanded role for the United Nations
in this process. In sum, the resolution should
serve as an acceptable basis for all parties to
address and resolve these important issues.
“In addition to the reaffirmation of
principles regarding the question, resolution
55/55 addresses the deterioration of the situation
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on the ground in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including Jerusalem, and the difficulties
facing the Middle East peace process. In the
resolution, the General Assembly expresses its
deep concern over the tragic events in Occupied
East Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian
Territory since 28 September 2000. Moreover, it
calls upon the concerned parties, the co-sponsors
of the peace process and other interested parties,
as well as the entire international community, to
exert all the necessary efforts and initiatives to
immediately reverse all measures taken on the
ground since 28 September 2000, in implementation
of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings and to
ensure a successful and speedy conclusion of the
peace process. However, the situation on the ground
has continued to deteriorate due to the refusal of
the Israeli side to implement the understandings
and its failure to adhere to prior agreements
reached between the two sides and to implement
overdue positions in this regard.
“The dramatic decline of the situation on
the ground over the past year has been
characterized by an excessive and indiscriminate
use of force by the Israeli occupying forces
against Palestinian civilians, including children.
The bloody military campaign waged by the
occupying Power has resulted in the killing of
more than 680 Palestinians as of the date of this
note. Many of these killings have been wilful
killings and targeted assassinations. Further, more
than 25,000 Palestinians have been injured, many
severely and permanently disabled. The Israeli
occupying forces have also caused extensive
destruction to Palestinian land, homes and
infrastructure. In addition, Israel, the occupying
Power, has imposed severe restrictions on the
movement of persons and goods into and out of
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, causing vast
destruction to the already fragile Palestinian
economy. The actions taken by the occupying
Power in the course of its bloody military
campaign constitute grave breaches of the Fourth
Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 1949, and
thus qualify as war crimes. Further, the occupying
Power has also committed actions of State
terrorism and other serious violations of
international law.
“The actions and measures taken by Israel,
the occupying Power, have also violated relevant
resolutions of the United Nations, including of
the Security Council. In its resolution 1322
(2000) of 7 October 2000, the Council deplored
the provocation carried out at Al-Haram Al-Sharif
in Jerusalem on 28 September 2000 and the
subsequent violence throughout the territories
occupied by Israel since 1967, which resulted in
many Palestinian deaths and injuries. It also
condemned acts of violence, especially the
excessive use of force against Palestinians, and
called for the immediate cessation of violence and
for the establishment of a mechanism for a speedy
and objective inquiry into the tragic events with the
aim of preventing their repetition. The Council also
invited the Secretary-General to continue to follow
the situation and keep it informed.
“Israel, the occupying Power, did not
comply with any of the provisions of the
resolution. Rather it escalated its military
campaign against the Palestinian people and
continued with its military blockade, siege and
even shelling of Palestinian towns and cities
using tanks, helicopter gunships and fighter jets.
In the light of this escalation and due to the
inability of the Security Council to take action to
bring an end to the escalation of this dangerous
situation, the tenth emergency special session of
the General Assembly resumed to consider the
situation. The Assembly adopted resolution ES-
10/7 on 20 October 2000, in which, inter alia, it
stressed the urgent need for providing protection
for the Palestinian civilians in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, condemned acts of violence,
especially the excessive use of force by the Israeli
forces against Palestinian civilians, called for the
reversal of all measures taken since 28 September
2000, and called for the prevention of acts of
violence by Israeli settlers. The Assembly also
supported the establishment of a mechanism of
inquiry into the events, as well as the efforts of
the Secretary-General, including his efforts for
the establishment of a commission of inquiry.
“The Fact-Finding Committee established
was formed by the United States of America, in
consultation with the two sides as well as the
Secretary-General, in accordance with the
understanding reached at the Summit of Sharm
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el-Sheikh. The Committee was established to
determine what had happened since 28 September
2000 and how to avoid it from recurring in the
future. The Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding
Committee presented its report, which came to be
known as the Mitchell report, to the President of
the United States on 30 April 2001. The report
was also shared with the Secretary-General and
the Palestinian and Israeli sides.
“The Israeli Government never
wholeheartedly endorsed or accepted the
recommendations contained in the report of the
Fact-Finding Committee, especially that which
called for a cessation of all Israeli settlement
activity. In fact, Israel resisted any efforts by all
parties that aimed at the full and speedy
implementation of the recommendations. The
Palestinian side, on the other hand, endorsed the
Mitchell report and even proposed a high-level
meeting for the participants of the Sharm el-Sheikh
Summit to consider the Fact-Finding Committee’s
report and the implementation of its
recommendations. The Palestinian side considers
the report to be an important platform for guiding
the necessary actions for ending the tragic situation
and reviving the Middle East peace process.
“Palestine expresses its appreciation for the
important role played by the Secretary-General in
this regard. Palestine welcomed his participation
in the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit of 17 October 2000,
as well as the efforts he exerted during his visit to
the region. The Secretary-General’s participation,
on behalf of the United Nations, has been essential
for reaffirming the important role of the
Organization in the efforts to end the deterioration
of the situation on the ground and to resume the
peace process negotiations towards a final
settlement. Unlike the constructive role undertaken
by the Secretary-General, the Security Council
unfortunately failed to follow up resolution 1322
(2000), especially with regard to the
establishment of an observer force to bring calm
to the situation on the ground and prevent its
further deterioration.
“As noted, the past year since the adoption of
resolution 55/55 has witnessed the severe
deterioration of the situation on the ground in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem,
which has seriously damaged the peace process and
threatened the stability of the region as a whole.
Recently, however, several important players on the
international level have been sending encouraging
signals, creating an almost unanimous position in
support of the Palestinian State and intensifying the
efforts to revive the peace process and bring it to a
successful conclusion. What are needed now are not
only serious efforts to implement the Mitchell
report’s recommendations, but also a new dynamism
to ensure the achievement of a final settlement in a
speedy manner. The United Nations could and
should be of great assistance in this regard.
“In this connection, it should be reaffirmed
that the many principles and components of the
important resolution entitled ‘Peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine’, including principles
of international law and the Charter of the United
Nations, remain valid and essential in the search
for a just and lasting solution to the decades-long
question of Palestine. Respect for and adherence
to such principles will ensure the success of the
parties in arriving at a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine.”
II. Observations
5. It is a matter of grave concern that the present
Israeli-Palestinian crisis has entered its second year
with an escalation of violence, while the peace process
remains stalled despite many international efforts to
revive it. Tensions have increased constantly in the past
year, which has been marked by a vicious cycle of
violence and retaliation. In fact, we are dealing with
the worst crisis in the Middle East since the 1993 Oslo
Agreement.
6. In view of the seriousness of the situation, I have
devoted a great deal of personal attention to this issue.
I have maintained close and regular contacts with the
parties and other leaders in the region and the
international community to find a way forward. In my
previous report on the question of Palestine (A/55/639-
S/2000/1113), I informed the members of the General
Assembly and the Security Council of the Summit
meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, which was jointly
chaired by Presidents Mubarak and Clinton on 16 and
17 October 2000.
7. Since the outbreak of the current Palestinian
intifada at the end of September 2000, over 900 people
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have been killed and many thousands have been
injured, the vast majority of them Palestinians. I have
repeatedly expressed concern that Israel’s response to
the violence has included a disproportionate use of
military force and incursions into the areas under full
Palestinian authority. I have condemned the practice of
so-called “targeted assassinations” and attacks on
civilians by settler groups. I have also strongly
condemned acts of violence or terror from whatever
quarter, especially indiscriminate suicide bombing
attacks against Israelis by Palestinian groups, and
called upon the Palestinian Authority to make a
maximum effort to control violence. These tragic
developments have greatly increased mutual distrust,
hardened the positions of the two sides and
strengthened extremist elements.
8. Since the beginning of the intifada, the level of
poverty, misery and suffering among the Palestinians
has increased dramatically. I have repeatedly called
upon Israel to end the closures and economic blockade.
9. Over the past year, the situation in the Middle
East, including the Palestinian question, has been the
subject of extensive consultations and debates in the
Security Council. Members of the Council held private
meetings with Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and
President of the Palestinian Authority, on 10 November
2000, with the Ministerial Committee of the Organization
of the Islamic Conference on 27 November 2000 and
with Shimon Peres, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel on 14 March
2001. On 7 October 2000, the Security Council adopted
resolution 1322 (2000).
10. On 20 December 2000, on the basis of the Camp
David understandings and subsequent talks, President
Clinton presented to the parties a plan outlining a set of
proposals (“parameters”) for a final-status agreement.
Both sides accepted those parameters with reservations.
The plan was presented to the Israeli and Palestinian
delegations at the resumed talks held in Washington
from 19 to 23 December. In a further effort to reach an
agreement before the prime ministerial elections in
Israel, senior Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held
talks in Taba, Egypt, from 21 to 27 January 2001. In a
joint statement, the two sides declared that they had
never been closer to reaching an agreement. Substantial
progress was achieved in each of the issues discussed:
refugees, security, borders and Jerusalem. However,
given the circumstances and time constraints, it proved
impossible to reach a final understanding on all issues.
11. As the parties remained deadlocked, further
international efforts were made to revive the political
process leading to a solution. In March, a serious
discussion was generated by a joint Egyptian-Jordanian
non-paper proposing steps to end the current crisis and to
restart negotiations. It should be recalled in this
connection that, prior to the submission of the paper, new
circumstances had evolved, including the establishment of
a national unity Government in Israel, headed by Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon. The new Israeli Government
declared that it would honour previous diplomatic
agreements approved by the Knesset, but it would not
conduct negotiations while the violence continued.
12. On 27 and 28 March 2001, I took part in the
Summit of the League of Arab States in Amman. The
crisis in the Middle East was a major topic of my
discussions with heads of State and Foreign Ministers at
the meeting. In my statement to the Summit I stressed that
the international community and the Arab world had the
right to criticize Israel for its continued occupation of
Palestinian and Syrian territory, and for its excessively
harsh response to the intifada. But I argued that those
points could be made more effectively if many Israelis did
not believe that their existence was under threat: Israel
had a right, enshrined in numerous United Nations
resolutions, to exist in safety within internationally
recognized borders. I emphasized that what was needed
was movement towards an agreement that responded both
to the legitimate desire of the Palestinians for national
independence, and to the legitimate claims of the Israelis
to recognition and security.
13. The report of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding
Committee, known as the Mitchell report, which was
released at the end of April, provided a viable basis for
a return to the negotiating table, and I fully endorsed
its recommendations. The Committee recommended a
number of steps to end the violence by implementing
an unconditional ceasefire and resuming security
cooperation, rebuilding confidence by establishing a
meaningful “cooling-off period” and implementing
additional confidence-building measures, including a
freeze by Israel of all settlement activity, to be
followed by the resumption of negotiations. The report
was accepted by both parties and widely acknowledged
at the international level as a good basis to break the
impasse. As a follow-up to the report, the parties
reached agreement upon a ceasefire on 13 June 2001,
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which was brokered by director of central intelligence
George Tenet. I visited the region from 12 to 18 June
2001 to encourage the parties to consolidate the
ceasefire and move towards full implementation of the
Mitchell report.
14. It was encouraging that Foreign Minister Shimon
Peres and President Yasser Arafat met on 26 September
2001 and agreed to resume full security cooperation
and to exert maximum efforts to sustain the ceasefire.
The meeting was made possible due in no small
measure to painstaking international efforts, in
particular involving the United States, the Russian
Federation, the European Union and the United
Nations, with the full support of Jordan and Egypt. The
level of violent incidents declined and Israel took
several positive steps, including the lifting of some
internal closures. There were also significant
statements by Member States, including the United
States, envisioning the creation of a Palestinian State
provided that Israel’s right to exist was respected,
which offered a new and important stimulus in the
search for a lasting political solution.
15. Unfortunately, this progress was sharply
disrupted when Israeli cabinet minister Rehavam Zeevi
was assassinated on 17 October 2001 by gunmen
belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine. I strongly condemned this terrorist act and
called upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint.
Following the assassination, Israeli forces launched a
major incursion into Palestinian-controlled areas. The
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle
East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the
Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation
Organization and the Palestinian Authority worked
very closely with the representatives of the United
States, the Russian Federation, the European Union and
other countries in the region to de-escalate this
dangerous situation. In this regard, the “Quartet” issued
a joint statement on 25 October 2001, which was
strongly supported in a statement to the press, also on
25 October 2001, by the President of the Security
Council. It has also been supported by several Member
States in their discussions with the parties.
16. On 11 November 2001, I met in New York with
Secretary of State Colin Powell of the United States,
Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov of the Russian Federation
and the High Representative for Common Foreign and
Security Policy of the European Union, Javier Solana.
The “Quartet” welcomed President George Bush’s
statement to the General Assembly on the Middle East
of 10 November 2001, in which he pledged to work
towards the day when two States, Israel and Palestine,
would live peacefully together within secure and
recognized borders, as called for by Security Council
resolutions. The “Quartet” encouraged their
representatives in the field to continue working
together to help the Israelis and the Palestinians find a
way to resolve the current crisis in their relations.
17. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the five
permanent members of the Security Council met with
me on 12 November 2001 and issued a statement (see
A/56/613-S/2001/1066, annex) strongly encouraging
Israelis and Palestinians to take the necessary security,
economic and political steps to move from
confrontation to the resumption of a political process.
The Ministers reiterated their condemnation of acts of
terror and violence and their conviction that the only
solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem is through
dialogue and negotiations. They called upon Israel to
withdraw from all areas into which it had made
incursions and to ensure greater restraint by the Israeli
Defence Forces. They also called upon the Palestinian
Authority to take all possible steps to put an end to
violence. In that regard, they urged the parties to
implement the Tenet plan and the recommendations of
the Mitchell report, which the parties had accepted, as
quickly as possible. The Ministers called upon the
parties to create an environment in which the
negotiations based upon Security Council resolutions
242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and the Madrid principles
could resume.
18. I continue to believe that only a package solution
based on the Mitchell report, including security and
economic aspects but also a political component, can
halt the cycle of violence, restore calm and create the
right atmosphere for the resumption of sustainable
peace talks. There is no alternative to a return to the
negotiating table and to a peaceful settlement.
However, the mutual distrust between the parties has
reached such a level that without constant third-party
involvement and encouragement they may not be able
to break out of the current impasse. Therefore, at this
critical juncture it is imperative to accelerate joint
efforts with a view to generating new momentum
towards a peaceful solution of the ongoing crisis.
19. The confrontation has had a devastating impact
on the humanitarian and economic situation in the
occupied Palestinian territory. Severe closures and
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blockades have resulted in large-scale losses to the
Palestinian economy, wiping out more than three years
of growth and increasing dramatically the level of
unemployment and poverty. The fiscal situation of the
Palestinian Authority remains fragile. The drop in
domestic tax revenue and the continued withholding of
Palestinian tax revenues by Israeli authorities has led to
a significant budget deficit in 2001. Generous support
from the Arab States, as well as the European Union
and Norway, have eased the crisis this year. However,
new efforts will be urgently needed. Therefore, a wellcoordinated
and concerted international relief and
assistance effort is essential to address the most pressing
needs and gradually improve living conditions. Urgent
measures are also needed to remove the restrictions
placed on the movement of staff and goods related to the
delivery of humanitarian assistance. The United Nations
remains at the forefront of efforts to alleviate the severe
social and economic hardships of the Palestinian people.
The Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator, as
well as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and
many other bodies continue their work in the region,
adjusting the focus of their activities as required by the
current humanitarian emergency. I should like to use this
occasion to call once again upon the international donor
community to provide adequate funding to UNRWA so
that it can continue to deliver the necessary services to the
Palestinian refugees. Donor assistance is especially vital
at a time when the humanitarian situation is so critical.
20. As the General Assembly has underscored on
many occasions, achieving a final and peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine, the core issue
of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the
Middle East. I hope that there will also be movement
on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks so that peace,
security and stability may be achieved for all peoples
in the region on the basis of Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
21. For its part, the United Nations will continue to
support the resumption of the peace process and to
respond in a coherent and integrated way to the
economic, social, humanitarian and other needs of the
population in the West Bank and Gaza. I call upon the
international community to provide the necessary
resources in support of the United Nations programmes
to address the deteriorating economic and humanitarian
situation of the Palestinian people.
22. I should like to pay special tribute to Terje Roed-
Larsen, United Nations Special Coordinator and my
Personal Representative, and to the staff of the Office
of the Special Coordinator, as well as to the staff of
UNRWA and other United Nations agencies, all of whom
have rendered sterling service while working under
increasingly demanding and difficult circumstances.
United Nations A/57/621–S/2002/1268
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
26 November 2002
Original: English
02-70433 (E) 271102
*0270433*
General Assembly
Fifty-seventh session
Agenda items 35 and 36
Question of Palestine
The situation in the Middle East
Security Council
Fifty-seventh year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General*
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 56/36 of 3 December 2001 on the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine. It contains replies received from the President of the Security Council and
the concerned parties to notes verbales sent by the Secretary-General pursuant to the
request contained in paragraph 9 of the resolution. The report also contains the
observations of the Secretary-General on the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict and on international efforts to revive the peace process with a view to
achieving a peaceful solution.
* The present report has been submitted after the established deadline in order to include as much
updated information as possible.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 56/36
of 3 December 2001 on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.
2. On 8 August 2002, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 9 of the
above-mentioned resolution, the Secretary-General addressed the following letter to
the President of the Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 56/36, which the General
Assembly adopted on 3 December 2001, at its fifty-sixth session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 9 of the resolution ‘requests the Secretary-General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, for the promotion of peace in the region and to submit
progress reports on developments in this matter’.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 30 September 2002.”
3. On 30 September 2002 the following reply was received from the Security
Council:
“The members of the Security Council have continued to follow with
grave concern the tragic deterioration of the situation in the Middle East. They
discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,
with growing frequency during this period. Several open debates were held for
all Member States to express their views. At the beginning of 2002, Council
members agreed to begin regular monthly informal briefings on the situation.
The aim was to keep members up to date with developments in the region and
to ensure a more regular exchange of views, including with the Secretary-
General.
“On 12 March, the Council adopted resolution 1397 (2002), which for the
first time affirmed the Council’s vision of a region where two States, Israel and
Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders. This
resolution, along with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973)
and the Arab Peace Initiative, initiated by Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi
Arabia and adopted by the Arab Summit in March 2002, have become widely
accepted as the foundation for a just, lasting and comprehensive solution of the
Arab-Israeli conflict. Implementation of these concepts, however, has
remained fraught with difficulties and plagued by continuing violence on the
ground.
“As the violence escalated in early 2002, the Council adopted four
resolutions (resolutions 1402 (2002), 1403 (2002), 1405 (2002), and most
recently 1435 (2002)) and agreed Presidential Statements in April and July
2002. The Council’s principal demands were an immediate ceasefire,
withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian cities, including Ramallah,
cessation of all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation,
incitement and destruction, cooperation with the special envoys of the United
States of America, the Russian Federation, the United Nations and the
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European Union (‘the Quartet’) and others and the implementation of the Tenet
and Mitchell plans. In its resolution 1403 (2002), the Council demanded the
implementation of resolution 1402 (2002) without delay. The Council (in its
resolution 1405 (2002)) expressed its concern at the dire humanitarian
situation of the Palestinian population, in particular reports from the Jenin
refugee camp following operations by Israeli forces. It welcomed the initiative
of the Secretary-General to develop accurate information on what happened in
the Jenin refugee camp through a fact-finding team. However, the Secretary-
General had to disband his fact-finding team after less than two weeks in the
face of Israeli difficulties with the deployment of the team. Council members
regretted that development but continued to support fully the efforts of the
Secretary-General in that regard. In its resolution 1435 (2002), the Security
Council expressed grave concern at the reoccupation of the headquarters of the
President of the Palestinian Authority in the city of Ramallah that took place
on 19 September 2002, demanding its immediate end. It also demanded that
Israel immediately cease measures in and around Ramallah, including the
destruction of the Palestinian civilian and security infrastructure, and
demanded the expeditious withdrawal of the Israeli occupying forces from
Palestinian cities. The Council called on the Palestinian Authority to meet its
expressed commitment to ensure that those responsible for terrorist acts are
brought to justice by it. In resolution 1435 (2002), the Council condemned all
terrorist attacks against any civilians and reiterated the need for respect in all
circumstances of international humanitarian law. It also reiterated its demand
for the complete cessation of all acts of violence. Finally, the Council
expressed its full support for the efforts of the Quartet and called upon the
Government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and all States in the region to
cooperate with those efforts, and recognized in that context the continuing
importance of the initiative endorsed at the Arab League Beirut Summit.”
4. In a note verbale dated 27 June 2002 to the parties concerned, the Secretary-
General sought the positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon
and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as that of the Palestine Liberation
Organization, regarding any steps taken by them to implement the relevant
provisions of the resolution. As at 15 November 2002, the following replies had
been received.
Note verbale dated 15 August 2002 from the Permanent
Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General
“As the Secretary-General is aware, Israel voted against this resolution
and similar resolutions adopted by the General Assembly in previous sessions.
In the light of the urgent need to bring an end to all acts of violence and
terrorism in the region and to return to the agreed negotiating process, Israel
wishes to put on record, once again, its position on this matter.
“Israel views the aforementioned General Assembly resolution not only
as unbalanced, but also as undue interference in matters which the parties have
agreed to resolve within the context of direct bilateral negotiations.
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“The current violence in the region is a result of a Palestinian decision to
abandon peace negotiations and pursue their goals through violence and
terrorism. The one-sided approach reflected in the resolution, which seeks to
dictate the outcome of the negotiating process, effectively rewards violence at
a time when the Palestinian side should be compelled to renounce all acts of
violence and terrorism and return to the path of peaceful dialogue.”
Note verbale dated 3 October 2002 from the Permanent Observer of
Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
“General Assembly resolution 56/36, which is the main political
resolution regarding the question of Palestine, was adopted by the General
Assembly at its fifty-sixth session by an overwhelming majority (131-6-20),
reflecting long-established convictions and positions of the international
community on this important issue. In resolution 56/36, the Assembly recalls
several principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations,
including, inter alia, the principle of equal rights and self-determination of
peoples and the principle of inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
force. In the resolution, the Assembly also expresses its full support for the
peace process and sets forth the basis for a just settlement of the question of
Palestine. Further, the Assembly emphasizes the permanent responsibility of
the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine until it is resolved
in all its aspects and emphasizes the importance of a more active and expanded
role for the Organization in the peace process.
“In addition to the reaffirmation of principles, the General Assembly
addresses in resolution 56/36 the serious deterioration of the situation on the
ground in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the
difficulties facing the Middle East peace process. In this regard, the Assembly
expresses its deep concern over the tragic events that have taken place in
Occupied East Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 28
September 2000, resulting in a high number of deaths and injuries, mostly
among Palestinian civilians. Deep concern is also expressed over the continued
imposition of closures and restrictions by Israel on the Occupied Palestinian
Territory and the Israeli incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas and
actions against Palestinian institutions.
“Furthermore, in resolution 56/36, the General Assembly, inter alia, calls
upon the concerned parties, the co-sponsors of the peace process and other
interested parties, as well as the entire international community, to exert all
efforts and initiatives necessary to immediately reverse all measures taken on
the ground since 28 September 2000 and to ensure a speedy resumption of the
peace process. Regrettably, the peace process has not resumed as the Israeli
side has continued to refuse to adhere to understandings and agreements
reached between the two sides and to implement overdue provisions.
Moreover, during this time, the Israeli occupying forces have only continued to
carry out daily military actions against the Palestinian people and the
Palestinian leadership, including against the President of the Palestinian
Authority. This Israeli military campaign intensified in particular in March
2002, leading to the reoccupation of Palestinian cities, the destruction of most
of the institutions of the Palestinian Authority, and almost a return to the
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situation before the peace process. Overwhelmingly, the actions taken by the
occupying forces in the course of this bloody military campaign have
constituted grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949. Indeed, the
Israeli occupying forces have committed countless war crimes, State terrorism
and systematic human rights violations against the Palestinian people in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem. As a result, the situation
on the ground has continued to gravely deteriorate.
“The dramatic and tragic decline of the situation since last year has been
characterized by an escalation of the excessive and indiscriminate use of force
by the Israeli occupying forces against the Palestinian people, including
children, women and men. Throughout this time, the Israeli occupying forces
continued to launch attacks in Palestinian cities, towns and refugee camps,
using all forms of heavy weaponry, including tanks, helicopter gunships and
warplanes. Since 28 September 2000, and as of the date of this note, the Israeli
occupying forces have killed more than 1,830 Palestinians. Many of the
killings committed in the past year by the occupying forces have been wilful
killings and targeted extrajudiciary executions. In addition, more than 35,000
Palestinians have been injured, many critically and many suffering permanent
disabilities. The occupying forces have also abducted and detained thousands
of Palestinians, particularly males, throughout this period.
“At the same time, the Israeli occupying forces have caused vast
destruction to Palestinian homes, land and vital infrastructure. Thousands of
homes have been damaged or completely demolished, leaving thousands of
Palestinians homeless. Countless agricultural fields have been laid to ruin by
the occupying forces and hundreds of thousands of productive trees have been
uprooted. Public buildings, facilities and institutions have been destroyed,
water and electricity networks have been damaged and disrupted, and hundreds
of roads have been bulldozed or razed. In addition, the occupying forces have
even inflicted damage on United Nations property, particularly facilities and
buildings of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the area. Moreover, Israel, the
occupying Power, has continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of persons and goods, including humanitarian and medical aid and
personnel, into and out of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. This military
siege being imposed and the constant, and frequently round-the-clock, curfews
have further devastated the difficult socio-economic conditions of the
Palestinian people. Indeed, they have caused the total disruption and virtual
collapse of the economic, social, health, educational and cultural life of the
Palestinian people, who for many months now have been facing a dire
humanitarian crisis.
“The actions and measures taken by Israel, the occupying Power, have, as
noted, violated international humanitarian law and they have also violated
relevant resolutions of the United Nations, including those of the Security
Council. Since the adoption of General Assembly resolution 56/36, the
Security Council has adopted five resolutions on the matter, namely resolution
1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, resolution 1402 (2002) of 30 March 2002,
resolution 1403 (2002) of 4 April 2002, resolution 1405 (2002) of 19 April
2002, and resolution 1435 (2002) of 24 September 2002. In addition, the
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General Assembly resumed its tenth emergency special session, on illegal
Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, in December 2001 and in May 2002, adopting three
resolutions in total, namely resolutions ES-10/8 and ES-10/9 of 20 December
2001 and ES-10/10 of 7 May 2002. Israel, the occupying Power, has not fully
complied with any of those resolutions, further exacerbating the already grave
situation.
“The provisions of the above-mentioned resolutions of the Security
Council and of the tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly, if
complied with and implemented, would, both then and now, have certainly
contributed to a calming of the situation on the ground, with many lives saved,
as well as to a resumption of peace negotiations between the two sides. In this
regard, the Palestinian side has repeatedly expressed its support for those
resolutions and expressed readiness to adhere to the provisions of the
resolutions. A review of the provisions of the above-mentioned Security
Council resolutions is pertinent to illustrate how it is Israeli non-compliance
that has prevented the full implementation of those resolutions and has
perpetuated the cycle of tragic violence on the ground.
“In resolution 1397 (2002), the Security Council affirmed, for the first
time, the Council’s vision of a region in which two States, Israel and Palestine,
live side by side within secure and recognized borders. It is important here to
note that this resolution, along with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967)
and 338 (1973) and the Arab Peace Initiative initiated by Saudi Crown Prince
Abdullah and adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its
summit held in Beirut in March 2002, have become widely accepted as the
basis for a just, lasting and comprehensive solution for the Arab-Israeli
conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine.
“As the violence continued to escalate in late March 2002 and thereafter,
the Security Council adopted the other four resolutions mentioned above in
addition to issuing two presidential statements in April (S/PRST/2002/9) and
July 2002 (S/PRST/2002/20). In resolution 1402 (2002), adopted in response
to the reoccupation of Palestinian cities, the Council called for an immediate
ceasefire; the withdrawal of Israeli occupying forces from Palestinian cities,
including Ramallah; a cessation of all acts of violence; and cooperation with
efforts to implement the Tenet security work plan and the Mitchell Committee
recommendations. As indicated in our note last year, Israel resisted all efforts
to implement those recommendations and even took positions undermining
them. In the process, Israel managed to bury the Mitchell recommendations,
thus destroying yet another international attempt to end the cycle of violence
and to extricate the parties from the current situation. Security Council
resolution 1403 (2002) followed, with the Council demanding the
implementation without delay of resolution 1402 (2002), which is still without
results on the ground. Actually, Israel, the occupying Power, has publicly
rejected both resolutions and continues to this date with its reoccupation of
Palestinian cities.
“With the continued deterioration of the situation on the ground, and the
intensification of attacks by the occupying forces, especially in the Jenin
refugee camp in April 2002, the Security Council convened once again and
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adopted resolution 1405 (2002), expressing its concern at the dire humanitarian
situation of the Palestinian population, in particular reports from the Jenin
refugee camp of an unknown number of deaths and destruction. The Council
also welcomed the initiative of the Secretary-General to develop accurate
information regarding the events in the Jenin refugee camp through a factfinding
team. However, the Secretary-General, had to disband the team in the
face of Israeli refusal to cooperate with him in the implementation of
resolution 1405 (2002). Pursuant to the request made by the General Assembly
in its resolution ES-10/10 of 7 May 2002, the Secretary-General presented a
report (A/ES-10/186), drawing upon the available resources and information,
on the events that had taken place in Jenin and in other Palestinian cities.
“The Palestinian side took the necessary steps in response to the
Secretary-General’s request to provide information relevant to the
implementation of resolution ES-10/10. A detailed Palestinian report was
submitted to the Secretary-General to assist in the development of an accurate
assessment of the atrocities and serious violations of international law
committed by the Israeli occupying forces against the Palestinian people. The
Israeli side, however, refused to cooperate with the Secretary-General and
submitted no response or information in that regard. Although the Secretary-
General did present a report on the matter, the issue has not been closed, as a
full investigation was not possible owing to Israel’s intransigence. The
international community should continue to condemn the atrocities and war
crimes committed in the Jenin refugee camp as well as the Israeli prevention of
a full investigation, in addition to condemning other Israeli atrocities
committed in other Palestinian cities.
“Most recently, in resolution 1435 (2002), the Security Council expressed
its grave concern at the reoccupation of the headquarters of the President of the
Palestinian Authority in Ramallah that took place in September 2002,
demanding its immediate end. It also demanded that Israel immediately cease
measures in and around Ramallah, including the destruction of Palestinian
civilian and security infrastructure, and demanded as well the expeditious
withdrawal of the Israeli occupying forces from Palestinian cities.
Furthermore, the Council condemned all terrorist attacks against any civilians
and reiterated the need to respect international humanitarian law in all
circumstances. It also reiterated its demand for the complete cessation of all
acts of violence. Finally, in resolution 1435 (2002), the Council expressed its
full support for the efforts of the Quartet and called upon the Government of
Israel, the Palestinian Authority and all States in the region to cooperate with
those efforts. Israel, the occupying Power, as a result of international pressure,
has indeed ended its siege of the headquarters of the President of the
Palestinian Authority. While that was a step in the right direction, all
provisions of the resolution must be implemented.
“The Palestinian side has repeatedly expressed its readiness to cooperate
with the efforts of the Quartet and other concerned parties and continues to do
so, especially with regard to efforts for the full implementation of resolution
1435 (2002). In general, the efforts of the Quartet must be renewed and
intensified in the face of the ongoing decline of the situation on the ground,
with the consequent negative impact on the stability and security of the region,
and the grave humanitarian crisis being faced by the Palestinian people.
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Simultaneously, serious efforts must be undertaken, as stressed in resolution
56/36, towards the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to establish an
independent State. This can only be fully achieved with the withdrawal of
Israel from the Palestinian territory it has illegally occupied since 1967.
“Palestine expresses its appreciation for the role being played by the
United Nations in this regard, including the efforts and important role of the
Secretary-General. In particular, Palestine expresses its support for the
Secretary-General’s calls for the political, security and economic issues to be
dealt with in tandem. Palestine stresses the necessity for a comprehensive
approach, which would also mean spelling out the form of the final settlement
in advance while reaching agreement on specific steps leading to it. In
addition, Palestine expresses its strong support for the proposal made by the
Secretary-General before the Security Council, on 18 April 2002, for the
deployment of a robust and credible multinational force to help end the cycle
of violence and establish a secure environment in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, conducive to the resumption of normal economic activity by the
Palestinian people, the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian and development
assistance and the implementation of prior commitments and agreements
between the two sides, thereby creating favourable conditions for the
resumption of political negotiations towards a final settlement.”
Note verbale dated 23 July 2002 from the Permanent
Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations
addressed to the Secretary-General
“The Syrian Arab Republic has repeatedly affirmed that the
establishment of a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East must be
based on the implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions,
namely Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and on the
principle of land for peace which was the basis on which the peace process was
launched in Madrid in 1991.
“The Syrian Arab Republic affirms that the case of Palestine is at the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict and that it is therefore essential to achieve a
just settlement based on the resolutions of the United Nations, the
establishment of an independent Palestinian State with its capital in Jerusalem,
guaranteeing the right of the Palestinian people to return and their right to selfdetermination
on the basis of the principle of the equal rights of peoples,
which is one of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations, and the resolution of the problem of the Palestinian refugees in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948.
“The establishment of a just and comprehensive peace in the region
requires Israel, the occupying Power, to withdraw from all the Arab territories
it occupied in 1967 to the line of 4 June, including Jerusalem and the Syrian
Golan, and also from the remaining occupied Lebanese territories, to guarantee
the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among
them being the right to self-determination and the right to establish an
independent State on the soil of its homeland with Jerusalem as its capital.
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This requires Israel to cease its hostile and expansionist policies that are
subversive of peace and to defer to international legitimacy and renounce its
policy of hegemonism, the building of settlements and the confiscation of land,
thereby ensuring the establishment of a just and comprehensive peace in the
region.”
II. Observations
5. Over the past year, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has deteriorated further,
eroding many of the achievements of the peace process. The ongoing cycle of
violence and retaliation has further inflamed political tensions and caused a
significant death toll on both sides. The international community, united in its
support for the vision of two States living side by side in peace and security, has
continued to develop initiatives aimed at stopping the violence and bringing the
parties back to the negotiating table.
6. Since the outbreak of the intifada at the end of September 2000, more than
1,800 Palestinians have been killed and some 25,000 injured. On the Israeli side,
more than 600 people have been killed and over 4,000 injured. I have urged both
sides to live up to their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure
the protection of civilians. Illegitimate or illegal means cannot be justified by
reference to legitimate objectives — whether they be an end to occupation and
statehood for Palestinians or security for Israelis. Beyond the question of legality,
surely we need no further reminder of the ultimate futility of the present course than
the hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries and tens of thousands of grieving
families and friends of the victims of this conflict. The parties are on a path leading
to further pain and suffering — a path that will bring neither closer to achieving its
stated goals.
7. The situation reached a particularly dangerous point at the end of March 2002,
following a Palestinian suicide bomb attack in the Israeli city of Netanya. After that
terrorist attack, which left 28 persons dead and 140 injured, the Israel Defence
Forces (IDF) launched a massive military operation in the West Bank, leading to the
reoccupation of cities under full Palestinian control (Area A). That operation, called
“Defensive Shield” by Israel, inflicted severe damage on the Palestinian security and
civilian infrastructure and created a humanitarian and human rights crisis. To
address the sharpening trend towards greater violence and the attendant
consequences for both sides, in April 2002 I proposed the deployment of a
multinational force to help provide security for Israeli and Palestinian civilians, and
to promote an environment conducive to the resumption of negotiations. This
proposal remains on the table.
8. The Israeli incursion into the Jenin refugee camp in April led to allegations of
human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law. Following
consultations with, inter alia, members of the Security Council and the Government
of Israel, I offered to send an impartial fact-finding team to compile an accurate
account of what had occurred. In resolution 1405 (2002), the Security Council
unanimously accepted that offer, and I then named a team headed by former
President Martti Ahtisaari of Finland. Israel subsequently raised objections to the
implementation of resolution 1405 (2002) that were fundamental in nature and
which effectively precluded the team’s visit to the region. With great regret, I found
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it necessary to disband the team. In May 2002, the General Assembly at its resumed
emergency special session requested me to submit a report on the events in Jenin
and other Palestinian cities on the basis of available resources and information. My
report (A/ES-10/186) was issued on 30 July 2002.
9. A particularly worrying trend was the rapid expansion of Israeli settlements in
the West Bank, including those around East Jerusalem, despite repeated international
calls for a freeze on all such activity and an end to land confiscations. These
settlements, and the road networks that serve them, are enveloping East Jerusalem,
cutting it off from other Palestinian areas in the West Bank, which would be split
into two. Other new settlement projects would bisect the northern West Bank and
encircle both Bethlehem and Hebron to the south. Such settlement activity is illegal
under international law and should be halted.
10. The escalating confrontation has had a devastating impact on the humanitarian
and economic situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Palestinian
economy has virtually ceased to function in some areas, owing largely to the Israeli
policy of curfews and closures. More and more people are living below the poverty
line. In August, I sent Ms. Catherine Bertini to the region, as my Personal
Humanitarian Envoy, to review humanitarian needs in the light of recent
developments. As Ms. Bertini noted in her report, this is not a “traditional”
humanitarian crisis. It is inextricably linked to the conflict and to the measures
imposed by Israel in response to terrorist and other attacks: closures, curfews and
tight restrictions on the movement of goods and people. On 17 September 2002, the
Quartet reviewed the recommendations contained in Ms. Bertini’s report and urged
the parties to recognize and act upon their respective responsibilities. In particular, it
urged Israel to take measures to improve the lives of Palestinians, by, inter alia,
allowing the resumption of normal economic activity, facilitating the movement of
goods, people and essential services and lifting curfews and closures. In addition,
the members of the Quartet agreed that Israel must ensure full, safe and unfettered
access for international and humanitarian personnel.
11. The growing humanitarian needs of the Palestinian population must be met. At
the same time, in doing so the international community should not lessen its efforts
to revive a sustainable peace process. It cannot be overemphasized that there is no
military solution to this conflict. The realization of legitimate Palestinian national
aspirations and genuine security for Israel can only be achieved through compromise
and a negotiated settlement. The road map being set out by the Quartet offers a way
forward (see para. 14 below).
12. Over the past year, the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian
question, has been the subject of extensive consultations and debates in the Security
Council. Since January 2002, regular briefings have been held in order to update the
Council on the latest developments in the Middle East. Five new resolutions were
adopted by the Security Council, in particular resolution 1397 (2002), affirming the
Council’s vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, would live side
by side within secure and recognized borders. This vision of a two-State solution has
gained universal support in the international community.
13. It is a matter of particular regret to me that so little remains of the mutual trust
that had been so painstakingly built between the parties. Regular and consistent
third-party involvement and encouragement is needed to help them find a way out of
the current vicious cycle of destruction. To this end, I personally and my
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representatives in the region have continued to devote a great deal of attention to
this issue. I have maintained close and regular contacts with the parties and other
leaders in the region and the international community to try to find a way forward.
14. As part of this effort, the United Nations, the United States, the Russian
Federation and the European Union came together to form a new coordinating
mechanism for international peace efforts known as the Quartet. The Quartet met for
the first time at the principals’ level at United Nations Headquarters in New York in
November 2001. At a principals’ meeting in Madrid in April 2002, the Quartet
called for a three-pronged approach to address comprehensively security, economic
and political concerns. In May 2002, in Washington, D.C., the Quartet announced its
intention to work with the parties to hold an international peace conference focused
on attaining the two-State goal set forth in Security Council resolution 1397 (2002).
In July 2002, in New York, the Quartet agreed to pursue the following goals: two
democratic States living side by side in peace and security; a complete and lasting
halt to violence and terrorism; an end to the occupation that began in 1967; a halt to
settlements; reform of the Palestinian Authority’s security and civilian institutions;
the holding of Palestinian elections; and the conclusion of permanent settlement
negotiations on the outstanding issues within three years. In September 2002, the
Quartet agreed on a three-year, three-phase implementation road map to achieve a
comprehensive settlement. Progress would be based on compliance with specific
performance benchmarks to be monitored and assessed by the Quartet. The details
of that road map are being worked out. In this context, I am very encouraged by the
growing involvement of the parties and neighbouring Arab States in a direct
dialogue with the Quartet.
15. In March 2002, the Summit of the League of Arab States unanimously
adopted — as the Arab Peace Initiative — the plan proposed by Crown Prince
Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia calling for full Israeli withdrawal from all
the Arab territories occupied since June 1967 and for Israel’s acceptance of an
independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital, in return for the
establishment of normal relations with the Arab countries in the context of a
comprehensive peace with Israel. This initiative introduced a new and important
element in the search for a lasting political solution: the collective political
commitment of the Arab world to long-term peace with Israel. The Arab Peace
Initiative will remain a crucial element in future peace efforts.
16. As the General Assembly has underscored on many occasions, the
achievement of a final and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine — the
core issue of the Arab-Israeli conflict — is imperative for the attainment of a
comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East. I hope that there will also be
movement on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks so that peace, security and stability
will be achieved for all people in the region on the basis of Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). It is my considered view that our common
vision for a truly comprehensive peace can only be realized if all concerned, namely
the parties, the key regional players, and the wider international community, live up
to their respective responsibilities and work together to make it possible.
17. For its part, the United Nations will continue to support the resumption of a
meaningful peace process and will remain at the forefront of efforts to alleviate the
severe economic and social hardships of the Palestinian people. I call on the
international community to provide the necessary resources in support of United
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Nations programmes to address the deteriorating economic and humanitarian
situation of the Palestinian people, and especially to provide adequate funding for
UNRWA so that it can continue to deliver the necessary services to Palestinian
refugees. Donor assistance is especially crucial at a time when the humanitarian
situation is so critical.
18. I should like to pay special tribute to Terje Roed-Larsen, United Nations
Special Coordinator and my Personal Representative, and to the staff of the Office
of the Special Coordinator, as well as to Peter Hansen, Commissioner-General of
UNRWA and the staff of that Agency and all other United Nations agencies, who
have rendered sterling service while working under the most demanding and
difficult circumstances.
United Nations A/58/416–S/2003/947
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
10 October 2003
Original: English
03-55381 (E) 291003
*0355381*
General Assembly
Fifty-eighth session
Agenda items 37 and 38
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Fifty-eighth year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General*
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 57/110 of 3 December 2002. It contains replies received from the
President of the Security Council and the concerned parties to the notes verbales sent
by the Secretary-General pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 10 of the
resolution. The report also contains the observations of the Secretary-General on the
current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on international efforts to revive
the peace process with a view to achieving a peaceful solution.
* The present report was submitted after the established deadline in order to include as much
updated information as possible.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution
57/110 of 3 December 2002.
2. On 17 June 2003, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 10 of the
above-mentioned resolution, I addressed the following letter to the President of the
Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 57/110, which the General
Assembly adopted on 3 December 2002, at its fifty-seventh session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 10 of the resolution requests the Secretary-General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit a
report on these efforts and on developments on this matter.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 31 July 2003.”
3. On 31 July 2003 the following reply was received from the Security Council:
“The Security Council continues to discuss the situation in the Middle
East, including the Palestinian question on a regular basis, in particular with
monthly briefings from the Secretary-General, the UN Special Coordinator for
the Middle East Peace Process, Terje Roed-Larsen, or senior Secretariat staff.
In September 2002 the ‘Quartet’ agreed that there was a need for a
performance-based Road Map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict.
“Shortly after this meeting, following a further increase in violence and
terrorist acts, Israeli reoccupation of Palestinian cities and restrictions placed
on Palestinians and the resulting impact on their humanitarian situation, the
Council had an open meeting and subsequently adopted resolution 1435 (2002)
of 24 September 2002. In that resolution the Council reiterated its demand for
the complete cessation of all acts of violence. It demanded that Israel cease
measures in and around Ramallah and withdraw its occupying forces from
Palestinian cities and return them to positions held prior to September 2000.
The Council called on the Palestinian Authority to meet its commitment to
bring to justice those responsible for terrorist acts.
“The Council was not able to agree on a draft resolution on 20 December
2002, tabled following the death of several UN employees working in the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip and the destruction of a WFP [World Food
Programme] warehouse.
“The Council continues to follow the work of the ‘Quartet’, whose Road
Map was officially handed over to the parties on 30 April 2003. In June 2003
the Council Presidency reiterated the support for the Road Map and the
Quartet’s efforts in a statement to the press. The Council continues to discuss
the situation in the Middle East monthly, with regular reports from the
Secretariat, the latest on 17 July 2003.
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“During all these efforts, the Security Council continues to support a
comprehensive and just settlement in the Middle East based on Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 1397 (2002), the foundations
of the Madrid Conference, the principle of land for peace, agreements
previously reached by the Parties, and the initiatives of Saudi Crown Prince
Abdullah endorsed at the Beirut Arab League Summit.”
4. In notes verbales dated 16 and 19 June 2003 to the parties concerned, I sought
the positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian
Arab Republic, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization, regarding any steps
taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at 17
September 2003, the following replies had been received:
Note verbale dated 25 July 2003 from the Permanent
Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed
to the Secretary-General
“As the Secretary-General is aware, Israel voted against this resolution,
as well as against similar resolutions adopted by the General Assembly in
previous sessions. In light of the urgent need to bring an end to all acts of
violence and terrorism in the region and to further the agreed negotiating
process, Israel wishes to put on record, once again, its position on this matter.
“Israel views the aforementioned General Assembly resolution not only
as unbalanced, but also as an undue interference in matters which the parties
have agreed to resolve within the context of direct bilateral negotiations.
“The violence in the region has been a result of a Palestinian decision to
abandon peace negotiations and pursue their goals through violence and
terrorism. The one-sided approach reflected in the resolution, which seeks to
dictate the outcome of the negotiating process, effectively rewards violence at
a time when the Palestinian side should discontinue all acts of violence and
terrorism and boldly pursue the path of peaceful dialogue.
“The time to put an end to such biased UN resolutions is long overdue,
requiring immediate and serious consideration by the Secretary-General. These
one-sided resolutions are not only out of touch with reality and anachronistic,
they are counterproductive to the very spirit of peace. Rather than promoting a
vision which recognizes the rights and obligations of both sides, these
resolutions obscure the efforts of the parties to achieve a negotiated outcome,
at a moment when encouraging changes in the Middle East region have opened
a critical window of opportunity in the peace process.”
Note verbale dated 4 August 2003 from the Permanent
Observer of Palestine to the United Nations addressed
to the Secretary-General
“As reflected in the voting results, resolution 57/110 actually garnered
more support from the Assembly during the 57th session. The resolution was
adopted by the General Assembly by an overwhelming majority (160-4-3),
reaffirming long-established convictions and positions of the international
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community on this important issue. Resolution 57/110 recalls several
principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations,
including, inter alia, the principle of equal rights and self-determination of
peoples and the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory
by war. In the resolution, the Assembly also expresses its full support for the
peace process and sets forth the basis for a just settlement of the question of
Palestine. The resolution stresses the need for (a) the withdrawal of Israel from
the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967; and (b) the realization of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to selfdetermination
and the right to their independent State. It also stresses the need
for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with its
resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948.
“The resolution also welcomes the affirmation by the Security Council of
a vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side
within secure and recognized borders. In regard to the peace process,
resolution 57/110 affirms the urgent need for the parties to cooperate with all
international efforts, including the efforts of the Quartet of the United States of
America, the Russian Federation, the European Union and the United Nations,
to end the current tragic situation and to resume negotiations towards a final
peace settlement. Resolution 57/110 also welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative
adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session,
held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002. Moreover, the resolution emphasizes
the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question
of Palestine until it is solved in all its aspects and emphasizes the importance
of a more active and expanded role for the organization in the peace process.
“In addition to the reaffirmation of the above-mentioned principles and
positions, resolution 57/110 addresses the grave situation on the ground in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The resolution
expresses its grave concern over the tragic events in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000 and the
continued deterioration of the situation, including the rising number of deaths
and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the deepening humanitarian
crisis facing the Palestinian people and the widespread destruction of
Palestinian property and infrastructure, both private and public, including
many institutions of the Palestinian Authority. The resolution also expresses its
grave concern over the repeated incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas
and the reoccupation of many Palestinian population centres by the Israeli
occupying forces. Resolution 57/110 also deals with another important aspect
regarding the question of Palestine by affirming the illegality of Israeli
settlements in the territories occupied since 1967, as well as the illegality of
Israeli acts aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem.
“It is extremely regrettable that Israel has chosen to, once more, vote
against resolution 57/110, defying the overwhelming majority of Member
States and choosing to continue with its illegal actions and measures in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. In this connection,
Israel has chosen to refuse the reasonable and sound foundation for the
establishment of peace between Israel and Palestine, as well as in the Middle
East region as a whole. In regard to the situation on the ground for most of the
reporting period, Israeli occupying forces continued with its bloody military
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campaign against the Palestinian people, committing additional grave breaches
of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons
in Time of War, of 12 August 1949. The Israeli occupying forces have
continued to commit countless war crimes, State terrorism and systematic
human rights violations against the Palestinian people in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
“Throughout most of the reporting period, the Israeli occupying forces
also continued to launch attacks in Palestinian cities, towns and refugee camps,
using all forms of heavy weaponry, including tanks, helicopter gunships and
warplanes. Since 28 September 2000, and as of the date of this note, the Israeli
occupying forces have killed around 2,500 Palestinians. Many of the killings
committed in the past year by the occupying forces have been wilful killings
and targeted extrajudiciary executions. Also, more than 45,000 Palestinian
have been injured, many critically and many suffering permanent disabilities.
The occupying forces have also abducted and detained thousands of
Palestinians, particularly males, throughout this period. In addition, thousands
of Palestinians continue to be illegally held in Israeli prisons and detention
centres.
“In spite of the above, the official presentation of the Road Map by the
Quartet on 30 April 2003 presented the parties with a new chance to end the
tragic situation on the ground and to achieve a final settlement, including the
realization of the two-State solution. The Palestinian side has, indeed, accepted
the Road Map and has expressed readiness for its full implementation. The
Israeli side, however, after a great deal of equivocation, declared its acceptance
along with a lengthy list of “concerns” or “conditions” in spite of the efforts of
the Quartet and the relatively positive atmosphere. The Israeli government has
yet to comply with any of its obligations under the Road Map. Nevertheless,
the violent situation on the ground has greatly calmed down as a result of the
efforts made by the Palestinian government to secure assurances from all
Palestinian groups to a ceasefire agreement, thus providing reasonable ground
for the progress in the peace process.
“The Israeli government has not removed the unauthorized outposts of
the Jewish settlements as required by the Road Map, and even has continued
with its settlement activities, including the building of new units and the
confiscation of additional Palestinian land. In this regard, the building by
Israel, the occupying Power, of an illegal wall that cuts deep into the Occupied
Palestinian Territory has led to a de facto confiscation of thousands of dunums
of Palestinian land. Furthermore, the wall has served to isolate many
Palestinian communities from one another and has destroyed their means of
livelihood. This has represented the most flagrant violation of not only the
Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in
Time of War, of 12 August 1949, but of the Road Map itself. The continuation
of Israeli settlement activity and the building of the illegal wall can only
ensure the complete destruction of the Road Map — the latest initiative in
pursuit of Palestinian-Israeli peace.
“In addition to the above, Israel has also continued with its reoccupation
of many Palestinian cities. It has also continued with its imposition of severe
restrictions on the movement of persons and goods within the Occupied
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Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Furthermore, Israel has also
continued with its prevention of the free movement of the President of the
Palestinian Authority from and to his headquarters in Ramallah. It is, indeed,
inconceivable for the peace process to proceed forward with such Israeli
policies and measures in place. Further efforts of the Quartet are urgently
needed to achieve an end to such policies and measures.
“Palestine expresses its appreciation for the role being played by the
United Nations, including the efforts and the important role played by the
Secretary-General. Palestine also expresses its appreciation to the Quartet and
emphasizes the need for intensifying its role to ensure the honest
implementation of the Road Map in its entirety. In this regard, a monitoring
mechanism, as required by the Road Map, must be established in a speedy
manner to ensure such implementation.”
[Original: Arabic]
Note verbale dated 3 July 2003 from the Permanent
Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the
United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
“The Syrian Arab Republic supported General Assembly resolution
57/100 of 3 December 2002 entitled ‘Peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine’, which states that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the
attainment of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East and refers
to, in particular, Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
“Once again, the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic affirms the
statements made in the resolution respecting the illegality of the Israeli
settlements in the territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at
changing the status of Jerusalem. The Government further affirms that those
measures and settlement activities represent fundamental obstacles to the
conclusion of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and that
successive Israeli Governments have had no political will to conclude a lasting
and comprehensive peace in the region based on United Nations resolutions.
The Israeli rejection of the principle of the equality of peoples with respect to
rights and of the right to self-determination, which is one of the purposes and
principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, represents a further
obstacle to the peace that is sought.
“The Syrian Arab Republic expresses total support for the affirmation
made in the resolution respecting the principle that underlies Security Council
resolution 242 (1967), namely, the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by war, and condemns the continuation by Israel of aggressive acts
and incursions into the Palestinian territories, its destruction of homes,
expropriation of land and detention, assassination and expulsion from their
homes, villages and towns of Palestinian persons. Such actions are indicative
of the true intentions of Israel, namely, to maintain and prolong the occupation
and to refuse to comply with United Nations resolutions or the desire of the
international community to resolve the question of Palestine in conformity
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with the relevant Security Council resolutions and, in particular, resolutions
242 (1967) and 338 (1973). Such resolutions affirm the need for the Israeli
occupation of Arab territories to end and for the Palestinian people to be
empowered to exercise the right to self-determination and to establish an
independent State on its native soil.”
[Original: Arabic]
Note verbale dated 4 August 2003 from the Permanent
Representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to
the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
“The question of Palestine is regarded by Jordan as a fundamental issue.
From the outset, efforts to resolve it have taken up a major part of the attention
of the Jordanian leadership. Jordan has therefore worked unremittingly at all
levels with a view to arriving at an equitable solution that would restore the
legitimate rights of the fraternal Palestinian people as the only means of
achieving security and stability in the region. Jordan’s conception of such a
solution is in keeping with international legitimacy and the relevant resolutions
of the United Nations, foremost among them Security Council resolutions 242
(1967) and 338 (1973), together with General Assembly resolution 194 (III),
which is regarded as the basis for resolving the issue of Palestinian refugees.
Accordingly, together with the international family of nations, Jordan is
committed to the necessity of achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting
peace in the Middle East on the basis of the United Nations resolutions in
implementation of the principle of land for security and recognition, the
principle that is the starting point of all international efforts to resolve this
enduring conflict.
“On a practical level, this implies the necessity of Israel’s withdrawal
from all occupied Arab territories to the borders of 4 June 1967, the resolution
of the problem of Palestinian refugees on the basis of the guarantee of the right
of return and the right to compensation and implementation of the right of the
Palestinian people to self-determination in its own national territory. It also
implies the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian State
enjoying sovereignty over its national territory. That being so, Jordan has
welcomed all the international initiatives and efforts, all of which have had the
objective of giving effect to that vision. Foremost among those efforts have
been the Arab initiative adopted by the Fourteenth Arab Summit in Beirut in
2002 and the initiative of Mr. George Bush, President of the United States of
America, in June 2002. In keeping with that, Jordan has been working to create
conditions conducive to the resumption of negotiations between the Palestinian
and Israeli sides, has participated with the international parties involved in the
finalization of the “road map” and is now working on its implementation as
published after acceptance of it by both parties at the Summit convened in
Aqaba, Jordan, on 4 June 2003 and attended by Mr. George Bush, President of
the United States of America, Mr. Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister of Israel, and
Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister of Palestine. Jordan is convinced that the
declaration of a truce by the Palestinian groups is a positive development and
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that all parties must work to consolidate it by abiding by their obligations
under the road map.
“Furthermore, Jordan has stressed the importance of the role of the
United Nations and of the international community in bringing about a
comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East and the necessity of not
relinquishing support for the Palestinian people and its legitimate leadership
until it has obtained its rights. In this context we welcomed the statement by
President George Bush of his support for the establishment of a Palestinian
State by 2005 living in peace side by side with Israel. We also welcomed the
efforts of the Quartet of the United States, the European Union, the Russian
Federation and the United Nations.
“Jordan also urged the Ministerial Meeting of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference held in Tehran last May to welcome the road map as an
opportunity to strengthen international efforts to end the occupation and to
achieve a lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis leading to the
establishment of an independent Palestinian State. The Meeting called for the
implementation of the road map as published.”
II. Observations
5. The past year witnessed the emergence of some hope of a turning point in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For the first time since September 2000, both parties,
with the active assistance of the international community, in particular the Quartet
(the Russian Federation, the United States of America, the European Union and the
United Nations), committed themselves to serious and meaningful negotiations to
halt the violence and reach a peaceful settlement. However, renewed violence in the
latter half of August 2003 signalled the breakdown of the ceasefire and a reversal in
progress. In the renewed cycle of violence and counter-violence, suicide bombings
by Palestinian militant groups and targeted assassinations of members of those
groups by Israel have regrettably resumed. Consequently, the implementation of the
road map has been frozen, and some steps have actually been reversed.
6. Amid the escalation of the conflict in 2002, members of the Quartet jointly
elaborated a “road map” to realize the vision of a two-State solution. After
consultations with the parties and neighbouring Arab States, agreement was reached
on the text of the road map at the meeting of the Quartet principals in Washington,
D.C., on 20 December 2002. The performance-based and goal-driven road map
presented clear phases, time lines, target dates and benchmarks aimed at the
progression by the two parties through reciprocal steps in the political, security,
economic, humanitarian and institution-building fields under the auspices of the
Quartet. The goal of the road map is to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and
end the occupation that began in 1967 on the basis of the 1991 Madrid peace
conference, the principle of land for peace, Security Council resolutions 242 (1967),
338 (1973) and 1397 (2002), agreements reached previously by the parties and the
Arab Peace Initiative of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, which was endorsed by the
Council of the League of Arab States at its summit meeting held in Beirut on 27 and
28 March 2002 (see A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II). A settlement would lead to
the emergence of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian State living side
by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbours.
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7. With the help of the international community, notable progress has been
achieved in reforming the Palestinian Authority. The United Kingdom hosted the
Task Force on Palestinian Reform in London on 20 February 2003, which welcomed
the Government of Israel’s decision to resume monthly transfers of Palestinian tax
revenues and the considerable progress made by the Palestinian Authority in its
reform efforts, especially in the fiscal sector.
8. On 18 March 2003, President Yasser Arafat approved a bill of amendments to
the Palestinian Authority Basic Law to create the post and define the powers of
Prime Minister. On 29 April 2003, the Palestinian Legislative Council confirmed
Mahmoud Abbas and his new cabinet in office. This was an important step for
which Prime Minister Abbas, President Arafat and the Palestinian Legislative
Council deserved to be commended. However, early September saw the resignation
of Prime Minister Abbas and the nomination of Ahmed Qurei, the Speaker of the
Palestinian Legislative Council, as his successor.
9. Throughout this period, Israel persisted in its efforts to confine the elected
President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Arafat, to his headquarters in the West
Bank. On 11 September 2003, the Israeli security cabinet agreed in principle on the
removal of Mr. Arafat from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. I have strongly urged the
Israeli security cabinet to reconsider this decision as I believe that the forcible
transfer of Mr. Arafat would be dangerous and counterproductive given the
instability in the region.
10. On 30 April 2003, the road map was officially submitted to the parties (see
S/2003/529, annex). At the beginning of June 2003, at the Aqaba Summit, organized
by President Bush and hosted by Jordan, Prime Ministers Sharon and Abbas made a
firm commitment to begin implementation of the road map. In this context, I was
encouraged by the resumption of direct contacts and talks between Prime Ministers
Sharon and Abbas.
11. The Quartet principals met again in Amman on 22 June 2003 and reviewed the
steps needed to begin implementation of the road map. They called upon the
Palestinian Authority to make all possible efforts to halt the activities of groups and
individuals planning and conducting terror attacks against Israelis. While
recognizing Israel’s right to self-defence, the Quartet called upon the Government of
Israel to respect international humanitarian law and to exert maximum efforts to
avoid civilian casualties among the Palestinians. It also pointed out that steps must
be taken to improve the humanitarian situation and to normalize the daily lives of
the Palestinian people.
12. The first steps taken by the parties to start implementation of the road map
included the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of the Gaza Strip and Bethlehem
and the declaration of a ceasefire by various Palestinian groups, which was arranged
with the active involvement of the Egyptian Government. President Bush deployed
Ambassador John Wolf to lead the informal monitoring structure of phase I
commitments on the ground, in full cooperation with other Quartet members.
13. Over the past year, the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian
question, remained the subject of extensive consultations and debates in the Security
Council. The Secretariat continued to provide regular informal briefings to the
Council on the latest developments in the Middle East.
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14. I strongly believe that the principle of parallelism on which the road map is
based must be maintained. Previous peace attempts have failed because of their
reliance on sequentialism; a crucial role for the international community is to assist
the parties to address security, economic, humanitarian and political issues at the
same time.
15. The number of casualties in the past three years speaks eloquently to the need
to persevere in order to achieve a lasting resolution to the conflict. Since September
2000, more than 2,800 Palestinians and more than 800 Israelis have been killed.
Moreover, thousands have been injured. Behind each and every one of these
numbers are stories of human loss and suffering. The overwhelming majority of
casualties in Israel resulted from terrorist attacks against Israelis by various
Palestinian militant groups. Bombs have been set off in cafés and restaurants and
attacks have been carried out against public transport, including school buses,
creating a climate of fear and constant watchfulness. A large number of Palestinian
civilian casualties have resulted from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operations,
including incursions, pre-emptive strikes and the practice of targeted assassinations
of suspected militants in Palestinian areas. The use of heavy weaponry in densely
populated Palestinian areas has been of particular concern. Since the ceasefire and
redeployment at the end of June, there has been a marked decline in violence.
16. I remain deeply concerned that most of these deaths resulted from actions that
violated basic tenets of international humanitarian law, especially the obligation to
protect civilians. I have repeatedly and consistently condemned all terrorist attacks
on Israel as morally wrong and counterproductive for the Palestinian cause and have
stressed the obligation of the Palestinian Authority to assume full security
responsibility in areas still under its control. In addition, I have urged the
Government of Israel to refrain from the excessive and disproportionate use of
deadly force in civilian areas and, consistent with international humanitarian law, to
take steps to ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians.
17. Three United Nations staff members were among the many civilians killed at
the start of the period covered in the present report. Iain Hook, a British citizen, was
employed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in
the Near East (UNRWA) when he was shot and killed by IDF while in the Jenin
camp on 23 November 2002. Two Palestinian employees of UNRWA died in Gaza
on 6 December 2002 during Israeli military incursions.
18. Israel continued its policy of demolishing houses as a reaction to security
incidents. From 1 January to 21 August 2003, 158 homes of Palestinians who had
carried out attacks against Israel or who were suspected of involvement or of
planning future attacks were destroyed. Residential apartment blocks have also been
demolished following armed clashes between IDF and Palestinian militants.
19. In addition, IDF has demolished hundreds of houses, workshops and
agricultural buildings and damaged thousands more, particularly along the
Gaza/Egyptian border and in areas bordering Israeli settlements and settler roads in
order to create “buffer zones”. Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, has been one of the
worst-affected areas. In the first quarter of 2003, 161 houses were demolished there,
the greatest number of house demolitions in the occupied Palestinian territory since
September 2000. Homes and businesses have also been demolished in preparation
for the construction of the separation barrier.
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20. The confiscation of land and the levelling of agricultural land have continued
unabated, particularly in border areas, around settlements and settler roads and in
connection with the construction of the separation wall. Thousands of trees have
been uprooted and crops destroyed. The most serious destruction has occurred in the
northern Gaza Strip in the Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya areas. During the IDF
incursion into the Beit Hanoun area in May/June, over 1,000 dunums of land were
levelled, and homes and infrastructure were damaged or destroyed.
21. Continued Israeli settlement construction activity and the building of a
separation wall are two key challenges to the fulfilment of the road map’s goal of
the two-State solution. The construction of the separation wall is a unilateral act not
in keeping with the road map. Its building has involved the separation of
Palestinians from their lands and from each other. Israel’s continued expansion of
settlements and construction of bypass roads have, over time, made the creation of a
viable and contiguous Palestinian State more difficult. Despite the obligation in
phase I of the road map to dismantle settlement outposts and to freeze all settlement
expansion, the Government of Israel has not taken decisive action in that direction.
22. It has been of great concern that, despite political developments, the
humanitarian and economic situation of the Palestinian people continued to
deteriorate during the past year. This deterioration was a direct result of the policy
of systematic closures and curfews and its impact on Palestinian social and
economic life. The World Bank has found that two thirds of the population of the
West Bank and Gaza Strip live on less than $2 per day; in fact, the number of the
poor has tripled, from 637,000 in September 2000 to nearly 2 million in March
2003. Gross national income per capita has fallen to nearly half of what it was two
years before. More than half of the workforce is unemployed, and, more shockingly,
more than half of Palestinians are receiving some form of donor-financed food
assistance. The limited steps taken so far by Israel to lift closures, curfews and other
restrictions have not yet been sufficient to significantly ease the economic
deterioration in the occupied Palestinian territory and the humanitarian suffering of
the Palestinian people. I remain very concerned that the damage done to Palestinian
social and economic spheres may prove difficult to reverse unless meaningful and
urgent steps are taken to lift closures and curfews and to allow normal life to
resume.
23. The humanitarian situation was worsened this year by unprecedented
movement restrictions imposed on United Nations and non-governmental
organization personnel, especially limiting their access into and out of the Gaza
Strip. For most of May, a significant number of United Nations staff were stuck on
either side of the Erez boundary and were unable to carry out their humanitarian
tasks. Those policies violated the privileges and immunities of United Nations
personnel and ran counter to Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian
law as the occupying Power to provide for the well-being of the people of Gaza.
24. The inter-agency United Nations humanitarian action plan, released in
November 2002, includes activities to reinforce existing relief programmes and to
provide temporary assistance to the affected population in priority sectors such as
food security, health, education, employment generation and agricultural production
to help mitigate the devastating impact of repeated military incursions, closures,
curfews and economic decline. Up to mid-September, a total of $106,467,347 had
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been provided by donor Governments, or 37.4 per cent of the amount needed to
cover all activities outlined in the humanitarian action plan.
25. The humanitarian action plan also includes a recommendation that
humanitarian indicators be tracked and reported, in particular the commitments
made by the Government of Israel to my Personal Humanitarian Envoy, Catherine
Bertini. A monthly humanitarian monitoring report, issued by the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, tracks the humanitarian indicators and
commitments. During the reporting period the Office documented an overall decline
in the humanitarian situation in all but one area, namely curfews.
26. As the General Assembly has underscored on many occasions, achieving a
final and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core issue of the Arab-
Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of a comprehensive, just and lasting
peace in the Middle East. Therefore I hope that, as called for in the road map, there
will also be movement on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks so that peace, security and
stability will be achieved for all in the region on the basis of Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
27. For its part, the United Nations will continue to support the peace process and
will remain at the forefront of efforts to alleviate the severe social and economic
hardships of the Palestinian people. To that end, I will continue to press for the
implementation of the road map, which I still believe provides the best opportunity
to move forward. I will continue to maintain close and regular contact with other
members of the Quartet, as well as with the parties, regional leaders and the wider
international community, to encourage progress in these difficult and critical times.
The active engagement of the international community continues to be needed at
this critical juncture.
28. I call upon the international community to provide the resources necessary to
support United Nations programmes in addressing the deteriorating economic and
humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people, and especially to provide adequate
funding to UNRWA so that it can continue to deliver the necessary services to the
Palestinian refugees. Donor assistance is especially vital at a time when the
humanitarian situation is so critical.
29. I should like to pay special tribute to Terje Roed-Larsen, United Nations
Special Coordinator and my Personal Representative to the Palestine Liberation
Organization and the Palestinian Authority, to the staff of the Office of the United
Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories and to Commissioner-
General Peter Hansen of UNRWA, the staff of the Agency and all other United
Nations agencies, which continue to provide their sterling services while working
under most demanding and difficult circumstances.
United Nations A/59/574*–S/2004/909*
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
29 November 2004
Original: English
04-61664* (E) 291104
*0461664*
General Assembly Security Council
Fifty-ninth session
Agenda items 36 and 37
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Fifty-ninth year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General**
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 58/21. It contains replies received from the President of the Security
Council and the parties concerned to the notes verbales sent by the Secretary-General
pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 11 of that resolution. The report also
contains the observations of the Secretary-General on the current state of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict and on international efforts to revive the peace process with a
view to achieving a peaceful solution. The report covers the period from mid-
September 2003 to mid-September 2004.
* Reissued for technical reasons.
** The report was submitted after the established deadline in order to include as much updated
information as possible.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 58/21
of 3 December 2003.
2. On 13 April 2004, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 11 of that
resolution, I addressed a letter to the President of the Security Council reading as
follows:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 58/21, which the General
Assembly adopted on 3 December 2003, at its fifty-eighth session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 11 of the resolution requests the Secretary-General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit a
report on these efforts and on developments on this matter.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 31 May 2004.”
3. On 19 May 2004 a reply was received from the Security Council reading as
follows:
“The situation in the Middle East including the Palestinian question
remains one of the most important items on the Security Council agenda. The
Security Council continues to discuss and receive monthly briefings under this
item from the Secretary-General, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East
Peace Process, Terje-Roed Larsen, or senior Secretariat staff.
“In June 2003, the Council reacted positively to the issuance of the
performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict. In November 2003, the Council strengthened its support
for the road map by unanimously adopting resolution 1515 (2003). The
resolution, inter alia, endorsed the road map and called on the parties to fulfil
their obligations under the road map in cooperation with the Quartet and to
achieve the vision of two States living side by side in peace and security. The
Council continues to follow the status of the implementation of the road map
with a view to promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the
Middle East.
“During the reporting period, the Security Council held five open
meetings in response to various security challenges that surfaced, from time to
time, in the region. Following the open meeting held on 12 September 2003, at
the request of the Non-Aligned Movement Caucus and the Arab Group, the
Council presidency, in a press statement, expressed the view that the removal
of Chairman Arafat should not be implemented. The presidency also
condemned all violence and urged both sides to act with maximum restraint.
“The Council could not agree on three draft resolutions submitted for
action on 16 September 2003, 14 October 2003 and 24 March 2004. The
subjects of the draft resolutions were the safety of the President of the
Palestinian Authority, continued construction of a barrier in the Palestinian
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territories and the extrajudicial killing of Hamas leader Shaikh Yassin in Gaza,
respectively.
“The Council continues to keep the evolving situation in the Middle East
under active review through monthly briefings, open meetings and informal
consultations. During these meetings, the Council members reiterate their
support for a just and comprehensive settlement in the Middle East based on
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515
(2003), the foundations of the Madrid Conference, the principle of land for
peace, agreements previously reached by the parties and the initiative of Saudi
Crown Prince Abdullah endorsed in Beirut at the Summit-level Council of the
League of Arab States.”
4. In notes verbales dated 12 April 2004 to the parties concerned, I sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization, regarding any steps
taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at
17 September 2004, the following replies had been received:
Note verbale dated 2 July 2004 from the Permanent
Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General
“As the Secretary-General is aware, Israel voted against this resolution,
as well as against similar resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at
previous sessions. In the light of the urgent need to bring an end to all acts of
violence and terrorism in the region and to further the agreed negotiating
process, Israel wishes to put on record, once again, its position on this matter.
“Israel views the aforementioned General Assembly resolution not only
as unbalanced, but also as an undue interference in matters which the parties
have agreed to resolve within the context of direct bilateral negotiations.
“The violence in the region has been a result of a Palestinian decision to
abandon peace negotiations and pursue their goals through violence and
terrorism. The one-sided approach reflected in the resolution, which seeks to
dictate the outcome of the negotiating process, effectively rewards violence at
a time when the Palestinian side should discontinue all acts of violence and
terrorism and boldly pursue the path of peaceful dialogue, as called for in the
road map peace process, which compels the Palestinian Authority to prevent
‘all acts of violence against Israelis anywhere’.
“The time to put an end to such biased United Nations resolutions is long
overdue, requiring immediate and serious consideration by the Secretary-
General. These one-sided resolutions are not only out of touch with reality and
anachronistic, they are counterproductive to the very spirit of peace. Rather
than promoting a vision which recognizes the rights and obligations of both
sides, as articulated in the road map, these resolutions obscure the efforts of
the parties to achieve a negotiated outcome, at a moment when Prime Minister
Sharon’s courageous disengagement plan has opened a critical window of
opportunity in the peace process.”
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Note verbale dated 16 August 2004 from the Permanent Observer
of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General
“The General Assembly’s resolution on the peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine has traditionally reaffirmed rules and principles of
international law that are central, and in fact deemed to be essential, to the
peaceful and just resolution of the long-standing question of Palestine. The
overwhelming support received by this resolution is reflective of the near
consensus of the international community with regard to this issue, a
consensus rooted in positions and convictions that are based on the primacy of
international law in international relations and on the universal ideals of
justice and peace. During the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly,
Member States once again adopted this resolution by a huge majority of 160
votes in favour, with only 6 votes against and 5 abstentions.
“Among the rules and principles of international law the Assembly
reaffirms in resolution 58/21 are two fundamental ones, namely the principle
of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and the principle of the
inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, as enshrined in the
Charter of the United Nations. Other rules recalled in the resolution are
embodied in relevant General Assembly resolutions, including those adopted
by its tenth emergency special session, and Security Council resolutions,
including resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003).
Accordingly, as it reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of
the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects
and of intensifying efforts towards that end, the Assembly, inter alia, stresses
the need for the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied
since 1967 and the need for the realization of the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to
their independent State. The resolution also stresses the need for resolving the
problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with the Assembly’s
resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948.
“As regards the efforts for achieving a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine, the Assembly significantly reaffirms the permanent
responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine
until it is resolved in all its aspects, reaffirms also its full support for the
Middle East peace process and the existing agreements between the Israeli and
Palestinian sides, welcomes the efforts of the Quartet aimed at the
establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East,
welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the League of Arab States at
Beirut in March 2002 and calls upon both parties to fulfil their obligations in
implementation of the road map, stressing in this regard the importance and
urgency of establishing a credible and effective third-party monitoring
mechanism including all members of the Quartet. Further, towards the aim of
achieving a peaceful settlement, the Assembly, in resolution 58/21, rightly
stresses the necessity of a commitment to the two-State solution and the
principle of land for peace, as well as the implementation of the relevant
Security Council resolutions, and also stresses the need for a speedy end to the
reoccupation of Palestinian population centres and for the complete cessation
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of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror,
which in recent years have caused the grave deterioration of the situation on
the ground and have severely debilitated the search for a peaceful resolution of
the question of Palestine.
“The resolution also addresses another aspect of the question of Palestine
that constitutes an extremely relevant consideration for any efforts aimed at
resolving this tragic and protracted conflict, namely the humanitarian aspect.
The Assembly expresses its grave concern over the tragic events in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September
2000, including the rising number of deaths and injuries, mostly among
Palestinian civilians, the deepening humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian
people and the widespread destruction of Palestinian property and
infrastructure, both private and public, including many institutions of the
Palestinian Authority. In this regard, the Assembly emphasizes the importance
of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the whole Middle East region
and condemns all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides,
including the suicide bombings and extrajudicial executions. Further, with
regard to the dire humanitarian crisis being inflicted on the Palestinian people,
the Assembly urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and Palestinian
Authority during this critical period to help alleviate their suffering, rebuild
the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and support the restructuring and
reform of Palestinian institutions.
“In calling for efforts to be exerted for the peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine, the Assembly is fully aware of the urgent need for
revitalized and active international involvement to support both parties in
overcoming the current dangerous impasse in the peace process. The Assembly
affirms the urgent need for the parties to cooperate with all international
efforts and accordingly calls upon the parties concerned, the Quartet and other
interested parties to exert all efforts and initiatives necessary to halt the
deterioration of the situation and to reverse all measures taken on the ground
since 28 September 2000 and to ensure a successful and speedy resumption of
the peace process and the conclusion of a final peace settlement. The role of
the United Nations is further spelled out in resolution 58/21, with the
Assembly’s request for the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the
parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the
attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the
promotion of peace in the region, and its call upon the Secretary-General to
submit a report on the efforts and developments on this matter, the purpose to
which the present note is addressed.
“Regrettably, resolution 58/21 of 3 December 2003, like countless other
United Nations resolutions relevant to the question of Palestine, has not been
implemented. This has been mainly due to the intransigence of Israel, the
occupying Power, and its refusal to adhere to international law and to fulfil its
obligations in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and relevant
General Assembly and Security Council resolutions. Instead, Israel, the
occupying Power, has continued to blatantly and flagrantly violate and even
commit grave breaches of international law as it has persisted with its now
37-year occupation of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian land, refusing
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to withdraw its occupying forces, in compliance with Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), and relentlessly carrying out its illegal
and oppressive policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem. Indeed, not a single day has passed during which the
occupying Power has not deliberately engaged in the violation of international
law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law, in its
practices and measures against the Palestinian people, both individually and
collectively, and there is no doubt that systematic human rights violations and
war crimes continue to be committed by Israel against the Palestinian people.
“Since the Assembly’s adoption of resolution 58/21, Israel, the
occupying Power, has continued carrying out its military campaign against the
Palestinian people and has continued to use excessive, indiscriminate and
disproportionate force against Palestinian civilians, wilfully killing civilians,
including by extrajudicial execution, and causing thousands of injuries. To
date, more than 3,160 Palestinian civilians have been directly killed by the
Israeli occupying forces since September 2000 and more than 40,000
Palestinians have been injured, many critically and permanently disabled. At
the same time, the occupying Power has continued to wantonly destroy
Palestinian homes, properties, infrastructure and agricultural lands and
orchards, to detain and imprison thousands of Palestinian civilians, including
women and children, and to impose harsh measures of collective punishment
on the entire Palestinian population, including severe restrictions on the
movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
causing the further socio-economic debilitation of the Palestinian society and
exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis.
“Throughout the recent period, Israel, the occupying Power, has also
continued to intensively carry out its campaign of settler colonialism in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in direct
contravention of international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention
and Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions. The occupying Power
has continued to confiscate more and more Palestinian land, to construct and
expand illegal settlements, to build bypass roads for the armed illegal Israeli
settlers and to allow the establishment of dozens of settler outposts on
Palestinian land. Directly linked to Israel’s campaign of settler colonialism is
its ongoing construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including in and around East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
“In utter contempt of and disrespect for resolutions ES-10/13 of
21 October 2003 and ES-10/14 of 8 December 2003, and in violation of
numerous relevant provisions of international law, Israel has continued to
construct the wall and for this unlawful purpose has continued to confiscate
land, to destroy property and to impose a series of illegal restrictions,
including by means of a ‘permit system’, constituting an entire associated
regime of measures intended to facilitate its construction of the wall. The wall
and its associated regime have resulted in the complete caging-in of thousands
of Palestinian civilians in walled enclaves or ghettos and the separation and
isolation of cities, towns and villages from each other and in some cases from
within; have caused the displacement of thousands of Palestinian civilians;
have severely impaired the access of the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian
civilians in affected areas to their jobs, schools, medical facilities, farmlands
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and each other; and have led to extensive loss of livelihood and the
impoverishment of thousands of families, compounding their suffering and
hardships under Israel’s occupation.
“In the months since the adoption of resolution 58/21, the critical issue of
the wall has been the predominant concern of the international community visà-
vis the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem. In the most significant development in the United Nations system
with regard to the question of Palestine since the adoption of the partition plan
in resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, the International Court of Justice
rendered, on 9 July 2004, an Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences of
the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The
Advisory Opinion, rendered pursuant to the request made by the Assembly at
its tenth emergency special session in resolution ES-10/14 of 8 December
2003, is strong and comprehensive and represents a historic opportunity for a
return to the rule of international law in the efforts to resolve the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict. Indeed, the Advisory Opinion underscores the
applicability of, and the need for respect for, the rules and principles of
international law for resolving the issue of the wall and for the ultimate
peaceful resolution of the question of Palestine. The legal rules and principles
emphasized by the Court correspond to the very same rules and principles
repeatedly affirmed by the General Assembly in its resolutions relevant to the
question of Palestine, which for decades have been disregarded and violated by
Israel, the occupying Power.
“The International Court of Justice, in its Advisory Opinion, concluded,
inter alia, that ‘the construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying
Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East
Jerusalem, and its associated regime, are contrary to international law’. In
arriving at this determination, the Court undertook a historical analysis of the
status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, followed by an analysis to
establish whether the law had been breached and then a determination of the
legal consequences in this regard. The Court found that the area east of the
1949 Armistice Line (the ‘Green Line’) and the former eastern boundary of
Palestine under the Mandate, including East Jerusalem, was occupied by Israel
in 1967 and, under international law, considered to be occupied territory. Here
it is necessary to also recall the important adoption by the General Assembly,
on 6 May 2004, of resolution 58/292 on the status of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem.
“In brief, with regard to the specific violations of international law,
including international humanitarian law and human rights law, the Court
concluded, inter alia, that Israel’s construction of the wall and its associated
regime create a fait accompli on the ground which would be tantamount to de
facto annexation, severely impede the exercise by the Palestinian people of its
right to self-determination and therefore violate that right; have led to the
destruction or requisition of properties in contravention of relevant provisions
of the Hague Regulations and the Fourth Geneva Convention; and violate the
Palestinian people’s freedom of movement and the right to work, to health, to
education and to an adequate standard of living. In examining the route of the
wall, the Court found that not only did it depart from the Green Line, but that
the ‘wall’s sinuous route has been traced in such a way as to include within
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that area the great majority of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory (including East Jerusalem)’. In this regard, it is significant that the
Court also explicitly concluded that ‘the Israeli settlements in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory (including East Jerusalem) have been established in
breach of international law’.
“It is equally imperative to refer in this context to the importance of the
conclusions set forth by the Court in the Advisory Opinion. Following its
determination that the construction of the wall and its associated regime are
contrary to international law, the Court determined the following: that Israel is
under an obligation to terminate its breaches of international law, to cease the
construction of the wall being built in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including in and around East Jerusalem, to dismantle the structure therein
situated, and to repeal or render ineffective all legislative and regulatory acts
relating thereto; that Israel is under an obligation to make reparation for all
damage caused by the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem; that all States are under an
obligation not to recognize the illegal situation resulting from the construction
of the wall and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation
created by such construction; that all States parties to the Fourth Geneva
Convention have an additional obligation of ensuring compliance by Israel
with the Convention; and that the United Nations, especially the General
Assembly and the Security Council, should consider what further action is
required to bring to an end the illegal situation resulting from the construction
of the wall and the associated regime, taking due account of the Advisory
Opinion.
“With regard to the United Nations, the General Assembly, at its tenth
emergency special session, has already taken the first step in this respect. The
Assembly received and acknowledged the Advisory Opinion and adopted
resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, in which it, inter alia, demanded that
Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations as mentioned in
the Advisory Opinion and also called upon all States Members of the United
Nations to comply with their legal obligations as mentioned in the Advisory
Opinion. Indeed, respect for and compliance with the rules and principles of
international law, as determined in the Advisory Opinion, by Israel, the
occupying Power, and by Member States, can only positively influence the
current situation on the ground in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the
efforts for achieving a peaceful, political settlement of the conflict based on
international law.
“It is highly regrettable that the immediate reaction by Israel, the
occupying Power, to both the Advisory Opinion and resolution ES-10/15, has
been negative and defiant, with Israeli officials declaring Israel’s intention to
continue its construction of the wall and with the occupying forces in fact
carrying out that construction as well as the associated illegal measures.
Clearly, the continuing violation of international law and total disrespect for
the Advisory Opinion and the Assembly’s resolutions must continue to be a
matter of serious concern for the United Nations. The direct and grave impact
of this ongoing illegal situation on the efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement
of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is unquestionable and must be urgently
addressed by both the General Assembly and the Security Council. Israel, the
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occupying Power, has a choice: it can choose either to comply with the
Advisory Opinion or to formally become an outlaw State.
“Israel’s withdrawal from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967,
as called for by resolution 58/21 as well as by Security Council resolutions
242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and numerous other resolutions, is a fundamental
requisite for solving the question of Palestine and achieving a peaceful
settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the two-State solution.
The occupying Power’s settler colonialism and its construction of the wall in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, are the antithesis
of withdrawal and actually constitute the main obstacle, and indeed danger, to
the realization of the national rights of the Palestinian people and the
achievement of the two-State solution. Without the complete cessation and
reversal of all settlement activities and of the construction of the wall, there
can be no hope for the road map and there can be no hope for a peaceful
settlement. The international community must face this reality and take
necessary, serious measures in this regard, including the exertion of all efforts
for the full implementation of those resolution as well as full compliance with
the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice. Only by upholding
international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter can efforts
aimed at the achievement of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace succeed.
All concerned parties should intensify their efforts towards this end.
“In this regard, it is hoped that the international community and the
Quartet will exert the necessary efforts as well to salvage the road map and to
implement its provisions towards its stated aims and goals. Accordingly,
repeated Israeli attempts to evade the road map and replace it with different
steps should be rejected. The Israeli Prime Minister’s ‘unilateral
disengagement plan’ and the Israeli-American exchange of letters of 14 April
2004 are inconsistent with the road map and, moreover, the plan, and several
passages within the letters violate international law, relevant Security Council
resolutions and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the
Palestine refugees. In this regard, it must be firmly stated that the letters are
unacceptable and cannot alter the terms of reference of the peace process or
alter the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Further, any Israeli
withdrawal from the Gaza Strip should be a full and complete withdrawal and
should be accompanied by similar steps in the West Bank — that is, to
genuinely be a part of the road map. Any such withdrawal should also be
carried out in full cooperation with the Palestinian Authority.
“Palestine looks forward to the resumption of meaningful negotiations
for a final peaceful settlement and the establishment of a just, comprehensive
and lasting peace in the Middle East, including full peaceful relations between
Israel and Palestine. Until the achievement of such a peaceful settlement,
Palestine hopes for and indeed expects the continued support of the
international community and the continued exertion of genuine efforts towards
this end, including in particular by the United Nations.”
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Note verbale dated 10 May 2004 from the Permanent
Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations
addressed to the Secretary-General
[Original: Arabic]
“The Syrian Arab Republic supported General Assembly resolution
58/21 of 3 December 2003, entitled ‘Peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine’. This position was based on its belief that the attainment of a
comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East based on decisions of
international legitimacy, especially Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of
22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, will not be feasible
until a peaceful, comprehensive and just settlement of the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, has been achieved. On this
basis, the Arab countries unanimously agreed the Arab Peace Initiative
adopted by the Summit-level Council of the League of Arab States at its
fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002. In the meantime,
the Syrian Arab Republic reiterated its strategic position, based on achieving a
comprehensive and just peace, through the call by the President of the Syrian
Arab Republic for the resumption of peace talks in order to continue what was
achieved during the peace negotiations that followed the Madrid Conference in
1991.
“The Syrian Arab Republic wishes to affirm anew the contents of
General Assembly resolution 58/21 (2003) of 3 December 2003 concerning the
illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied since 1967. The
Syrian Arab Republic also wishes to stress that the ongoing presence of these
settlements constitutes a fundamental obstacle to the reaching of a peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine and indicates that the successive Israeli
Administrations have lacked the necessary political will to reach a just and
comprehensive peace in the region based on decisions of international
legitimacy. It has become apparent to all that Sharon’s proposed plans are
designed to revoke the right of refugees to return to their homes on the basis of
General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948.
“The Syrian Arab Republic unequivocally supports the affirmation
contained in this resolution concerning the principle of the inadmissibility of
the acquisition of territory by war, which is based on Security Council
resolution 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967. It also reaffirms the illegality of
Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem.
“Israel’s determination to continue its expansionist project inside
Palestinian territory, especially as it continues to construct the separation wall
in implementation of its policy of fait accompli, and its non-compliance with
General Assembly resolution ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003, which demanded
that Israel stop the construction of this wall, are blatant examples of Israel’s
illegitimate actions in violation of the Armistice Line of 1949 and its denial of
the principle of equal and inalienable rights and self-determination of peoples,
all of which constitutes a further obstacle to achieving the desired peace.
“The Syrian Arab Republic condemns Israel’s continued illegal
occupation of Arab territories, acts of aggression, incursions into Palestinian
areas, house demolition, confiscation of land, detentions, policy of
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assassination of Palestinian leaders, all of which has escalated recently, and the
expulsion of Palestinians from their houses, cities and villages. These Israeli
policies reflect the State terrorism that Israel practises, its real intention of
continuing the occupation and its disregard for decisions of international
legitimacy. These Israeli policies are incompatible with the desire of the
international community to reach a settlement of the Palestine question in
accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions, in particular
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973)
of 22 October 1973, which affirmed the necessity of Israel’s withdrawal from
all occupied Arab territories and of enabling the Palestinian people to exercise
its right to self-determination and to establish its own independent State on its
national soil.”
II. Observations
5. I regret to report that despite the efforts of the international community
through the Quartet (the United Nations, the European Union, the Russian
Federation and the United States of America), and the stated commitment of the
parties to the road map initiative expressed at the summit meeting at Aqaba, Jordan,
on 4 June 2003, the situation in the Middle East is characterized by a stalled peace
process and continuing high levels of violence. Throughout the past year, both
Palestinians and Israelis have suffered from violence and ever-mounting death tolls.
The humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory continued to
deteriorate sharply, with even a minimum standard of living for many Palestinians
being sustained only by assistance from the donor community, particularly by the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA) and other United Nations agencies and programmes.
6. The rising number of deaths and injuries is evidence of the lack of progress in
advancing the peace process over the last year. As at 16 September 2004, 825
Palestinians and 136 Israelis had lost their lives in the conflict in the preceding year.
In the four years that have passed since the eruption of the violence in September
2000, no fewer than 3,633 Palestinians and 966 Israelis have been killed. This evermounting
human tragedy reiterates the urgent need for the parties to implement their
road map obligations and for getting the peace process back on track.
7. Neither side has taken adequate steps to protect civilians, and both are in
breach of their international legal obligations. Israel, as the occupying Power, has
clear obligations to protect Palestinian civilians and their property. Nevertheless,
Palestinian civilians continue to be killed and injured in Israeli military operations,
including incursions and pre-emptive strikes. In addition, Israel has continued the
illegal practice of extrajudicial killings. The scale of destruction of Palestinian
property by the Israeli military raises serious concerns about collective punishment.
For its part, the Palestinian Authority has obligations under agreements reached with
Israel, international humanitarian law and its commitments to the road map to
protect Israeli civilians from attacks emanating from territories in its control. It has
failed to live up to those obligations, and Israeli civilians continue to suffer terrorist
attacks from Palestinian militant groups, including suicide bombings and Qassam
rocket strikes. For each side to cite the actions of the other excuses neither from
fulfilling its own obligations. There can be no preconditions for the observance of
humanitarian law and international agreements.
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8. More broadly, the parties have not lived up to their road map obligation. The
Israeli Government has made no progress on its core obligation immediately to
dismantle settlement outposts erected since March 2001 and to freeze settlement
activities, including natural growth. The Palestinian Authority has made no progress
on its core obligations to take immediate action on the ground to end violence and
combat terror. Until and unless both the Palestinian Authority and the Government
of Israel take the necessary first steps to restore momentum towards peace, the
stalemate will continue and there will be no lasting ceasefire. Those first steps are
clear: on the Israeli side, the dismantling of settlement outposts and the
implementation of a full freeze of all settlement activities, and on the Palestinian
side, the implementation of meaningful security reforms and bringing to an end the
use of violence in all its forms.
9. Israel has failed to implement its core commitments under the road map.
Settlement expansion and lack of action on removing the outposts erected since
2001 severely undermine Palestinian trust in Israel’s intentions and contribute to
strengthening extremist opinion among Palestinians. Despite repeated promises by
the Israeli Government, settlement activities continue. According to figures of the
Israeli Ministry of the Interior, the settler population continues to increase.
Settlement construction is reported to have continued at a considerable pace, in
particular in large settlement blocs. In and around East Jerusalem, recent settlement
activity, both governmental and privately sponsored, has proceeded at a rate that
observers describe as unmatched since 1992. Government-sponsored settlement
activity has serious effects on the territorial contiguity of the Palestinian territory.
Thus, reports that the Israeli Government had approved plans for the construction of
600 new accommodation units in Maale Adumim, already the largest Israeli
settlement, and the release of tenders for the construction of more than 1,000 new
housing units in West Bank settlements were of special concern.
10. Throughout the reporting period, Israel persisted in its efforts to confine the
elected President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Arafat, to his headquarters in the
West Bank.
11. The security measures taken by the Palestinian Authority are still limited and
unclear. Over the last 12 months, we have been consistently calling on the
Palestinian Authority to take decisive action to reform, refocus and rehabilitate the
Palestinian security services. Decisive action in this regard would help to restore
law and order as well as the Palestinian Authority’s diminished credibility. The
required elements of reform are clear to all: the consolidation of all security services
into three main bodies, with a professional leadership, and putting them under the
authority of an effective Interior Minister who reports to an empowered Prime
Minister.
12. Another crucial area is elections. On 4 September 2004, voter registration
began under the auspices of the Central Elections Commission, as the international
community had persistently demanded over the past year. At the same time, it is
most regrettable that the Israeli authorities closed three registration centres and
detained five Palestinian staff of the Commission on 13 September 2004. Such
action represents an unacceptable interference with the registration process in East
Jerusalem, and we call on Israel to facilitate, rather than hinder, this important
process. In addition, much work remains to be done by the Palestinian Authority to
ensure that the local elections, scheduled to begin on 9 December 2004 and last for
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one year, meet minimum international standards. Even more important, national
elections have to follow soon.
13. Over the past year, the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian
question, remained the subject of extensive consultations and debates in the Security
Council. The Secretariat continued to provide regular informal briefings to the
Council on the latest developments in the Middle East. Over the course of this year,
the Security Council adopted two resolutions regarding the Middle East. On
19 November 2003, the Council adopted resolution 1515 (2003), endorsing the road
map and calling on the parties to fulfil their road map obligations. On 19 May 2004,
the Security Council adopted resolution 1544 (2004), calling on Israel to respect its
obligations under international humanitarian law, including its obligation not to
destroy Palestinian homes in a manner contrary to the law.
14. Israel continued construction of the barrier in parts of the West Bank during
the year. The General Assembly adopted resolution ES-10/13 on 21 October 2003,
demanding that Israel immediately stop and reverse construction of the wall being
built in parts of the West Bank. The resolution requested that I submit reports
periodically to the Assembly, with the first, on compliance with the resolution, due
within a month. I submitted to the Assembly the report, ES-10/248, on 24 November
2003. On 8 December 2003, the General Assembly adopted resolution ES-10/14,
requesting the International Court of Justice to urgently render an advisory opinion
on the legal consequences of the wall. The Court heard arguments in public hearings
in February 2004 and on 9 July rendered an advisory opinion declaring that the
construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in and
around East Jerusalem, is contrary to international law; that Israel is obligated to
terminate such breaches and make reparation for all damage caused by the
construction of the wall; and that the Assembly and Security Council might wish to
consider further action to bring an end to the illegal situation. The Assembly, on
20 July 2004, adopted resolution ES-10/15, demanding that Israel comply with its
legal obligations and requesting me to establish a register of damage caused by the
construction of the wall.
15. During the reporting period, there has been a disturbing increase in acts of
violence against and harassment of United Nations staff and property. United
Nations staff are frequently hindered in carrying out their duties. Israel has a clear
obligation to ensure the safety and security of United Nations staff and property. In
addition, Israel should work to ensure that the movement of humanitarian goods is
not unduly impeded by security concerns. Israel should also undertake efforts to
facilitate the movement of United Nations staff through the Erez crossing, in
accordance with the privileges and immunities accorded to all United Nations staff
members.
16. In February 2004, Prime Minister Sharon announced an initiative to withdraw
Israeli armed forces from Gaza and parts of the West Bank and to evacuate all
settlements in the Gaza Strip, as well as four settlements in the northern West Bank.
At its meeting on 4 May 2004, the Quartet welcomed this step and stated that for it
to be effective and a real contribution to the peace process, the following
requirements needed to be met: that the withdrawal be full and complete; that it lead
to an end of the occupation of Gaza and be accompanied by similar steps in the West
Bank; that it take place within the framework of the road map and the vision of two
States; and that it be fully coordinated with the Palestinian Authority and the
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Quartet. It is my hope that both the Israeli and the Palestinian sides will focus on the
tasks at hand in order to make withdrawal and its aftermath a new beginning of the
peace process. Egypt and Jordan can assist this process. Both countries have so far
displayed welcome and commendable leadership.
17. The United Nations, and the international community at large, is ready to
assist the parties in this endeavour, if they make the right choices. The Quartet
remains in close consultations and meets regularly to assess the situation on the
ground and examine appropriate courses of action. The main donor coordination
body, known as the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, is planning to meet later in the year
to examine ways in which the donor community could assist the parties to turn this
withdrawal into the beginning of a genuine peace process. But, yet again, this
depends on the parties themselves, the Government of Israel and the Palestinian
Authority, and the choices they make in this regard.
18. On the economic front, the picture remains grim. The Palestinian economy is
in tatters and stands little chance of recovery unless immediate action is taken.
Forty-seven percent of the Palestinian population currently lives in poverty.
Unemployment among Palestinians stands at 34.3 per cent, or 28.6 per cent at the
International Labour Organization-adjusted rate, which excludes discouraged
workers. At present, UNRWA and the World Food Programme are providing regular
food aid to as many as 1,480,000 beneficiaries — 39 per cent of the total Palestinian
population in the occupied territory — and UNRWA is now supplying 10 times as
much food as it was before September 2000.
19. A recent World Bank study found that the deep economic crisis in the West
Bank and Gaza is one of the worst recessions in modern history. It is contributing to
the impoverishment of an entire generation of young Palestinians, as well as to the
undermining of the credibility of the Palestinian Authority, and, inevitably, it is
increasing the popular appeal of militant factions. The primary cause of this crisis is
the closure regime imposed by the Government of Israel. Without a significant
change in the closure regime, the Palestinian economy will not be revived. Indeed,
the World Bank has emphasized that Israel’s disengagement plan will have limited
impact on the Palestinian economy and Palestinian livelihoods if it is not
accompanied by a radical easing of closure that encompasses three elements: the
removal of internal obstacles to movement in the West Bank, the opening of
Palestinian external borders to commodity trade and a return to a reasonable flow of
Palestinian labour into Israel.
20. If these conditions are met, additional donor money can be raised. But donors
need some assurance that their contributions will have a productive impact. Aid will
be provided in the context of a successful comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from
the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank, as a first step in the implementation of
the road map.
21. It is particularly disquieting that Israel has announced its intention to phase out
completely Palestinian employment inside Israel by 2008. The number of
Palestinians employed in Israel has decreased significantly since September 2000.
The Palestinian economy is dependent on the Israeli economy, not only for
employment but also for raw materials and trade. Although the parties may choose
to change this relationship in the long term, a revival of the Palestinian economy in
the short term depends on a return to reasonable levels of Palestinian employment in
Israel. Should Israel insist on ending Palestinian employment and implement the
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disengagement plan without accompanying measures to ease internal and external
closure, unemployment and poverty will continue to soar among Palestinians.
22. I call upon the international community to provide the resources necessary to
support United Nations programmes in addressing the deteriorating economic and
humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people, and especially to provide adequate
funding to UNRWA so that it can continue to deliver the necessary services to the
Palestinian refugees. Donor assistance is especially vital at a time when the
humanitarian situation is so critical.
23. So far this year UNRWA has received pledges covering less than one half of its
financial requirements for its emergency appeal for refugees in the West Bank and
Gaza Strip. Only $89 million of the almost $210 million needed has been pledged.
With insufficient financial resources, the quality and level of the Agency’s
emergency humanitarian assistance will suffer, making the already miserable life of
the Palestinian people even more difficult, with wider consequences.
24. Later this year, the Agency will be launching a five-year medium-term plan
covering the approximately 2 million registered refugees throughout its area of
operation. The additional funding needed for the plan will help create equity
between refugees and non-refugees living side by side and enable the Agency to
make up for years of under-funding.
25. I should like to pay special tribute to Terje Roed-Larsen, United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and my Personal
Representative to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, to the staff of the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator and to
Commissioner-General Peter Hansen of UNRWA, the staff of the Agency and all
other United Nations agencies, who continue to provide sterling services while
working under most demanding and difficult circumstances.
United Nations A/60/539–S/2005/701
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
7 November 2005
Original: English
05-59072 (E) 151105
*0559072*
General Assembly
Sixtieth session
Agenda items 14 and 15
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Sixtieth year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General*
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 59/31. It contains replies received from the President of the Security
Council and the concerned parties to the notes verbales sent by the Secretary-General
pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 13 of the resolution. The report also
contains the observations of the Secretary-General on the current state of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict and on international efforts to move the peace process forward
with a view to achieving a peaceful solution. The report covers the period from
September 2004 through September 2005.
* The report was submitted after the established deadline in order to include as much updated
information as possible.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 59/31
of 1 December 2004.
2. On 25 May 2005, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 13 of the
above-mentioned resolution, I addressed the following letter to the President of the
Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 59/31, which the General
Assembly adopted on 1 December 2004, at its fifty-ninth session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 13 of the resolution requests the Secretary-General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit a
report on these efforts and on developments on this matter.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 31 July 2005.”
3. On 26 July 2005, the following reply was received from the Security Council:
“The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,
remains one of the most important items on the Security Council agenda. The
Council continues to consider the situation in the Middle East, including the
Palestinian question, on a regular basis, in particular with monthly briefings by
the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and senior Secretariat staff.
“On 31 August 2004, the President made a statement to the press, in
which the members of the Council condemned the terrorist attacks in Israel
that had resulted in the loss of innocent lives. They also condemned all other
acts of terrorism, denounced the escalation in violence in the Middle East and
called on the parties to continue the peace process in the region.
“The Council held an open debate on the situation in the Middle East on
4 October 2004, at which Algeria introduced a draft resolution on behalf of the
Arab Group of States concerning Israeli military operations in Gaza. The
Council voted on the draft resolution on 5 October 2004, but failed to adopt it.
“Following a regular briefing by Kieran Prendergast, Under-Secretary-
General for Political Affairs, and subsequent informal consultations on
22 October 2004, the President, in a brief statement to the press, highlighted
the concerns of the Council at the lack of progress on the Middle East peace
process and urged both parties to begin to implement, as soon as possible, the
provisions of the road map.
“On 13 January 2005, following a regular briefing by the Under-
Secretary-General Kieran Prendergast, which focused on the Palestinian
presidential elections held on 9 January 2005, and subsequent informal
consultations, the Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2005/2)
referring to the following issues: the Palestinian presidential elections; the
future political process, in particular the Palestinian legislative elections,
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reinforcement of the Palestinian institutions, international assistance to the
people and the Palestinian Authority; and the necessity of implementing the
road map for a viable, democratic and sovereign Palestinian State, in peaceful
and secure coexistence with Israel.
“On February 16 2005, the Council adopted a presidential statement
(S/PRST/2005/6) welcoming the Sharm el Sheikh Summit of 8 February 2005
and the resumption of direct talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
“On 9 March 2005, the Council adopted a presidential statement
(S/PRST/2005/12) whereby it welcomed the conclusions of the London
meeting on supporting the Palestinian Authority held on 1 March 2005.
“Responding to a request by the Arab Group for an immediate meeting of
the Council to consider recent developments in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, the Council held an open debate on the
situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, on
21 July 2005. The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East
Peace Process, Mr. Alvaro de Soto, briefed the Council on the latest
developments in the region. No action was taken by the Council following this
meeting.
“The Council continues to keep the evolving situation in the Middle East
under active review through monthly briefings, open meetings and informal
consultations. During these meetings, the Council members reiterate their
support for a just and comprehensive settlement in the Middle East based on
resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003), the
foundations of the Madrid Conference, the principle of land for peace,
agreements previously reached by the parties and the initiative of Saudi Crown
Prince Abdullah endorsed in Beirut at the summit-level Council of the League
of Arab States.”
4. In a note verbale dated 31 May 2005 to the parties concerned, I sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as of the Palestine Liberation Organization, regarding any steps
taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at
20 September 2005, the following replies had been received:
Note verbale dated 4 August 2005 from the Permanent
Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General
“As you are aware, Israel has voted against this resolution, as it has done
time and time again against similar resolutions adopted by the General
Assembly during previous sessions. Because the situation in the Middle East is
at a delicate crossroads, Israel wishes to once again put on record its position
on this matter.
“As I write this letter, Israel is making its final preparations to implement
its disengagement from Gaza and part of the northern West Bank in the hope
of restarting the peace process. Even as Israel is taking unilateral steps for the
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sake of peace, Palestinian terrorism not only continues but also, as of late, has
intensified.
“While Israel remains hopeful that new, positive developments in the
region will bear fruit, no real progress can be made until the Palestinian
Authority takes the necessary steps to end Palestinian terrorism.
“Israel views this General Assembly resolution as unbalanced and
politically motivated. What is more pressing about this resolution is that it
causes undue interference in issues that both parties agreed to resolve within
the context of direct bilateral negotiations and, thus, risks derailing the peace
process further.
“The violence in the region has been a result of a Palestinian decision to
abandon peace negotiations and pursue their goals through violence and
terrorism. The one-sided approach reflected in the resolution, which seeks to
dictate the outcome of the negotiating process, effectively rewards violence at
a time when the Palestinian side must discontinue all acts of violence and
terrorism and boldly pursue the path of peaceful dialogue, as called for in the
road map, which compels the Palestinian Authority to prevent ‘all acts of
violence against Israelis anywhere’.
“Aside from being damaging to the Middle East peace process, this type
of resolution contradicts the decisions to reform and reinvigorate the United
Nations. Rather than promoting a vision that recognizes the rights and
obligations of both sides, as articulated in the road map, these resolutions
obscure the efforts of the parties to achieve a negotiated outcome. It is onesided
resolutions like this that put in jeopardy the efficacy of the United
Nations and the efficiency of the General Assembly and that must be done
away with.
“The damaging effects on future peace that these kinds of resolutions
have require your immediate consideration. Israel calls upon the international
community to use its voices to promote peace rather than misuse the United
Nations to pass counterproductive, politically motivated resolutions.”
Note verbale dated 2 August 2005 from the Permanent
Observer of Palestine to the United Nations addressed
to the Secretary-General
“General Assembly resolutions on the peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine have traditionally reaffirmed rules and principles of international
law central and, in fact, deemed to be essential to the peaceful and just
resolution of the long-standing question of Palestine. The overwhelming
support received by those resolutions is reflective of the near consensus of the
international community with regard to this issue, a consensus rooted in
positions and convictions that are based on the primacy of international law in
international relations and on the universal ideals of justice and peace. During
the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly, Member States once again
adopted a resolution on this subject, resolution 59/31, by a huge majority of
161 votes in favour, with only 7 votes against and 10 abstentions.
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“Moreover, the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ
of the United Nations system and the highest authority in international law, in
its advisory opinion of 9 July 2004 on the Legal Consequences of the
Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, determined the
applicable rules and principles of international law, including international
humanitarian law and human rights law. The Court determined that the The
Hague Regulations — considered to have become part of customary
international law — and the Fourth Geneva Convention are indisputably
applicable in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The
Court also found that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the
Convention on the Rights of the Child are also applicable within the Occupied
Palestinian Territory.
“The Court found that Israel had violated the customary rule regarding
the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory resulting from the threat or
use of force, a principle enshrined in the Charter and reaffirmed in General
Assembly resolution 2625 (XXV) of 1970. In this context, the Court found that
the area east of the 1949 Armistice Line (the Green Line) and the former
eastern boundary of Palestine under the mandate, including East Jerusalem,
was occupied by Israel in 1967 and, under international law, considered to be
occupied territory. The Court concluded that subsequent events have done
nothing to alter this situation and that this territory remains occupied and that
Israel continues to have the status of occupying Power. As to the specific
violation of other relevant provisions of the law, the Court found that the
obligations violated by Israel include certain obligations erga omnes, including
the obligation to respect the right of the Palestinian people to selfdetermination
and certain of its obligations under international humanitarian
law.
“The General Assembly, in its resolution 59/31, reaffirmed these basic
rules and principles of international law, which are deemed essential for
achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Other
rules recalled in the resolution are also embodied in other relevant Assembly
resolutions, including those adopted by its tenth emergency special session,
and in various Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967),
338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003). Accordingly, as it reaffirmed the
necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of intensifying efforts
towards that end, the Assembly, inter alia, stressed the need for the withdrawal
of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 and the need for
the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the
right to self-determination and the right to their independent State. In the
resolution, the Assembly also stressed the need to resolve the problem of the
Palestinian refugees in conformity with resolution 194 (III) of
11 December 1948.
“Since the adoption of resolution 59/31, the international community has
been preoccupied with two critical issues vis-à-vis the situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, namely, the critical
issue of the continuing unlawful construction of the wall by Israel, the
occupying Power; its impact on the humanitarian situation on the ground and
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on the prospects for a just and lasting political settlement; and the issue of
Israel’s unilateral disengagement plan from Gaza and parts of the northern
West Bank.
“The scope and significance of the ruling of the International Court of
Justice were highlighted in our previous note to the Secretary-General of
16 August 2004 on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine (see
A/59/574-S/2004/909). It is regrettable that Israel continues to defy the
international community and engage in grave violations and breaches of
international law and international humanitarian law in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. One year after the advisory
opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of a
Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Israel has announced accelerated
plans for the completion of the construction of the wall in and around East
Jerusalem, which will completely isolate Jerusalem from the rest of the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and will leave more than 55,000 Palestinian
Jerusalemites cut off from their city. Clearly, the continuing violation of
international law and total disrespect for the advisory opinion and the
Assembly’s resolutions must continue to be a matter of serious concern for the
United Nations. The direct and grave impact of this ongoing illegal situation
on the efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict is unquestionable and must be urgently addressed by both the
Assembly and the Security Council — this is a duty that was affirmed by the
International Court of Justice in clear and definitive terms. The international
community must act and it must be made clear that Israel, the occupying
Power, has a choice: either it can choose to comply with the advisory opinion
and its legal obligations under international law or it can formally choose to
become an outlaw State and be treated as such.
“The Court has determined beyond any doubt that Israel is under
obligation to terminate its breaches of international law, to cease the
construction of the wall being built in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including in and around East Jerusalem, to dismantle the structure therein
situated and to repeal or render ineffective all legislative and regulatory acts
relating thereto; that Israel is under an obligation to make reparation for all
damage caused by the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem; that all States are under an
obligation not to recognize the illegal situation resulting from the construction
of the wall and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation
created by such construction; and that all States parties to the Fourth Geneva
Convention have an additional obligation of ensuring compliance by Israel
with the Convention. The Court has also determined that the United Nations,
especially the General Assembly and the Security Council, should consider
what further action is required to bring to an end the illegal situation resulting
from the construction of the wall and the associated regime, taking due
account of the advisory opinion.
“The Assembly, at its tenth emergency special session, received and
acknowledged the advisory opinion and adopted resolution ES-10/15, on
20 July 2004, in which it, inter alia, adopted specific measures and demands
that need to be followed up by the United Nations Secretariat, the Security
Council and all Member States. The Security Council held an open public
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debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,
on 21 July 2005, in which Palestine clearly recalled the responsibilities of the
different organs of the United Nations, including the Secretariat, the General
Assembly and the Security Council, to step up the implementation of their
obligations as contained in the advisory opinion and as contained in resolution
ES-10/15. This includes the establishment by the Secretary-General of the
register of damages and the necessary follow-up to the report submitted to the
Assembly by Switzerland, in its capacity as depositary of the Geneva
Conventions.
“With regard to Israel’s unilateral disengagement plan and the intended
withdrawal from Gaza and certain parts of the northern West Bank, it is
deplorable that, since Prime Minister Sharon’s declaration regarding the
implementation of his unilateral plan, Israel, the occupying Power, has
intensified its illegal colonization campaign, including the intensification of
settlement activities, the completion of the construction of the wall and the
complete isolation of East Jerusalem from the rest of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory. The focused efforts of the international community to ensure that the
Gaza withdrawal plan is a success and an opportunity to revive the peace
process should not be manipulated and exploited by Israel in order to complete
its colonization and de facto annexation of huge areas of the West Bank. The
international community must be aware that the continuation of such illegal
Israeli policies and measures will not only undermine the success of the Gaza
withdrawal, but will also undermine the possibility of reaching a final
settlement based on the two-State solution.
“The withdrawal of the Israeli occupying forces and the evacuation of
illegal settlements from Gaza, on the one hand, and the intensification of the
expansion of settlement activities, the construction of the wall and the
isolation of East Jerusalem, on the other hand, regrettably indicate that the
Gaza disengagement is a ploy by Israeli Prime Minister Sharon to preclude any
serious resumption of final status negotiations leading to the establishment of
the independent State of Palestine on the territory occupied by Israel in 1967.
Therefore, the international community must exert serious efforts to ensure
that the Gaza withdrawal is actually implemented in the context of the road
map, wherein the Gaza withdrawal is a first step leading towards the
implementation of the road map and the achievement of the two-State solution.
The withdrawal from Gaza should be coupled with a total freeze of settlement
activities in the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and
around East Jerusalem, and Israel should immediately halt the construction of
the wall and dismantle the parts already erected, as recommended by the
International Court of Justice. These are preconditions that will facilitate the
success of the Gaza withdrawal and a meaningful resumption of the longoverdue
final status negotiations.
“In this context, it is essential that the international community, while
focusing its efforts on making the Gaza withdrawal a success, adopt a serious
position vis-à-vis Israel’s illegal policies and measures in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem. Such efforts should include the
provision of practical measures to ensure compliance by Israel with its legal
obligations under international law, including those contained in the findings
of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. The international
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community must also ensure that Israel terminates its illegal policies and
measures, which are destroying the territorial contiguity and the national unity
of the Occupied Palestinian Territory in an attempt to unilaterally draw de
facto borders that totally undermine and preclude the establishment of a viable
Palestinian State as envisaged in the road map.
“Thirty-eight years after Israel occupied the Palestinian territory,
including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories, the fundamental
prerequisite for resolving the question of Palestine and achieving a peaceful
settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-State solution
remains Israel’s withdrawal from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967,
as called for in General Assembly resolution 59/31, Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and numerous other resolutions.
“With regard to the efforts for achieving a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine, the Assembly has significantly reaffirmed the permanent
responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine
until it is resolved in all its aspects; has also reaffirmed its full support for the
Middle East peace process and the existing agreements between the Israeli and
Palestinian sides; has welcomed the efforts of the Quartet aimed at the
establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East;
has welcomed the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the League of Arab States
in Beirut in March 2002; and has called upon both parties to fulfil their
obligations in the implementation of the road map, stressing in this regard the
importance and urgency of establishing a credible and effective third-party
monitoring mechanism including all members of the Quartet. Furthermore, the
Assembly, in resolution 59/31, rightly stressed the necessity of a commitment
to the two-State solution, the principle of land-for-peace, the implementation
of the relevant Security Council resolutions, a speedy end to the reoccupation
of Palestinian towns and cities and the complete cessation of all acts of
violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror, which in
recent years have caused the grave deterioration of the situation on the ground
and have severely debilitated the search for a peaceful resolution to the
question of Palestine.
“In the resolution, the Assembly also addressed another aspect of the
question of Palestine that constitutes an extremely relevant consideration for
any efforts aimed at resolving this tragic and protracted conflict, namely the
humanitarian aspect. The Assembly expressed its grave concern regarding the
tragic events in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
since 28 September 2000, including deaths and injuries, mostly among
Palestinian civilians, the deepening humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian
people and the widespread destruction of Palestinian property and
infrastructure, both private and public, including many institutions of the
Palestinian Authority. In this regard, the Assembly emphasized the importance
of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the whole Middle East region
and condemned all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides,
including suicide bombings and extrajudicial executions. Further, with regard
to the dire humanitarian crisis being inflicted on the Palestinian people, the
Assembly urged Member States to expedite the provision of economic,
humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and Palestinian
Authority during this critical period to help alleviate their suffering, rebuild
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the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and support the restructuring and
reform of Palestinian institutions.
“In conclusion, the Palestinian leadership reaffirms its commitment to a
negotiated, peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on
international law. Furthermore, the Palestinian leadership, despite the
difficulties that Israel is imposing with regard to its departure from Gaza and
areas in the northern West Bank, is also keen to achieve the rapid success of
this exercise so that we can immediately proceed thereafter to the
implementation of the road map and the negotiations on the final settlement.
Indeed, the issue of the withdrawal from Gaza should not be kept on the
political agenda for much longer than the end of this year. We believe it is
imperative that this be concluded by year’s end and that we begin final
negotiations before the end of 2005, for time is truly of the essence and its
continued passage, along with the continuation of violations in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, will only make the peace that is so desperately yearned
for by the Palestinian people and by the international community as a whole
ever more elusive.”
II. Observations
5. I am glad to report that the “window of opportunity” to revitalize the Middle
East peace process that emerged during the past year has, despite setbacks, remained
open. We have witnessed the successful completion of the Israeli disengagement
from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank. On 7 August 2005, the
Israeli Cabinet approved the evacuation of the first settlements under this initiative.
In the early hours of 12 September 2005, Israel withdrew the last of its military
personnel and installations from the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, as of
20 September 2005, and following the completion of the evacuation of civilian army
infrastructure from four settlements in the northern West Bank, Israeli forces put an
end to their permanent presence in the area of the evacuated settlements. As Israel’s
first withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territory since the occupation began in
1967, it was a landmark in Israeli-Palestinian relations, setting an important
precedent for the eventual realization of the two-State solution.
6. I would like to commend Prime Minister Sharon’s political courage and steady
commitment to disengagement. I would also like to commend the Palestinian
Authority for its responsible behaviour during this period, in facilitating a smooth
and peaceful operation. The increased coordination between the parties as a result of
this is a positive step, which must be built upon in the future. Nevertheless, the
events in the aftermath of disengagement illustrated the problems of unilateral
actions. For example, the Israel Defense Forces withdrew from Gaza without
demolishing places of worship. The buildings were thus passed unexpectedly to the
Palestinian Authority, which was not in a position to protect them.
7. I also commend James D. Wolfensohn, the Quartet’s Special Envoy for Gaza
Disengagement, for his work since his appointment in April 2005. Mr. Wolfensohn
helped to enhance crucial channels of coordination between the parties in the
process of disengagement, the importance of which I emphasized during my own
visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory in March 2005. In the aftermath
of the Israeli withdrawal, he continues his efforts to follow up on a six-point agenda:
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border crossings and trade corridors; movement between the West Bank and Gaza;
movement within the West Bank; the Gaza airport and seaport; the houses in the
Israeli settlements; and their agricultural assets. As yet, many of these issues remain
unresolved. Mr. Wolfensohn believes that the parties are close to an understanding
on how the main border passages between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will
operate. Rafah (on the Gaza-Egypt border) is likely to be operated by Palestinians
and Egyptians, with a possible third-party presence. It is hoped that agreement on
outstanding issues will be reached in the coming weeks.
8. Mr. Wolfensohn identified three key areas for the Palestinian Authority to
address, with international support: the Palestinian Authority’s fiscal crisis and
development of a fiscal stabilization plan to be included in the 2006 budget; the
creation of a general development plan related to a fiscally sound financial plan for
2006-2008; and the design of quick-impact economic programmes that would
respond to pressures for short-term employment generation. These issues are
important elements of the foundations for economic recovery, good governance and,
eventually, statehood.
9. I would like to congratulate the Palestinian people for demonstrating their
commitment to democracy during the Palestinian presidential election in January
2005. Although the elections were complicated by the continuing Israeli occupation
and restrictions on freedom of movement imposed in the occupied Palestinian
territory, turnout was nonetheless high. I would also like to congratulate Mahmoud
Abbas, who won in the seven-candidate field with 62.5 per cent of the votes cast.
The elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council will follow the presidential
ballot. These elections were delayed on 3 June 2005, when President Abbas issued a
decree stating the need for a new electoral law ensuring at least 50 per cent
proportional representation. They are now scheduled to be held in January 2006.
The Palestinian Authority leadership has sought to encourage groups that have
engaged in terrorism to abandon this course and engage in the democratic process.
This objective deserves the full support of the international community.
10. At the Sharm el Sheikh summit in February 2005, the parties pledged to end
all violence with a ceasefire that has broadly survived. Israel agreed to release a
number of Palestinian prisoners and transfer control of five West Bank cities to the
Palestinian Authority. The security situation improved noticeably in the aftermath of
the summit, a trend that was reflected in a marked decrease in the number of deaths
and injuries recorded during the reporting period. Israel released a number of
prisoners but transferred control of only two of the five cities agreed upon. It also
resumed its policy of extrajudicial killings. Nevertheless, Israel exercised restraint
in its military activities in the period prior to disengagement, despite incidents of
Palestinian violence. In a welcome step, the Israel Defense Forces decided to halt
their policy of demolishing Palestinian houses either as punishment for acts of
violence or as deterrence.
11. Of particular concern to me are the incidents in which United Nations staff
members and other international aid workers have been held hostage by Palestinian
armed elements. The most recent of these incidents to date occurred on
8 August 2005, when two hostages were released amidst shooting. There remains
significant concern for the safety of United Nations staff members and other
international aid workers in the Gaza Strip.
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12. The Palestinian Authority must push ahead with efforts to reform the
Palestinian security services. Decisive action in this regard should help to restore
law and order. The fragmented Palestinian security services are being consolidated
into three main branches — the national forces, the intelligence forces and the
police — under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior. New heads of the
security services have been appointed and the security retirement law is being
implemented. President Abbas has repeatedly emphasized his commitment to work
towards the Palestinian Authority’s monopoly on the use of force.
13. A recent independent report by Strategic Assessments Initiative, written in
close collaboration with United States Security Coordinator General William Ward
and in consultation with senior Palestinian security officials, stated that the
Palestinian security services remained divided, weak, overstaffed, badly motivated
and under-armed. A number of unintegrated forces, Palestinian clans and individual
force commanders continue to wield undue influence. Other potentially troubling
issues within the security services include corruption, institutional hierarchies, cults
of personality and lack of cohesive training. The problems within the security
services were also illustrated in the post-disengagement period, when law and order
seemed to crumble.
14. Israel, in turn, has also failed to make progress on the implementation of its
core commitments under the road map. Settlement expansion and lack of action on
removing illegal settlement outposts erected since 2001 severely undermined trust in
Israel’s intentions. In the spring of 2005, Israel announced plans to construct 3,500
new housing units in Ma’ale Adumim and two other settlement blocs in the West
Bank, and in early June it publicized tenders for the construction of 22 housing units
in Ma’ale Adumim. Government-sponsored settlement activity may have a negative
impact on the territorial contiguity of Palestinian territory and thus remains a source
of serious concern. According to the road map, Israel has an obligation to freeze all
settlement activity, including natural growth, and immediately dismantle outposts
erected illegally since March 2001.
15. I also remain concerned about Israel’s continued construction of the barrier in
the West Bank, which encroaches on Palestinian land. Pursuant to General
Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, I am in the process of establishing a
register of damages incurred by Palestinians due to the construction of the wall. The
construction of the barrier is a unilateral act not in keeping with the road map.
Along with continued Israeli settlement activity, it constitutes a key challenge to the
fulfilment of the road map’s goal of a two-State solution. I urge the Government of
Israel to address its security concerns in a manner that will not increase suffering
among Palestinians, prejudge final status issues or threaten longer-term prospects
for peace by making the creation of a viable and contiguous Palestinian State more
difficult. I reiterate my call to Israel to abide by its legal obligations as set forth in
the 9 July 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice and
resolution ES-10/15.
16. The Secretariat continued to provide regular monthly briefings to the Security
Council on the latest developments in the Middle East and efforts to achieve a full
and comprehensive peace, security and stability for the entire region on the basis of
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
17. The Quartet (the United Nations, the European Union, the United States of
America and the Russian Federation) intensified its work, meeting in September,
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March, May and June of the reporting period. On 20 September 2005, Quartet
principals gathered at the margins of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth
session of the General Assembly in New York. They discussed three clusters of
issues: improving the daily lives of Palestinians; Palestinian security sector reform;
and the participation of armed groups in the political process. The Quartet
concluded that, in principle, those who wish to be part of the political process
should not engage in militia or armed group activities, as there is a fundamental
contradiction between such activities and the building of a democratic State.
18. The wider international community also signalled a greater interest and
engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly as disengagement
approached. On 25 May 2005, United States President George Bush and President
Abbas met for the first time since Mr. Abbas’s election in January. United States
Security Coordinator General William Ward was active in assisting Palestinian
security sector reform and turned his attention to security coordination in
preparation for the Israeli withdrawal. On 23 June 2005, the Group of Eight offered
strong support at its annual Summit, at Gleneagles, pledging $3 billion in aid to the
Palestinian Authority once disengagement was completed.
19. The humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people in 2004 remained grave.
About half of the Palestinian population lived below the official poverty line of
$2.10 per day, compared to just 22 per cent in 2000. Furthermore, 16 per cent of
Palestinians (approximately 560,000 people) were in deep poverty. Unemployment
increased more than threefold since 2000, reaching a figure of 238,000 unemployed
in 2004, largely as a result of internal and external roadblocks in and to the occupied
Palestinian territory. Palestinians continued to face problems reaching their places of
work, schools and hospitals, and standards of health and education continued to
deteriorate. In some parts of the territory, Palestinians’ needs for additional
humanitarian assistance rose sharply as a consequence.
20. I call upon the international community to provide adequate funding for the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA) so that it can continue to deliver the necessary services to the Palestinian
refugees. So far this year, UNRWA has received pledges covering 53 per cent of its
financial requirements for its emergency appeal for refugees in the West Bank and
Gaza Strip. Only $110 million of the $209.4 million needed has been pledged. With
insufficient financial resources, the quality and level of the Agency’s emergency
humanitarian assistance will suffer, making the already very difficult life of the
Palestinian people even more miserable.
21. For its part, the United Nations will continue to work towards a renewal of the
peace process and continue in its efforts to alleviate the severe social and economic
hardships of the Palestinian people. To this end, I will continue to press for renewed
action in parallel by both parties on their obligations under the road map, which
provides both Israel and the Palestinians the best opportunity to move beyond the
conflict and towards peace, security and prosperity. The international community
must continue to assist the parties to address economic, humanitarian, security and
political issues simultaneously. The United Nations reaffirms its commitment to an
independent, democratic and viable Palestinian State living side by side with Israel,
as well as its commitment to the broader achievement of peace, security and
stability for the entire region on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242
(1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003), and in accordance with the road
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map and the Arab peace initiative, presented by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah,
which culminated in the Beirut Arab summit declaration of 2002. The coordinated
efforts of the international community are needed to support this process, and I will
continue to maintain close and regular contact with members of the Quartet, the
parties involved, regional leaders and the broader international community to
capitalize on the progress made in the past year.
22. I would like to pay tribute to the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, who
passed away on 11 November 2004. For nearly four decades, he represented the
national aspirations of the Palestinian people. In 1988, he led the Palestinians to
accept the principle of peaceful coexistence between Israel and a future Palestinian
State.
23. Finally, I would like to pay special tribute to Alvaro de Soto, recently
appointed as United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
and my Personal Representative to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the
Palestinian Authority, to the staff of the Office of the United Nations Special
Coordinator, to newly appointed Commissioner-General Karen Koning AbuZayd of
UNRWA, the staff of the Agency and all other United Nations agencies, who
continue to provide excellent services while working under the most demanding and
difficult circumstances.
United Nations A/61/355–S/2006/748
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
19 September 2006
Original: English
06-52758 (E) 041006
*0652758*
General Assembly
Sixty-first session
Agenda items 13 and 14
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Sixty-first year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 60/39. It contains replies received from the President of the Security
Council and the concerned parties to the notes verbales sent by the Secretary-General
pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 18 of the resolution. The report also
contains the observations of the Secretary-General on the current state of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict and on international efforts to move the peace process forward
with a view to achieving a peaceful solution. The report covers the period from
September 2005 through September 2006.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 60/39
of 1 December 2005.
2. On 1 June 2006, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 18 of the
above-mentioned resolution, I addressed the following letter to the President of the
Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 60/39, which the General
Assembly adopted on 1 December 2005, at its sixtieth session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 18 of the resolution requests the Secretary-General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to
the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on these efforts and on
developments on this matter.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 15 July 2006.”
3. On 18 July 2006, the following reply was received from the Security Council:
“The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,
remains one of the most important items on the Security Council agenda. The
Council continues to consider the situation in the Middle East, including the
Palestinian question, on a regular basis, in particular with monthly briefings by
the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and senior Secretariat staff.
“On 23 September 2005, following a regular briefing by Alvaro de Soto,
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, and
subsequent informal consultations, the Council adopted a presidential
statement (S/PRST/2005/44) in which the Council called for renewed action in
parallel by the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority on their
obligations in accordance with the road map and to ensure continued progress
towards the creation of an independent sovereign, democratic and viable State
of Palestine living side by side with Israel in peace and security.
“Following a regular briefing by Ibrahim Gambari, Under-Secretary-
General for Political Affairs, and subsequent informal consultations on
30 November 2005, the Council adopted a presidential statement
(S/PRST/2005/57), in which the Council welcomed the opening of the Rafah
crossing on 25 November 2005 and, in this regard, commended the efforts of
the Middle East Quartet, its Special Envoy and his team, as well as the positive
contributions of the Government of Egypt, and it expressed its strong
appreciation to the European Union for assuming the role of third-party
monitor.
“On 3 February 2006, the Council adopted a presidential statement
(S/PRST/2006/6) congratulating the Palestinian people on a free, fair and
secure electoral process, expressing the Council’s expectation that a new
government would remain committed to realizing the aspirations of the
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Palestinian people for peace and statehood, and furthermore noting indications
by major donors that they would review future assistance to a new Palestinian
Authority government against that government’s commitment to the principles
of non-violence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements
and obligations, including the road map.
“Acting on a request by the Arab Group and the League of Arab States
for an immediate meeting of the Council to consider recent developments in
the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, the Council
held an open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the
Palestinian question, on 17 April 2006. No action was taken by the Council
following this meeting.
“Acting again on a request by the Arab Group and the League of Arab
States for an immediate meeting of the Council to consider recent
developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East
Jerusalem, the Council held an open debate on the situation in the Middle East,
including the Palestinian question, on 30 June 2006. Qatar introduced a draft
resolution on behalf of the Arab Group concerning Israeli military operations
in Gaza. After further consultations, the Council voted on a revised text of the
draft resolution on 13 July 2006, but failed to adopt it.
“The Council continues to keep the evolving situation in the Middle East,
including the Palestinian question, under active review through monthly
briefings, open meetings and informal consultations. During these meetings,
the Council members reiterate their support for a just and comprehensive
settlement in the Middle East based on resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973),
1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003), the foundations of the Madrid Conference, the
principle of land for peace, agreements previously reached by the parties and
the initiative of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah endorsed in Beirut at the
Summit-level Council of the League of Arab States.”
4. In a note verbale dated 30 May 2006 to the parties concerned, I sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as of the Palestine Liberation Organization, regarding any steps
taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at
1 September 2006, the following replies had been received:
“Note verbale dated 10 August 2006 from the Permanent
Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed
to the Secretary-General
“As you are aware, Israel has voted against this resolution, as it has done
time and time again against similar resolutions adopted by the General
Assembly during previous sessions. Because the situation in the Middle East
stands at a delicate crossroads, Israel wishes to once again put on record its
position on this matter.
“One year ago, in August 2005, Israel withdrew all presence from the
Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank. The disengagement marked a
time for renewed opportunities in the region, in the hope of restarting the
peace process.
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“Yet one year later, Palestinian terror not only continues but also, as of
late, has intensified. Daily barrages of Qassam rockets, launched from terrorist
positions in the Gaza Strip, fall persistently on southern Israeli communities.
Israel had hoped that disengaging from Gaza, as one measure, would be a step
in the right direction. Yet the response has been more of the same: terrorism.
Day in and day out Israel is under attack. Israeli families, particularly those in
the city of Sderot, which bears the brunt of Palestinian terror and rocket
attacks from Gaza, live daily under siege.
“Analogous to the continued Palestinian terror attacks has been the
failure of the Hamas-led Palestinian government to implement and accept the
agreement and responsibilities established by the international community, in
particular the goals and provisions outlined by the Quartet in the road map.
The Hamas-led government has repeatedly neglected to condemn the
continuing and increasing number of terror attacks, and has avoided their
responsibility to recognize Israel.
“Israel views this General Assembly resolution as unbalanced and
politically motivated. What is more pressing is that such a resolution causes
undue interference in issues that both parties agreed to resolve within the
context of bilateral negotiations and, thus, risks derailing the peace process
further.
“Aside from being damaging to the Middle East peace process, this type
of resolution contradicts the decisions to reform and reinvigorate the United
Nations. Rather than promoting a vision that recognizes the rights and
obligations of both sides, these resolutions obscure the efforts of the parties to
achieve a negotiated outcome. It is one-sided resolutions like these that
jeopardize the efficacy of the United Nations and the efficiency of the General
Assembly. Hence, they must be done away with.”
“Note verbale dated 4 August 2006 from the Permanent
Observer of Palestine to the United Nations addressed
to the Secretary-General
“General Assembly resolutions on the peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine have traditionally reaffirmed rules and principles of international
law, central and, in fact, deemed to be essential, to the achievement of a
peaceful and just resolution of the long-standing question of Palestine. The
overwhelming support traditionally received by those resolutions reflects the
international community’s consensus regarding this issue, a consensus rooted
in positions and convictions based on the primacy of international law in
international relations and on the universal ideals of justice and peace. Indeed,
during the Assembly’s sixtieth session, Member States again adopted a
resolution on this subject, resolution 60/39, by a huge majority of 156 votes in
favour, with only 6 votes against and 9 abstentions.
“Among the rules and principles of international law that the Assembly
reaffirmed in its resolution 60/39 are two fundamental ones, namely the
principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and the principle of
the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, as enshrined in the
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Charter of the United Nations. Other rules recalled in the resolution are also
embodied in other relevant Assembly resolutions, including those adopted by
its tenth emergency special session and in various Security Council
resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515
(2003) and 1544 (2004). Accordingly, as it reaffirmed the necessity of
achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects and of intensifying efforts towards that
end, the Assembly, inter alia, stressed the need for the withdrawal of Israel
from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 and the need for the
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the
right to self-determination and the right to their independent State. In the
resolution, the Assembly also stressed the need to resolve the problem of the
Palestine refugees in conformity with resolution 194 (III) of 11 December
1948.
“In connection with the requirements for achieving a peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine, the Assembly has significantly reaffirmed the
permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of
Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with international
law; and has also reaffirmed, inter alia, its full support for the Middle East
peace process and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian
sides; has welcomed the efforts of the Quartet aimed at the establishment of a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East; has called for the
implementation of the road map; and has welcomed the Arab Peace Initiative
adopted by the League of Arab States in Beirut in March 2002. Further
towards the aim of achieving a peaceful settlement, the Assembly, in resolution
60/39, rightly stressed the necessity of a commitment to the two-State solution,
the principle of land-for-peace, the implementation of the relevant Security
Council resolutions, a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian population
centres and the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military
attacks, destruction and acts of terror, which in recent years have caused the
grave deterioration of the situation on the ground and have severely debilitated
the search for a peaceful resolution to the question of Palestine.
“In resolution 60/39, the Assembly also addressed another aspect of the
question of Palestine that constitutes an extremely relevant consideration for
any efforts aimed at resolving this tragic and protracted 39-year-old conflict,
namely the humanitarian aspect. The Assembly expressed its grave concern
regarding the tragic events in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including
East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000, including the rising number of
deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the deterioration of the
socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people and the
widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property and
infrastructure resulting from the unlawful policies and practices of Israel, the
occupying Power. In this regard, the Assembly emphasized the importance of
the safety and well-being of all civilians of the whole Middle East region and
condemned all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides,
including suicide bombings, extrajudicial executions and the excessive use of
force. Further, the Assembly urged Member States to expedite the provision of
economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and
Palestinian Authority during this critical period to help alleviate their
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suffering, rebuild the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and support the
restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions.
“In calling for efforts to be exerted for the peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine, the Assembly has been fully aware of the urgent need for
revitalized and active international involvement in support of both parties so as
to re-launch the peace process and lead towards the resumption and
acceleration of direct negotiations between the parties. The Assembly has
affirmed the need for the parties to cooperate with all international efforts and
accordingly has called upon the concerned parties, the Quartet and other
interested parties to exert all efforts and take all initiatives necessary to halt
the deterioration of the situation and to reverse all measures taken on the
ground since 28 September 2000, and to ensure a successful and speedy
resumption of the peace process and conclusion of a final peace settlement.
The role of the United Nations has been further spelled out in resolution 60/39
with the Assembly’s request that the Secretary-General continue his efforts
with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council,
towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to the Assembly at its
sixty-first session a report on these efforts and on developments on this matter,
the purpose to which the present note is addressed.
“In sum, resolution 60/39 outlines in very clear terms what is
fundamentally needed for the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.
The international community’s support for the resolution reflects the wide
consensus and conviction that the implementation of these provisions would
effectively pave the way for the achievement of a just and lasting peace. Yet,
regrettably, this resolution remains unimplemented, the question of Palestine
remains unresolved and the Palestinian people continue to be denied their most
basic rights and to suffer under Israel’s belligerent occupation.
“Of course, Israel has not complied with resolution 60/39 and continues
to commit flagrant violations and grave breaches of the provisions of
international law stipulated therein. Indeed, like countless other United
Nations resolutions relevant to the question of Palestine, this resolution
remains unimplemented and a peaceful settlement remains elusive. In addition,
the Advisory Opinion rendered by the International Court of Justice on 9 July
2004 regarding Israel’s expansionist wall in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, including East Jerusalem, continues to be blatantly disrespected by
the occupying Power. This historic Advisory Opinion constituted an
authoritative and definitive determination of the applicable law regarding not
only the wall but other core aspects of the question of Palestine, and indeed the
Court was clear about the requirements for the peaceful settlement of this
question in the Advisory Opinion, calling, inter alia, for compliance with the
relevant provisions of international law and the implementation of relevant
United Nations resolutions, and underscoring the importance of the law and of
such resolutions, including the comprehensive resolutions adopted annually on
the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine for the ultimate just and
lasting resolution of this conflict.
“Today, it is a profoundly regrettable fact that the situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, has not improved
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and has in actuality dramatically deteriorated since the Assembly’s adoption of
resolution 60/39 in December 2005. Currently, we appear to be further away
than ever from achieving the peaceful settlement envisaged in this resolution.
This is primarily due to the continuation by Israel, the occupying Power, of its
illegal policies and practices against the Palestinian people, which have
included not only systematic human rights violations but also acts constituting
State terrorism and grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention under
Article 147 on war crimes. In this regard, the unlawful actions by Israel have
included, but have not been limited to: military raids and attacks;
disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force against civilians, including
children and women; extrajudicial executions; wanton and deliberate
destruction of property, including homes; confiscation of land; construction of
colonial settlements, especially in and around East Jerusalem, and transfer of
the occupying Power’s civilians to the Occupied Palestinian Territories;
construction of a wall for the purposes of besieging and isolating civilians in
walled enclaves; the arrest, detention and imprisonment of thousands of
civilians, including minors; and collective punishment of the entire civilian
population, including by means of severe restrictions on the freedom of
movement of persons and goods via closures and hundreds of checkpoints.
“In terms of the restrictions on movement, it is necessary to draw
attention to the fact that, during the reporting period, some of the Israeli
checkpoints have been illegally transformed into structures similar to
permanent border crossings in the middle of the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, away from the 1967 border (the Green Line), which are physically
severing the northern, central and southern parts of the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, undermining its territorial integrity and contiguity, and devastating
the Palestinian economy. During this same period, Israel has also declared its
intentions to carry out its illegal so-called E1 plan in and around East
Jerusalem, and illegally to annex the Jordan Valley. If implemented, the
E1 plan will isolate occupied East Jerusalem from the West Bank by encircling
the city with illegal settlement structures and the expansionist wall, severing
the city territorially from the rest of the Palestinian territories and tipping the
demographic balance of Jerusalem in favour of Israel by creating a Jewish
majority through the incorporation of Jerusalem’s illegal settler population.
Further, it must be stated that, in general, Israel’s continuing fervent campaign
of settler colonialism throughout the rest of the Occupied Palestinian
Territories continues to threaten gravely the prospects for achieving a
negotiated settlement based on the two-State solution as the occupying Power
continues unlawfully to seize more Palestinian land and to sever the contiguity
of the territory.
“Also during the reporting period, a month after resolution 60/39 was
adopted, the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories went to
the polls to vote in their new legislature. The elections were deemed by all to
be democratic, free and fair. The unfortunate response of some in the
international community resulted in the political, economic and financial
isolation of the Palestinian Authority, which has only intensified the already
difficult situation facing the Palestinian people. Israel has taken the decision to
withhold tax revenues belonging to the Palestinian Authority in violation of
the Paris Protocol signed by both sides in 1994. This decision by the
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occupying Power, coupled with the negative reaction of the international
community, has caused a severe financial crisis for the Palestinian Authority
and the Palestinian people and constitutes the punishment of the Palestinian
people for exercising their democratic rights. The Palestinian leadership
continues to call for the international community to reverse such decisions and
for Israel to release those Palestinian Authority funds it is withholding.
“The difficult situation on the ground in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, including East Jerusalem, has been deeply exacerbated by this
financial crisis. Yet what has caused even more devastation and humanitarian
suffering for the Palestinian people has been the death and destruction wrought
by Israel, the occupying Power, in recent months in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, particularly in the besieged Gaza Strip. The human and physical
devastation caused by Israel in the Gaza Strip underscores the ever-present
reality of the brutal, violent, and oppressive policies of the occupying Power
against the Palestinian people. Israel’s premeditated military aggression
against the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip, which began on
28 June 2006, has resulted in the death of nearly 200 Palestinians, including
women and children, and the injury of hundreds more and has caused hundreds
of families to flee their homes in fear and panic.
“Magnifying the deadly impact of Israel’s actions is the fact that well
before Israel’s recent military incursion, Palestinians in Gaza were facing a
dire humanitarian crisis stemming from shortages of food, medicine, clean
drinking water and a lack of access to public utilities. Regrettably, this most
recent Israeli aggression has further exacerbated the situation as a result of the
complete destruction of basic and vital infrastructure in Gaza, as the occupying
forces have bombed power stations, water pipelines, bridges and roads, as well
as bombing institutions of the Palestinian National Authority causing extensive
damage to many and completely destroying others, including the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Gaza City. All of the above-mentioned actions, in addition
to the repeated closure of border crossings into and out of the area, continue to
impact severely the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
“At the same time as its onslaught on Gaza, Israel has also kidnapped and
detained at least 64 Palestinians, the majority of them high-ranking,
democratically elected officials, including 8 cabinet ministers of the
Palestinian Authority, 24 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council and
several mayors. Israel’s direct targeting of senior Palestinian officials in such
an operation is a clear indication that the current aggression is being carried
out for political objectives and is intended to sabotage the recent agreement
achieved among Palestinian parties for reconciliation and unity, and not only
to hamper severely the functioning of the Palestinian Authority, but ultimately
to cause its complete collapse, thus clearing the way for Israel to continue with
its unlawful unilateral measures and plans in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories under the pretext of having no partner for peace. Indeed, this recent
Israeli military campaign was coincidentally launched on the eve of the
agreement reached among Palestinian parties that was aimed directly at
opening the door to a resumption of negotiations and the peace process.
“Prior to the recent military onslaught, it was already evident that the
Israeli unilateral disengagement from Gaza had only deepened the economic,
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social and humanitarian crises in the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel’s unilateral
disengagement had cut Gaza off from the rest of the world, as well as from the
rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. While the occupying Power
repeatedly attempted to portray this move as the end of its military occupation
of Gaza, Israel obviously never relinquished its control of Gaza’s borders,
territorial sea and airspace. This has turned Gaza into a massive prison,
entirely besieged by Israel, with no attributes of sovereignty or independence.
Currently, the humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people continues to
decline rapidly, while Israeli tanks and occupying forces have also returned to
Gaza, carrying out relentless bombing raids by Israeli F-16 jets and tank
shelling of targets throughout the heavily populated civilian areas of Gaza. As
we witness what is taking place in the Gaza Strip, it is more difficult than ever
to interpret Israel’s unilateral disengagement as a positive step forward.
“In this connection, the Palestinian leadership rejects any and all
unilateral actions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The unilateral
plan envisaged by the Israeli Prime Minister, which consists, inter alia, of the
illegal de facto annexation of more territory in the occupied West Bank, the
annexation of occupied East Jerusalem and its holy sites, and the imposition of
a security border along the Jordan Valley, will effectively bury the
internationally endorsed two-State solution. In this regard, it must be clearly
reiterated that the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem,
constitute one single territorial unit and Israel’s declared intentions to impose
its unilateral plans in the West Bank must be completely rejected. In addition,
such plans are unlawful, unacceptable and cannot alter the terms of reference
of the peace process, which began in Madrid, nor negate the inalienable rights
of the Palestinian people, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
“The Palestinian people and their leadership continue to call upon the
international community to unequivocally reject Israel’s continuing military
aggressions and unilateralism in the Occupied Palestinian Territories,
including East Jerusalem, which will lead to neither peace nor stability. The
international community is called upon to take urgent measures to address this
ongoing tragedy. The United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards
the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspects. The Security
Council should take the lead in this regard and undertake the bold and
courageous actions necessary for ensuring Israeli compliance with the
Council’s resolutions and adherence to international law. It is not too late for
the Council to use its authority to address this issue and to take the appropriate
measures to bring an end to Israel’s violations and grave breaches and to
salvage the prospects for reaching a peaceful settlement.
“In conclusion, Palestine reaffirms its commitment to a negotiated,
peaceful solution, based on international law, to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Despite the difficulties that Israel, the occupying Power, continues to impose
on the Palestinian people, President Mahmoud Abbas continues to call for the
immediate resumption of negotiations on the final settlement, based on the
provisions of international law, international conventions, United Nations
resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative adopted in Beirut in 2002. Until the
achievement of such a peaceful settlement, Palestine expresses its hopes for
the continued support of the international community and the continued
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exertion of genuine efforts towards this end, including in particular by the
United Nations.”
II. Observations
5. As the current round of Israeli-Palestinian violence enters its seventh year, I
regret that the opportunity for the revitalization of the Middle East peace process I
had hoped for last year has not materialized. Violence has been on the rise during
the reporting period and has included suicide bombings in Israel by Palestinian
militants and indiscriminate rocket and mortar fire at Israel, as well as Israeli aerial
strikes, extrajudicial killings of alleged militants, extensive ground operations and
tank shelling. There have also been worrying incidents of intra-Palestinian violence,
primarily in the Gaza Strip.
6. As I have said in the past, I deplore the killing of civilians, who too often have
fallen victim to this violence because of a lack of adherence by the parties to their
obligations under international law.
7. Elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council were held on 25 January 2006
throughout Gaza and the West Bank, and included limited participation of
Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem. At that time, I congratulated President
Abbas and the Palestinian people on the peaceful and orderly conduct of the
elections. The official results indicated that the Change and Reform list of Hamas
had won a majority of seats. Subsequently, the Quartet indicated that it was
inevitable that future assistance to any Palestinian government would be reviewed
by donors against the commitment of that government to the principles of
non-violence, recognition of the right of Israel to exist and acceptance of previous
agreements and obligations, including the road map.
8. President Abbas tasked Mr. Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas to form a government
and urged him to align his government’s programme with that of the presidency. In
his inauguration speech, the Prime Minister stated his respect for the constitutional
relationship with President Abbas and his respect for the role of the Palestine
Liberation Organization. However, the government did not commit to the principles
articulated by the Quartet.
9. After the Israeli general election of 28 March 2006, a coalition government
was formed, led by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, which expressed its desire to set
the permanent borders of Israel, preferably through an agreement with the
Palestinians. The Government acknowledged that this would entail a reduction of
the number of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, but also
envisaged the retention of major settlement blocs on occupied land. According to
the Government’s guidelines, Israel would stand ready to proceed unilaterally
should it judge that negotiations with the Palestinian side were not possible.
10. On 10 May 2006, Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, including senior Fatah
and Hamas figures, drafted a document that referred to common political goals
aimed at establishing a Palestinian State within the 1967 borders and describing the
Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the
Palestinian people. Fatah and Hamas reached an agreement on 27 June 2006 on a
revised version of this document and pledged to make it the basis for establishing a
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national unity government. Negotiations to form such a government are continuing,
but have not borne fruit to date.
11. On 25 June 2006, Palestinian militants attacked an Israeli military base near
the Gaza border, killing three Israeli soldiers and capturing one. The Government of
Israel subsequently launched a wide-ranging military operation in the Gaza Strip
with the stated aims of freeing the soldier and putting a halt to rocket fire. The
operation has included aerial bombardments, ground activities, the arrest of
Palestinian cabinet ministers and lawmakers, and the destruction of civilian
infrastructure, including the only electric power plant in Gaza, roads and bridges, as
well as many other public and private installations. To date, over 200 Palestinians
have been killed.
12. The United States Security Coordinators, Lieutenant General Ward (until
November 2005) and his successor Lieutenant General Dayton, continued their work
to push forward Palestinian security sector reform in order to control internal
violence and make progress towards the fulfilment of Palestinian road map
commitments. During the first months of the reporting period, the Palestinian
security services exhibited a readiness to confront militants by conducting arrests or
operations to confiscate explosive material. In November 2005, President Abbas
established a leadership committee which tasked a technical team with drafting a
white paper on safety and security. A first draft was produced in December 2005
with the support of the United States Security Coordinator.
13. The result of the Palestinian legislative elections, however, was not without
impact on the security sector. The Government of Israel put a stop to the transfer by
the international community of equipment for the Palestinian security forces.
Additionally, President Abbas and the government made conflicting security
appointments and decisions. The Palestinian Minister of Interior deployed in Gaza a
new “special force” drawing its members from existing security services and various
factions in spite of President Abbas’ declaration that this move was illegal. Clashes
ensued between security forces and calm was restored only after President Abbas
and Prime Minister Haniyeh agreed to absorb the “special force” into the payroll of
the Palestinian Authority. The United States Security Coordinator has continued to
work with President Abbas in an effort to strengthen the Presidential Guard, and
with the President’s office in a strategic advice capacity.
14. The Government of Israel has failed to implement its obligations under the
road map to freeze its settlement activities and dismantle outposts constructed in the
West Bank since March 2001, although it carried out the evacuation of the Amona
settlement outpost in February 2006. The construction of a police station in the
E1 area between Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement of Ma’ale Adumim is
under way, consistent with a plan to link Ma’ale Adumim to Israeli territory. In
December 2005, it was reported that 3,696 housing units were under construction in
West Bank settlements and another 1,654 in East Jerusalem. Further expansion of
West Bank settlements to the north and south of Jerusalem and in the Jordan Valley
were authorized by the Israel Ministry of Defence.
15. The pace of construction of the barrier in the West Bank accelerated during the
reporting period. Land expropriation orders were issued by the Government of Israel
to allow the extension of the barrier around Jerusalem eastward so as to envelop the
settlement of Ma’ale Adumim. The Israeli High Court of Justice rejected a petition
against the construction of the barrier in northern Jerusalem, but ordered the
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dismantling of five kilometres of the barrier east of the settlement of Tzofim. The
Israel Ministry of Defence reportedly ordered a review of the route of the barrier in
order to reduce its impact on Palestinian daily life. The continuing construction of
the barrier encroaching on Palestinian land contradicts the legal obligations of Israel
set forth in the 9 July 2004 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice
and General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004. Further to this
resolution, I have continued my efforts to establish a register of damage incurred by
Palestinians due to the construction of the barrier.
16. Quartet Special Envoy James Wolfensohn has emphasized that without the reestablishment
of free movement inside the West Bank, a viable Palestinian economy
is not possible. For several months, he endeavoured to advance an agenda covering
issues relating to movement and reform in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. On
15 November 2005, further to his efforts and to the personal engagement of United
States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and European Union High
Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, the
Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority reached an Agreement on
Movement and Access. The Agreement included the opening of the Rafah crossing
for travel of persons between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under the supervision of the
European Union. Accordingly, the Rafah crossing initially operated on a daily basis,
but since 25 June 2006, it has only been open sporadically. The Agreement also
covered the continuous opening of crossings between Israel and Gaza for both goods
and people. Again, and despite initial operation of the crossings, the Karni, Kerem
Shalom and Erez crossings have not operated regularly throughout 2006. The
frequent closure of the Karni commercial crossing has meant that few exports have
been able to pass. Other aspects of the Agreement, such as the Israeli commitment to
allow truck and bus convoys between Gaza and the West Bank and to reduce the
number of movement obstacles in the West Bank have not been implemented. The
Government of Israel has also not yet provided assurance that it would not interfere
with the operation of the Gaza seaport, and there have been no discussions on the
opening of the airport.
17. Israeli security forces have increasingly divided the West Bank into three
distinct areas, with movement relatively free inside those areas but severely
hampered between them. According to the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs, the Government of Israel has increased the number of
physical obstacles in the West Bank by 43 per cent since the signing of the
Agreement on Movement and Access. New Israeli measures in the Jordan Valley
have prevented almost all Palestinian non-residents who do not work in the area
from accessing it. Access has also been restricted to closed areas between the Green
Line and the barrier.
18. The Palestinian Authority was already facing serious political, financial and
social difficulties at the end of 2005. While the international community praised
aspects of the Palestinian Authority response during the disengagement process, the
Authority’s performance in the months following disengagement was mixed. The
wage bill continued to grow as the Authority recruited more officers into the
security forces, security in Gaza deteriorated, and rocket attacks on Israel continued.
By December 2005, key donors were reconsidering their support to the Palestinian
Authority’s budget, which was already depleted.
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19. After the Palestinian legislative elections in January 2006, the Government of
Israel declared that the Palestinian Authority had turned effectively into a “terrorist
entity” and decided to withhold the transfer of customs and value added tax
payments that it collects on its behalf. This decision, which effectively deprived the
Palestinian Authority of approximately US$ 50 million per month, is contrary to the
provisions of the Paris Protocol. Key donor Governments also withdrew their direct
support to the Authority in the light of the failure of the new Palestinian government
to commit to the principles laid out by the Quartet. The ensuing contraction of
economic activity reduced domestic tax revenues. These combined factors, further
compounded by a crisis in the banking system, resulted in an acute fiscal crisis for
the Palestinian Authority.
20. As a result, the Palestinian Authority became increasingly unable to meet its
financial obligations. It cut most social benefits in February 2006 and stopped
paying salaries to civil servants as of March. By April 2006, it was estimated that its
monthly revenue was a mere sixth of its requirement. Aware of the humanitarian
consequences of the situation, and while stressing that the Palestinian Authority was
not relieved of its responsibilities to assist the Palestinian people, the Quartet
expressed on 9 May 2006 its willingness to endorse a temporary international
mechanism, limited in scope and in duration and operating with full transparency
and accountability, to ensure the direct delivery of assistance to the Palestinian
people. The provision of fuel support costs and payment of allowances to health
workers by the European Union under the mechanism began in July 2006. Other
aspects, including payments of needs-based allowances and other non-salary costs,
such as medicines, have also begun.
21. Nearly one million Palestinians used to rely on a Palestinian Authority wage
earner, and the salaries paid by the Authority used to account for about 25 per cent
of gross domestic product. Additionally, recipients of Palestinian Authority salaries
operate the health, education, security and other services for the Palestinian people.
Economic surveys have pointed to dramatic rises in poverty and unemployment
should the fiscal crisis continue, and have evidenced a 7 per cent decrease in the
Palestinian gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2006. The destruction of
civilian infrastructure during the Israeli military operation that was launched
following the capture of an Israeli soldier near Gaza has resulted in electricity being
cut in Gaza between 12 and 18 hours a day, the rationing of water and an increase in
public health hazards. The frequent closures of the Karni crossing into Gaza have
caused a serious depletion of stocks of basic food commodities and food rationing
has been introduced.
22. The Secretariat has continued to provide regular monthly briefings to the
Security Council on the latest developments in the Middle East, as well as whenever
the situation on the ground demanded that the members of the Council be kept
urgently apprised.
23. The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee met in London in December 2005 to discuss
the economic, fiscal and humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories. The Quartet met in the margins of this meeting and expressed support
for the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to prevent armed groups from acting against
law and order. It continued its sustained efforts during the reporting period, having
already met in September 2005, and again in January and May 2006, thus signalling
its readiness to engage in the conflict and support efforts at implementing the road
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map. I have also remained committed to furthering the cause of peace in the Middle
East and undertook a visit to the region in November 2005 and in August-September
this year.
24. The United Nations agencies and programmes have continued to carry out
their mandates to assist the Palestinian people. Donor support is more necessary
than ever, and in July 2006, donors pledged to make significant contributions to the
revised consolidated appeal of the United Nations for the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, and notably to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). In its statement of 9 May 2006, the
Quartet called upon the international community to respond urgently to assistance
requests by international organizations, especially United Nations agencies. I also
urge all potential donors to reaffirm their support to UNRWA and to the
consolidated appeal.
25. I remain disturbed over restrictions imposed by the Israeli security forces
resulting from the construction of the West Bank barrier, as well as from
checkpoints and other obstacles that have consistently impeded the ability of United
Nations agencies and programmes to provide assistance to Palestinians. Increasingly
tight restrictions have confronted movement of international staff to and from Gaza
and movement of national staff has been more difficult between Jerusalem, where
most United Nations offices are headquartered, and the West Bank, where aid is
needed. The supply of humanitarian goods to the Gaza Strip through the Karni
crossing has been difficult and significant costs have been incurred as a result of
long delays in returning empty containers.
26. Of particular concern to me are incidents that have compromised the security
of United Nations staff members. Some have occasionally been fired on at
checkpoints. Demonstrations were held in front of United Nations offices in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories, notably at the Gaza office of the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East. On 30 July 2006, after a demonstration at
United Nations premises in Beirut following the Israeli shelling of Qana during the
conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Palestinian militants participating in a
demonstration entered the office and ransacked it, damaging valuable material. On
31 December 2005, a recreational facility operated by UNRWA in Gaza City was
bombed by Palestinian militants. Fortunately, no staff member of the United Nations
was hurt in either incident.
27. It must be noted that the road map indicated the end of 2005 as the target date
for settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Though this deadline passed
unobserved, the road map remains the agreed framework for achieving a just and
lasting peace in the Middle East and is therefore an important reference for the
future. I regret that prospects for achieving a two-State solution have not improved
over the reporting period. While realities have changed, it is essential that all parties
be encouraged to adopt policies and practices that are conducive to a peaceful
solution. In this regard, I have welcomed the continued commitment of President
Abbas to a platform of peace, and I have noted with satisfaction Prime Minister
Olmert’s stated readiness to engage a Palestinian partner. I am also pleased that
opinion polls have continued to emphasize the desire of both the Israeli and the
Palestinian peoples for a negotiated two-State solution, even if confidence in the
peace process is declining. While the negative developments in recent months are
gravely distressing, they must not distract the international community from
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exerting all efforts to re-energize the Middle East peace process. I therefore wish to
reiterate the central importance of negotiations between the Government of Israel
and a Palestinian partner committed to the principles of the road map in order to
achieve a two-State solution. The United Nations will continue to work towards the
attainment of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian State living side by
side in peace and security with Israel, and of a broader regional framework for
peace and stability, in keeping with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338
(1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003), and in accordance with the road map and the
Arab peace initiative.
28. I should like to pay special tribute to Alvaro de Soto, United Nations Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and my Personal Representative to
the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, to the staff of
the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator and to Commissioner-General
Karen Koning AbuZayd of UNRWA, the staff of the Agency and all other United
Nations agencies, who continue to provide dedicated and efficacious services while
working under the most demanding, difficult and sometimes dangerous
circumstances. I also wish to express my appreciation for the work of the Special
Envoy of the Quartet, Mr. James Wolfensohn, who stepped down in April 2006, and
whose contribution was essential.
United Nations A/62/344–S/2007/553
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
20 September 2007
Original: English
07-51201 (E) 111007
*0751201*
General Assembly
Sixty-second session
Items 17 and 18 of the provisional agenda*
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Sixty-second year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 61/25 of 1 December 2006. It contains replies received from the President
of the Security Council and the concerned parties to the notes verbales sent by the
Secretary-General pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 18 of the
resolution. The report also contains the observations of the Secretary-General on the
current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on international efforts to move
the peace process forward with a view to achieving a peaceful solution. The report
covers the period from September 2006 through September 2007.
__________________
* A/62/150.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 61/25
of 1 December 2006.
2. On 1 August 2007, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 18 of the
above-mentioned resolution, I addressed the following letter to the President of the
Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 61/25, which the General
Assembly adopted on 1 December 2006, at its sixty-first session, under the
agenda item entitled ‘Question of Palestine’.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 31 August 2007.”
3. On 10 September 2007, the following reply was received from the Security
Council:
“The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,
remains one of the most important items on the Security Council agenda. The
Council continues to consider the situation in the Middle East on a regular
basis, in particular with monthly briefings by the Under-Secretary-General for
Political Affairs, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
and senior Secretariat staff, followed by an open debate of the Council or by
consultations.
“On 12 December 2006, the Security Council adopted a presidential
statement (S/PRST/2006/51), which was read by its President. On that
occasion, the Council stressed that negotiation was the only way to bring peace
and prosperity to peoples throughout the Middle East and welcomed the
agreement between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to establish a mutual ceasefire in Gaza,
signed in December 2006. It also encouraged the parties to engage in direct
negotiations and reaffirmed the vital role of the Quartet in providing needed
assistance to the parties.
“In early January 2007, the Security Council considered a draft
presidential declaration, proposed by Indonesia, aimed at keeping the
momentum from positive developments on the ground, including the ceasefire
agreement and the understandings reached at the summit between Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on
23 December 2006. Due to a lack of consensus, the draft was not adopted.
“On 25 January 2007, the Security Council held consultations on the
situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine, which, owing
to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories, focused on
initiatives aimed at reviving the peace process and on the need to preserve the
Gaza ceasefire agreement.
“On 13 February 2007, the Security Council held an open debate on the
situation in the Middle East, in which Mr. Alvaro de Soto, Special Coordinator
for the Middle East Peace Process, gave a briefing. The Council members took
note of the agreement between Hamas and Fatah, reached in Mecca on
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8 February 2007, under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, with a view to putting
an end to the fratricidal clashes between Palestinians.
“Several Council members expressed great concern about the violence
resulting from the construction carried out near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, raising
tensions in the Palestinian territories and in Muslim countries.
“On 14 March 2007, Council members heard a presentation by Mr. Lynn
Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, which was followed by
consultations on the situation in the Middle East.
“On 5 April 2007, the Council considered your report after your visit to
the Middle East and the meetings you had held during and in the margins of
the League of Arab States Summit, held in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), on 28 and
29 March 2007, including on the question of the revitalization of the Israeli-
Palestinian peace process.
“On 15 and 18 May 2007, we exchanged letters on the appointment of
Mr. Michael Williams as Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace
Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the
Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, succeeding
Mr. Alvaro de Soto.
“On 24 May 2007, a presentation by Mr. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-
General for Political Affairs, was followed by consultations on the Middle
East. Council members generally deplored the renewed violence and urged the
principal parties to exercise restraint. They expressed the hope that the Middle
East Quartet would become more involved in the effort to revive the Israeli-
Palestinian peace process.
“On 30 May 2007, the President of the Security Council delivered a press
statement on the breakdown of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in which the
members of the Council expressed their grave concern at the resulting increase
in violence.
“On 1 June 2007, you informed the Council of the outcome of the
meeting of the Middle East Quartet, held in late May 2007.
“On 20 June 2007, the Council held consultations on, in particular, the
situation in Palestine. It deplored the serious events in Gaza and the West Bank
that had led to the dissolution of the Palestinian National Unity Government
and to the declaration of a state of emergency.
“Council members appealed to the Palestinians to settle their differences
peacefully through dialogue. Special emphasis was placed on the worsening
humanitarian situation in Gaza. Several Council members welcomed the
measures aimed at lifting the financial blockade imposed on Palestine since the
Hamas victory in the legislative elections.
“On 25 July 2007, the Council heard a public presentation by
Mr. Michael Williams, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process,
in which the continued violence and the worsening humanitarian situation,
particularly in Gaza, were stressed.
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“On this last point, a draft presidential declaration on the worsening
humanitarian situation in Gaza, proposed by Qatar and Indonesia, was not
adopted owing to a lack of consensus.
“On 29 August 2007, the Council held an open debate on the situation in
the Middle East. The Council heard the last briefing of Mr. Michael Williams
as Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.
“Council members commended Mr. Williams’s work as Special
Coordinator and expressed their hope that the diplomatic momentum described
by Mr. Williams (substantive dialogue developing between Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert; upcoming
high-profile international meetings on the Middle East, particularly the
meeting called by the President of the United States of America) could pave
the way for substantial developments towards finding a solution. Council
members expressed the view that meaningful steps in the field would be useful
to back this diplomatic process.
“The Council continues to keep the evolving situation in the Middle East,
including the Palestinian question, under active review through monthly
briefings, open meetings and informal consultations. During these meetings,
the Council members reiterate their support for a just and comprehensive
settlement in the Middle East based on Security Council resolutions 242
(1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003), the outcome of the Madrid
Conference, the principle of land for peace, the previous agreements reached
by the parties, and the Arab Peace Initiative, reaffirmed at the League of Arab
States Summit in Riyadh.”
4. In a note verbale dated 8 June 2007 to the parties concerned, I sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization, regarding any steps
taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at
1 September 2007, the following replies had been received:
“Note verbale dated 24 August 2007 from the Permanent
Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed
to the Secretary-General
“As you are aware, Israel has voted against this resolution, as it has done
time and time again against similar resolutions adopted by the General
Assembly during previous sessions. Because the situation in the Middle East
stands at a delicate crossroads, Israel wishes to once again put on record its
position on this matter.
“Palestinian terror continues. Mortar and Qassam rocket attacks,
launched by Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip at Israeli communities in
the south, occur on a daily basis. Over the last month, numerous rockets were
launched by Palestinian terrorists, bringing the total number of Qassam rockets
that hit Israeli territory during the past year to over 1,000, causing deaths,
hundreds of casualties, and vast damage to properties, including schools,
kindergartens and residential areas. Hamas has been holding Corporal Gilad
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Shalit captive ever since he was kidnapped by the terrorist organization more
than a year ago. His abduction also presents a pressing humanitarian situation.
“Palestinian terrorists continue to smuggle weapons across the southern
border. Tunnels, burrowed deep beneath the ground, are used by terrorists to
move weapons and other munitions. The build-up of weapons presents a grave
threat, and efforts must be reinforced to stem the tide of arms smuggling.
“The horrific violence of last June, which resulted in the death and injury
of countless innocent Palestinians, imperils the region. Moreover, Hamas’s
terrorizing of Palestinian society has created a serious humanitarian situation
in the Gaza Strip. Nevertheless, Israel remains committed to ensuring that the
necessary humanitarian aid is delivered to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Despite the departure of Palestinian Authority security forces from the
crossings between the Gaza Strip and Israel, arrangements have been made for
humanitarian aid and other supplies to enter and exit the crossings. Since
19 June, more than 50,000 tons have been transferred through the Sufa
crossing, and more than 4,000 tons have passed through the Kerem Shalom
crossing. Israel continues its coordination activities on the ground, working
through the appropriate channels to ensure the passage of aid and other
materials. Israel is committed to working with a Palestinian leadership that
supports peace and renounces violence. As just one example, on 20 July, Israel
released 255 Palestinian prisoners who had been held in Israeli prisons in
connection with terrorist activity. In the past month a number of meetings took
place to set in motion the building blocks for a political horizon and to
maintain a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Most notable
among them was the meeting held on 6 August between Prime Minister Olmert
and President Abbas in Jericho. Israel hopes to work with its moderate
counterparts in the region to advance mutual understanding and formulate the
framework that will allow Israel and the Palestinians to move forward on a
bilateral process. This process, it must be underscored, should be supported by
other like-minded moderate States in the region and the international
community, but it cannot be a substitute for direct Israeli-Palestinian dialogue.
“General Assembly resolution 61/25 also cannot be a substitute for direct
Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. Rather than promoting a vision that recognizes the
rights and obligations of both sides, it obscures the efforts of the parties to
achieve a negotiated outcome. It is one-sided resolutions like this one that
jeopardize the efficacy of the United Nations and the efficiency of the General
Assembly.”
“Note verbale dated 19 July 2007 from the Permanent
Observer of Palestine to the United Nations addressed
to the Secretary-General
“At the writing of this note, the situation in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, remains grave, with the humanitarian,
economic, social, political and security situation deteriorating on all fronts
since the adoption by the Assembly of resolution 61/25. In June of this year,
the Palestinian people solemnly marked the fortieth year of Israel’s military
occupation of the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. Tragically,
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the Palestinian people remain a stateless, dispossessed and oppressed people,
suffering mounting hardships in their ongoing struggle to realize their
inalienable human rights, including the right to self-determination. Each
passing year witnesses the deepening of the injustice imposed upon the
Palestinian people, including the Palestine refugees, further trampling of their
human dignity and further shredding of the fabric of Palestinian society.
“The fact is that, while resolution 61/25 and the many resolutions that
preceded it remain unimplemented and while the peace process remains
stalled, despite efforts exerted to revive it, Israel, the occupying Power, has
exploited the passage of time and the inaction of the international community
for the continued execution of its illegal policies and actions in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The result has been the
continued Israeli violation of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people
and the creation of even more unlawful facts on the ground in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, with the consequent deepening
of the humanitarian crisis and the further fragmenting territorial contiguity of
the Palestinian territory, seriously endangering the viability of the two-State
solution, the crux of any peaceful solution, and further compounding the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“The daily actions of Israel, the occupying Power, are in total
contradiction to the provisions of the General Assembly’s resolution on the
‘Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine’ and in total breach of the
relevant tenets of international law. Instead of abiding by the law and United
Nations resolutions and actually pursuing peace, Israel has continued acting
with flagrant impunity, denying the rights of the Palestinian people and
committing grave breaches, including systematic human rights violations, acts
of State terror and war crimes against them.
“Since the adoption of resolution 61/25, the occupying Power has not
ceased its brutal military campaign against the Palestinian civilian population,
a defenceless population entitled to protection under international
humanitarian law. The Israeli occupying forces have killed and injured
hundreds more Palestinian civilians, including children, in frequent military
attacks and raids launched in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, typically
characterized by excessive and indiscriminate use of force and frequent
extrajudicial killings. Since the adoption of resolution 61/25 until the date of
this note, the Israeli occupying forces have killed at least 184 Palestinian
civilians. The Israeli occupying forces have also continued to cause the wanton
destruction of Palestinian property, including homes, agricultural lands and
orchards, vital civilian infrastructure, cultural, religious and historical
properties, and national institutions, leading to further displacement and
homelessness of civilians, loss of livelihoods, and environmental damage.
Such unlawful, lethal and destructive military attacks by the occupying Power
not only deepen the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population at all
levels, but also constantly fuel tensions and perpetuate the cycle of violence
between the two sides.
“Israel also continues to unlawfully and arbitrarily detain and imprison
more than 11,000 Palestinians, including at least 112 women and 300 children,
and has persisted with daily arrest campaigns. These civilians are typically
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held in inhumane conditions, enduring harassment, physical and psychological
ill treatment and many subject to torture, rarely having any recourse to due
process of law, and many are denied visitation by their families, whose access
to the prisoners and to any knowledge about them is severely restricted by the
occupying Power. In addition, Israel continues to illegally imprison several
democratically elected Palestinian officials.
“Simultaneously, Israel has continued to pursue its illegal colonization
campaign via the construction of settlements, the wall, and bypass roads and
the imposition of the checkpoints throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem. After the passage of so many decades of
Israel’s systematic and constant violations, it has become glaringly clear that
the occupying Power has been carrying out its illegal policies against the
Palestinian people with the deliberate intent of oppressing and keeping under
siege the entire Palestinian population while it consolidates its unlawful
occupation of the Palestinian land — now the longest occupation in
contemporary history — in order to achieve the de facto annexation of as
much of that land as possible. Israel has done this in flagrant violation of the
rule of international law regarding the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by force and in grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and
Additional Protocol 1.
“Since 1967 and continuing today, the occupying Power has relentlessly
carried out its colonization campaign, confiscating thousands of dunums of
Palestinian land, destroying thousands of Palestinian properties and imposing
countless illegal measures for this purpose. Israel’s construction, expansion
and fortification of illegal settlements is a vast enterprise. The major organs of
the United Nations have explicitly affirmed the illegality of these settlements
and have called for their dismantlement. Yet, there are now 161 settlements
and at least 96 settlement outposts in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem. More than 450,000 Israeli settlers — many armed
and fanatical, who constantly harass and terrorize the Palestinian civilian
population — have been illegally transferred into these settlements and
continue to be transferred on a daily basis. Settlement construction in and
around occupied East Jerusalem has been especially intense, with the
occupying Power declaring its intention to create a contiguous Jewish presence
linking East Jerusalem to major settlement areas in the West Bank, including
via the so-called E-1 plan, totally isolating the city and its Palestinian
inhabitants from the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and furthering
the Judaization of the city.
“Over the past four years, this colonization campaign escalated, with the
occupying Power’s unlawful construction of the wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, which is
intricately linked to the settlements and intended to entrench them and to
advance the land grab. The International Court of Justice and the General
Assembly have deemed this wall to be unlawful and have demanded that Israel
dismantle the wall and make reparations for all damages caused by it. Yet, in
2007, the construction of the wall has continued unabated. Entire communities
are being destroyed and thousands of Palestinians continue to be displaced by
this apartheid wall, which separates Palestinian areas, many of which have
become walled-in enclaves, and is causing extensive socio-economic
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devastation by destroying thousands of livelihoods, particularly those related
to agriculture, and preventing access, inter alia, to education, food and water
supply, medical care and other essential social services.
“In yet further collective punishment of the Palestinian people, Israel
maintains a discriminatory road network for Israelis only, a racist permit
system, and more than 550 checkpoints and roadblocks, including hundreds of
‘flying checkpoints’ per month, throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem. Prolonged closures and severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian persons and goods throughout the Occupied
Palestinian Territory and into and out of that territory are imposed by the
occupying Power via these measures. Such restrictions violate the freedom of
movement of the Palestinian people and many of their other basic human
rights and continue to damage the economy, undermine development and
deepen the humanitarian crisis. There is also extensive documentation of the
harassment, physical abuse and humiliation endured by the Palestinian people
at these checkpoints, as well as of the numerous deaths and live births that
have occurred there, as civilians have been repeatedly prevented from reaching
hospitals by the occupying forces. In this regard, the occupying Power also
continues to obstruct the movement and access of humanitarian and medical
personnel, including the staff of United Nations agencies, hampering the
provision of essential services to the civilian population and the provision of
emergency food and medical care.
“In terms of the closures, the Gaza Strip has been most impacted. In
violation of the Agreement on Movement and Access of 2005, the Rafah
crossing for people and the Karni crossing for goods are frequently closed and,
when opened, only a limited amount of traffic is permitted through. At the time
of the writing of this note, both crossings have been closed indefinitely by
Israel. This has, among other things, left more than 6,000 Palestinians stranded
on the Egyptian side of Rafah under severe humanitarian conditions. These
persons include more than 1,000 Palestinians who had travelled to Egypt for
medical care, 16 of whom died at or near the crossing due to the long wait
under inhuman conditions. Moreover, the closures have gravely affected the
economy in Gaza, since goods for export typically perish before reaching their
destination, leading to loss of income and livelihoods, and basic goods are
often in short supply in Gaza, aggravating already poor socio-economic
conditions. Moreover, the Gaza Strip remains separated from the West Bank.
“Such unlawful Israeli measures are clearly intended to completely
control the movement of the Palestinian people and contain them in
disconnected, non-viable and unsustainable cantons. The shocking result of
this massive and illegal Israeli colonization campaign is the carving up of the
Palestinian territory into several isolated, non-contiguous Bantustans. All of
these illegal Israeli practices and measures are dramatically altering the
demographic composition, geographic character and nature of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and destroying its territorial
contiguity and integrity, gravely undermining the prospects for achieving the
two-State solution.
“Further, all aspects of Palestinian life continue to be gravely impacted
by the illegal and inhumane Israeli policies and practices enumerated above.
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Socio-economic and humanitarian conditions are particularly acute. Poverty,
unemployment and hunger have sharply risen, frustrations, insecurity and
despair remain high, and day-to-day survival in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory has become more difficult, particularly in the impoverished Gaza
Strip. These precarious conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
worsened in the past year with the continuation of the financial sanctions
unjustly and punitively imposed on the Palestinian people following the
democratic elections of January 2006. Today, at least 70 per cent of the
Palestinian civilian population lives in poverty and nearly 50 per cent of the
population is dependent on food aid.
“It is a tragic irony that the Palestinian people — an occupied people —
have had sanctions and one condition after another imposed on them, while
Israel, despite decades of systematic and grave breaches of the law, has never
been placed under sanctions. Overall, this sanctions regime, in addition to
Israel’s withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, in violation of the Paris
Protocol, has caused a severe financial crisis for the Palestinian Authority,
debilitating its ability to function effectively and causing the degradation and
de-development of Palestinian institutions and public services, particularly in
the health and education sectors. The short and long-term effects of this unjust,
illogical and unethical boycott continue to plague the Palestinian people.
“In this regard, it is unquestionable that the sanctions regime greatly
contributed to the steep deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip and the
upsurge of tensions, which in turn fuelled a cycle of internal fighting between
Palestinian political factions and the complete downward spiralling of the
situation in June with the regrettable criminal actions carried out by outlaw
militias affiliated with Hamas that took over Palestinian Authority institutions
in the Gaza Strip. Following these developments, the President of the
Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, initially formed an emergency
government, which became a caretaker government, and continues to pursue
efforts to bring calm and stability to the Palestinian people and to refocus
energies towards a resumption of peace negotiations.
“Yet, the crisis on the ground continues, primarily as a result of the
continuation by Israel, the occupying Power, of all of its illegal policies and
practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and
the negative ramifications of the sanctions, which have undermined peace
efforts. The current situation thus remains dire and the prospects for achieving
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine seem more remote.
“Unfortunately, numerous efforts and initiatives over the years and
countless United Nations resolutions have not brought an end to this conflict
and/or achieved the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people. However, this is not because these resolutions are defective. On the
contrary, the many resolutions adopted by the United Nations, including the
annual resolution on the item entitled ‘Peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine’, as well as the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice
(9 July 2004), justly, thoroughly and realistically address the core issues of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and set out in very clear terms the requisites for
redressing the plight of the Palestinian people and resolving this conflict. Yet,
Israel, the occupying Power, has remained intransigent, acting in absolute
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contempt of these resolutions and in grave breach of international law,
including international humanitarian and human rights law. Such impunity by
the occupying Power has undoubtedly been encouraged by the inaction of the
international community in the face of such continuous violations and grave
breaches of the law. This vicious cycle must be brought to an end.
“Urgent action must be taken by the international community to redress
this unjust and unlawful situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, for its
continuation is untenable. There can never be peace, security and prosperity in
the Middle East as long as the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-
Israeli conflict, remains unresolved. If implemented, the many relevant United
Nations resolutions addressing this crisis, including resolution 61/25, would
have long ago ended the conflict. These resolutions remain valid and the
principles and positions therein constitute the foundations of the peace process
and the keys to resolving this prolonged conflict.
“The international community must uphold its responsibilities vis-à-vis
international law and United Nations resolutions by taking practical measures
to ensure respect for the law and the implementation of these resolutions and
thus to finally hold Israel, the occupying Power, accountable for its actions,
bring an end to its impunity and compel it to comply with its legal obligations.
Only this will augur a new era in which the requisites for achieving a just and
lasting peace could be implemented and fulfilled.
“Despite all of the difficulties and challenges, the achievement of such a
peace — at the core of which is the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine,
living side by side in peace and security on the basis of the 1967 borders —
must remain our ultimate goal. This is recognized by the international
community in resolution 61/25. In this regard, assessing the status of
implementation of resolution 61/25 requires at minimum a brief examination
of the calls made by the international community in the operative paragraphs
of the resolution.
“While the Assembly has reaffirmed, inter alia, the necessity of achieving
a peaceful settlement and intensifying all efforts towards that end, reaffirmed
its full support for the Middle East peace process, and called for the fulfilment
of road map obligations, developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
over the past year, resulting mainly from the illegal policies and practices of
Israel, the occupying Power, as detailed above, have undermined such efforts.
Nevertheless, opportunities for pursuing peace are still before us and must be
seized.
“The Palestinian leadership is committed to achieving a just, lasting and
peaceful solution to the conflict and has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment
to the peace process on its agreed basis, to the agreements concluded between
the two sides, to the road map and to the Arab Peace Initiative. In fact, the
Palestinian side has repeatedly extended its hand in peace and indicated its
readiness to proceed with final status negotiations without conditions and, in a
very important development in the past year, President Abbas has been
mandated by all political groups to negotiate a final peace settlement with
Israel.
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“Moreover, it is significant that the Arab Summit decided to renew and
revive the Arab Peace Initiative, which continues to present a just basis for the
achievement of peace. Full peace and normalization of relations are being
offered to Israel in exchange for full withdrawal from the territories occupied
by Israel in 1967 and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State on
the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, along with a
just and agreed upon solution for the Palestine refugees on the basis of General
Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 1948. The Assembly has welcomed this
initiative and should continue to support its promotion. At the same time, the
Quartet recently decided to re-energize itself and to become more active by
holding more meetings, including with the two parties, with the aim of
promoting the implementation of the road map, and its efforts should continue
to be supported as well. The promotion of confidence-building measures
between the two parties by both the Quartet and the Arab side and all other
efforts to stabilize the situation and restart the peace process should be
supported, including the call by United States President George Bush on 16
July 2007, for the convening of an international conference for this purpose in
the fall of 2007.
“In resolution 61/25, the Assembly also called upon the parties
themselves to exert efforts to halt the deterioration of the situation, to reverse
all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000 and to immediately
resume direct peace negotiations, and stressed the need for a speedy end to the
reoccupation of Palestinian population centres and for the complete cessation
of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror.
Most regrettably, these calls remained unheeded and the situation continued to
deteriorate. Moreover, despite the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza
Strip and the international community’s call for the resolution of all remaining
issues in the Gaza Strip, the situation there deteriorated to unprecedented lows
as Israel continued to carry out attacks against the civilian population, to
violate the Agreement on Movement and Access, and to keep Gaza under a
total siege.
“Operative paragraphs 11, 12 and 13 of resolution 61/25 are very
important. The complete cessation of Israeli violations of international law,
including Israel’s illegal colonization campaign and all other violations and
grave breaches, is imperative for salvaging the potential for peace.
“In this regard, the Assembly has called upon Israel to comply strictly
with its obligations under international law and to cease all of its unlawful
measures and unilateral actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at altering the character and status of
the Territory, including via the de facto annexation of land, and thus at
prejudging the final outcome of peace negotiations. It also has demanded that
Israel comply with its legal obligations under international law, as mentioned
in the advisory opinion and as demanded in resolutions ES-10/13 of
21 October 2003 and ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004. In addition, the Assembly has
reiterated its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement
activities and for the full implementation of the relevant Security Council
resolutions. Regrettably, and much to the detriment of the search for a peaceful
settlement, Israel, the occupying Power, has not complied with any of these
demands and in fact continues to actively and flagrantly commit violations.
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The Assembly must therefore continue to demand that Israel, the occupying
Power, abide by international law and United Nations resolutions and cease all
such illegal actions, and should seriously consider actions to compel it to
comply.
“Operative paragraphs 14, 15 and 16 of resolution 61/25 are also central
to this resolution and indeed to the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine as a whole. The elements in these paragraphs constitute key
requisites for achieving a just and lasting peace, and all efforts must continue
to be exerted towards their fulfilment.
“The aid has become ever more crucial in light of the continued
deterioration of socio-economic and humanitarian conditions over the past
year, the deterioration of the economy and the degradation of Palestinian
national institutions.
“Finally, we urge the Secretary-General to exert the efforts requested in
operative paragraph 18, guided by the Charter and on the basis of international
law and United Nations resolutions. Indeed, the United Nations as a whole has
a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until it is resolved
in all its aspects, in accordance with international law. The United Nations
should work concertedly to implement its relevant resolutions, which form the
foundations for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.
“As resolution 61/25, regrettably, remains unimplemented, the General
Assembly is duty-bound to continue pursuing efforts for a peaceful settlement
of the question of Palestine via, inter alia, the implementation of the provisions
of this important resolution. Serious efforts must be exerted to uphold the law,
to bring an end to the Israeli occupation and to bring about the realization by
the Palestinian people of their inalienable rights in their independent State of
Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and to thus allow for the
establishment of peace, stability and security for both the Palestinian and
Israeli peoples, as well as the region as a whole. Accordingly, in light of the
current critical situation, the international community must act collectively to
compel Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with United Nations
resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and all other relevant General Assembly
and Security Council resolutions, to abide by its legal obligations under the
Fourth Geneva Convention and the human rights covenants, to fully respect
the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. Such action by the
international community will tangibly contribute towards the promotion of the
peace process and the ultimate achievement of a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine.”
II. Observations
5. During the reporting period, political turmoil, violence and the creation of
facts on the ground further undermined efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of
the question of Palestine. However, in a positive development, bilateral dialogue
between the Israeli Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation
Organization resumed, in a context of renewed regional and international
engagement, to help realize the vision of two States living side by side in peace and
security.
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6. The reporting period was marked by intense rivalry between Palestinians loyal
to Fatah and to Hamas in Gaza, with efforts to bridge differences undermined by
episodes of heavy violence. In February 2007, following a year of isolation of the
Hamas-led Palestinian Authority Government, an agreement to form a national unity
Government which respected the signed agreements of the Palestine Liberation
Organization, was reached under the auspices of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
President Abbas subsequently tasked Prime Minister Hanniyeh to form a national
unity Government.
7. The Quartet, which had stated in January 2006 that it was inevitable that
assistance to any Palestinian Government would be reviewed by donors against the
commitment of that Government to the principles of non-violence, recognition of
Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, encouraged progress
in the direction of these principles. Some donors engaged the new Government, but
most maintained a “wait and see” approach.
8. Regrettably, the agreement did not lead to significant alterations in the
behaviour of security elements and militias. Heavy intra-Palestinian fighting
resumed in May 2007. On 15 June, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip, in fighting
that shocked many by its brutality. President Abbas declared a state of emergency,
dismissed Prime Minister Hanniyeh, and appointed Salam Fayyad as Prime Minister
of an emergency Government.
9. Hamas refused to accept the appointment of the new Government and
continued to assume control over the Gaza Strip. As the Palestinian Legislative
Council failed repeatedly to convene to confirm or dismiss the emergency
Government, owing to boycotts by either Hamas or Fatah, Prime Minister Fayyad
was reappointed by President Abbas on 13 July to lead a caretaker Government. I
believe that the Palestinian Authority remains the only legitimate authority, and that
Gaza and the West Bank continue to form one single Palestinian territory. Without
the de facto reintegration of Gaza under the Palestinian Authority, efforts to
revitalize the peace process will be difficult to sustain.
10. In Israel, the Government faced difficulties throughout the reporting period
due to political scandals and investigations into the conduct of the July 2006
conflict with Hezbollah. Prime Minister Olmert broadened his coalition in October
2006 by including the party Israel Our Home, which favours transfer of Palestinian
citizens of Israel. In June 2007, the Labour Party, a partner in the governmental
coalition, elected Ehud Barak as its leader. On 13 June, Shimon Peres was elected
by the Knesset as Israel’s ninth president.
11. Violence between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as among Palestinians,
continued into the seventh year since the collapse of the Oslo process. Altogether,
11 Israelis and 1,053 Palestinians lost their lives in the reporting period. I deplore
the heavy internecine violence in Gaza, which has brought about a major increase in
the number of Palestinians killed and injured by fellow Palestinians. I condemn acts
of terrorism, including a suicide bombing in Eilat and Palestinian rocket fire from
the Gaza Strip, which have continued during the reporting period, causing civilian
casualties and damage in Israel, and have also targeted crossings into the Strip. I
also deplore the continuation of Israeli military operations into the Gaza Strip,
which lead to civilian casualties. While fully acknowledging the right to selfdefence
of Israel, I recall that this right must be exercised in accordance with
international law, that civilians must be protected, and that an appropriate
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mechanism of accountability must be in place. In this regard, I note with concern the
continuation of the practice of extrajudicial killings of alleged Palestinian militants,
which has often resulted in the deaths of innocent bystanders.
12. On 4 July, I was relieved when Alan Johnston, a British journalist who had
been kidnapped by Palestinian militants in Gaza nearly four months before, was
released. However, it is a matter of regret that Israeli Corporal Shalit, who was
captured by Palestinian militants in June 2006, has not been released. I am grateful
to the Government of Egypt for its efforts to secure his release and that of a number
of the more than 10,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israel. I am also concerned by the
continuing detention by Israel of nearly a third of all Palestinian legislators, and I
call for their release.
13. The wide-ranging military operation initiated by the Israel Defence Forces in
the Gaza Strip after the capture of Corporal Shalit continued until a ceasefire was
reached in November 2006. This operation was marked by a deplorable incident on
8 November, when at least 18 Palestinians, nine of whom were children, were killed
in their homes by Israeli fire in Beit Hanoun. The General Assembly, at its tenth
emergency session, requested the Secretary-General to establish a fact-finding
mission on the attack. In a letter to the President of the General Assembly dated
21 December, my predecessor informed her that the Israeli Government had not
indicated that it would extend the necessary cooperation to the mission, and he
regretted that he had been unable to dispatch the mission.
14. Israeli excavations surrounding a new link between the Mughrabi Gate to the
Haram as-Sharif/Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem led to incidents of civil
disorder and tension both on the ground and regionally.
15. The continued Israeli creation of facts on the ground has also undermined the
search for a peaceful settlement. The Government of Israel has continued to fail to
meet its obligation under the road map calling for a comprehensive settlement freeze
and the dismantling of outposts. I wish to emphasize that a halt to settlement
expansion is a necessity for the creation of a contiguous and viable Palestinian
State, and for the credibility of the process not to be undermined. During the
reporting period, settlement development and construction has continued, with
major construction taking place, and the number of settlers in the West Bank and
East Jerusalem has increased by 5.5 per cent. Furthermore, none of the more than
100 outposts in the West Bank have been removed.
16. I continue to note with concern the route of the wall, particularly as it results
in the confiscation of Palestinian land and cuts off the movement of people and
goods, in contravention of Israel’s legal obligations as set forth in the advisory
opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004. In accordance with the
provisions of General Assembly resolution ES-10/17, I have continued efforts to
establish the United Nations Register of Damage Caused by the Construction of the
Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. On 10 May 2007, I appointed three
international experts as members of the Board of the Register of Damage. The
Secretariat is also in the process of completing the recruitment of qualified staff and
the establishment of the Office of the Register of Damage at the United Nations
Office at Vienna. As detailed by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs, the route of the barrier and the nature of the closure regime in the West
Bank are intimately related to the existence and continued expansion of settlements,
in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
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17. It remains a source of great concern that the Agreement on Movement and
Access of November 2005 has not been implemented. Exports from Gaza have
totalled only a fraction of the agreed targets. Even before the more severe closure of
Gaza crossings following the Hamas takeover, many factories had closed and
farmers were unable to export crops. No progress has been reported on bus or truck
convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, nor on plans to rebuild the Gaza
seaport and airport. The number of the internal closures imposed by the Israeli
authorities in the West Bank increased from approximately 400 at the time of the
Agreement on Movement and Access, to 532 in August 2007, severely impeding
normal economic activity.
18. During the reporting period, the European Commission, in agreement with the
Quartet, renewed and expanded the mandate of the temporary international
mechanism. Total assistance to Palestinians in 2006, excluding funds channelled by
donors not following the Quartet principles, reached approximately $1.2 billion,
representing an increase of 10 per cent over 2005. Approximately €510 million,
including a total European Union contribution of €485 million, was made available
between June 2006 and August 2007 to the temporary international mechanism, thus
helping the health and education sectors to continue to function, albeit with major
disruptions. Humanitarian assistance also increased dramatically. In spite of this
substantial effort, the deterioration of the situation made it clear that the temporary
international mechanism could not be a substitute for the Palestinian Authority.
19. Consequently, the period before June 2007 was marked by an unprecedented
fiscal crisis for the Palestinian Authority. As a result of the suspension of most direct
international assistance and the withholding by Israel of the clearance revenue it
collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, it faced a deficit of about 30 per
cent of gross national product. This fiscal crisis in turn contributed to a serious
decline in the delivery of public services. Most public schools in the West Bank
remained closed for a prolonged period of time; public health facilities offered only
limited services; and non-payment of the security services did not contribute to their
effective functioning.
20. The takeover of Gaza by Hamas led to the absence of Palestinian Authority
forces at the crossings, leaving the crossings mostly inoperable. I expressed my
concern about the humanitarian and economic impact of this situation, and I
reiterate my call on all parties to work constructively to operate the crossings. While
humanitarian assistance is entering Gaza, it cannot suffice to stop the economic
decline that results from the virtual inability to import raw materials essential for the
production of industrial goods and construction, and export agricultural products
and commercial goods. It is estimated that 90 per cent of Gaza’s industrial capacity
has been suspended and more than 70,000 workers have been laid off since June.
Eighty per cent of the population in Gaza relies on food assistance from the United
Nations.
21. The decision of the international community to re-engage with the Palestinian
Authority during the summer of 2007, and the transfer by the Israeli Government of
Palestinian tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority helped to ameliorate the latter’s
fiscal situation. As a result, Prime Minister Fayyad was able to pay full salaries to
160,000 Palestinian Authority employees for the first time in 15 months. In spite of
this progress, the fiscal situation of the Palestinian Authority remains precarious, as its
fiscal framework for 2007 shows a deficit for current operations of close to $1.6 billion.
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22. I welcome the renewal of international diplomatic efforts in the reporting
period to help the parties resume dialogue and overcome the many obstacles to
peace. United States President Bush renewed his commitment to a two-State
solution in a speech on 16 July 2007, and announced the intention of the United
States to convene an international meeting in the autumn. This initiative built on the
efforts of United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice from the start of 2007
to facilitate regular meetings between Palestinian President Abbas and Israeli Prime
Minister Olmert. The leaders have met on several occasions during the reporting
period for substantive discussions.
23. I encourage the leaders to find genuine and substantive understandings on
permanent status issues for the international meeting, together with an agenda on
further steps, both diplomatic and on the ground. Such steps would build on those
already taken, such as the transfer of withheld Palestinian tax revenues to the
Palestinian Authority, the release of 256 Palestinian prisoners, and the agreement
not to arrest 173 wanted persons. The additional steps must, inter alia, bring an end
to settlement expansion and remove outposts, improve Palestinian Authority security
performance, enhance security cooperation, ease the severe restrictions on freedom
of Palestinian movement, and create new economic opportunities for Palestinians.
24. In helping to advance this agenda, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair,
who was appointed as Quartet representative on 27 June, will have a vital role to
play. He has taken up with admirable commitment his new functions to support
Palestinian institutional reform and economic rejuvenation. The United Nations is
committed to providing the necessary support to ensure the success of his mission.
25. I welcome the efforts of the League of Arab States and several Arab countries
to advance regional efforts for peace. On 28 March in Riyadh, the League of Arab
States reaffirmed the Arab Peace Initiative. A follow-up ministerial committee
established working groups to engage international partners and Israel and create
greater public awareness of the potential of the initiative, and in July the Ministers
for Foreign Affairs of Egypt and Jordan travelled to Israel to engage the
Government of Israel. I note also that the Syrian Arab Republic has continued to
state its commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative.
26. I further welcome Norway’s proposal to reactivate the ad hoc liaison
committee, which has not met since December 2005. The next meeting, to be held in
New York on 24 September 2007, will be an opportunity to discuss management of
assistance to the Palestinians, financial support to the Palestinian Authority, and
Palestinian institutional reform, in consultation with the Quartet representative. It
will be a stepping stone towards a donor pledging conference planned for December.
In this context, the Palestinian Authority is expected to publish a three-year
medium-term expenditure framework by November 2007. I hope that this strategy
will take into account the needs of all Palestinians, in the West Bank and in Gaza.
27. The United Nations has remained engaged at a political level. The Secretariat
has provided monthly briefings to the Security Council on developments in the
Middle East, as well as whenever the situation on the ground has demanded that the
Council be kept urgently apprised. I travelled three times to the region since
becoming Secretary-General. I also attended four meetings of the Quartet, which has
been re-energized, and I will host a meeting of the Quartet in New York on
23 September 2007. Members of the follow-up committee of the League of Arab
States on the Arab Peace Initiative will also meet with the Quartet. I am confident
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that this round of consultations will be helpful in shaping the context for the
international meeting this autumn and the intimately related work of Mr. Blair.
28. I take this opportunity to deplore any threat or violence exerted against United
Nations staff and humanitarian workers operating in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory in general. I am particularly concerned at the fact that Palestinian and
international United Nations staff members have faced increasingly arbitrary
treatment by Israeli authorities, and I am looking forward to improvements in this
regard in the context of ongoing discussions with the Government of Israel. I am
also concerned by Palestinian violence targeting United Nations personnel, as has
occurred inside or in the immediate vicinity of United Nations installations, and
elsewhere in Gaza. Two national staff members of the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) were killed and
others were injured while serving the Palestinian people. I pay tribute to their
memory.
29. In this difficult and challenging context, I want to praise the courage and
dedication of the United Nations personnel serving in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory. In particular, I am grateful to the Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza,
his staff and the security personnel, who remained at their posts throughout the
height of the fighting in June 2007. I also wish to express my deep appreciation to
Alvaro de Soto and Michael Williams, the previous and outgoing United Nations
Special Coordinators for the Middle East Peace Process and my successive Personal
Representatives to the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, and the staff of their Office, as well as to the Commissioner-General of
UNRWA, Karen Koning AbuZayd, the staff of the Agency and all other United
Nations agencies, funds and programmes, who continue to provide indispensable
and remarkable service under demanding and sometimes dangerous circumstances.
30. At this juncture, I am encouraged by the renewed and substantive dialogue
between the parties and the reaffirmed commitment of the international community,
including regional partners, on the political and assistance aspects of the peace
process. I am also reassured by the repeated polls that show that a majority of
people on both sides support the realization of the two-State solution in a
non-violent manner. However, I remain deeply conscious of the challenges,
particularly in the light of the continued Israeli settlement policy, the de facto
division of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the challenge of improving
Palestinian Authority security performance and rejuvenating its economy, and the
potential for those who oppose progress in the peace process to try to derail it
through violence. I stress that it is vital that Hamas cease any effort to establish
separate rule in Gaza and that Palestinians find peaceful means to overcome their
internal differences and unite towards peace under the Palestinian Authority.
31. As Secretary-General, I will continue to ensure that the United Nations works
towards the creation of an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable
Palestinian state living side by side in peace with a secure Israel, within the
framework of a comprehensive regional settlement, consistent with Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003), and in accordance
with the road map, the Arab Peace Initiative and the principle of land for peace.
United Nations A/63/368–S/2008/612
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
22 September 2008
Original: English
08-51455 (E) 141008
*0851455*
General Assembly
Sixty-third session
Agenda items 15 and 16
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Sixty-third year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 62/83 of 10 December 2007. It contains replies received from the
President of the Security Council and the concerned parties to the notes verbales sent
by the Secretary-General pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 20 of the
resolution. The report also contains the observations of the Secretary-General on the
current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on international efforts to move
the peace process forward with a view to achieving a peaceful settlement. The report
covers the period from September 2007 through August 2008.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 62/83
of 10 December 2007.
2. On 1 June 2008, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 20 of the
above-mentioned resolution, I addressed the following letter to the President of the
Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 62/83, which the General
Assembly adopted on 10 December 2007, at its sixty-second session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 30 June 2008.”
3. On 1 July 2008 the following reply was received from the Security Council:
“The goal of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
remains one of the major challenges facing the international community,
including the Security Council.
“The Security Council considers the situation in Palestine each month
under an agenda item entitled ‘The situation in the Middle East, including the
question of Palestine’, with general presentations in the form of briefings by
either the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs or the Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, followed by an open meeting
of the Council or by consultations among the Council members.
“On 29 August 2007, the Security Council held an open debate on the
situation in the Middle East after hearing a briefing by the Special Coordinator
for the Middle East Peace Process, Michael Williams, on recent diplomatic
efforts and the United States-sponsored international meeting to be held in the
fall.
“On 20 September 2007, Council members heard a presentation by Lynn
Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs. The briefing was
followed by consultations on the situation in the Middle East, during which
Member States discussed ongoing bilateral dialogue between Ehud Olmert, the
Prime Minister of Israel, and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian
Authority. Members also discussed the current trip to the Middle East of
Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State of the United States, and Israel’s
characterization of the Gaza Strip as an ‘enemy entity’.
“On 24 October 2007, Under-Secretary-General Pascoe delivered the
monthly briefing on the situation in the Middle East, expressing optimism
about the level of dialogue between the parties on the Israeli-Palestinian track
while also expressing concern about the situation on the ground. In the closed
consultations that followed, Council members welcomed the upcoming United
States-sponsored Middle East meeting in Annapolis and the ongoing efforts of
Secretary Rice. The Council also discussed regional efforts to promote peace
and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
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“On 29 and 30 November 2007, the Security Council held closed
consultations on the Middle East peace process, specifically addressing the
joint understanding that had been reached at the Annapolis conference. On
30 November, the Council also held an open session, during which Council
members were briefed by Under-Secretary-General Pascoe on the Annapolis
process, efforts of the Quartet, and the upcoming Paris donors’ conference.
“On 21 December 2007, a presentation by Under-Secretary-General
Pascoe was followed by consultations on the Middle East. The Under-
Secretary-General remarked on the latest developments in the peace process,
stressing that, since the Annapolis conference, bilateral negotiations between
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization had commenced and that
strong international engagement had been reflected in a donors’ conference, a
Quartet meeting and a meeting between the Quartet and members of the
League of Arab States, all held in Paris on 17 December. At the same time, he
stated that developments on the ground, including new settlement activity and
ongoing violence, had been a cause of concern.
“On 22 January 2008, Council members held a debate on the situation in
Gaza after public statements were delivered by Under-Secretary-General
Pascoe about the 18 January closure of the Gaza Strip. The Under-Secretary-
General briefed the Council on the latest regional developments, stressing the
deterioration in the humanitarian situation in Gaza and southern Israel.
“On 23, 24, 25 and 29 January 2008, the Council met for consultations
on the situation in Gaza.
“On 30 January 2008, following an update on the humanitarian and
economic situation by Under-Secretary-General Pascoe, the Security Council
met for an open debate on the situation in Gaza. Council members expressed
concern about the situation in Gaza and southern Israel and its humanitarian
repercussions.
“On 26 February 2008, Robert Serry, Special Coordinator for the Middle
East Peace Process, and John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefed the Council,
providing detailed descriptions of the political, humanitarian, security and
socio-economic situation in the Palestinian territories. Following the briefing,
Council members met for closed consultations to discuss the impact of the
situation on the ground on the Annapolis process.
“On 28 February 2008, the Council held consultations to continue the
discussion of ongoing violence in Gaza and southern Israel.
“On 1 March 2008, the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, addressed an
emergency meeting of the Security Council to discuss the escalation of
violence in Gaza and southern Israel. The Secretary-General condemned the
violence and the excessive use of force and called on both sides to respect
international humanitarian law, exercise restraint and restore order. He also
expressed concern that the violence could have a negative impact on the
negotiation process. The Council also heard from the Palestinian and Israeli
delegations before holding closed consultations.
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“On 6 March 2008, consultations were held on the situation in the
Middle East.
“On 25 March 2008, the Secretary-General expressed alarm about the
prospect of renewed violence in Gaza and southern Israel and beseeched the
parties and international community to support the Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations. Following the Secretary-General’s remarks, Under-Secretary-
General Pascoe delivered a briefing on recent developments, which was
followed by an open debate focusing on the difficult situation on the ground,
the role of the United Nations and the Security Council, settlement activity,
Israeli military operations and rocket attacks.
“On 23 April 2008, the Security Council heard a presentation from
Angela Kane, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, during which
she spoke about efforts to advance the political process through direct bilateral
negotiations, recent attacks in Gaza and southern Israel, the worsening
humanitarian situation in Gaza and an upcoming Quartet meeting. Her remarks
were followed by closed consultations.
“On 28 May 2008, the Council heard a presentation from Mr. Serry, the
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, who spoke about
‘fragile’ progress on the Israeli-Syrian and the Israeli-Palestinian tracks. In
closed consultations, Council members discussed the Israeli closure of Gaza,
rocket fire out of Gaza, Israeli military operations and the ongoing Annapolis
process.
“On 27 June 2008, Lisa Buttenheim, Director of the Asia and Pacific
Division of the Department of Political Affairs, briefed Council members
about positive but fragile developments in the Middle East. She welcomed the
recent truce between Israel and Hamas but noted with concern breaches of the
ceasefire by both parties. She also spoke about the continuing closure of Gaza
and the deteriorating humanitarian situation there, about concerns regarding
Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank, and about the 24 June meeting of
the Quartet. Ms. Buttenheim’s briefing was followed by closed consultations.
“The Council continues to pay close attention to developments in the
situation in the Middle East; the next meeting on this question is scheduled to
be held on 22 July 2008.”
4. In a note verbale dated 28 April 2008 to the parties concerned, I sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization, regarding any steps
taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at
31 August 2008, replies had been received from Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization. The note verbale dated 30 July 2008 from the Permanent Mission of
Israel to the United Nations reads as follows:
“As the meeting records detail, Israel voted against this resolution, as it
has done so on this and similar resolutions adopted by the General Assembly
during previous sessions. In accordance with this voting practice, the
Permanent Mission of Israel wishes to explain and reiterate its position in light
of the realities on the ground.
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“Despite major developments in the region, including the Annapolis
process convened in November 2007, Palestinian terrorism continues with
alarming intensity. Over the course of the last year, cities and villages in
southern Israel suffered a significant increase in the number of rocket attacks
fired by Palestinian terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. Over 3,000 Grad
missiles, mortar shells and Qassam rockets have been fired at southern Israel
since Hamas took over the area in June 2007. These rocket attacks have killed
a number of Israelis and caused injury to countless civilians and extensive
damage to properties.
“Data released by the Israel Trauma Centre for Victims of Terror and War
during the last year show that 90 per cent of residents of the southern city of
Sderot have experienced a Qassam rocket falling on their street or one adjacent
to them. Some 28 per cent of adults and 30 per cent of children suffer from
post-traumatic stress disorder, with children exhibiting extremely high levels
of fear, avoidance behaviour, school, behavioural and somatic problems,
regression and sleep deprivation.
“Moreover, Hamas’s upgraded capabilities, which it received from the
smuggling of weapons via tunnels along the southern border and during the
breach of the border in January 2008, now place a quarter of a million Israeli
civilians in constant danger.
“On Thursday, 18 June 2008, a ‘state of calm’ went into effect, with the
explicit purpose of securing a complete cessation of terrorism and firing of
rockets by all factions in the Gaza Strip, an end to Palestinian smuggling and
military build-up, and progress in securing the release of the abducted soldier
Gilad Shalit. Israel has made clear that if quiet and calm can be restored to the
south, it will increase the amount and scope of goods that enter the Gaza Strip,
which will improve the quality of life for the Palestinians. Only a few days
later, rockets were again launched at southern Israel.
“Hamas, clearly, has no interest in long-term peace, reconciliation or
mutual inhabitance with Israel. Any perceived lull is an opportunity for Hamas
to rearm and strengthen itself.
“As noted, Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip
continue to build up their forces and arms by smuggling weapons across the
southern border. Tunnels, burrowed deep beneath the ground, are used by
terrorists to move weapons and other munitions. It is the backing and support
of States like the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Syrian Arab Republic that
enable the terrorist organizations to carry out acts of violence and terrorism
against Israeli civilians. Hamas and its backers bear full responsibility for the
violence and terrorism and the humanitarian conditions imposed on the
Palestinians in Gaza. Hamas and other terrorist groups seek to take advantage
of cooperative mechanisms between Israel and the Palestinians, be they border
crossings or even the removal of security checkpoints. These violations
demonstrate that Palestinian terrorism is still a major threat, requiring Israel to
take measures in self-defence, and that Hamas is not interested in peace.
“While Palestinian terrorists do everything in their capacity to thwart
humanitarian efforts and provoke Israeli reactions, Israel continues to ensure
the steady and continuous flow of fuel and other supplies into the Gaza Strip to
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meet the needs of the civilian population. The gasoline and diesel fuel
transferred by Israel are meant primarily for ambulances, water pumps, the
sewage system, public transportation, food trucks, garbage collection, food
plants and generators at various institutions including schools, hospitals and
clinics. Since June 2007, more than 600,000 tons have been transferred
through the crossings. Israel continues its coordination activities on the
ground, working through the appropriate channels to ensure the passage of aid
and other materials.
“On 25 June 2008, the Israeli public marked the second anniversary of
Corporal Gilad Shalit’s abduction. A letter written by Corporal Shalit was
recently forwarded to his parents by Hamas. However, the Red Cross or any
other humanitarian agency has been denied permission to visit him and verify
his condition.
“Israel remains committed to the bilateral process with the moderate,
legitimate Palestinian Authority leadership that embraces its responsibilities
and the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security. In the
past months a number of meetings have taken place to set in motion the
building blocks for a political horizon and to maintain a dialogue between
Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Israel hopes to work with its moderate
counterparts in the region to advance mutual understanding and formulate the
framework that will allow Israel and the Palestinians to move forward on a
bilateral process. This process, it must be underscored, should be supported by
other like-minded moderate States in the region and the international
community, but it cannot substitute for direct Israeli-Palestinian dialogue.
“In this vein, General Assembly resolution 62/83 too cannot substitute
for direct Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. Moreover, rather than promote a vision
that recognizes the rights and responsibilities of both sides, the aforesaid
resolution obscures the efforts of the parties to achieve a negotiated outcome.
And it is one-sided resolutions like this that jeopardize the efficacy of the
United Nations and the efficiency of the General Assembly.”
The note verbale dated 30 July 2008 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to
the United Nations reads as follows:
“This year the Palestinian people marked the passage of 60 years since
Al-Nakba — the catastrophic tragedy that befell Palestine in 1948, whereby
the Palestinian people lost their homeland, the majority of them were forcibly
expelled or fled from their homes in fear, and an entire nation became refugees
and a stateless people whose plight continues until this day. This year also
marked the passage of the forty-first year of the Israeli occupation of the
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 1967, under which the
Palestinian people continue to suffer the denial and violation of their human
rights, including their right to self-determination, and their national rights and
aspirations for freedom and peace remain unfulfilled.
“The United Nations has been addressing the question of Palestine in all
its aspects since its inception by means of, inter alia, numerous resolutions of
its major organs and several programmes of assistance to the Palestinian
people, particularly the Palestine refugees, through its specialized agencies.
The General Assembly’s annual consideration of the agenda item entitled
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‘Question of Palestine’ and its adoption of a resolution on the peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine represents a significant contribution by
the United Nations to the search for a just and lasting peace. The resolution is
comprehensive and clearly delineates the parameters and requisites for
achieving a peaceful settlement in accordance with international law, relevant
United Nations resolutions and the agreed terms of reference of the peace
process, including the principle of land for peace.
“Regrettably, however, since the Assembly’s adoption of resolution
62/83, the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, has remained critical and little progress has been made towards the
realization by the Palestinian people of their inalienable rights and the
achievement of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine. Economic,
social, political, humanitarian and security conditions have not improved,
continuing to deteriorate in many aspects due to continuing unlawful and
oppressive Israeli practices, and the peace process continues to face
formidable obstacles. As in the past, Israel, the occupying Power, has
continued to violate international law, including by committing systematic
human rights violations and war crimes against the Palestinian people, to reject
United Nations resolutions, and to act with contempt towards the will of the
international community. It has persisted with and at times intensified its
illegal actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in breach of its legal
obligations, including under the Fourth Geneva Convention, inflicting more
collective punishment, suffering and loss on the Palestinian people and
creating more unlawful facts on the ground that are further fragmenting the
Territory’s contiguity and thus seriously threatening the viability of the two-
State solution and the prospects for peace.
“This situation has continued despite various efforts and initiatives
undertaken during the past year, regionally and internationally, to advance the
Middle East peace process and also to ameliorate the situation being faced by
the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and promote
conditions actually conducive to the pursuit of peace. In addition to the
resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, such
efforts have included reaffirmation of the Arab Peace Initiative by the
twentieth Arab Summit in March 2008, meetings of the Quartet, and the
convening, just prior to the adoption of resolution 62/83, of an international
conference at Annapolis under the auspices of the Government of the United
States of America on 27 November 2007, which resulted in a joint
understanding between the Palestinian and Israeli sides and the relaunching of
the peace process with the resumption of direct negotiations after a bitter and
destructive seven-year freeze.
“The Annapolis conference, along with the convening of a major donor
conference in Paris in December 2007, provided an important impetus to the
peace process and revived efforts aimed at achieving an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967, the establishment of the independent State of
Palestine and the achievement of a just, lasting and peaceful settlement to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Annapolis conference set the end of 2008 as
the timeline for achieving this long-elusive goal. However, while bilateral
negotiations have continued and several high-level meetings have been held
between the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships and the Middle East peace
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process remains high on the international agenda, progress has been minimal
as negative developments on the ground continue to impede the process and
complicate the efforts to address the core, final status issues of Jerusalem,
settlements, borders, refugees, water and security.
“The reality is that this peace process is in a state of serious disrepair
because the entire premise of the process is constantly being undermined by
Israel’s illegal actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, actions that are
totally contrary to the principle of land for peace and the objective of
achieving a just, lasting and peaceful settlement based on the two-State
solution in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations
resolutions. In this regard, a review of the current situation in the context of
resolution 62/83 reveals that its provisions continue to be violated by the
occupying Power, precluding the resolution’s full implementation by the
international community.
“Since adoption of resolution 62/83, Israel has not ceased its unlawful
measures of collective punishment, reprisals and military operations against
the Palestinian civilian population, which is a defenceless population entitled
to protection under international humanitarian law. In the past several months,
the Israeli occupying forces have killed and injured hundreds more Palestinian
civilians, including children, in military attacks and raids in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, particularly in the Gaza Strip, continuing to use
excessive and indiscriminate force against civilians as well as extrajudicial
killings. The occupying forces also continued to cause wanton destruction of
Palestinian property, including homes, agricultural lands and orchards, and
civilian infrastructure, leading to further displacement of civilians, loss of
livelihoods and environmental damage.
“Israel has also persisted with its daily arrest campaigns in the Occupied
Territory. More than 11,000 Palestinians, including more than 400 children and
more than 100 women, continue to be held in Israeli jails and detention
centres, with the majority suffering inhumane conditions, harassment, physical
and psychological ill-treatment and many subject to torture.
“At the same time, Israel continues to aggressively pursue its illegal
colonization campaign in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, through the unlawful confiscation of land, construction and
expansion of settlements, transfer of hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers
and construction of the Wall, which is directly linked to the settlements and
intended to protect them and facilitate their expansion and entrenchment, as
well as by numerous other illegal measures. This colonization campaign,
which constitutes a grave breach of international humanitarian law,
particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, which absolutely prohibits the
transfer by the occupying Power of its civilian population into the territory it
occupies, actually represents the main obstruction to the peace process. It is a
campaign undeniably aimed at creating facts on the ground by altering the
demographic composition, status and character of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory in order to facilitate the de facto annexation of large areas of land,
amounting to a blatant situation of acquisition of territory by force, which is
strictly prohibited by international law.
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“In the recent period, Israeli settlement activities have intensified,
particularly in and around Occupied East Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley.
This has been the case despite General Assembly and Security Council
resolutions calling for their cessation, for the dismantlement of settlements and
settlement ‘outposts’ and for Israel’s compliance with its legal obligations;
despite the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion of 9 July 2004;
and despite the fact that the freezing of all settlement activity is a cornerstone
of the Quartet road map. Combined, the 150 Israeli settlements, more than 100
settlement ‘outposts’, an extensive labyrinth of Israeli-only bypass roads
connecting the settlements to each other and to Israel itself, and the wall that is
being constructed in deviation from the 1967 Green Line and projected to be
more than twice its length, are occupying huge swaths of Palestinian land,
totalling approximately 50 per cent of the occupied West Bank.
“This vast colonial network, along with Israel’s imposition of over 600
checkpoints and a stringent, discriminatory permit regime intended to
collectively punish the Palestinian people and restrict their movement, has
created a situation on the ground whereby Palestinian communities are being
separated, with many transformed into walled cantons and some being
destroyed in their entirety, causing the further displacement of thousands of
Palestinian civilians; East Jerusalem is being isolated from the rest of the
Palestinian Territory, which is being dissected into northern, central and
southern parts; and economic and social devastation continues to be inflicted
on the Palestinian people. The overall result is the severe fragmentation of the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and the undermining of its contiguity, integrity
and unity.
“Israel’s colonization campaign thus constitutes the primary danger to the
realization by the Palestinian people of their inalienable and national rights
and to the achievement of the two-State solution of an independent State of
Palestine living side-by-side with Israel in peace and security and on the basis
of the 1967 borders. In this regard, the settlements issue is not only one of the
final status issues in the peace process, but is also intricately related to and at
the crux of nearly all other final status issues, including Jerusalem, borders,
water and security. As such, continuation of this illegitimate situation will
make physically impossible the establishment of a sovereign, contiguous,
viable and independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital,
and the ultimate realization of the two-State solution for peace in accordance
with relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967),
338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003).
“The situation in the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, namely
the Gaza Strip, also remains extremely critical. Israel’s siege of Gaza has
surpassed one year and the occupying Power continues to impose a suffocating
closure of border crossings, obstructing the movement of persons and goods
into and out of the area, in collective punishment of the entire Palestinian
civilian population there. The Gaza Strip also remains separated from the West
Bank, with no functional territorial link between these two areas of the
Territory.
“Consequent declining socio-economic conditions have deepened
poverty and hardships as livelihoods and income continue to be lost. Health
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conditions have also continued to deteriorate due to inadequate medical and
food supplies as well as the breakdown of sewage and sanitation systems
because of lack of spare parts and fuel. The ongoing fuel crisis has disrupted
all sectors of life — home life, schools, hospitals, businesses, farming and
fishing — and also disrupted United Nations operations. Moreover, this
deliberately imposed humanitarian crisis is only worsening with the globally
rising food and fuel prices affecting the whole international community. The
negative short- and long-term repercussions of this crisis on the Palestinian
population and institutions, public services and infrastructure are vast, and
tensions, insecurity and despair remain high in Gaza, where the majority of the
more than 1.4 million Palestinians there live in poverty and depend on food aid
for survival.
“One encouraging development in terms of the situation in the Gaza Strip
has been the conclusion of a truce agreement following intensive mediation
efforts by the Government of Egypt. Despite several infractions, the truce,
which took effect on 19 June 2008, continues to be upheld as of the date of this
note. The Palestinian leadership continues to appeal for respect of the truce on
both sides and to call as well for extension of the truce to the West Bank,
emphasizing that the West Bank and the Gaza Strip constitute one geo-political
unit — the Occupied Palestinian Territory — and, therefore, Israeli military
attacks in either area affect the other negatively. As repeatedly witnessed,
violent Israeli actions in the past have undercut attempts to bring about a
cessation of violence, sabotaged Palestinian Authority efforts to promote law
and order, harmed peace negotiations, and fuelled the deadly cycle of violence.
Such an outcome must be averted at all costs.
“The Palestinian Authority thus continues to exert all efforts within its
circumscribed capacity to promote law and order, and expresses the hope that
Israel will abide by its commitments in this regard and that calm will prevail.
In this regard, it is imperative that Israel completely lift its inhumane and
unlawful siege of Gaza to allow for movement of persons and goods to ease
the isolation and humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian civilian population.
The Palestinian Authority reiterates its readiness to assume responsibility for
the Palestinian side of Gaza’s border crossings in line with the 2005
Agreement on Movement and Access. Israel should be called upon to abide by
its commitments and legal obligations in this regard, including in relation to
the civilian population in the Gaza Strip under the terms of the Fourth Geneva
Convention.
“The inability of the international community to act in the face of such
continuous Israeli breaches of international law and United Nations resolutions
has undoubtedly abetted the occupying Power’s impunity. The international
community must not, however, capitulate and should continue to exert serious
efforts to redress the unjust, illegal situation in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, for, as recognized by the General Assembly in resolution 62/83,
achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment
of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. The
provisions of resolution 62/83 remain valid, as do the countless other United
Nations resolutions addressing the core issues of the question of Palestine, and
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the principles therein constitute the foundations of the peace process and the
keys to resolving this tragic conflict.
“Despite the many challenges before us, the achievement of the two-State
solution, the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right
to self-determination, and peace remain our ultimate goals. Palestine is
encouraged by the international community’s continuing firm support in this
regard, as reflected by the overwhelming support for resolution 62/83, and
conveys its strong hope for continuation of such support and of the necessary
efforts for attainment of these goals. The time now is for practical measures to
be taken by the international community to uphold the Charter, international
law and these resolutions, thereby ensuring Israel’s respect for the law,
bringing an end to this unlawful situation constituting the longest military
occupation in contemporary history, and achieving a just, lasting peace
settlement. In this connection, Palestine reiterates that the United Nations has a
permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until it is resolved
in all its aspects, including a just resolution for the plight of the Palestine
refugees in conformity with General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and
stresses once again that the Security Council should not be exempt from its
Charter responsibilities in this case.
“On its part, Palestine reaffirms the commitment of the Palestinian
leadership to the peace process and urges all concerned parties in the
international community to seize the opportunities for peace that are still
before us and not allow the process and negotiations to continue to be
undermined by illegal, unilateral and destructive actions. The complete
cessation of all Israeli violations of international law, including Israel’s
colonization campaign and all other grave breaches, is imperative for
salvaging the potential for peace. Active efforts should also be pursued to
sustain the Annapolis process, including through confidence-building measures
between the two sides to create an environment more conducive to peace
negotiations, and to promote as well the Arab Peace Initiative. In addition, the
provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the
Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority at this crucial time remains
essential.
“In closing, as resolution 62/83 regrettably remains unimplemented, the
General Assembly is duty-bound to continue its efforts with regard to a
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine. The Assembly must continue
striving to uphold the law and ensure respect of the law by Israel, the
occupying Power. Such action by the international community can tangibly
contribute to bringing an end to the 1967 Israeli occupation and enabling the
Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights in their independent State
of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, thus allowing for the
realization of peace, stability and security for the Palestinian and Israeli
peoples as well as the Middle East region as a whole.”
II. Observations
5. During the reporting period, new hope for the achievement of a peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine emerged, with the launch of the Annapolis
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process and regular bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. At the
same time, the situation on the ground in Israel and the occupied Palestinian
territory, including East Jerusalem, remained difficult and hampered political efforts
to achieve the vision of two States living side by side in peace and security. In the
Gaza Strip, in particular, prolonged violence and a deepening humanitarian crisis
prevailed.
6. The Annapolis conference, hosted by the United States on 27 November 2007
with the participation of all major parties, provided a new impetus to the search for
a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine. Ehud
Olmert, the Prime Minister of Israel, and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the
Palestinian Authority, presented a joint understanding, agreeing to immediately
launch good-faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty,
resolving all outstanding issues, before the end of 2008. The two leaders also
committed themselves to implementing their respective obligations under the road
map and agreed to form a trilateral mechanism, led by the United States, to follow
up on implementation.
7. Bilateral negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams, led by
Tzipi Livni, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel, and Ahmed Qureia, the
Palestinian Chief Negotiator, have taken place on a regular basis, with
confidentiality maintained about the substance of those talks. Technical teams have
also met in support of the bilateral talks. Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas
have also continued to meet on a regular basis.
8. I welcome the diplomatic efforts exerted by the parties. I would also like to
commend the United States for taking the initiative to convene the Annapolis
conference. The international community has come together in support of the
bilateral negotiations conducted by Israel and the Palestinians. The Quartet has been
reinvigorated, and I was glad to take part in its meetings in New York in September
2007, in Washington, D.C., on 26 November 2007, on the eve of the Annapolis
conference, in Paris on 17 December 2007, in London on 2 May 2008 and in Berlin
on 24 June 2008.
9. I also welcome and commend the efforts of the League of Arab States and
several Arab countries to advance regional efforts for peace in recent months. The
League of Arab States, at its annual summit in Damascus on 29 and 30 March,
expressed concern over developments on the ground, but reaffirmed the Arab Peace
Initiative, which remains a central element in the search for a peaceful settlement of
the question of Palestine.
10. The United Nations has remained engaged at a political level. The Secretariat
has provided monthly briefings to the Security Council on developments in the
Middle East, as well as whenever the situation on the ground demanded that the
Council be kept urgently apprised, as was the case several times during the reporting
period. I have continued to take part in the meetings of a reinvigorated Quartet, and
I now look forward to the meeting of the Quartet I am hosting in New York in the
margins of the general debate, in conjunction also with a meeting of the Ad Hoc
Liaison Committee and consultations with our Arab partners.
11. Regrettably, violence between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as among
Palestinians, continued during the reporting period. Altogether, between
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1 September 2007 and 19 August 2008, 35 Israelis, including four children, and 600
Palestinians, including 87 children, lost their lives in conflict-related incidents.
12. Road map implementation saw some arguable progress during the reporting
period. I am pleased to note that the Palestinian Authority, under the leadership of
Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, has made significant strides towards imposing law
and order, including disarming and arresting militants, in the reporting period.
Palestinian security forces have redeployed in Jenin and Nablus, including
personnel trained and equipped in Jordan with the assistance of the United States
Security Coordinator, and Palestinian security operations are also taking place
elsewhere in the West Bank. On 24 June 2008, the international community offered
support to the further development of the Palestinian security sector and judiciary at
the Berlin conference in support of Palestinian civil security and the rule of law,
convened by Germany. The Quartet voiced its support for the outcomes of the
meeting and called for speedy implementation of projects agreed and robust donor
support in order to build the capacity of the Palestinian police and justice sector.
The Quartet also urged Israeli-Palestinian cooperation in that respect, and
emphasized the importance of unobstructed delivery of security assistance to the
Palestinian Authority. In this regard, I am glad to note Israel’s facilitation of the
reopening of 12 Palestinian police stations in the West Bank in recent months. I
regret, however, that Israel Defense Force incursions into West Bank cities and
towns have continued on a regular basis.
13. Violence continued to occur in Israel. A suicide bombing took place in the
Israeli city of Dimona on 4 February 2008. I condemned this terrorist attack
targeting civilians. I also strongly condemned the attack that claimed eight lives at a
Jewish seminary in Jerusalem on 6 March 2008. I further condemned the attacks
utilizing bulldozers in Jerusalem on 2 and 22 July 2008.
14. I also deplore the continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank by the
Government of Israel, which negatively impacts the ongoing bilateral political
process. Continued settlement activity in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,
stands in contradiction to international law, Security Council resolutions, the Fourth
Geneva Convention, Israel’s obligations under the road map and its commitments
under the Annapolis process. I have called upon Israel to freeze all settlement
activity, including “natural growth”, to dismantle all outposts erected since March
2001, and to reopen Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem, and have emphasized
that a halt to settlement expansion is a necessity for the creation of a contiguous and
viable Palestinian State.
15. Construction work on the barrier also continued within occupied Palestinian
territory, in deviation from the Green Line and contrary to the International Court of
Justice advisory opinion of 9 July 2004. I continue to note with concern that the
route of the barrier results in the confiscation of Palestinian land and the isolation of
Palestinian communities and agricultural areas. In accordance with the provisions of
General Assembly resolution ES-10/17, I have continued efforts to establish the
United Nations Register of Damage caused by the Construction of the Wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, with the constitution and assumption of operations
of the Office of the Register of Damage at the United Nations Office at Vienna and
the first meeting of the members of its Board.
16. On 17 December 2007, a significant donor meeting was held in Paris in
support of the Annapolis process and with the aim of securing financial support for
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the Palestinian Authority over the next three years. Donors commended the
Palestinian Reform and Development Plan presented by Prime Minister Fayyad and
pledged $7.7 billion in assistance. Two new financing mechanisms were launched in
2008 to support the implementation of the Plan, namely the World Bank trust fund
and the European Commission’s Palestinian European Aid Mechanism.
17. The Government of Prime Minister Fayyad also undertook significant
measures of economic and fiscal reform, successfully containing the Palestinian
Authority’s wage bill and reactivating the budget process. On 2 May, the Ad Hoc
Liaison Committee met in London to assess progress in Palestinian institutional and
economic development since its previous meeting in September 2007. The donor
community responded to Palestinian reform efforts and generously supported the
Palestinian Authority with over $1.1 billion in budget support from the beginning of
2008 until August. However, the Authority still faced renewed budgetary shortfalls.
I have called upon those donors who have not yet fulfilled their pledges from the
Paris donor conference to provide budget support to fill a gap of $400 million for
the period from August to December 2008.
18. From 21 to 23 May 2008, the Palestine investment conference convened by
Prime Minister Fayyad took place in Bethlehem. Hundreds of foreign
representatives and Palestinian businesses, including from Gaza, attended. Prime
Minister Fayyad announced that investors pledged $1.4 billion for Palestinian
business projects. Earlier the same month, on 13 May, Tony Blair, the Quartet
Representative, had announced a package of measures to stimulate economic
development, ease movement and access restrictions, develop the 60 per cent of the
West Bank in Area C and build Palestinian security capability. Quartet
Representative Blair continues to follow up on his plan.
19. Unfortunately, the Government of Israel did not significantly relax the closure
regime in the West Bank. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
reported that the number of Israeli-imposed obstacles to Palestinian movement in
the West Bank grew from 532 in August 2007 to 608 as of 18 August 2008, with
negative political and economic implications.
20. Palestinian economic growth was flat and the economy continued to hollow
out. This put the Palestinian Authority on the path of increasing aid dependency.
While the economy stagnates and the population grows, per capita income continues
to fall. The International Monetary Fund estimated that real gross domestic product
growth in 2007 was only about 0.5 per cent. Results from the first quarter of 2008
suggest that growth was slightly negative. Unemployment remained high in the West
Bank and Gaza.
21. Following the takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas in June 2007, the
launching of rockets and mortars from Gaza against Israeli civilian targets
intensified. I condemn the indiscriminate rocket and mortar firing from the Gaza
Strip towards Israeli civilian population centres and against crossing points, which
is totally unacceptable and has detrimental effects on humanitarian conditions.
22. The Government of Israel declared the Gaza Strip an enemy entity on
19 September 2007 and imposed a stringent closure regime, halting all exports from
Gaza and severely restricting imports, including electricity and fuel. I called upon
Israel to reconsider and cease its policy of pressuring the civilian population of
Gaza for the unacceptable actions of Hamas and other militants.
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23. In response to the rocket fire against Israeli civilian targets, Israel launched
military incursions into the Gaza Strip and targeted militants with air strikes, often
causing civilian casualties. I called for the strict observance of international
humanitarian law by Israel and its armed forces. While cognizant of Israel’s security
concerns and of its assertion that in using military force it does not target civilians
and takes care to avoid civilian casualties, I emphasized that Israel is obliged not to
take disproportionate measures or to endanger civilians, and must thoroughly
investigate incidents leading to civilian casualties and ensure adequate
accountability.
24. Following several Israeli military incursions and heavy fighting in Gaza during
the month of January, as well as the imposition of a four-day comprehensive closure
on 23 January, Palestinian militants destroyed entire sections of the border fence
with Egypt. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans crossed the border and purchased
food, medicine and other supplies. The border was resealed six days later.
25. In February 2008, after the firing of rockets and mortar on Israel included the
launch, for the first time, of longer-range rockets against Ashkelon, the situation
escalated again. The Israel Defense Force operation named Hot Winter, beginning
on 29 February, lasted five days and caused dozens of civilian casualties, including
the deaths of 31 children, while Hamas rocket attacks, with increased capability,
threatened nearly a quarter of a million Israelis. In subsequent months, rocket and
mortar fire continued, and a number of attacks also targeted crossings between
Israel and Gaza.
26. The violence, as well as the humanitarian distress the civilian population of the
Gaza Strip endured as a result of Israel’s closure policy, convinced me that a new
and more constructive strategy on Gaza was required. I called for such an approach,
emphasizing, in particular, the need to end the violence and reopen the Gaza
crossings in a sustained manner. The Quartet endorsed my call in its meeting in
London on 2 May, strongly encouraging Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Egypt
to work together to formulate a new approach on Gaza that would provide security
to all Gazans, end all acts of terror, provide for the controlled and sustained opening
of the Gaza crossings for humanitarian reasons and commercial flows, support the
legitimate Palestinian Authority Government and work towards conditions that
would permit implementation of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access.
27. Egyptian efforts led to the agreement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas,
which entered into effect on 19 June and has largely held since. I welcomed the
ceasefire. Building on the ceasefire, Egypt has continued its efforts to reach an
agreement to exchange the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, for a number of
Palestinian prisoners currently held by Israel. I repeatedly expressed my dismay at
the fact that the International Committee of the Red Cross was not provided with
access to Corporal Shalit, in contravention of international humanitarian law, after
more than two years of captivity.
28. The situation in the Gaza Strip during the reporting period was characterized
by prolonged humanitarian crisis. The Gaza crossings remained largely closed,
except for imports to meet minimal humanitarian needs. Israel also instituted
restrictions on the supply of fuel, with broad socio-economic effects, including
extensive electricity cuts. While humanitarian assistance continued to enter Gaza,
most of Gaza’s industrial capacity was suspended and more than 70,000 workers
were laid off. About 76 per cent of the population in Gaza became reliant on
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assistance from the United Nations. United Nations agencies were also severely
affected and had to prioritize projects. Following the entering into effect of the
ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, there has been some improvement in
humanitarian conditions.
29. Gaza also witnessed the consolidation of Hamas’s rule, with institutions
increasingly falling under the direct control of Hamas. Factional violence occurred,
and in November 2007, internecine fighting left 18 people dead. Renewed bloody
clashes between Hamas and Fatah loyalists left 11 Palestinians dead in August 2008,
and nearly 200 Palestinians sought refuge in Israel before being returned to Gaza or
transferred to West Bank cities. Overall, between 1 September 2007 and 19 August
2008, 136 Palestinians were killed in internal violence.
30. I would stress that the Palestinian Authority remains the sole legitimate
authority and that Gaza and the West Bank comprise one single Palestinian territory.
Dialogue for the purpose of making progress towards the reunification of Gaza and
the West Bank within the framework of the legitimate Palestinian Authority is vital
to sustain the efforts to revitalize the peace process. Accordingly, I welcomed
President Abbas’s statement of 5 June 2008, during which he called for the holding
of a comprehensive national dialogue in order to implement the initiative on
Palestinian reunification taken by the President of Yemen and endorsed by the
Foreign Minister of the League of Arab States in March 2008.
31. In Israel, the Government also faced difficulties throughout the reporting
period. Prime Minister Olmert’s resignation on 21 September 2008 opened up the
prospect of the new head of the Kadima party, Foreign Minister Livni, taking over
the premiership and forming a new Government, or of new elections, with possible
effects on the peace talks.
32. I regret that Palestinian and international United Nations staff members have
faced growing restrictions as concerns their free movement and access in the service
of the United Nations. I have discussed these restrictions with the Government of
Israel and look forward to improvements in this regard. In Gaza, the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and other United Nations agencies face
significant challenges to their operations. The security and humanitarian situation in
the Gaza Strip has made their work both more important and more difficult.
33. In this challenging context, I want to praise the courage and dedication of the
United Nations personnel serving in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. I wish to
express my deep appreciation to Robert H. Serry, the Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Process and my Personal Representative to the Palestinian
Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, to the staff of his Office, as
well as to the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Karen Koning AbuZayd, and the
staff of the Agency and all other United Nations agencies, funds and programmes,
who continue to provide indispensable and remarkable service in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory.
34. Over the past year, there have been important steps towards a peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine, and I call upon the Government of Israel and
the Palestinian Authority to undertake every effort to achieve the goal of the
Annapolis process. Time is now running short until we reach the benchmark of the
Annapolis process, and there reportedly remain significant gaps. Should the parties
not be able to reach a peace agreement by the end of the year, it will be essential
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that the process not be disrupted and instead continues, with the aim of leading to
the long overdue peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine as early as
possible.
35. The situation on the ground, both in Gaza and in the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, has deteriorated in many instances. Much more needs to be done to build
the necessary foundations for a successful political process and for the eventual and
sustainable implementation of any agreement reached. Settlement activity needs to
stop completely, and movement and access restrictions need to be lifted. The
Palestinian Authority needs to make further progress to impose law and order.
36. The question of Gaza remains critical. I am glad that the ceasefire in effect
since June 2008 has held so far. At the same time, I am acutely conscious that the
ceasefire is by definition a temporary arrangement that needs to lead to further
steps: a reopening of the Gaza crossings, the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit, and
dialogue for the purpose of the reunification of the West Bank and Gaza Strip within
the framework of the legitimate Palestinian Authority.
37. The United Nations will continue to work towards the creation of an
independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian State living side-by-side
in peace with a secure Israel, in the framework of a comprehensive regional
settlement, consistent with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973),
1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003), and in accordance with the road map, the Arab Peace
Initiative and the principle of land for peace.
United Nations A/64/351–S/2009/464
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
15 September 2009
Original: English
09-51508 (E) 071009
*0951508*
General Assembly Security Council
Sixty-fourth session
Items 15 and 16 of the provisional agenda*
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Sixty-fourth year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 63/29. It contains replies received from the President of the Security
Council and the parties concerned to the notes verbales sent by the Secretary-General
pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 21 of the resolution. The report also
contains the observations of the Secretary-General on the current state of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict and on international efforts to move the peace process forward
with a view to achieving a peaceful settlement. The report covers the period from
September 2008 to August 2009.
* A/64/150 and Corr.1.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution
63/29.
2. On 1 July 2009, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 21 of the
above-mentioned resolution, I addressed the following letter to the President of the
Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 63/29, which the General
Assembly adopted on 26 November 2008, at its sixty-third session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 31 July 2009.”
3. On 24 July 2009 the following reply was received from the Security Council:
“The goal of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
remains one of the major challenges facing the international community,
including the Security Council.
“The Security Council considers the situation in Palestine each month
under an agenda item on ‘The situation in the Middle East, including the
question of Palestine,’ with general presentations in the form of briefings by
either the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs or the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, followed by an open
meeting of the Council or by consultations among Council members.
“On 22 July 2008, the Council convened an open debate on the situation
in the Middle East, during which it heard a briefing by the Under-Secretary-
General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, who indicated a number of
encouraging developments across the region and stressed the importance of
achieving further visible progress in peaceful negotiations, consolidating the
ceasefire and resolving the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and improving the
livelihood of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. Most representatives
called upon the parties concerned to renounce violence, implement
agreements, abide by their obligations under international law, particularly
human rights and humanitarian law, and take further concrete action to
advance the peace process towards its stated goals on the basis of United
Nations resolutions, the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative
and the Annapolis Conference.
“On 20 August 2008, the Council heard a briefing by the Under-
Secretary-General for Political Affairs on the situation in the Middle East,
including the Palestinian question, which was followed by consultations of the
whole. The Under-Secretary-General informed the Council that Israeli-
Palestinian negotiations as part of the Annapolis process were continuing, that
the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas had been largely respected, but
that the situation on the ground remained a cause for concern, particularly the
continuing settlement activity across the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, and
the rise of internal Palestinian violence. The organization in September of a
meeting of the Quartet, followed by an iftar with Arab partners, and a meeting
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of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee would provide occasions to take stock of the
progress made and to assist in the implementation of donor pledges to address
the impending Palestinian budget crisis.
“The Under-Secretary-General concluded by reaffirming the Secretary-
General’s commitment to a just and lasting comprehensive regional peace in
the Middle East, based on Security Council resolutions. The meeting was
followed by consultations of the whole.
“The Council examined this issue twice during the month of September
2008.
“On 18 September 2008, in consultations, the Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, briefed the Council on the
negotiations taking place between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, in
particular the talks of 26 and 31 August and 16 September 2008. He also stated
that relations between the Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanon were improving,
while the blockade imposed by Israel in the Gaza Strip was still a concern.
“At the request of the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to the United
Nations on behalf of the Arab League, the Security Council held a debate on
26 September 2008, at the ministerial level. Although many delegations
focused their statements on the settlements that were still going on in the
Palestinian territories, others spoke about the global situation in the Middle
East.
“On 22 October 2008, the Council heard a briefing on the Middle East
from the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs. He told the Council,
inter alia, that despite ongoing efforts by the parties concerned, the situation
on the ground was not improving ‘in the way that is required’ to ensure a
durable settlement. He also hoped that, notwithstanding the transition currently
under way, the Israel-Palestinian negotiations would not only continue but
would intensify until the end of the year, within the framework of the
Annapolis process. During consultations of the whole, many members of the
Council reaffirmed their support for the continuation of Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations, and expressed the wish that the United Nations would, as
appropriate, play a greater role in support of the peace process. Members of
the Council also emphasized that the international community could not lose
sight of the humanitarian situation on the ground.
“On 25 November 2008, the Council was briefed by the Under-Secretary-
General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, on the situation in the Middle
East, including the Palestinian question. He expressed regret that Israel and the
Palestinians were likely to fall short of their commitment, made at Annapolis,
to reach an agreement by the end of the year. At the same time, he welcomed
the parties’ affirmation that they had engaged in direct, sustained and intensive
negotiations.
“After the briefing, owing to the sensitivity of the issue, the Council held
consultations of the whole, during which members of the Council held an
interactive dialogue with the Under-Secretary-General.
“On 3 December 2008, the Security Council held a debate to discuss the
situation in connection with the Libyan ship which was heading to the Port of
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Gaza carrying humanitarian supplies. Members of the Council made
statements. The Council also heard statements by the Permanent Observer of
Palestine and the Permanent Representative of Israel. The Council did not
reach any specific conclusion.
“On 5 December 2008, the Council addressed events in Hebron in
consultations of the whole. Following the consultations, the President of the
Council informally conveyed to the press that the members of the Council
welcomed Israel’s evacuation of settlers, condemned the resulting settler
violence, urged respect for the rule of law without discrimination or exception
and encouraged Israel and the Palestinian Authority to continue their security
cooperation in the Hebron Governorate.
“On 16 December 2008, the Security Council adopted resolution
1850 (2008) by 14 votes in favour, with 1 abstention. The adoption was
preceded by a Council debate that included the ministerial participation of
several members and was chaired by the Prime Minister of the Republic of
Croatia, Ivo Sanader. The Secretary-General also addressed the Council.
Reiterating the vision of the two-State solution while noting the importance of
the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet’s ongoing work, the Council, in
resolution 1850 (2008), declared its support for the Annapolis process and the
irreversibility of the negotiations. The Security Council supported the parties’
agreed principles for the bilateral negotiations, called on both parties to fulfil
their obligations under the Road Map and refrain from any steps that could
undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations, and called on
all States and international organizations to contribute to an atmosphere
conducive to negotiations and to assist the Palestinian Authority. It urged
intensified diplomatic efforts to foster mutual recognition and peaceful
coexistence in the region in the context of achieving a comprehensive, just and
lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomed the consideration of an
international meeting in Moscow in 2009.
“On 18 December 2008, the Security Council held an open debate on the
situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The Council
heard a briefing by the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process,
Robert Serry, on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. He also addressed
the situation in Lebanon and the dynamics between the Syrian Arab Republic
and Israel. He said that the main objective in the coming year was to sustain
the political process during a period of transition, emphasizing the importance
of the adoption of resolution 1850 (2008). He appealed for the observance of
basic humanitarian principles in Gaza and warned against the escalation of
violence. The Security Council then heard statements by the Permanent
Observer of Palestine and the Permanent Representative of Israel.
Representatives of Brazil, Cuba, Qatar, Turkey, Japan, the Islamic Republic of
Iran, Chile, Pakistan, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Morocco, Norway,
Australia, Iceland and the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People also addressed the Council.
“On 28 December 2008, after consultations of the whole that had begun
the previous evening following the outbreak of violence in the Gaza Strip and
southern Israel, the President of the Council read out a statement to the press,
expressing serious concern at the escalation of the situation in Gaza, and
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calling for an immediate halt to all violence, calling for all parties to address
the serious humanitarian and economic needs in Gaza, and stressing the need
for the restoration of calm in full, which would open the way for finding a
political solution.
“On 31 December 2008, the Security Council held an emergency meeting
on the situation in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel. The Secretary-General
addressed the Council, expressing profound concern that the Security
Council’s call for an end to the violence had gone unheeded, emphasizing the
suffering of the civilian population in Gaza and stating that all parties must
fully uphold international humanitarian law. He stressed the need for decisive
action and welcomed efforts by European and Arab leaders. The Permanent
Observer of Palestine and the Permanent Representative of Israel also
addressed the Council. Members of the Council made statements, followed by
the representatives of Egypt and the Permanent Observer for the League of
Arab States.
“On 3 January 2009, the Council held consultations of the whole on the
situation in Gaza.
“On 6 and 7 January 2009, the Council held a public debate at the
ministerial level on the item entitled ‘The situation in the Middle East,
including the Palestinian question’. During the debate, the Secretary-General,
the President of the Palestinian National Authority, the representative of Israel,
and representatives of other States Members of the United Nations (including
Ministers for Foreign Affairs, in particular of the Arab League States) made
statements.
“On 8 January 2009, after thorough consultations, including at the
ministerial level, the Council held a meeting presided over by the Minister for
Foreign Affairs of France, Bernard Kouchner, at which it adopted resolution
1860 (2009) by 14 votes in favour, with 1 abstention. In the resolution, the
Council called for an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire, leading
to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
“On 13 January 2009, during consultations of the whole, the Council was
briefed by the Secretary-General before his visit to the Middle East. In their
statements, Council members welcomed the efforts of the Secretary-General.
On 15 January, in consultations of the whole, the Council was briefed by the
Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Haile Menkerios, on the
situation in Gaza, following the attacks on the headquarters of the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA). During the consultations, there was an agreement on elements for
remarks to be made by the President to the press. The President of the Council
expressed grave concern, in particular following the military operations
against hospitals, a building hosting journalists and the headquarters of
UNRWA.
“On 21 January 2009, the Council held a public meeting to receive a
briefing by the Secretary-General following his visit to the Middle East.
During the consultations of the whole that followed, members of the Council
agreed to issue a statement to the press, in which they welcomed the ceasefire
in Gaza, expressed their strong appreciation for the efforts of the SecretaryA/
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General and reiterated their grave concern at the humanitarian situation in
Gaza.
“On 27 January 2009, the Council held a meeting at which it heard
briefings by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and
Emergency Relief Coordinator and by the Commissioner-General of UNRWA,
Karen AbuZayd, on the situation in Gaza. It was the first time that a
Commissioner-General of UNRWA had been invited to address the Council.
Both the Under-Secretary-General and the Commissioner-General expressed
great concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and stressed the
importance of free access for humanitarian aid. The meeting was followed by
consultations of the whole.
“On 18 February 2009, the Council heard a briefing on the Middle East
by the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry.
He reported to the Council that a number of issues, including the humanitarian
situation in Gaza, Palestinian reconciliation, and the new political situation in
Israel, needed to be addressed for the peace process to advance and
emphasized the importance of a durable and sustainable ceasefire as called for
in resolution 1860 (2009). With regard to Lebanon, he noted that the situation
remained relatively stable despite increased tension following the crisis in
Gaza. During the consultations of the whole that followed, many Council
members stressed the need for an effective ceasefire, unimpeded access for
humanitarian assistance, the opening of the crossings into Gaza and Palestinian
unity.
“On 25 March 2009, the Council held its 6100th meeting to consider the
agenda item entitled ‘The situation in the Middle East, including the
Palestinian question’.
“The Council heard a briefing by B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-
General for Political Affairs. Mr. Pascoe began the briefing by stating that ‘two
months after unilateral ceasefires were declared in Gaza, we face a worrying
situation of impasse and uncertainty. Despite international engagement and
support, very little concrete progress has been made on key issues outlined in
Security Council resolution 1860 (2009).’ In conclusion, he stressed that ‘it is
important that the Quartet and the international community act with unity of
purpose to help stabilize Gaza and reinvigorate the peace process. We need to
have both Israeli and Palestinian Governments that are clearly committed to
the two-State solution. We need a continuation of negotiations, the
implementation of commitments on the ground and a strategy for de-escalating
tensions and addressing the urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza.’
“Turning to Lebanon, he said that the killing by a roadside bomb of the
Deputy Representative in Lebanon of the Palestine Liberation Organization
(PLO) on 23 March 2009 had interrupted the prevailing relative calm in the
country.
“Following the briefing, the Council heard statements by the Permanent
Observer of Palestine, and the Permanent Representative of Israel.
“Statements were made by Council members, the President, in his
national capacity, and the representatives of Egypt and Lebanon.
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“Upon resumption of the meeting, the Council heard statements by the
representatives of Cuba (on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement), the Syrian
Arab Republic, the Czech Republic (on behalf of the European Union), Brazil,
Morocco, Qatar and Bangladesh. The Council then heard statements by Paul
Badji, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People, the representatives of Indonesia, Ecuador, Malaysia,
Algeria, Mauritania, South Africa, Norway, the Islamic Republic of Iran,
Nicaragua, Jordan, Australia, the Republic of Korea, Mali, Pakistan and the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (S/PV.6100-SC/9626).
“On 20 April 2009, the Council heard a briefing on the situation in the
Middle East by B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs.
Mr. Pascoe reported that very little progress had been made on the key
elements of resolution 1860 (2009), namely the commitment of the parties to a
durable and sustainable ceasefire, the opening of the crossings for
humanitarian access and provision of materials for recovery, and intra-
Palestinian reconciliation. He conveyed the Secretary-General’s expectation
that the Middle East peace process would resume, with the aim of achieving an
independent and viable Palestinian State living side by side in peace with a
secure Israel and a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace as envisaged in Security
Council resolutions. He stated that the situation in Gaza and southern Israel
remained fragile in the absence of a proper ceasefire regime, and noted that 30
rockets and mortars had been fired by Palestinian militants at southern Israel
during that period. He also highlighted Egyptian efforts to combat the
continued arms smuggling across the Gaza border, and informed the Council
that settlement activity had continued in the West Bank and East Jerusalem
during the reporting period and must be frozen. After the meeting, the Council
held informal consultations. Members drew attention to the need to achieve a
stable ceasefire, implement the provisions of Council resolutions 1850 (2008)
and 1860 (2009) and open Gaza’s border crossings to allow for the entry of
more humanitarian aid and essential goods and materials.
“On 11 May 2009, the Security Council held a ministerial-level meeting
on the Middle East peace process chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs
of the Russian Federation, Sergei Lavrov. Speaking at that event, the
Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, stressed the need to generate momentum in
the Israeli-Palestinian talks, warning that the situation on the ground could
worsen easily without fresh efforts by both sides as well as by the international
community. After the inconclusive results of the previous year’s negotiations
and the bloodshed in Gaza, the previous three months had witnessed almost no
progress on the two key resolutions — 1850 (2008) and 1860 (2009).
“The Secretary-General also referred to the deep crises of confidence
among ‘ordinary people on the ground’. He said that Palestinians continued to
see unacceptable unilateral actions in East Jerusalem and the remainder of the
West Bank, such as ‘house demolitions, intensified settlement activity, settler
violence and oppressive movement restrictions due to permits, checkpoints and
the barrier’. He stressed that the time had come for Israel to fundamentally
change its policies in that regard. However, he also emphasized that ordinary
Israelis needed reassurance that a future Palestinian State would guarantee
their right to live in peace and security, and he stated that ‘indiscriminate
rocket attacks that have caused loss of life, civilian suffering and damage to
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property in Israel are not only deeply unacceptable, but also totally
counterproductive, and must cease’.
“He also stated that the challenge was to begin to implement
transformative changes on the ground; and to kick-start a renewed and
irreversible drive to achieve an Israeli-Palestinian agreement, stressing that
resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was fundamental to the well-being of
both peoples, the region and the world.
“In their interventions, members of the Council reaffirmed their hope that
the commitments made by the parties would be kept and stated that the parties
must pursue an irreversible effort towards the two-State solution, including by
fully implementing commitments on the ground. Council members also voiced
their concern about the situation in and around Gaza, including continued arms
smuggling into Gaza and continued Hamas rocket fire from Gaza into Israel,
as well as Israeli settlement activities undermining the contiguity and viability
of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and jeopardizing the two-State solution,
and stressed the need for Palestinian reconciliation.
“The Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement
(S/PRST/2009/14) at the end of its session, read by Mr. Lavrov, in which the
Council stressed the urgency of reaching comprehensive peace in the Middle
East. It stated that vigorous diplomatic action was needed to attain the goal set
by the international community of lasting peace in the region, based on an
enduring commitment of mutual recognition and on previous agreements and
obligations.
“The Council also voiced support for the Russian Federation’s proposal
to convene, in consultations with the Quartet and the parties, an international
conference on the Middle East peace process in Moscow later that year.
“The Council continues to pay close attention to developments in the
situation in the Middle East; the next meeting on this question is scheduled to
be held on 27 July 2009.”
4. In a note verbale dated 30 April 2009 to the parties concerned, I sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as of the Palestine Liberation Organization, regarding any steps
taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at
31 August 2009, replies had been received from Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization. The note verbale dated 20 July 2009 from the Permanent Mission of
Israel to the United Nations reads as follows:
“As shown in the meeting records, Israel voted against this resolution, as
it has done on similar resolutions adopted in the past by the General Assembly.
The Permanent Mission of Israel wishes to reiterate the considerations guiding
this voting practice in light of the current situation.
“Despite the continuation of intensive Israeli-Palestinian dialogue during
2008, Palestinian terrorism continued unabated and remains an alarming
reality. During 2008, over 3,100 rockets and mortars were launched against
Israel by Hamas, including over 360 during the so-called ‘lull’ initiated in June
2008. Deliberately targeting Israeli civilian targets and cynically launched
from within Palestinian civilian concentrations, these attacks came in the wake
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of seven years of similar attacks, during which over 8,900 rockets and mortars
had been fired at Israel from Gaza.
“This campaign of terror reached a pinnacle towards the end of 2008,
with over 300 rockets and mortars hitting Israel in the single week between
December 21 and December 27, leaving it with no choice but to act to protect
its civilians from the unceasing barrage of rocket fire. Moreover, during
‘Operation Cast Lead’ an additional 571 rockets and 205 mortars landed in
Israel, reaching as far as the cities of Ashdod, Beer Sheva and Gedera.
“This campaign of violence has not been limited to rocket fire from
Gaza. Palestinian terrorists carried out numerous terror attacks during 2008,
killing 12 and wounding dozens of Israeli civilians. On 4 February 2008, a
Palestinian suicide bomber killed an Israeli woman in Dimona; on 6 March
2008, a Palestinian terrorist went on a shooting rampage in a religious
seminary in Jerusalem, killing eight high school students; and in three separate
incidents in July 2008 and March 2009, Palestinians driving bulldozers plowed
into Israeli bystanders, killing three and wounding numerous others.
“Hamas, entrenched in Gaza with the support of the Islamic Republic of
Iran, continues to stockpile weapons of ever-increasing lethality and range,
operating a full-fledged weapons-smuggling operation through the extensive
tunnel network running under the Egypt-Gaza border.
“In addition, Hamas has been holding kidnapped Israeli corporal Gilad
Shalit incommunicado for over three years, violating basic humanitarian
practice of permitting the International Committee of the Red Cross access to
see the captive. The Hamas regime continues to reject the Quartet conditions,
persists adamantly in its calls for Israel’s destruction and remains vigilant in
its commitment to seeing this grim vision through. It is disturbing, if not to say
appalling, that resolution 63/29 makes no mention of any of the above.
“Notwithstanding this concerted and enduring campaign of violence
against Israeli civilians and testifying to Israel’s commitment to humanitarian
principles even in the face of it, Israel continues to facilitate the entry of large
quantities of humanitarian supplies into Gaza, including in the very midst of
the recent Gaza conflict. Between the June 2007 Hamas takeover of Gaza and
September 2008, 35,542 trucks bearing 813,870 tons of humanitarian supplies
entered Gaza through the crossings from Israel. During Operation Cast Lead
alone, 1,503 trucks carried 37,159 tons of humanitarian aid into Gaza via the
Kerem Shalom and Karni crossings, alongside 1,535,750 litres of heavy-duty
diesel for the Gaza power station.
“In addition, over the past months, and especially in recent weeks, the
Government of Israel has authorized a major easing of security-related
restrictions in the West Bank, dismantling two thirds (27 of 41) of the formerly
existing checkpoints and some 140 dirt roadblocks during the past year. These
positive developments, noted and lauded by the Quartet Envoy, accompany a
marked improvement in economic indicators in the West Bank. Israel has taken
these steps as confidence-building measures, with the aim of further
encouraging Palestinian economic activity, despite the fact that in the past,
such gestures have directly resulted in an upsurge in terror attacks by
Palestinians against Israelis. The Permanent Mission expresses its hope that
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the Palestinians will depart from prior practice and seize this opportunity to
focus their collective energies in such ways as may serve to nurture peaceful
coexistence with Israel.
“The Government of Israel has repeatedly extended an open and
unequivocal invitation to launch peace talks with the Palestinian Authority.
Guiding Israel in this respect is a vision of a reinvigorated political process
alongside a rejuvenated effort to focus on economic cooperation and
development. Regrettably, these overtures have been rejected by the
Palestinian Authority.
“Despite an ongoing and acute threat to its security, Israel has gone to
great lengths to assist in extending humanitarian assistance, fostering
conditions for Palestinian economic development and cooperation, and
engaging in political dialogue with the Palestinian Authority. Regrettably,
these overtures have yet to achieve their goal of reaching comprehensive, just
and lasting peace. Inexcusably, they are given no mention in resolution 63/29.
“Thus, far from acting as a vehicle for promoting a peaceful resolution of
the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, resolution 63/29 joins the numerous one-sided
resolutions passed annually by the General Assembly on Israel which serve
only to undermine the credibility of the United Nations as an impartial agent
for the advancement of peace. The Permanent Mission takes this opportunity
to urge the Secretary-General to use his good offices to encourage a cessation
of this counterproductive practice.”
The note verbale dated 26 June 2009 from the Permanent Observer of
Palestine to the United Nations reads as follows:
“The urgency of ending the tragedy and injustice inflicted upon the
Palestinian people after more than 61 years of statelessness and dispossession
and more than 42 years of military occupation and oppression by Israel, the
occupying Power, cannot be overstated. For too long the Palestinian people
have suffered crises, loss and subjugation, their human rights and fundamental
freedoms brutally violated, and for too long the inability to achieve a just
solution to the question of Palestine, despite persistent and noble efforts, has
represented a tragic failure on the part of the international community, with
grave consequences for not only the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, but for the
Middle East region and beyond. The question of Palestine, which lies at the
core of the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole, is indeed central to the quest for
regional and international peace, security and stability in our contemporary
world, and a peaceful settlement is long overdue.
“There is international consensus that achieving a just and peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine, in accordance with international law
and relevant United Nations resolutions, is a political, security, legal, human
rights, humanitarian and moral imperative for the international community.
This is clearly reflected in the General Assembly’s annual adoption of the
resolution on the ‘Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine’ by an
overwhelming majority.
“From Palestine’s perspective, the role of the United Nations remains
central for the promotion of a peaceful settlement. As affirmed in numerous
resolutions, the responsibility of the United Nations towards the question of
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Palestine is an enduring one until the achievement of a just, lasting and
comprehensive solution. During this critical period, Palestine reaffirms the
importance of, as well as deep gratitude for, the efforts of the United Nations
system, including its principal organs and specialized agencies, vis-à-vis the
question of Palestine in, inter alia, the humanitarian, political, socio-economic,
human rights and development fields. However, more concerted efforts are
essential if the Charter, United Nations resolutions and the rule of law are to
be truly upheld, and United Nations organs, including, inter alia, the General
Assembly, Security Council, Human Rights Council, Economic and Social
Council, International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court,
must continue to exert all efforts in this regard.
“Israel’s flagrant and deliberate violation of its legal obligations and
United Nations resolutions must not continue to be tolerated. This has only
emboldened Israeli impunity and lawlessness and further complicated the
conflict. Such violations by the occupying Power must be directly addressed
with the appropriate actions and measures at the international community’s
disposal if the responsibility for achieving a peace settlement based on the
two-State solution is ever to be fulfilled.
“Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter, international law,
including humanitarian and human rights law, and relevant United Nations
resolutions, as well as the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of
land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Road Map, the
international community must intensify its collective efforts to promote a
peace that brings to an end the occupation of the Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, that began in 1967, and the establishment of the
independent State of Palestine, as well as a just and agreed solution to the
plight of the Palestine refugees on the basis of General Assembly resolution
194 (III). The parameters and core requirements for achieving such a peace are
clearly stipulated in resolution 63/29, just as they have been for decades.
“Indeed, despite the passage of time, cyclical crises and the deterioration
of the situation on the ground in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem, the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains the
same: two States for two peoples to live side by side in peace and security.
This solution finds its foundation in resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947
and has been reaffirmed and called for thereafter in numerous United Nations
resolutions, including Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973),
1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1850 (2008), General Assembly resolutions on
the question of Palestine and on the right of the Palestinian people to selfdetermination,
as well as in the 2004 advisory opinion of the International
Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. The two-State solution is also at the crux of the
Arab Peace Initiative and the Road Map.
“Regrettably, however, the months since the adoption of resolution 63/29
have been marked by the dramatic deterioration of the situation at all levels in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory and by the obstruction of the efforts to
achieve a peaceful settlement.
“With the exception of a few encouraging developments — such as:
(a) the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 1850 (2008), in which
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the Council, inter alia, declared its support for the Annapolis process and the
resolution of all outstanding issues, including all core issues; called on the
parties to fulfil their obligations under the Road Map and to refrain from any
steps that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of
negotiations; and urged the intensification of diplomatic efforts towards
achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East;
(b) the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 1860 (2009) at the
height of the Israeli military aggression against the Gaza Strip, in which the
Council, inter alia, called for a permanent and durable ceasefire, unimpeded
provision of humanitarian assistance, arrangements for the sustained reopening
of Gaza’s crossing points, and renewed and urgent peace efforts; (c) the
renewal of the Arab Peace Initiative in March 2009 by the League of Arab
States Summit despite the marked deterioration of the situation; (d) the
adoption by the Security Council of presidential statement PRST 2009/14, in
which the Council, inter alia, reaffirmed the two-State solution, the basis for
achieving a peaceful settlement, and the irreversibility of the peace process;
(e) ongoing Egyptian efforts to promote a ceasefire, as well as Egyptian and
regional efforts to foster Palestinian reconciliation and unity; (f) the more
active, balanced and just approach being undertaken by the United States
administration of President Barack Obama towards the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict and the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole, based on a clear commitment
to the two-State solution for the achievement of peace; and (g) the
comprehensive and forward-looking statement by the Quartet on 26 June 2009
in Trieste, Italy — the period since the adoption of resolution 63/29 has
witnessed a series of negative developments and setbacks as a result of Israel’s
continued breach of all rules and norms of international law, in particular the
Fourth Geneva Convention, which has had a detrimental effect on the situation
on the ground and the drive for peace.
“Even the minimal progress made in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process
since its relaunch at the November 2007 Annapolis Conference has been
undermined by Israel’s illegal and aggressive policies in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, particularly its colonization campaign throughout the
West Bank, its blockade in collective punishment of the entire civilian
population in the Gaza Strip, and its daily humiliation and degradation of the
Palestinian people. Such actions constitute gross violations of international
law, including systematic human rights violations and war crimes against the
Palestinian people, and of United Nations resolutions, and show contempt for
the will of the international community.
“At the same time, Israel’s unlawful actions have seriously compromised
its credibility as a partner in the peace process. Rather than conducting
negotiations in good faith and refraining from taking measures prejudicing the
outcome of negotiations on the core issues — Jerusalem, settlements, refugees,
borders, security and water — and repeatedly undermining confidence, the
occupying Power has instead continued to brutally oppress the Palestinian
civilian population and to establish ever more facts on the ground, creating
more obstacles to contend with, deepening mistrust and preventing any real
progress from being achieved, despite the convening of 27 meetings between
the two sides since the Annapolis Conference.
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“In comparison, the Palestinian leadership has exerted all efforts to
uphold its obligations and commitments under international law, agreements
reached and the Road Map. It has conducted negotiations in good faith,
repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to the two-State solution for peace,
striven to promote a positive environment for negotiations, made extensive and
well-documented progress in fulfilment of its obligations regarding promotion
of security and law and order in the areas under the Palestinian Authority,
diligently worked with the support of the international donor community to
build the institutions of the future Palestinian State, and also continued to
strive for much-desired national reconciliation and unity. All of this has been
achieved by the Palestinian leadership despite the obstacles and measures
imposed by Israel that have undermined these efforts and despite Israel’s
blatant intransigence and violation of its legal obligations and commitments in
total contradiction of the goals and spirit of the peace process.
“In this regard, Israel, the occupying Power, has intensified settlement
activities, construction of the Wall, home demolitions and excavations,
particularly in and around East Jerusalem; it has intensified its imposition of
obstacles to the movement of persons and goods throughout the West Bank and
its imposition of the two-year blockade on Gaza; it has continued to carry out
military raids and assaults killing and injuring Palestinian civilians; it has
continued to arrest, detain and imprison thousands of Palestinian civilians,
with over 11,000 Palestinians, including hundreds of women and children, in
Israeli jails, suffering inhumane conditions and treatment; and it has continued
to exploit Palestinian natural resources and cause extensive environmental
damage in the Territory.
“All recent reports, including those by United Nations agencies on the
ground such as UNRWA, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace
Process, United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Development
Programme, World Health Organization and World Food Programme, inter
alia, attest to the decline of the economic, social, political, humanitarian and
security conditions, especially in Gaza, as a result of Israel’s illegal and
destructive policies. Poverty and unemployment rates remain inordinately
high, health and education standards continue to decline, food insecurity is
rampant, civilian lives continue to be threatened and lost as a result of the
violence perpetrated by the Israeli occupying forces and settlers, and
thousands more civilians have been displaced, which has exacerbated the
hardships being endured by the Palestinian people under occupation.
“This negative trend culminated in Israel’s horrific military aggression
against Gaza from 27 December 2008 to 19 January 2009 (Operation Cast
Lead), in which more than 1,400 Palestinian civilians, including hundreds of
children and women, were killed and more than 5,500 civilians were injured.
The high number of casualties was the result of direct targeting by Israel of
civilian areas and objects, including UNRWA schools where Palestinian
civilians were known to be sheltering from the violence, and use of excessive,
indiscriminate force and lethal, even prohibited, weaponry and ammunition,
including white phosphorous, against the defenceless population. This has
been verified by several investigations, including by the Secretary-General’s
Board of Inquiry, the League of Arab States’ Independent Fact-Finding
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Committee on Gaza and many human rights and humanitarian organizations on
the ground.
“The Israeli occupying forces also caused wanton destruction throughout
Gaza. Thousands of Palestinian homes were destroyed or seriously damaged.
In addition, businesses, schools, hospitals, vital infrastructure such as roads,
water, sanitation and electricity networks, agricultural land and numerous
United Nations facilities were destroyed. The widespread destruction rendered
thousands of people homeless. Moreover, appallingly, more than six months
later no reconstruction of damaged or destroyed properties has been carried out
owing to Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza, by which it has prohibited the
entry of materials essential for reconstruction as well as the import and export
of all other goods, with the exception of the minimum of food and medicine
necessary to sustain the civilian population and other minor exceptions on a
case-by-case basis.
“The massive deprivation and brutality inflicted by Israel on Gaza has
traumatized and terrorized the Palestinian civilian population and the impact
on the socio-economic, humanitarian, psychosocial and security situation has
been disastrous. Moreover, at the time of writing this note, the peace process,
which was suspended with the launch of the Israeli war against Gaza, remains
frozen.
“The current situation is abnormal, unjust and untenable. The opening of
Gaza’s border crossings to allow for the free movement of persons and goods,
including unimpeded humanitarian access, commercial flows necessary for
revival of the collapsed economy and civilian needs, and import of
construction materials, spare parts and adequate fuel supplies is a matter of
urgency. There is no acceptable justification for Israel’s continued
imprisonment of the 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza. Immediate efforts must
be undertaken to ensure the sustained opening of the crossings in accordance
with international humanitarian law, United Nations resolutions and the 2005
Agreement on Movement and Access. This is essential for reconstruction and
healing the deep physical, psychological and societal wounds of Gaza, as well
as for altering the very negative, tense environment between the two sides.
“Furthermore, Palestine emphasizes the importance of the continued
pursuit of justice and accountability with regard to the war crimes committed
by Israel, the occupying Power, against the Palestinian civilian population in
Gaza. This is necessary for ending impunity, redressing the searing sense of
injustice among the victims and allowing genuine healing to occur. That this is
also essential for the long-term prospects for peace, reconciliation and
coexistence is unquestionable.
“At the same time, the situation in the rest of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory remains extremely precarious, owing primarily to Israel’s aggressive
pursuit of its illegal colonization campaign aimed at creating massive facts on
the ground to alter the demographic composition, status and character of the
Territory, especially in and around Occupied East Jerusalem, and thus facilitate
the occupying Power’s acquisition of more territory by force and prejudge the
outcome of final status negotiations in its favour.
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“We reiterate that Israel’s colonization of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, constitutes a grave breach of international
humanitarian and criminal law, namely the Fourth Geneva Convention and
Additional Protocol I, which prohibit the transfer by the occupying Power of
its civilian population into the territory it occupies (articles 49 (6) and
85 (4) (a), respectively), and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal
Court, under which the transfer, directly or indirectly, by the occupying Power
of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies constitutes a war
crime (article 8, para. 2 (b) (viii)). In addition, such illegal measures represent
egregious violations of General Assembly and Security Council resolutions
calling for the cessation and dismantlement of the settlements, blatant
disrespect for the International Court of Justice advisory opinion of 9 July
2004 and violations of Israel’s Road Map obligation to freeze all settlement
activities, including so-called natural growth, and dismantle settlement
‘outposts’.
“Even during the peace process, Israel has never ceased its settlement
campaign, which has multiplied 17-fold at least in the period since the
Annapolis Conference and continues to this day. The occupying Power
continues its confiscation of Palestinian land; construction and expansion of
settlements, settlement outposts and settlement infrastructure, including bypass
roads and military installations and zones; the transfer of thousands more
Israeli settlers to the Occupied Territory; construction of the Wall in deviation
from the 1967 Green Line to entrench the settlements and advance their de
facto annexation; imposition of a racist permit regime, residency restrictions
and hundreds of checkpoints; demolition of Palestinian homes; and
excavations, all of which are particularly intense in and around Occupied East
Jerusalem. Simultaneously, armed and extremist Israeli settlers, with the
protection of the occupying forces, continue to perpetrate acts of terror,
harassment and intimidation against Palestinian civilians and to wantonly
destroy Palestinian properties and orchards.
“On the ground, these illegal settlement colonization measures have been
hugely detrimental and have affected all aspects of Palestinian life. The
separation, isolation and cantonization of Palestinian communities, including
the total isolation of East Jerusalem, by the settlements, Wall and checkpoints —
which can only be likened to a state of apartheid — have caused the
displacement of thousands of Palestinian civilians and widespread economic
and social ills. Moreover, the contiguity, integrity and unity of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory have been severely undermined, seriously threatening the
prospects for physical realization of the two-State solution.
“As such, in terms of the peace process, the impact of Israel’s
colonization has also been hugely detrimental, constituting the main
obstruction to a peaceful settlement. These provocative, illegal Israeli actions
have undermined the drive for peace, poisoned the atmosphere between the
two sides and tainted the process as a whole. In this regard, it is imperative to
note that the issue of settlements is not only a final status issue in the peace
process but is also intricately related to and at the crux of nearly all other final
status issues, including Jerusalem, borders, water and security.
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“In reality, Israel’s colonization is totally contradictory to the objective
of the peace process — achievement of the two-State solution of an
independent State of Palestine living side by side with Israel in peace and
security and on the basis of the 1967 borders — and to the principle of land for
peace sustaining that process. We thus reaffirm that continuing negotiations
under such conditions would be futile and unacceptable, and there is an
international consensus that such a process will never achieve its goals. The
Palestinian leadership has always negotiated in good faith but it cannot
continue to engage blindly in this process while Israel continues to destroy the
contiguity, viability and prospects for the future independent State of Palestine.
“The international community must act swiftly in response to the
international consensus that exists with regard to the two-State solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including that embodied in resolution 63/29, in
order to salvage the two-State solution and the prospects for peace and
stability in our region. Continued declarations or mild appeals to Israel will no
longer suffice and further appeasement will only deepen this problem. Israel,
the occupying Power, must be compelled to cease immediately all settlement
and related colonization activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, and abide by its obligations under international law
in this regard, as well as under the Road Map. Confronted with continued
defiance, the international community, including the Security Council and
Quartet, must take real action, including practical and concrete measures, to
bring to an end Israel’s belligerent, unlawful practices.
“The provisions of resolution 63/29 thus remain valid, as do those of the
other United Nations resolutions relevant to the question of Palestine, and the
legal and political principles therein constitute the foundations of the peace
process and the keys to resolving this prolonged conflict. Creating the
appropriate environment for the advancement of negotiations and overcoming
the obstacles that have repeatedly impeded progress towards a peaceful
settlement require adherence to and full respect for these parameters and
principles and fulfilment of the obligations and commitments they entail.
“The support of the international community in this endeavour remains
critical and Palestine remains encouraged by the overwhelming support in this
regard, as reflected, inter alia, by the vote on resolution 63/29. The General
Assembly must continue striving to promote a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine in all its aspects. Our conviction remains firm that
concerted and coordinated action by the international community can and will
tangibly contribute to bringing an end to the 1967 Israeli occupation and
enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights in their
independent State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, fundamental
to a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict and the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole.
“In conclusion, we reaffirm the Palestinian leadership’s commitment to a
peace process based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973),
1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1850 (2008), the Madrid terms of reference,
including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the
Road Map. We thus renew the call upon the international community to seize
the slim prospects for peace that remain and not allow them to vanish as a
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result of illegal, unilateral and destructive Israeli actions. Moreover, we
reaffirm the enduring resilience of the Palestinian people, in spite of the
formidable challenges, to ultimately realize their inalienable rights, including
their rights to self-determination and to return, and to fulfil their legitimate
national aspirations to live in peace, freedom and prosperity in their homeland
and in harmony with their neighbours.”
II. Observations
5. During the reporting period, diplomatic developments and events on the
ground underscored the importance of a peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine. The past year witnessed the discontinuation of Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations undertaken within the framework of the Annapolis process, a
destructive conflict in Gaza and southern Israel, a deepening internal divide despite
efforts towards Palestinian unity and the formation of a new Israeli Government
following Knesset elections. In recent months, there have been renewed efforts by
the international community to achieve the vision of two states living side by side in
peace and security.
6. On 4 November 2008, Israel conducted a military incursion into Gaza for the
purpose of destroying a tunnel allegedly used for abducting Israeli soldiers. After
several months of relative calm, between 4 and 30 November, 138 rockets and
153 mortars were subsequently fired by Palestinian militants into Israel. I strongly
condemned these rocket attacks by Palestinian militants as totally unacceptable and
called upon all parties to fully respect the tahdiya, or calm, which had been
brokered by Egypt between Israel and Hamas in June 2008.
7. Rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel and Israeli air strikes accelerated
throughout December. On 27 December 2008, the violence sharply escalated with
the commencement of Israeli military operation Cast Lead, which included the
launch of massive, coordinated strikes by the Israeli air force in Gaza.
Notwithstanding the Security Council’s press statement on 28 December calling for
both sides to halt all acts of violence, in the following days Israel heavily bombed a
large number of Gaza’s military and civilian installations, while Hamas launched
rockets into southern Israel almost continuously. Throughout this period, I engaged
in bilateral contacts with leaders from the region to urge a return to the calm and to
avoid further escalation and bloodshed.
8. On 31 December, I briefed the Security Council, deploring the fact that the
civilian population of Gaza was trapped between the irresponsibility displayed in
the indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas militants and the disproportionality of
the continuing Israeli military operation. I also emphasized that life in southern
Israel had become extremely difficult, with Israelis living in constant fear of rocket
strikes. I called on all parties to fully respect international humanitarian and human
rights law.
9. The conflict further escalated on 3 January 2009, when the Israel Defense
Forces launched a major ground offensive into Gaza. The following weeks were
marked by intense fighting, high numbers of civilian casualties and extensive
damage to the civilian infrastructure in Gaza.
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10. On 8 January 2009, the Security Council adopted resolution 1860 (2009), in
which it called for a complete halt to the violence, an immediate and durable
ceasefire, the unimpeded provision of humanitarian assistance, the sustained
reopening of the crossing points and efforts to curb the illicit trafficking of weapons
into Gaza.
11. Following the adoption of resolution 1860 (2009), I undertook an extended
eight-country mission to the region to deliver the message that the fighting must
stop and the resolution must be fully respected and implemented. I met with the
leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Turkey, Lebanon, and the
Syrian Arab Republic and, in the immediate aftermath of the end of major
hostilities, I visited Gaza City and southern Israel. Throughout this mission, I sought
to maximize coordination of the diplomatic efforts to end the crisis and to make
clear the expectations of the United Nations as embodied in resolution 1860 (2009).
12. Major military operations ended on 18 January with the declaration of
unilateral ceasefires by the Israeli cabinet and Hamas. Since January 2009, violence
in Gaza has decreased significantly; however, sporadic firing from both sides has
continued, underscoring the overall fragility of the situation. I believe it to be of the
utmost importance that these unilateral ceasefires are translated into lasting
arrangements based on the framework of resolution 1860 (2009).
13. The three-week conflict in Gaza resulted in extensive suffering and hardship.
While figures from different sources vary, an estimated 1,300 Palestinians lost their
lives and 5,300 were injured in the conflict, and on the Israeli side, 14 Israelis were
killed and more than 530 were injured. A large proportion of the casualties,
particularly on the Palestinian side, were civilians. I deeply regret the loss of
civilian life during the conflict.
14. The intensity and destruction of the conflict substantially exacerbated the
existent humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with deterioration in food security, physical
and mental health, and access to basic services and economic livelihoods all being
observed. During the conflict, practical arrangements were put in place between
United Nations humanitarian agencies and Israel for the delivery of some relief
supplies to the beleaguered civilian population. Following the end of the hostilities,
United Nations agencies estimated that 3,700 houses and two health-care centres
had been destroyed, and that 48,700 homes, 15 hospitals, 41 health-care centres and
273 schools had sustained varying degrees of damage.
15. On 2 March 2009, I attended the conference for the reconstruction of Gaza in
Sharm el Sheikh, where the Palestinian Authority presented the Palestinian Early
Recovery and Reconstruction Plan. The conference yielded pledges worth
$4.5 billion. At the time of writing, only a small percentage of these funds have
materialized, at least in part due to donor concerns about the ability to get the
necessary reconstruction materials into Gaza.
16. The numbers of truckloads of goods entering Gaza have increased since the
period immediately preceding and during Operation Cast Lead. However, the import
of goods still remains less than one fifth of that which occurred as part of normal
commerce and trade prior to the imposition of the comprehensive closure regime in
May 2007. Today, the overwhelming majority of imports into Gaza are limited to
food and sanitation items, with still little or no entry for all other goods, including
items for early recovery and reconstruction.
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17. Some seven months after the conflict, this situation is unacceptable. Consistent
with resolution 1860 (2009), the November 2005 Agreement on Movement and
Access, and public statements made by the Quartet, I have repeatedly called for a
sustained reopening of all crossing points in Gaza and for mechanisms to be put in
place to prevent the illicit trafficking of arms into Gaza.
18. In addition, the United Nations has presented the Government of Israel with a
proposal to begin a $77 million first instalment of early recovery and reconstruction
by working to complete previously suspended United Nations projects to build
housing, schools and clinics across Gaza. In implementing these projects, United
Nations agencies will utilize their own monitoring, verification and quality
assurance processes in order to ensure integrity of programming. I hope to receive a
positive response to this reasonable proposal.
19. From the outset of the conflict in Gaza, I called on all combatants to respect
the sanctity of United Nations premises. However, during the course of the conflict
a number of incidents occurred in which United Nations personnel, premises or
operations were affected. In response, I established an internal Board of Inquiry to
review and investigate nine of these incidents.
20. On 4 May 2009 I released a summary of the Board’s report. The Board found
that in seven incidents, the death, injuries and damages were caused by military
actions of the Israel Defense Forces, using munitions launched from the air or fired
from the ground. In one incident, the report concluded that damage to a World Food
Programme facility was caused by a Palestinian faction, most likely Hamas, and in
another incident, the Board was unable to reach any conclusions. The Board also
made a number of recommendations, including with respect to pursuing claims for
damages incurred by the United Nations and further improving coordination
mechanisms between the United Nations and the Government of Israel in order to
help ensure the safety and security of United Nations personnel and premises. I am
actively pursuing these recommendations.
21. I have fully supported the United Nations fact-finding mission on the Gaza
conflict led by Justice Richard Goldstone, pursuant to Human Rights Council
resolution S-9/1 (2009), and its broad investigation into all alleged human rights and
international humanitarian law violations that took place before, during and after the
military operations in Gaza between 27 December 2008 and 18 January 2009. I look
forward to the report of the fact-finding mission.
22. I also support continuing mediation efforts to secure the release of Israeli
Corporal Gilad Shalit in exchange for some of the 11,000 Palestinian prisoners held
in Israeli jails. I regret that three years after his capture, neither the International
Committee of the Red Cross nor any other international body has been granted
access to Corporal Shalit.
23. During the reporting period, Egypt convened six rounds of reconciliation talks
between Fatah, Hamas and other Palestinian groups. Regrettably the talks have only
yielded limited progress. I continue to fully support the efforts of Egypt on this vital
issue and to urge the factions to quickly conclude an agreement to reunite within the
framework of the legitimate Palestinian Authority, as called for in resolution 1860
(2009) and by the Quartet and League of Arab States. The United Nations is ready to
engage a government under the authority of President Abbas that unites Gaza and
the West Bank within such a framework.
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24. A key achievement during the reporting period has been the beginning of
Palestinian self-empowerment, which has taken place in the West Bank under the
leadership of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad and has included
important reforms in fiscal management, development planning and the security
sector. This positive momentum must not be imperilled by the financial crisis facing
the Palestinian Authority. When the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee met in Oslo on
8 June 2009, Prime Minister Fayyad reported that the Palestinian Authority faces a
critical budget crisis and still has great difficulty paying monthly salaries, which has
a severe impact on its planning processes and undermines its reform agenda.
25. In July 2009, the International Monetary Fund reported that in 2009 the
recurrent budget deficit for the Authority was approximately $1.6 billion and that
$900 million in external financing was required for the remainder of the year. I very
much welcome the recent transfers of funds by major donors to support the
Palestinian Authority and I appeal to other donors to urgently fulfil pledges of
budget support.
26. The Israeli system of creating physical obstacles to movement in the West
Bank and imposing elaborate permit requirements on Palestinians has continued to
be entrenched during the reporting period, including for movement in and around
East Jerusalem. However, I welcome recent measures by the Israeli Government to
ease movement restrictions around Nablus, Jericho, Qalqiliya and Ramallah. The
positive steps taken by Israel, if sustained and expanded, would have a significant
impact on Palestinian freedom of movement and economic development. As at
August 2009, 613 obstacles to movement remained in the West Bank, 68 of which
were permanently staffed checkpoints. According to the International Monetary
Fund, if Israel continues easing restrictions, real growth in the gross domestic
product in the West Bank could stand at 7 per cent in 2009. This would represent the
first significant improvement in living standards in the West Bank since 2006.
27. I appreciate the work of Quartet Representative Tony Blair in his efforts to
support continued economic development in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and
encourage the parties to work with him to bring about transformative change on the
ground.
28. During the reporting period, the Palestinian Authority continued to make real
strides in the implementation of its security plan with considerable international
assistance, in particular from the United States of America. I urge the Palestinian
Authority to continue to make every effort to improve law and order and to fight
violent extremism in accordance with its Road Map obligations. In line with the
increasing capabilities of the Palestinian security forces, I also encourage Israel to
further ease movement restrictions, as well as to reduce search and arrest operations
in the West Bank.
29. In Gaza, Hamas has extended its de facto control over institutions and society.
Actions taken to impose internal order, including the violent confrontation with the
radical group Jund Ansar Allah on 14 August 2009, have taken place outside a
legitimate legal framework. There is little accountability of the de facto authority
towards the population regarding such actions. In recent months, despite sporadic
incidents, Hamas has largely enforced a state of calm vis-à-vis Israel and it is vital
that this is built upon. The only sustainable future for Gaza is for the Strip to be
reunited with the West Bank within the framework of Palestinian, regional and
international legitimacy. Hamas has key responsibilities in this regard which have
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not yet been met and I continue to call on the Hamas leadership to respond
positively to the urgings of the international community.
30. The reporting period has also been one of political transition in Israel. A
Likud-led coalition Government headed by Prime Minister Netanyahu was sworn
into office on 31 March 2009 following Israeli elections held on 11 February. I
welcomed the formation of the new Israeli Government and stated my expectation
that it would adhere to Israel’s previous commitments regarding the peace process.
31. On 14 June 2009, Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered a speech in which he
stated that the Israeli Government would accept a Palestinian state, but under
several significant conditions related to final status issues. It is, however, actions on
the ground, together with a genuine readiness to negotiate on all core issues based
on existing commitments, that will be the true test of Israel’s commitment to the
two-State solution.
32. In this respect, I am concerned by the failure of the new Israeli Government to
commit to its obligation under the Road Map to freeze all settlement construction,
including natural growth, as well as to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.
I note that the Israeli organization Peace Now reported that in the first half of 2009,
the building of 596 new structures had begun in West Bank settlements, outposts
and industrial areas and that there had not been any evacuations of “real” outposts.
33. Israeli actions in support of settlers in the heart of East Jerusalem are a matter
of particular concern. Most recently, on 2 August 2009, Israeli security forces
forcibly evicted nine Palestinian families, amounting to 53 people, from their homes
in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem. Under the protection of
Israeli security forces, the property was handed over to a settlement organization. I
repeat here the Quartet’s position that such unilateral actions cannot prejudge the
outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community.
34. On 29 October 2008, following a five-month suspension of demolitions
obtained by Quartet Representative Tony Blair, the Israeli authorities resumed the
demolition of houses lacking building permits in East Jerusalem and Area C of the
West Bank. I reiterate my call on Israel to adhere to international law and its Road
Map obligations, and to cease and reverse provocative actions such as demolitions
and evictions.
35. Contrary to the 9 July 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of
Justice, the Barrier deviates significantly from the 1967 Green Line into Occupied
Palestinian Territory in the West Bank. It continues to restrict Palestinian access to
East Jerusalem, key social services and agricultural land. In accordance with the
provisions of General Assembly resolution ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, on
9 April 2009 I provided a progress report on the work of the United Nations
Register of Damage Caused by the Construction of the Wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory. At the time of writing, the Register of Damage had collected
over 1,100 claim forms in the West Bank and had approved 268 claims for inclusion
in the Register.
36. Violence between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as among Palestinians,
continued. Excluding casualties during Operation Cast Lead, between 1 September
2007 and 17 August 2009, 5 Israelis were killed and 125 injured, while
89 Palestinians were killed and 1,212 injured in conflict-related incidents. A total of
80 Palestinians were killed and 200 wounded in internal violence. I once again
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unequivocally condemn all acts of violence and hostilities directed against civilians
and remind all parties of their obligations under international law.
37. Moving now to international diplomatic activity in support of the peace
process, the latter half of 2008 witnessed regular bilateral negotiations between
Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams within the framework of the Annapolis
process. On 9 November 2008, President Abbas and the then Minister for Foreign
Affairs Livni briefed the Quartet on their progress, which they described as
substantial and promising. While noting that a comprehensive agreement would not
be reached by the Annapolis target of the end of 2008, the parties committed
themselves to continuous, uninterrupted negotiations on all core issues. On
16 December 2008, the Security Council passed resolution 1850 (2008) reaffirming
the basic principles upon which Israeli-Palestinian peace must rest as well as the
irreversibility of bilateral negotiations undertaken through the Annapolis process.
38. Talks were initially suspended during the Israeli electoral period and were then
discontinued owing to Operation Cast Lead, and no negotiations on core issues have
taken place in 2009. However, an important new impetus to peace efforts was given
by the early and welcome initiative of United States President Obama to vigorously
pursue the creation of a Palestinian State as part of a comprehensive regional peace
strategy. I also welcomed President Obama’s appointment of Senator George
Mitchell as United States Special Envoy for the Middle East. President Obama’s
speech in Cairo on 4 June 2009 challenged Israelis and Palestinians alike and
demonstrated the importance which the United States Administration places on a
peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
39. On 26 June 2009, the Quartet met in Trieste and affirmed its determination to
work with the parties to create the conditions necessary for the prompt resumption
and early conclusion of negotiations on the end goal of a two-State solution. There
was strong agreement among Quartet members that both Israelis and Palestinians
should implement their obligations under the Road Map, and they urged the
Government of Israel to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, and
called upon the Palestinian Authority to continue to improve law and order and to
fight violent extremism.
40. During the reporting period, the Quartet also continued its valuable practice of
consulting with the League of Arab States. I welcome the renewed commitment of
the Arab League to pursue a just and comprehensive regional peace in accordance
with the Arab Peace Initiative, as expressed most recently in its ministerial
communiqué of 24 June 2009. I continue to believe strongly in the potential for
activating the regional tracks of the peace process, alongside a rejuvenated
Palestinian track, on the basis of land for peace. I also support the convening of an
international conference in Moscow to support this effort.
41. I want to record my deep appreciation to Robert H. Serry, the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process as well as to the
Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Karen Koning AbuZayd, and all United Nations
staff who continue to provide indispensable service in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory under difficult and sometimes dangerous circumstances. Palestinian and
international United Nations staff members have faced growing restrictions as
concerns their free movement and access in the service of the United Nations. I have
repeatedly protested these restrictions to the Government of Israel and look forward
to improvements in this regard.
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42. I am particularly indebted to the Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza and
his staff for bravely continuing their work throughout Operation Cast Lead. I want
to pay special tribute to the UNRWA staff member killed and the 11 others injured
while serving the Palestinian people during the Gaza conflict.
43. I call on the parties to honour all existing agreements and previous
commitments and pursue an irreversible effort towards the two-State solution,
including by fully implementing their obligations on the ground and by resuming,
vigorously pursuing, and concluding negotiations to resolve all core issues of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including Jerusalem, borders and refugees. A true end to
violence and lasting security for both Palestinians and Israelis will only come
through a just, comprehensive and peaceful settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
After the failure of efforts in 2008 to secure an agreement and the difficulties
encountered in 2009 in securing a resumption of negotiations, it is vital that
meaningful progress is now made towards the goal of a negotiated agreement, that
the parties live up to their responsibilities in this regard, and that there is
coordinated and effective international engagement in support of these efforts.
44. The United Nations will continue to work towards the peaceful settlement of
the question of Palestine. The framework for peace remains unchanged: the
establishment of two States, an independent and viable Palestine living side by side
in peace and security with Israel, on the basis of the principle of land for peace and
a just and comprehensive regional peace consistent with Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1850 (2008), the
Road Map and the Arab Peace Initiative.
United Nations A/65/380–S/2010/484
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
17 September 2010
Original: English
10-53998 (E) 141010
*1053998*
General Assembly
Sixty-fifth session
Agenda items 36 and 37
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Sixty-fifth year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 64/19. It contains replies received from the parties concerned to the notes
verbales sent by the Secretary-General pursuant to the request contained in paragraph
24 of the resolution. The report also contains the observations of the Secretary-
General on the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on international
efforts to move the peace process forward with a view to achieving a peaceful
settlement. The report covers the period from September 2009 through August 2010.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution
64/19.
2. On 1 July 2010, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 24 of the
above-mentioned resolution, I addressed the following letter to the President of the
Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 64/19, which the General
Assembly adopted on 2 December 2009, at its sixty-fourth session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 24 of the resolution ‘Requests the Secretary-General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to
the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session a report on these efforts and on
developments on this matter’.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 31 July 2010.”
3. As of 31 August, no response had been received to that request.
4. In a note verbale dated 3 May 2010 to the parties concerned, I sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization, regarding any steps
taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at
31 August 2010, replies had been received from Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization. The note verbale dated 20 July 2010 from the Permanent Mission of
Israel to the United Nations reads as follows:
“As shown in the meeting records, Israel voted against this resolution, as
it has done on similar resolutions adopted in the past by the General Assembly.
The Permanent Mission of Israel wishes to reiterate the considerations guiding
this voting practice, in light of the current situation.
“Despite significant efforts made on the part of the Government of Israel
in the past year to renew negotiations with the Palestinian Authority and to
foster conditions for economic growth and development, Palestinian terrorism
continued and remains an alarming reality.
“Terrorist organizations in the West Bank remain active in planning,
preparing and attempting to execute terrorist attacks. In 2009, 646 terrorist
attacks emanated from or were carried out in the West Bank, leading to five
deaths (three victims were shot and two were attacked and stabbed to death).
These attacks were carried out in all potential forms and on all fronts,
particularly by Hamas.
“The first half of 2010 witnessed an alarming escalation in terrorist
activity against Israeli targets in the West Bank and the Jerusalem area. In the
first two months of 2010, 87 terrorist attacks were carried out in the West
Bank. In February 2010, an Israeli citizen was stabbed to death in one of these
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attacks. In March 2010, 89 attacks were recorded in the West Bank and
Jerusalem: three explosive devices, five attacks by gunfire, two stone-throwing
attacks, and 79 Molotov cocktails.
“In 2009, 699 terrorist attacks emanated from the Gaza Strip, killing nine
Israeli citizens. In January 2009, an Israeli citizen was killed by detonation of
an explosive device. In January and February 2010, 45 terrorist attacks were
carried out from Gaza, including 18 rockets and 33 mortar bombs. In March
2010, there was a disturbing increase in terrorist activity, and 36 attacks were
recorded. Three victims were murdered in these attacks — two Israeli soldiers
and a Thai worker. In addition, two Israelis were wounded in these attacks.
The rocket and mortar attacks against Israel in the past year are a continuation
of a nine-year-long terrorist campaign in which many thousands of such
projectiles have been launched at Israeli civilian centres from Gaza.
“Concomitant with the Palestinian terrorist campaign against Israel, the
Palestinian Authority has continued in its campaign of incitement designed to
legitimize terrorism. In open breach of their road map obligations, senior
Palestinian officials have been directly involved in glorification of terrorists
who are responsible for the murders of scores of Israeli civilians. Recent
examples of how the Palestinian Authority has institutionalized incitement by
turning terrorists into role models include the recent naming of a Ramallah
street after arch-terrorist Yehieh Ayash, and the naming of a Ramallah square,
a number of schools, community and youth centres, sports tournaments and
numerous additional facilities after Dalal Mughrabi, who led an infamous
terrorist attack that killed 37 Israeli civilians.
“Hamas, entrenched in Gaza with the support of Iran, continues to
stockpile weapons of ever-increasing lethality and range, operating a fullfledged
weapons-smuggling operation through the extensive tunnel network
running under the Egypt-Gaza border.
“In addition, Hamas has been holding kidnapped Israeli Corporal Gilad
Shalit incommunicado for over three years, violating basic humanitarian
practice of permitting international humanitarian personnel access to the
captive. The Hamas regime continues to reject the Quartet conditions, persists
adamantly in its calls for Israel’s destruction and remains vigilant in its
commitment to seeing this grim vision through. It is disturbing that resolution
64/19 makes no mention of any of the above.
“Notwithstanding this concerted and enduring campaign of violence and
incitement, and testifying to Israel’s commitment to humanitarian principles
even in the face of it, Israel continues to facilitate the entry of large quantities
of humanitarian supplies into Gaza. In 2009, 738,576 tons (30,576 trucks) of
humanitarian commodities were transferred to the Gaza Strip. In January and
February 2010, 92,138.1 tons (4,056 trucks) were transferred. In 2009, 22,849
Palestinians exited the Strip, among them 10,544 patients and their
companions, exiting for medical treatment in Israel. In 2009, 21,200
international organization staff members entered the Gaza Strip. In addition,
numerous infrastructural projects have been advanced, including in the fields
of housing, classrooms, sewage treatment plants and medical facilities. In this
regard, in anticipation of winter, 3,607 tons of glass (103 truckloads) were
transferred to Gaza in late 2009. Also, in the first quarter of 2010, 23 tons of
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iron and 25 tons of cement were transferred to the Gaza Strip from Israel, with
an additional 39 tons of building material in May 2010.
“In addition, the Government of Israel has authorized a major easing of
security-related restrictions in the West Bank. Since 2008, the number of key
checkpoints has been reduced from 41 to 14. Since April 2008, 357 obstacles
(earth mounds, road blocks) have been removed. In January 2010, 10
roadblocks were removed on Route 60, the major North-South artery in the
West Bank. Generally, movement from North to South in the West Bank is now
smooth, with only a few checkpoints along the way, operated as normally
open. These and other positive developments have resulted in an economic
growth rate of 8 per cent in the West Bank in 2009, accompanied by a growth
in foreign investment of 600 per cent since 2008.
“Over the course of the previous year, the Government of Israel
repeatedly extended an open invitation to restart peace talks with the
Palestinian Authority. Guiding Israel in this respect is a vision of a
reinvigorated political process alongside continued and expanded efforts to
foster economic cooperation and development. The launching of proximity
talks between the sides in May 2010 is an encouraging development which
will hopefully spawn the renewal of direct negotiations aimed at achieving a
comprehensive resolution of the conflict.
“Despite an ongoing and acute threat to its security, Israel has gone to
great lengths to assist in extending humanitarian assistance, to foster
conditions for Palestinian economic development and cooperation, and to
engage in political dialogue with the Palestinian Authority. While these
overtures have yet to achieve their goal of reaching comprehensive and lasting
peace, it is surprising that they are given no mention in resolution 64/19.
“Thus, resolution 64/19 joins the numerous one-sided resolutions passed
annually by the General Assembly on Israel which serve to undermine the
credibility of the United Nations as an impartial agent for the advancement of
peace. The Permanent Mission takes this opportunity to urge the Secretary-
General to use his good offices to encourage a cessation of this
counterproductive practice.”
5. The note verbale dated 24 June 2010 from the Permanent Observer of
Palestine to the United Nations reads as follows:
“Palestine regards the General Assembly’s resolution on the ‘Peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine’ with utmost importance. The annual
adoption of this resolution and numerous other resolutions regarding the
question of Palestine in the various organs of the United Nations, the ongoing
efforts by relevant committees and commissions, including, inter alia, the
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,
the many programmes of assistance by the specialized agencies, including in
particular the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
in the Near East (UNRWA), and the efforts of the Secretary-General, his
Special Representatives, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights and the Special Rapporteurs are reflective of the priority that continues
to be rightly given to this question by the international community. We believe
the efforts of the United Nations system in all fields to be invaluable and
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consistent with the permanent responsibility of the United Nations towards the
question of Palestine until it is satisfactorily and justly resolved in all its
aspects, a principle reaffirmed annually by the Assembly. We urge full
activation of this responsibility towards resolving the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict in accordance with its relevant resolutions, the Charter and
international law.
“In this regard, the resolution on the ‘Peaceful settlement of the question
of Palestine’ comprehensively delineates the parameters for achieving a just,
lasting and peaceful settlement based on international law, relevant United
Nations resolutions, and the established principles and agreed terms of
reference of the peace process, including Security Council resolutions 242
(1967) and 338 (1973), the Madrid terms of reference, including the land for
peace principle, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet road map. As is clear
from consecutive General Assembly session voting records, the overwhelming
majority of States support the provisions and goals of this resolution, which
from the outset reaffirms ‘the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of
the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects,
and of intensifying all efforts towards that end’.
“This is reflective of the firm international consensus that exists in
support of a peaceful settlement on the basis of the ‘two-State solution’ of an
independent, viable and contiguous State of Palestine, living side by side with
Israel in peace and security on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, with
Jerusalem as the shared capital of two States, and a just solution for the plight
of the Palestine refugees on the basis of General Assembly resolution 194 (III)
of 11 December 1948. This international unanimity reflects the long-standing
recognition of the Palestinian people as a nation and recognition of their
inalienable rights, including their right to self-determination and independence
in their homeland. As is well known, this solution finds its foundation in
resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, and has been reaffirmed and called
for thereafter in numerous Security Council and General Assembly resolutions,
as well as in the landmark 9 July 2004 advisory opinion of the International
Court of Justice. The two-State solution is also at the crux of the Arab Peace
Initiative and the Quartet road map, both of which figure prominently in
resolution 64/19 and for which the Assembly calls for regional and
international efforts to follow up and promote, and both of which the
Palestinian leadership has consistently strived to adhere to and to implement.
“We are gratified that the international consensus has been further
consolidated in the past year with increasing calls from all corners of the
international community, governmental and civil society alike, for a just
solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a matter of urgency. The calls
have been consistent for bringing an end to the Israeli occupation of the
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in order to end this tragic
conflict and make peace and security a reality in the Middle East and beyond.
Strengthening of the international consensus and the rising momentum in this
regard can be found in the support for resolution 64/19 as well as in many
statements and declarations made at the United Nations and in other
international forums by leaders and representatives of Member States,
individually and collectively, including the European Union (EU) Council
Conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process of 8 December 2009, the
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Quartet statement adopted on 19 March 2010 in Moscow, and relevant
statements by States members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), among others. It is also
reflected in the active efforts by the United States of America to revive the
peace process through the launch of ‘proximity talks’, with the support of the
other Quartet members (European Union, Russian Federation and United
Nations), the League of Arab States and the international community as a
whole.
“Regrettably, however, despite the unanimity and serious efforts being
exerted, the question of Palestine remains unresolved and the situation on the
ground remains critical and cause for alarm. In the period since the adoption of
resolution 64/19, all international and regional initiatives for peace continue to
be undermined by Israel’s ongoing violations and grave breaches of
international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, and its
disrespect for United Nations resolutions and the will of the international
community. Hopes are waning and despair rising as Israel, the occupying
Power, persists with its acts of aggression, colonization, collective punishment,
provocation and incitement against the Palestinian people in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Attempts to revive the peace
process and the Palestinian leadership’s commitment to peace continued to be
responded to by Israel with intransigence and defiance, undoubtedly bolstered
by the international community’s repeated failure to uphold its legal
obligations and responsibilities to act to compel Israel to cease its violations
and truly choose the path of peace.
“The pattern has become blatantly clear: it is one in which Israel, the
occupying Power, continues to aggressively and systematically violate
international law and the international community remains unable to rein in
this impunity and to ensure compliance with the law, deepening the suffering
and injustice endured by the Palestinian people and sabotaging peace efforts.
Countless United Nations and international reports, including by United
Nations agencies on the ground such as UNRWA, the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office of the United Nations Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, the United Nations Children’s
Fund and the United Nations Development Programme among others, provide
ample evidence of the continuation of Israel’s unlawful practices in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and their deleterious
impact on the Palestinian people and on the efforts to promote a just and
lasting peace. Rather than acting in good faith, including in the context of the
United States-mediated proximity talks, Israel has instead persisted with policies
intended to prejudice the outcome of negotiations on the core issues —
Jerusalem, settlements, refugees, borders, security and water. This has, in turn,
exacerbated conditions on the ground, undermined confidence, deepened
mistrust, and obstructed resumption of the peace process, seriously calling into
question Israel’s credibility as a peace partner and its commitment to the two-
State solution and even its standing as a State Member of the United Nations,
the resolutions of which it continues to flagrantly ignore and violate.
“In this regard, Israel has continued its illegal colonization campaign
aimed at altering the demographic composition, legal status, character and
geographic nature of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
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Jerusalem, to facilitate its de facto annexation of more Palestinian land. The
occupying Power has also continued to commit other violations, foremost
among them the imposition of severe measures of collective punishment,
seriously infringing on and violating the human rights of the Palestinian
civilian population, impairing all aspects of life and causing constant
humiliation, hardship and instability. The situation is most dire in the occupied
Gaza Strip, where 1.5 million Palestinians — approximately 70 per cent of
whom are refugees and over 50 per cent of whom are children — remain
imprisoned by Israel’s illegal blockade, imposed by land, air and sea and now
in its fourth year. These Israeli policies constitute gross violations of
international law, including war crimes against the Palestinian people, for
which Israel must be held fully accountable if justice is ever to prevail and
peace to be attained.
“A brief description of this twofold Israeli policy of colonization and
oppression over the past year in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem, is necessary for understanding the grave situation on the
ground and the failure of recent peace initiatives. In the Occupied West Bank,
the Palestinian people continue to suffer from Israel’s illegal colonization of
their land and its consequences. In violation of the demand made by the
Assembly in resolution 64/19 for, inter alia, the complete cessation of all
Israeli settlement activities and all measures contrary to international law and
any unilateral actions aimed at prejudging the final outcome of negotiations,
Israel has continued confiscation of Palestinian property, settlement and Wall
construction, transfer of settlers, home demolitions and evictions, excavations
near and around holy and historic sites, and imposition of over 500
checkpoints and obstacles to free movement.
“Occupied East Jerusalem in particular has remained a main target of this
aggressive Israeli colonization policy. The past year has witnessed the
intensification of the demolition of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem,
rendering hundreds more families homeless; eviction of Palestinian residents
of East Jerusalem, including by arbitrary revocation of their residency rights
and obstruction of family unification efforts; expropriation of properties;
excavations near and around holy and historic sites; closure of Palestinian
institutions in the City; obstruction of freedom of worship; use of excessive
force against worshippers on several occasions; and acts of terror, violence and
incitement by Israeli settlers in the City. Such illegal and provocative
measures, all intended to alter Jerusalem’s demographic composition, legal
status and distinctly Palestinian Arab character and identity and to sever it
from the rest of the Palestinian Territory, have dramatically raised tensions and
inflamed religious sensitivities, resulting in an extremely volatile situation in
the City. The situation has been further aggravated by the enactment of an
Israeli military order in April 2010, threatening the arbitrary arrest and
deportation of thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and
particularly from in and around East Jerusalem.
“As a result of Israel’s settlement and Wall construction, Palestinian
communities continue to be separated and isolated from each other, families
continue to be displaced, and access and rights to education, health care,
agricultural lands and livelihoods continue to be obstructed. Palestinian natural
resources, especially land, water, and mining quarries, also continue to be
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exploited and extensive environmental damage continues to be caused in the
Territory. Palestinian civilians also continue to be the victims of settler terror
and lawlessness, often upon incitement of Israeli officials and religious
leaders. This has involved settler attacks against civilians, including children,
resulting in deaths and injuries; attacks against homes and other properties,
including the desecration of mosques and cemeteries; burning of farmlands
and uprooting of trees and olive orchards; the unleashing of sewage on
Palestinian villages and other acts of violence and intimidation. Such criminal
acts by extremist, militant settlers continue to be perpetrated in full view and
knowledge of the occupying forces, with rarely any accountability meted out.
The occupying forces have also continued to use excessive force against and to
arrest and intimidate Palestinian, Israeli and international activists engaging in
non-violent, peaceful protest against the Wall and settlements.
“Official Israeli declarations regarding the construction of more illegal
settlement units also continued to be made on a regular basis in defiance of the
repeated international calls for Israel to cease immediately all of its settlement
activities, including so-called ‘natural growth’ and including in East
Jerusalem, and to abide by international law, United Nations resolutions and
road map obligations. The most flagrant such declaration occurred in March
2010, when the Israeli Government announced approval for construction of yet
another 1,600 settlement units in occupied East Jerusalem, within just days of
the confirmation of Palestinian agreement to proceed with United Statesmediated
proximity talks despite strong reservations. Israel’s announcement
was met with broad international condemnation, including by the United
States, and intensified calls for the immediate freeze of all settlement
activities, including in East Jerusalem. Indeed, there is an international
consensus regarding the illegality of Israel’s settlement campaign under
international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, Additional
Protocol I and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Moreover,
there is consensus that this illegal policy is severely undermining the
Palestinian Territory’s contiguity, unity and integrity, endangering the
prospects for physical realization of the two-State solution and resumption of
the peace process towards that end. It is also widely understood that the
settlements’ issue is not only a final status issue in the peace process, but is
also at the crux of nearly all other final status issues, including Jerusalem,
borders, water and security.
“Simultaneously, Israel persisted in the past year with its imposition of a
total blockade on the Gaza Strip, deliberately imposed in collective
punishment of the entire Palestinian civilian population in grave breach of the
Fourth Geneva Convention. This has resulted in the violation of numerous
human rights, including the rights to life, to food, to education, to health care,
to water and to livelihood. Israel’s blockade has gravely impacted the
socio-economic living conditions of the civilian population in Gaza and has
had a traumatic impact, especially affecting children, women and elderly
persons, constituting a humanitarian crisis. This illegal, punitive Israeli
blockade continues in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law,
Security Council resolution 1860 (2009), the statement of 1 June 2010 by the
President of the Security Council (S/PRST/2010/9), and the calls of the
international community for its immediate lifting and the sustained and regular
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opening of Gaza’s border crossings in accordance with the law and the
November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access, as also called for in
General Assembly resolution 64/19.
“At the time of writing of the present note, the Israeli blockade continues
to be imposed despite the widespread international calls and the demands of
the Palestinian leadership for a complete lifting of the blockade and despite
indications from the Israeli Government that it may ‘ease’ it. As such, Israel
continues obstructing free movement of persons and goods through Gaza’s
border crossings, humanitarian access, commercial and economic flows, and
the normal functioning of the Palestinian society. Families, sick persons and
students also continue to be denied passage through border crossings, resulting
in the death of several more Palestinian civilians this year owing to lack of
access to life-saving medical care unavailable in Gaza. Commerce, trade and
economic recovery continue to be completely thwarted by this unjust
blockade. As a result, abject poverty, food insecurity, and near-total aid
dependency now affect more than 75 per cent of the population in Gaza, where
unemployment has reached dramatic levels; malnutrition, stunted growth,
anaemia and other diseases have risen to unprecedented levels, especially
among children; and hopelessness is widespread, with far-reaching
consequences for the Palestinian people and society at present and in the
future.
“In this connection, Israel has also continued to deliberately prevent the
reconstruction of Gaza following its devastating military aggression against
Gaza in December 2008-January 2009, despite the affirmation by the
Assembly of the urgent necessity for the advancement of reconstruction,
including numerous suspended United Nations civilian infrastructure projects.
As reconstruction continues to be inhumanely prevented, thousands of homes
and refugee shelters remain in ruins. Moreover, damaged and destroyed
civilian infrastructure, including water, sanitation and electricity networks, and
roads, as well as hundreds of factories, workshops and industries, vital to the
normal functioning of Gaza, remain in disrepair and non-operational owing to
the continued prevention of entry of necessary construction and other essential
supplies. Public services have also been crippled, including the education
system and the health-care system, which continues to rapidly decline as a
result of ongoing supply and fuel shortages and lack of construction and repair
materials. Combined, it is evident that the Israeli blockade and military
aggression have terrorized and traumatized the Palestinian civilian population
in Gaza and inflicted severe socio-economic distress.
“During this year, Israel’s continued imposition of the blockade also led
to efforts by international peace and human rights activists to make several
attempts to break the blockade and deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to
the Palestinian civilian population, including via the sea. Israel has responded
with typical force, arrogance and disregard for all norms and principles of
international law, culminating in its attack on a humanitarian convoy of ships
that was headed to the Gaza Strip on 31 May 2010 in international waters. This
Israeli attack resulted in the killing of nine Turkish nationals that had been on
board one of the ships and the injury of dozens of others, setting off yet
another international crisis, escalating tensions and destabilizing the situation.
We reiterate the necessity for a full, impartial, credible, transparent
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international investigation conforming to international standards into that
Israeli military attack and ensuring accountability for the perpetration of this
crime.
“It is also imperative to recall the conclusions of the United Nations
Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, led by South African Justice
Richard Goldstone. As is widely known, the Mission’s investigation, as
presented in the ‘Goldstone Report’ (A/HRC/12/48), led to findings that
clearly confirmed that Israel, the occupying Power, had committed serious
human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law,
including the Fourth Geneva Convention — amounting to war crimes and even
crimes against humanity — during its December 2008-January 2009 military
aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. That includes the
wilful killing of civilians, torture and inhuman treatment, wilfully causing
great suffering or serious injury to body or health, and extensive destruction of
property not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and
wantonly. It was also concluded that the Israeli military campaign against
Gaza was planned in all of its phases as a deliberately disproportionate and
systematic attack aimed at punishing, humiliating and terrorizing the
Palestinian civilian population, radically diminishing its domestic economic
capacity to sustain itself and forcing upon it a heightened sense of dependency
and vulnerability. This finding is reconfirmed by the depth of the suffering of
the Palestinian people in Gaza to this day in all dimensions of life.
“In this regard, the Palestinian leadership and the international
community as a whole have firmly called for accountability and justice to be
served for the perpetration of these crimes by Israel, the occupying Power,
against the Palestinian people. To that end, the General Assembly and the
Human Rights Council have adopted important resolutions, namely, Assembly
resolutions 64/10 and 64/254 and Council resolution S-12/1 and 13/9, calling,
inter alia, upon the parties ‘to conduct investigations that are independent,
credible and in conformity with international standards into the serious
violations of international humanitarian and international human rights law
reported by the Fact-Finding Mission, towards ensuring accountability and
justice’. Important follow-up also continues at various levels within the United
Nations system and among the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva
Convention. We stress the need to act, individually and collectively and with
utmost urgency and responsibility, to bring an end to Israel’s impunity, to
uphold the rule of law and ensure respect for international humanitarian law
and human rights, and to ensure accountability and justice, all of which are
essential for tangibly changing the current deplorable, unsustainable reality
and promoting the healing of the multiple layers of trauma inflicted on the
Palestinian people.
“Throughout the reporting period, Israel, the occupying Power, also
continued to carry out military raids and assaults in towns and cities in the West
Bank. In these raids, the Israeli occupying forces continued to kill and injure
Palestinian civilians and to use civilians as human shields, including children.
The occupying forces also continued to arrest, detain and imprison civilians,
adding to the over 10,000 Palestinians that continue to be held in Israeli jails and
detention centres, including nearly 400 children and 100 women, the majority
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held under inhumane conditions, subject to physical and mental abuse and
torture. Such repeated, intentional, provocative Israeli actions have continuously
stoked tensions and also undermined the efforts undertaken and tangible
progress made over the past year by the Palestinian Authority in the security
arena and the promotion of law and order in Palestinian cities in accordance with
its road map obligations.
“Indeed, while Israel continues to flout United Nations resolutions and
its legal obligations and commitments, the Palestinian leadership has
consistently exerted efforts to advance implementation of the provisions of
resolution 64/19 and all other relevant resolutions, aimed at achieving a peace
settlement that brings an end to the oppression and occupation of the
Palestinian people and enables realization of their inalienable rights, allowing
them to live in dignity and freedom in their homeland. Our goal remains the
achievement of the independence of the State of Palestine on the Palestinian
Territory occupied since 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and a just
solution for the plight of the Palestine refugees that will bring an end to the
tragedy and injustice inflicted on them over 62 years ago in Al-Nakba. The
Palestinian leadership has thus repeatedly reaffirmed its full commitment to
the two-State solution for peace, beginning with the Palestinian Declaration of
Independence over 20 years ago and its consistent adherence to its Madrid,
Oslo, Taba, Sharm el-Sheikh and Annapolis commitments and the Arab Peace
Initiative and the Quartet road map.
“The Palestinian leadership has striven in all areas to uphold its
obligations under international law, United Nations resolutions, previous
agreements and the road map in both word and deed. It views with utmost
seriousness the provisions of the Assembly’s resolution on the ‘Peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine’ and fully respects the resolution.
Moreover, it has sought to promote a positive environment for the resumption
of peace negotiations and engaged in all such regional and international
efforts, including at the United Nations, in good faith and in a spirit of historic
compromise.
“At the same time, the Palestinian leadership has intensified all efforts,
with the support of the international donor community, to develop and
strengthen the institutions of the future Palestinian State, in accordance with
the programme of the thirteenth Government of the Palestinian Authority,
launched in August 2009 by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad: ‘Palestine: Ending
the Occupation, Establishing the State’, also known as the ‘State-building plan’
or the ‘Fayyad plan’. As noted above, the Palestinian Authority has also made
extensive, well-documented progress in fulfilment of its obligations regarding
promotion of security and law and order. At the same time, the Palestinian
leadership has continued to seek, with the support of Egypt, the League of
Arab States and countries in the region, to promote national dialogue for the
attainment of national reconciliation and unity, convinced that they are
essential for advancing the just cause of Palestine. All of this has been done in
spite of persistent Israeli violations, challenges and provocations, which have
only undermined all of the above efforts, in breach of its legal obligations and
commitments and in contradiction of the goals and spirit of the peace process.
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“Throughout the year, the Palestinian leadership, including at the highest
levels of President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, and
ministerial and ambassadorial representation, also maintained constant contact
with their counterparts bilaterally and multilaterally, focused on bringing an
end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and achieving a peaceful
settlement based on the two-State solution. In this regard, at the United
Nations, Palestine remained active and engaged in the work of the major
United Nations organs and repeatedly conveyed correspondence to and held
meetings with the Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly,
the President and members of the Security Council, the Special Coordinator
for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the
Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, and other high-level United
Nations officials.
“The Palestinian leadership’s efforts have also included, inter alia,
participation in the general debate of the sixty-fourth session of the General
Assembly and in the meetings held on the margins of that debate, and
participation in several United Nations conferences during the year at the
ministerial and senior official levels, including meetings organized by the
United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People such as the International Meeting in Support of Israeli-
Palestinian Peace: the urgency of addressing the permanent status issues —
borders, Jerusalem, settlements, refugees and water (Malta, February 2010);
the United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People: building
institutions and moving forward with establishing the State of Palestine
(Austria, March 2010); the United Nations International Meeting in Support of
the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process: ending the occupation and establishing
the Palestinian State (Turkey, May 2010); and the upcoming United Nations
African Meeting on the Question of Palestine: strengthening support by
African States for a just and lasting solution of the question of Jerusalem
(Morocco, July 2010). All of these efforts have, inter alia, aimed at keeping the
United Nations system abreast of the reality and developments on the ground
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; raising
awareness of the Palestinian leadership’s positions and efforts; coordinating
and facilitating United Nations assistance programmes to the Palestinian
people, and promoting a resumption of the peace process.
“The Palestinian leadership has also actively engaged in this regard
bilaterally with Member States from all regions, Arab, Asian, African,
European, Latin American and North American countries, as well as
multilaterally through regional and political groups such as the League of Arab
States, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Organization of the
Islamic Conference (OIC), to mobilize and enhance support for the Palestinian
people and a just peace settlement. In all such meetings and outreach efforts,
whether diplomatic, public or in the media, the Palestinian leadership’s
participation has always reflected and reaffirmed the consistent, responsible
position in support of the two-State solution and unwavering respect for
international law and United Nations resolutions and commitment to peace. In
this regard, we deeply appreciate efforts in the region and throughout the
international community, including efforts by the United States Administration
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under President Barack Obama and by his Special Envoy, George Mitchell, to
revive the peace process and advance a solution.
“At the same time, as noted above, despite serious Israeli obstructions,
Palestinian State-building efforts continue apace in implementation of the
comprehensive plan launched in August 2009 for developing national
institutions and strengthening the foundations of the State of Palestine, in
preparation for independence within a 24-month period. The plan seeks to
involve all sectors and segments of Palestinian society in the national drive to
build our institutions in a manner that fosters development in all spheres,
fosters democracy and ensures the provision of security and basic services to
all citizens, while respecting their human rights and liberties. This plan has
become a very important, positive, proactive component of the Palestinian
efforts towards the achievement of our legitimate national aspirations and
rights and of peace and justice, and it is widely supported by the Palestinian
people. The General Assembly welcomed this plan in resolution 64/19, and the
plan has received the support and endorsement of the Quartet (statement of
19 March 2010, Moscow), the European Union (8 December 2009, EU
Council Conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process) and the international
community as a whole. Palestine is proud and grateful for the international
support for this plan, politically as well as economically through the
generosity of donor countries.
“Furthermore, as part of our complete rejection of Israel’s illegal
colonization campaign in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in line with
international law and United Nations resolutions, the Palestinian leadership
has initiated this year a boycott of all settlement products. The Palestinian
market has regrettably been a captive market for the occupying Power for
decades, and it has been decided by the leadership that this unjust situation
should no longer continue. We fully reject the continued distribution and sale
in our market of any goods manufactured or grown in the illegal Israeli
settlements on confiscated Palestinian land and with our exploited natural
resources. We believe that it is imperative that all means of support — whether
direct or indirect, political or financial — for the illegal Israeli settlement
campaign be ended immediately. In this connection, we reiterate our demand,
on which there is international unanimity, for a complete cessation of all
Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem, including so-called ‘natural growth’, and the dismantlement of
all settlement ‘outposts’ erected since March 2001. This is vital to allow for
the resumption of a credible, meaningful peace process, since colonization is
totally contradictory to the objective of the peace process.
“It is the Palestinian leadership’s strongest hope that the current United
States-mediated proximity talks will succeed and that fundamental change will
occur on the ground to enable the resumption of direct negotiations in the
peace process to resolve all core final status issues without exception. For this
to happen, Israel, the occupying Power, must cease all settlement and related
illegal activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and end all other illegal policies, including its blockade of the Gaza
Strip, and abide by its obligations under international law and United Nations
resolutions. It is this that will create a real change in the situation, defusing
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tensions, building confidence and trust, and allowing for progress towards a
peaceful and lasting settlement.
“The international community, including the Security Council, must act
swiftly upon the international consensus and momentum that exists with regard
to the two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as embodied in
General Assembly resolution 64/19, in order to salvage the prospects for peace
and stability in our region. In this regard, there is broad consensus that the
achievement of a just, lasting and peaceful settlement constitutes a political,
security, legal, human rights, humanitarian and moral imperative for the
international community. Moreover, such a solution is vital for fulfilling the
long-overdue international covenant to assist and enable the Palestinian people
to exercise their inalienable human rights, including to self-determination.
“In this regard, continued declarations or mild appeals to Israel will no
longer suffice. It is incumbent upon the international community to act
decisively, guided by the rules and principles of international law and justice,
the Charter and United Nations resolutions, including resolution 64/19, to
tangibly advance the achievement of a just, lasting, comprehensive and
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli conflict as
a whole. Israel cannot be allowed to continue acting above the law, defying the
calls to end its violations, and making a mockery of the urgency of achieving a
peaceful settlement and security and stability in our region and beyond. In this
regard, Palestine has also continued to call for a reconvening of the
Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on
measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, as called for by relevant General Assembly and
Human Rights Council resolutions, including in follow-up of the
recommendations of the Goldstone Report. Palestine is cooperating with
Switzerland to advance this effort and continues to urge the High Contracting
Parties to reconvene the Conference towards ensuring respect and compliance
by Israel with all of its legal obligations as an occupying Power under the
Fourth Geneva Convention.
“In closing, we reaffirm the Palestinian leadership’s commitment to a
peace process based on relevant United Nations resolutions, including Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and
1850 (2008), the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for
peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the road map. Moreover, we reaffirm the
enduring resilience of the Palestinian people, in spite of the formidable
challenges facing them, to realize their inalienable rights, including their rights
to self-determination and to return, and to fulfil their legitimate national
aspirations to live in peace, freedom, dignity and prosperity in their
independent State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and in
harmony with their neighbours.”
II. Observations
6. During the reporting period, efforts intensified to achieve the peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine. Direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations,
discontinued in December 2008, were set to resume on 2 September 2010. On the
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ground, unilateral actions and human rights violations continued to undermine
diplomatic efforts. The situation in Gaza remained unsustainable, while the divide
between Gaza and the West Bank continued to deepen.
7. On 21 September 2009, the President of the United States of America, Barack
Obama, hosted the first meeting between Palestinian and Israeli leaders since 2008.
On 23 September 2009, the President addressed the General Assembly (see
A/64/PV.3) and presented his goal of urgently starting talks, without preconditions,
on the key issues of security for Israelis and Palestinians, borders, refugees and
Jerusalem. Since then, the United States Special Envoy, George Mitchell, has
regularly visited the region in an effort to bring about a resumption of negotiations.
The Middle East Quartet and I welcomed and supported this engagement throughout
the reporting period.
8. However, there was an overall impasse in diplomatic efforts from November
2009 to January 2010. This reflected the frustrations and low confidence of the
parties in the renewed process; disputes over the terms of reference for negotiations;
continued creation of facts on the ground by Israel; tensions in Jerusalem and the
West Bank; and continued violence and closure in Gaza.
9. In February 2010, Senator Mitchell proposed to the parties to facilitate
proximity talks. Israel accepted this proposal. Affected by internal political
challenges, the Palestinian side turned to the League of Arab States for backing, and
subsequently agreed to the proximity talks. However, the announcement on 9 March
of additional settlement construction in East Jerusalem, during a visit to Israel by
Vice-President Joseph R. Biden of the United States, caused a major setback, and
highlighted the problems created by Israel’s continued policy of illegal settlement
construction.
10. The Quartet Principals’ meeting in Moscow on 19 March focused on efforts to
overcome obstacles and move the process forward. The Quartet urged the parties to
launch proximity talks and move to direct negotiations as soon as possible, which
should lead to a negotiated settlement within 24 months that would end the
occupation which began in 1967 and result in the emergence of an independent,
democratic and viable Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security
with Israel and its other neighbours. The parties were called upon to act in
accordance with international law and the road map, and refrain from provocative
actions and inflammatory rhetoric. The Quartet agreed to closely monitor
developments and consider additional measures that might be necessary.
11. Directly from the Quartet meeting, I visited Israel and the Occupied
Palestinian Territory on 20 and 21 March, where I urged the Israeli leadership to
refrain from actions that could undermine trust and prevent the launch of the
proximity talks. I urged the Palestinian Authority to enter the proximity talks and
give this process a chance.
12. On 26 and 27 March, I attended the League of Arab States Summit in the
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, where I emphasized that the goal of the creation of an
independent Palestinian State could be brought about only through a return to the
negotiating table and testing the parties’ commitments in that framework. I
reiterated to President Mahmoud Abbas my own and the Quartet’s support for the
talks. The Arab leaders conditioned their support for Palestinian participation on the
outcome of the efforts by the United States to create conditions conducive to the
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success of the talks. However, tensions on the ground again delayed the start of the
proximity talks.
13. On 1 May, the League of Arab States reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian
participation in the proximity talks, but conditioned it to progress within four
months. On 8 May, the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) agreed to enter the talks. President Obama reaffirmed that both
parties would be held accountable for actions that would undermine trust during the
talks. Senator Mitchell started shuttling between Ramallah and Jerusalem to build
support for the start of direct negotiations, holding seven rounds of proximity talks
in total.
14. On 6 July, following a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
President Obama expressed confidence in Israel’s intentions to engage in
negotiations on all core issues and hoped that direct negotiations would start within
weeks. On 29 July, the Arab League lent its support to the Palestinians to enter
direct negotiations at a point deemed appropriate by President Abbas.
15. On 20 August, the Quartet called on the parties to launch direct negotiations in
Washington, D.C., on 2 September to resolve all final status issues. In parallel, the
United States issued an invitation to the parties. Prime Minister Netanyahu and
President Abbas responded positively. I welcomed this decision by the two leaders
and called upon them to show leadership, courage and responsibility to realize the
aspirations of their peoples. I stressed that this was an opportunity that must not be
wasted.
16. The situation in occupied East Jerusalem remained tense and continued to
impact the peace process. I have expressed concern at house demolitions and
continued settlement construction in East Jerusalem. The reporting period witnessed
disturbances in and around the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount compound and
access restrictions for Muslim and Christian worshippers to holy sites. Reports of
increased revocations of identity cards and the enactment of revised military orders
on the expulsion of “infiltrators” contributed to the apprehension of the Palestinian
residents of East Jerusalem. Archaeological excavations and tunnelling activities
under Palestinian neighbourhoods continued and raised concerns among Palestinian
residents. I appeal to all sides to exercise restraint. Jerusalem is a final status issue
and a way should be found for the city to emerge as the capital of two States, with
arrangements for the religious sites acceptable to all.
17. In June, expulsion orders were issued against four Palestinian legislators who
were residents of Jerusalem, but had been members of the Hamas-affiliated Change
and Reform bloc and imprisoned in 2006 for failing to meet the minimum loyalty
criteria in Israel.
18. In the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority continued to implement a statebuilding
agenda. Institutional reforms, improved security conditions and the
resulting increased private sector confidence contributed to a solid economic
recovery, evidenced by real GDP growth of 11.3 per cent in the West Bank in the
first quarter of 2010. Most recently, the second Palestinian Investment Conference,
held on 2 and 3 June in Bethlehem, attracted almost US$ 1 billion in pledged
investments in Palestinian businesses.
19. The state-building agenda of the Palestinian Authority, under the leadership of
Prime Minister Fayyad, is an important complement to a renewed political process.
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It must be enabled and supported. I call on donors to provide timely assistance to
sustain this agenda and also to fulfil their pledges made in Sharm el-Sheikh in
March 2009. I also call on Israel to do more to ease restrictions on movement and
take steps to facilitate economic growth in the West Bank. The current number of
obstacles to movement is approximately 500, compared to 618 in August 2009. This
is movement in the right direction, which has had a real positive impact on the lives
of many Palestinians, but I strongly encourage the Government of Israel to build on
these positive steps with more far-reaching measures.
20. As the Palestinian Authority makes progress in institution-building, it remains
constrained by the occupation and settlement activity, which stifle space and
opportunities of the Palestinian people. I welcomed as a step in the right direction
the announcement by Israel, on 26 November 2009, of a 10-month restraint on new
construction in settlements, which was aimed at encouraging direct Israeli-
Palestinian negotiations. However, I also noted that this restraint policy fell short of
Israel’s commitments under the road map to freeze all settlement activity, including
“natural growth”, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001. Settlements
are illegal, they cast doubt on the viability of the two-State solution and prejudice
the final status issues.
21. I appreciate the continued efforts of the Quartet’s Special Representative, Tony
Blair, to support continued economic development in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory. I encourage the parties to work with him to bring about transformative
change on the ground.
22. Violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, continued. The causes,
among others, were Israeli security operations, mistrust between the communities,
deep-rooted grievances, retaliation against Palestinians following the
implementation of the settlement restraint, and unilateral acts deemed to be
provocative. In total, 15 Palestinians were killed and 1,092 injured. Seven Israelis
were killed, four of whom were killed on 31 August in an obvious attempt to
undermine the launch of direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on 2 September
2010, which I condemned; Hamas claimed responsibility for this attack. During the
reporting period, 205 Israelis were injured. There was a slight decrease of Israeli
incursions and arrests in the West Bank; 247 settler attacks on Palestinians and their
property, and 93 Palestinian attacks on settlers were recorded during the reporting
period. I condemn all attacks that indiscriminately target civilians and I call for
international humanitarian law to be upheld in all circumstances. I urge the parties
to seek out those responsible for all such incidents and bring them to justice.
23. Both Israelis and Palestinians have legitimate security concerns. I believe that
sustainable security will best be achieved by intensified cooperation, continued
empowerment of the Palestinian Authority’s security efforts and performance,
further curtailment of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) incursions into Palestinian areas,
full respect for legitimate non-violent protest, Israeli action to curb settler violence,
Palestinian action against incitement, and progress in the political negotiations and
economic development.
24. Although attempts at holding presidential, legislative and municipal elections
did not materialize during the reporting period, I still hope that it will be possible in
the near future to hold free and fair elections throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory.
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25. Contrary to the 9 July 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of
Justice, the barrier continues to deviate significantly from the 1967 Green Line into
Occupied Palestinian Territory in the West Bank. It continues to restrict Palestinian
access to East Jerusalem, key social services and agricultural land. In accordance
with General Assembly resolution ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, on 19 July I
provided a progress report on the work of the United Nations Register of Damage
Caused by the Construction of the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Palestinian, Israeli and foreign protesters continued demonstrating against the
barrier, mostly in Nil’in and Bil’in villages, and there have been clashes with Israeli
security forces. I regret the detention of activists involved in peaceful protests.
26. The Gaza Strip remained subject to a regime of closures and under the de facto
control of Hamas. Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) continued to provide a
strategic framework for addressing this situation, but its key elements remained
unfulfilled. The blockade on Gaza remained unacceptable and punished innocent
civilians. I have consistently urged the Government of Israel to lift it, and I
welcomed the measures announced by Israel in June and July to ease it. As efforts
are made to relaunch a meaningful political process, the situation in Gaza cannot be
left to further deteriorate. Israel’s legitimate security concerns should also be
addressed.
27. Addressing dire conditions of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip
remained my priority during the reporting period. The United Nations engaged
intensively with the Government of Israel, and within the Middle East Quartet, to
promote reconstruction. On 21 March I visited Gaza, where I witnessed first-hand
the immense reconstruction needs, the impact of the closure on the civilian
population and the unsustainable nature of the situation there. The Quartet continued
to reaffirm that the situation in Gaza was unsustainable, unacceptable, and not in the
interests of any of those concerned. The Quartet called for a solution that would
ensure the opening of the crossings to allow for the unimpeded flow of humanitarian
aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza, consistent with Security
Council resolution 1860 (2009).
28. Since March, Israel approved 15 United Nations projects in housing, water,
sanitation, education and health. These projects are an important step forward but
represent only a fragment of the vast reconstruction needs in Gaza, which I
personally witnessed during my visit in March. The implementation of the approved
United Nations projects has, however, been slow, and we continue to advocate for
lighter approval and coordination procedures to allow for rehabilitation and
reconstruction at a more appropriate scale.
29. Food and medical supplies made up the bulk of imports allowed through the
official crossings. But this situation changed dramatically after the 31 May “Gaza
aid flotilla” incident; Israel announced measures to ease the blockade on 20 June.
The weekly average of imported truckloads reached 1,006 in mid-August 2010,
compared to 531 truckloads during the same period in 2009. Construction materials
needed to rebuild homes and social infrastructure are allowed for projects
implemented under the oversight of international organizations and approved by the
Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel. Exports, so needed for
economic development, are not part of the new measures. Nor can construction
materials be imported on a commercial basis, available to all. Nevertheless, the
Quartet welcomed this announcement and expressed hope that this move would
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contribute to the fulfilment of resolution 1860 (2009), including for the unimpeded
flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza. The
United Nations and the Quartet are following closely the implementation of these
measures, while exploring additional ways to improve the situation in Gaza.
30. I continued to be alarmed by reports of smuggling of weapons into Gaza
during the reporting period. Increased-capability rockets have reportedly been testfired
from Gaza. In this regard, I note Egypt’s intensified efforts to curtail
smuggling through illegal tunnels. The tunnels also continued to be used to import
most of the goods available on Gaza’s markets. This both sustained and distorted the
local economy.
31. The blockade continued to impede freedom of movement of Gazan civilians.
Although passage to and from Egypt and Israel through the Rafah and Erez
crossings has been significantly relaxed since June, the movement of people is still
limited largely to medical cases, some students and humanitarian workers. In a
positive development, the number of businessmen allowed to exit through the Erez
crossing has steadily increased since June and reached 99 per week as at 31 August.
32. All crossings into Gaza should be urgently opened, consistent with the
Agreement on Movement and Access. The longer-term consequences of the closure
are deeply worrying, in terms of deteriorating public infrastructure, environmental
degradation, destruction of livelihoods and psychological impact on a population
half of whom are children.
33. The reporting period witnessed two attempts to break the Gaza blockade. The
“Viva Palestina — Lifeline 3” convoy entered the Gaza Strip through Egypt in January,
amid confrontations between Egyptian authorities, convoy activists, Gaza residents and
Hamas militants, in which an Egyptian border guard was killed and dozens of protesters
and Egyptian police were injured. On 31 May, a tragic incident took place during the
takeover by the Israeli military of the Mavi Marmara vessel which was part of the
“Gaza aid flotilla”. I immediately condemned the acts, which resulted in the deaths of
nine civilians and injuries to at least 30 others, including seven IDF soldiers. I called for
a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation.
34. During its emergency session immediately following this incident, the Security
Council called for a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation
conforming to international standards (S/PRST/2010/9). On 2 August, I launched a
panel of inquiry on the flotilla incident. The United Nations was also instrumental in
ensuring that all supplies delivered by the flotilla reached their destination in Gaza,
and closely monitored the repatriation of the flotilla passengers and vessels.
35. A Libyan-sponsored vessel, carrying aid for Gaza, arrived in an Egyptian port
without incident on 15 July. Egypt facilitated the transfer of its humanitarian cargo
to Gaza. There were reports of other ships intending to sail towards Gaza. I
continued to believe that only properly functioning open land crossings could make
a strategic difference in reviving the economy in the Gaza Strip.
36. Turning to internal dynamics in the Gaza Strip, Hamas continued to strengthen
control, thus further deepening the rift with the West Bank. There were reports of
increasing human rights abuses and political arrests. On 15 April, Hamas illegally
and unacceptably executed prisoners without proper and transparent trial. I called on
Hamas not to carry out such executions. International and civil society organizations
in Gaza have faced increasing pressure. In May and June, acts of vandalism were
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committed against the summer camps of the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency, which I condemned in the strongest terms. I insist on non-interference with
international aid operations in Gaza.
37. Hamas continued to refuse the proposal for Palestinian reconciliation mediated
by Egypt and presented to the parties on 10 September. Although the reporting
period witnessed practical efforts at cooperation and goodwill gestures by Hamas
and the Palestinian Authority, stalemate continued. I stress that Palestinian unity is a
key component to finding a sustainable solution to the crisis in Gaza. I reiterate my
call for the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank on the basis of the PLO
principles and under the legitimate Palestinian Authority, and urge all factions to
engage positively in dialogue. I support Egypt’s efforts in this regard.
38. A fragile calm between Israel and Hamas prevailed during the reporting
period. However, violent incidents continued: 147 rockets and 115 mortars were
fired from Gaza; there were 173 IDF incursions and 100 air strikes; 56 Palestinians
were killed, including 5 children and 39 militants; and 169 Palestinians were
injured, including 40 militants. Meanwhile, a foreign worker in Israel was killed, as
well as five Israeli soldiers. Five Israeli soldiers were injured. On 30 July, a rocket
hit inside the town of Ashkelon in southern Israel, the first such attack since
Operation Cast Lead. I urge all parties to refrain from violence and to respect
international humanitarian law.
39. Israeli Staff Sergeant Gilad Shalit remains in Hamas captivity, now for over
four years. I call for his immediate and unconditional release and humanitarian
access to him. I also note the deteriorating living conditions for the approximately
9,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, down from 11,000 a year ago. In October,
Israel released 20 Palestinian female detainees after Hamas presented, through a
German mediator, a video clip showing Shalit in good health. I welcomed these
developments, and call for the completion of a prisoner exchange agreement and the
release of Palestinian prisoners to the Palestinian Authority.
40. The Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict mandated by the Human
Rights Council and headed by Justice Richard Goldstone released its report on
25 September 2009 (A/HRC/12/48). The report made a number of recommendations
for ensuring accountability for perpetrators and redress for victims. International
humanitarian law, justice and accountability must be fully respected and civilians
must be protected in all circumstances. I therefore called upon all parties to carry
out credible domestic investigations without delay. The General Assembly and its
Human Rights Council continued to follow the implementation of the
recommendations of the Fact-Finding Mission. I will continue to support their work
in this regard.
41. On 15 January, an arrangement was concluded whereby the Government of
Israel made a payment of US$ 10.5 million to the United Nations in respect of
losses sustained in the nine incidents investigated by the Gaza Board of Inquiry. In
the light of this payment, the United Nations has agreed that the financial issues
relating to those incidents have been brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
42. I would like to record my deep appreciation to Robert H. Serry, the United
Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, as well as to the
Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Filippo Grandi, whom I appointed on
20 January. He replaced Karen Koning AbuZayd, whom I thank for her outstanding
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performance. I express my appreciation to all United Nations staff who provide
indispensable services under difficult and sometimes dangerous circumstances.
National and international staff have faced growing restrictions as concerns their
free movement and access in the service of the United Nations. I have repeatedly
protested these restrictions to the Government of Israel and look forward to
improvements in this regard.
43. I remain convinced that direct and meaningful negotiations are the only avenue
towards a comprehensive and sustainable solution that fulfils the aspirations of the
Israeli and the Palestinian peoples. In the days ahead, we must make sufficient
progress at the negotiating table and on the ground to enable a move towards an
agreement on all core issues of the conflict. The commitments of both Israeli and
Palestinian leaders will be tested during direct negotiations. I call upon the parties to
seize this opportunity and show leadership, courage and responsibility to arrive at a
final status agreement within one year. For these negotiations to have a chance of
success, a conducive environment on the ground will be crucial, in line with the
parties’ respective road map commitments and international legal obligations. I urge
Israel to extend its moratorium on settlement construction in the West Bank past its
30 September 2010 deadline, and to expand its scope to East Jerusalem. I call on the
Palestinians to continue maintaining law and order, fighting extremism and
incitement against Israel, and building strong and democratic institutions. I call on
regional and international partners to lend their support to these negotiations, and
look forward to their success.
44. As Secretary-General, I will continue to ensure that the United Nations works
towards the creation of an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable
Palestinian State living side by side in peace with a secure Israel in the framework
of a comprehensive regional settlement consistent with Security Council resolutions
242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1860 (2009), and in
accordance with the road map, the Arab Peace Initiative and the principle of land for
peace.
United Nations A/65/380/Add.1–S/2010/484/Add.1
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
4 October 2010
Original: English
10-56573 (E) 201010
*1056573*
General Assembly
Sixty-fifth session
Agenda items 36 and 37
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Sixty-fifth year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Addendum
I. Introduction
1. On 20 September 2010, the following reply to the letter of the Secretary-
General dated 1 July 2010 (see A/65/380-S/2010/484, para. 2), was received from
the Security Council:
“The goal of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
remains one of the major challenges facing the international community,
including the Security Council.
“The Security Council considers the situation in Palestine each month
under an agenda item on ‘The situation in the Middle East, including the
question of Palestine’. During most months, a briefing has been given either
by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs or by the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East in a public meeting, followed by
consultations among the Council members. During the months of July and
October 2009 and January and April 2010, the monthly meeting was held in
the form of an open debate.
“On 27 July 2009, the Council held an open debate on the situation in the
Middle East, during which it heard a briefing from the Assistant Secretary-
General for Political Affairs, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco. The Council also
heard statements by the Representative of Israel and the Observer for
Palestine. The Assistant Secretary-General outlined the recent international
efforts to create conditions under which negotiations between the parties could
resume. He recalled that the Secretary-General and members of the Quartet
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had met in Trieste, Italy, on 26 June, and informed the Council that the
members of the Quartet underlined the need for both Israel and Palestine to
implement their obligations under the road map. He also emphasized that
Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) remains the main framework for a
way forward in Gaza. He called for a prompt and positive response to the
proposal from the Secretary-General for the entry of materials needed to
complete construction of housing, health and education facilities suspended
since 2007 as a means to kick-start recovery in Gaza. Members of the Council
reiterated their support for the ongoing efforts to reinvigorate the peace
process in all its tracks and for the convening of an international conference in
Moscow.
“On 19 August 2009, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political
Affairs, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, briefed the Council on the situation in the
Middle East. During subsequent consultations of the whole, Council members
expressed strong support for international efforts aimed at a rapid resumption
and conclusion of peace negotiations, which it was hoped would lead to
comprehensive peace in the Middle East. They also stressed the need for
Israelis and Palestinians to fulfil their road map obligations, including a
complete freeze of settlement activity by Israel and an end to violence
instigated by Palestinian militants. Council members expressed concern about
the continuing humanitarian situation in Gaza. They called for the
implementation of resolution 1860 (2009), and for the opening of the crossing
points into Gaza within an appropriate monitoring framework.
“On 17 September 2009, the Council heard a briefing from the Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert H. Serry. He noted the
efforts under way towards the early resumption and conclusion of Israeli-
Palestinian negotiations. He voiced concern about continued Israeli settlement
activity. He recognized the announcement by the Palestinian Authority that it
planned to build the institutions of a State apparatus within the coming two
years. He stated that the situation in Gaza remained unsustainable. He noted
the release of the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the
Gaza Conflict, headed by Justice Richard Goldstone (also referred to as the
Goldstone report) (see S/2009/586) and its upcoming discussion by the Human
Rights Council. The Special Coordinator also briefed the Council on efforts to
form a government in Lebanon and on the two rockets launched from southern
Lebanon into Israel on 11 September. He noted that leaders would be gathering
in New York for the general debate in the General Assembly and that there
would be a meeting of the Quartet principals. He called on the parties to take
responsibility and seize the opportunity to make the necessary commitments to
relaunch negotiations. The Council met in consultations following the briefing
to discuss the situation further. A number of members expressed concern over
continuing Israeli settlement activity and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
“On 7 October 2009, during urgent consultations of the whole, the
Council exchanged views on the request of a Council member to convene an
urgent meeting to discuss the Goldstone report. After intensive consultations,
the Council decided to hold its open debate on the Middle East on 14 October,
instead of 21 October as previously scheduled.
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“At the open debate on 14 October 2009, the Council was briefed by the
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, who said that political efforts to
resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict had continued but there had been no
significant progress on the ground. He confirmed the support of the Secretary-
General for the work of the Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict and his
call for credible national investigations into the conduct of the conflict without
delay, which was echoed by a number of delegations that addressed the
Council after the briefing. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian
Authority, the Permanent Representative of Israel and 27 other speakers
addressed the Council. Many speakers called for an end to all acts of violence
and for strict compliance with international humanitarian and human rights
law, as well as for the safety and security of all civilians and diplomatic and
United Nations premises and personnel. They urged all parties concerned to
rise to shoulder their mutual obligations under the road map, the Madrid terms
of reference, the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant Security Council
resolutions, thus contributing to the peaceful settlement of the Israeli-
Palestinian and Arab-Israeli conflicts, and the ultimate attainment of a just,
comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East. A number of participants
expressed concern about the findings in the Goldstone report and the need to
urgently address the continuing grave humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,
including the need for the long-overdue reconstruction process to commence.
“On 24 November 2009, the Council heard a briefing on the situation in
the Middle East by the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Haile
Menkerios. He reported that political efforts towards a negotiated two-State
solution had reached a deep and worrying impasse, even as security and
economic efforts had continued on the ground. He reiterated the call by the
Secretary-General for immediate action to strengthen the process, a
reaffirmation of road map requirements and their implementation, and clear
terms of reference for negotiations on all core issues grounded in the
resolutions of the Council and agreements reached between the parties. He
recalled that the Secretary-General had issued a statement deploring Israel’s
continued settlement activity and had expressed his dismay at the continuation
of demolitions and evictions in Jerusalem. He pointed out that the situation in
East Jerusalem underlined the importance that parties refrain from
provocations and incitement. As to the situation in the Gaza Strip, he recalled
that key elements of resolution 1860 (2009) remained to be fulfilled. He
expressed concern at the deterioration of public infrastructure, environmental
degradation and destruction of livelihoods in the Gaza Strip, and that no
meaningful progress had been made to kick-start essential United Nations
civilian construction activities. He reported that 12 rockets and mortars were
fired from Gaza into southern Israel during the reporting period. During
subsequent consultations of the whole, Council members urged the parties to
rapidly resume peace negotiations. They stressed the need for Israelis and
Palestinians to fulfil their road map obligations and a number called for a
complete freeze of settlement activity by Israel, including in East Jerusalem.
Members expressed concern at the humanitarian situation in Gaza and
reiterated their call for the full implementation of resolution 1860 (2009).
“On 17 December 2009, the Council heard a briefing on the situation in
the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, from the Special
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Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of
the Secretary-General, Robert H. Serry. He said that negotiations had yet to
resume between the two parties and confidence between the parties remained
low. He noted the announcement by the Government of Israel that it would
restrain certain settlement activity for a period of 10 months, and the decision
of the Central Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization to extend the
terms of the Palestinian Authority presidency and the Palestinian Legislative
Council, until elections could be held. He referred to the readiness of the
President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, to continue to serve
until elections were held. One member of the Council took the floor in the
Council Chamber. During the consultations of the whole that followed,
Council members called on the two parties to resume negotiations. A number
of members expressed their concern about the situation in Gaza and called for
the full implementation of resolution 1860 (2009). Some members also called
upon Israel to freeze all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian
territory. On 27 January 2010, the Council held an open debate on the situation
in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, during which the
Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco,
briefed the Council on the recent developments in the region. He expressed
concern about the lack of significant progress towards a solution within the
peace process and recent events on the ground. He confirmed the support of
the Secretary-General for the resumption of talks and his call for a freeze of
settlement activity, which was echoed by the majority of delegations that
addressed the Council after the briefing. The Permanent Observer of Palestine,
the Permanent Representative of Israel, members of the Council and 25 other
speakers addressed the Council. Most participants expressed their concern over
the current impasse in the peace process and called for an early resumption of
talks between the parties concerned. They also restated their grave concern at
the humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for the full implementation of
Council resolution 1860 (2009), with many speakers stressing the need for the
immediate opening of the border crossings into Gaza in accordance with
international humanitarian law, and the urgency of reconstruction. The
majority of speakers called on Israel to end its settlement activity, including in
East Jerusalem, and to refrain from all actions that might prejudge the outcome
of the final negotiations. In this regard many speakers also stressed the need to
resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two States. Most
speakers reiterated their support for a two-State solution under relevant
Security Council resolutions, thus contributing to the peaceful settlement of
the question of Palestine and Arab-Israeli conflicts, and the ultimate attainment
of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East.
“On 18 February 2010, the Council heard a briefing regarding the
situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, from the
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, who called on
the parties to take the necessary measures to begin indirect talks as proposed
by the United States of America. He also expressed the belief that an active
Quartet would be vital to support the process. During subsequent consultations
of the whole, the members of the Council expressed their concern at the
impasse of the peace process and underlined the importance of resuming
negotiations in order to move as soon as possible towards a comprehensive,
just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
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“On 24 March 2010, the Council heard a briefing by the Secretary-
General on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
In his briefing, the Secretary-General informed the Council of the Quartet
meeting held in Moscow on 19 March and his visit to the Middle East, in
particular the statement issued by the Quartet on the following: the need to
hold proximity talks; the freezing by Israel of all settlement activity;
compliance by the Palestinians with security obligations; lifting the blockade
on the Gaza Strip; and its firm support for the Palestinian Authority’s
programme for the establishment of a Palestinian State.
“Members of the Council welcomed the diplomatic efforts made by the
Secretary-General and the Quartet to facilitate the relaunching of the Israeli-
Palestinian peace process. Members of the Council expressed their concern at
the continued impasse and tensions between Israel and Palestine and called on
Israel to freeze all settlement activities, considering that these were an obstacle
to the resumption of peace talks.
“Members of the Council reiterated their call on the two parties to adhere
to their commitment and to discharge their obligations in accordance with the
relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the road map, and invited
them to make every effort to resume the peace negotiations as soon as
possible.
“At the open debate on 14 April 2010, the Council was briefed by the
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, who said that
efforts aimed at bringing about the conditions for a resumption of Israeli-
Palestinian talks had continued. He said that the situation on the ground
remained fragile and a crisis of confidence between the parties had so far
prevented the resumption of talks. He stressed the continuing support of the
United Nations for efforts to resume the peace process as well as for the
Palestinian State-building agenda and briefed the Council about developments
in that regard, including the convening of the recent meeting in Madrid of the
Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for Assistance to the Palestinians. He also
addressed the visit by the Secretary-General to the League of Arab States
summit and gave a briefing on the situation in Lebanon, noting that it
remained generally quiet in the area of operations of the United Nations
Interim Force in Lebanon.
“Following the briefing, the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the
United Nations, the Permanent Representative of Israel and 18 other speakers
addressed the Council, and Council members also made statements. Many
speakers stressed that the only way to achieve a solution was through
negotiations. They expressed support for the effort of the United States to start
the proximity talks between the Israeli and Palestinian sides and at the same
time stressed that it should lead to direct talks. A number of members urged all
parties to abide by their obligations under the road map, the Madrid terms of
reference, the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant Security Council
resolutions, which would contribute to a peaceful settlement of the Israeli-
Palestinian and Arab-Israeli conflicts and, ultimately, to the attainment of a
just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East. A number of
participants expressed concern about the situation in Gaza and the need to
address its humanitarian situation.
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“On 18 May 2010, the Council heard a briefing by the Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of
the Secretary-General, Robert H. Serry, on recent developments in the region.
“The Special Coordinator told the Council that the proximity talks had
commenced and that their goal, as stated by the Quartet on 19 March in
Moscow, was the resolution of all core issues, an end to the 1967 occupation,
and two States living side by side in peace and security. He stressed the scale
of the unmet needs of the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza and urged an
end to the Israeli blockade of the Strip.
“In the consultations of the whole that followed, members of the Council
expressed support for the proximity talks. A number of members called on
both parties not to engage in provocative acts and for an end to settlement
activity. Many members expressed their grave concern at the humanitarian
situation in Gaza, and called for the full implementation of resolution 1860
(2009). Some members called for the immediate opening of the border
crossings into Gaza.
“On 31 May, at the request of Turkey and Lebanon, the Council held an
emergency meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the
Palestinian question. During the meeting, the Council heard a briefing by the
Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, on
the Israeli military operation against the convoy sailing to Gaza.
“The Assistant Secretary-General told the Council that, on that same
morning, Israeli forces had boarded a six-ship convoy that was sailing in the
Mediterranean Sea en route to the Gaza Strip in an attempt to deliver
humanitarian aid to Gaza and to break the Israeli blockade. He said that the
Israeli navy had intercepted the convoy and that Israeli military personnel had
boarded the vessels.
“All 15 Council members spoke, including the Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoğlu, who condemned the attack against the
Gaza flotilla and demanded an urgent inquiry into the incident. A
representative of Israel and the Permanent Observer of Palestine participated
in the meeting and made statements.
“In the extensive consultations of the whole that followed, members of
the Council agreed on a presidential statement (S/PRST/2010/9), which was
adopted in the early hours of 1 June 2010, under the Mexican presidency of the
Security Council.
“On 1 June, the Council adopted a presidential statement on the use of
force during the Israeli military operation in international waters against a
humanitarian assistance flotilla en route to Gaza. In the statement, the Council
condemned those acts, expressed regret at the loss of human life during the
military operation, requested the release of the ships and of the civilians held
by Israel and called for a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent
investigation conforming to international standards. The Council emphasized
that the situation in Gaza was not sustainable, reiterated its grave concern at
the humanitarian situation and stressed the need for a sustained and regular
flow of goods and people to Gaza.
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“On 15 June, the Council held its monthly meeting on the situation in the
Middle East. The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process,
Robert H. Serry, participated in the meeting and stressed the importance of
taking a different approach to Gaza in light of the incident involving the
humanitarian assistance flotilla, which demonstrated the unsustainability of the
situation in Gaza and confirmed that the current policy was counterproductive.
He said that the Quartet had been involved in the search for a solution leading
to the lifting of the restrictions imposed on Gaza and that, in response to the
Council’s request for an investigation of the humanitarian flotilla incident, the
Secretary-General had proposed the establishment of an international panel.
He also stressed the need to encourage further indirect talks leading to genuine
direct negotiations and said that those conversations should be accompanied
by positive steps on the ground.
“An open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the
question of Palestine, took place on 21 July 2010. The Council was briefed by
the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe. He stressed
the need to re-establish direct negotiations between the Israelis and
Palestinians in order to pave the way for the realization of a two-State
solution. Noting that the process was again at a critical juncture, he indicated
that such talks were necessary to end the 1967 occupation and the conflict and
resolve all core issues between the parties, including Jerusalem, borders,
refugees, security, settlements and water. Noting the upcoming 29 July League
of Arab States follow-up committee meeting, he urged the parties not to miss
the current opportunity to make progress in talks and to move to direct
negotiations with active third-party involvement and close Quartet support.
“After the briefing, and the interventions made by the Permanent
Representative of Israel and the Permanent Observer of Palestine, Council
members and 37 other speakers made statements. Council members were
united in their wish to see the conflict between the two sides resolved as a
matter of urgency. Council members reaffirmed their commitment to Middle
East peace. Some Council members suggested measures that would support
progress toward such a resolution, including the complete lifting of restrictions
on access for goods and people to Gaza and called on Israel to end its
settlement activities. Some Council members called for the release of Israeli
soldier Gilad Shalit, who was being held prisoner by Hamas in Gaza and some
stressed that the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza should be made
through established channels. Many Council members called for a prompt,
impartial, transparent and credible investigation conforming to international
standards into the flotilla incident of 31 May 2010 resulting from the use of
force during the Israeli military operation in international waters against the
convoy sailing to Gaza.
“The Council continues to pay close attention to developments in the
situation in the Middle East.”
United Nations A/66/367–S/2011/585
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
19 September 2011
Original: English
11-50418 (E) 051011
*1150418*
General Assembly Security Council
Sixty-sixth session
Agenda items 36 and 37
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Sixty-sixth year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 65/16. It contains replies received from the parties concerned to the notes
verbales sent by the Secretary-General pursuant to the request contained in paragraph
26 of the resolution. The report also contains the observations of the Secretary-
General on the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on international
efforts to move the peace process forward with a view to achieving a peaceful
settlement. The report covers the period from September 2010 through August 2011.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 65/16.
2. On 1 July 2011, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 26 of the
above-mentioned resolution, I addressed the following letter to the President of the
Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 65/16, which the General
Assembly adopted on 30 November 2010, at its sixty-fifth session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 26 of the resolution ‘requests the Secretary-General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to
the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session a report on these efforts and on
developments on this matter’.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 31 July 2011.
“Recalling the Secretariat’s obligation to observe the page limit of its
reports, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 52/214, I would like to
encourage the Security Council to limit its submission to 1,500 words.”
3. As of 19 September, no response had been received to that request.
4. In a note verbale dated 11 May 2011 to the parties concerned, I sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization, regarding any steps
taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at
31 August 2011, replies had been received from Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization. The note verbale dated 5 July 2011 from the Permanent Mission of
Israel to the United Nations reads as follows:
“As shown in the meeting records, Israel voted against this resolution, as
it has done on similar resolutions adopted in the past by the General Assembly.
The Permanent Mission of Israel wishes to reiterate the considerations guiding
this voting practice, in light of the current situation.
“Despite significant efforts made on the part of the Government of Israel
in the past year to renew negotiations with the Palestinian Authority and to
foster conditions for economic growth and development, and despite the vast
improvement in economic indicators both in the West Bank and in Gaza,
Palestinian terrorism continued and remains an alarming reality.
“Terrorist organizations in the West Bank remain active in planning,
preparing and attempting to execute terrorist attacks. In 2010, 463 terrorist
attacks emanated from or were carried out in the West Bank, leading to nine
deaths of Israeli citizens. These attacks were carried out in all potential forms
and on all fronts, particularly by Hamas.
“The first half on 2011 witnessed an alarming escalation in the nature of
terrorist activity against Israeli targets in the West Bank and Jerusalem. In the
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first 5 months of 2011, 278 terrorist attacks were carried out in or emanated
from the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of 11 Israeli citizens, including the
brutal murder in March 2011 of the Fogel family, in which five family
members (father, mother and 3 children — 11 years old, 4 years old and a baby
of 3 months) were murdered in their sleep by two terrorists who penetrated
their home.
“In 2010, 372 terrorist attacks emanated from the Gaza Strip. In the first
four months of 2011, we witnessed an alarming increase in terror attacks
emanating from the Gaza Strip — the number of terrorist attacks is already at
163. Another alarming escalation is the nature of the attacks, which have
started to involve, in addition to Grad missiles, rockets and mortar shells,
anti-tank missiles aiming at Israeli civilian populations. On 7 April 2011, an
anti-tank missile was fired from Gaza at a school bus, injuring two Israelis,
one of them — a teenager aged 16 — was critically wounded.
“Concomitant with the Palestinian terrorist campaign against Israel, the
Palestinian Authority has continued in its campaign of incitement designed to
legitimize terrorism. Glorification of those who are responsible for the murder
of Israelis is carried out as an institutional practice by both the Palestinian
Authority and Hamas. Among recent examples are the main Ramallah street
named after the terrorist Yehieh Ayash, who is responsible for the death of over
100 Israelis and one of the master minds behind the concept of suicide terror
attacks; the girl’s summer camp in Bethlehem named after Dalal Mugrabi, who
led a terror attack on a bus that claimed the lives of 37 Israelis (among them
12 children); and the Gaza square named after the suicide bomber Rim
Al Riyashi, who killed 4 Israelis.
“Hamas, entrenched in Gaza with the support of Iran, continues to
stockpile weapons of ever increasing lethality and range, operating a fullfledged
weapons smuggling operation through the extensive tunnel network
running under the Egypt-Gaza border.
“In addition, Hamas has been holding kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad
Shalit for the past five years; the last sign of life was received on 25 June 2007
with a tape of Gilad Shalit released by Hamas. Throughout his captivity, Gilad
Shalit was not allowed international humanitarian personnel access, in
violation of basic humanitarian practice. The Hamas regime continues to reject
the Quartet conditions, persists adamantly in its call for Israel’s destruction
and remains vigilant in its commitment to seeing this grim vision through.
“It is disturbing that resolution 65/16 makes no mention of any of the
above.
“Notwithstanding the concerted and enduring campaign of violence and
incitement, and as a testimony of Israel’s commitment to humanitarian
principles, Israel continues to facilitate the entry of large quantities of
humanitarian supplies and other products into Gaza. In 2010, there was a
28 per cent increase in the number of truckloads that were transferred into
Gaza (39,868 in 2010 compared to 31,055 in 2009), and the daily average of
truckloads transferred into Gaza amounted to 163 truckloads a day, a 43 per
cent increase compared to 2009. Export from the Gaza Strip has also
expanded — 152 tons of strawberries and 368,208 flowers were exported in
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2010. In 2010, 17,924 patients and accompanying individuals were permitted
to exit the Gaza Strip for medical care, a 70 per cent increase compared to
2009. Throughout the year, Israel maintains the supply of electricity to the
Gaza Strip. The transfer of diesel for the Gaza power station was carried out
according to Palestinian Authority requests — 70,876,781 litres of diesel were
transferred.
“These changes resulted in an increase of 15 per cent in the gross
domestic product (GDP) of Gaza in 2010. This positive trend is continuing in
the first quarter of 2011, which shows a 24.4 per cent growth in GDP and
20 per cent growth in GDP per capita compared to the first quarter of 2010.
“The Government of Israel has also authorized major steps to ease
security-related restrictions in the West Bank. In 2010, 98 roadblocks were
removed throughout Judea and Samaria, and there is a free flow of movement
between all Palestinian Judea and Samaria major cities — from Jenin in the
north to Hebron in the south. GDP growth in the West Bank for 2010 is at
8 per cent and tourist visits increased by 49 per cent, mainly to Bethlehem.
“The positive trend is continuing in the first quarter of 2011 — GDP
grew 3.4 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2010.
“Over the course of the previous year the Government of Israel
repeatedly extended an open invitation to restart peace talks with the
Palestinian Authority with no pre-conditions. Israel hopes for a renewal of the
direct negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive resolution of the
conflict.
“Despite an ongoing and acute threat to its security, Israel has gone to
great lengths to assist in extending humanitarian assistance, to foster
conditions for Palestinian economic growth and to engage in political
dialogue. Israel’s actions have already manifested economic improvement in
Gaza and the West Bank. It is surprising that they are given no mention in
resolution 65/16.
“Thus, resolution 65/16 joins the numerous one-sided resolutions passed
annually by the General Assembly on Israel which serve to undermine the
credibility of the United Nations as an impartial agent for the advancement of
peace. The Permanent Mission takes this opportunity to urge the Secretary-
General to use his good offices to encourage a cessation of this
counterproductive practice”.
5. The note verbale dated 27 June 2011 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine
to the United Nations reads as follows:
“Palestine deems resolution 65/16 to be central to the international
efforts to justly and peacefully resolve the question of Palestine. The
resolution represents one of the main pillars underpinning the efforts of the
United Nations system as a whole towards Palestine, consistent with its
permanent responsibility until the question is satisfactorily resolved in all its
aspects. This responsibility emanates from the unfulfilled international
covenant since the General Assembly’s decision to partition Mandate Palestine
by its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, which led to the establishment
of the State of Israel in 1948 and the uprooting, dispossession and dispersal of
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the Palestinian people and continuation of their plight for over 63 years, during
which time they have been denied their inalienable human rights and their
freedom by Israel, the occupying Power, and forced to suffer severe oppression
and hardship.
“The Palestinian leadership is fully committed to resolution 65/16, which
was again adopted by an overwhelming majority, and reaffirms in
comprehensive terms the parameters for a just, lasting and peaceful settlement
based on international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the agreed
terms of reference of the peace process, namely Security Council resolutions
242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the Madrid terms of reference, including the landfor-
peace principle, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet road map. In this
regard, as reflected in the resolution, a strong international consensus exists in
support of the two-State solution of an independent, viable and contiguous
State of Palestine living side by side with Israel in peace and security on the
basis of the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the shared capital of two
States, and a just solution for the plight of the Palestine refugees based on
General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948.
“In the period since the adoption of resolution 65/16, the Palestinian
leadership, under the stewardship of President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime
Minister Salam Fayyad, has continued to strive to advance a peaceful solution
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the question of Palestine as a whole in
line with the principles enshrined in the resolution. In all of its efforts,
Palestine has been firmly guided by international law, including international
humanitarian and human rights law, and the multitude of relevant resolutions
adopted by the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Human Rights
Council, and the Economic and Social Council, as well as by the advisory
opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of 9 July 2004.
“The realization by the Palestinian people of their right to selfdetermination
— affirmed as an erga omnes right by ICJ — remains a
paramount goal for the Palestinian leadership. Moreover, the international
consensus is firm in its recognition of and support for the Palestinian right to
self-determination and an independent State, as reflected in relevant
resolutions, the most recent being resolution 65/202, as well as by the
recognition accorded to Palestine by nearly 120 countries to date. The
Palestinian leadership continues to act concertedly at all levels — nationally,
regionally and internationally — for fulfilment of this right of the Palestinian
people and all other inalienable rights, including the right to return based on
United Nations resolutions and principles of international legality, and to
appeal to the international community to uphold its inherent responsibilities in
this respect.
“Specifically, the steps taken bilaterally and multilaterally in the past
year by Palestine have been intended to effect positive change in the political
and diplomatic processes, as well as on the ground. The overall objective
remains the achievement at the earliest possible date of the two-State solution
for peace on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, acknowledging that this
objective is central to the goal of a peaceful solution to the Arab-Israeli
conflict as a whole in accordance with relevant resolutions and the Arab Peace
Initiative. Having made an historic compromise decades ago, the Palestinian
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leadership has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to the internationally
endorsed objective of two States and its willingness to engage in serious
negotiations to justly resolve all final status issues — Palestine refugees,
Jerusalem, settlements, borders, water and security — towards this end.
“This commitment remains despite the obstacles that continue to be
imposed by Israel, the occupying Power, by its illegal policies and practices in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which continue
to exacerbate the situation on the ground, compound sensitive issues and raise
tensions, as well as by its obstruction of all initiatives in the past year aimed at
reviving peace negotiations. In spite of these challenges, the Palestinian
leadership has continued to affirm its readiness to negotiate in good faith based
on credible parameters and has positively considered the efforts initiated in
this regard by the international community, including by the Quartet and
individually by the United States of America, the European Union, the Russian
Federation and other concerned Member States. Moreover, the Palestinian
leadership has repeatedly stressed that the status quo in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory is unsustainable and volatile, adding to the urgency of
achieving peace, a goal made only more urgent in the context of the
developments sweeping the Middle East.
“Thus, despite adverse circumstances in both the political environment
and on the ground, the Palestinian leadership, with the support of the Arab
ministerial follow-up committee, agreed to participate in direct negotiations in
early September 2010 in Washington on the invitation of United States
President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Special Envoy
George Mitchell. This attempt to relaunch negotiations came on the heels of
the 20 August 2010 Quartet statement, which reaffirmed strong support for
direct negotiations, full commitment to previous statements, determination to
support the parties throughout the negotiations, which can be completed within
one year, i.e., by September 2011, and in the implementation of an agreement.
Regrettably, Palestine’s good faith effort and flexibility, along with the
Quartet’s efforts, including in particular President Obama’s visionary
statement before the General Assembly on 23 September 2010, have been met
with more Israeli intransigence and violations, as the Israeli Government
immediately thereafter refused to extend its so-called ‘partial moratorium’ on
settlement activities, completely undermining the negotiations with its
deliberate and illegal colonization of the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
especially areas in and around Occupied East Jerusalem.
“As called for in resolution 65/16 and demanded unanimously by the
international community, the Palestinian leadership continues to call for the
complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities, which are illegal and
remain a major obstacle to peace. It must be stressed that this is not a
Palestinian condition, but rather a legal obligation incumbent upon Israel
under the Fourth Geneva Convention, Security Council and General Assembly
resolutions and the Quartet road map, and it is essential for resumption of a
credible peace process aimed at achieving the two-State solution based on the
pre-1967 borders. The initiative to address Israel’s illegal, destructive
settlement campaign in the Security Council in February 2011, with the
support of nearly 130 co-sponsoring Member States, which received the full
support of 14 Council members, was undertaken in this context with the aim of
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compelling Israel to cease all settlement activities and comply with the law
and creating an appropriate environment for resumption of genuine
negotiations that can succeed.
“On the other hand, the illogical pretexts being used by Israel to justify
its illegal settlement campaign constitute arbitrary preconditions imposed to
exact further political gains for Israel based solely on the imbalance of power
and the impunity it enjoys and intended to distort the reality on the ground,
distract the debate and the focus on the conflict’s core issues and undermine
the peace process. Such persistent bad faith by the Israeli Government and its
total disrespect for the agreed principles of the negotiation process has left the
Palestinian side without a partner for peace. This disturbing reality was
reaffirmed by the Israeli Prime Minister’s arrogant rejection of the call by
President Obama, in a 19 May 2011 policy speech on the Middle East and
North Africa, for a clear basis of negotiations between the two sides, in which
he stressed that ‘the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the
1967 lines, with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders
are established for both States’. While this statement has been welcomed by
the Palestinian side and the rest of the international community, with efforts
immediately exerted by the other Quartet members based on this position,
Israel maintains its negative intransigence up to this moment, blocking all
attempts to resume negotiations on even this minimal basis.
“Furthermore, despite the negative conditions in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, owing to ongoing illegal Israeli
actions — including, inter alia, settlement activities, such as construction and
expansion of settlements and the Wall, transfer of more settlers and
confiscation of Palestinian land; rampant settler violence and terror against the
Palestinian civilian population; demolition of homes and properties, evictions
of Palestinian families and revocation of residency rights that have displaced
thousands of people; imposition of the blockade on the Gaza Strip in collective
punishment of the entire population, in addition to other forms of collective
punishment; imprisonment of thousands of Palestinian civilians, including
children and women, in Israeli jails and detention centres; and military raids
and aggression — the Palestinian leadership has strived to maintain a proactive
and productive course of action aimed at serving the needs of the Palestinian
people and alleviating their hardships under occupation and at ultimately
fulfilling their legitimate national aspirations for freedom, justice, peace,
security and dignity in their homeland.
“To this end, the Palestinian leadership has sought to promote a positive
environment for the resumption of peace negotiations and engaged in all
relevant regional and international efforts, including at the United Nations, in
good faith and in a spirit of historic compromise. It has also actively engaged
bilaterally with Member States from all regions — Asian, African, European,
Latin American and North American countries — and multilaterally through
regional and political groups such as the League of Arab States, the Movement
of Non-Aligned Countries and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to
mobilize and enhance support for the Palestinian people, including recognition
of their State of Palestine, and a just peace settlement. Palestinian diplomatic,
public and media outreach has consistently reflected a solid respect for
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international law and United Nations resolutions and commitment to peace and
reaffirmed a responsible position in support of the two-State solution.
“On the ground, the Palestinian leadership remains actively engaged,
with strong international support, in the development and strengthening of
Palestinian institutions in preparation for independence of the State. The
implementation of the two-year plan of the Palestinian National Authority
launched by Prime Minister Fayyad in August 2009, which is guiding these
efforts, is moving toward the final stages of completion of the second half of
the plan, ‘Homestretch to Freedom’, in August 2011. The serious advances
made in this regard have been recognized and endorsed by the World Bank, the
International Monetary Fund and the United Nations in recent reports, all
attesting to Palestinian readiness for independence. It is the Israeli occupation
in all its manifestations that remains the main obstacle to fully realizing the
objectives of this plan.
“Similarly, reconstruction and economic revival of the Gaza Strip, a
priority for the Palestinian leadership to alleviate the civilian population’s
suffering and give them hope and a horizon for a more stable, peaceful and
prosperous future, continues to be undermined by the occupying Power.
Reconstruction of homes, infrastructure, schools, hospitals and agricultural
and business properties is still being obstructed by Israel by its blockade of
Gaza and restrictions on the entry of needed construction and raw materials.
Despite these formidable obstacles, the Palestinian leadership is exerting all
possible efforts to advance Gaza’s reconstruction with the strong support and
cooperation of the international community, including the donor countries,
humanitarian aid organizations and civil society.
“The Palestinian leadership has also striven to promote reconciliation and
unity among the Palestinian political factions. Serious efforts have been
exerted to end the nearly four-year division, as demanded by the Palestinian
people and in line with Security Council resolution 1860 (2009), various
Quartet statements and calls for unity from around the globe, including by the
League of Arab States, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, the
Organization of the Islamic Conference and the European Union. Following
the signing of the reconciliation agreement in Cairo on 4 May 2011, the
Palestinian leadership will do its utmost to preserve unity, cognizant of its
centrality to the drive to realize the rights and national aspirations of the
Palestinian people.
“The Palestinian leadership also continues to pursue efforts to broaden
recognition of the State of Palestine on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, with
East Jerusalem as its capital. It strongly welcomed the recognitions accorded
in recent months by various Member States, in addition to the majority of
recognitions that followed the 1988 Palestinian Declaration of Independence,
all constituting principled affirmations of support for the Palestinian people’s
inalienable right to self-determination and fully consistent with the Charter of
the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and relevant
resolutions. Such recognitions are also consistent with the global consensus on
the parameters for a two-State peace settlement of an independent, contiguous
and viable State of Palestine living side by side with Israel in peace and
security based on the pre-1967 borders. Far from being unilateral, seeking
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recognition of Palestine by the countries of the world is a truly multilateral
endeavour, constituting a positive contribution towards realizing the goal of
the two-State solution. In fact, we believe recognition of Palestine to be
intrinsic to the political, legal and moral responsibilities of the international
community for securing a just, lasting, comprehensive resolution of the
conflict, bearing in mind the internationally endorsed target date of September
2011.
“The dramatic developments taking place in the Middle East are altering
the geopolitical landscape of the region and are bringing to the fore the
universal aspirations of all peoples for freedom, justice, democracy and respect
for human rights. It is in this spirit that, despite the serious challenges that
persist, the Palestinian leadership continues to strive to fulfil the national
aspirations of the Palestinian people. The Palestinian leadership remains fully
committed to the path of peace and justice, determined to achieve an end to the
Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the independence of the State of
Palestine on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,
and a just solution for the plight of the Palestine refugees.
“Palestine will continue to call upon the members of the international
community, bilaterally and multilaterally, to redouble the efforts to uphold
their responsibilities, including upholding the principles of resolution 65/16 on
the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and acting to implement
the resolution’s provisions. It is our deepest hope that the Palestinian
leadership’s positive, constructive efforts and the regional and international
efforts being exerted in this regard will converge by September 2011 to
consolidate the political will and momentum necessary to finally bring an end
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to allow Palestine to take its rightful
place among the community of nations and to allow peace, justice and security
to flourish in the region with achievement of an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict
as a whole.”
II. Observations
6. Efforts to achieve the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine made
little progress during the reporting period, and confidence between the parties and in
the political process reached a new low. Hopes raised by the start of direct talks on
2 September 2010 faltered rapidly. Negotiations were discontinued and have
remained in an impasse since October. The Palestinians nevertheless advanced their
State-building programme. They also resumed their efforts towards reuniting the
West Bank and Gaza. On the ground, the situation remained challenging, in
particular for the population living under closure in Gaza, while Israel continued to
face the threat of rocket fire. In the West Bank, tensions persisted while settlement
activity accelerated.
7. Following the proximity talks, facilitated by the United States since May 2010,
Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas met in Washington, D.C., on 1 and
2 September under the auspices of President Obama and Secretary Clinton to launch
direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. A second round of talks was held on 14 and
15 September. Prime Minister Netanyahu affirmed that President Abbas was his
partner for peace, while President Abbas stated his desire to see a permanent end to
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the conflict. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a two-State solution and
agreed to seek a solution based on two States for two peoples. They agreed that the
negotiations could be completed within a year, and that their aim was to resolve all
final status issues, including borders, security, refugees and Jerusalem. I called upon
both sides to show leadership, courage and responsibility to realize the aspirations
of both peoples, and encouraged the efforts of the United States in that regard.
8. However, negotiations came to a halt after Israel’s 10-month moratorium on
new construction in settlements expired on 26 September. President Abbas indicated
that he would not continue direct negotiations unless Israel froze settlement activity.
Growing mutual distrust worked against the resumption of direct bilateral talks. I
expressed disappointment that the moratorium was not renewed and reiterated that
settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem,
was contrary to international law. I urged Israel to fulfil its road map obligation to
freeze settlement activity. The Middle East Quartet regretted the discontinuation of
the moratorium and strongly reaffirmed that unilateral actions by either party could
not prejudge the outcome of negotiations and would not be recognized by the
international community.
9. On 9 October, at its summit in Sirte, Libya, the League of Arab States
expressed support for President Abbas’ position not to continue negotiations unless
Israel froze settlement activity. In the following months, the League held several
meetings in support of the Palestinian efforts. The Palestinian leadership launched a
diplomatic campaign to secure bilateral recognition of an independent State of
Palestine within borders that conform to the ceasefire lines in existence before
4 June 1967. Several States, notably in South America, announced such recognition.
The Government of Israel continued to call for a continuation of negotiations,
stating that settlements would be resolved as part of a final status agreement.
10. The United States continued to engage the parties in indirect talks after it
announced in December the end of its attempts to reinstate the settlement
moratorium. In February, Quartet members started diplomatic efforts to engage the
parties in separate consultations, giving serious consideration to their views on how
to bring about resumed negotiations on all core issues, including borders and
security. I fully supported this process, based on the conviction that internationally
agreed parameters were needed to provide a basis for the resumption of meaningful
negotiations. I also gave my full support to the tireless work of Senator Mitchell
until he resigned on 13 May from his post of United States Envoy for the Middle
East.
11. On 19 May, President Obama put forward important principles as a foundation
for negotiations, particularly regarding borders, which should be based on the 1967
lines with mutually agreed swaps, and security arrangements, which should be
robust enough to prevent a resurgence of terrorism, to stop the infiltration of
weapons, and to provide effective border security, and allow a full and phased
withdrawal of Israeli military forces coordinated with the assumption of Palestinian
security responsibility in a sovereign, non-militarized State.
12. Along with the other Quartet principals, I supported the vision outlined by
President Obama and encouraged Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas to
respond positively. In its statement of 20 May, the Quartet appealed to the parties to
resume direct bilateral negotiations. The Quartet principals met in Washington,
D.C., on 11 July, to discuss how to translate President Obama’s speech into an
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internationally agreed framework for the resumption of talks. However, in view of
the persisting differences between the parties regarding what terms should frame
negotiations, Quartet members agreed to work on narrowing that gap before issuing
a statement that could help bring both sides back to negotiations. Quartet
discussions and efforts continued over the summer in the context of a deteriorating
situation on the ground and deepening mistrust between both sides.
13. In August, with no political breakthrough and with Israeli settlement activity
continuing, the Palestinian leadership, with the support of the Arab Peace Initiative
Committee, confirmed its intention to approach the United Nations at the beginning
of the new session of the General Assembly to call on Member States to recognize a
Palestinian State within the 1967 lines and to apply for full membership in the
United Nations. The Government of Israel expressed its strong opposition to such
Palestinian action.
14. The Charter of the United Nations is clear that the issues of recognition of a
State and membership in the United Nations are for Member States and the United
Nations intergovernmental bodies to decide. My role as Secretary-General would be
to transmit the Palestinian request for membership to the Security Council.
15. As an active proponent of the two-State solution, it remained my strong view
that the Palestinians should have an independent and viable State of their own,
living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security. Resuming
substantive negotiations to resolve all permanent status issues must therefore remain
our collective priority. As we moved into September, I continued to hope that the
international community would be able to shape a legitimate and balanced way
forward to help the parties achieve the goal of ending the conflict and establishing a
viable and sovereign Palestinian State.
16. The situation in occupied East Jerusalem remained tense. I expressed concern
at new settlement construction, house demolitions and evictions of Palestinian
families, and I deplored the demolition in January of the Shepherd’s Hotel in a
Palestinian neighbourhood. The reporting period also witnessed violent clashes in
sensitive areas of East Jerusalem, which underscored the tensions caused by the
presence and expansion of settler communities in the heart of Palestinian
neighbourhoods, including Silwan, Sheikh Jarrah and Ras al-Amud. In a
development that is the source of serious concern, the Government of Israel
announced in August new constructions in several settlements in East Jerusalem. I
also remained concerned about the human rights of Palestinian residents of East
Jerusalem and continued to oppose any measures towards their forcible transfer out
of the city, including revocation of residency rights. In August, in contravention of
their obligations under the road map, the Israeli authorities extended the closure of
Orient House and the Chamber of Commerce in East Jerusalem pursuant to their
ongoing ban on Palestinian government institutions in the city. The status of three
Hamas-affiliated Palestinian legislators from East Jerusalem, who were threatened
with forcible transfer, has been unresolved since June 2010.
17. On 23 March, a bomb exploded adjacent to a bus stop in West Jerusalem,
killing one female civilian and injuring 30 Israelis. I strongly condemned this act of
terrorism and called for an immediate cessation of acts of terrorism and violence
against civilians in order to prevent further escalation and loss of life.
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18. Jerusalem is a final status issue that requires a negotiated solution. I have
consistently emphasized that a way must be found for the city to emerge, through
negotiations, as a capital of two States, Israel and Palestine, with arrangements for
holy sites acceptable for all. It is equally important that political and religious
authorities on both sides continue to ensure that the cultural and religious rights of
all are duly respected.
19. In the West Bank, the implementation of the State-building programme
launched by the Palestinian Authority in August 2009 was completed during the
reporting period, although it was limited to the territory under the Authority’s
control, which excluded Area C, East Jerusalem and Gaza. It formed an essential
complement to the political process.
20. In April, the Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace
Process reported to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee that in the six areas where the
United Nations is most engaged, governmental functions were sufficient for a viable
government of a State.1 The achievements of the State-building programme should
be further supported, in line with the objectives of the Palestinian Authority’s
National Development Plan (2011-2013).
21. Despite financial constraints, the growth of the real gross domestic product
(GDP) continued, reaching 8.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to
the first quarter of 2010. This was supported by ongoing institutional reforms with
donor support and earlier measures to facilitate movement and access.
22. I continued to call on donors to provide timely assistance to sustain this
agenda. Donor support for the Palestinian Authority was grossly insufficient during
2011, affecting the Authority’s ability to meet its financial obligations, including
payment of salaries. I also strongly encouraged the Government of Israel to take all
necessary measures to facilitate growth, including further easing of access and
movement within, into and out of the West Bank for both goods and people.
23. The Palestinian Authority remained constrained by the occupation and
settlement activity. In this regard, I reminded Israel of its commitments under the
road map to freeze all settlement activity, including “natural growth”, and to
dismantle outposts erected since March 2001. Settlements are contrary to Security
Council resolutions, the Fourth Geneva Convention and Israel’s obligations under
the road map. They complicate the path towards a two-State solution and prejudice
final status issues.
24. The Palestinian Authority continued to make commendable efforts to maintain
law and order in areas under its control and to strengthen its security capacity. The
sixth and seventh battalions of Palestinian National Security Forces were trained in
Jordan and deployed in the West Bank during the reporting period.
25. As of August 2011, the number of obstacles to movement was approximately
523, of which 62 were permanently staffed, compared to 509 in August 2010, of
which 64 were permanently staffed. My concern has grown over forced
displacement of Palestinians due to demolitions, especially in Area C, where 470
structures were demolished during the reporting period.
__________________
1 The six areas include: governance, rule of law and human rights; livelihoods and productive
sectors; education and culture; health; social protection; and infrastructure and water.
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26. I appreciated the efforts of the Quartet’s Special Representative, Tony Blair, to
support economic development throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory. I
welcomed the package of measures he announced in February with Prime Minister
Netanyahu, for both the West Bank and Gaza, which must be implemented in full
and supplemented by additional steps.
27. Violence in or emanating from the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,
continued, manifesting itself in terror attacks and settler violence against
Palestinians — also in retaliation to Government of Israel action, including against
illegal outposts — as well as in the context of Israeli security operations. In total,
14 Palestinians were killed, including three militants, and 1,398 injured by Israel
Defense Forces. Settler violence against Palestinians increased, killing 3 and
injuring 182 during 366 settler attacks on Palestinians and their property, including
the uprooting of thousands of olive trees. Four Muslim holy sites were also
desecrated during the reporting period, including two arson attacks on West Bank
mosques in October and June. There was a slight decrease in Israeli incursions and
arrests in the West Bank, which however remained at a very high level despite
improved Palestinian security performance and cooperation with the Israeli Defense
Forces. In the same period, there were also 63 Palestinian attacks on settlers, in
which 6 Israelis were killed and 27 injured in the West Bank. On 12 March, a family
of five were murdered in the West Bank settlement of Itamar in a shocking act of
violence, which I and the Quartet strongly condemned. On 29 August, eight Israelis
were wounded when a Palestinian from the West Bank ran a car into a group of
youth and police in Tel Aviv. I consistently condemned all attacks that
indiscriminately targeted civilians and called for international humanitarian law to
be upheld in all circumstances. I also urged the parties to seek out those responsible
for such violent incidents and bring them to justice.
28. I believe that legitimate Israeli and Palestinian security concerns can be best
addressed by intensified cooperation, continued empowerment of the Palestinian
Authority’s security efforts and performance, further curtailment of incursions by
the Israeli Defense Forces into Palestinian areas, full respect for legitimate
non-violent protest, determined action by the Government of Israel to curb settler
violence, Palestinian action against incitement, economic development and, most
importantly, the resumption of a credible political process of negotiation.
29. Although plans to hold presidential, legislative and municipal elections did not
materialize during the reporting period, I still hope that it will be possible in the
near future to hold free and fair elections throughout the Occupied Palestinian
Territory.
30. Contrary to the 9 July 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of
Justice, the barrier continued to deviate significantly from the 1967 Green Line into
occupied Palestinian territory. It restricts Palestinian access to East Jerusalem, key
social services and agricultural land. Protests against the construction of the barrier
by Palestinian, Israeli and foreign activists continued during the reporting period,
resulting at times in clashes with Israeli security forces.
31. In accordance with General Assembly resolution ES-10/17 of 15 December
2006, on 27 June I provided a progress report on the work of the United Nations
Register of Damage Caused by the Construction of the Wall in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory. During her visit in February, the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights highlighted the intensely negative impact that the
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fragmentation of the West Bank by the Wall, settlements and checkpoints was
having on human rights, peace, development and the Palestinians’ right to selfdetermination.
32. The Government of Israel continued to maintain a regime of closure of the
Gaza Strip, where Hamas continued to exercise de facto control.
33. The reporting period witnessed alarming escalations of tension between Gaza
and Israel, most notably in January, March, April and August. In April, an anti-tank
guided missile hit an Israeli school bus killing a teenage passenger and injuring the
bus driver. Israel retaliated by launching heavy military operations. Calm was
restored on 10 April. The calm was broken when, on 18 August, coordinated
terrorist attacks killed eight Israelis, including six civilians in southern Israel. The
attacks were followed by retaliatory strikes by Israel on targets in Gaza. I
immediately strongly condemned the 18 August terrorist attacks and called for all to
act with restraint. Both in April and August, Egypt and the Office of the United
Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process played an important
role in defusing the tension.
34. Overall during the reporting period, Palestinian militants fired 961 rockets and
mortar shells, in which 2 Israeli civilians were killed and 36 injured. With respect to
Israeli military personnel, one was killed and two were injured in Gaza during the
same period. The Israel Defense Forces carried out 224 air strikes and 122
incursions. In total, 43 Palestinian civilians were killed and 350 injured in Gaza.
Seventy militants were also killed and 70 injured. The United Nations consistently
expressed concern at actions by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza to escalate
violence, endangering civilians on both sides. The United Nations also consistently
called for maximum restraint from Israel and urged full observance by all parties of
their obligations regarding the protection of civilians.
35. Addressing the dire conditions of the civilian population and rebuilding a
viable economy in Gaza, including by reviving the legitimate private sector,
remained major priorities for the United Nations. To that end, the United Nations
engaged intensively with the Government of Israel and within the Middle East
Quartet to promote reconstruction, to further liberalize imports, in particular of
construction materials, and to allow exports.
36. In this regard, I welcomed further measures taken by the Government of Israel
during the reporting period to ease the closure. Egypt also eased the movement of
persons at the Rafah crossing point. However, the closure continued to have a
serious humanitarian impact on civilians and perpetuate an unsustainable and
unacceptable situation for the population of Gaza. I consistently urged the
Government of Israel to lift the blockade within the framework of resolution 1860
(2009), while also recalling that Israel’s legitimate security concerns should be
addressed, including by putting in place mechanisms to prevent the illicit trafficking
of arms into Gaza.
37. The United Nations continued to call for free movement of people into and out
of Gaza and a full reopening of all official land crossings, as well as an expansion of
their capacity. The United Nations also put forward programming aimed at
revitalizing the private sector and rehabilitating public health infrastructure. Israel
approved a total of $265 million in United Nations reconstruction projects as of the
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end of August, which was a welcome and significant start to address Gaza’s basic
needs.
38. However, construction materials were still not allowed free entry and were
approved only for international projects. As a consequence, they were imported
through the illicit tunnel trade to Gaza’s markets. This only empowered those who
control trafficking at the expense of the legitimate commercial sector.
39. Overall during the reporting period, economic recovery continued in Gaza —
albeit from a low base — driven in part by public expenditure, donor aid, tunnel
traffic, increased imports from Israel and limited exports. However unemployment
remained high, at 26 per cent in the second quarter of 2011. As of the end of the
reporting period, 38 per cent of Gazans were living in poverty, and 75 per cent of
the Gaza population remained dependent on humanitarian assistance.
40. Reports of increasing human rights abuses, extrajudicial executions and
political arrests in the Gaza Strip remained a source of deep concern. The United
Nations noted with alarm attempts by the Hamas de facto authorities to undermine
the independence of local human rights organizations, in particular their decision to
close down a number of civil associations, including the Sharek Youth Forum,
which had been an important partner of the United Nations. Also alarming was the
storming by Hamas security forces on 15 March of international news channel
offices. The Hamas de facto authorities should allow both civic and media
organizations to carry out their activities in full respect of the freedom of the press,
as well as the freedoms of association and expression. Equally important is to ensure
full respect for the work of United Nations agencies, some of whose activities in
support of Palestinian beneficiaries have been misrepresented.
41. Other incidents in Gaza continued to underline the challenging security
environment facing the humanitarian community and the United Nations. On
15 April, Italian citizen Vittorio Arrigoni was abducted and murdered, reportedly by
a Salafist group. I deplored this crime. On 25 June, a bomb was detonated near the
compound of the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle
East Peace Process, causing only material damage to the perimeter wall.
42. I remain deeply concerned by the fate of Israeli Staff Sergeant Shalit, who has
been in Hamas captivity for more than five years. I reiterated my call for
humanitarian access and for his unconditional and immediate release. I also
continued to support efforts for the completion of a prisoner exchange agreement.
Approximately 5,500 Palestinian prisoners remain in Israeli jails, and while their
number is decreasing at a rate of about 800 to 1,000 each year, I continue to follow
their situation with concern, including that of women, children and other persons
held without trial. I continued to call for the release of Palestinian prisoners to the
Palestinian Authority.
43. In an effort to enable Gaza’s society to engage with the world, the United
Nations facilitated the visit to Gaza of United Nations Messenger for Peace Daniel
Barenboim and musicians from leading European orchestras who performed a
concert on 3 May. On 16 June, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) summer games were launched,
providing thousands of Gazan children with recreational and learning activities.
44. The Panel of Inquiry into the 31 May 2010 flotilla incident concluded its work
and submitted its report on 2 September. The Panel was an independent body tasked
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with making findings about the facts, circumstances and context of the incident that
took place in the Mediterranean Sea on 31 May 2010 and with recommending ways
of avoiding similar incidents in the future.
45. Bearing in mind Security Council resolutions 1850 (2008) and 1860 (2009), I
continued to support efforts to advance Palestinian unity within the framework of
the commitments of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the positions of the
Quartet and the Arab Peace Initiative. I welcomed efforts made towards bringing the
division to an end, notably by Egypt.
46. Following popular calls, President Abbas and the Hamas leadership
accelerated discussions on unity. On 4 May, Palestinian factions signed a
reconciliation agreement under Egyptian auspices. Discussions over the
implementation of the accord continued during the following months, with little
progress so far.
47. Popular demonstrations demanding political change and social justice have
swept across the region since December. The Occupied Palestinian Territory and
Israel were not immune to the fallout of this movement. On 15 March,
demonstrations were held in major West Bank cities, calling for an end to the Israeli
occupation and to Palestinian division. Larger demonstrations were held in Gaza,
which were regrettably suppressed by the security forces of Hamas. On 15 May,
referred to by Palestinians as “Nakba Day”, demonstrations along the
disengagement line in the occupied Golan, the Blue Line, in the West Bank and in
Gaza resulted in numerous casualties following violent clashes with the Israeli
forces. Demonstrations had traditionally occurred on this day in the past, but on a
smaller scale. Both the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the United
Nations Disengagement Observer Force remained in close contact with the parties in
order to restore calm. I expressed deep concern at the significant number of people
killed or injured and called on all concerned to exercise restraint. On 5 June,
demonstrations again took place in the West Bank and in the occupied Golan, which
resulted in the deaths of 23 persons.
48. In Israel, large scale popular demonstrations against rising costs of living were
held in July and August.
49. I would like to express my deep thanks and appreciation to Robert H. Serry,
the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, as well
as to the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Filippo Grandi. I also pay tribute to all
United Nations staff who work in the service of the United Nations under difficult,
at times dangerous, circumstances, marked by restrictions on their free movement
and access. I have repeatedly protested these restrictions to the Government of Israel
and look forward to improvements in this regard.
50. Peace and Palestinian statehood are long overdue. I am acutely conscious of
the unsustainable status quo, which is only thrown into sharper relief by the
profound political changes now under way in the region. I remain convinced that
direct and meaningful negotiations are the main avenue towards a comprehensive,
fair and lasting solution that fulfils the aspirations of Israel and the Palestinians,
including an end to occupation, an end to conflict, and a just and agreed solution to
the plight of Palestinian refugees.
51. I am seriously concerned at the lack of progress, during the reporting period,
in the search for a negotiated solution which would bring Israel and the Palestinians
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closer to durable peace and security, including the realization of the legitimate
aspiration of Palestinians to a State of their own and of Israel to live within
recognized and secure borders. The failure of the parties to meet their target of
September 2011 to conclude a final status agreement, or even to resume
negotiations, is a serious setback. I therefore call upon all parties to show
leadership, courage and responsibility to arrive at a mutually agreeable and lasting
peace that would resolve all final status issues. To this end, it is my sincere hope
that the parties pursue vigorously all efforts to create an environment that is
conducive to the resumption of direct and meaningful negotiations. In particular, I
urge Israel to cease all settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, and to take concrete steps to further ease the numerous restrictions in
place both in the West Bank and Gaza. I also strongly encourage all Palestinians on
the path of non-violence and unity, and call on them to pursue their efforts to
improve law and order, combat extremism and incitement against Israel, and to
continue building strong and democratic institutions that are essential to a viable,
independent Palestinian State. In a highly volatile environment, it is crucial that any
outbreaks of violence that could undermine political efforts are prevented and that
the parties refrain from provocative steps on the ground. The international
community must also provide effective help by shaping a legitimate and balanced
framework that offers a credible political path forward, combined with far-reaching
steps on the ground.
52. As Secretary-General, I will continue to ensure that the United Nations works
towards the establishment of an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable
Palestinian State living side by side in peace with a secure Israel in the framework
of a comprehensive regional settlement consistent with Security Council resolutions
242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1860 (2009), and in
accordance with the road map, the Arab Peace Initiative and the principle of land for
peace.
United Nations A/67/364–S/2012/701
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
12 September 2012
Original: English
12-50724 (E) 021012
*1250724*
General Assembly
Sixty-seventh session
Agenda items 36 and 37
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Sixty-seventh year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 66/17. It contains replies received from the parties concerned to the notes
verbales sent by the Secretary-General pursuant to the request contained in paragraph
25 of the resolution. The report also contains the observations of the Secretary-
General on the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on international
efforts to move the peace process forward with a view to achieving a peaceful
settlement. The report covers the period from September 2011 to August 2012.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution
66/17.
2. On 1 July 2012, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 25 of the
above-mentioned resolution, I addressed the following letter to the President of the
Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 66/17, which the General
Assembly adopted on 30 November 2011, at its sixty-sixth session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“The General Assembly, in paragraph 25 of the resolution, requested the
Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in
consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the
region and to submit to the Assembly at its sixty-seventh session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 31 July 2012.
“Recalling the Secretariat’s obligation to observe the page limit of its
reports, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 52/214, I would like to
encourage the Security Council to limit its submission to 1,500 words.”
3. As at 12 September, no response had been received to that request.
4. In a note verbale dated 17 May 2012 to the parties concerned, I sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization, regarding any steps
taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at
31 August, replies had been received from Egypt, Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization. The note verbale dated 26 June 2012 from the Permanent Mission of
Egypt to the United Nations reads as follows:
“The main goal of Egypt is to support the two-State solution that has
been internationally agreed upon and the establishment within the 4 June 1967
borders of an independent, sovereign Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as
its capital. Egypt therefore supported the Palestinian Authority’s request for
full membership in the United Nations, just as it supported the inclusion of
Palestine in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization. With regard to the peace process, Egypt has encouraged all
efforts aimed at the resumption of the negotiations, the most recent of which
were the exploratory negotiations that took place under Jordanian auspices,
pursuant to a Quartet statement in September 2011, and to that end, applauded
the points raised by President Abbas in his May 2012 letter to Prime Minister
Netanyahu.
“Egypt is endeavouring to find a strong Palestinian position that will help
to revive peace efforts. To that end, Egypt, in February 2009, initiated an
intensive and comprehensive dialogue aimed at ending the division between
the West Bank and Gaza Strip that began on 16 June 2007. Those efforts were
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rewarded in May 2011, when a Palestinian reconciliation agreement was
signed by all the parties at the leadership level and it was agreed that a number
of committees should be established in order to make reconciliation a reality.
Furthermore, Egypt supported the Doha agreement of February 2012 and in
June 2012 will host consultations on the formation of the new Palestinian
Unity Government.
“In a related vein, in March 2012, Egypt announced that a comprehensive
truce that included a moratorium on assassinations had been brokered between
the Palestinian and Israeli sides as part of continuous Egyptian efforts to halt
Israeli military operations against the Gaza Strip and end the escalation in
violence between the two sides and the resultant impact on the region as a
whole and on any movement towards establishing a genuine process of
negotiation.
“In May 2012, as part of Egyptian efforts to reduce tension between the
Palestinians and Israelis, Egypt was able to reach an agreement with the Israeli
side that included a response to the legitimate demands of the Palestinian
prisoners, the most important of which included the ending of solitary
confinement, in which certain prisoners had been held for more than 10 years,
the use of special prisons and permission for the families of prisoners in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip to visit their relatives in Israeli prisons after having
been refused permission for over five years to have any contact, whether by
telephone or in person. Other demands related to prison routines and living
conditions. In October 2011, Egypt oversaw the exchange of 1,027 prisoners
for Gilad Shalit as part of the process of calming the situation and making it
possible for both sides to reach greater mutual understanding.”
5. The note verbale dated 17 July 2012 from the Permanent Mission of Israel to
the United Nations reads as follows:
“Israel voted against this resolution, as it has done when similar
resolutions were adopted by the General Assembly in the past. The Permanent
Mission of Israel wishes to reiterate the considerations guiding this voting
practice.
“Time and again, Israel has demonstrated that it is prepared to make
painful compromises to secure lasting peace. Its hand remains extended to
achieve the solution of two states for two peoples. The Palestinians should live
in their own state alongside the Jewish State of Israel. The only way to achieve
this is through bilateral negotiations.
“The Government of Israel has continuously called upon the Palestinians
to return to the negotiating table, to no avail. Israel has fostered conditions for
improvement in economic growth and development, cooperating with the
Palestinian Authority in some 40 spheres of daily life. In response, the
Palestinians have taken unilateral steps that are not constructive — and will
not advance peace or compromise.
“Resolution 66/17 fails to mention the many incidents of Palestinian
terrorism over the past year, which have placed the entire Israeli population
under a constant spectre of violence. Terrorist attacks were carried out in all
forms and by all means, particularly by Hamas.
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“The 988 Palestinian terrorist attacks in 2011 resulted in the murder of
21 innocent men, women and children. These incidents included the murder of
a 16-year-old school boy, when Hamas launched a Kornet laser-guided
anti-tank missile at his yellow school bus; five members of the Fogel family,
who were slaughtered by Palestinian terrorists as they slept — the victims
included the parents, Ehud and Ruth, and three of their children, Yoav, 11,
Elad, 4, and three-month-old Hadas; and eight civilians travelling on the roads
in southern Israel, in a series of attacks by Palestinian terrorists in August.
“Some 680 rockets, mortars and Grad missiles were fired at southern
Israel from Gaza in 2011. Since the beginning of 2012, the rocket fire has
escalated. During the first six months of 2012, 477 high-trajectory rockets and
mortars were launched into Israel. In June 2012 alone, 197 rockets and
21 mortar shells were launched into Israel, causing casualties and paralysing
life for 1 million Israeli civilians.
“None of this is mentioned in resolution 66/17.
“Even in the face of continued terrorist activity, Israel has gone to great
lengths to improve daily life for the Palestinian population, extending
humanitarian assistance and working to spur economic growth. Israel has
facilitated the entry of large quantities of humanitarian supplies and other
products into Gaza and taken action to expand exports from the area. In 2011,
Israel supplied 124 megawatts of electricity and worked with the United
Nations Development Programme to increase the capacity of the Gaza power
station by 200 megawatts. These changes helped to increase Gaza’s gross
domestic product in 2011 by 27 per cent.
“The Government of Israel has also authorized significant measures to
ease security-related restrictions in the West Bank. In 2011, roadblocks were
removed throughout Judea and Samaria. Today Palestinians have free flow of
movement between all major cities in Judea and Samaria, from Jenin in the
north to Hebron in the south. There was a 33 per cent increase in Palestinian
trade across the Allenby Bridge in 2011.
“Yet, none of this is recognized in resolution 66/17.
“The Government of Israel continues to call on the Palestinians to return
to the negotiating table, with no preconditions, to achieve lasting peace with
two States living side by side, one Jewish and one Palestinian.
“This one-sided resolution undermines the peace process, placing another
obstacle on the path towards renewing peace negotiations between Israel and
the Palestinian Authority; consequently, Israel voted against the resolution.”
6. The note verbale dated 3 August 2012 from the Permanent Observer of
Palestine to the United Nations reads as follows:
“Palestine reaffirms that resolution 66/17 constitutes a central component
of the international community’s efforts to justly, peacefully and
comprehensively resolve the question of Palestine on the basis of clear
parameters rooted in international law and other relevant United Nations
resolutions. Significantly, resolution 66/17 receives Member States’
overwhelming support, reflecting the international consensus in support of the
two-State solution of an independent, sovereign, democratic and contiguous
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State of Palestine, living side by side with Israel in peace and security on the
basis of the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem the shared capital of the two
States, and a just solution for the Palestine refugees based on General
Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948.
“Regrettably, however, the internationally endorsed parameters for a
solution continue to be irrationally and recklessly rejected by Israel. Rather
than adhering to the path of peace, the occupying Power continues to violate
international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, and obstruct
political efforts to resolve the conflict, causing incalculable suffering to our
people, precluding the realization of peace and security in the region and
inflaming successive crises, and burdening the rest of the global community,
which continues to expend vast efforts and resources to resolve the conflict
and alleviate its impact on innocent civilians. All of this makes it all the more
imperative for the international community to remain firm in upholding the
rule of law and its permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine
until a just solution is achieved in all aspects, and respectful of the
international covenant arising from the General Assembly’s decision to
partition Mandate Palestine in its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947,
which led to the establishment of Israel in 1948 and the uprooting of the
Palestinian people from their homeland in Al-Nakba, which has lasted for over
64 years now, throughout which they have endured exile, dispossession and
constant oppression and denial of their rights, including to return and selfdetermination.
“The international community’s inability to hold Israel accountable, in
line with resolution 66/17 and other relevant resolutions and legal obligations,
has fuelled Israeli impunity, further complicating the resolution of core final
status issues — Palestine refugees, Jerusalem, settlements, borders, security
and water, and prolonging the conflict. In particular, the Security Council’s
paralysis and failure to address Israel’s deliberate, illegal settlement campaign,
the major obstacle to peace, has only further emboldened the occupying
Power. Thus, Israel continues to carry out its illegal, expansionist agenda in
the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, causing immense
suffering to our people; impairing the contiguity, integrity, unity and viability
of the State of Palestine; jeopardizing the prospects for physically achieving
the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders; and prompting
searches for alternative solutions.
“This destructive Israeli agenda has been manifested, inter alia, in the
following policies and practices, constituting serious violations and grave
breaches of Israel’s legal obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention,
Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, international human
rights covenants, and the Quartet road map: military attacks by the occupying
forces against civilian areas in the Gaza Strip, as well as military raids in
villages, towns and cities in the West Bank, causing death and injury to
Palestinian civilians, including children, and destruction of civilian property;
the illegal settlement campaign, especially in and around occupied East
Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley, including vast construction of settlements,
so-called settlement ‘outposts’ and the Wall, with thousands more settlement
units constructed and planned in the past year; confiscation of Palestinian land;
demolition of homes and civilian infrastructure; evictions and revocation of
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Palestinian residency rights; imposition of a permit regime and hundreds of
checkpoints; other illegal measures aimed at de facto annexation of Palestinian
land and displacement of Palestinian civilians; acts of terror and destruction by
extremist Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and properties, including
homes, agricultural lands, mosques and churches, perpetrated with the support
of the Government of Israel, which continues to transfer settlers to the
occupied Palestinian territory, protect them, permit their lawlessness and
promote their joint colonial agenda; imposition of the illegal blockade on the
Gaza Strip for more than five years, in gross collective punishment of the
entire Palestinian civilian population and by which reconstruction in Gaza,
including by the United Nations, continues to be obstructed and critical
humanitarian and socioeconomic conditions are being exacerbated; the arrest,
imprisonment and detention of thousands of Palestinian civilians, including
children, who continue to be subjected to all forms of physical and
psychological abuse and deplorable conditions of captivity. Prolonged hunger
strikes in the recent period by Palestinian prisoners and detainees have reached
crisis proportions, underscoring in particular the plight of those held by the
occupying Power under administrative detention without charge and due
process of law.
“In addition to the severe hardship inflicted on the Palestinian people,
Israel’s illegal policies have deepened the political deadlock, making the
resumption of a credible, successful peace process seem more remote than
ever. Israel continues colonization over peace, entrenching its settlements and
control over the Palestinian land, rather than acting to bring an end to, or ‘roll
back’, the occupation in all its manifestations and coming to the peace table in
good faith. The situation is unsustainable and volatile. The urgency of
achieving peace is even more crucial in the context of the dramatic
developments in the region, which highlight the universal aspirations of all
people for freedom, justice, democracy and human rights.
“Significantly, despite the deterioration of the situation on the ground
and in the political environment and the vast asymmetry between the
occupying Power and the occupied people, the Palestinian leadership, under
the stewardship of President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam
Fayyad, has remained fully committed to the path of peace and the historic
compromise embodied in the 1988 Declaration of Independence of the State of
Palestine, affirming acceptance of the two-State solution based on the
pre-1967 borders. Moreover, we maintain our conviction in the international
will and resolve to promote a solution that will ensure justice and achieve a
complete end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967, the independence of
the State of Palestine and the rights of the Palestinian people.
“Palestine’s efforts to achieve the legitimate national aspirations of its
people and make peace have been firmly guided by international law, the
resolutions of the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Human Rights
Council and the Economic and Social Council and the advisory opinion of the
International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004. Our leadership also remains
committed to agreements reached between the Palestine Liberation
Organization and Israel, the occupying Power, throughout the peace process.
All of our efforts have focused on consecrating the two-State solution, in
accordance with the terms of reference of the Middle East peace process,
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namely relevant United Nations resolutions, including Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1850
(2008), the Madrid terms of references, including land for peace, the Arab
Peace Initiative and the Quartet road map.
“Over the past year, the Palestinian leadership has acted in full
conformity with resolution 66/17 and the parameters above. Thus, on
23 September 2011, President Mahmoud Abbas submitted the application of
the State of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations,
consistent with the right to self-determination and countless resolutions, from
resolution 181 (II), adopted in 1947, to present-day resolutions. On that same
day, President Abbas formally addressed the General Assembly, reaffirming
our commitment to peace, the two-State solution and negotiations to resolve
final status issues. He stressed, however, that the inalienable right of our
people to self-determination was not a matter for negotiation.
“While this historic step was welcomed throughout the international
community, and Palestine’s application was conveyed by the Secretary-
General to the Security Council for its consideration and hoped-for
recommendation, the lack of consensus within the Council, including the
expressed negative position of a permanent member, has obstructed progress,
despite the strong support expressed for the application and for a positive
recommendation to the General Assembly by many Council members, as
reflected in the deliberations of the Admissions Committee throughout October
and November 2011. Palestine thus continues its appeals to the members of the
Security Council to uphold the Council’s legal responsibilities vis-à-vis the
question of Palestine and to do justice by the Palestinian people.
“Simultaneously, the Palestinian leadership continues to appeal,
bilaterally and multilaterally, for recognition of the State of Palestine,
convinced that Palestine’s recognition and rightful inclusion among the
community of nations, including at the General Assembly, will constitute a
major step towards securing freedom, dignity and peace for the Palestinian
people. At the time of writing of the present note, 132 countries have
recognized the State of Palestine, on the basis of our people’s right to selfdetermination
under the Charter and human rights covenants, the international
covenant to Palestine enshrined in resolution 181 (II), and the global
consensus on the two-State solution. Here, we recall with pride the admission
of Palestine as a member State of the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization on 31 October 2011 and reaffirm our deep gratitude
to all Member States that supported this historic decision.
“The Palestinian leadership has also continued its efforts to develop
Palestinian national and civic institutions based on its 2009-2011 plans,
entitled ‘Palestine: ending the occupation, establishing the State’ and ‘Home
stretch to freedom’, to ensure a stable, viable foundation for our State and to
serve our people and ease their hardships while still under occupation. This
initiative has been fully supported by the international community, and
progress has been well documented, including by the Ad Hoc Liaison
Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians,
the World Bank and the United Nations, although it is being threatened by
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Israel’s illegal, obstructive measures and the financial crisis faced by the
Palestinian National Authority.
“The Palestinian leadership also continues its efforts to achieve internal
reconciliation and end the five-year division among our political factions, as
demanded by our people and in line with Security Council resolution 1860
(2009), Quartet statements, and widespread calls for unity, including, inter
alia, by the League of Arab States, the European Union, the Non-Aligned
Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the African Union.
We continue to seek ways to implement the reconciliation agreement signed in
Cairo on 4 May 2011 and the declaration signed in Doha on 5 February 2012,
and to appeal to the international community to respect and support Palestinian
reconciliation. We express appreciation for the principled position of the
Secretary-General and the United Nations, including the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal
Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation
Organization and the Palestine Authority, in this regard.
“These internal tasks, however, have not distracted the Palestinian
leadership from the overall objective of achieving a just peace and achieving
the rights of our people, including to independence and to return to live at
peace with their neighbours. We have never ceased cooperating with
international and regional efforts to resume a substantive dialogue and
negotiations based on clear parameters within a specified time frame,
including efforts by the Quartet, the Arab ministerial follow-up committee and
other concerned Member States. We reiterate in this regard that there is no
contradiction between resumption of negotiations and efforts for recognition of
Palestine and its membership in the United Nations, as the two-State solution
enjoys global consensus and the aim of both processes is the independence of
the State of Palestine and the achievement of a just, lasting peace between
Palestine and Israel.
“Thus, following the submission of Palestine’s application and the
issuance of the Quartet’s statement of 23 September 2011, the Palestinian
leadership acted responsibly. It constructively received the Quartet statement
and accepted the framework therein, on the understanding that negotiations
would commence on the basis of the 4 June 1967 borders and that Israel was
expected to meet its legal obligations, including under the Quartet road map, to
stop all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including
East Jerusalem. On that understanding, and respectful of the efforts of the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Palestinian leadership agreed to partake in
the ‘exploratory talks’ held over the course of three weeks in January 2012.
“Our participation in these talks underscored again our commitment to
negotiations as the main vehicle for achieving a peaceful solution. The
leadership stressed that its participation was aimed at achieving a substantive
understanding on the way forward, necessitating a reaffirmation of Israel’s
commitment to the two-State solution and the parameters of the peace process.
Regrettably, the talks failed as Israel refused to adhere to those parameters and
persisted with its grave violations and provocations, including its theft and
colonization of Palestinian land. This totally undermined the purpose of the
talks and obstructed the revival of the political process. We reaffirm that it is
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not possible for the Palestinian leadership to continue ‘talks for the sake of
talks’, while Israel continues to act in a manner destroying the process and its
objectives.
“While committed to peace negotiations, the Palestinian leadership
stresses that the situation on the ground and the two-State solution are too
fragile to withstand such sabotage and further delays and, instead, require
immediate, collective and practical measures to persuade Israel to cease all of
its illegal practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East
Jerusalem, and to abide by international law, United Nations resolutions and
the Quartet road map. The responsibilities of the United Nations in this regard
are clear, and Palestine will continue to work in the United Nations system to
ensure that the law is implemented and that the rights of the Palestinian people
are safeguarded until the day that they are fully realized. Moreover, we
reiterate our belief that efforts at the United Nations, the centre of multilateral
activity in our world, can and must contribute towards peace and will not
obstruct its realization.
“The Palestinian leadership is determined to bring an end to the injustice
endured by our people, including the grave injustice inflicted on our refugees.
We are determined to achieve the independence of the State of Palestine, with
East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the pre-1967 borders, living side by side
with Israel in peace and security. We are grateful for and continue to call for
the support of all concerned States and peoples from around the world, and
urge that no effort be spared to make this a reality. This clearly requires that
the Security Council uphold its duties under the Charter and implement its
resolutions and that the General Assembly also act to implement its resolutions
on the question of Palestine, including resolution 66/17, to responsibly
contribute to the realization of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace
settlement.”
II. Observations
7. Efforts to achieve the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine resulted
in little progress during the reporting period, and confidence between the parties and
in the political process continued to erode. Despite efforts by the United Nations,
the Quartet and individual Member States to provide facilitation, negotiations
remained at an impasse. At the heart of the unwillingness of the parties to engage in
direct talks was a lack of trust and disagreement over the conditions that would
allow them to do so. The Palestinians also submitted an application for membership
in the United Nations and acquired membership in the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
8. The situation on the ground remained challenging, in particular for the
population living under closure in Gaza, while Israel continued to face the threat of
rocket fire. In the West Bank, tensions persisted, while settlement activity continued
to accelerate. Altogether, the situation on the ground presented a growing cause for
concern over the viability of the two-State solution. At the same time, the
Palestinians continued to implement an ambitious State-building programme. They
also briefly resumed their efforts towards reuniting the West Bank and Gaza, albeit
with limited success at reconciliation.
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9. On 23 September, the Quartet issued a statement that called for the resumption
of direct bilateral Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. To that end, the Quartet outlined
steps to help build the trust needed for the parties to return to the negotiating table.
Specifically, a preparatory meeting was called within a month for the parties to
agree on an agenda and a method of proceeding. The Quartet made clear its
expectation that the parties would come forward with comprehensive proposals on
territory and security within three months of resumed negotiations and that the goal
was to make substantial progress within six months and reach an agreement by the
end of 2012. The Quartet also stressed the need for the parties to refrain from
provocations and reminded them of their obligations under the road map.
10. Within the framework of the Quartet statement of 23 September, Quartet
envoys and the Quartet Representative, Tony Blair, met on three occasions in
Jerusalem with Israeli and Palestinian representatives, on 26 October, 14 November
and 14 December. Quartet envoys stressed the importance of a direct exchange
between the parties without delay or preconditions, beginning with a preparatory
meeting and leading to the presentation of comprehensive proposals on territory and
security. Envoys called upon the parties to create an environment conducive to
restarting talks and urged both to refrain from provocative actions.
11. After 15 months of absence of direct talks, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators
embarked on a series of meetings on 3 January 2012 in Amman under the auspices
of King Abdullah II of Jordan and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nasser Judeh.
The parties began discussing important issues related to territory and security, in
accordance with the Quartet statement of 23 September. They also discussed ways
to build confidence and create a positive environment for the talks to lead to
substantive negotiations. Following that first meeting, a series of direct preparatory
talks were held under Jordanian auspices until 25 January. During my visit to Israel
and the occupied Palestinian territory on 1 and 2 February, I expressed my
appreciation to King Abdullah for his initiative and commended the Palestinian and
Israeli leaders on these important first steps, urging the parties to build on them to
launch meaningful negotiations to reach an agreement by the end of 2012. However,
while quiet meetings between the negotiators have continued to date, they have yet
to lead to the renewal of direct negotiations.
12. During the meeting of the Arab Peace Initiative follow-up committee on
12 February and of the Palestine Liberation Organization Central Committee on
20 February, the Palestinians reiterated their position that direct talks should not
resume unless all settlement activity was halted, Israel committed to a two-State
solution based on the 1967 lines and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails were
released. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu continued to insist that Israel
wanted to continue the talks, but without preconditions.
13. The Quartet met in New York on 12 March and again in Washington, D.C., on
11 April to reflect on those developments and forge a way forward that would build
on the Quartet statement of 23 September. Quartet principals heard from Mr. Judeh
on ongoing Jordanian efforts to promote exploratory talks. After a pause, negotiators
met again in Amman in early April and agreed to an exchange of letters outlining
their positions. As agreed by the parties, on 17 April a letter from President Abbas
was delivered to Prime Minister Netanyahu, who responded on 12 May. The
exchange was kept confidential and led to quiet direct engagement. Quartet envoys
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continued to work with the parties to encourage them to step up direct contacts and
refrain from counterproductive actions.
14. A number of high-level visits also took place to encourage the parties to
resume talks. King Abdullah visited Ramallah on 21 November 2011. The High
Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine
Ashton, visited Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory from 24 to 26 January.
On 25 and 26 June, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, held
meetings in Israel and with President Abbas in Bethlehem. In Paris on 6 July,
President Abbas met with the United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, the
President of France, François Hollande, Ms. Ashton, and the Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, William Hague.
Ms. Clinton later visited Israel on 16 and 17 July.
15. At the same time, the Arab follow-up committee held consultations in Doha on
22 July, in which it supported a Palestinian approach to the United Nations to seek
further recognition without specifying a timeline. Arab League representatives asked
the committee to prepare the appeal and report back at the next meeting in Cairo, on
6 September.
16. In parallel to these developments in the peace process, the Palestinians
initiated a number of actions in United Nations forums. On 23 September 2011,
during the general debate of the General Assembly, President Abbas submitted an
application for membership for a State of Palestine in the United Nations. In
accordance with the Charter and the rules of procedure of the Assembly, I
transmitted the application to the President of the Security Council on the same day
and sent a copy to the President of the Assembly. The report of the Committee on
the Admission of New Members of 11 November (S/2011/705) stated that the
Committee was unable to make a unanimous recommendation to the Security
Council. The issue remains before the Council.
17. On 31 October 2011, the UNESCO General Conference voted in favour of
Palestinian membership. The decision was the prerogative of member States. I
indicated that I wished to work with member States on practical solutions to
preserve the financial resources of UNESCO. I also urged all parties to approach
this issue wisely in determining a course of action. Following the vote, the
Government of Israel temporarily froze the transfer of tax and customs revenues that
it was collecting on behalf of the Palestinian National Authority, which represented
two thirds of the Authority’s annual revenues. Transfers resumed on 30 November.
18. Against this backdrop, the Palestinians continued to advance their Statebuilding
programme, albeit limited to the territory under the control of the
Palestinian National Authority, which excluded Area C, East Jerusalem and Gaza.
This formed an essential complement to the political process. A strong international
consensus emerged that the Authority was capable of running a State. The Ad Hoc
Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to
Palestinians, at its meetings on 18 September 2011 in New York and on 21 March
2012 in Brussels, confirmed the assessments contained in reports of the World Bank
and the International Monetary Fund, which had concluded that the Government
functions of Palestine were now sufficient for the functioning of a State. However,
the World Bank report of April 2012 also indicated that, while the Palestinian
Authority had had considerable success in building the institutions of a future State,
it had made less progress in developing a sustainable economic base, particularly in
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terms of private sector development. In addition, political and financial pressure on
the Authority continued to grow throughout the reporting period, placing its
sustainability increasingly at risk.
19. Palestinians also made renewed attempts to advance on the issue of
reconciliation. Bearing in mind Security Council resolutions 1850 (2008) and 1860
(2009), I continued to support efforts to advance Palestinian unity within the
framework of the commitments of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the
positions of the Quartet and the Arab Peace Initiative. Reconciliation on this basis
and Israeli-Palestinian peace talks need not be mutually exclusive, and a united
Palestinian polity is necessary for the viability of the two-State solution. I have
welcomed the efforts made to this effect, notably by Egypt.
20. On 5 February 2012 in Doha, President Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled
Meshal agreed to form a transitional government of technocrats to be headed by
President Abbas as Prime Minister. President Abbas emphasized that that
government would adhere to his political programme and to all previous PLO
commitments. However, opposition to the agreement within Hamas in Gaza
prevented concrete results until 20 May, when a new formula for progress on
reconciliation was achieved with the assistance of Egyptian mediation. Under the
agreement, Fatah and Hamas delegations met in Cairo on 6, 7 and 15 June to discuss
the way forward. As a first step in the organization of general elections, the
Palestinian Central Election Commission resumed operations in Gaza on 28 May
with full cooperation from the de facto authorities and initiated plans to register
voters in Gaza between 3 and 14 July. However, voter registration was suspended by
Hamas on 2 July, and on 10 July the Palestinian Authority called for municipal
elections to be organized in the West Bank only on 20 October 2012. Palestinian
reconciliation has since been stalled.
21. At the same time, significant political changes occurred in Israel. On 8 May
2012, Prime Minister Netanyahu formed a new governing coalition with the
opposition Kadima party. The new coalition represented one of the largest majorities
in the history of the Knesset, holding 94 of its 120 seats. It also generated some
hope that Prime Minister Netanyahu would, as was provided for in the new coalition
agreement, have greater political space to pursue a “responsible peace process”. The
coalition lasted 70 days, until 17 July, when the Deputy Prime Minister and Kadima
Chairman, Shaul Mofaz, announced that his party was leaving the governing
coalition following disagreements over a draft law seeking to mandate military
service for a portion of the ultra-orthodox community.
22. Throughout the reporting period, developments on the ground continued to
damage confidence and made the resumption of direct negotiations very difficult.
Settlements, including in East Jerusalem, expanded and violence continued, with
clashes between Palestinians and the Israel Defense Forces, between Palestinians
and settlers and between settlers and the Israeli forces. A number of other sensitive
issues likewise fuelled tensions, such as the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli
custody, protests and the closure of Gaza.
23. The situation in occupied East Jerusalem remained tense. The question of
Jerusalem is a final status issue that requires a negotiated solution. I have
consistently emphasized that a way must be found for the city to emerge, through
negotiations, as the capital of two States, Israel and Palestine, with arrangements for
holy sites acceptable to all. It is equally important that political and religious
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authorities on both sides continue to ensure that the cultural and religious rights of
all are duly respected.
24. Several times, I expressed my deep concern at continued efforts to advance
planning for new Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem. For example, on
27 September 2011, the Government of Israel announced the construction of 1,100
housing units in East Jerusalem settlements. In November, Israel publicized its
intention to invite tenders for the construction of 1,557 new units in East Jerusalem.
I have reiterated that all settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory,
including East Jerusalem, whether on private land or elsewhere, is contrary to
international law and to the obligations of Israel under the Quartet road map. It
prejudices final status negotiations, makes the two-State solution all the more
difficult to achieve and must stop.
25. The expansion of settlements, which undermines the territorial basis for a
future Palestinian State and the credibility of Palestinian moderates, is of particular
concern. During the reporting period, the Government of Israel approved tenders for
the construction of approximately 2,700 residential units in settlements in the West
Bank, including East Jerusalem, and retroactively legalized others. Moreover, the
Israeli authorities did not act effectively against the construction of illegal outposts
on private Palestinian land. On 12 December, the Government of Israel approved the
construction of 40 houses and a farm near the settlement of Efrat, near Bethlehem,
and on 17 December the Government of Israel announced its intention to issue
construction tenders for 1,028 housing units in the settlements of Har Homa, Beitar
Illit and Givat Ze’ev. Construction in such sensitive areas is especially concerning,
as it impedes the natural development of Palestinian urban centres.
26. On 22 March, among other decisions, the Human Rights Council decided to
dispatch a fact-finding mission to examine the impact of Israeli settlements on
Palestinian human rights. Israel is highly critical of the Council’s action and has
suspended its cooperation with the Council.
27. Settler violence increased throughout the year. It is deeply troubling that
attacks by settlers on Palestinians and their property have become a systematic
occurrence — often but not exclusively in the context of anticipated Government
action against illegal settlement construction. Settler attacks on Palestinians and
their properties resulted in injuries to 167 Palestinians, including 26 children, during
the reporting period. Israeli extremists also attacked personnel of the Israel Defense
Forces in the West Bank.
28. Area C remains critical to the viability of a future Palestinian State. We must
ensure a broadening of community-driven planning in Area C, as well as the
provision of basic services, including in education and health. The United Nations is
already engaged on these issues at both the policy and programming levels.
Moreover, Israel should give due consideration to the transfer of land in Area C to
the Palestinian Authority, particularly in areas surrounding major urban centres, to
facilitate more suitable urban development and relieve the acute pressure on the land
and housing market.
29. The demolitions and evictions that took place in Area C during the reporting
period are of particular concern and were condemned by the international
community. Palestinians require access to a fair planning and zoning regime so as
not to resort to the building of unauthorized structures that lead to unjustified
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demolitions, which often affect the most vulnerable people. Demolitions have led to
the displacement of some 586 individuals, including 246 children, in the West Bank
and East Jerusalem during the reporting period. Overall, more needs to be done to
ease access and movement throughout the West Bank, including Area C, the Jordan
Valley and Gaza. In a comprehensive closure survey completed at the end of June,
the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs documented 542 obstacles
blocking Palestinian movement within the West Bank, including 61 permanently
staffed checkpoints (excluding checkpoints on the Green Line), 25 partial
checkpoints (staffed on an ad hoc basis) and 436 unstaffed physical obstacles, such
as roadblocks, earth mounds and trenches.
30. During my visit to Gaza on 2 February 2012, I was struck once again by the
fragility and unsustainable nature of the situation. I called upon Israel to implement
further measures to lift the closure of Gaza and allow the unrestricted import of key
building materials. I also continue to call for the free movement of people into and
out of Gaza and the full reopening of all official land crossings, as well as the
expansion of their capacity. These changes could be applied with due consideration
for the legitimate security concerns of Israel and could make a significant difference
in the lives of many Gazans; they would also reduce the illicit tunnel trade.
Indiscriminate rocket fire must also stop, and Israel must show maximum restraint.
31. The full implementation of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) and the
recovery and long-term economic growth of Gaza remain fundamental objectives of
the United Nations. Some significant progress was made towards this goal, but
much more needs to be done. A total of $350 million worth of United Nations
reconstruction work in Gaza was approved by the Government of Israel during the
reporting period. This has had a positive effect for those receiving services as well
as on short-term employment. However, the economic benefits of increased
employment will end with the conclusion of these works. Deeper and more
fundamental change is therefore required to enable a functioning Gazan economy,
beginning with authorizing exports to Israel and other countries, as well as transfers
to and from the West Bank. Without this essential step, the future of Gaza will
remain tenuous at best.
32. There are growing funding challenges for United Nations operations. The
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA), for example, requires an additional $50 million to meet the shortfall in
its core budget, which, if not bridged, may lead to the suspension of the Agency’s
essential services, in particular its ability to operate schools and health clinics and
provide poverty relief. In addition to the $50 million required to keep the Agency
operational, UNRWA launched an emergency appeal for the occupied Palestinian
territory in order to respond to emergency needs in 2012. This appeal currently falls
short by $173 million, including $7.5 million urgently needed to meet food
procurement distribution in Gaza for the remainder of 2012. This funding shortfall
has already resulted in the reduction of key poverty alleviation interventions and the
cancellation of the UNRWA “Summer Games” for the children of Gaza and, if not
addressed, will result in further cuts to humanitarian services provided by UNRWA
under the Emergency Appeal across the occupied Palestinian territory.
33. I urge donors to continue to fund United Nations reconstruction work in Gaza
through the Palestinian Authority/United Nations Trust Fund. I also urge the
Government of Israel to continue to grant approvals for outstanding United Nations
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reconstruction work in the Gaza Strip and emphasize once more that there should be
a broader opening for the entry of all construction materials into Gaza.
34. Preserving calm in Gaza and southern Israel continues to be crucial for
improvements there and for the overall political atmosphere. The fragility of the
relative calm was once again demonstrated on a number of occasions throughout the
reporting period by dangerous escalations taking place on 29 and 31 October, from
9 to 13 March and on 17 and 18 June. During the reporting period, 751 rockets were
fired from Gaza, including 138 Grad rockets, as well as 177 mortar shells. Many
rockets directed at populated areas in Israel were intercepted by the Iron Dome
system. Israel Defense Forces conducted 57 incursions and 174 air strikes into Gaza,
resulting in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians, including some 16 civilians. More
than 225 Palestinian civilians were injured, including 3 children. A total of
59 militants were killed, and 79 were injured. One Israeli soldier and one Israeli
civilian were killed, and 27 Israelis were injured. Again, I unequivocally condemn
these indiscriminate rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel and call for their complete
cessation. I also urge Israel to show maximum restraint. All should fully observe
their obligations regarding the protection of civilians.
35. A final area of concern is the Sinai peninsula, where there have been a growing
number of incidents. In February, Egyptian security forces seized a number of
anti-aircraft missiles and explosives, which were being readied for transfer to the
Gaza Strip. Soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces removed explosive devices on the
Israeli-Egypt border and intercepted suspected smugglers. I reiterate that weapons
transfers into Gaza must stop. In addition, on 16 June two rockets were shot from
the Sinai into south Israel, and on 18 June at least three militants attacked Israeli
workers constructing the security fence at the border. One Israeli worker was killed
and two were injured, prompting the above-mentioned escalation in violence on
17 and 18 June. On 5 August, a militant attack on an Egyptian security post near
Kerem Shalom killed 16 Egyptian border guards. The attackers subsequently
breached the Israeli border before being intercepted. I strongly condemned this
terror attack. On 15 August, one Grad missile fired from the Sinai landed near Eilat
in southern Israel.
36. On 18 October, Israel and Hamas implemented the first stage of a prisoner
exchange agreement. Israeli Sergeant Gilad Shalit, held in Gaza without
international access since 25 June 2006, was released by Hamas. In exchange, 1,028
Palestinian prisoners — many of whom had been imprisoned for involvement in
attacks on Israelis — were released, mostly to Gaza, but also to the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem, the occupied Syrian Golan and Israel. Having long called
for the end of the unacceptable captivity of Gilad Shalit and for the release of
Palestinian prisoners, I welcomed the releases as a significant humanitarian
breakthrough.
37. The hunger strike by more than 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody,
which started on 17 April to protest prison conditions and the application of
administrative detentions, ended on 14 May with an agreement to address prisoners’
concerns. I was pleased that Israel had taken steps to implement this agreement with
respect to the use of solitary confinement, family visits and the practice of
administrative detention. Israel also delivered the remains of 91 Palestinians buried
in Israeli-controlled areas. Despite the agreement that ended the hunger strike, and
amid reports that some additional Palestinians have been put in administrative
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detention, a small number of prisoners are reported not to have ended their hunger
strikes. I would like to state my concern for their well-being.
38. There are more than 300 Palestinians being held under administrative
detention. Administrative detention should be used only in the most limited number
of cases, for as short a period as possible, and in exceptional cases. Those detained
must be charged and brought to trial or released without delay.
39. In the West Bank, both the Palestinian application for membership in the
United Nations and the prisoner release in October prompted significant public
demonstrations but few acts of violence, thanks to the efforts of the Palestinian
Authority police. However, it was disappointing that the language used by Hamas
regarding the prisoner release lauded violent resistance. Demonstrations against the
barrier in the occupied West Bank continued on a regular basis, as the barrier’s route
continued to deviate significantly from the 1967 Green Line in contravention of the
2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. The barrier restricted
Palestinian access to East Jerusalem, key social services and agricultural land.
Protests against the barrier by Palestinian, Israeli and foreign activists largely
remained peaceful. The Board of the United Nations Register of Damage Caused by
the Construction of the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory submitted a
progress report on 8 June 2012.
40. Tensions and violent incidents continued throughout the reporting period.
Citing security reasons, the Israel Defense Forces conducted 1,092 operations in the
West Bank, during which 718 Palestinians were injured, including 88 children, and
2,062 Palestinians were arrested. More than 53 personnel of the Israeli forces were
injured by Palestinians. On 10 December, a Palestinian protesting the takeover of
privately owned land by Israeli settlers died from wounds sustained in Nabi Saleh
when an Israeli soldier fired a tear gas canister at close range from the armoured
vehicle at which the protester had been throwing stones. A total of 61 Palestinians
and 3 Israeli soldiers were injured during similar protests, and an investigation was
launched by the Israeli authorities. I stress that the right to peaceful protest must be
upheld and that protests should be kept strictly non-violent.
41. On 30 March, on the occasion of Land Day, large demonstrations were held in
the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and,
to a smaller extent, in Egypt and the Syrian Arab Republic. Clashes between
demonstrators and the Israel Defense Forces resulted in 1 Palestinian killed and
some 180 wounded. The Israeli forces used crowd control measures aimed at
minimizing the number of casualties. Palestinian security forces in the West Bank
and Gaza also took critical measures to avoid bloodshed.
42. During the reporting period, a total of 78 Palestinians were killed, including
54 militants, while 2,849 Palestinians, including 247 children, were injured; 2 Israelis
were killed, including 1 civilian; and 43 personnel of the Israeli forces and 39 Israeli
civilians were injured, illustrating the continuing cost of the ongoing conflict.
43. Despite these challenges, the efforts to build robust state institutions and revive
the Palestinian economy have brought real security and economic improvements. The
Palestinian Authority also continued to make praiseworthy efforts to maintain law and
order in areas under its control and strengthen its security capacity. In November, an
eighth battalion of internationally trained Palestinian security forces was deployed,
bringing their total number to more than 4,000. In a positive gesture, 51 alleged
militants being held in protective custody by the Palestinian police in the West Bank
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were granted amnesty by Israel on 4 November 2011. On 10 February 2012, for the
first time in 15 years, Palestinian National Security Forces, in coordination with
Israel, enforced law and order in the H-2 area of Hebron, which is under full Israeli
control.
44. I commend President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad for this achievement.
At the same time, I am concerned by reports of arbitrary detention being carried out
by Palestinian security forces and reports of ill treatment in detention centres in
Gaza. Moreover, in April and May, the de facto authorities in Gaza carried out five
executions without the approval of President Abbas, which is required by Palestinian
Basic Law. I would urge the Palestinian Authority to ensure that it fulfils its
responsibilities with full respect for international human rights laws.
45. The Palestinian Authority has achieved what it set out to do two years ago, and
this must be noted, preserved and built upon. However, I am now concerned about
the ability of the Palestinian Authority to maintain these gains in the light of its
increasingly dire financial situation.
46. At the start of July, the Palestinian Finance Minister announced that the
Palestinian Authority could not pay all June salaries to its 150,000 employees on
time. Israeli authorities transferred half of the monthly value added tax collection to
the Palestinian Authority two weeks early in order to assist with the payment of
salaries ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.
47. I continue to call upon donors to provide timely assistance to sustain this
agenda. Donor support for the Palestinian Authority was insufficient during the
reporting period, affecting the Authority’s ability to meet its financial obligations,
including the payment of salaries. I also strongly encouraged the Government of
Israel to take all measures necessary to facilitate growth, including further easing of
access and movement within, into and out of the West Bank for both goods and
people. On 17 July 2012, Israel approved 5,000 permits for Palestinian construction
workers to work in Israel, in addition to the 34,250 permits already issued for
Palestinian workers to work there. In a noteworthy achievement, after lengthy
discussions between the Palestinian Authority and the Ministry of Finance of Israel,
arrangements with respect to the transfer of goods between Israel and the Palestinian
Authority and related tax procedures that would take effect on 1 January 2013 were
concluded on 31 July. These initiatives are welcome. Yet, more needs to be done to
ease access and movement and enable economic growth throughout the occupied
Palestinian territory, including Area C and Gaza.
48. I would like to express my deep thanks and appreciation to the Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert H. Serry, as well as to the
Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Filippo Grandi. I also pay tribute to all United
Nations staff who work under difficult and at times dangerous circumstances in the
service of the United Nations.
49. Peace and Palestinian statehood are long overdue. I am acutely conscious of
the unsustainable status quo, which is thrown into sharper relief by the profound
political changes in the region. More than 45 years since the beginning of the
occupation, the keeping of a large population in profound poverty is in nobody’s
interest except that of the most extreme radicals in the region. I remain convinced that
direct and meaningful negotiations are the main avenue towards a comprehensive,
fair and lasting solution that fulfils the aspirations of Israel and the Palestinians,
including an end to occupation and conflict and a just and agreed solution to the
plight of Palestinian refugees.
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50. Given the dramatic developments in the region, progress on the Israeli-
Palestinian track is of even greater urgency and would have an important positive
impact on the region. It has been a year since the Security Council was presented
with the Palestinian application for membership in the United Nations, and we are
increasingly moving away from a two-State solution into a one-State reality, which
would diminish the prospects of regional peace in the spirit of the Arab Peace
Initiative. The continuing negative trends reported at present are further
manifestations that this reality is consistently undermining our common goal of a
negotiated two-State solution that will end the conflict and the occupation that
started in 1967.
51. I am seriously concerned by the lack of progress during the reporting period in
the search for a negotiated solution that would bring Israel and the Palestinians
closer towards durable peace and security, including the realization of the legitimate
aspiration of Palestinians to a State of their own and of Israel to live within
recognized and secure borders. The failure of the parties to follow the steps outlined
by the Quartet on 23 September 2011 is of grave concern. The outlines of an
agreement have long been clear. What is important now is for the parties to engage
seriously on substance. I call upon Israeli and Palestinian leaders to show vision,
courage and determination to reach a historical peace agreement that would meet the
legitimate aspirations of the people on both sides.
52. To this end, it is my sincere hope that the parties pursue vigorously all efforts
to create an environment that is conducive to the resumption of direct and
meaningful negotiations. In particular, I urge Israel to cease all settlement activity in
the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and to take concrete steps to
further ease the numerous restrictions in place both in the West Bank and Gaza. I
also strongly encourage all Palestinians on the path of non-violence and unity in line
with past PLO commitments. I call upon them to pursue their efforts to improve law
and order and combat extremism and incitement against Israel, and to continue to
build strong and democratic institutions, which are essential to a viable, independent
Palestinian State. In a highly volatile environment, it is crucial that any outbreaks of
violence that could undermine political efforts be prevented and that the parties
refrain from provocative steps on the ground. The international community must
also play its role by shaping a legitimate and balanced framework that offers a
credible political path forward, combined with far-reaching steps on the ground. The
international community should understand that its own efforts in pursuit of this goal
will increasingly lack credibility if we continue to fail to take the steps necessary to
enable an environment conducive to serious engagement.
53. As Secretary-General, I will continue to ensure that the United Nations works
towards the establishment of an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable
Palestinian State living side by side in peace with a secure Israel in the framework of a
comprehensive regional settlement consistent with Security Council resolutions 242
(1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1860 (2009), and in accordance
with the Quartet road map, the Arab Peace Initiative and the principle of land for
peace.
United Nations A/67/364/Add.1–S/2012/701/Add.1
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
10 January 2013
Original: English
13-20451 (E) 140113
*1320451*
General Assembly
Sixty-seventh session
Agenda items 36 and 37
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Sixty-seventh year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Addendum
On 8 January 2013, the following reply to the letter of the Secretary-General
dated 1 July 2012 (see A/67/364-S/2012/701, para. 2) was received from the
Security Council:
“The goal of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
remains one of the major challenges facing the international community,
including the Security Council.
“The Security Council considers the situation in Palestine each month in
connection with the item entitled ‘The situation in the Middle East, including
the Palestinian question’. During most months, a briefing was given either by
the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs or by the United Nations
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process in a public meeting,
followed by consultations among the Council members. During the months of
October 2011 and January, April and July 2012, the monthly meeting was held
in the form of an open debate.
“On 27 September 2011, the President of the Council of Ministers of
Lebanon, Najib Mikati, presided over the meeting, and Under-Secretary-
General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe briefed the Council. Mr. Pascoe
stated that it was not easy to chart a way forward, since the Palestinian and
Israeli positions remained far apart. He added that the efforts of the Quartet
and the expected proposals of the parties could help to resume negotiations.
Mr. Pascoe summarized the Quartet statement of 23 September, explaining that
the goals would be to make substantial progress within six months, to convene
an international conference in Moscow at the appropriate time, and to reach an
agreement no later than the end of 2012. He reaffirmed that settlements were
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illegal and contrary to the road map commitments of Israel and condemned the
rocket attacks fired into Israel from Gaza. The Under-Secretary-General
referred to the Palestinian application for membership in the United Nations.
He noted that the matter was before the Council and underlined the
institutional readiness of the Palestinian Authority to run a State. In the
consultations that followed, Council members called upon the Palestinian and
Israeli sides to refrain from taking unilateral actions that might jeopardize the
peace process. Some Council members supported the application of Palestine
for full membership in the United Nations and stressed the need to stop all
settlement activities and resume negotiations. Some members voiced their
opposition to the application of Palestine and stressed that the two-State
solution could be achieved only through direct negotiations.
“On 24 October 2011, the Security Council held an open debate on the
situation in the Middle East, at which it heard a briefing by Under-Secretary-
General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe. He said that the recent exchange
of prisoners between the Israelis and the Palestinians marked a significant
humanitarian breakthrough. He encouraged the parties to display equal
determination in the search for a lasting solution to the Middle East problem.
Noting the Quartet statement of 23 September 2011, Mr. Pascoe urged the
parties to refrain from provocations and to be ready to offer serious proposals
on borders and security for negotiation in order to avoid the deepening of the
impasse. Statements were made by the Permanent Representative of Israel and
the Permanent Observer of Palestine. Council and non-Council members called
upon the parties to seize the momentum and work towards early resumption of
direct negotiations within the framework of the Quartet statement of
23 September 2011. In addition, they were encouraged to forge consensus on
all permanent status issues. Several Member States expressed views on the
Palestinian application for admission to United Nations membership, under
consideration by the Council.
“On 21 November 2011, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East
Peace Process briefed the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East,
including the Palestinian question. Concerning the Middle East peace process,
he considered that provocations continue to damage confidence and make
resuming negotiations very difficult. He stressed the need to find a meaningful
diplomatic way forward, including in the framework of the Quartet statement
of 23 September. Both parties would have to show flexibility and
responsibility. Direct engagement should be facilitated by a conducive
environment and therefore the situation must ‘de-escalate’. To that end, Israel
should act on its settlement obligations and immediately unfreeze transfers to
the Palestinian Authority. It should also be mindful of the continuing appeal of
the Palestinian Authority for prisoners to be released, some dating back to
before the signing of the Oslo Accords. For its part, the Palestinian Authority
should find ways to contribute to the de-escalation of the situation and
improve the prevailing divisive climate, including in the international arena.
The Special Coordinator also referred to the situation in Gaza and southern
Israel, which had once again witnessed dangerous violence after rocket fire by
militants and Israeli strikes. He mentioned in this regard that preserving calm
in Gaza and southern Israel continues to be crucial for improvements there and
for the overall political atmosphere. He said that the United Nations
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condemned the indiscriminate rocket attacks and called upon Israel to exercise
maximum restraint and minimize the risk to civilians, and reiterated the call of
the Secretary-General for all to fully respect international humanitarian law. In
consultations of the whole, Council members expressed both their support for
the efforts of the Quartet and their concern about the lack of progress in
negotiations and the troubling developments on the ground, in particular
Israel’s continued settlement activity and decision to hold payments of tax
revenues to the Palestinian Authority. They supported the Special
Coordinator’s appeal for a de-escalation of the situation and reiterated the need
for all parties to abstain from provocative actions and to resume meaningful
direct negotiations. Some delegations reaffirmed their support for Palestine’s
admission to the United Nations, while others recalled the lack of unanimity
on the issue and proposed an intermediate step by upgrading the status of
Palestine in the General Assembly to that of an observer State. Some members
stated that there are no alternatives to direct negotiations between the parties.
“On 12 December 2011, the Security Council was briefed in closed
consultations by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Navanethem Pillay, on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic and the
occupied Palestinian territory. Some members of the Council stressed the
deplorable human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.
“On 20 December 2011, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political
Affairs, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, stressed that the realization of a two-State
solution had not advanced, with violent incidents erupting at a worrisome rate,
and outlined the efforts undertaken by the Quartet to help the parties to resume
direct talks, stressing the importance of de-escalation and confidence-building
between the parties. He noted recent arson attacks and acts of desecration
against mosques, among other actions by Israeli extremists, and welcomed in
this context the condemnation of those acts by the Prime Minister of Israel,
Benjamin Netanyahu, and his intention to prevent further such incidents. The
Assistant Secretary-General also voiced concern over Israeli settlement
activity, violence on the part of settlers and the overall security situation in
Gaza, including the firing of projectiles from Gaza into Israel. At the closed
consultations that followed, members of the Council stressed the importance of
resuming Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and condemned unilateral actions, in
particular the construction of settlements in occupied territories, which
undermined the Quartet’s efforts towards a negotiable solution of the conflict.
“On 18 January 2012, in closed consultations, the Security Council
received a briefing from the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs
and Emergency Relief Coordination, Valerie Amos, on the humanitarian
situation in the Palestinian territories in connection with the item entitled ‘The
situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question’. In the
briefing, she highlighted the humanitarian impact of all settlement activity and
the escalation of violence by settlers, as well as the dire humanitarian situation
in the Gaza Strip. Some Council members expressed concern about the
humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories, especially in the Gaza
Strip, and criticized Israeli settlement activities and settler violence. There was
also general support for the resumption of direct negotiations between the
parties.
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“On 24 January 2012, the Security Council held an open debate on the
situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The Council
heard a briefing by the Assistant Secretary-General of the Department of
Political Affairs, Oscar Fernandez Taranco. The Assistant Secretary-General
briefed the Council on the latest developments with regard to preparatory talks
between Palestinian and Israeli negotiators, specifically the recent meetings
between the parties as facilitated by Jordan in coordination with the Quartet.
He also informed the Council of the continuing construction of settlements by
Israel in the West Bank. He further informed the Council of the developments
in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic. Following the
briefing by the Assistant Secretary-General, the Permanent Observer of
Palestine and the Permanent Representative of Israel addressed the Council,
stating their respective positions. All members of the Council and
representatives of 24 non-member States, as well as the representative of the
European Union, made statements.
“Many States that participated in the debate expressed their
disappointment in the fact that the peace process remained stalled and
supported a return by the parties to direct negotiations. Almost all speakers
welcomed the initiative of Jordan in coordination with the Quartet and
expressed the hope that this initiative would be the beginning of serious talks
between the parties in line with the Quartet’s statement of 23 September 2011.
Some speakers also expressed their support for the application of Palestine for
admission to membership in the United Nations. Many States registered their
concern about the continuing settlement activity in the West Bank, including in
East Jerusalem, as well as settler violence. Those States called upon Israel to
stop this practice, as well as home demolitions, evictions and desecration of
Palestinian religious sites, and to prosecute settlers who continue to carry out
violence against the Palestinians. Some States condemned the rockets fired
from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Some States urged Israel to lift without delay
the blockade of the Gaza Strip so as to allow space for economic activity in
that area. Some States urged the Palestinians to accelerate their unity efforts.
Statements were also made on behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the Movement of Non-Aligned
Countries, the European Union, the Group of African States and the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
“On 8 February 2012, the Secretary-General briefed the Security Council
in closed consultations on his visit to the Middle East and, among other things,
the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. He commended King Abdullah of Jordan
for hosting talks between the parties. He informed the Council that he had
urged the parties to remain engaged and take confidence-building steps,
including the submission of comprehensive proposals on territory and security
to create an environment conducive to negotiations, which was the only viable
option for a lasting two-State solution. He noted the recent Fatah-Hamas
agreement on reconciliation and said he believed that the two tracks —
reconciliation and negotiations with Israel — were not mutually exclusive. He
informed the Council that the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud
Abbas, had told him that any Palestinian unity government would abide by
previous commitments. He stressed that while in the West Bank he had noticed
concrete signs of institutional development fundamental for the functioning of
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a future State, the situation in Gaza was unsustainable. He also mentioned the
situation of Palestinian prisoners. Some Council members called upon Israel to
remove impediments to peace negotiations so as not to compromise a final and
peaceful solution, including accepting discussions of the issue of Palestinian
prisoners and their inspection by the International Committee of the Red
Cross. The Secretary-General condemned the rockets fired from Gaza into
southern Israel the night before his arrival in the region.
“On 28 February 2012, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs,
B. Lynn Pascoe, briefed the Security Council on the situation between the
Palestinians and Israel. He said that the talks between the parties that started
on 3 January in Amman had stalled. He reiterated that the framework set on
23 September 2011 by the Quartet remained relevant. He mentioned the
Palestinian requirements for restarting the negotiations. He noted the
agreement between the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud
Abbas, and the leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, to form a transitional
government to be led by Mr. Abbas. The Under-Secretary-General reaffirmed
that the United Nations supports Palestinian unity within the framework of the
commitments of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Quartet principles
and the Arab Peace Initiative. He reiterated that the United Nations condemns
indiscriminate rocket fire on Israel.
“On 27 March 2012, the Security Council held its monthly meeting on
the Middle East. The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine
Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, Robert Serry, briefed
the Council at a public meeting. Council members then discussed the matter
further in closed consultations. The Special Coordinator said that there was a
dangerous combination of lack of political progress, instability and violence
on the ground, and an increasingly precarious situation for the Palestinian
Authority. The parties had not found sufficient common ground to resume
direct negotiations. A continued political vacuum would threaten the
achievements of Palestinian state-building. Such a vacuum would be filled by
negative trends. It was essential that the Quartet assume its responsibilities
when it met on 11 April. It needed to direct collective efforts towards
overcoming gaps in trust and substance. In closed consultations, the Special
Coordinator said that very little was happening and uncertainty was growing.
The positions of the parties were far apart. There was no prospect of serious
talks until the end of the year. The objective until the end of the year should be
to keep the Palestinian Authority afloat. The challenge for the Quartet on
11 April was to chart a way forward that kept the prospects of a two-State
solution alive. He was concerned that the principles underlying the two-State
solution were being eroded, and that action was needed in order to protect the
future of the two-State solution. Some members said the Council should
encourage the parties to resume dialogue and to take tangible steps to improve
the climate, and suggested that a visit by the Council to both Palestine and
Israel could be of value. Some members expressed concern that the Council
was not providing sufficient support for the Quartet’s difficult work. Several
members also condemned indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza into southern
Israel. Most Council members lamented the lack of progress. Many said that
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time was running out for the two-State solution and that the Quartet needed to
do more — including by charting a clear way forward on 11 April.
“During the Security Council open debate on ‘The situation in the
Middle East, including the Palestinian question’ on 23 April 2012, the Under-
Secretary-General for Political Affairs said that achieving peace for Israelis
and Palestinians is ‘an undiminished priority’. He highlighted the Quartet
meeting in Washington, D.C., on 11 April and said the delivery of a letter from
the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, to the Prime
Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, on 17 April was a positive step. Most
Council members expressed support for the Quartet’s efforts and the letter
from Mr. Abbas to Mr. Netanyahu as an opportunity to restart talks. Most
Council members called Israeli settlement activity ‘illegal’ and argued that it
undermines progress on a two-State solution. Some members condemned
rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel.
“On 29 May 2012, the Security Council received a briefing at an open
meeting from the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and
Personal Representative of the Secretary-General, Robert Serry, followed by
closed consultations. The Special Coordinator reported that the past month had
been characterized by several challenging events but that each had been
overcome for now and we were possibly moving in a more positive direction.
He said the parties had exchanged letters in which they outlined their
respective requirements for direct talks to continue. The Palestinians delivered
a letter on 17 April and the Israelis responded on 12 May. The exchange was
kept confidential and led to quiet direct engagement, which should be
welcomed and encouraged. In parallel, however, a series of developments
threatened to inflame tensions. He warned that if the parties did not grasp the
current opportunity for a lasting peace, we could be moving down a path
towards a one-State reality. He expressed hope that the parties would find a
way forward to substantive talks in the coming months. He noted that during
the reporting period settlement activity had continued, and reiterated that these
actions were contrary to international law and Israel’s commitments under the
road map, and should stop. Turning to Gaza, he stressed that the reconstruction
and economic growth in the Gaza Strip remained fundamental objectives of the
United Nations. He noted that the total value of approved United Nations
works in the Gaza Strip involving potential dual-use materials that required
Israel’s approval currently exceeded $365 million, with $96 million worth of
projects still under Israeli review, adding that such projects now enabled
United Nations agencies to play a major role in international efforts for
priority recovery and reconstruction in Gaza.
“On 19 June 2012, during an open briefing on recent developments in the
Middle East, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Oscar
Fernandez-Taranco, stressed that sporadic clashes, military operations and
announcements of settlement construction in the West Bank by Israel were
challenging the positive environment created by recent fragile forward steps in
the Israeli-Palestinian talks. He noted that Quartet envoys, after meeting in
Brussels on 15 June, agreed that there was an urgent need for the parties to
continue to pursue the current efforts towards resumed dialogue and
substantive negotiations and that it was time for them to take the necessary
steps towards that goal. He also reassured the Security Council that the
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Secretary-General, together with the Quartet, would stress the need to renew
dialogue and make real progress towards the two-State solution. He
emphasized that only a direct and meaningful dialogue can help restore belief
in a negotiated peace. During the closed consultations that followed, members
of the Council stressed the importance of resuming Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations and encouraged both sides to keep direct contact so as to maintain
the positive momentum for the resumed dialogue and negotiations. Some
members condemned unilateral actions, in particular the construction of
settlements in occupied Palestinian territory. Some members stressed the
urgency of reaching comprehensive peace in the Middle East and called for
vigorous diplomatic action to attain lasting peace in the region based on an
enduring commitment by the two parties to mutual recognition, the two-State
solution, and building upon previous agreements and obligations. Some
members emphasized the United Nations role in the Quartet to support the
parties in their efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the
Middle East. Several members also reiterated their support for a visit by the
Council to the Middle East.
“On 2 July 2012, the Security Council held closed consultations and was
briefed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the
situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and Gaza. She mentioned that
Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, which had entered its sixth year, was
causing severe limitations on basic rights, had nearly eliminated prospects for
Gaza’s economic development and had created an unnecessary dependency on
humanitarian assistance. At the same time, she condemned the indiscriminate
rocket firing from Gaza as a blatant violation of international law. Regarding
the steady expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, she indicated that such actions were clearly prohibited by
international law. She expressed concern regarding violence perpetrated by
Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property. She referred to such
discriminatory policies as two separate legal systems, two separate
infrastructures and a series of movement restrictions that apply only to
Palestinians. She pointed out that the treatment and conditions of Palestinians
imprisoned or detained by Israel merited attention from the international
community. Some members of the Council condemned the expansion of Israeli
settlements as illegal under international law, and some also condemned the
firing of rockets from Gaza. Some members of the Council expressed the
urgent need for a genuine dialogue between the parties.
“On 25 July 2012, the Security Council held the quarterly open debate on
the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal
Representative of the Secretary-General, Robert Serry, briefed the Council on
recent developments in the region. He indicated that June was characterized by
quiet direct exchanges between the parties in an attempt to reach agreement on
a package of measures that would create an environment conducive to
restarting talks and pave the way for high-level contacts. He said that Quartet
envoys had remained in close contact with each other and the parties and that
there had been a number of high-level visits. He expressed his concern over
new settlement announcements since this represented a further violation of
Israel’s obligations under the road map. The Special Coordinator advised that
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time was running out for the establishment of a Palestinian State living sideby-
side in peace and security with Israel. He encouraged the parties to make
every effort to overcome obstacles and take the necessary steps to enable an
environment conducive to serious engagement. The members of the Council,
the Permanent Observer of Palestine, the Deputy Permanent Representative of
Israel, the Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People and 22 more delegations took part in the debate.
Member States stressed the importance of resuming Israeli-Palestinian
dialogue and negotiations. Some members condemned the construction of
settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. Certain members called for
vigorous diplomatic action to attain lasting peace in the region based on a two-
State solution, and building upon previous agreements and obligations. Various
members emphasized the Quartet’s role in supporting the parties in their
efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”
United Nations A/68/363–S/2013/524
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
4 September 2013
Original: English
13-46497 (E) 300913
*1346497*
General Assembly Security Council
Sixty-eighth session
Items 35 and 36 of the provisional agenda*
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Sixty-eighth year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 67/23. It contains replies received from the parties concerned to the notes
verbales sent by the Secretary-General pursuant to the request contained in paragraph
26 of the resolution. The report also contains the observations of the Secretary-General
on the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on international efforts to
move the peace process forward with a view to achieving a peaceful settlement. The
report covers the period from September 2012 to August 2013.
* A/68/150.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 67/23.
2. On 26 July 2013, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 26 of the
above-mentioned resolution, I addressed the following letter to the President of the
Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 67/23, which the General
Assembly adopted on 30 November 2012, at its sixty-seventh session, under
the agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 26 of the resolution ‘requests the Secretary-General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to
the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session a report on these efforts and
on developments on this matter’.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 12 August 2013.
“Recalling the Secretariat’s obligation to observe the page limit of its
reports, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 52/214, I would like to
encourage the Security Council to limit its submission to 1,500 words.”
3. As at 2 September, no response had been received to that request.
4. In a note verbale dated 29 May 2013 to the parties concerned, I sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization, regarding any steps taken
by them to implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at 31 August 2013,
replies had been received from Israel, Lebanon and the Palestine Liberation
Organization.
5. The note verbale dated 14 August 2013 from the Permanent Mission of Israel
to the United Nations reads as follows:
“As shown in the meeting records, Israel voted against this resolution, as
it has done on similar resolutions adopted in the past by the General Assembly.
Resolution 67/23 joins the numerous one-sided resolutions passed annually by
the General Assembly which only serve to undermine the credibility of the
United Nations as an impartial agent for the advancement of peace.
“The Permanent Mission of Israel wishes to reiterate the considerations
that guided this voting practice.
“Despite the Israeli Government’s efforts and notwithstanding the
improved economic environment both in the West Bank and in Gaza,
Palestinian terrorism continued unabated. The year 2012 saw a dramatic rise in
terror attacks from the Gaza Strip, including rockets, IEDs, sniper fire and
infiltration attempts. In total, there were 163 incidents (excluding rocket
attacks), in comparison with 89 incidents in 2011. Similarly, there was a sharp
increase in rocket attacks — both in numbers (211 per cent), range and
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accuracy, as the targeting of both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in November 2012
clearly demonstrated.
“In response to the escalating attacks from Hamas and other terror groups
in the Gaza Strip, Israel launched operation ‘Pillar of Defense.’ In the months
leading up to the operation, incidents along the border fence increased both in
frequency and severity. Explosive devices, sniper fire, anti-tank fire and a
booby-trapped tunnel, combined with the 787 rockets that had landed in Israel
since the start of 2012, necessitated action to protect more than 1 million
Israeli civilians.
“Throughout the eight-day operation, Israel worked together with
international organizations and governmental representatives to provide
assistance for Gaza’s civilian population. During that period, no fewer than
1,532 rockets, including long-range missiles, were fired at densely populated
areas in Israel, effectively placing millions of civilians at risk. In total, six
Israelis (two of whom were soldiers) were killed and over 250 injured.
“Despite a relentless and acute threat to its security, Israel has gone to
great lengths to extend humanitarian assistance and foster conditions for
Palestinians economic growth. Throughout 2012, cooperation intensified with
the relevant international community organs on the ground, resulting in the
successful implementation of dozens of projects, alongside various measures
aimed at alleviating Palestinian economic hardships. No fewer than 219,469
entry permits were issued for medical patients and their companions,
representing an increase of 11 per cent on 2011 figures. Israel also shouldered
the costs of medical treatment for 20 Palestinian children whose families could
not afford to do so.
“Extensive measures were introduced to improve the process of crossing
from the West Bank to Israel, including the extensive refurbishment of
installations and streamlining the relevant bureaucratic procedures. The
number of Palestinian civilians crossing into Israel for recreational purposes
nearly tripled since 2011. Similarly, the number of Israeli work permits
increased and their terms broadened significantly.
“In the Gaza strip, Israeli measures adopted back in 2010 resulted in
sharply increased imports. In November 2012, the policy was once again
expanded, with the immediate outcome of an 8 per cent increase in the number
of trucks entering Gaza during the year. Israel invested 80 million NIS to
upgrade capacity at the Kerem Shalom crossing to 400-450 trucks per day.
During 2012, no fewer than 57,540 trucks crossed via Kerem Shalom
compared to 53,874 trucks in 2011. The number of pedestrians passing through
the Erez Crossing also increased by 25 per cent overall.
“The Palestinian Authority (includes both Gaza and West Bank
combined) economic growth continued steadily throughout 2012. In the first
three quarters of the year, gross domestic product rose by 6.1 per cent
compared with the same period in 2011, despite the worldwide economic
slowdown.
“Resolution 67/23 does not refer to or reflect any of the information
outlined above, thus resulting in a misleading and erroneous picture of the
situation on the ground.
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“At the same time, the Palestinian Authority has continued its efforts to
delegitimize Israel by taking unilateral steps in various multilateral forums,
culminating in its appeal for non-member status at the United Nations in
November 2012.
“It is hoped that the recent resumption of direct negotiations between
Israel and the Palestinian Authority will contribute to the achievement of a
comprehensive resolution of the conflict.”
6. The note verbale dated 2 August 2013 from the Permanent Observer Mission
of the State of Palestine to the United Nations reads as follows:
“The State of Palestine believes resolution 67/23 constitutes a major
contribution by the international community to the ongoing efforts to realize a
peaceful, just, comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the
question of Palestine as a whole. In this regard, we reiterate our firm belief that
efforts at the United Nations, the center of multilateral activity in our world, can
and must contribute towards peace and will not obstruct its realization.
“For decades, this resolution has defined the foundations for peace
according to international law. The vast support for the resolution underscores
the global consensus favoring a solution that results in Israel’s withdrawal from
the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and
achievement of the solution of two States: an independent, sovereign,
democratic, viable and contiguous State of Palestine, living side by side with
Israel in peace and security on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, and a just
solution for the Palestine refugees based on resolution 194 (III) (1948).
“During the sixty-seventh session, this consensus was also boldly
reaffirmed by the General Assembly in resolution 67/19, ‘Status of Palestine in
the United Nations’, which accorded to Palestine non-member observer State
status in the United Nations, in recognition of Palestine’s statehood. Resolution
67/19 also recalls the parameters of a peace settlement, as defined in relevant
United Nations resolutions, the Madrid principles, the Arab Peace Initiative and
the Quartet Roadmap, reaffirming unequivocal support for the two-State
solution, an essential element for the majority of States voting in favor. The
urgency of realizing the two-State solution and the Palestinian people’s right to
self-determination and independence in their State of Palestine on the Palestinian
territory occupied since 1967, a right explicitly reaffirmed in the resolution, is
further reflected in the calls for resumption and acceleration of negotiations in
the Middle East peace process for achievement of a peace settlement and for all
States, specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to
assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to selfdetermination,
independence and freedom.
“Support for resolution 67/19 came from all corners of the globe,
comprising countries from every major political and regional group, including
the Arab League, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation, the European Union, the Group of Latin American and Caribbean
Countries, the African Union, the Caribbean Community, the Nordic Group and
the Asia-Pacific Group. The resolution — adopted on 29 November 2012, 65
years since the Assembly’s adoption of resolution 181 (II) partitioning Palestine
in 1947 — was viewed by Member States as a vital opportunity to contribute to
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salvaging the two-State solution in the light of its precarious status due to the
illegal policies of Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem — the Territory constituting the State of
Palestine — that have diminished the solution’s viability and popular
conviction in the potential to justly realize it.
“Moreover, resolution 67/19 constitutes another important step by the
international community towards rectifying the historic injustice endured by the
Palestinian people and paving the way for the State of Palestine’s full, rightful
inclusion in the community of nations, pending acceptance of the application for
admission to United Nations membership, which remains before the Security
Council following its submission by President Mahmud Abbas on 23 September
2011, consistent with the right to self-determination enshrined in the Charter and
relevant resolutions, from 181 (II) to 242 (1967) to the present.
“Since the adoption of resolutions 67/19 and 67/23, the State of Palestine
has upheld its legal obligations and strived to implement the resolutions’
provisions, endeavoring to advance conditions conducive for peace. This is
consistent with Palestinian efforts and respect for United Nations resolutions and
international law over the years. As acknowledged by the international
community, Palestine has consistently fulfilled its obligations in good faith,
despite the enormous challenges and manifold crises faced under Israeli
occupation.
“Moreover, the Palestinian leadership has never placed conditions on the
peace process and has only rightly called for respect of international law and the
United Nations resolutions, including resolution 67/23, that constitute the
foundation of that process. Respect of the law is obligatory for all States,
including Israel, the occupying Power, and is vital for overcoming the problems
that have repeatedly caused the peace process to fail and exacerbated conditions
on the ground, causing grave hardship for the Palestinian people and
undermining the two-State solution. And there is consensus that such respect is
what will ensure that negotiations between the parties to resolve all final status
issues — Jerusalem, Palestine refugees, settlements, borders, security, prisoners
and water — will succeed and speedily result in the conclusion of a just peace
agreement.
“In fact, the longstanding international position in support of the two-State
solution — based on the parameters of, inter alia, the 4 June 1967 borders as the
basis of the two States, Jerusalem as the shared capital of the two States, and a
just agreed solution for the Palestine refugees as per relevant resolutions — is
the position that the Palestinian people and their leadership have been committed
to for at least a quarter century, since their formal acceptance of the two-State
solution with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of the State of
Palestine in 1988. This significant compromise to establish the State of Palestine
on only 22 per cent of our historic homeland for the sake of restoring our rights,
achieving our freedom and ending the conflict is among the boldest reflections
of the Palestinian commitment to peace and coexistence, despite the historic
injustice inflicted on our people, including the Palestine refugees, who now
number over 5 million people and who continue to endure the untold hardships
of exile, including as a result of the crises that have wracked the region, the
most recent being the grave conflict in Syria.
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“This commitment is at the core of the Palestinian leadership’s
pragmatism, from its engagement in all incarnations of the peace process from
the Madrid Conference forward and its cooperation with all initiatives to
advance it, to its legitimate actions at the United Nations to safeguard and
realize the rights of the Palestinian people. This commitment has, remarkably,
prevailed despite the deleterious impact of Israel’s unlawful policies and the
consequent setbacks in the process.
“Heeding the calls in resolutions 67/19 and 67/23, Palestine again
declares its readiness to make peace. We are ready to seize the current
opportunity resulting from serious international and regional efforts, including
by the United States, in coordination with the Ministerial Committee for the
Arab Peace Initiative, along with the efforts and support of concerned States
from around the world, efforts with which Palestine has cooperated at all
stages. As of the writing of this note, we have committed to resume direct
negotiations with Israel, based on our genuine desire to end the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict and establish peace.
“The decisions made now will determine whether the solution of two
States — the State of Palestine and State of Israel — living side by side in peace
and security on the basis of the pre-1967 borders will be achieved, or whether
that solution will be tragically brought to an end by Israel’s illegal policies. The
State of Palestine is prepared to uphold its responsibilities towards its
achievement and the just resolution of all final status issues, and believes that
the international community is likewise ready to uphold its obligations, as
reflected in resolution 67/23. However, we caution that our collective efforts, no
matter how well-intentioned and serious, will fail if Israel persists with the
illegal policies and practices of its 46-year military occupation.
“For a meaningful peace process to be sustained and succeed, the reality
on the ground must be immediately redressed. Respect for resolution 67/23
would greatly contribute to fostering an environment compatible with, and
supportive, of the process’ goals. If Israel remains intransigent, however, the
process will fail again with far-reaching consequences, ushering a search for
alternative solutions and the onset of alternative efforts, political, legal and
popular, to end the injustice and realize the inalienable human rights and
legitimate national aspirations of the Palestinian people.
“Regrettably, since adoption of resolution 67/23, Israel has continued its
measures of aggression, colonization and collective punishment against the
Palestinian people, in flagrant breach of international law, including the Fourth
Geneva Convention and the human rights covenants, and General Assembly,
Security Council, Human Rights Council, Economic and Social Council, United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other resolutions,
in disrespect of the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion (9 July
2004), and in arrogant disregard for the global calls for compliance.
“This has included, inter alia: construction of settlements and the Wall,
particularly in and around Occupied East Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the Jordan
Valley; establishment of so-called ‘settlement outposts’; declarations regarding
construction of thousands of settlements units, with particular intensity and in
a blatantly retaliatory, punitive manner following the adoption of resolution
67/19; confiscation of hundreds of dunums of land; forced displacement and
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transfer of Palestinian civilians, particularly Bedouin families; demolition of
homes; violent military raids by the occupying forces causing loss of life, injury
and property destruction; excessive force against peaceful civilian protesters;
daily arrests and detention of civilians, including children; continued
imprisonment of nearly 5,000 Palestinians under horrific conditions and abuse,
including several prisoners remaining on hunger strike; a myriad of measures
obstructing freedom of movement, foremost the illegal blockade on the Gaza
Strip, which has entered its seventh year and is the cause of vast humanitarian
suffering; and aggravation of religious sensitivities, with provocations against
holy sites, especially at Al-Haram Al-Sharif, detention of the Grand Mufti of
Jerusalem and harassment of worshippers, including during Christian Easter
observances and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
“Extremist Israeli settlers have also continued their criminal rampages,
terrorizing Palestinian civilians, destroying farmlands and thousands of trees,
vandalizing churches and mosques and threatening the sanctity of Al-Haram Al-
Sharif. Settlers act with support and incitement from Israeli officials
encouraging colonization and de facto annexation of Palestinian land. Public
statements by Ministers and Knesset members have exposed extremist positions
of parts of the Israeli Government coalition, revealing rejection of the two-State
solution and the rights and even existence of the Palestinian people, which is a
serious cause for concern as we seek to overcome the political impasse.
“Palestine reiterates: the two-State solution and Israel’s settlement
campaign are completely irreconcilable. As stressed in resolution 67/23 and by
the international community at all junctures: settlement activities are illegal,
constitute the major obstacle to peace and must be completely halted. In fact,
settlement activities constitute war crimes under the Fourth Geneva
Convention, Additional Protocol 1, and the Rome Statute of the International
Criminal Court.
“Speaking of peace, while engaging in its destruction, makes a mockery of
the international community’s support for the two-State solution and sabotages
all efforts in this regard, as does claiming ‘readiness to negotiate without
conditions’, while actually imposing conditions on the ground in the form of
illegal, hard facts that entrench the occupation and obstruct a peace agreement.
Until now, this has regrettably been Israeli policy, whereby settlement activities
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, increased by
355 per cent in the first quarter of 2013, further impairing the Territory’s
contiguity and physically jeopardizing the two-State solution.
“At this critical moment, Israel must tangibly demonstrate its willingness
to end its occupation and truly make peace. The mentality and policies of
occupation must end. This must include cessation of all settlement activities,
regardless of the manifestation. Also, Palestinian prisoners must be released,
military operations halted and all measures of collective punishment ceased,
including the blockade of Gaza. This is imperative to stem the deterioration of
the situation and of popular belief in the possibility for peace, and to salvage
this final chance for the two-State solution.
“The international community must remain vigilant in demanding Israel’s
respect for international law and United Nations resolutions. A firm message
must be conveyed that Israel’s illegal policies must be halted and that the price
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of occupation is steep, while there is much to be gained from peace. Here, we
recall the June 2013 guidelines adopted by the European Union, which can
tangibly contribute to promoting compliance with the law and thus advancing
a peaceful solution. If Israel persists with its violations, the international
community must hold it accountable, ensuring respect of the law, averting
further destabilization and preserving the prospects for peace. Failure to do so
would be a disservice to the cause of peace, endangering the future of the
Palestinian and Israeli peoples and threatening peace and security in the
Middle East and beyond.
“As reaffirmed in resolution 67/23, the permanent responsibility of the
United Nations towards the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all
aspects must be upheld and relevant resolutions implemented, including by the
Security Council as per its Charter duty to maintain international peace and
security. We also recognize here the important role of the United Nations
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
in raising international awareness and support for Palestinian rights and a just
solution to the conflict.
“For its part, the State of Palestine will continue to act responsibly,
upholding its commitment in word and deed to the goal of peaceful settlement,
and to cooperate with all international efforts in this regard, based on its
conviction in the rule of law and the international resolve to promote a just
solution that will achieve the independence of the State of Palestine, with East
Jerusalem as its capital, on the basis of the pre-1967 borders; the rights of the
Palestinian people, including the Palestine refugees; and peace and security for
Palestine and Israel.
“Internally, the Palestinian Government will continue developing
Palestinian national institutions and infrastructure in accordance with the
national plan, aiming to strengthen our State’s foundations, serve our people
and ease their hardships while still under occupation. We are grateful for the
international community’s full support for these efforts, the progress of which
is well-documented by the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of
the International Assistance to Palestinians, the World Bank and the United
Nations, despite the constraints caused by Israel’s unlawful actions and the
ongoing financial crisis.
“The Palestinian leadership will also continue striving to end the division
among our political factions, as demanded by our people and in line with
Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) and the widespread calls for unity. We
continue to seek implementation of the May 2011 Reconciliation Agreement
signed in Cairo and the February 2012 Declaration signed in Doha. We appeal
for international support for Palestinian reconciliation and express
appreciation for the consistent position by the Secretary-General and the
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process in this
regard and for all their efforts for peace.
“In conclusion, while reflecting on resolution 67/23 and urging its
implementation, we reiterate gratitude for the efforts of the entire United
Nations system to promote realization of the rights of the Palestinian people
and a peaceful settlement. We also reiterate gratitude for the principled support
of all concerned States and peoples worldwide, and urge that no effort be
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spared to achieve long-overdue freedom, justice and dignity for the Palestinian
people and Israeli-Palestinian peace.”
7. The note verbale dated 19 June 2013 from the Permanent Mission of Lebanon
to the United Nations reads as follows:
“Lebanon is committed to the provisions of General Assembly resolution
67/23 of 30 November 2012, entitled ‘Peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine’, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations and
international law. The firm position of Lebanon is to insist on the
implementation of the international resolutions safeguarding the right of the
Palestinian people to self-determination, to return to its land and to establish its
independent State with Jerusalem as its capital. Lebanon supports the right of
return and rejects settlements in all its forms. It is committed to the Arab Peace
Initiative that was agreed at the Beirut summit of 2002 with a view to
upholding Arab rights and the rights of the Palestinian people.”
II. Observations
8. Efforts intensified to achieve the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine during the latter half of the reporting period. Direct Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations, discontinued in September 2010, resumed on 29 July 2013. The
situation on the ground remained challenging, in particular for the population living
under closure in Gaza while Israel continued to face the threat of rocket fire. In the
West Bank, tensions persisted while settlement activity continued to accelerate. The
situation on the ground presented a growing cause for concern over the viability of the
two-State solution. At the same time, the Palestinians continued to implement an
ambitious State-building programme. They also briefly resumed their efforts towards
reuniting the West Bank and Gaza, albeit with limited success at reconciliation.
9. In parallel to those developments in the peace process, on 29 November 2012
the General Assembly accorded Palestine non-member observer State status in the
United Nations with the adoption of resolution 67/19 through a majority of 138 votes
in favour. I reported on the steps taken regarding the change of status of Palestine in
the United Nations, as well as the progress made, or lack thereof at the time of my
report, in resuming the Middle East peace process on 8 March 2013 (A/67/738). The
application for full United Nations membership remains pending before the Security
Council.
10. Quartet envoys met in Brussels on 12 December 2012 and again on 10 January
2013 in Amman. They discussed ways to help the parties avoid escalation
diplomatically and on the ground in the short term, while also finding a way back to
negotiations. Quartet envoys continued to work with the parties to encourage them
to step up direct contacts and refrain from provocations, and reminded them of their
road map obligations. I also continued to engage with the parties, as well as with
key international and regional leaders, both in New York and on the margins of
international conferences and events, in order to encourage concerted efforts to
forge a way forward.
11. From 20 to 22 March 2013, the President of the United States of America,
Barack Obama, visited the region with his Secretary of State, John Kerry. The visit
by President Obama marked an important opportunity to reinvigorate efforts
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towards a two-State solution. During President Obama’s speech on 21 March in
Jerusalem he called for an independent, viable Palestine, while emphasizing Israelis’
right to insist upon their security. The President also reiterated his earlier suggested
principles on territory and security which he believed can be the basis for talks, and
called for Arab States to take steps towards normalized relations with Israel. Secretary
Kerry remained in the region to meet with Israeli leaders, and in five subsequent visits
to the region he continued to meet with both the Palestinian and Israeli leaderships to
discuss the resumption of dialogue leading to peace.
12. I met with President Obama on 11 April 2013 in Washington, D.C. We agreed
that there is at least a window of opportunity for both Israelis and Palestinians to
resume negotiations. I reconfirmed the commitment of the United Nations to support,
including through the Quartet, a substantive initiative with a defined political horizon
to achieve a two-State solution. I also spoke to the urgency of progress towards peace.
13. In a particularly important visit to Washington, D.C., on 29 April, the Follow-up
Committee on the Arab Peace Initiative of the League of Arab States, a delegation of
Arab Ministers and leaders including the then-Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad
bin Jassim al Thani, and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Al-Araby, reaffirmed
the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative first proposed in 2002, and the Committee
declared that a peace agreement should be based on the two-State solution on the basis
of the 4 June 1967 line, with the possibility of comparable and mutually agreed minor
swaps of land, reviving prospects that its promise of regional stability can become an
important part of developing peace efforts.
14. On his sixth trip to the Middle East, Secretary Kerry secured the commitment
of both sides, announcing on 19 July in Amman that the parties had established the
basis to resume direct final status negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. It
is against this compelling background that I welcomed Secretary Kerry’s intense
diplomatic efforts in recent months. On 29 and 30 July 2013, Secretary Kerry hosted
the first meeting between Palestinian and Israeli officials since September 2010. The
Middle East Quartet and I welcomed and supported this engagement.
15. Some very tough choices were required from both sides in the period ahead.
Both leaders had to win the support of their domestic constituencies for renewed
negotiations. Prime Minister Netanyahu secured his cabinet’s approval to release
104 pre-Oslo Palestinian prisoners during the course of an agreed nine month
timetable for negotiations. On the eve of the first round of direct negotiations held
in Jerusalem, the first group of 26 Palestinian prisoners was released on 13 August.
However, I was deeply troubled by the announcement by Israel of approvals of some
3,000 housing units in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. A second round
of negotiations was held on 20 August in Jericho.
16. It was against this background that I travelled to the region — to Jordan,
Palestine and Israel — on 15 and 16 August to lend my personal support to the leaders
on both sides. I was encouraged by the seriousness of efforts to bring the parties to the
negotiating table after a prolonged political stalemate. I was particularly heartened by
the bold decision of President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu to embark on
direct dialogue. I found both Palestinian and Israeli leaderships recommitted to the
vision of a two-State solution, which is clearly in the best interest of both peoples. It is
my firm belief that direct negotiations are the only way through which Palestinians
can realize their rightful aspirations for an independent and viable Palestinian State
and Israelis can meet their legitimate security needs and finally become a crucial
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partner in the development of a stable and prosperous Middle East. For the
negotiations to have a chance at success, they need to be meaningful with a clear
political horizon and yield early dividends in the immediate period ahead.
17. Palestinians continued to advance their State-building programme, albeit limited
to the territory under the Authority’s control, which excluded Area C, East Jerusalem
and Gaza. This formed an essential component of the political process. Despite strong
international consensus that the Palestinian Authority was capable of running a State,
the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to
Palestinians was primarily concerned over the fiscal sustainability and economic
viability due to the Palestinian Authority’s fiscal difficulties during the reporting
period. They also maintained that concerted action was urgently needed to stabilize
the fiscal position of the Palestinian Authority and rekindle private sector-led
economic growth. Efforts by the Palestinian Authority towards structural reforms
including fiscal containment, as well as adequate and predictable assistance to the
Palestinian government by donors, were considered essential to manage the deficit
projected at $1.7 billion.
18. Bearing in mind Security Council resolutions 1860 (2009) and 1850 (2008), I
continued to support efforts to advance Palestinian unity within the framework of
the commitments of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the positions of
the Quartet and the Arab Peace Initiative. Reconciliation on this basis and on the
basis of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks need not be mutually exclusive, and a united
Palestinian polity is necessary for the viability of the two-State solution. I welcomed
the efforts extended to this effect, notably by Egypt.
19. Despite a series of meetings between members of Fatah and Hamas in Cairo to
advance the implementation of existing reconciliation agreements, there has been
little progress to date other than the successful voter registration drive conducted,
from 11 to 20 February in both the West Bank and Gaza, for the first time since
2007. A total of 450,000 new electors were registered by the Palestinian Central
Election Commission, including 350,000 in Gaza. On 2 April, Khaled Meshaal was
re-elected Head of the Hamas Political Bureau.
20. The situation in occupied East Jerusalem remained tense. Clashes occurred on
7 and 8 May in East Jerusalem in and around the Old City in the context of what
Israelis call “Jerusalem day”. Restrictions on access for Palestinians were imposed
in connection to visits in the esplanade of the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount by
right-wing Israeli activists. This was coupled with the temporary detention of the
Grand Mufti of Jerusalem for interrogation over reported incitement. Jerusalem is a
final status issue that requires a negotiated solution. I have consistently emphasized
that a way must be found for the city to emerge, through negotiations, as a capital of
two States, Israel and Palestine, with arrangements for holy sites acceptable for all.
It is equally important that political and religious authorities on both sides continue
to ensure that the cultural and religious rights of all are duly respected.
21. The expansion of settlements, which undermines the territorial basis for a
future Palestinian State and the credibility of Palestinian moderates, is of particular
concern. I have repeatedly stressed that all settlement activity in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law.
Over the reporting period, the Government of Israel approved tenders for the
construction of approximately 18,109 residential units in settlements in the West
Bank, including East Jerusalem, and retroactively legalized others. In July the
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Government of Israel announced its intention to issue construction tenders for 854
housing units in the settlements of Har Homa, Nokdim and Modi’in Ilit. Construction
in such sensitive areas is of particular concern, as it impedes the natural development
of Palestinian urban centres. Moreover, the Israeli authorities did not act effectively
against the construction of illegal outposts on private Palestinian land. A report of the
Israeli State comptroller issued on 17 July noted that there was little to no criminal
law enforcement in the settlements regarding violations of planning and construction
law and that administrative procedures for demolitions are rarely implemented.
22. Settler violence decreased slightly from last year. It is deeply troubling that
attacks by settlers on Palestinians and their property have become a systematic
occurrence — often but not exclusively in the context of anticipated Government
action against illegal settlement construction. Attacks by settlers on Palestinians and
their properties resulted in 159 Palestinians, including 35 children, being injured
during the reporting period.
23. The demolitions and evictions that took place in Area C over the reporting
period are of deep concern and were condemned by the international community.
Palestinians require access to a fair planning and zoning regime so as not to resort to
the building of unauthorized structures that lead to unjustified demolitions, which
often impact the most vulnerable people. Throughout the reporting period, demolitions
have led to the displacement of some 907 individuals, including 458 children, in the
West Bank and East Jerusalem. Overall, more needs to be done to ease access and
movement throughout the West Bank, including Area C, the Jordan Valley and Gaza.
24. The situation in Gaza remains precarious. In the wake of the political
developments in Egypt, the Egyptian authorities took robust measures against the
tunnels into Gaza. As a result of those actions against illegal activity, according to
some estimates 80 per cent of the tunnels are now no longer functioning. Gaza
experienced serious shortages of fuel and basic building materials for which the
tunnels had become the primary entry point owing to severe restrictions on imports
via the official crossings and the higher cost of fuel available from the West Bank and
Israel. While the only Israeli crossing for goods, Kerem Shalom, has remained open
and is handling increased quantities of consumer goods, I am concerned that already
difficult economic and humanitarian conditions in Gaza will further deteriorate if
access into Gaza through legal crossings of basic commodities such as building
materials is not liberalized. I encourage all parties not to forget the precarious
situation in Gaza and to take advantage of the improved context between the parties to
further lift the remaining closures. These changes must be applied with due
consideration for the legitimate security concerns of Israel. Of positive note is the
liberalization by Israel of the entry of key construction materials into Gaza, to some
extent, by allowing an average of 20 truckloads of construction material per day to
enter Gaza for the private sector in December 2012. That has helped the private sector
to legally procure those materials to address the infrastructural needs of Gaza.
25. The full implementation of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) and the
recovery and long-term economic growth of Gaza remain fundamental objectives of
the United Nations. Some significant progress was made towards that goal, but
much more needs to be done. In this context, United Nations reconstruction work
worth $450 million in Gaza has been approved by the Government of Israel. That
has had a positive effect not only for those receiving services but also on short-term
employment; however, the economic benefits of increased employment will end
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with the conclusion of those works. Deeper and more fundamental change is therefore
required to enable a functioning Gazan economy, beginning with authorizing exports
to Israel, as well as transfers to and from the West Bank. Without those essential steps,
the future of Gaza will remain tenuous at best.
26. The reporting period witnessed alarming escalations of tension between Gaza
and Israel. The fragility of the relative calm was once again demonstrated on a
number of occasions throughout the reporting period, and a dangerous escalation took
place from 14 to 21 November 2012 during Operation Pillar of Defense. The Israel
Defense Forces publicly reported that it had conducted strikes against more than 1,500
targets in Gaza. The devastating impact of the violence during the eight days of
fighting includes an estimated 174 Palestinians killed, including 6 who may have been
killed by projectiles fired by Palestinian armed groups that fell inside the Gaza Strip.
Of the 174 killed, 101 were civilians, including 36 children and 14 women. In a
particularly distressing example of civilians bearing the brunt of the suffering,
12 members of the Dalu family were killed in an Israeli air strike on their house on
18 November. A total of 1,046 Palestinians were reported injured. Six Israelis,
including four civilians and two soldiers, were reported killed by Palestinian rocket
fire. A total of 239 Israelis were injured, the vast majority civilians.
27. In retaliation to the Gaza offensive, a bomb attack took place in Tel Aviv, on
21 November 2012, injuring 29 people, 3 severely. I condemned the attack in the
strongest terms. The calm in Gaza, brokered by Egypt on 21 November, has largely
held, but it remains tenuous. Preserving calm in Gaza and southern Israel continues
to be crucial for improvements there and for the overall political atmosphere.
28. In total, over the reporting period 331 rockets were fired from Gaza, including
43 medium-long-range rockets, as well as 141 mortar shells, separate from the 1,506
rockets and 138 mortar shells fired during the escalation that occurred from 14 to
21 November. Many rockets directed at populated areas in Israel were intercepted
by the Iron Dome system. The Israel Defense Forces conducted 62 incursions and
58 airstrikes into Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 121 Palestinian civilians. More than
1,253 Palestinian civilians were injured during the reporting period. Excluding the
eight days of conflict in November 2012, a total of 207 Palestinian civilians were
injured, including 47 children. Also during the period, 106 Palestinian militants were
killed and 22 injured, excluding the November 2012 figures. Again, I unequivocally
condemn these indiscriminate rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel and call for their
complete cessation. I also urged Israel to show maximum restraint. All concerned
should fully observe their obligations regarding the protection of civilians.
29. There are more than 130 Palestinians being held under Israeli administrative
detention, which should only be used in the most limited number of cases, for as
short a period as possible, and in exceptional cases. Those detained must be charged
and brought to trial or released without delay.
30. I remain concerned about the condition of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails,
especially those on hunger strike. International human rights obligations towards all
Palestinian detainees and prisoners under Israeli custody must be fully respected.
31. Tensions and violent incidents in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,
continued throughout the reporting period. Citing security reasons, the Israel
Defense Forces conducted 3,662 search and arrest operations in the West Bank,
resulting in the injury of 202 Palestinians, including 51 children, and 4,341
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Palestinians were arrested. Overall, during the period, Israeli forces injured 3,918
Palestinians, including 1,179 children. More than 64 Israel Defense Forces
personnel were injured by Palestinians.
32. During the reporting period, a total of 338 Palestinians were killed, including
232 civilians, while 5,193 Palestinians were injured throughout the occupied
Palestinian territory; 8 Israelis were killed and more than 90 Israel Defense Forces
personnel were injured, while 282 Israeli civilians were injured, illustrating the
continuing cost of the ongoing conflict. All figures represent a significant increase
from the previous reporting period.
33. A final area of concern is the Sinai peninsula, where there have been a growing
number of incidents. At least four rockets fired from the Sinai were targeted at the
Israeli Red Sea resort of Eilat during the November 2012 escalation. On 17 April
2013, two rockets fired from the Sinai peninsula exploded in open areas of Eilat,
causing no casualties or damage. The attack, claimed by the Salafist jihadist group
Mujahedeen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem, was the first such rocket
firing at Eilat since the November 2012 escalation. On 13 August 2013, the same
group fired at least two other rockets at Eilat from the Sinai, of which one was
intercepted by the Iron Dome system and the other struck open area. They also
conducted a cross-border attack near the Har Harif area on the Israeli-Egyptian border
on 21 September 2012, killing an Israel Defense Forces soldier. On 4 July 2013, two
explosions were heard in Eilat, without any casualty or damage, reportedly resulting
from rockets fired from the Sinai. A Salafist group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, took
responsibility for the shooting.
34. I recognize that Israel has legitimate security concerns and believe that
sustainable security will best be achieved by intensified cooperation, the continued
empowerment of the Palestinian Authority’s security efforts and performance, the
further curtailment of Israel Defense Forces incursions into Palestinian areas, full
respect for legitimate non-violent protest, Israeli action to curb settler violence,
Palestinian action against incitement and progress in the political negotiations and in
economic development.
35. I continue to worry about the state of human rights and freedoms in Gaza. Of
particular concern are the reports of arbitrary detention being carried out by
Palestinian security forces and the reports of ill-treatment in detention centres in Gaza.
I am also deeply concerned about five death sentences passed by military courts in
Gaza, between 9 May and 14 July 2013, and two executions carried out on 22 June,
without the approval of President Abbas, as is required by Palestinian Basic Law. I
call on the de facto authorities in Gaza to refrain from carrying out further executions.
I also urge the Palestinian Authority to ensure that it fulfils its responsibilities with
full respect for international human rights laws.
36. The Palestinian Authority has achieved what it set out to do three years ago,
and this must be noted, preserved and built upon. I am concerned, however, over the
ability of the Palestinian Authority to maintain these gains in the light of its
increasingly dire financial situation.
37. I strongly encouraged the Government of Israel to take all necessary measures
to facilitate economic growth, including the further easing of access and movement
within, into and out of the West Bank for both goods and people. In a positive
development, Israel provided a considerable number of permits for Palestinian
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residents of the West Bank to visit Jerusalem and Israel during Ramadan and applied
more flexible regulations at checkpoints and points of passage during the holy
month.
38. I would like to express my deep thanks and appreciation to Robert H. Serry,
the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, as well
as to the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Filippo Grandi. I also pay tribute to all
United Nations staff who work under difficult, at times dangerous, circumstances in
the service of the United Nations.
39. I remain hopeful, in the light of recent progress during the latter half of the
reporting period, in the search for a negotiated solution which would bring Israel
and the Palestinians closer towards durable peace and security, including the
realization of the legitimate aspiration of Palestinians to a State of their own, and of
Israel to live within recognized and secure borders. What is important now is for the
parties to engage seriously on substance. I call on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to
show vision, courage and determination to reach a historic peace agreement that
would meet the legitimate aspirations of their peoples. I remain convinced that
direct and meaningful negotiations are the main avenue towards a comprehensive,
fair and lasting solution, including an end to occupation, an end to conflict and a
just and agreed solution to the plight of Palestinian refugees.
40. To that end, it is my sincere hope that the parties pursue vigorously all efforts
to sustain an environment conducive for the peace process to move forward. In
particular, I urge Israel to cease all settlement activity in the occupied West Bank,
including East Jerusalem, and to take concrete steps to further ease the numerous
restrictions in place both in the West Bank and Gaza. I also strongly encourage all
Palestinians on the path of non-violence and unity in line with past PLO
commitments, and call on them to pursue their efforts to improve law and order and
combat extremism and incitement against Israel, and to continue building strong and
democratic institutions that are essential to a viable, independent Palestinian State.
In a highly volatile environment, it is crucial that any outbreaks of violence that
could undermine political efforts are prevented, and that the parties refrain from
provocative steps on the ground. The international community must also play its
role by shaping a legitimate and balanced framework that offers a credible political
path forward, combined with far-reaching steps on the ground. The international
community should understand that its own efforts in pursuit of this goal will
increasingly lack credibility if it continues to fail to take the steps necessary to
enable an environment conducive to serious engagement.
41. As Secretary-General, I will continue to ensure that the United Nations works
towards the establishment of an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable
Palestinian State living side by side in peace with a secure Israel in the framework
of a comprehensive regional settlement consistent with Security Council resolutions
242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1860 (2009), and in
accordance with the road map, the Arab Peace Initiative and the principle of land for
peace.
United Nations A/69/371–S/2014/650
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
4 September 2014
Original: English
14-60375 (E) 011014
*1460375*
General Assembly
Sixty-ninth session
Items 35 and 36 of the provisional agenda*
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Sixty-ninth year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 68/15. It contains replies received from the parties concerned to the notes
verbales sent by the Secretary-General pursuant to the request contained in
paragraph 25 of the resolution. The report also contains the observations of the
Secretary-General on the current state of the Israeli -Palestinian conflict and on
international efforts to move the peace process forward with a view to achieving a
peaceful settlement. The report covers the period from September 2013 to August
2014.
* A/69/150.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution
68/15.
2. On 21 August 2014, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 25 of the
above-mentioned resolution, I addressed the following letter to the President of the
Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 68/15, which the General
Assembly adopted on 26 November 2013, at its sixty-eighth session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 25 of the resolution ‘requests the Secretary-General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to
the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session a report on these efforts and on
developments on this matter ’.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 5 September 2014.
“Recalling the Secretariat’s obligation to observe the page limit of its
reports, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 52/214, I would like to
encourage the Security Council to limit its submission to 1,500 words. ”
3. As at 5 September, no response had been received to that request.
4. In a note verbale dated 10 May 2014 to the parties concerned, I sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as the State of Palestine, regarding any steps taken by them to
implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at 31 August 2014, replies
had been received from Israel and the State of Palestine.
5. The note verbale dated 4 August 2014 from the Permanent Observer Mission
of the State of Palestine to the United Nations reads as follows:
“The State of Palestine reaffirms that the General Assembly resolution
‘Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine’ constitutes a principal
contribution by the international community towards justly and
comprehensively resolving the question of Palestine and securing a viable
peace. The resolution continues to define the parameters for a solution based
on international law, the relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid peace
principles, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet road map.
“This resolution traditionally receives overwhelming support — with 165
votes in favour in the 68th session, underscoring a global consensus in support
of a solution that ensures Israel’s withdrawal from the Palestinian territory
occupied since June 1967, including East Jerusalem; achievement of the
solution of two States: an independent, sovereign, democratic and contiguous
State of Palestine, living side by side with Israel in peace and security on the
basis of the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem the shared capital of the two
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States; and a just solution for the Palestine refugees based on General
Assembly resolution 194 (III) (1948).
“This consensus has been the long-held position of the Palestinian people
and leadership, since formal acceptance of the two-State solution in the 1988
Declaration of Independence of the State of Palestine. This significant
compromise to establish the State of Palestine on only 22 per cent of our
historic homeland for the sake of restoring our rights, achieving freedom and
ending the conflict is among the boldest reflections of the Palestinian
commitment to peace. Remarkably, this commitment has prevailed, despite the
historic injustice inflicted on the Palestinian people over the decades since the
adoption of partition resolution 181 (II) in 1947 and the tragedy of Al -Nakba
of 1948, from which our people continue to suffer to this day, particularly the
Palestine refugees, who now number over 5 million people and continue to
endure untold hardships, including as a result of successive crises in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, such as the brutal military aggression and
humanitarian disaster being inflicted on the Gaza Strip by Israel, the
occupying Power, at present, as well as the many crises that have plagued the
region, including the current grave conflict in Syria.
“This consensus on the parameters of a two-State solution has also been
reaffirmed in numerous other resolutions, including resolution 67/19
(29 November 2012), which accorded to Palestine non-member observer State
status, and in declarations by political and regional groups from around the
world. In this regard, resolution 67/19, like resolution 68/15, constitutes a
serious contribution by the international community towards peace and the
State of Palestine’s rightful inclusion in the community of nations, pending
acceptance of the application for admission to United Nations membership,
which remains before the Security Council following submission by President
Mahmoud Abbas on 23 September 2011.
“The urgency of salvaging the two-State solution and attaining the
Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and independence in their State
of Palestine — a right explicitly affirmed by the General Assembly — is
further reflected in the call in resolution 68/15 for the resumption and
acceleration of negotiations in the Middle East peace process towards its stated
objectives. It is a call that Palestine has fully respected and actively striven to
fulfil in all of its actions, bilaterally, multilaterally and internally. As widely
acknowledged, Palestine has consistently upheld its legal obligations and
commitments, despite the enormous challenges and manifold crises arising
from Israel’s 47-year military occupation, and this includes respect for
Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and for agreements
reached in the peace process.
“Palestine maintains that respect of the law is the key to resolving the
conflict, as it would ensure that negotiations to resolve the final status
issues — Jerusalem, Palestine refugees, settlements, borders, security,
prisoners and water — actually result in achievement of a just, sustainable
peace. Regrettably, however, the exemptions from the law that Israel, the
occupying Power, has for so long unfairly enjoyed, never being held
accountable for its violations of United Nations resolutions and grave
breaches, have prolonged and severely compounded the conflict and
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repeatedly caused the peace process to fail and undermined the two-State
solution.
“Affirming its respect for international law, on 1 April 2014, the
Government of the State of Palestine undertook the historic decision to accede
to numerous international conventions, underscoring its intention to avail itself
of all peaceful, political, legal and non-violent tools in the international system
to achieve the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and to promote the
rule of law in Palestine. Those conventions included, inter alia, the four
Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol 1, the International Covenants on
Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the
Conventions on the Rights of the Child, on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women, and against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment.
“Since the adoption of resolution 68/15, Palestine has also exerted efforts
to implement the resolution’s provisions and endeavoured to advance
conditions amenable for a peace settlement. This has included internal efforts
to develop and strengthen national institutions, achieve Palestinian
reconciliation, and promote law and order, as well as active engagement,
regionally and internationally, in all initiatives aimed at realizing a peaceful
solution.
“In specific, from July 2013, the Palestinian leadership engaged in good
faith in the negotiations resumed under United States auspices, shepherded by
Secretary of State John Kerry, with the support of the other Quartet members
of the European Union, the Russian Federation and the United Nations, the
League of Arab States Ministerial Committee, and concerned States from
around the world. The grave impact of this conflict and, inversely, the
multitude of benefits that peace would have for the Palestinian and Israeli
peoples, the Middle East region and the international community as a whole
are facts widely recognized and propelling these collective efforts.
“For nine months, the Palestinian leadership cooperated fully with these
efforts, partaking in multiple rounds of direct negotiations with Israel, the
occupying Power. During negotiations, we maintained focus on the goal of
peace, mindful of the unsustainability of the status quo and that failed
negotiations would entail serious consequences, especially in terms of the
diminishing viability of the two-State solution and unstable situation on the
ground. Guided by a conviction in international law and the urgency of peace,
Palestine committed to negotiations, despite the striking imbalance of power,
Israel’s bad faith at the negotiating table, the cyclical distractions,
complications and hardships caused by its violations against the Palestinian
people, and its deliberate impairment of the Palestinian Government ’s
authority and Palestinian unity efforts.
“The Palestinian leadership’s commitment to peace was also evidenced in
the political restraint exhibited during the July 2013-April 2014 negotiations
period, despite constant Israeli provocations. Seeking to foster trust, a decision
was made to delay action on rights and privileges gained since the attainment
of observer State status. Such restraint was also connected to an agreement for
the release of Palestinian prisoners long held captive by Israel, commonly
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referred to as “pre-Oslo” prisoners, which Israel had prior agreed to, yet
repeatedly reneged on. Significantly, Palestine’s engagement in the
negotiations was fully supported by the League of Arab States, which
remained active in its efforts to promote peace on the basis of the 2002 Arab
Peace Initiative.
“Conversely, during the entire nine-month period, Israel constantly
flouted the law, ignoring the global calls for an end to the occupation and a
peaceful solution to the conflict and preferring to persist with its illegal
policies, which it has never ceased during any stage of the peace process, from
the 1991 Madrid Conference to the present. Israel’s violations included, inter
alia, continuation of its illegal settlement campaign in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including confiscation of
Palestinian land, construction of settlements, transfer of Israeli settlers, and
construction of the annexation wall; as well as its military campaign against
the Palestinian people, involving all forms of aggression, including air strikes
against the Gaza Strip, military raids on civilian areas throughout the West
Bank, and excessive force against civilian protesters, causing death and injury
to Palestinians, including children; destruction of Palestinian homes and
infrastructure; forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, particularly
Bedouin families; daily arrests of Palestinians, resulting in the imprisonment
and administrative detention of over 6,000 Palestinians, who are enduring
untold abuse and torture at the hands of the occupier; permissive policies
aiding and abetting settler terror and violence against Palestinians; the illegal
blockade of the Gaza Strip in gross collective punishment of the 1.8 million
Palestinians there; and innumerable other measures of collective punishment
against the Palestinian people, all in flagrant breach of international law,
including the Fourth Geneva Convention and the human rights covenants,
relevant United Nations resolutions and the International Court of Justice
Advisory Opinion (9 July 2004).
“Not only did such unlawful Israeli practices continue in 2014, but most
sharply escalated, including, inter alia, settlement activities, with repeated
declarations about thousands of new settlement units, and incessant
provocations and incitement by Israeli government officials, settlers and
extremists, particularly regarding Occupied East Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa
Mosque compound. Israel’s rejection of peace peaked after its decision to
renege on releasing the fourth tranche of Palestinian prisoners in March 2014
and its decision to unilaterally suspend negotiations in April 2014 in retaliatory
response to the reconciliation between the Palestine Liberation Organization
(PLO) and Hamas, leading to a dramatic destabilization of the situation.
“It must be clarified that Palestinian unity is a legitimate, necessary step,
long called for by the Palestinian people and by the international community,
which has stressed the need for unity for implementation of any peace
agreement, with this call for reconciliation reiterated in resolution 68/15. It
must also be recognized that, under President Abbas’s leadership,
reconciliation has been pursued with utmost responsibility — based on clear
reaffirmations of the Palestinian national consensus Government ’s
commitment to the agreements reached by the PLO, non-violence and
recognition of Israel — and has received the broad support of the international
community.
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“Yet, Israel has used every cynical tactic to incite against and undermine
the Palestinian Government and has chosen once again to intensify its illegal
practices, fuelling tensions and thwarting peace efforts. Most shockingly,
following the formation of the Palestinian national consensus Government on
2 June 2014, and using the killing of three Israeli settlers in the West Bank on
12 June 2014 as a pretext, Israel launched a wide-scale military campaign
against the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip, the third such
violent aggression against the defenceless and besieged civilian population in
Gaza in six years.
“As of the writing of this note, the human and physical devastation
caused by this aggression against Gaza has been horrific and vast, with war
crimes, crimes against humanity, and State terrorism undeniably being
perpetrated by Israel, the occupying Power. Attacks have been carried out by
Israeli missile strikes, artillery bombardment and live fire by air, land and sea.
More than 1,700 Palestinians have been killed, including children, women and
elderly persons, with children comprising at least a third of the victims.
Numerous families have been massacred in their entirety by the occupying
forces. In fact, at least 76 families have lost three or more family members,
some as high as 20 family members killed, in Israeli military attacks. More
than 9,000 people have been wounded, many severely and permanently
disabled. More than 460,000 Palestinians have been displaced by the Israeli
aggression, including more than a quarter of a million people that have sought
refuge in United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in
the Near East (UNRWA) schools. Regrettably, UNRWA schools have also
again been targeted by Israeli attacks that have killed and injured innocent
civilians and Agency staff who believed they were safe under the United
Nations flag.
“The Israeli onslaught on Gaza, which intensified with a ground invasion
on 18 July 2014, has also caused the deliberate destruction of over
5,000 homes, damage to over 30,000 other homes and properties, and mass
destruction to civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, mosq ues,
and water, sanitation and electricity networks. This has deepened the
humanitarian crisis in Gaza, already dire due to the illegal Israeli blockade and
resultant shortages of food, medical, construction and fuel supplies, and led
the Palestinian Government to declare Gaza a ‘disaster area’. Despite
extraordinary efforts, UNRWA and other United Nations agencies and
humanitarian organizations have been unable to keep pace with the crisis, and,
again, the international community is being appealed to for emergency
assistance to alleviate the human suffering arising from the vast food
insecurity, poverty, displacement, and psychological trauma inflicted on the
population and what United Nations officials declared, on 2 August 2014, as a
‘health disaster of widespread proportions’ with medical services and facilities
on the verge of collapse and inadequate water and sanitation posing serious
risks of outbreaks of infections and communicable diseases.
“As of the writing of this note, while President Abbas and the Palestinian
leadership have been continuously engaged in the regional and international
efforts to secure a comprehensive ceasefire and lifting of the eight -year Israeli
blockade, and have remained resolutely committed to the objective of peace,
Israel has chosen to continue this depraved war against the Palestinian people
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under its occupation. Using a preposterous, baseless pretext of ‘self-defence’,
the Israeli Prime Minister and other government and military officials persist
in threatening to exact maximum punishment on the Palestinian people and
their leadership, and rejecting all calls for an end to the violence and
resumption of peace efforts.
“It is not a coincidence that this Israeli aggression was launched amid
heightened international pressure on Israel in the peace process; international
acceptance of the Palestinian national consensus Government; intense world
condemnation of Israeli settlement activities, settler terror, provocations in
East Jerusalem, the Gaza blockade and the prisoner crisis; and the growing
global calls for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. It is an
obvious repeat of the crises created by Israel in the past to divert attention and
evade all efforts to advance a peaceful, just, political solution to the conflict,
as it clearly prefers to continue its colonization of the Palestinian land and
subjugation of the Palestinian people, only paying lip service to peace as it
actively sabotages it and acts with total contempt for the international
community.
“We have thus turned again to the United Nations, calling on the Security
Council to uphold its Charter duties and act forthwith to stop the slaughter of
innocent men, women and children, including by ensuring a permanent
ceasefire and providing protection to the Palestinian people, and to shoulder its
responsibilities to bring a definitive end to this conflict. While Israel, as the
occupying Power, is obligated under international humanitarian law to ensure
the safety, well-being and protection of the civilian population under its
occupation, it has clearly abdicated this right as it wilfully and wantonly
causes harm to the population and is the direct source of their insecurity,
suffering and vulnerability. We will also continue our efforts in the General
Assembly to comprehensively redress this grave injustice and will continue to
demand the implementation of all relevant resolutions. Palestine has also
called on Switzerland, Depositary of the Geneva Conventions, to convene a
conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
consider measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, inter alia, to ensure protection for the
Palestinian people.
“In conclusion, heeding the calls in resolution 68/15, Palestine reaffirms
its readiness to make peace, based on the long-standing parameters and
principles of justice and human rights. We reiterate our calls on the
international community to uphold legal, political and moral obligations in this
regard, recalling the permanent responsibility of the United Nations until the
question of Palestine is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with
international law.
“We are at a critical juncture that wil l determine whether the solution of
two States — the State of Palestine and the State of Israel — living side by
side in peace and security on the basis of the pre-1967 borders will be
achieved, or whether that solution will meet its demise under the weight of
Israel’s illegal policies and entrenchment of its 47-year military occupation.
For genuine progress to be made, the precarious reality on the ground and root
causes of this conflict must be seriously redressed. Respect for resolution
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68/15 and all relevant resolutions would enhance the prospects for realizing
peace. If, however, Israel remains intransigent, peace efforts will again fail and
we will have to face the failure of the two-State solution and the onset of new
collective efforts — political, legal and popular — in pursuit of alternative
solutions to end the injustice and realize the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people.
“As a last attempt to salvage the two-State solution, the international
community must therefore be vigilant in demanding a halt to Israel ’s illegal
practices and demanding compliance with international law. A firm message
must be conveyed to Israel that the price of continued occupation will be
immense, while there is much to be gained from peace. This message has been
conveyed more clearly in the recent period, including by the European Union
and other States that have predicated current and future relations with the
parties on respect for the law and a commitment to peace, but it must be
reinforced with practical actions, including consequences for continued
violations and obstruction of peace efforts.
“On its part, the State of Palestine will continue to responsibly cooperate
with all international efforts in this regard, based on its conviction in the rule
of law and the resolve to achieve a just solution that will achieve the
independence of the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the Palestine
refugees, and establish Palestinian-Israeli peace, security and coexistence.
“We express appreciation for the tireless efforts of the Secretary-General,
the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and
the entire United Nations system in support of a peaceful solution and in
support of Palestinian humanitarian and developmental needs. We also
recognize the important role of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in raising international awareness
and support for Palestinian rights and a just solution, especially in this
International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. We further
reiterate gratitude for the principled support of all concerned States and
peoples worldwide, and urge that no effort be spared to achieve long-overdue
freedom, justice, peace and dignity for the Palestinian people. ”
6. The note verbale dated 24 August 2014 from the Permanent Mission of Israel
to the United Nations reads as follows:
“As shown in the meeting records, Israel voted against this resolution, as
it has done on similar resolutions adopted in the past by the General Assembly.
Resolution 68/15 joins the numerous one-sided resolutions passed annually by
the General Assembly which only serve to undermine the credibility of the
United Nations as an impartial agent for the advancement of peace.
“The State of Israel continuously strives to attain a peaceful settlement of
the conflict with the Palestinians and to promote peace in the region. Time and
time again Israel has demonstrated to the international community its
commitment to finding a long-lasting conclusion of the conflict. Resolution
68/15 overlooks the steps Israel has taken, and continues to take, to end the
conflict. Resolution 68/15 fails to examine the situation objectively,
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disregarding the role played by the Palestinians in the difficulties in attaining a
peaceful resolution to the conflict, in particular Hamas.
“In August 2005, Israel dismantled its settlements and military presence
and disengaged from the Gaza Strip. Rather than using this opportunity for
development, Hamas took advantage of Israel’s absence to launch terror
attacks from Gaza onto Israeli citizens. Terror activities escalated further after
Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2006. Despite Israel ’s withdrawal
from the Gaza Strip in 2005, Hamas has continued to target Israeli civilians
with thousands of rockets. Its unprovoked attacks are not the product of efforts
to seek redress of legitimate grievances, as some claim. Rather, they are a
product of Hamas’ guiding ideology. Hamas is a virulently anti-Semitic
organization, whose very Charter calls on Muslims to kill Jews. Hamas is not
dedicated to improving the plight of Gaza. Instead, its goal is nothing less than
the destruction of Israel, no matter the cost to the Palestinian population.
“Since 12 June 2014, the State of Israel has been under constant attack as
Hamas launched more than 3,500 rockets at civilian populations in Israeli
towns and communities. Israel’s south has been the target of bombardment for
14 years, its children constantly subject to indiscriminate attacks from Gaza.
The current operation ‘Protective Edge’ was launched as a last resort to
reinstate safety and security to its citizens, following the abduction and murder
by Hamas of three Israeli teenagers and the barrage of rockets targeting the
Israeli population that has followed undiminished since then.
“Despite the relentless and acute threats to its security, Israel has
continued to assert its commitment to achieving a permanent peace for Israelis
and Palestinians. Accordingly, the State of Israel has gone to great lengths to
extend humanitarian assistance and foster conditions for Palestinian economic
growth. Throughout 2013, cooperation intensified with the international
community and the Palestinian Authority to facilitate sustainable
infrastructural and economic development in Gaza, in order to meet both the
short- and long-term needs of the civilian population. Two hundred twentyseven
projects have been approved for implementation, alongside various
measures aimed at alleviating Palestinian economic hardships. In 2012-2013,
an average of 350 people per day entered Israel from Gaza through the Erez
crossing, an increase of 238 per cent since 2009. Permits for longer periods of
time are granted for humanitarian cases and businessmen.
“Israel has invested 80 million shekels to expand the Kerem Shalom
crossing through which commercial goods are transferred, to accommodate up
to 450 trucks daily. All civilian goods are allowed into Gaza with the exception
of weapons and ‘dual-use’ items that can easily be appropriated for terrorist
activities. Nevertheless, many restricted items are approved on a regular basis
for use in projects funded by the international community and United Nations
agencies. Israel continues to supply 125 MW of electricity to Gaza by means
of 10 electrical lines, accounting for 63 per cent of the electricity in the Gaza
Strip. Israel provides 5 million cubic metres of water per year to Gaza,
facilitates the transfer of water equipment and holds water and sewage trai ning
sessions for Palestinian professionals.
“The aforementioned steps taken by the State of Israel attest to its
commitment to a peaceful resolution to the conflict, yet Hamas has time and
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time again chosen to invest in terror, not peace. The State of Israel reiterates its
willingness for an agreement according to the principles of the two -State
solution and acknowledges the important role played by the Quartet in this
matter. Israel calls on the Palestinian Authority to reaffirm its adherence to the
achievement of a permanent and comprehensive resolution of the conflict, by
engaging in confidence-building measures and bilateral agreements in lieu of
unilateral declarative actions in various multinational forums. ”
II. Observations
7. In July 2013, Israelis and Palestinians resumed direct final status negotiations.
The resumption of the peace process, for the first time since October 2010, was
supported by extensive facilitation efforts led by the United States of America. In a
series of preparatory meetings at the end of July in Washington, D.C., the parties set
an agenda which covered all core final status issues and agreed on the goal of
achieving a comprehensive settlement within a period of nine months. At the same
time, the Palestinians continued to implement an ambitious State-building
programme.
8. The first formal round of talks was held on 14 August in Jerusalem, after the
release of the first tranche of pre-Oslo Palestinian prisoners, in accordance with the
agreement for resuming the peace negotiations. On 15 and 16 August, I travelled to
Ramallah, Jerusalem and Jordan to lend support to the leaders on both sides
embarking on a process towards a negotiated solution to the Israeli -Palestinian
conflict.
9. In late 2013, dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians intensified and
some 17 rounds of talks were held. The negotiation efforts were, however,
complicated by the repeated announcements of settlement expansion with each
release of Palestinian prisoners. Israel ’s settlement announcements in November
2013, moreover, prompted the resignation of a Palestinian negotiator. In spite of
these developments, President Abbas confirmed his intention to continue talks.
10. Since the beginning of 2014, negotiation efforts concentrated on crafting an
agreed framework on all core issues as the guiding basis for continued negotiations
towards a final status agreement. United States Secretary of State John Kerry
supported the process by engaging in active shuttle diplomacy between the sides.
11. The international community has been committed to supporting the renewed
peace talks, including through the Quartet and key Arab, regional and other
stakeholders. Deliberations at the high-level segment of the sixty-eighth session of
the General Assembly focused on advancing the Middle East peace process, with
world leaders urging a negotiated settlement of the Israeli -Palestinian conflict. The
Quartet, welcoming the resumption of the peace process, reaffirmed its
determination to support the negotiations for achieving a negotiated two-State
solution in the prescribed time frame.
12. The United Nations has consistently encouraged the parties to advance the
negotiations towards a comprehensive settlement which must be fair and consistent
with principles on all core issues outlined in Security Council resolutions, the
Madrid principles — including land for peace — the road map and the 2002 Arab
Peace Initiative. At the Security Council open debate on the situation in the Middle
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East, on 20 January 2014, alarmed by the recurrent violence, I reiterated the need to
provide support to Israelis and Palestinians to escape the perilous status quo, as the
lack of political progress could exacerbate negative trends on the ground.
13. On 28 March 2014, Israel postponed its decision to release the fourth and final
tranche of 30 pre-Oslo Palestinian prisoners, citing lack of progress in the peace
talks. In response, on 1 April, and following the announcement on the same day of
708 reissued tenders for settlement units in Gilo, President Abbas announced that
the Palestinian leadership had unanimously voted to join 15 international
conventions and treaties. President Abbas, nevertheless, remained committed to
continuing negotiations until the agreed date of 29 April. The negotiators continued
to meet in order to find a way out of the impasse and to agree to an extension of the
negotiation period. On 24 April, Israel suspended the talks in response to the
announcement a day earlier of an intra-Palestinian unity agreement for the
formation of a national consensus government. Israel stated that it would not
negotiate with any Palestinian government backed by Hamas, which does not
recognize Israel’s right to exist.
14. Following the suspension of talks, negative developments on the ground in
mid-2014 have severely hampered the prospects for resuming the peace talks. I have
appealed to both Israelis and Palestinians to exercise prudence and avoid unilateral
steps that would diminish the prospects for a resumption of negotiations for a final
settlement. The United Nations remains committed to supporting the Israelis and the
Palestinians in the search for a meaningful path forward in the negotiations for a
two-State solution.
15. In April, President Abbas deposited the instruments of accession to
13 international conventions and treaties with the United Nations, and submitted
applications for the four Geneva conventions and the Hague conventions of 1907. In
May, five of the nine core human rights treaties, plus one of the substantive
protocols entered into force, while Switzerland accepted Palestine as a party to the
four Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I (relating to the protection of
victims of international armed conflicts), retroactively to the submission date of its
application on 2 April. Accession to these treaties brings new obligations, and the
United Nations stands ready to assist the Palestinians, at their request, in the
implementation and monitoring of its treaty obligations.
16. On 2 June, President Abbas announced the formation of a Government of
national consensus headed by Prime Minister Hamdallah. On the basis of assurances
by President Abbas that the Government would continue to abide by the PLO
commitments with regard to recognition of Israel, non-violence and adherence to
previous agreements, I welcomed the formation of the Government and reiterated the
readiness of the United Nations to lend its full support to the Government in its effort
to reunite the West Bank and Gaza, in line with the intra-Palestinian unity agreement
of 23 April, under one legitimate Palestinian authority, including by addressing the
serious political, security, humanitarian and economic challenges in Gaza.
17. On 12 June, three Israeli students were reported missing and were believed to
have been abducted in the West Bank, which the Government of Israel blamed on
Hamas. The incident led to an escalation of tension in Gaza, characterized by an
increase in Israeli air strikes and rockets fired from Gaza at Israel, which
undermined the November 2012 ceasefire understanding between Israel and Hamas.
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Tensions further increased following the discovery of the bodies of the Israeli
students on 30 June.
18. The reporting period witnessed alarming escalations of tension between Gaza
and Israel. The fragility of the relative calm was once again demonstrated on a
number of occasions throughout the reporting period, with a dangerous ongoing
escalation as from 8 July 2014 during the Israel Defense Forces so-called Operation
Protective Edge, which had the stated aim of destroying Hamas infrastructure and
limiting its capabilities to launch rockets into Israel. The Israel Defense Forces
carried out intensified air strikes targeting the facilities and private residences of
militants. Palestinian militants fired hundreds of rockets and mortars towards Israel,
including its main cities. On 17 July, Israel launched the beginning of ground
incursions into Gaza with the objective of destroying the tunnel network of
Palestinian militants.
19. As at 26 August, Palestinian militants had reportedly fired more than
4,500 rockets and 1,600 mortars. The Israel Defense Forces had reportedly
conducted more than 3,800 air strikes, firing more than 5,900 missiles. The Israeli
navy had fired some 3,200 shells, and Israel Defense Forces positioned at the border
had fired some 17,000 shells.
20. According to preliminary information, at least 2,104 Palestinians have
reportedly been killed. That number includes at least 1,462 civilians, of whom 495
were children and 253 were women. Eleven UNRWA staff members have been
killed. Some 66 Israel Defense Forces soldiers, four Israeli civilians, one Israeli
whose status remains unclear and one foreign national have reportedly been killed.
A few dozen Israeli citizens have been directly injured by rockets or shrapnel.
21. At the peak of the crisis, there were approximately 520,000 internally
displaced persons, or nearly 30 per cent of Gaza’s population. Approximately
16,700 housing units have been destroyed or severely damaged, affecting some
100,000 Palestinians.
22. The fighting has raised serious questions about respect for the principles of
distinction and proportionality in international humanitarian law. Six UNRWA
schools harbouring civilians were directly hit by shelling or affected by r ocket fire
in their immediate vicinity, with serious loss of life and injuries. On 29 July, the
premises of the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle
East Peace Process in Gaza were hit by a number of projectiles, which caused
damage to the main building and to United Nations vehicles. International
humanitarian law clearly requires protection by all parties of civilians and civilian
facilities, including United Nations staff and premises. Violations must be subject to
accountability and justice.
23. From the onset of the crisis in Gaza, the United Nations has deployed every
possible effort, including through my personal engagement, to bring about an end to
the violence. I have spoken to Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and Presid ent
Abbas of Palestine, calling on both sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid
further escalation. I have also engaged with regional and world leaders, including
the King of Saudi Arabia, the Emir of Qatar, the President of Egypt, the President of
Turkey, the heads of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation, the United States Secretary of State and the European Union High
Representative, in an effort to stop the fighting.
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24. It was in this context that I travelled to the region — Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt,
Jerusalem, Ramallah, Jordan and Saudi Arabia — from 20 to 25 July to support
mediation efforts to broker a ceasefire. At every stop of my visit, I carried a threepart
message: first, stop the fighting; second, start the dialogue; and third, tackle the
root causes of the conflict. I emphasized that we cannot merely return to the status
quo ante, but must reach a durable ceasefire that addresses the underlying issues of
the conflict: ending rocket fire from Gaza and weapons-smuggling, opening the
crossings, lifting the blockade and bringing Gaza back under one Palestinian
Government that accepts and adheres to the PLO commitments. These issues were
captured by core elements of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009), which,
unfortunately, remains unimplemented.
25. Part of a solution is a return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza. The
underlying issues plaguing Gaza stand a far better chance of being resolved if they
are part of a comprehensive effort to reunite the Palestinian territory under one
legitimate Government. Redeployment of the Palestinian Authority security forces
to the crossings in south-eastern Gaza, the so-called Philadelphi Corridor, would be
a most useful step that would go a long way towards enabling the full reopening of
the crossings.
26. On 31 July, United States Secretary of State Kerry and I jointly announced a
humanitarian ceasefire for 72 hours to allow civilians to attend to the necessities of
their daily lives so disrupted by the hostilities, in the hope that it could be extended
and built upon by the parties to allow negotiations for a durable ceasefire to take
place. However, the ceasefire was broken only a few hours after it had started. On
5 August, an Egyptian-brokered 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire went into effect
while Israel and Palestinian factions commenced indirect talks through Egyptian
mediation in Cairo on a durable ceasefire agreement. The ceasefire was extended
three times, on 11, 14 and 18 August. I welcomed the announcement on 26 August
of an open-ended ceasefire for Gaza, brokered under Egyptian auspices. The
ceasefire was still holding at the time of reporting.
27. With the focus understandably on Gaza, we must not lose sight of the bigger
picture. The Gaza escalation, coupled with the tense situation in the West Bank and
East Jerusalem, is a warning of the negative repercussions on the ground when there
is no credible political horizon towards a negotiated end to the occupation a nd
settlement of the conflict. The international community must urge and support both
parties in returning to meaningful negotiations and restoring prospects for a two -
State solution.
28. Tensions and violence in the West Bank continued throughout the reporting
period. The Israel Defense Forces conducted 3,124 search-and-arrest operations,
resulting in 5,582 Palestinians being arrested. In the occupied Palestinian territory,
excluding the so-called Operation Protective Edge, a total of 96 Palestinians were
killed, including 58 civilians, and 5,245 Palestinians were injured. Six Israeli
civilians and two Israel Defense Forces personnel were killed, and 79 Israeli
civilians and 92 Israeli security forces personnel were injured.
29. The increase in settlements is particularly concerning. I have repeatedly
stressed that settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East
Jerusalem, is illegal under international law. During the reporting period, Israel
reportedly announced tenders for the construction of approximately 5,083
residential units in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
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30. Settler violence remained high. Attacks by settlers resulted in one Palestinian
being killed and 155 Palestinians, including 38 children, injured during the reporting
period. One Israeli settler was killed and 75 Israeli settlers were injured by
Palestinians.
31. The demolitions and evictions that were carried out in Area C of the West
Bank are of deep concern and were condemned by the international communit y.
Palestinians require access to a fair planning and zoning regime, so as not to resort
to the building of unauthorized structures that lead to unjustified demolitions, which
often impact the most vulnerable people. During the reporting period, 698 struct ures
were demolished, leading to the displacement of some 1,179 Palestinians, including
624 children. Overall, more needs to be done to ease access and movement
throughout the West Bank, including Area C, the Jordan Valley and Gaza.
32. Tension also prevailed in occupied East Jerusalem. Restrictions on access to
holy sites in the Old City were imposed on Palestinians, including during the holy
month of Ramadan, leading to multiple clashes between worshippers and the Israeli
security forces.
33. The abduction and murder of a Palestinian teenager from the Shu’fat
neighbourhood on 2 July led to days of violent demonstrations in East Jerusalem.
Since July 2014, clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli security forces have
spread beyond the traditional hotspots to include Beit Hanina, Shu’fat, Wadi Al-Joz
and Jabal Al-Mukaaber.
34. On 24 April, some 90 Palestinian administrative detainees, including several
Palestinian Legislative Council members, went on an open-ended hunger strike to
protest the Israeli use of administrative detention. They were joined by other
Palestinian prisoners in solidarity, including by 5,100 prisoners for one day on
8 May. In late June, the Palestinian detainees suspended their hunger strike after
reportedly reaching a preliminary agreement with the Israel Prison Service for the
start of negotiations on their demands.
35. There are currently more than 450 Palestinians held under administrative
detention, more than twice the number being held in May. I reiterate my longstanding
position that administrative detention should be used only in the most
limited number of cases, for as short a period as possible, and in exceptional cases.
Those detained must either be charged and brought to trial or released without delay.
36. Palestinians continued to advance their State-building programme, albeit
limited to the territory under the Authority’s control, which excluded Area C, East
Jerusalem and Gaza. This formed an essential complement to the political process.
Despite strong international consensus that the Palestinian Authority was capable of
running a State, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee was concerned primarily about
fiscal sustainability and economic viability, owing to the Palestinian Authority’s
fiscal difficulties during the reporting period. The Committee also maintained that
concerted action was urgently needed to stabilize the fiscal position of the
Palestinian Authority and rekindle private-sector-led economic growth. Efforts by
the Palestinian Authority towards structural reforms, including fiscal containment,
as well as adequate and predictable assistance to the Palestinian Government by
donors, were considered essential to managing the deficit.
37. The full implementation of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) and
Gaza’s recovery and long-term economic growth remain fundamental objectives of
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the United Nations. Some significant progress was made towards that goal, but
much more needs to be done. In this context, $380 million wor th of United Nations
reconstruction work in Gaza has been approved by the Government of Israel. This
has had a positive effect, not only for those receiving services, but also on short -
term employment. However, the economic benefits of increased employment will
end with the conclusion of the work. Deeper and more fundamental change is
therefore required to enable a functioning economy in Gaza, beginning with the
authorization of exports to Israel, as well as transfers to and from the West Bank.
Without these essential steps, Gaza’s future will remain tenuous, at best.
38. I continue to worry about the state of human rights and freedoms in Gaza. Of
particular concern are reports of arbitrary detention being carried out by Palestinian
security forces and reports of ill-treatment in detention centres in Gaza. I am also
deeply concerned about reports of multiple executions without the approval of
President Abbas, which is required under Palestinian Basic Law. I call upon the de
facto authorities in Gaza to refrain from carrying out further executions. I also urge
the Palestinian Authority to ensure that it fulfils its responsibilities with full respect
for international human rights law.
39. The Palestinian Authority has achieved what it set out to do three years ago,
and this must be noted, preserved and built upon. However, I am concerned about
the ability of the Palestinian Authority to maintain those gains in the light of its
increasingly dire financial situation.
40. I strongly encouraged the Government of Israel to take all measures necessary
to facilitate economic growth, including further easing of access and movement
within, into and out of the West Bank for both goods and persons. In a positive
development, Israel provided a considerable number of permit s for Palestinian
residents of the West Bank to visit Jerusalem and Israel during Ramadan, and
applied more flexible regulations at checkpoints and points of passage during the
Holy Month.
41. I would like to express my deep appreciation to Robert H. Serry, the United
Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, as well as to the
former and current Commissioners-General of UNRWA, Filippo Grandi and Pierre
Krähenbühl. I also pay tribute to all United Nations staff, who work under difficult ,
and at times dangerous, circumstances in the service of the Organization. In
particular, we mourn the 11 UNRWA staff members in Gaza who lost their lives
both on and off-duty.
42. I started the reporting period with a great sense of hope that, in the light of the
ongoing negotiations towards a two-State solution, we could finally bear witness to
two States living side by side in peace and security, but I ended the reporting period
seriously concerned about the lack of progress and the return to violence b etween
Israel and Palestinian militants. The search for a negotiated solution which would
bring Israel and the Palestinians closer to durable peace and security, including the
realization of the legitimate aspiration of Palestinians to a State of their own , and of
Israel to live within recognized and secure borders, remains elusive. What is
important now is for the parties to engage seriously on substance. I call upon Israeli
and Palestinian leaders to show vision, courage and determination to reach a
historical peace agreement that would meet the legitimate aspirations of their
peoples. I remain convinced that direct and meaningful negotiations are the main
avenue towards a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution, including an end to
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occupation, an end to conflict, and a just and agreed solution to the plight of
Palestinian refugees.
43. To this end, it is my sincere hope that the parties pursue vigorously all efforts
to sustain an environment that is conducive to the peace process moving forward. In
particular, I urge Israel to cease all settlement activity in the occupied West Bank,
including East Jerusalem, and to take concrete steps to further ease the numerous
restrictions in place, both in the West Bank and Gaza. I also strongly encourage all
Palestinians on the path of non-violence and unity in line with past PLO
commitments, and call upon them to pursue their efforts to improve law and order
and combat extremism and incitement against Israel, and to continue building strong
and democratic institutions that are essential for a viable, independent Palestinian
State. In a highly volatile environment, it is crucial that any outbreaks of violence
that could undermine political efforts be prevented, and that the parties refrain from
provocative steps on the ground. The international community must also play its
role by shaping a legitimate and balanced framework that offers a credible political
path forward, combined with far-reaching steps on the ground. The international
community should understand that its own efforts in pursuit of this goal will
increasingly lack credibility if it continues to fail to take the steps necessary to
enable an environment conducive to serious engagement.
44. As Secretary-General, I will continue to ensure that the United Nations works
towards the establishment of an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable
Palestinian State living side by side in peace with a secure Israel in the framework
of a comprehensive regional settlement consistent with Security Council resolutions
242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1860 (2009), and in
accordance with the road map, the Arab Peace Initiative and the principle of land for
peace.
United Nations A/70/354–S/2015/677
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
1 September 2015
Original: English
15-14704 (E) 110915
*1514704*
General Assembly
Seventieth session
Items 37 and 38 of the provisional agenda*
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Seventieth year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly resolution
69/23. It contains replies received from the parties concerned to the notes verbales sent
by the Secretary-General pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 24 of the
resolution. The report also contains the observations of the Secretary -General on the
current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on international efforts to move the
peace process forward with a view to achieving a peaceful settlement. The report
covers the period from September 2014 through August 2015 .
* A/70/150.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution
69/23.
2. On 1 July 2015, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 24 of the
above-mentioned resolution, I addressed the following letter to the President of the
Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 69/23, which th e General
Assembly adopted on 25 November 2014, at its sixty -ninth session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 24 of the resolution requests the Secretary -General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultat ion with the
Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to
the General Assembly at its seventieth session a report on these efforts and on
developments on this matter.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 31 July 2015.
“Recalling the Secretariat’s obligation to observe the page limit of its
reports, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 52/214, I would like to
encourage the Security Council to limit its submission to 1,500 words.”
3. As at 1 September, no response had been received to that request.
4. In a note verbale dated 14 May 2015 to the parties concerned, I sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as the State of Palestine, regarding any steps taken by them to
implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at 31 August 2015, replies
had been received from Israel and the State of Palestine.
5. The note verbale dated 27 July 2015 from the Permanent Observer Mission of
the State of Palestine to the United Nations reads as follows:
“The resolution ‘Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine ’
constitutes a longstanding contribution by the General Assembly towards
justly, comprehensively and peacefully resolving the question of Palestine
based on international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions. The
resolution continues to receive overwhelming support, reaffirming the global
consensus calling for Israel’s complete withdrawal from the Palestinian
territory occupied since June 1967, including East Jerusalem; achievement of
the two-State solution of an independent, sovereign, contiguous State of
Palestine, living side by side with Israel in peace and security within
recognized borders based on the pre-1967 borders; and a just solution for the
Palestine refugees based on resolution 194 (III).
“This consensus reflects the long-held position of the Palestinian people
and leadership, since formal acceptance of the two -State solution in the 1988
Declaration of Independence of the State of Palestine. This significant
compromise to establish the State of Palestine on only 22 per cent of our
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historic homeland for the sake of restoring our rights, achieving our self -
determination and freedom and ending the conflict is among the boldest
confirmations of Palestine’s commitment to peace. Remarkably, this
commitment has prevailed, despite the historic injustice inflicted on the
Palestinian people since the adoption of partition resolution 181 (II) in 1947
and the tragedy of Al-Nakba of 1948, from which our people continue to suffer
to this day, particularly the Palestine refugees.
“Here, we underscore the gravity of the plight of the Palestine refugees,
who constitute the largest, most protracted refugee problem in the world
(5.3 million people) and are enduring immense hardships, which intens ified
this past year, despite the humanitarian assistance and protection continuously
provided to them by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) since it began operations 65 years ago.
This is due to the impact of Israel’s illegal practices in Occupied Palestine,
including, inter alia, the military aggressions and humanitarian crisis inflicted
on the Gaza Strip, the latest in July-August 2014; the inhumane blockade of
Gaza since 2007; and settlement activities and forced displacement of
Palestinians, including refugees and particularly Bedouins, in the West Bank.
The refugees’ situation has also degenerated due to regional instability,
foremost the Syrian conflict, which has inflicted death, destruction and
displacement on Palestine refugees, along with Syrian civilians suffering so
gravely, and also affected Palestine refugee communities in Lebanon and
Jordan, where many refugees have fled. It has also been affected by UNRWA’s
unprecedented financial shortfalls, which if unmet threaten the Agency’s vital
services, including schooling for 500,000 children, and its stabilizing role at
this precarious time.
“The urgency of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all aspects and of
intensifying efforts towards that end is reaffirmed from the outset of the
operational paragraphs of resolution 69/23. As reflected in the support for
resolution 69/23, the grave impact of this conflict and unsustainabil ity of the
situation and, inversely, the manifold benefits peace would bring for the
Palestinian and Israeli peoples, the Middle East region and the international
community as a whole are facts widely recognized and propelling the
collective calls and efforts for peace. However, 2014-2015 witnessed a
deepening of the political impasse with a breakdown of American -led peace
talks in April 2014 due to Israel’s suspension of negotiations, followed by its
criminal war against Gaza, exacerbating the fragile situ ation and casting
further doubt on its intentions and commitment to peace and the two -State
solution.
“The year also witnessed continued failure of the international
community, particularly the Security Council, to uphold its obligations to
redress the crisis, salvage the two-State solution and contribute to attainment
of peace. This was most notably reflected in the failure of the Security Council
to adopt the draft resolution ( S/2014/916) presented for a vote on 30 December
2014 by Jordan, which called, inter alia, for achievement of a peaceful
solution that brings an end to the Israeli occupation since 1967 and fulfils the
vision of two States within a timeframe of no later than 12 months from the
resolution’s adoption. As of this note’s writing, the Council has failed to heed
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the calls to uphold its responsibilities vis -à-vis the search for a peaceful
solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and efforts in this regard continue to
be obstructed or delayed, including the initiative led by France to reaffirm the
parameters for peace, based on the relevant United Nations resolutions, the
Madrid principles and the Arab Peace Initiative, and establish a timeframe to
end the Israeli occupation as well as internat ional monitoring and support for
implementation of a peace agreement.
“Nevertheless, we continue calling on the Council to uphold its Charter
mandate and adopt a resolution aimed at breaking the political impasse and
accelerating realization of peace and security and continue cooperating with
all efforts for this objective. The provisions of resolution 69/23 are fully
respected by the Palestinian Government, which actively strives to implement
the resolution and the other relevant Security Council and Ge neral Assembly
resolutions in its actions, bilaterally, multilaterally or internally. This is
pursued despite the enormous challenges arising from Israel’s 48 -year military
occupation. We also recognize the necessity of Palestinian unity in this regard
and continue efforts to achieve reconciliation and empower the national
consensus Government to fulfil its duties, despite the cynical Israeli attempts
to thwart unity and entrench the divide.
“Indeed, the State of Palestine has always respected its legal o bligations
and commitments in accordance with United Nations resolutions. We maintain
that respect of the law is the key to resolving the conflict and this has been
clearly reaffirmed by Palestine’s recent accessions to the core international
humanitarian law and human rights law treaties without reservations, as well
as to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and its
exercise of its rights as well as upholding of obligations in this regard. These
accessions — broadly welcomed by the international community — also
underscore Palestine’s intention to use all peaceful, political, legal and
non-violent tools to achieve the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
including the right to self-determination.
“Only international law can ensure that negotiations to resolve the final
status issues — Jerusalem, Palestine refugees, settlements, borders, security,
prisoners and water — actually result in a just, sustainable peace. The passage
of decades has certified that neither justice nor peace can be achieved by
military might and illegal actions and that a people can never be coerced to
forgo their rights, regardless of the suffering and indignities forced upon them.
Unfortunately, however, the impunity that Israel, the occupying Power, has for
too long been permitted, never being held accountable for its violations and
war crimes, is prolonging the conflict, undermining peace efforts and
obstructing achievement of a peaceful settlement to the detriment of our
people, the Middle East region and the global community.
“In the past year, Israel has persisted with its illegal policies and
practices, provocations and incitement, which it never ceased from the onset of
the occupation nearly a half century ago through all stages of the peace
process — from the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference to the last incarnation of
negotiations held under the auspices of United States Secretary of State John
Kerry with the support of the other Quartet members of the European Union,
the Russian Federation and the United Nations, the League of Arab States
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Ministerial Committee, and concerned States from around the world — and
thereafter.
“Israel’s violations include, inter alia, continuation of its illegal
settlement campaign in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, involving land confiscation, construction of settlements, the
annexation wall, Israeli-only by-pass roads and other related infrastructure and
the transfer of more Israeli settlers, as well as its military campaign against the
Palestinian people, including the 2014 war on Gaza and daily military raids in
the West Bank, causing death and injury to Palestinian civilians; destruction of
Palestinian homes and property; forced displacement of Palestinians,
particularly Bedouin families; exploitation of natural resources, including
water; daily arrest raids, resulting in imprisonment and administrative
detention of over 6,000 Palestinians, who are enduring inhumane conditions,
abuse and torture at the hands of the occupier; policies aid ing and abetting
settler terror and violence against Palestinian civilians and destruction of
property, including agricultural lands and Muslim and Christian holy sites; the
illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip in collective punishment of the
1.8 million Palestinians there and strangulation of the economy and
innumerable other measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian
people, all in breach of international law, including the Fourth Geneva
Convention, relevant United Nations resolutions and the 2004 advisory
opinion of the International Court of Justice, and in violation of provisions of
the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
“In this regard, we must recall the grave impact of the Israeli military
aggression against the Gaza Strip, where the occupying forces slaughtered and
injured thousands of Palestinian children, women and men, caused wanton
destruction, and terrorized and traumatized the entire population. The
disastrous impact of this Israeli onslaught on the defenseless Pal estinian
civilian population in Gaza has been corroborated by several United Nations
reports, including of the Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry and
the Secretary-General’s Board of Inquiry and in the Secretary-General’s report
on children and armed conflict, in which Israel was wrongly omitted from the
list of grave violators of children’s rights. In fact, the Commission of Inquiry
found that Israel persisted with its onslaught even after early knowledge of the
high casualty figures, indicating a deliberate decision on the part of Israeli
officials to inflict such harm, a fact also confirmed by the testimonies of
Israeli soldiers, who were instructed to kill anyone they encountered in Gaza.
“By the time of the 26 August 2014 ceasefire, the Isra eli occupying
forces had killed 2,251 Palestinians, the majority civilians, including
551 children and 299 women, and injured over 11,000 Palestinians, including
3,540 women and 3,436 children, with injuries so severe due to the lethal
weaponry and wide-impact explosives used that 10 per cent of the injured will
suffer life-long disabilities. A total of 142 families suffered the killing of three
or more family members in Israeli attacks and 89 entire families were killed.
Eleven UNRWA staff were also killed, along with twenty-three health workers.
Civilian casualties continue to be caused by thousands of unexploded Israeli
ordnance remaining in Gaza.
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“The physical destruction caused by the Israeli occupying forces
included destruction and severe damage cau sed to thousands of homes,
schools, businesses, hospitals, United Nations facilities, and civilian
infrastructure. At the conflict’s height, over 500,000 people were displaced,
the majority sheltering in 90 UNRWA schools, where they sought protection
under the United Nations flag, yet where 42 people were killed, including
16 children, in Israeli strikes on the schools. In total, 12,620 homes were
totally destroyed by the occupying forces, 6,455 were severely damaged
beyond habitation and over 80,000 were d amaged. A year later, not a single
destroyed home has been rebuilt due to Israel’s blockade and restrictions, with
less than 1 per cent of needed construction materials entering Gaza and donor
funding for reconstruction insufficient despite generous pledge s made at the
Cairo Conference. Over 110,000 people remain homeless, the majority
Palestine refugees, forced to shelter with host families, in temporary housing
or in the ruins of their homes.
“More than 100 United Nations facilities were damaged, 75 hos pitals and
clinics were damaged and 543 schools were damaged or destroyed, the highest
recorded number in the world in 2014. Gaza’s sole power plant was targeted
by Israeli strikes, causing persisting blackouts of 12 to 16 hours a day. Sixtythree
water facilities were damaged and twenty-three were destroyed,
worsening the water crisis in an area where 90 per cent of water is unfit for
human consumption. In total, 33,000 meters of water and waste networks and
27 per cent of pumping stations were damaged. In addition, 500 economic and
industrial facilities, constituting 60 per cent of Gaza’s production capacity,
were destroyed, affecting more than 35,000 jobs, deepening poverty, in
addition to livelihoods lost due to the blockade and 2008 -2009 Israeli
aggression. Unemployment in Gaza now stands above 43 per cent, with youth
unemployment at an alarming 60 per cent. Food insecurity is rampant, with
80 per cent of the population aid-dependent.
“Compounding the human insecurity and despair caused by this Israeli
aggression is the humanitarian crisis arising from Israel’s illegal eight -year
blockade of Gaza. This humanitarian crisis has negatively impacted every
single aspect of life, with short- and long-term socioeconomic implications
that are depriving and disfiguring Palestinian society. As recognized globally,
this unjust situation is unsustainable and volatile, requiring immediate remedy
to avert further deterioration and explosion of another cycle of violence.
“One year on, the human and physical wounds remain unhealed in Gaza
and hopes are fading for any relief from this appalling injustice and restoration
of the rights and dignity of our people. This deplorable situation, coupled with
relentless Israeli settlement activities throughout the rest of Occupied
Palestine, repression of Palestinian civilians and incitement by Israeli
government, military and religious leaders and extremist settlers, particularly
regarding Occupied East Jerusalem and the Al -Aqsa Mosque compound, has
severely aggravated conditions on the ground, entrenched the political impasse
and pushed us farther away from our goal of peace. Clearly, the moment that
Israel launched its 2014 offensive, and considering the illegal actions
perpetrated since and the declarations by Israeli le aders — including the
provocative, anti-two-State remarks by the Prime Minister during the 2015
elections — it aimed to destroy the prospects for peace, intensify its
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oppression of the Palestinian people and strip them of hope for an end to this
cruel occupation and realization of their inalienable rights.
“It is not coincidental that the Israeli aggression was launched against a
backdrop of heightened pressure on Israel in the peace process; international
acceptance of the Palestinian national consensus Government; unanimous
condemnation of settlement activities and the Gaza blockade; and rising calls
for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. It is an obvious repeat of
past crises created by Israel to divert attention and evade efforts to adva nce a
peaceful solution to the conflict, by only paying lip -service to peace while it
actively sabotages the two -State solution with total disrespect for international
law and contempt for the international community.
“That is why — despite the global calls for a just solution based on two
States on the pre-1967 borders, the historic compromise made by the
Palestinian leadership over a quarter century ago, over two decades of
negotiations and the passage of more than 48 years since the adoption of
resolution 242 (1967) — the political impasse continues and peace remains
elusive. This is why resolution 69/23 remains unimplemented. It is the direct
outcome of Israel’s illegal, combative behavior by which it continues to deny
Palestinian rights and perpetuate its illegal occupation and of its rejection of
peace, bad faith and obstruction of all attempts to revive negotiations based on
clear parameters rooted in the Security Council’s resolutions.
“Aiming to prevent further destabilization, stem the human suf fering and
salvage the prospects for peace, Palestine has repeatedly drawn international
attention to this grave situation and called for action in line with international
law, the relevant United Nations resolutions and the permanent responsibility
towards the question of Palestine until it is resolved justly in all aspects. The
Palestinian leadership remains insistent that a just peace is the only remedy for
the conflict and the violence, deprivation and instability it engenders, and
firmly rejects the claims that “now is not the right time” for a solution. That
time is actually long overdue. As we witness the instability in Palestine and
throughout the region, we do not have the luxury to continue delaying peace.
Moreover, the Palestinian people can no lo nger delay realization of their
human rights, nor accept rationales asking them to endure more violations,
suffering and indignities, while the occupying Power is placated and appeased,
not even being held accountable for its most egregious crimes.
“Regrettably, our appeals and efforts have been to no avail and the
Security Council remains paralyzed and the international community unable to
effectively confront Israeli impunity. This makes it more imperative for the
General Assembly to act boldly to addr ess this tragic conflict, which has been
on the agenda of the Organization since its inception, yet shamefully remains
unresolved. Here, in conjunction with the relevant United Nations resolutions,
we stress the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative and its promise for
opening doors to a new era of peace, stability, cooperation and collective
action for our common goals and problems. The international community must
call on Israel to reciprocate this historic initiative.
“Palestine seeks peace and coexistence with Israel, but this must be
based on freedom and justice. This requires a complete end to the Israeli
occupation and the colonial, racist policies that have fueled it for five decades.
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Respect for international law and human rights, not military might and
violence, must be the core of this peace. Interim solutions or other palliatives
to ‘ease’ or manage the situation will not suffice. The root causes and
underlying issues of the conflict must be addressed in accordance with
international law.
“The plight of the Palestinian people — from Occupied Palestine to our
refugee camps in the region, especially in Syria — is an existential crisis
urgently demanding a just solution. We appeal to the General Assembly to
uphold the legal, political and moral responsibilities in this regard and
likewise extend this appeal to the entire United Nations system and Member
States to uphold their responsibilities. We also recall relevant declarations by
the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention,
most recently on 17 December 2014, and the obligations in this regard.
“The Security Council in specific is duty-bound to address this conflict,
which continues to threaten international peace and security, and must act
towards bringing a definitive end to the occupation and conflict and
establishing a just and lasting peace. Pending that achievement, action must be
taken to ensure protection to the Palestinian people under Israel’s occupation,
an obligation that the occupying Power has abdica ted as it willfully and
wantonly causes harm to the population and is the direct source of their
insecurity, suffering and vulnerability.
“The foundations for peace must be firmly set before this opportunity is
lost to us and the two-State solution is relegated to the archives of history. The
political will must be found to compel Israel to cease all of its illegal policies
and measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
and comply with its legal obligations. Moreover, there must be accountability
for Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people. Peace and accountability are
not mutually exclusive; both can and must be pursued, for impunity will
always obstruct peace and peace cannot exist without justice.
“We also underscore the universal view that failure to achieve a just
solution to the conflict and continued denial of Palestinian rights, including
Palestine’s rightful place among the community of nations, have severely
undermined international law and the international system, including the
credibility of the Security Council and the United Nations as a whole.
However, despite the failures and setbacks, the Palestinian people still look to
the United Nations, with the democratic General Assembly at the forefront, to
act with conscience to establish peace and fulfill the covenant made over
67 years ago to the Palestinian people in regard to their inalienable rights,
foremost to self-determination. On its part, the Palestinian Government
remains ready to make peace, based o n the longstanding parameters, and will
continue cooperating with all international efforts, based on its conviction in
the rule of law and resolve to achieve a just solution that will achieve the
independence of the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and
the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the Palestine
refugees, and achieve Palestinian-Israeli peace, security and coexistence.
“We are at a crossroads that will determine whether the solution of two
States living side by side in peace and security on the basis of the pre -1967
borders will become reality or meet its demise. For genuine progress to be
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made, the crisis on the ground and root causes of this conflict must be
seriously redressed. Respect for resolution 69/23 and all relevant resolutions
would certainly enhance peace prospects. If, however, Israel remains
intransigent, peace efforts will continue failing and we will have to face the
end of the two-State solution and the onset of new collective efforts —
political, legal and popular — for alternative solutions to end the injustice and
realize the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
“We express appreciation for the tireless efforts of the Secretary-General
and the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
and the United Nations system as a whole in support of a peaceful solution and
of Palestinian humanitarian and developmental needs. We also recognize the
important role of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People in raising international awareness and support for
Palestinian rights and a just solution. We also reiterate gratitude for the
principled support of all concerned States and civil society worldwide, and
urge that no effort be spared to achieve long -overdue freedom, justice and
dignity for the Palestinian people and lasting peace and security for our
region.”
6. The note verbale dated 13 August 2015 from the Permanent Mission of Israel
to the United Nations reads as follows:
“As shown in the meeting records, Israel voted against this resolution, as
it has done on similar resolutions adopted in the past by the General Assembly.
Resolution 69/23 joins the numerous one-sided resolutions passed annually,
and automatically, by the General Assembly which only serve to undermine
the credibility of the United Nations as an impartial agent for the advancement
of peace.
“The State of Israel continuously strives to attain a peaceful settlement of
the conflict with the Palestinians and to promote peace in the region. Time and
time again Israel has demonstrated to the international community its
commitment to finding a long-lasting solution to the conflict. Resolution 69/23
overlooks the steps Israel has taken, and continues to take, to end the conflict.
“At the same time, resolution 69/23 fails to examine the situation
objectively, disregarding the role played by the Palestinians in making it more
difficult to attain a peaceful resolution to the conflict, in particular the role of
Hamas.
“In August 2005, Israel dismantled its settlements and military presence
and disengaged from the Gaza Strip. Rather than using this opportunity for
development, Hamas took advantage of Israel’s absence to launch terror
attacks from Gaza against Israeli citizens. Terror activities escalated further
after Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2006. Despite Israel’s
withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, Hamas has contin ued to target Israeli
civilians with thousands of rockets. Hamas’ unprovoked attacks are not the
consequence of efforts to seek redress of legitimate grievances, as some claim.
Rather they are a consequence of Hamas’ guiding ideology.
“Hamas is a virulently anti-Semitic organization, whose very charter
calls on Muslims to kill Jews. Hamas is not dedicated to improving the plight
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of the people of Gaza. Instead, its goal is nothing less than the destruction of
Israel, no matter the cost to the Palestinian po pulation.
“Last summer, the State of Israel faced constant attack as Hamas
launched more than 4,500 rockets at civilian populations in Israeli towns and
communities. Israel’s south has been the target of bombardment for 15 years,
its children constantly subject to indiscriminate attacks from Gaza. Operation
‘Protective Edge’ was launched as a last resort to reinstate safety and security
to its citizens, litres following the abduction and murder by Hamas of three
Israeli teenagers and the barrage of rockets targeting the Israeli population that
followed.
“During the operation, Israel kept the crossing into Gaza open despite the
constant rocket attacks, including those targeting the crossings themselves.
Over the course of those days (8 July-27 August) 5,779 trucks of goods,
4.58 million litres of diesel fuel for the Gaza power station, 1.73 million litres
of diesel fuel for UNRWA, 9.8 million litres of diesel fuel and 4.26 million
litres of gasoline for transportation needs entered Gaza from Israel.
Throughout the entire conflict, the Erez crossing remained open for medical
purposes.
“Despite the relentless and acute threats to its security, Israel is actively
working to support reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip. Israel has
intensified its cooperation with the international community and with the
Palestinian Authority to facilitate sustainable infrastructural and economic
development in Gaza, in order to meet both the short -term and long-term
needs of the civilian population.
“The following are a few of the extensive measures undertaken by Israel
to facilitate reconstruction in Gaza.
“The border crossings between Israel and Gaza have been upgraded to
allow up to 800 truckloads of building materials and other goods to enter the
Gaza Strip on a daily basis. Every single day, approximately 550 truckloads of
goods, carrying everything from foodstuffs to vehicles, pass into Gaza from
Israel. Israel has also allocated approximately $10 million to further expand
the capacity of the crossings to over 1,000 tr ucks a day.
“It is important to note that for the past five years, all types of foodstuffs,
as well as all consumer and other goods, have been allowed to enter Gaza from
Israel. The only prohibited items are weapons and a short list of dual -use items
that can be exploited for use in terrorism.
“Israel has facilitated the passage of over 1.2 million tons of materials
into Gaza since the end of last summer ’s conflict with Hamas. Of these
materials, over 260,000 tons were sent for the reconstruction mechanis m, over
281,000 tons for international community projects and nearly 650,000 tons for
reconstructing roads.
“Israel is facilitating construction projects in Gaza, including housing
(sometimes the construction of entire neighborhoods) as well as schools,
clinics and infrastructure projects. Such projects may be initiated and funded
by international organizations, foreign States, the Palestinian Authority, or
private entities. Recent progress in these projects includes laying the
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cornerstone for the third stage of a neighborhood in Rafah with 220 housing
units, as well as for the al-Zafer Tower project in Gaza City.
“There are currently 367 ongoing construction projects initiated by
international organizations, in various stages of implementation. As of June 17,
approximately 63 per cent of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM)
projects have been completed or are in the implementation stage (with work
being carried out or approved yet awaiting the start of work). Ninety -four per
cent of the international projects outside GRM have been completed or are in
the implementation stage.
“More than 14,000 people enter Israel from the Gaza Strip every single
month. This monthly figure includes many thousands of Gazan businessmen,
pilgrims to the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, medical care patients and their
escorts on their way to receive urgent medical treatment in Israel and
non-urgent medical treatment in the West Bank, and many more.
“Israel has doubled the number of entry permits from Gaza for members
of the business sector.
“Israel has also facilitated the entry of reconstruction personnel into
Gaza, issuing more than 1,000 permits since summer 2014 for travel from the
West Bank. Likewise, Israel has also facilitated the entry of engineers and
other relevant professionals into Gaza for international community projects.
“Above and beyond the reconstruction efforts, Israel has also undertaken
measures to strengthen the economy of Gaza and improve the lives of its
residents.
“Since October 2014, Israel has facilitated the export of nearly 6 million
tons of industrial goods (mainly textiles and furniture) and agricultural
produce (including fish) from Gaza, via Israel, and marketed to the West Bank,
to Israel and abroad.
“Israel has doubled the amount of water i t supplies to Gaza from
5 million to 10 million cubic meters of water annually (2.6 billion United
States gallons). This is in addition to the 125 MW of electricity that Israel
supplies to the Gaza Strip.
“Other economy boosting measures include: setting the fishing zone off
Gaza’s coastline for Palestinian boats at 10 km (6 miles); the establishment of
a Coca-Cola factory, with the requested equipment, in the Karni Industrial
Estate; and the import of engines and second -hand vehicles into the Gaza
Strip.
“Israel has undertaken these measures, and many more, despite the major
security risks they pose. In the past, Hamas (an internationally recognized
terror organization) has diverted massive amounts of aid and imported goods
for use in its terrorist infrastructure. For instance, building materials worth
tens of millions of dollars were diverted by Hamas for the construction of their
cross-border tunnels, which were used to attack Israel during the summer 2014
conflict. Hamas continues to pursue its efforts to rearm, expand its rocket
arsenal and construct the infrastructure it plans to use in its next attack on
Israel.
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“Despite Israel’s best efforts, some reconstruction is being hindered by
forces beyond its control. Delays in reconstruction predominantly stem from
the actions of Hamas, which controls Gaza, and the conflict between this
terrorist organization and the Palestinian Authority. For example, Hamas
refuses to allow the Palestinian Authority to take security and civilian
responsibility for the Palestinian side of Gaza’s border crossings with Israel
and Egypt. Furthermore, Hamas continues to misappropriate construction
materials for use in terrorist infrastructures. For its part, the Palestinian
Authority wants to weaken the Hamas regime and this goa l appears to be
influencing the pace and extent of its reconstruction activities.
“The Palestinian Authority is not only obstructing the reconstruction of
the physical infrastructure in Gaza, it has failed to construct a credible
political infrastructure. The path to a peaceful settlement requires good
governance and leadership responsive to the will of the people. Yet, the
president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, is in his eleventh year
of a five-year term.
“The aforementioned steps taken b y the State of Israel attest to its
commitment to a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, this
commitment has not been reciprocated. On the one hand, Hamas has, time and
time again, chosen to invest in terror, not peace. On the other hand, the
Palestinian Authority is avoiding its responsibility for the people it claims to
represent, and fails to lay the foundations for good governance.
“The State of Israel reiterates its willingness for an agreement in accord
with the principles of the two -State solution and acknowledges the important
role played by the Quartet in this matter. Israel calls on the Palestinian
Authority to reaffirm its adherence to the achievement of a permanent and
comprehensive resolution of the conflict, by engaging in confidence building
measures and bilateral agreements in lieu of unilateral declarative actions in
various multinational forums.”
II. Observations
7. International efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine focused on the possibility of creating a framework for the parties’ return to
meaningful negotiations. Apart from a meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian
chief negotiators in Amman in late July 2015, there were no direct peace process -
related talks between the two leaderships.
8. During most of the reporting period, which immediately followed the
devastating war in Gaza, the situation on the ground was characterized by relatively
low levels of violence, a gradual easing of movement restrictions and a slowdown in
settlement activity in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. However, there were
periods of heightened tension and violence in October and November 2014 and July
2015. The situation in Gaza remained volatile, owing mainly to worsening
socioeconomic conditions, delays in reconstruction, deterioration in internal
security, continued movement restrictions and the deepening political divide
between the Palestinian authorities in Gaza and the West Bank.
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9. On 30 December, a draft Security Council resolution seeking to reac h a final
status agreement and an end to the occupation by the end of 2017 failed to pass.
10. The following day, President Abbas signed instruments of accession to
18 international treaties, including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal
Court. On 2 January, I accepted the submission of 16 instruments of accession after
having ascertained that the instruments received were in due and proper form.
11. On 3 January, in retaliation, Israel, contrary to its obligations under the Paris
Protocol of the Oslo Accords, commenced the withholding of tax revenues collected
on behalf of the Palestinian Autho rity for the month of December. An agreement
was reached on 27 March between the Palestinian Authority and the Government of
Israel under which Israel transferred more than $470 million in withheld revenues.
12. On 17 March, general elections were held in Israel. I was deeply concerned by
many of the hard-line statements made in the final days of campaigning. I urged the
incoming Government of Israel to act on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s
reaffirmations, after his re-election, of his commitment to the two -State solution.
The Middle East Quartet met at the principals level on 8 February in Munich. The
Quartet prioritized the urgent resumption of negotiations an d a strengthening of its
engagement to prepare for a revival of the peace process, including through regular
and direct outreach to the Arab States and the promotion of the Arab Peace
Initiative. It also called for the acceleration of reconstruction in Gaz a. In July,
Quartet envoys, as part of an active outreach effort, engaged constructively with
Egypt, Jordan and the League of Arab States.
13. Last summer ’s conflict in Gaza — the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel
and the subsequent Israel Defence Forces’ so-called “Operation Protective Edge” —
led to levels of death and destruction unprecedented in this conflict. I deeply regret
the loss of civilian life during the escalation. The intensity and destructiveness of
the conflict substantially exacerbate d the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza,
including the observed deterioration of food security, physical and mental health,
access to basic services and economic livelihoods.
14. In the aftermath of the hostilities, efforts were made to strengthen the ce asefire
brokered by Egypt on 26 August 2014. Addressing dire conditions of the civilian
population in the Gaza Strip remained my priority during the reporting period. To
facilitate reconstruction efforts, the United Nations brokered an agreement between
Israel and the Palestinian Government of national consensus establishing procedures
to enable “dual-use” materials to enter Gaza and their use to be monitored. The
Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism was designed as a temporary measure to enable
the entry of critical construction materials at scale and for a wide range of
stakeholders in the immediate post-conflict period. The ultimate objective of the
United Nations in Gaza continues to be the lifting of all closures within the
framework of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) and in a manner which
relieves the suffering of the people of Gaza and addresses the legitimate security
concerns of Israel.
15. I travelled to Cairo on 12 October for the International Conference on
Palestine: Reconstructing Gaza, hosted by Egypt and supported by Norway. The
event garnered $5.4 billion in pledges from some 50 countries, with $3.5 billion
intended to support Gaza. As at 14 April, the World Bank reported that only 27.5 per
cent of those pledges had been disbursed. I again ur ge donors to fulfil the pledges
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they made in Cairo last October. From the outset of the conflict in Gaza, I called on
all combatants to respect the sanctity of United Nations premises. However, a
number of incidents occurred during the hostilities in which United Nations
personnel, premises and operations were affected. In response, I established an
internal board of inquiry to review and investigate 10 of those incidents. On
27 April, I released a comprehensive summary of the Board’s report. The Board
found that the seven incidents in which United Nations premises were hit were
attributable to Israel.
16. The Board also reviewed three incidents involving weapons found in UNRWA
schools. In two instances, the Board found that Palestinian armed groups might h ave
used UNRWA school premises to launch attacks. The Board also made a number of
recommendations, including on ways of further improving coordination between the
United Nations and the Government of Israel to better ensure the safety and security
of United Nations personnel and premises. I am actively pursuing these
recommendations.
17. I fully supported the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry on
the 2014 Gaza Conflict, led by Justice Mary McGowan Davis, pursuant to Human
Rights Council resolution S-21/1, and its broad investigation into all alleged human
rights and international humanitarian law violations that took place before, during
and after the military operations in Gaza between 13 June and 26 August 2014. It is
my hope that the report of the Commission will pave the way for justice for all of
the victims of last year ’s fighting.
18. Alarmingly, unemployment in Gaza reached 43 per cent at the end of 2014.
The conditions in an already devastated Gaza will only worsen, and the risks of
violence and radicalization increase, if the underlying causes of previous conflicts
are not soon addressed.
19. The security implications of the persistent pressures on Gazan society continue
to be felt. Worryingly, reports are increasing of extremist elemen ts seeking to gain a
greater foothold in Gaza in an attempt to ride on the local wave of discontent.
20. Under the leadership of President Abbas, the Palestinian Government of
national consensus — which is fully committed to the principles of the Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO) — must be empowered and enabled to assume its
rightful responsibilities in Gaza, including in particular at the crossings with Israel
and Egypt. Palestinian unity and civil service integration must be addressed as a
priority. The United Nations stands ready to support the President and the
Government of Palestine and all factions in their efforts to reunite the West Bank
and Gaza, in line with the intra-Palestinian unity agreement of 23 April 2014.
21. I also welcomed Egypt’s decision — following consultations with President
Abbas — to open the Rafah crossing for an extended period in June. A regular and
predictable schedule for the opening of Rafah is needed for the movement of
people, especially for humanitarian cases, as the security situation allows.
22. Since the establishment of the temporary Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism,
approximately 90,000 households in Gaza have accessed construction material for
partially damaged housing. In this regard, on 22 June, the Palestinian M inistry of
Public Works and Housing launched the “Residential Stream”, which is intended to
provide simplified access to construction material for the rebuilding of the
approximately 18,000 completely or severely destroyed homes, as well as for the
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construction of completely new housing to help offset the pre -war housing deficit of
approximately 70,000 units. Some 1,700 beneficiaries have already been cleared
and around 600 have purchased the required construction materials. These are
positive steps on the long road to meeting Gaza’s reconstruction needs. I would like
to acknowledge and encourage a continuation of Israel’s constructive cooperation
with the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism.
23. There have been a number of other significant achievements since the end of
hostilities in August 2014. Notably, the last internally displaced persons left the
United Nations collective centres in Gaza on 17 June 2015. Nevertheless, the
overall reconstruction of Gaza remains slow, with considerable financing gaps. On
12 February, the United Nations, in partnership with the Government of Palestine,
launched the Strategic Response Plan for 2015, which aims to address the
humanitarian needs of 1.6 million Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The Plan
requests $705 million, 75 per cent of which is for Gaza.
24. The reporting period witnessed one attempt to break the Gaza maritime
blockade. The Israeli navy intercepted the Marianne, a vessel which was part of the
“Gaza Freedom Flotilla”, on 29 June in international waters. I r eiterate my calls on
the Government of Israel to lift all closures, with due consideration of Israel’s
legitimate security concerns.
25. The Government of Israel has taken several positive steps in that direction,
including lifting the eight-year ban on exports from Gaza to Israel and the West
Bank, increasing quotas and expanding criteria for the exit of Palestinians from
Gaza through the Erez crossing and increasing the capacity of the Kerem Shalom
crossing. As a result, we have seen a significant rise in the number of people and
goods passing through the crossings. I encourage the Government of Israel to pursue
this policy further.
26. I remain worried about the state of human rights and freedoms in Gaza. Of
particular concern are the reports of arbitrary detention being carried out by
Palestinian security forces and the reports of ill -treatment in detention centres in
Gaza. I call on the de facto authorities in Gaza to refrain from carrying out further
executions. I also urge the Palestinian Authority to fulfil its responsibilities, with
full respect for international human rights laws.
27. In July, the Government of Israel revealed that two of its citizens had entered
the Gaza Strip independently, in two separate incidents, since September 2014. I
reiterate my call to all relevant Palestinian actors in Gaza to provide information as
to the possible whereabouts and conditions of the missing Israelis and to take
prompt action to facilitate their safe return to their families.
28. On 30 July, the Palestinian Authority announced a partial reshuffle of the
current Government, appointing five new ministers. Hamas rejected the reshuffle,
arguing that it was not in line with previous agreements.
29. Violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, continued. Th e causes
included Israeli security operations, violence by Jewish extremists, protests and
attacks against Israelis by Palestinians and religious tensions associated with the
Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount. The Israel Defense Forces conducted 4,236 search
and arrest operations, resulting in 5,638 Palestinians being arrested. In the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, a total of 27 Palestinian civilians were killed and
2,755 Palestinians injured. Seven Israeli civilians and one of the Israel Defense
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Forces personnel were killed and 112 Israeli civilians and 60 Israeli security forces
personnel were injured. The Palestinian Authority continued arrests of suspected
Hamas affiliates in the West Bank.
30. Shortly after the beginning of the reporting period, the Govern ment of Israel
appeared to put on hold settlement planning and tendering in the West Bank and
East Jerusalem. The so-called planning freeze was violated in July by the
Government’s decision to advance construction and “legalization” of hundreds of
units. Settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, is illegal under international law.
31. Settler violence has decreased since 2014. As the result of attacks by settlers
2 Palestinians were killed and 86 Palestinians, inc luding 22 children, were injured
during the reporting period. Four Israeli settlers were killed and 96 Israeli settlers
were injured by Palestinians. The most egregious example of settler violence during
the reporting period took place on 31 July, when Ali Dawabsha, a Palestinian
toddler, was murdered and the members of his family severely injured during an
attack on their home in the West Bank. Ali’s father, Sa’ad Dawabsha, died from his
wounds on 8 August. I condemned this despicable act of terror, as did the Security
Council and the leadership of Israel. The incident led to violent demonstrations,
resulting in clashes between Palestinians in the West Bank and the Israel Defense
Forces, as well as attacks on Israeli civilians by Palestinians. In addition, rockets
were fired at Israel from Gaza and subsequent Israeli airstrikes were conducted. As I
have stated numerous times, the indiscriminate firing of rockets against Israeli
civilian targets by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza is a violation of
international law.
32. The demolitions and evictions that took place in Area C of the West Bank are
of deep concern and were condemned by the international community. Palestinians
require access to a fair planning and zoning regime if they are not to resort t o the
building of unauthorized structures that lead to unjustified demolitions. During the
reporting period, 441 structures were demolished, causing the displacement of some
632 Palestinians, including 344 children. I reiterate my concern about the fate of
7,000 Palestinian Bedouins and herders in the occupied West Bank, who may be at
risk of forcible transfer as Israel advances its plan to relocate these communities in
three sites in Area C. This plan, which may be linked to settlement expansion in E1
and other areas, would seriously jeopardize the realization of the two -State solution.
Similarly, I repeat my deep concern over the Israeli demolition orders for Susiya. I
am also concerned about the risk of a forcible transfer of the Um al -Kheir Bedouin
refugee community after the recent demolition of five dwellings next to an Israeli
settlement near Hebron. Demolitions and forcible transfers contravene international
humanitarian law and international human rights law.
33. Tensions also continued in occupied East Jerusalem, especially in the autumn
months of 2014. Escalating tensions surrounding access to the holy sites contributed
significantly to the spike in violence. The shooting of a campaigner for Jewish
prayer rights on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount on 29 October was followed by
a series of attacks in East Jerusalem, including clashes at the Noble Sanctuary.
Restrictions on access to holy sites in the Old City were imposed on the
Palestinians, leading to multiple clashes between worshippers and the Isr aeli
security forces. King Abdullah of Jordan and United States Secretary of State Kerry
organized separate meetings with President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu in
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Amman on 13 November. Both sides announced firm commitments to maintain the
status quo regarding the holy sites.
34. As of August 2015, 370 Palestinians were held by Israeli authorities in
administrative detention, compared with 477 at the beginning of the reporting
period. I reiterate my long-standing position that those detained must be c harged
and brought to trial or released without delay. The Government’s decision on
14 June, which was subsequently approved by the Knesset, to permit force -feeding
of prisoners on hunger strike under certain conditions is in contravention of
international conventions.
35. Palestinians continued to advance their State -building programme. Despite a
strong international consensus that the Palestinian Authority was capable of running
a State, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee was concerned about its economic viabi lity
during the reporting period. It maintained that concerted action was urgently
required to stabilize the fiscal position of the Palestinian Authority, which faces a
deficit of approximately $500 million for 2015, and to rekindle private sector -led
economic growth. Efforts towards structural reform by the Palestinian Authority,
including fiscal containment, and adequate and predictable assistance to the
Government of Palestine by donors were considered essential to manage the deficit.
The International Monetary Fund reported on 29 January that Palestinian economic
activity had contracted in 2014 for the first time since 2006.
36. Israel has taken several steps to ease movement restrictions in the West Bank,
including allowing entry into Israel without per mit for Palestinian men over 55 and
women over 50. Further measures were implemented during Ramadan, although
they were later retracted owing to an escalation in violence. I also note positively
that the number of Palestinians from the West Bank employed i n Israel continued its
rise of the past few years and is today at its highest since the beginning of the peace
process in the early 1990s. I strongly encourage the Government of Israel to
continue implementing measures that would facilitate sustainable gro wth and job
creation for the Palestinian economy.
37. As noted in my last report, I remain seriously concerned about the lack of
political progress and the high risk of an outbreak of violence between Israel and
Palestinian militants. What is important now is for the international community to
work together with the parties on the ground and in the region to create the
conditions for a return to meaningful negotiations. In particular, I urge Israel to
cease all settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem,
and to take further steps to ease the restrictions in place in the West Bank and Gaza.
I also strongly encourage all Palestinians to pursue the path of non -violence and
unity, in line with the PLO commitments, and call on them to make efforts to
improve law and order, to combat extremism and incitement against Israel and to
continue building strong and democratic institutions, which are essential to a viable,
independent Palestinian State.
38. I would like to express my deep appreciation to the United Nations Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, whom I
appointed on 5 February, and his predecessor, Robert H. Serry, whom I thank for his
outstanding performance during his seven-year tenure. I am also grateful to Pierre
Krähenbühl for his able leadership as Commissioner -General of UNRWA. I pay
tribute, too, to all United Nations staff who work in this area under difficult, at
times dangerous, circumstances in the service of the United Nations. In May, Tony
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Blair stepped down from his position as Quartet Representative for the Middle East.
I reiterate my appreciation for his leadership over eight years.
39. As Secretary-General, I will continue to ensure that the United Nations works
towards the establishment of an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable
Palestinian State, living side by side in peace with a secure Israel, within the
framework of a comprehensive regional settlement consistent with Security Council
resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1860 (2009), and
in accordance with the road map, the Arab Peace Initiative and the principle of land
for peace.
United Nations A/71/359–S/2016/732
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
24 August 2016
Original: English
16-14628 (E) 130916
*1614628*
General Assembly
Seventy-first session
Items 34 and 35 of the provisional agenda*
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Seventy-first year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 70/15. It contains replies received from the parties concerned to the notes
verbales sent by the Secretary-General pursuant to the request contained in paragraph
24 of the resolution. The report also contains the observations of the Secretary -
General on the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on international
efforts to move the peace process forward with a view to achieving a peaceful
settlement. The report covers the period from September 2015 to August 2016.
* A/71/150.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution
70/15.
2. On 1 July 2016, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 24 of the
above-mentioned resolution, I addressed the following letter to the President of the
Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 70/15, which the General
Assembly adopted on 24 November 2015, at its seventieth session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 24 of the resolution requests the Secretary -General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to
the General Assembly at its seventieth session a report on these efforts and on
developments on this matter.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 31 July 2016.
“Recalling the Secretariat’s obligation to observe the page limit of its
reports, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 52/214, I would like to
encourage the Security Council to limit its submission to 1,500 words. ”
3. As at 23 August, no response had been received to that request.
4. In a note verbale dated 23 May 2016 to the parties concerned, I sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Leba non and the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as the State of Palestine, regarding any steps taken by them to
implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at 31 July 2016, replies had
been received from Israel and the State of Palestine.
5. The note verbale dated 8 July 2016 from the Permanent Observer Mission of
the State of Palestine to the United Nations reads as follows:
“General Assembly resolution 70/15, “Peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine”, represents the latest contribution by the Assembly
towards a just, comprehensive and peaceful solution to the question of
Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, based on international law and
the relevant United Nations resolutions. The principles enshrined therein have
been committed to by the international community for decades and continue to
receive overwhelming support. The resolution reaffirms the global consensus
calling for, inter alia, Israel’s complete withdrawal from the Palestinian
territory occupied since June 1967, inc luding East Jerusalem; achievement of
the two-State solution of an independent, sovereign, contiguous and viable
State of Palestine, living side by side with Israel in peace and security within
recognized borders based on the pre-1967 borders; and a just solution for the
Palestine refugees based on resolution 194 (III).
“The Palestinian commitment to the principles and objectives of the
resolution has been firm and consistent; the Palestinian leadership has
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continuously called for the implementation of it s provisions and of other
relevant United Nations resolutions, striving at every juncture to promote a
just peace. For over a quarter century, Palestine ’s position has mirrored this
global consensus, beginning with the Palestine National Council ’s formal
acceptance of the two-State solution in the 1988 Declaration of Independence
of the State of Palestine through all legislative efforts and peace initiatives
thereafter to the present day, as attested to by ongoing Palestinian calls and
efforts for peace. This major compromise to establish the State of Palestine on
only 22 per cent of our historic homeland, for the sake of realizing the
Palestinian right to self-determination and our people’s other inalienable rights
and ending the conflict, is indeed the primary testament to Palestine’s
commitment to peace.
“This commitment has held, in spite of the grave trials faced by the
Palestinian people in the long years of their plight, in spite of the fact that the
injustice inflicted upon them in the first half of the twentieth century —
marked most dramatically by the adoption of the partition resolution, General
Assembly resolution 181 (II), in 1947 and the tragedy of Al -Nakba of 1948
and followed by the onset of the Israeli foreign military occupation of the
remainder of Palestine in June 1967 — continues to this day with striking
intensity. Indeed, in a year marking several regrettable anniversaries, including
the forty-ninth year of the Israeli occupation and the onset of its fiftieth year
and the ninth year of the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and the onset of its
tenth year, peace remains as elusive as ever.
“While international support and solidarity for the Palestinian people and
their just cause has been constant, the political courage and will to im plement
the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions have
regrettably been absent in the face of Israel ’s total disrespect for international
law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law. The
failure to hold Israel accountable and compel its compliance with the law has
undermined all peace initiatives and further destabilized the situation on the
ground, exacerbating a deplorable humanitarian, socioeconomic and security
situation and compounding the conflict.
“The prolonged occupation and conflict have caused vast suffering for
the Palestinian people, scarring one generation after another, among them
millions of Palestine refugees denied their right of return. Over 5.3 million
Palestinians, spanning more than three ge nerations, are registered with the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near
East, with millions of them continuing to live in the camps originally
established in the region following Al-Nakba, including in Jordan, Lebanon,
Syria and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and millions of them are
dependent on the Agency’s assistance for their survival and well-being. While
the volatility and unsustainability of the situation are widely acknowledged,
this has regrettably not compelled the necessary international response.
“As the Security Council has failed to uphold its duties under the Charter
of the United Nations on this issue and the Quartet has equally failed to uphold
its declared commitments, the Israeli Government has t aken full advantage of
the international paralysis. Israel has entrenched its occupation, particularly by
means of its illegal settlement campaign throughout Occupied Palestine,
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including and especially in and around occupied East Jerusalem. Jerusalem
also continues to be subjected to incitement by Israeli officials and religious
leaders and provocations and violence by Israeli settlers and Jewish extremists
against Muslim and Christian holy sites, particularly targeting the Haram
al-Sharif, which houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque, further inflaming tensions and
threatening to precipitate a dangerous religious conflict.
“At the same time, Israel has intensified its measures of repression
against the Palestinian civilian population under its control, most flagrant ly by
its illegal, inhumane blockade of Gaza, in collective punishment of the entire
Palestinian civilian population there, gravely breaching its obligations under
the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time
of War (Fourth Geneva Convention) to ensure their safety, protection and well -
being. These also constitute violations of the relevant United Nations
resolutions, the applicable provisions of human rights conventions and of the
Rome Statute of the International Criminal C ourt, and the 2004 advisory
opinion of the International Court of Justice.
“Palestinian hardships have multiplied as Palestinians have tragically
been left unprotected, denied their rights and exposed to systematic human
rights violations. In the past year, such violations have included, but are not
limited to, the loss of more than 210 civilian lives and the injury of thousands
in violent Israeli military raids, with young people in particular being
viciously targeted since the recent cycle of violence b egan in October 2015;
daily arrest and detention operations and the continued imprisonment of
thousands of Palestinians, including children and women, who are routinely
exposed to physical and psychological abuse and torture; and severe
restrictions on movement and other fundamental freedoms; as well as
countless other violations, including those stemming from Israel ’s active
colonization of the Occupied Palestinian Territory by means of its construction
and expansion of settlements and the wall, demolition of Palestinian homes
and measures to dispossess them of their private property and agricultural
lands, forced displacement and exploitation of their natural resources. These
violations are being perpetrated jointly and non -stop by the occupying Power
and its military occupying forces and extremist, terrorist settlers.
“Despite all the above, and the diminishing faith of the Palestinian
people in the international system in general and the possibility of the two -
State solution in particular, Palestine ’s commitment to peace persists, rooted in
a deep conviction in international law, the inevitability of justice and the
imperatives of peace and security. The Palestinian Government, led by
President Mahmoud Abbas, has continued in the past year to appeal for
international action to advance a peaceful solution and to cooperate with
regional and international efforts to overcome the political deadlock and create
a credible horizon for resolving the conflict. The urgency of achieving a
peaceful settlement and creating the conditions conducive for its realization
are clearly set forth in the provisions of resolution 70/15, and those provisions
are fully respected by Palestine, which actively strives for its implementation
in its actions, multilaterally and bilatera lly, and in its internal governance
efforts.
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“This has included, inter alia, Palestine ’s accessions in recent years to
numerous international treaties and covenants, reconfirming its commitment to
the rule of law at the international and national levels and underscoring
Palestine’s intention to use all peaceful, political, legal and non -violent tools
to achieve the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including to self -
determination. It has also involved Palestine ’s full cooperation with regional
efforts to advance peace in line with the Arab Peace Initiative and its support
for the initiative of France, along with regional and international partners, to
convene an international support group for Palestinian -Israeli peace and
organize an international peace conference to that end. It has additionally
included steps to restore Palestinian unity, as attempts continue to promote
reconciliation and empower the national consensus government to fulfil its
duties, recognizing the importance of unity for a chieving peace.
“Such efforts have been consistently pursued despite the innumerable
challenges arising from Israel’s half-century foreign occupation. In this regard,
it must be noted that, aside from its illegal plans and practices aimed at
repression of the Palestinian population and de facto annexation of the
Palestinian land, the occupying Power has also acted to deliberately undermine
the functioning of the Palestinian Government, including by withholding tax
revenues, inciting against the Palestinia n leadership and inflammatory rhetoric
and cynical actions to thwart Palestinian unity.
“Consequently, despite efforts by Palestine, States from around the
world, inter-governmental organizations and civil society partners in the past
year, the political impasse, which began in April 2014 with the breakdown of
American-led peace talks, following Israel’s suspension of negotiations,
continues to the present. That impasse has been hardened by the intransigence
of the Israeli Government, which continues its rejection and obstruction of all
peace efforts, casting serious doubts on its intentions and claimed commitment
to peace, continues to settle and colonize Palestine, effectively destroying the
two-State solution and continues its blockade of Gaza and its i solation from
the West Bank and the rest of the world, imprisoning the entire population and
impeding reconstruction and recovery from its criminal military aggressions of
recent years.
“Here, it is relevant to recall that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyah u
publicly pledged in 2015 that there would be no Palestinian State as long as he
was Prime Minister, a position he has clearly adhered to. This position, along
with even more negative, virulent sentiments, has been reiterated by Israeli
Government officials in repeated provocative declarations, inflammatory and
racist rhetoric and incitement against the Palestinian people and their
leadership. Moreover, Israel continues to fabricate empty and false pretexts,
focused mainly on its own security narrative and disregard for the Palestinian
right to security, and continues to impose unjust, unilateral conditions, all
designed to maintain its illegal occupation, rather than reversing it and
advancing peace efforts on the basis of the parameters rooted in the Secu rity
Council resolutions. The past year has again proven that Israel only pays lip
service to peace while it vigorously sabotages the two -State solution with
blatant disrespect for the law and contempt for the international community.
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“While stoking tensions and deepening anger and mistrust, this has not,
however, undermined Palestine’s adherence to the path of peace or inhibited
its constant outreach urging the international community, foremost the
Security Council, to act in line with international lega l obligations and
commitments, as prescribed by the relevant United Nations resolutions,
including resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the Madrid principles,
including the principle of ‘land for peace’, and the Arab Peace Initiative. The
Palestinian leadership has been unrelenting in its appeals to the international
community to help the parties to make peace based on the longstanding
parameters of the two-State solution, repeatedly calling for setting a time
frame to end the Israeli occupation that bega n in 1967 and achieve the
independence of the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, a just
solution for the plight of the Palestine refugees and guarantees of international
support for the implementation of a future peace agreement.
“In every single official communication to the General Assembly, the
Security Council and the Secretary-General we have sought to draw urgent
attention to the grave breaches of international law being perpetrated by Israel
and have equally appealed for actio n to compel a halt to its crimes and
violations. Simultaneously, we have acted to galvanize international efforts to
salvage peace prospects and preserve the two -State solution, in conformity
with the international consensus, as enshrined in resolution 70/ 15 and other
relevant United Nations resolutions. Our appeals are in full accord with the
law and requirements of peace and justice, not baseless claims or desires.
“But, after five decades of occupation and the steep decline of the
situation, Palestinian patience, hopes and convictions in peace are fading
away, especially among our young people. After years of restraint — years
witnessing the deterioration of conditions to dangerous levels, years of
unquantifiable loss and suffering for the Palestinian p eople, years of the two-
State solution’s erosion and years of direct damage to Security Council
credibility and the rule of law — we can no longer wait and must sound an
alarm; the opportunities for peace are slipping away and the international
community must act before it is too late. We cannot accept pretexts, domestic
or otherwise, that attempt to rationalize the irrational and sanctify the
illegitimate, permitting the violation of the law and our people ’s rights with
total impunity. The Israeli Governme nt is making a mockery of international
law and the international calls for an end to its occupation of Palestine and is
intentionally thwarting a peaceful settlement, to the detriment of our people,
the Middle East region and the global community, and it must be held
accountable. Peace is contingent on this.
“We will thus continue calling upon the Security Council to uphold its
duties under the Charter of the United Nations and implement its own
resolutions. The Council must answer the global calls to re dress this open,
bleeding wound by upholding international law and its own obligations to
advance a peaceful solution to assist the Palestinian people to finally realize
the freedom, rights and justice they have been denied and help to establish
Palestinian-Israeli peace and security. Palestine pledges cooperation with all
efforts for this objective, stressing the international responsibilities in this
regard and the need for collective efforts and genuine multilateral processes
and support to bring this to fruition.
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“Only international law can ensure that negotiations aimed at resolving
the final status issues — Jerusalem, Palestine refugees, settlements, borders,
security, prisoners and water — actually result in a just, sustainable peace.
Cycles of failed negotiations and initiatives have taught hard lessons that must
be heeded. Peace can never be achieved by military might, illegal practices
and bad faith, and a people can never be coerced to forgo their rights,
regardless of the misery, indignities and deprivation forced upon them.
“To prevent further destabilization in a region experiencing great
turmoil, to stem the human suffering and keep the window open for peace,
Palestine will continue to act and call for measures in line with international
law, the relevant United Nations resolutions and the permanent international
responsibility towards the question of Palestine until it is resolved justly in all
aspects. Peace requires a human rights perspective and a justice perspective,
not just a security perspective. The occupying Power cannot continue to be
appeased while the occupied people continue to suffer and to be denied
inalienable human rights, including to self-determination and freedom. The
root causes and underlying issues of the conflict must be redressed.
Accountability for crimes is imperative.
“The plight of the Palestinian people — from Occupied Palestine to our
refugee camps in the region, especially in Syria — is an existential crisis
urgently demanding a just solution. The Security Co uncil in particular is dutybound
to address this conflict, which continues to threaten international peace
and security, and must act towards bringing a definitive end to the occupation
and conflict and securing a just and lasting peace. Until then, as po litical
efforts continue to be exerted, action must also be taken to ensure protection
for the Palestinian people under Israel ’s occupation and alleviate their
humanitarian plight, as the occupying Power continues to violate its
obligations to ensure their safety and well-being and is the source of their
insecurity and suffering.
“While calling upon the Security Council, we also reiterate our appeal to
the General Assembly to uphold its legal, political and moral responsibilities,
as reflected in resolution 70/15 and prior resolutions. We also recall relevant
declarations by the conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth
Geneva Convention and obligations in this regard. Moreover, we reaffirm the
importance of the Arab Peace Initiative and its pro mise for opening doors to a
new era of peace, stability and cooperation for our shared aspirations and
challenges. Israel must be called upon to cease obstructing peace and to
reciprocate this historic initiative.
“The Palestinian Government remains read y to make peace, based on
resolution 70/15 and all other relevant United Nations resolutions. On this
basis, we will continue cooperating with international efforts to promote a just
solution that will achieve the independence of the State of Palestine, wi th East
Jerusalem as its capital, and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
including the Palestine refugees, and achieve lasting Palestinian -Israeli peace,
security and coexistence.”
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6. The note verbale dated 15 July 2016 from the Permanent Mi ssion of Israel to
the United Nations reads as follows:
“As shown in the meeting records, Israel voted against this resolution, as
it has done on similar resolutions adopted in the past by the General Assembly.
Assembly resolution 70/15 joins the numerou s one-sided resolutions passed
annually, and automatically, by the General Assembly, which only serve to
undermine the credibility of the United Nations as an impartial agent for the
advancement of peace.
“The State of Israel continuously strives to atta in a peaceful settlement of
the conflict with the Palestinians and to promote peace in the region. Time and
time again, Israel has demonstrated to the international community its
commitment to finding a long-lasting solution to the conflict. General
Assembly resolution 70/15 overlooks the steps Israel has taken, and continues
to take, to end the conflict.
“At the same time, General Assembly resolution 70/15 fails to examine
the situation objectively, disregarding the role played by the Palestinians in
making it more difficult to attain a peaceful resolution to the conflict, in
particular Palestinian incitement to violence.
“Since 13 September 2015, 40 people have been killed in Palestinian
terrorist attacks in Israel and 517 people (including 4 Palest inians) have been
injured. There have been 156 stabbing attacks (including 76 attempted
attacks), 98 shootings, 46 vehicular (ramming) attacks and one bus bombing.
“These acts of terrorism did not take place in a vacuum. They are a direct
result of the continuous Palestinian incitement. The report of the Middle East
Quartet emphasized that continuing violence, recent acts of terrorism against
Israelis and incitement to violence is fundamentally incompatible with
advancing a peaceful two-State solution.
“The hateful rhetoric of the Palestinian leadership begins at the top. In
his recent speech to the European Parliament, on 23 June 2016, President
Abbas himself repeated an outrageous lie that Israel seeks to poison the
Palestinians’ water supply. He said that certain rabbis in Israel have said very
clearly to their government that our water should be poisoned in order to have
Palestinians killed. This vicious slander is rooted in centuries -old fabricated
accusations against Jews for poisoning wells. It is a blood libel.
“There cannot be any progress for peace, unless the Palestinian
leadership puts an end to terror and incitement and finally agrees to direct,
face-to-face negotiations. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said repeatedly that
he would meet with President Abbas, any time, any place, to work to end the
conflict, yet Abbas has made his refusal clear.
“The only way to achieve peace for the region is by building a strong
foundation. This foundation must consist of three pillars, an end to all
terrorism and incitement, ending the Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel as
the nation State of the Jewish peo ple and Palestinian willingness to directly
negotiate with Israel.
“In August 2005, Israel dismantled its settlements and military presence
and disengaged from the Gaza Strip. Rather than using this opportunity for
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development, Hamas took advantage of I srael’s absence to launch terror
attacks from Gaza against Israeli citizens. Terror activities escalated further
after Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2006. Despite Israel ’s
withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, Hamas has continued to target Isra eli
civilians with thousands of rockets. Hamas ’ unprovoked attacks are not the
consequence of efforts to seek redress of legitimate grievances, as some claim.
Rather, they are a consequence of Hamas’ guiding ideology.
“Hamas is a virulently anti-Semitic organization, whose very charter
calls upon Muslims to kill Jews. Hamas is not dedicated to improving the
plight of the people of Gaza. Instead, its goal is nothing less than the
destruction of Israel, no matter the cost to the Palestinian population.
“Despite the relentless and acute threats to its security, Israel is actively
working to support reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip. Israel has
intensified its cooperation with the international community in general, and
with the United Nations in particular, and with the Palestinian Authority to
facilitate sustainable infrastructural and economic development in Gaza, in
order to meet both the short-term and long-term needs of the civilian
population. Since October 2014, over 5 million tons of building material have
been transferred to Gaza, within the United Nations sponsored Gaza
Reconstruction Mechanism, including 872,000 tons of cement and 157,000
tons of iron.
“Israel continues its enabling policy towards the Palestinian population,
in spite of the ongoing Palestinian violence. This policy is based on the
conviction that developing economic growth and good governance capabilities
not only gives support to the sustainability of the Palestinian Authority but can
boost the hope for a better future for both parties, as well as encourage the
security and stability of all countries in the region.
“During the past year, since the formation of the current Israeli
Government in May 2015, the Ministry of Finance has dramatically increased
its efforts to promote economic cooperation and development with the
Palestinian Authority. Those efforts include high -level meetings between
ministers and high ranking officials. For example, there have been a series of
four direct meetings between Palestinian Authority Fi nance Minister Bishara
and Israeli Finance Minister Kahlon. These meetings, which were held in a
pragmatic atmosphere, tackled some of the issues that were raised in the latest
World Bank and International Monetary Fund reports and launched an
intensive promotion of new plans for economic development and the
forwarding of substantial funds; an amount of $130 million was transferred to
the Palestinian Authority in order to build trust and help it to achieve fiscal
stability. In addition, the Prime Minister o f Israel has authorized the
connection of the first power station, to be established in Jenin, to Israeli gas
infrastructure. Israel is also following the implementation of the 3G frequencies
allocation agreement, signed with the Palestinian Authority last November.
“The year 2015 was a year of increased movement of people and
merchandise from the West Bank in to Israel to Jordan and the rest of the
world. In 2015, an increase of 27 per cent in truck crossings on the Allenby
Bridge was registered; over 43,000 trucks have crossed from the West Bank
into Jordan and beyond, exporting and importing. The movement of people on
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the bridge has surpassed 2 million crossings and an increase of 4.3 per cent
was registered. Additionally, 15 million entries of Palestin ian residents from
the West Bank into Israel were registered last year — a number which
indicates an increase of 30 per cent.
“Israel has been making tremendous efforts, while taking tremendous
risks, towards the reconstruction of Gaza and the improvemen t of the
humanitarian situation of its civilian population, putting emphasis on
infrastructure issues such as water and energy, as well as employment issues.
“Due to the centrality of water and energy issues, Israel has expressed its
support for the establishment of a desalination plant in the Gaza Strip, and has
issued two letters to that effect, both to the Palestinian Authority and to the
international community.
“In parallel, Israel is cooperating with the Quartet task force on the
connection of Gaza to Israeli gas sources, aiming at having these two projects,
a desalination plant and a connection to gas sources, developed together so
that one can provide for the other. Until the long -term solution of a
desalination plant is operational, for the medi um term, Israel supports the
establishment of small-scale desalination units.
“Regarding Gaza’s reconstruction, great progress has been made. Over
5 million tons of construction materials have entered Gaza through the Gaza
Reconstruction Mechanism, of which there were over 4 million tons of
aggregates, 872,000 tons of cement and 157,000 tons of iron. A total of
130,000 homes that were partially damaged during Operation Protective Edge
were approved for repair. Of these, repairs have already been completed on
over 80,000 homes, and more than 20,000 are under way.
“The second stage of Gaza’s reconstruction has begun, with almost
13,000 residential units authorized for complete reconstruction, and over 2,500
of them have already purchased all the necessary building material to start
work. Additionally, 790 public projects such as roads, schools, clinics and
mosques have been approved, with 124 of them already completed.
“Israel is investing $10 million in the expansion of the Kerem Shalom
commercial crossing to increase its capacity to 1,000 truck crossings per day.
The enlarged capacity will enable the expansion of exports from Gaza, which
currently include agricultural products both to Israel and to the West Bank,
fish, textiles, metal scraps and furnitur e.
“In line with the intention to increase exports from Gaza, for the first
time in a decade, Israel has extended the fishing zone in the south of Gaza to
9 miles. This will enable Gazan fishermen to exhaust the fishing season, which
will boost Gaza’s economy with an additional estimated income of $100,000.
“Recently, the construction of a second commercial crossing between
Israel and the Gaza Strip was approved, and a work crew has embarked upon
planning the establishment of such a crossing, as part o f the Erez crossing.
This project will significantly improve the efficiency of the movement of
goods to and from Gaza. Israel is taking all these measures and making the
Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism a more efficient and enabling mechanism for
the benefit and welfare of the people of the Gaza Strip.
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“Israel will not, however, tolerate the abuse of the Gaza Reconstruction
Mechanism by the terror organization Hamas, which is stealing and
confiscating building materials meant for the reconstruction of Gaza. Those
stolen materials are being diverted for the construction of tunnels used in
attacks against Israel, rearmament and rocket experiments, in preparing their
next assault on Israel. We demand that the 7,000 tons of cement stolen by
Hamas be returned so that it can be used for its original purpose.
“As part of the humanitarian effort, and parallel to the increase in the
number of crossings of commercial goods, there was an increase in the number
of people crossing at the Erez crossing in 2015. Over 360,0 00 movements,
including of patients going for treatment in Israel, students, worshipers going
for Friday prayers on Temple Mount, family members of prisoners going for
visits and an increased number of 5,000 businessmen with daily permits,
entered Israel. All this is taking place while the Egyptian Rafah crossing is
closed during most of the year, due to the Palestinian Authority ’s refusal to
assume its responsibilities.
“It is important to note that for the past five years, all types of foodstuffs,
as well as all consumer and other goods, have been allowed to enter Gaza from
Israel. The only prohibited items are weapons and a short list of dual -use items
that can be exploited for use in terrorist acts.
“Israel is facilitating construction projects in Gaza, including housing
(since Operation Protective Edge, over 127,000 houses have been approved for
repair, of which 81,000 have been completed) and schools, clinics and
infrastructure projects. Such projects may be initiated and funded by
international organizations, foreign States, the Palestinian Authority or private
entities.
“Israel has undertaken these measures, and many more, despite the major
security risks they pose. In the past, Hamas (an internationally recognized
terror organization) has diverted massive amounts of aid and imported goods
for use in its terrorist infrastructure. For instance, building materials worth
tens of millions of dollars were diverted by Hamas for the construction of their
cross-border tunnels, which were used to attack Israel during the summer 2014
conflict. Hamas continues to pursue its efforts to rearm, expand its rocket
arsenal and construct the infrastructure it plans to use in its next attack on
Israel.
“Despite Israel’s best efforts, some reconstruction is being hindered by
forces beyond its control. Delays in reconstruction predominantly stem from
the actions of Hamas, which controls Gaza, and the conflict between this
terrorist organization and the Palestinian Authority. For example, Hamas
refuses to allow the Palestinian Authority to take security and civilian
responsibility for the Palestinian side of Gaza ’s border crossings with Israel
and Egypt. Furthermore, Hamas continues to misappropriate construction
materials for use in terrorist infrastructure. For its part, the Palestinian
Authority wants to weaken the Hamas regime, and this goal appears to be
influencing the pace and extent of its reconstruction activities.
“The Palestinian Authority is not only obstructing the reconstruction of
the physical infrastructure in Gaza, it has failed to construct a credible
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political infrastructure. The path to a peaceful settlement requires good
governance and leadership responsive to the will of the people, yet the
President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, is in his eleventh year
of a five-year term.
“The aforementioned steps taken by the State of Israel attest to its
commitment to a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, this
commitment has not been reciprocated. On the one hand, Hamas has, time and
time again, chosen to invest in terror, not peace. On the other hand, the
Palestinian Authority is avoiding its responsibility for the people it claims to
represent and fails to lay the foundations for good governance and peace.
“The State of Israel reiterates its willingness for an agreement in accord
with the principles of two States for two Peoples and acknowledges the
important role played by the Quartet in this matter. Israel calls upon the
Palestinian Authority to reaffirm its adherence to the achievement of a
permanent and comprehensive resolution of the conflict, by engaging in
confidence-building measures and bilateral agreements in lieu of unilateral
declarative actions in various multinational forums. ”
II. Observations
7. International efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine continued to focus on creating a framework for the parties ’ return to
meaningful negotiations, in particular through the renewed efforts of the Quartet
and other international initiatives. There were no direct peace process-related talks
between the two leaderships, which continued to disagree over the terms for a
resumption of formal negotiations.
8. During most of the reporting period, the situation on the ground was
characterized by heightened tensions and higher levels of violence than in the
previous year, as well as by a rise in demolitions and settlement activity in the West
Bank, including East Jerusalem. In Gaza, a fragile ceasefire largely held, but the
situation remained volatile, mostly owing to worsening socioeconomic conditions,
delays in reconstruction, deterioration in the internal security situation, continued
restrictions in movement and the deepening political divide between the Palestinian
authorities in Gaza and the West Bank.
9. On 10 September, the General Assembly adopted resolution 69/320, in which
it decided that the flags of non-member observer States at the United Nations
maintaining permanent observer missions at Headquarters should be raised at
Headquarters and United Nations offices. I witnessed, with the President of the
State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, the raising of the Palestinian flag for the first
time at Headquarters, on 30 September.
10. Over the past year, the Quartet has been actively enga ged in seeking a way
forward out of the deadlock in negotiations between Israel and the State of
Palestine. Quartet envoys held consultations with Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the
Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council and key international partners on how
to preserve the two-State solution and establish conditions for the parties to return
to meaningful negotiations. The determination of those regional partners to play a
constructive role was highlighted in all discussions.
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11. The Quartet principals met on 30 September in New York, joined by a number
of interested regional and international stakeholders, including France, Egypt,
Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Arab League. At that meeting, participants expressed
serious concern about the trends unfolding on the ground and strong support for
taking significant steps that would help to stabilize the situation, show meaningful
progress towards a two-State solution and restore the belief among Palestinians and
Israelis that a negotiated peace remained possible . The Quartet principals met on
23 October in Vienna to discuss ways to de-escalate tensions in the aftermath of
clashes at holy sites in Jerusalem. On 17 December, Quartet envoys met Israeli and
Palestinian officials in Jerusalem and reiterated the urgent need for taking
significant steps to strengthen Palestinian institutions, security and economic
prospects, while addressing Israel’s security concerns. The principals met again on
12 February in Munich, Germany, and agreed that the envoys should prepare a
report on the status quo and threats to the two -State solution, including
recommendations on the way forward.
12. The report of the Quartet (S/2016/595, annex) was issued on 7 July. In its
conclusions, the Quartet noted the three current trends that are dangerously
imperilling the viability of a two -State solution: (1) continuing violence, terrorism
and incitement; (2) continuing settlement expansion, land designations and denial of
Palestinian development; and (3) situation in Gaza and the lack of control of Gaza
by the Palestinian Authority. The report contains recommendations for both sides on
all three trends with a view to building international consensus on the way forward.
Although both sides have criticized the report’s content, I urge the parties to engage
with the Quartet on its implementation, given that it presents a path to restoring
hope for a negotiated settlement.
13. In the report, the Quartet also welcomed the efforts of France to pursue peace
as complementary to its own work. On 3 June, I joined the ministerial conference
held in Paris to reaffirm the Organization ’s commitment to a negotiated two -State
solution and to discuss how the United Nations can support constructively both
parties in achieving that goal. I welcome the efforts of Egypt in the context of the
Arab Peace Initiative, including the visit in July by the Minister for Foreign Affairs
of Egypt to the State of Palestine and Israel. It is critical to ensure that all
international initiatives are closely synchronized with and complementary to the
work of the Quartet.
14. My visit to Israel and the State of Palestine on 27 and 28 June aimed at
encouraging positive progress in that direction. I urged both leaders to take
definitive and courageous steps to restore a political horizon and stressed that
continued violence and incitement were incompatible with advancing a negotiated
two-State solution.
15. Violence in the West Bank, including in occupied East Jerusalem, increased
significantly from October 2015 onward owing to escalating tensions surrounding
access to the holy sites. On 13 September, the Israeli police entered the area outside
the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount allegedly to head off attempts by extremists to
disrupt visits by non-Muslim tourists. Clashes ensued and continued for three days
in the compound. Accounts of those incidents were widely shared, across the
Muslim world and beyond, with regional and international calls for the preservation
of the historic status quo and law and order at the compound, in line with the
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agreements between Israel and Jordan, as custodian of the Islamic holy sites in
Jerusalem.
16. The Security Council held an emergency session on 16 October, when the
State of Palestine reiterated its request for action to ensure the protection of
Palestinians, calling for the implementation of Security Council resolution 904
(1994) and all other pertinent resolutions. At the request of Council members, I
circulated a compendium, prepared by the Office of Lega l Affairs, of historical
examples of territories administered by the League of Nations and the United
Nations (see S/2015/809, annex).
17. Subsequent to my visit to the region, on 20 and 21 October, and the mee ting
between the Secretary of State of the United States of America, John Kerry, and the
Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel
reiterated Israel’s commitment to uphold the status quo with regard to the holy sites,
agreeing to strengthen security arrangements with the Hashemite custodianship of
the Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem (Jordanian Waqf). I appreciate the continued role
and support of Jordan, as custodian of the Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem.
18. High levels of violence and a polarized public discourse across the spectrum in
Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory continued throughout the reporting
period. Stabbings, vehicle attacks and shootings by Palestinians targeting Israeli
civilians and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces continued to
claim lives. During the reporting period, a total of 224 Palestinians were killed, 159
of whom were perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of attacks . A total of 16,873
Palestinians were injured (1,51 8 in Gaza, 15,346 in the West Bank and 9 in Israel) ,
many from smoke inhalation during demonstrations . Thirty-one Israeli civilians and
15 security forces personnel were killed, and 255 Israeli civilians and 89 security
forces personnel were injured.
19. The level of force used in countering some of the violence is also a matter of
concern. A number of incidents, some of which were captured on video and widely
disseminated, call into question the nature of the response of Israeli security forces,
including the apparent disproportionate use of lethal force as a first resort. I have
consistently reminded Israeli authorities that live fire should be used only as a last
resort, in situations of imminent threat to life or serious injury. It is their duty to
ensure a prompt and independent investigation into incidents in which use of force
resulted in death or injury and accountability where there is evidence of
wrongdoing.
20. I reiterate the firm condemnation by the United Nations of all terrorist attacks.
Leaders on all sides have the responsibility to stop incitement and to consistently
and unequivocally stand against acts of terror and violence in all forms.
21. Settler violence has decreased since my previous report ( A/70/354-
S/2015/677). During the reporting period, there were 145 settler -related incidents
that resulted in Palestinian injuries, marking a 5 per cent decrease compared with
the previous year. There were 77 settler-related incidents resulting in damage t o
Palestinian property, also marking a decrease, of 47 per cent, compared with the
previous year.
22. Throughout the reporting period, the Israeli Defense Force conducted 4,662
search and arrest operations, resulting in the arrest of 7,013 Palestinians. The
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Palestinian Authority continued arrests of suspected Hamas affiliates in the West
Bank.
23. After almost a year of a so-called “planning freeze” for settlements in 2014,
the rates of settlement planning and issuance of tenders for construction in the West
Bank and East Jerusalem rose in the past year. During the reporting period, Israeli
authorities advanced plans for 3,219 housing units in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, with 544 of them having reached the final stage
of approval. The Government declared 580 acres in the West Bank as “State land”
on 10 March 2016. Settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law. The continued making
of settlement plans and the retroactive legalizations of settlements signal that
Israel’s strategic settlement enterprise c ontinues to expand into land intended for a
future Palestinian State.
24. Demolitions of Palestinian homes in Area C of the occupied West Bank
continue. The total number of demolitions spiked during the first three months of
2016. During the reporting period, 856 structures were demolished, leading to the
displacement of 1,413 Palestinians, including 665 children. Although many of the
demolished structures were not dwellings, the loss of water wells, solar panels and
animal shelters had an impact on the li velihoods of over 5,120 people. The Bedouin
community, in particular, is paying a heavy price. I reiterate the call of the United
Nations for an immediate end to those Israeli plans, which, if implemented, may
amount to the forcible transfer of the Bedouin communities currently living within
the Occupied Palestinian Territory on the periphery of Jerusalem. Palestinians
require access to a fair planning and zoning regime, so as not to resort to the
building of unauthorized structures that lead to unjustified demolitions by Israeli
authorities, which often affect the most vulnerable people. Demolitions and forcible
transfers contravene international humanitarian and human rights law.
25. As at April 2016, 692 Palestinians were being held by Israeli authoritie s under
administrative detention, compared with 370 at the beginning of the reporting
period. For the first time since 2011, in October 2015, Israel resumed its use of
administrative detention against Palestinian minor children. Israel is currently
holding over 400 Palestinian children on security grounds. This figure, the highest
since January 2008 when the Israeli Prison Service began releasing data, has more
than doubled since the outbreak of violence in October 2015. I am troubled by the
high participation of Palestinian young people and children in the recent wave of
violence, however, any response by Israeli security forces must adhere to
international legal standards. I am especially concerned about the reports of
detainees on a hunger strike. I reiterate my call to end the practice of administrative
detention and to either charge all detainees or immediately release them.
26. I am also concerned by the continued punitive demolitions of homes belonging
to families of Palestinian perpetrators or allege d perpetrators of attacks against
Israelis. Punitive demolitions are a form of collective punishment, which is
prohibited under international law. They are unproven as a deterrent, and they fuel
tensions by exacerbating feelings of injustice and hatred.
27. Palestinians continued to advance their State -building programme, albeit
limited to the territory under the Palestinian Authority ’s control, which excludes
Area C, East Jerusalem and Gaza. Notwithstanding strong international consensus
that the Palestinian Authority was capable of running a State, the Ad Hoc Liaison
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Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians
remains concerned about its fiscal and economic viability. With a deficit of
$480 million in June, the World Bank projects that the Palestine Authority’s total
deficit for 2016 will reach $1.327 billion or 9.8 per cent of gross domestic product.
In its meeting on 19 April 2016, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee committed to
developing a two-year strategy to address the P alestinian Authority’s fiscal and
long-term economic sustainability.
28. On 21 June, the Government of the State of Palestine called for municipal
elections to be held 8 October. On 15 July, Hamas announced its participation and
asked for guarantees that the results would be recognized and that elected councils
in Gaza and West Bank would be entitled to budget allocations and projects by the
donor community.
29. I strongly encourage Israel to continue implementing measures that would
facilitate sustainable growth and job creation for the Palestinian economy. The
Quartet has consistently called upon Israel to implement positive and significant
policy shifts, in particular in Area C, consistent with the transition to greater
Palestinian civil authority contemplated by prior agreements. Progress in the areas
of housing, water, energy, communications, agriculture and natural resources can be
made while respecting Israel’s legitimate security needs.
30. In Gaza, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Approxima tely 66,000
people remain internally displaced in transitional shelters. A total of 47 per cent of
Palestinian households in the Gaza Strip are food insecure, and ongoing water
deficiencies result in 40 per cent of the population receiving access to the wa ter
supply for only 5 to 8 hours every three to four days. In addition, electricity is
unavailable for 16 to 18 hours each day. Palestinian access to depart and enter Gaza
remains insufficient, which especially affects access to medical treatment. These
conditions exacerbate the record high unemployment rates and chronic aid
dependency.
31. Persistent security and governance challenges and funding shortages
notwithstanding, the reconstruction process has continued. More than 90 per cent of
damaged schools and hospitals have been repaired, while repairs have either been
completed or are under way on about half of all partially damaged homes.
Notwithstanding those improvements, the reconstruction of homes that were
completely destroyed during the 2014 hostili ties remains slow. I strongly encourage
all Member States to fulfil their commitments to support the reconstruction and
development of Gaza. I welcome and encourage the continuation of Israel ’s
constructive cooperation with the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism. I reiterate that
the Mechanism was designed as a temporary measure and that the ultimate objective
of the United Nations in Gaza continues to be the lifting of all closures within the
framework of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) and in a manner that
addresses Israel’s legitimate security concerns.
32. Repairing damage from the most recent hostilities, however, will not fix the
underlying chronic problems of Gaza. The Palestinian Government has set out an
ambitious $3.8 billion plan for r epairing damage from the 2014 conflict and getting
recovery under way in Gaza. To implement the humanitarian response plan for
2016, which aims at addressing the humanitarian needs of 1.6 million Palestinians
in Gaza and the West Bank, it has requested $57 1 million. The appeal represents a
19 per cent reduction from 2015, but remains elevated owing largely to Gaza ’s
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significant humanitarian needs. I strongly encourage all Member States that have
not done so to fulfil their commitments without delay. I remai n concerned that
limited crossing capacity and a range of other restrictions, along with a lack of
Palestinian unity, mean that significant improvement in Gaza ’s humanitarian
situation and overall economy remains unlikely.
33. If the underlying causes of previous conflicts are not addressed, conditions in
Gaza will only worsen with the risk of further violence and radicalization. The
security implications of the persistent pressures continue to be felt. As at 22 August,
Palestinian militants in Gaza fired a total of 92 rockets at Israel, 27 of which
impacted in Israel, none of which caused injuries during the reporting period. The
Israel Defense Force reportedly retaliated with a total of 56 air strikes in Gaza,
causing five deaths and nine injuries. I call upon all Palestinian factions on the
ground not to engage in activities that risk destabilizing the situation and
undermining the reconstruction process.
34. I welcomed the decision of Egypt to open the Rafah crossing on four
occasions, from 14 to 16 February, 11 to 12 May, 1 to 6 June and 29 June to 2 July. I
encourage Egypt to explore ways to facilitate more frequent and predictable
openings of the crossing, in particular for humanitarian purposes, while respecting
Egypt’s legitimate and pressing security concerns in the Sinai.
35. I remain worried about the state of human rights and freedoms in Gaza. Of
particular concern are the reports of arbitrary detention and ill treatment in detention
centres in Gaza. In May, Hamas announced plans to implement a n umber of death
sentences and carried out three executions of Palestinians. Such actions were
condemned by my Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who called for a moratorium
on the death penalty. I call upon the de facto authorities in Gaza to refrain from
carrying out further executions. I also urge the Palestinian Authority to fulfil its
responsibilities with full respect for international human rights laws.
36. During my recent visit to Israel and the State of Palestine on 27 and 28 June, I
also travelled to Gaza, where I noted the resilience of the Gazan people under
enormously difficult conditions and emphasised that, until Gaza and the West Bank
are united under a single, democ ratic and legitimate Palestinian government, based
on the rule of law and the principles of the Palestine Liberation Organization,
Gaza’s prospects for full recovery will be limited.
37. The Palestinian Government of National Consensus must be empowered an d
enabled to assume its rightful responsibilities in Gaza, including in particular at the
crossings with Israel and Egypt. I strongly urge Palestinian factions to advance
genuine Palestinian unity on the basis of democracy and the principles of the
Palestine Liberation Organization and the Quartet. Genuine unity will also improve
the Government’s ability to meet the pressing economic problems, which are adding
to Palestinians’ frustration and anger. I welcome the resumption of unity talks held
in Qatar and urge all sides to continue discussions and implement previous
agreements. I strongly encourage the factions not to squander this important
opportunity to reach a consensus that can enable the advancement of long -term
Palestinian national goals, as well as near-term fiscal and development goals, for the
Palestinian people. The United Nations stands ready to support all efforts in this
direction.
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38. As noted in my previous report, I remain seriously concerned by the lack of
political progress and the high ri sk of further violence and radicalization. The
international community must come together in cooperation with the parties on the
ground and in the region to create the conditions for a return to meaningful
negotiations. Israelis and Palestinians must face the stark realities that continue to
drive the violence and hold hostage the two -State solution. The report of the Quartet
has made clear that Israel’s settlement enterprise continues to be an impediment to
peace. Furthermore, the issue of incitement runs to the heart of the current climate
of tension and fear. I am particularly concerned that some Palestinian factions
continue to glorify violence and terror and that the Palestinian Authority has
consistently refrained from condemning specific terror attack s against Israelis. By
the same token, Israel should understand that heavy -handed responses play into the
hands of extremists, undermine moderate voices and further deepen the rift between
the two sides. It remains clear that security measures alone will n ot contain the
forces that perpetuate violence. Both sides must actively take steps that will
demonstrate their commitment to, and create the conditions for, an eventual return
to negotiations to achieve a viable Palestinian State and ensure Israel ’s long-term
security.
39. I would like to express my deep appreciation to my Special Coordinator for
the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, for his outstanding service
during the first year of his tenure. I am also grateful to the Commissioner -General
of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near
East, Pierre Krähenbühl, and the remarkable work on behalf of Palestine refugees
carried out by the staff of the Agency. I pay tribute, too, to all United Nations staff
who work under difficult, and at times dangerous, circumstances in the service of
the Organization.
40. Until the last day of my tenure, I will continue to ensure that the United
Nations works towards the establishment of an independent, democratic, contiguous
and viable Palestinian State, existing side by side in peace with a secure Israel,
within the framework of a comprehensive regional settlement consistent with
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and
1860 (2009) and in accordance with the road map, the Arab Peace Initiative and the
principle of land for peace.
United Nations A/72/368–S/2017/741
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
29 August 2017
Original: English
17-14908 (E) 130917
*1714908*
General Assembly
Seventy-second session
Items 37 and 38 of the provisional agenda*
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Seventy-second year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General**
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 71/23. It contains replies received from the parties concerned to the notes
verbales sent by the Secretary-General pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 25
of the resolution. The report also contains the observations of the Secretary -General
on the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on international efforts to
move the peace process forward with a view to achieving a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine. The report covers the period from September 2016 to August
2017.
* A/72/150.
** The present report was submitted late, owing to the fact that additional time was required to
ensure that important developments taking place during the reporting period were adequately
documented.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 71/23.
2. On 1 July 2017, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 25 of the
above-mentioned resolution, I addressed the following letter to the President of the
Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 71/23, which the General
Assembly adopted on 30 November 2016, at its seventy -first session, under
the agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 25 of the resolution requests the Secretary -General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to
the General Assembly at its seventy-second session a report on these efforts
and on developments on this matter.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 31 July 2017.
“Recalling the Secretariat’s obligation to observe the page limit of its
reports, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 52/214, I would like to
encourage the Security Council to limit its submission to 1,500 words.”
3. As at 23 August, no response had been received to that request.
4. In a note verbale dated 23 May 2017 to the parties concerned, I sought the
positions of the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab
Republic, as well as the State of Palestine, regarding any steps taken by them to
implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at 31 July 2017, replies had
been received from Israel and the State of Palestine.
5. The note verbale dated 28 June 2017 from the Permanent Observer Mission of
the State of Palestine to the United Nations reads as follows:
“Resolution 71/23, ‘Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine’,
constitutes the General Assembly’s comprehensive, authoritative stance
regarding the question of Palestine and the historic efforts to achieve a just,
lasting, peaceful solution. The principles aff irmed therein, in conformity with
international law and other relevant resolutions, constitute the pillars of a
solution, and the broad support granted annually for the resolution confirms
the international consensus in this regard.
“On the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of Israel’s occupation of
Palestinian and Arab territories in 1967, the Assembly again resoundingly
supported this resolution. This was a clear rejection of Israel’s cynical
narrative denying the occupation, while actively entrenching it by all illegal
means, and obstructing the efforts to peacefully resolve the Israeli -Palestinian
conflict, which remains the core of the Arab -Israeli conflict.
“Upholding its political, legal and moral responsibilities, including the
obligations stemming from resolution 181 (II), the Assembly has reiterated its
calls for, inter alia, Israel’s complete withdrawal from the Palestinian territory
occupied since June 1967, including East Jerusalem; realization of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self -
determination and the right to their independent State; achievement of the two -
State solution of Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and security
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within recognized borders based on the pre -1967 borders; and a just solution
for the Palestine refugee question based on resolution 194 (III).
“The Assembly’s reaffirmation of the requirements for a just solution
was considerably reinforced by the Security Council’s adoption of resolution
2334 (2016). That resolution, pursued earnestly by the State of Palestine with
conscientious Council members, reflects the international c ommunity’s longstanding
commitment to peace via implementation, inter alia, of the relevant
Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973),
446 (1979), 452 (1979), 465 (1980), 476 (1980), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and
1850 (2008), and full respect for the purposes and principle s of the Charter of
the United Nations, including the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory
by force.
“The Council’s demands in resolution 2334 (2016) echo the Assembly’s
demands in resolution 71/23, underscoring the international consensus and
exigency of peace efforts. This action has helped restore some credibility to
the Council, which has been impaired by the failure to implement its
resolutions and hold Israel, the occupying Power, accountable for its
violations. It has also provided renewed hope for a solution, critical for
alleviating the despair of Palestine’s youth and reviving belief in the
possibility of a better future, free from occupa tion, fear and want.
“Resolution 2334 (2016) was welcomed globally. It was viewed as urgent
in light of the deteriorating situation on the ground; escalation of tensions and
cycles of violence; erosion of the two-State solution on the 1967 lines due to
Israel’s unrelenting entrenchment of the occupation and annexation attempts,
mainly through settlement activities flagrantly violating international law; and
lack of a political horizon to bring an end to the Israeli occupation, ensure
Palestinian rights and secure a just peace.
“While the Council explicitly reiterated the demand that Israel cease all
settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and fully respect its legal obligations, it further underlined that it
‘will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard
to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations’, and
called upon all States ‘to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the
territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967’.
Palestine has consistently made these calls in its bilateral and multilateral
outreach, viewing them as fundamental for salvaging the two -State solution
and advancing its realization.
“Considering the obligation to protect civilians, the Council’s call for
cessation of all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, and
all acts of provocation, incitement and destruction, and f or accountability, has
also been widely supported.
“Also welcomed were the Council’s call for the launch of credible
negotiations on all final status issues and for collective efforts to promote
peace, ‘aimed at achieving, without delay, a comprehensive, just and lasting
peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations
resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for
peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet road map and an end to the
Israeli occupation that began in 1967’.
“The Palestinian leadership has affirmed readiness to abide by resolution
2334 (2016) in its entirety and commitment to its implementation, just as it has
strived to uphold all relevant resolutions, including resolution 71/23. This
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includes the commitment to non-violence and peaceful, political, diplomatic,
legal means for attainment of Palestinian rights and a just, lasting solution and
cooperation with all international and regional efforts to this end.
“Israel, on the other hand, reacted with blatant hostility and contempt
towards the Security Council following the resolution’s adoption, publicly
declaring its disrespect of the Council’s authoritative decisions and demands.
The Israeli Government proceeded to violate the resolution aggressively in the
months thereafter with advancement of p lans for construction of thousands
more settlement units across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem; continuation of virulent rhetoric and incitement against the
Palestinian people and leadership; and continued complicity in and la ck of
accountability for the violence, terror and crimes committed by its settlers and
soldiers against Palestinian civilians.
“Yet, despite Israel’s violations — whether in times of peace process or
political stalemate — the Palestinian leadership has adhered to the peace path.
For nearly 30 years, Palestine’s position has mirrored the global consensus on
the two-State solution. This began with the Palestine National Council’s
acceptance of the solution in the 1988 Declaration of Independence, a major
compromise agreeing to establish the Palestinian State on only 22 per cent of
our historic homeland, for the sake of realizing Palestinian rights, including to
independence, and establishing a just peace. This compromise remains the
primary testament to our commitment to peace and, with the 2002 Arab Peace
Initiative, represents the boldest contribution towards solving the conflict and
should be recognized as such.
“Commitment to this compromise has been clearly affirmed, including at
the highest levels by President Mahmoud Abbas and the Executive Committee
of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Moreover, it has been bolstered by
repeated pledges to peacefully resolve the conflict, in accordance with the
Charter and the relevant United Nations resolutions , as confirmed, inter alia, in
the 28 September 2011 application by the State of Palestine for admission to
United Nations membership, and with international law, as reflected in
Palestine’s accession to numerous international treaties and conventions.
“It has also been the mainstay of Palestine’s regional and international
engagement, through every peace initiative and United Nations endeavour and
all other multilateral and bilateral engagement, including as reflected in the
relevant declarations by the League of Arab States, the Non-Aligned
Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Group of 77, and
in diplomatic and cooperation agreements concluded with many States that
have recognized Palestine.
“In the period since the adoption of resolution 71/23, this commitment
has been borne out in the Palestinian leadership’s cooperation with, inter alia,
the French initiative, including in regard to the Paris Peace Conference on
15 January 2017; efforts by the new United States administration of President
Donald J. Trump to advance peace, including affirmation of readiness to
engage in negotiations; efforts by the Quartet members, collectively and
individually, as reflected in the series of meetings h eld by President Abbas and
other high-level Palestinian officials in Brussels, Moscow, Washington, Cairo
and Riyadh, among others; and Arab States’ efforts, including reaffirmation of
the Arab Peace Initiative by the Arab Summit Conference in Jordan in Mar ch
2017.
“It should be considered extraordinary that this commitment to a
peaceful path has endured despite continuous exacerbation of the injustice
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inflicted on the Palestinian people by the decision to partition Mandate
Palestine by resolution 181 (II) in 1947 and the ensuing tragedy of the 1948
Nakba through 50 years of Israel’s foreign occupation since 1967. The
consequences have been grave for our people, who have withstood incessant
human rights violations, violence and terror, and war crimes under this halfcentury
occupation, in breach of international law, including humanitarian and
human rights law, relevant United Nations resolutions, the relevant provisions
of the Rome Statute, and the 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court
of Justice.
“The reality is that Israel’s occupation has only subsisted — and can only
subsist — on violations. It is illegal in every dimension and manifestation,
causing immeasurable suffering, indignity and insecurity for the Palestinian
people, amounting to a constant protection crisis.
“These violations include, inter alia: military raids by the occupying
forces causing Palestinian civilian casualties, including loss of life; arbitrary
arrest and detention operations and imprisonment of 6,500 Palestinians,
including children and women, who are routinely exposed to physical and
psychological abuse and torture, with the male population most severely
affected; restrictions on movement and other fundamental freedoms, including
to worship, education, health care, development and water; and imposition of a
10-year blockade on Gaza, isolating and collectively punishing the 2 million
Palestinians there. Such actions constitute grave breaches of the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Ti me of War and
are compounding dire humanitarian and socioeconomic conditions, which, the
United Nations country team has determined, will lead to Gaza being
uninhabitable by 2020 if the situation is not immediately remedied.
“Also severely affecting the civilian population’s well-being, as well as
the contiguity and unity of the Palestinian land and the chances for realizing
the two-State solution on the 1967 lines, are the violations committed in the
context of Israel’s unlawful colonization campaign thr ough its construction
and expansion of colonial settlements, the wall and military infrastructure in
the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This has also involved countless
military orders, so-called ‘legislative schemes’ and other illegal practices
aimed at facilitating settlement activities, including confiscation of land,
demolition of homes and structures, forced displacement of civilians and
exploitation of natural resources, altering the demographic and geographic
situation on the ground and dragging us ever closer to a one-State reality of
apartheid.
“Israeli incitement and inflammatory rhetoric on Jerusalem and
provocations and violence by Jewish extremists against Muslim and Christian
holy sites, particularly targeting the Haram al -Sharif, also continue to stoke
sensitivities and threaten to trigger a religious conflict. Such violations are
being perpetrated jointly and non-stop by the Government of Israel, the
occupying Power, its military occupying forces and extremist settlers.
“Against this backdrop, Palestine’s contribution to the implementation of
relevant resolutions and the objective of peace and stability must also be
measured by all that the Palestinian Government and national institutions have
done over the decades to mitigate the occupation’s devastating consequences
and preserve peace prospects. Confronted by perpetual decline of the
humanitarian, socioeconomic and security situation, we have exerted all
efforts to alleviate our people’s suffering, allay tensions, ensure calm and
security, promote reconciliation and give hope to our people that a better
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future is within reach and that not another generation will have to suffer the
fate of occupation, oppression, dispossession and exile that their forefathers
have borne. Such hope is vital for pushing against the radicalism and
extremism plaguing the region, especially among youth.
“While unusual in a situation of occupation — perhaps unprecedented —
we have pursued these objectives continuously in every sector, as reflected in
the priorities set in successive Palestinian National Development Plans
presented by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and preceding Governments,
and also in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework. The
programmes of United Nations agencies, with the Un ited Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) at the
forefront, along with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Development
Programme, the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Process, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and
the Empowerment of Women and numerous other organizations, have been
instrumental in this regard, as have been the assistance and solidarity extended
to Palestine by concerned States from every corner of the globe.
“Such support has been exemplary in the case of UNRWA, which has
received generous voluntary funding from donor countries since its
establishment in 1949. As of this note’s writing, efforts continue with
stakeholders and partners, including host countries, to foster more predictable,
sufficient and sustained support to UNRWA to effectively implement its
mandate. This support is vital for over 5.3 million Palestine re fugees
registered with UNRWA, millions of whom still live in 58 camps in Jordan,
Lebanon, Syria and Occupied Palestine. These efforts recognize the
indispensability of the humanitarian and development aid of UNWRA; its
critical stabilizing role in the regi on; the commitment made in the New York
Declaration for Refugees and Migrants to ensure sufficient funding to the
Agency; and the fact that for millions of refugees, UNRWA is the only lifeline,
pending a just solution. Our engagement on this also constitut es a substantial
contribution to the peace we seek.
“While our efforts and international support have been constant, what
remains absent is the political will to implement the relevant Security Council
and General Assembly resolutions, imperative for achievement of a peaceful
settlement. Despite all good-faith intentions, the international community
continues to fail to fulfil its legal, political and moral obligations in the face of
Israel’s total disrespect for the law. This failure is even more strikin g in this
fiftieth year of Israel’s occupation, with no viable political horizon for its end.
“The cycle of Israeli impunity and lack of accountability continue to
thwart peace efforts, deepening the political impasse. Since Israel’s suspension
of American-led peace talks in 2014, insufficient pressure has been exerted on
the Israeli Government to cease its violations and destruction of the two -State
solution. Even after the Council’s adoption of resolution 2334 (2016), there
has been no meaningful effort to compel Israeli compliance; rather, it
continues its violation without consequence.
“As called for in resolution 2334 (2016), Israel must, inter alia,
demonstrate through policies and actions a genuine commitment to the two -
State solution and create conditions necessary for promoting peace. It is time
for Israel to cease its lip service to the two -State solution; its propaganda
distorting the reality of its unlawful occupation; its incitement against the
Palestinian people and leadership; and its mockery of the United Nations. Its
respect for the law must be demanded without exceptions or conditions.
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“Only international law can ensure that the negotiations on final status
issues — Jerusalem, Palestine refugees, settlements, borders, security,
prisoners and water — result in a just, sustainable peace. As reflected in the
Secretary-General’s agenda for the United Nations, peaceful resolution of
conflicts requires a human rights perspective, a justice perspective, a
development perspective, and not just a security perspective, and the root
causes of the conflict must be addressed.
“In line with the permanent responsibility of the United Nations t owards
the question of Palestine, we appeal again for serious efforts to implement the
relevant resolutions towards realizing Palestinian rights, including of the
Palestine refugees; ending the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and finally
achieving the independence of the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as
its capital; and establishing lasting peace, security and coexistence between
the Palestinian and Israeli peoples on the basis of the two -State solution on the
1967 lines. The Palestinian leadership reaffirms its commitment to a peaceful
and just solution, and likewise urges the international community to uphold its
obligations and commitments.”
6. The note verbale dated 31 July 2017 from the Permanent Mission of Israel to
the United Nations reads as follows:
“Over the course of the past year, the wave of deadly terror attacks
against the people of Israel has continued unabated. One of the most recent
such attacks took place on 21 July, when a Palestinian terrorist infiltrated the
home of the Solomon family in Chalamish and slaughtered three members of
the family as they sat together for the traditional Friday night Sabbath meal.
This heinous crime was preceded, just a week before, by the killing of two
Israeli policemen on the Temple Mount by terrorists who took advantage of
Israel’s policy of open entry to the Temple Mount, smuggling in weapons and
hiding them in the Holy Compound. Using the compound as a staging ground,
they attacked and killed the two police officers, desecrating the holy s ite and
turning it into an arena of bloodshed and terror.
“It must be clear that such appalling terrorist attacks do not occur in a
vacuum. They are a result of the constant Palestinian incitement to violence
and glorification of terror, which are fundamentally incompatible with
advancing peace. The incitement starts from the top; Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas has publicly endorsed the payment of salaries to
convicted terrorists and their families. As part of this incessant incitement to
terror, public spaces are regularly named after mass murderers. To name but
one timely example, in the West Bank town of Burqa, a youth centre for
women was recently named after Dalal Mughrabi, the Palestinian terrorist
who, in 1978, led a group of terrorists who hijacked a civilian bus and killed
37 Israelis, including 12 children.
“A clear and unequivocal message must be delivered to the Palestinian
leadership: stop encouraging terrorism, stop hate speech and stop educating
children to hate. Above all, they must stop offering cash rewards and publicly
honouring those who commit acts of terrorism. Such glorification of violence
against innocent people and adulation of those who commit these horrific acts
are utterly incompatible with the commitment to coe xistence and peaceful
relations with Israel, which must be at the foundation of a future Palestinian
State.
“Israel also believes that a sound and developing Palestinian economy is
a prerequisite for stability and security and, as such, is an Israeli in terest as
well. Despite the ongoing Palestinian violence, Israel is moving ahead with
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steps to improve the Palestinian economic situation and the standard of living
of the Palestinian population. In this context, the first commercial agreement
between the Israel Electric Corporation and the Palestinian Authority was
reached recently (10 July 2017) to increase the supply of electricity to Jenin in
northern Samaria, to ensure a sufficient supply for the summer months and the
entire year.
“Furthermore, on 13 July 2017, it was announced that Israel, Jordan and
the Palestinian Authority, through the facilitation of the United States, have
reached an agreement, as part of the Red Sea -Dead Sea project, on a large
water infrastructure project which will provide bi llions of gallons of additional
water supply for each of the three parties.
“Under the agreement, it is expected that the Palestinian Authority will
be able to purchase up to 32 million cubic metres of fresh water from Israel at
preferential prices, substantially increasing the amount of water provided to
the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
“At the same time, Israel is continuing its dialogue with the Palestinian
Authority on economic issues. At the end of May, Israeli Finance Minister
Moshe Kahlon met with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah
in Ramallah, to brief him on recent steps decided upon by the Israeli Cabinet
to improve the economic situation in the Palestinian Authority. Furthermore,
the bilateral dialogue between the respective Ministries of Finance has been
resumed at the level of Director General of Ministry of Finance.
“In Gaza, Israel is facing a more complex and challenging security and
political environment than ever, but is nonetheless undertaking extensive
efforts to improve the humanitarian and economic conditions of the people of
Gaza, while striving to safeguard the basic and legitimate security needs of
Israeli citizens.
“Israel has been continuing to facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza
through the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism. Since October 2014, the joint
mechanism with the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations has enabled
the entry of over 8.2 million tons of various types of construction materials
into the Gaza Strip. As of January of this year, 102, 331 damaged housing units
had been renovated, out of a total of 130,000. More than 11,500 new housing
units are in advanced stages of construction, while hundreds are ready for
occupancy. Hundreds of public projects, including schools, clinics, mosques
and parks, have been completed or are near completion.
“The past year also witnessed an increase of exports from Gaza to the
West Bank, Israel and abroad. It is important to note that, last March alone,
372 loads of marketed goods were carried by truck from Gaza, a record total
since Hamas took over more than a decade ago. In addition, an aggregate
conveyor is currently being built in the Kerem Shalom crossing and is
expected to become operational soon. The conveyor is expected to
substantially increase the capacity to export goods from the Gaza Strip.
“Unfortunately, alongside these positive developments, the terror
organization Hamas continues to steal and confiscate building materials
intended for the reconstruction of Gaza and the humanitarian develop ment
needs of its residents, and repurpose them for their own military objectives:
for the digging and construction of terror tunnels, rearmament and rocket
manufacturing. Israel will not tolerate this abuse of the Gaza Reconstruction
Mechanism or other attempts by Hamas to bolster its terror infrastructure.
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“In parallel, there has also been an alarming increase in the number of
attempts to smuggle prohibited goods into the Gaza Strip during 2016,
including small unmanned aerial vehicles, lasers and mili tary uniforms.
During the past year, Israeli security forces thwarted 1,226 such attempts,
which constitutes a 165 per cent increase in comparison with 2015.
“The Gaza Strip is suffering from a chronic and acute shortage of energy.
The electricity crisis in the Strip is a matter of an internal dispute between the
Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Since Hamas’s takeover of the Gaza strip in
2007, the Palestinian Authority has been paying the cost of electricity for the
Gaza Strip. This year, the Palestinia n Authority announced its refusal to
continue to make the necessary payments.
“In order to meet all of Gaza's electricity needs, a constant supply of
400 MW is required. Supply from Egypt accounts for 25 MW (6.25 per cent).
The power station in Gaza has the capacity to supply 120 MW (about 30 per
cent); prior to stopping payment completely, the Palestinian Authority usually
purchased only enough fuel to supply 60 MW (about 15 per cent of demand).
The Palestinian Authority has been paying Israel for provi ding for
approximately one third of the Gaza Strip ’s electricity demand (approximately
125 MW). As per the agreement with the Palestinian Authority, this sum of
money is deducted from tax revenues that Israel collects for the Palestinian
Authority.
“Due to the current dispute between Hamas and the Palestinian
Authority, the latter has stopped purchasing fuel for the Gaza power station.
Therefore, the power station is not producing electricity.
“Furthermore, on April 30, the Palestinian Authority announc ed that, as
of May 22, 2017, it would reduce its payments to Israel for electricity to the
Gaza Strip from approximately $11.4 million a month to approximately
$7.1 million.
“It must also be emphasized that the reason Hamas refuses to pay its own
electricity bill is not for lack of money. Hamas prefers to budget its financial
resources to enhance terrorism and terror capabilities, rather than civilian
infrastructure that would benefit Gaza residents, such as a steady supply of
electricity. Unless and until the Palestinian Authority and Hamas change their
policy, significant power shortages are expected to continue, and Gaza ’s
residents will continue to pay the price of the feud between Hamas and the
Palestinian Authority.
“Israel is not interested in an y escalation of the situation in the Gaza
Strip and is making every effort to prevent deterioration in the daily lives of
Gaza’s residents.
“In addition, Israel is also undertaking efforts to improve the economic
situation in the West Bank. Last year, there was a significant increase in the
number of truckloads crossing to and from Jordan via the Allenby Bridge.
Over 49,000 truckloads filled with goods crossed the bridge — an increase of
over 22 per cent compared with 2015.
“The number of people crossing the bridge, the primary crossing point
for Palestinians, also set a new record in 2016 at over 2.2 million, most of
them Palestinian civilians — an increase of more than 10 per cent compared
with 2015.
“As part of the effort to ease access for the Pale stinian population, Israel
decided to expand the operating hours of the Allenby Bridge. As of 20 June
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and through 10 September, the bridge will be open for crossing 24 hours a day,
and beginning in 2018, the Allenby Bridge will be open 24/7 all year round.
“The decision to expand the operating hours of the Allenby Bridge is one
part of a comprehensive plan to upgrade the crossing, which includes
structural improvements, upgraded parking and other measures designed to
facilitate ease of travel and increase the commercial activity.
“In this context, it is also important to mention the approval of
construction plans to pave roads from the Japanese industrial zone in Jericho
to Highway 90 and to Allenby Bridge. The project, funded by the Japan
International Cooperation Agency, will provide better access for trucks
transporting products, manufactured goods and equipment from the Japanese
industrial zone in order to promote trade and commerce.
“The aforementioned steps taken by the State of Israel attest to i ts
commitment to a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Israel aspires for peace. It
is our sincere hope that creating the environment for enhanced economic
activity will encourage the resumption of direct negotiations, leading to the
realization of the vision of two nations living side by side, in security and in
peace.
“The Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be resolved only through direct
bilateral negotiations without preconditions. Attempts to impose solutions or
to dictate parameters and timetables will only drive peace further away. Thus,
Israel utterly rejects Security Council resolution 2334 (2016). The resolution is
unequivocally hostile to Israel and will only make peace harder, not easier, to
achieve.
“Finally, it is imperative to reiterate, once again, Israel ’s right to exist as
the nation State of the Jewish people, in peace, with secure borders, and our
steadfast opposition to any attempt to undermine Israel ’s legitimacy. The
Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish State — based, inter alia, on
a continued denial of any historic Jewish connection to its land — remains one
of the main obstacles to peace between Israel and the Palestinians.”
II. Observations
7. International efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine continued to focus on the possibility of creating a framework for the
parties’ return to meaningful negotiations. The Quartet principals met in New York
on 23 September 2016, agreeing on the importance of close and continuing
coordination of all efforts to achieve the common goal of the two -State solution and
reiterating their call on the parties to implement the recommendations of the Quartet
Report of 1 July 2016. Quartet envoys also released statements twice in response to
heightened tensions on the ground. As they met in Jerusalem on 13 July, they
expressed serious concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. Soon
after, on 22 July, in response to the heightened tensions in Jerusalem, they called on
all to de-escalate the situation while upholding the status quo at the holy sites.
8. On 23 December 2016, the Security Council adopted its resolution 2334
(2016), in which it reiterated some of the key obstacles to achieving a negotiated
two-State solution that had been identified in the report of the Middle East Quartet
in July 2016: the continuing policy of settlement construction and expansion;
continued acts of violence and terrorism; incitement to violence; and the situation in
Gaza. In the resolution, the Council also called on both sides to take steps on the
ground to create the conditions for successful final status negotiations.
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9. On 15 January 2017, France hosted a conference in Paris at which some 70
countries and international organizations reaffirmed their support for the two -State
solution and their readiness to continue encouraging both parties to return to
meaningful negotiations. On the same date, the Russian Federation hosted
representatives of Palestinian factions in Mosco w and stressed the need to overcome
divisions so as to create the conditions for meaningful negotiations. On 29 March in
Jordan, Arab leaders committed to relaunching peace negotiations and reaffirmed
their commitment to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. The new United States
administration has also focused on efforts to restart negotiations and advance peace.
10. The situation on the ground was characterized by continued tensions, with
spikes of violence and a sharp rise in settlement activity in the occupi ed West Bank,
including East Jerusalem. A polarized public discourse across the political spectrum
in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory continued. Tensions rose in East
Jerusalem in July, after an attack in the Old City on 14 July, which left t wo Israeli
police officers and their assailants dead. In response to the attack, Israel installed
metal detectors and security cameras at the entrances to the Holy Esplanade, which
was immediately condemned by Muslim religious authorities and the Palestini an
leadership as unilateral actions violating the historical status quo in the holy sites.
Despite international calls for calm, protests and violence erupted after Friday
prayers on 21 July, with four Palestinian protesters dying as a result of the respon se
of Israeli security forces. The same night, a Palestinian stabbed to death three
members of an Israeli family living in the Israeli settlement of Halamish. The
situation eased after Israel withdrew the new security measures; Muslim religious
authorities and the Palestinian leadership subsequently instructed worshippers to
return to the Al-Aqsa Mosque for prayers.
11. In Gaza, a fragile ceasefire largely held but the situation remained volatile,
owing mostly to worsening socioeconomic conditions, delays in reconstruction,
continued restrictions on movement and the deepening political divide between the
Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and the de facto authorities in Gaza.
12. Stabbings, vehicle attacks and shootings by Palestinians targeting Israel is and
clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli security forces continued to claim lives.
During the reporting period, a total of 73 Palestinians were killed, 38 of whom were
perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of attacks, and more than 3,800 Palestin ians
were injured. Five Israeli civilians and 8 security forces personnel were killed, and
at least 176 Israelis, civilians and security forces personnel were injured.
13. The level of force used in countering some of the violence remains a matter of
concern. A number of Palestinian fatalities call into question the nature of the
response of the Israeli security forces, including the apparent disproportionate use
of lethal force. I once again call for necessary precautions to be taken when
decisions to use force are made; in particular, live fire should be used only as a last
resort, with any resulting death or injury properly investigated. Between October
2015 and March 2017, some 270 Palestinians were killed, nearly 180 of them while
carrying out or allegedly carrying out attacks against Israelis. According to the
Ministry of Justice, the Israel Defense Forces opened 24 investigations into
suspected unlawful use of force, of which only 1 resulted in an 18 -month sentence
for manslaughter. It is the duty of Israel to ensure a prompt and independent
investigation into incidents in which the use of force has resulted in death or injury,
and to ensure accountability where there is evidence of wrongdoing.
14. I reiterate the firm condemnation by the United Nation s of all terrorist attacks.
While the Security Council, in resolution 2334 (2016), called upon both parties to
refrain from provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, such actions
continued. Official media and social media outlets affiliated with Fatah continued to
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praise perpetrators of past terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians, while Hamas
leaders continued their unacceptable practice of celebrating recent attacks against
Israeli civilians as “heroic”. Israeli officials have also employed provocative
rhetoric and promoted legislation that has the potential to inflame tensions on the
ground. Leaders on all sides must stop incitement and consistently and
unequivocally stand against acts of terror and violence in all its forms.
15. Throughout the reporting period, the Israel Defense Forces continued to
conduct search and arrest operations, while the Palestinian Authority continued to
arrest suspected Hamas affiliates in the West Bank. At the end of July,
450 Palestinians were held by Israeli authorities under administrative detention,
compared with 700 at the beginning of the reporting period. I am especially
concerned about the continued reports of detainees on hunger strikes. On 17 Ap ril,
an estimated 1,500 Palestinian prisoners and detainees started a hunger strike to
protest their conditions in Israeli prisons. Their fast lasted until the start of
Ramadan, when some of their requests were met. I reiterate my call to end the
practice of administrative detention and to either charge all detainees or
immediately release them.
16. At the end of May, Israel held 331 Palestinian children in detention on security
grounds. This is down from a peak of 444 cases in March 2016, but double the
numbers recorded in May 2015, when 163 children were held in Israeli prisons. All
children should be treated with due consideration to their age and may be detained
only in situations that are justified under international humanitarian law or
applicable human rights norms.
17. After a three-year decline in incidents of settler violence, there has been a
noticeable increase in 2017. According to the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs, 124 such incidents have been documented, resulting in the
deaths of 4 Palestinians1 and the injury of 69, as well as property damage.
18. In resolution 2334 (2016), the Security Council calls on Israel to take steps to
cease all settlement activities in the occ upied Palestinian territory, including East
Jerusalem. Instead, settlement activities have risen sharply. During the reporting
period, and particularly after the adoption of the resolution, Israeli authorities
announced tenders for the construction of some 3,000 housing units in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. In addition, since the beginning of
2017 the Government has approved the advancement of plans for the construction of
more than 7,000 units in West Bank settlements. On 1 February, the Government
announced its intention to establish a new settlement for the residents of the illegal
Amona outpost, following its demolition by order of the Supreme Court of Israel. In
late March, the Government declared 241 acres in the West B ank as “State land”.
19. On 6 February, the Israeli Parliament approved the so -called Regularization
Law, which, if implemented, would permit houses that had been built in settlements
on land privately owned by Palestinians to remain in place, while offer ing the
landowners only a choice between compensation through payment and
compensation in the form of alternative land. The legal framework created by the
law is estimated to have the potential to retroactively “regularize” thousands of
housing units and remove significant legal obstacles to the “legalization” of dozens
of settlement outposts currently considered illegal by the Government of Israel. The
law marks the first time that the Knesset has extended its jurisdiction to matters
concerning property of Palestinians living in the West Bank, reflecting a significant
shift in the long-standing government position concerning the legal status of the
__________________
1 Two were persons shot by settlers during alleged stabbing and ramming attacks.
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territory and the applicability of Israeli law therein. It contravenes international law
and, according to the Attorney General of Israel, is unconstitutional.
20. The continued settlement plans, new legislation, retroactive legalizations and
official statements signal that the strategic settlement enterprise of Israel continues
to expand. In the first seven months of 2017, the number of plans advanced was
already 60 per cent higher than the number for all of 2016, with the number of
tenders eight times the annual total for that year. Such activities undermine the
chances for the establishment of a viable, contigu ous Palestinian State as part of a
two-State solution. I reiterate that settlements are illegal under international law and
an obstacle to peace, and undermine the two -State solution.
21. Demolitions of Palestinian homes in Area C of the occupied West Ban k
continued, with a significant decline having occurred since February 2017. During
the reporting period, 388 structures were demolished, leading to the displacement of
some 462 Palestinians, half of them children. In addition, the loss of water wells,
solar panels and animal shelters has had an impact on the livelihoods of more than
5,500 people. The Bedouin community in particular is paying a heavy price, with
some facing even an imminent threat of being forced to relocate. Unlike in Area C,
demolitions in East Jerusalem continued at a fast pace throughout the reporting
period, with 155 structures demolished and nearly 300 people displaced as a result.
Palestinians require access to a fair planning and zoning regime, so that they do not
resort to the building of unauthorized structures that lead to unjustified demolitions,
which often have an impact on the most vulnerable people. Demolitions and forcible
evictions, carried out when there is no military necessity, contravene international
humanitarian law and international human rights law.
22. Also of concern are the continued punitive demolitions of the family homes of
Palestinian perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of attacks against Israelis. The
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has pre viously reported that
punitive home demolitions have an impact on the entire family, constitute a form of
collective penalty in breach of article 33 of the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and breach the oblig ation of Israel to
ensure Palestinians’ rights to adequate housing and to freedom from arbitrary or
unlawful interference with privacy, family or home, and other relevant norms. As an
Israeli military committee concluded in 2005, such demolitions are unpro ven as a
deterrent and fuel tension by exacerbating feelings of injustice and hatred.
23. Palestinians continued to advance their State -building programme, although it
was limited to the territory under the control of the Palestinian Authority, which
excludes Area C, East Jerusalem and Gaza. Despite the progress made in building
the governance capacities of the Palestinian Authority, the Ad Hoc Liaison
Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians
remains concerned about its fiscal and economic viability. At its meeting held in
Brussels on 4 May, the Committee discussed the key socioeconomic challenges
faced by the Palestinian Authority. Regrettably, a number of issues remained
unresolved between the parties, including those relating to access and movement,
energy, water and fiscal sustainability.
24. I am encouraged that the Israeli and Palestinian Ministers of Finance have
since come together to move a number of issues forward, and that they have made
progress in discussions on value-added tax clearance revenues. In early June, in
accordance with the electricity agreement signed in September 2016, Israel
transferred $30 million to the Palestinian Authority in lieu of equalization levies and
health stamps and agreed to conduct monthly transfers in the future. The meeting of
the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Water Committee held in May (the first such meeting in
seven years) and the 13 July agreement for an increase in water supply for
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Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza are positive steps that need to be supported.
The signing on 10 July of an interim power -purchasing agreement, which will allow
for the first Palestinian-owned and -operated substation in Jenin, is also encouraging.
25. The Middle East Quartet has consistently called on Israel to implement
positive and significant policy shifts, particularly in Area C , consistent with the
transition to greater Palestinian civil authority contemplated by prior agreements. In
May, Israel announced measures designed to help the Palestinian economy in the
West Bank, including the proposed reprioritization of the enforcemen t of zoning
laws in parts of Area C adjacent to several Palestinian cities potentially allowing for
their residential, industrial and agricultural use; the development of industrial zones
in Tarkumiya and Hebron; and the expansion of the hours of operation of the
Allenby Bridge crossing into Jordan. I strongly encourage Israel to continue to
implement measures of this nature, in order to facilitate sustainable growth and job
creation for the Palestinian economy.
26. In February, the Palestinian Authority t ook a significant step towards
strengthening its institutions and improving governance, by finalizing the
Palestinian National Policy Agenda: National Priorities, Policies and Policy
Interventions (2017-2022), which reiterates its commitment to State -building and
guaranteeing the rule of law. In January, the Palestinian Authority approved its
general budget for 2017 and, owing to the strong fiscal performance in the previous
year, was able to reduce its budget deficit to approximately $580 million. Continue d
fiscal discipline and a push for revenue growth will be essential, as economic and
financial conditions are likely to remain restrictive, in particular given the continued
trend of decreasing international support.
27. On 13 May, the Government of the State of Palestine held municipal elections,
albeit only in the West Bank. Local elections, if held simultaneously in both Gaza
and the West Bank and conducted in line with international standards, can
contribute to the advancement of Palestinian reconcilia tion. Gaza and the West Bank
should be reunified under a single, legitimate and democratic Palestinian Authority
on the basis of the principles of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the rule
of law, in accordance with existing agreements.
28. In Gaza, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Three years after the latest
round of hostilities, approximately 25,500 people remain internally displaced and
47 per cent of households are food-insecure or vulnerable to food insecurity. The
chronic energy shortage and water deficiencies became even more acute during the
reporting period. Movement in and out of Gaza remains extremely limited for its
residents, a reality that is particularly harmful to those seeking medical treatment.
These conditions exacerbate record-high unemployment rates and chronic aid
dependency. In a report released on 11 July, the United Nations country team
underscored that most of the projections for 2020 made in an earlier report in which
Gaza had been deemed unlivable had come to pas s, with conditions deteriorating
even further and faster than anticipated.
29. In March, as a result of an internal vote, Hamas elected a new leadership and
formed an administrative committee, which was seen by many as a direct challenge
to the legitimate Palestinian Government of national consensus. In response, the
Palestinian Authority reduced payments to thousands of its employees in the Gaza
Strip in April and decided to cap its purchase of electricity from Israel for Gaza,
leading Israel to reduce the supply of electricity that it provides to the Strip by some
30 per cent as from 22 June. This cut came in addition to the earlier temporary
shutdown of the Gaza power plant, which supplies another 30 per cent of the
electricity for Gaza, due to a dispute between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas
over the taxation of fuel.
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30. At the time of reporting, electricity was unavailable for an average of 20 hours
daily in Gaza. Hospitals were forced to postpone elective surgeries and to reduce
cleaning, catering and sterilization services by 80 per cent. Desalination plants were
functioning at 15 per cent of capacity, and the majority of Palestinians in Gaza
received water for only a few hours every three to four days. As much as 100,000
cubic metres of raw sewage was discharged into the Mediterranean Sea on a daily
basis. As at 21 June, Egypt had facilitated the entry of fuel that allowed the Gaza
power plant to be brought back into use. I welcome the support provided by Egypt
to the people of Gaza at a moment of need. In addition, the United Nations is
providing nearly 900,000 litres of emergency fuel per month for critical health,
water and waste management infrastructure. These measures provide a temporary
lifeline to the residents of Gaza, but they are not s ustainable solutions. The parties
must come to a sustainable agreement, or the population of Gaza will continue to
suffer.
31. I also welcome the decision by Egypt to open the Rafah crossing for travellers
on 43 occasions and its ongoing steps to facilitat e more frequent and predictable
openings of the crossing, while respecting the legitimate security concerns of Egypt
with regard to the Sinai Peninsula.
32. Despite persistent security and governance challenges and funding shortages,
the reconstruction process in Gaza has continued. Three years after the escalation of
hostilities, almost all damaged or destroyed schools, hospitals and water and energy
facilities have been or are being repaired or rebuilt. While significant progress has
also been made on housing, nearly 3,800 totally destroyed homes and more than
57,000 damaged homes have yet to be reconstructed or repaired. Complete
reconstruction is within sight but requires that donors fulfil their funding
commitments. A large funding gap with respect to t he rehabilitation of productive
sectors in Gaza also inhibits recovery, and I strongly encourage all Member States
to fulfil their commitments to support the reconstruction and development of Gaza.
The temporary Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism has allowed mu ch of this
reconstruction to take place. I reiterate that the Mechanism was designed as a
temporary measure and that the ultimate objective of the United Nations in Gaza
continues to be the lifting of all closures within the framework of Security Council
resolution 1860 (2009) and in a manner that addresses the legitimate security
concerns of Israel.
33. The 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan, which is aimed at addressing the
humanitarian needs of 2 million Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, requests
$552 million. This represents a 3 per cent reduction compared with 2016, but
remains elevated owing largely to the significant humanitarian needs in Gaza. In
July, the humanitarian country team issued a new $25 million appeal in response to
the energy crisis. The appeal highlights key unfunded projects, along with a few
new interventions that have been added to address the changing humanitarian
context. I strongly encourage all Member States that have not don e so to fulfil their
commitments without delay.
34. I remain concerned that limited crossing capacity and a range of other
restrictions, along with a lack of Palestinian unity, mean that significant
improvement in the humanitarian situation and overall ec onomy of Gaza remains
unlikely. In that context, the risk of violent escalation remains ever present in Gaza
as underlying causes of previous conflicts remain unaddressed. The effects of these
persistent pressures on security continue to be felt. As at 23 August, Palestinian
militants in Gaza had fired a total of 23 rockets at Israel, 14 of which had impacted
Israel, none of them causing injuries. The Israel Defense Forces had reportedly
responded with a total of 27 air strikes in Gaza, causing injuries to three
Palestinians. I call on all Palestinian factions to ensure respect for international law
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and not to engage in activities that risk destabilizing the situation and the
reconstruction process. Similarly, I call on Israel to ensure that any military act ions
comply with the principles of distinction, proportionality and military necessity.
35. Lasting progress in Gaza can be realized only on the basis of Palestinian unity, an
end to the illicit arms build-up and militant activities, and a full lifting of movement
and access restrictions in line with Security Council resolution 1860 (2009).
36. I remain worried about the state of human rights and freedoms in Gaza. Of
particular concern are reports of arbitrary detention and ill-treatment in detention
centres. On 3 April and 3 May, Hamas carried out six executions of Palestinians,
bringing to 28 the number of death sentences carried out since its takeover in 2007.
I condemned those actions and remain deepl y concerned that further executions are
anticipated. I call on the de facto authorities to refrain from carrying out further
executions. I also urge the Palestinian Authority to fulfil its responsibilities with full
respect for international human rights l aw.
37. The Palestinian Government of national consensus must be empowered and
enabled to assume its rightful responsibilities in Gaza, including in particular at the
crossings with Israel and Egypt. I strongly urge Palestinian factions to advance
genuine Palestinian unity on the basis of democracy and the Palestinian Liberation
Organization and Quartet principles. Genuine unity will also improve the ability of
the Palestinian Government to meet the pressing economic problems that are adding
to the frustration and anger of Palestinians. The United Nations stands ready to
support all efforts in that direction.
38. I remain seriously concerned about the lack of political progress and the high risk
of further violence and radicalization. The 50-year anniversary of the 1967 Arab-Israeli
war and the occupation of the Palestinian territory is a stark reminder: for too long,
leaders on both sides have failed to take the difficult steps needed for peace. There is
no alternative to the two-State solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The
proponents of the status quo and the critics of the two -State solution offer no viable
alternative that meets the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.
39. The report of the Middle East Quartet and Security Council resolutions have
clearly outlined what is needed for the advancement of a sustainable and just peace.
Israel can take the necessary steps to stop settlement expansion and construction in
order to preserve this prospect, while the Palestinian leade rship can demonstrate its
commitment to tackling the challenges of violence and incitement on its side. This
will create an environment that will facilitate bilateral final status negotiations that
the international community can support. We remain resolut e in our commitment to
help Palestinians and Israelis overcome these challenges.
40. I would like to express my deep appreciation to the United Nations Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, for his
outstanding service in what remains a challenging context. I am also most grateful
to the Commissioner General of UNRWA, Pierre Krähenbühl, for his unwavering
commitment and the remarkable work carried out by his staff for Palestinian
refugees. In addition, I pay tribute to al l staff who work under difficult, and at times
dangerous, circumstances in the service of the United Nations.
41. I will continue to ensure that the United Nations works towards the
establishment of an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian
State living side by side in peace with a secure Israel in the framework of a
comprehensive regional settleme nt consistent with Security Council resolutions 242
(1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003), 1860 (2009) and 2334 (2016) and in
accordance with the Quartet road map, the Arab Peace Initiative, the Quartet report
and the principle of land for peace.
United Nations A/73/346–S/2018/597
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
27 August 2018
Original: English
18-14062 (E) 140918
*1814062*
General Assembly
Seventy-third session
Items 38 and 39 of the provisional agenda *
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Seventy-third year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with the request of the General
Assembly in paragraph 27 of its resolution 72/14. The report, which covers the period
from September 2017 through August 2018, contains a reply received from one of the
parties concerned to the note verbale sent by the Secretary -General pursuant to the
request contained in resolution 72/14, as well as the observations of the Secretary -
General on the current state of the Israeli -Palestinian conflict and on international
efforts to move the peace process forward, with a view to achieving a peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine.
* A/73/150.
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2/14 18-14062
I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 72/14.
2. On 5 July 2018, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 27 of resolution
72/14, I addressed the following letter to the President of the Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 72/14, which the General
Assembly adopted on 30 November 2017, at its seventy -second session, under
the agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 27 of the resolution requested the Secretary -General to
continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the
Security Council, including with regard to the reporting required pursuant to
resolution 2334 (2016), towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to
the General Assembly at its seventy-third session a report on these efforts and
on developments on this matter.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 20 July 2018.
“Recalling the Secretariat’s obligation to observe the page limit of its
reports, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 52/214, I would like to
encourage the Security Council to limit its submission to 1,500 words. ”
3. As at 22 August 2018, no response had been received to that request.
4. In a note verbale dated 21 May 2018, I sought the positions of States Members
of the United Nations, in particular the concerned Governments of Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the State of Palestine,
regarding any steps taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of the
resolution. As at 22 August 2018, replies had been received from the Permanent
Missions of Cuba and Japan and from the Permanent Observer Mission of the State
of Palestine.
5. The note verbale dated 13 July 2018 fr om the Permanent Observer Mission of
the State of Palestine to the United Nations reads as follows:
“By its resolution 72/14, the General Assembly reaffirmed its
longstanding, authoritative stance on the question of Palestine in all its
dimensions and reflected on the efforts of the international community to
achieve a just, lasting, peaceful solution. The principles affirmed therein, in line
with international law and other relevant resolutions, c ontinue to comprise the
fundamental pillars of a solution, and the support given to the resolution
reaffirms the international consensus in this regard.
“In a year marking the fiftieth year of Israel ’s occupation of Palestinian
and Arab territories and the seventieth year since the adoption of General
Assembly resolution 181 (II) partitioning Mandate Palestine, the Assembly
overwhelmingly supported the adoption of resolution 72/14; the debate was
characterized by repeated calls for an end to the Israeli occupation that began in
1967; for measures to ensure the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
foremost to self-determination; and for responsible international action to
peacefully resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in line with the relevant
resolutions, including Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) and General
Assembly resolution 194 (III). Numerous delegations stressed that this conflict
remains a primary source of instability and insecurity in the region and that the
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question of Palestine remains the key to peace and a litmus test for the capacities
of the Security Council and General Assembly to ensure the rule of law and
accountability for its violation.
“The demands of the General Assembly in resolution 72/14, underscoring
the international consensus and exigency of peace efforts, echo the demands of
the Security Council in resolution 2334 (2016).
“Council resolution 2334 (2016), which was welcomed globally, was also
welcomed and endorsed by the Palestinian leadership, which remains s teadfast
in its commitment to the path of peace and achieving freedom, rights and justice
on this path, and consistently strives to uphold all relevant United Nations
resolutions. This includes a firm commitment to non -violence and the pursuit of
peaceful, political, diplomatic and legal means for the attainment of Palestinian
rights and a just solution, and cooperation with all international and regional
efforts to that end.
“Regrettably, in contrast to the global welcome and importance accorded
to resolution 2334 (2016), we continue to witness the extremely hostile reaction
of Israel, the occupying Power, to the Security Council ’s action, and indeed to
any General Assembly action in this regard, includ ing the adoption of resolution
72/14. Despite the fact that the resolution was adopted in full conformity and
consistency with the Charter of the United Nations, international law, the
relevant resolutions and the longstanding consensus on this matter, the Israeli
Government has vehemently rejected it, aggressively pursuing its illegal
policies and measures in Occupied Palestine, including East Jerusalem, in
blatant contempt of resolutions 2334 (2016), 72/14 and other core resolutions,
in grave violation of its legal obligations, including under Article 25 of the
Charter, and in total contradiction to the two -State solution, which is dependent
on the full, immediate cessation and reversal of such illegal activities.
“Since the adoption of resolution 72/14, Israel’s settlement and land grab
activities have continued unabated, including: announcements and decisions on
the construction of further settlements, including wall construction; the forced
displacement of thousands more Palestinians, including Bedouin families,
particularly in the areas of Occupied East Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley,
including in the sensitive so -called “E-1” area; the confiscation of huge tracts
of land; and the destruction of hundreds more Palestinian homes and properties
to facilitate the expansion of Israeli settlements and the illegal wall. Members
of the Israeli Government, along with other extremist voices, have also pushed
for Israeli annexation plans, with some Israeli politicians explicitly calling for
annexation of the West Bank.
“Yet, despite Israel’s flagrant violations, the Palestinian leadership
continues to adhere to a peaceful path and has repeatedly reaffirmed its
readiness to engage in good faith in peace efforts based on the rule of law and
United Nations resolutions, as it has done throughout the decades of the Middle
East peace process at every stage. It must be restated here: for nearly 30 years,
Palestine’s position has mirrored the global consensus on the two -State solution.
This began with the acceptance by the Palestine National Council of the solution
set out in the 1988 Declaration of Independence, a major compromise agreement
to establish the Palestinian State on only 22 per cent of its historic homeland,
for the sake of realizing Palestinian rights, including to freedom and
independence, and the establishment of a la sting peace. This compromise
remains the primary testament to our commitment to peace and, with the 2002
Arab Peace Initiative, represents the boldest contribution towards solving the
conflict and should be recognized as such.
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“The Palestinian commitment to a solution of two-States, based on the
pre-1967 borders in accordance with international law, United Nations
resolutions, the Madrid principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and
the Quartet road map, has been clearly reaffirmed, including at the highest levels
by President Mahmoud Abbas and the Executive Committee of the Palestine
Liberation Organization. In his address to the Security Council, on 20 February
2018, President Abbas reiterated the calls for a multilateral political process t o
achieve the two-State solution, based on those longstanding parameters and
international consensus, and reaffirmed his readiness to engage, including in an
international peace conference. We have appealed to the Security Council and
to members of the Quartet to uphold their obligations and to exert every possible
effort to this end, in cooperation with concerned regional partners and the
League of Arab States and with the vital support of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and all peace-loving
nations.
“This commitment has been further bolstered by repeated pledges to
peacefully resolve the conflict, in accordance with the Charter, international law
and the relevant United Nations resolutions, as confirmed, int er alia, in the
application by the State of Palestine on 28 September 2011 for membership in
the United Nations; in Palestine ’s accession to numerous international treaties
and conventions; in our bilateral and multilateral engagement with the
international community, including in the context of diplomatic and cooperation
agreements concluded with many States that have recognized Palestine; in all
of Palestine’s official communications and interventions at the United Nations;
and as reflected in the relevant provisions of declarations by the League of Arab
States, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation and the Group of 77.
“Furthermore, this commitment has been borne out by the cooperation of
the Palestinian leadership with, inter alia, efforts by the members of the Quartet,
collectively and individually, as reflected in the series of meetings held by
President Abbas and other high-level Palestinian officials throughout 2017 and
2018. This also includes support for th e reaffirmation of the Arab Peace
Initiative by the Arab Summit, held in Riyadh in April 2018, despite the failure
of Israel to respond to or to reciprocate with regard to the Initiative since it was
first adopted in 2002.
“Despite all obstacles and Israel’s consistently bad-faith engagement,
Palestine has also engaged for over two decades in good -faith negotiations to
end the occupation and achieve a just and comprehensive peace agreement and
the rights of the Palestinian people. The Palestinian leadersh ip has even engaged
in efforts with the new United States administration of President Donald J.
Trump to advance peace, including affirmation of its readiness to engage in
negotiations, up until the extremely regrettable decision by the United States
administration, on 6 December 2017, to recognize ‘Jerusalem as the capital of
Israel’ and to transfer the United States Embassy to the city, in contravention of
Security Council resolutions and the solid international consensus.
“Prior to the decision of the United States, and immediately thereafter,
Palestine affirmed that any decision or action by whomever, and whenever
contrary to the numerous Security Council resolutions on Jerusalem, including
resolutions 476 (1980) and 478 (1980) and 2334 (2016), would not be accepted,
either by Palestine or by the international community. We also recall the
Council’s affirmation in resolution 2334 (2016) that ‘it will not recognize any
changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than
those agreed by the parties through negotiations, ’ as well as the clear
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acknowledgment of the legitimate interest of the international communi ty as a
whole in the question of Jerusalem, and the unequivocal prohibition on the
acquisition of territory by force.
“The provocative decision by the United States, obviously intended to
prejudge the outcome of negotiations for a solution to the Israeli -Palestinian
conflict, totally contradicts ongoing international and regional efforts to create
the conditions conducive for meaningful negotiations for a peaceful solution,
and has undermined the role of the United States in the pursuit of peace and as
a credible and impartial broker. The Palestinian leadership remains insistent that
a comprehensive and just solution to the question of Palestine cannot be
achieved without a just solution to the question of Jerusalem, and without East
Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
“Moreover, peace cannot be achieved without restoring the primacy of
international law to efforts to resolve the conflict. A solution must be based on
international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions: negotiations on
that basis, including on the final status issues, not unilateral, unlawful
imposition of facts on the ground, are the means to achieve such a just, peaceful
solution. As reflected in the Secretary-General’s agenda for the United Nations,
the peaceful resolution of conflicts requires a human rights, justice and
development perspective, not just a security perspective, and the root causes of
conflict must be addressed.
“We have never sought, and do not assume to be able, to force a solution,
as the occupying Power and its supporters do; we have simply and transparently
sought the application of the law to bring an end to the conflict and achieve our
rights. At every juncture and in every appeal, this is all we have asked for;
nothing beyond what we are entitled to as a people according to international
law, and nothing beyond what is legislated in United Nations resolutions and
affirmed in the advisory opinion rendered by the International Court of Justice
on 9 July 2004.
“In this regard, we recall that the inter national consensus was again
reaffirmed in the Security Council following the announcement by the President
of the United States on Jerusalem. The overwhelming majority of the Council,
14 Member States, stood firm in rejection of this decision and in compl iance
with relevant resolutions and their Charter obligations, despite the United States
veto of the draft resolution presented for a vote on 18 December 2017. The
General Assembly, in its resumed tenth emergency special session on
21 December 2017, adopted resolution ES-10/19, which also stressed the
longstanding international position on Jerusalem, reaffirming the Assembly ’s
compendium of relevant resolutions along with those of the Security Council.
“Unfortunately, the decision of the United States ha s emboldened Israel’s
illegal actions in Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
effectively rewarding its intransigence and supporting its impunity, and has
emboldened other States, including Guatemala and Paraguay, to flout the law
and United Nations resolutions, undermining efforts to achieve a peaceful
settlement.
“As briefly reflected in resolution 72/14, these Israeli violations include:
an unlawful colonization campaign and actio ns aimed at facilitating settlement
activities; Israeli settler violence and terrorism, with a weekly average of five
attacks since the beginning of 2018; military raids causing Palestinian civilian
casualties; arbitrary arrest and detention operations and imprisonment of 5,900
Palestinians, including children and women, who are routinely exposed to
physical and psychological abuse and torture, with the male population most
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severely affected; restrictions on movement and other fundamental freedoms,
including to worship, education, health care, development and water; imposition
of an 11-year blockade on Gaza, isolating and collectively punishing the
2 million Palestinians living there; and regular military aggressions against the
densely-populated enclave.
“Despite the calls to lift its inhumane, illegal blockade of Gaza, Israel
continues to unleash its wrath against the population living there. Since the
adoption of resolution 72/14, and particularly during the “Great Return March”,
a large-scale peaceful civilian protest against Israel ’s illegal occupation,
oppression and dispossession of the Palestinian people, which launched on
30 March 2018, lethal, indiscriminate force has been routinely used by
occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, causing wilful and wanton death
and injury, including the massacre of 69 Palestinian civilians on 14 May, in
grave violation of international law. Overall, more than 140 Palestinians have
been killed by the occupying forces since 30 March, including 19 children, and
15,200 people have been injured.
“Israeli incitement and inflammatory rhetoric regarding Jerusalem and
provocations and violence by Jewish extremists against Muslim and Christian
holy sites, particularly targeting Al-Haram Al-Sharif, also continue to stoke
sensitivities and threaten to trigger a dangerous religious conflict. Such
violations are being perpetrated jointly by the occupying Power, its occupying
forces and extremist settlers.
“Against this backdrop, it should be considered extraordinary that our
commitment to a peaceful path has endured. Over the decades, the Palestinian
Government and national institutions have also taken measures to mitigate the
occupation’s devastating consequences, allay tensions, ensure calm and
security, restore hope and preserve peace prospects in every sector, as reflected
in the priorities set out in successive Palestinian National Development Plans
presented by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and preceding Governments, and
also in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework. The
programmes of United Nations agencies, with the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) at the
forefront, along with the Office for the Coor dination of Humanitarian Affairs,
the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the United Nations Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, the United Nations Entity for
Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) and other
organizations, have been instrumental in this regard, as has been the assistance
and solidarity extended to Palestine by concerned States from every corner of
the globe. Our work with the Ad Hoc Liaison Com mittee for the Coordination
of the International Assistance to Palestinians is also relevant in this regard.
“Such support has been exemplary in the case of UNRWA, which has
received generous voluntary funding from donor countries since its
establishment in 1949. Throughout the year, and in the light of the sudden,
dramatic funding cut to UNRWA by the United States administration in January
2018, Palestine has persisted with efforts to foster more predictable, sufficient
and sustained support for UNRWA to assist it in effectively carrying out its
mandate. These efforts recognize the indispensability of the humanitarian and
development aid provided by UNRWA; its critical stabilizing role in the region;
and the commitment made in the New York Declaration for Refugees and
Migrants to ensure sufficient funding to the Agency, pending a just solution. Our
engagement on this also constitutes a substantial contribution to the just peace
we seek.
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“We have also repeatedly underscored the international obligation to
ensure the protection of the Palestinian people, in accordance with international
humanitarian and human rights law and the many relevant resolutions aimed at
protecting and ensuring the safety and well -being of civilians, for this obligation
has not only been abdicated by Israel, the occupying Power, but it is being
intentionally, grossly and systematically violated by it. Moreover, it is
unquestionable that the de-escalation of the situation and efforts to ensure
civilian protection and well-being can only contribute to peace efforts.
“Thus, despite the failure of the Security Council to address the protection
crisis, due to the veto cast by the United States on 1 June 2018 on a draft
resolution presented by Kuwait in its capacity as the Arab represent ative on the
Council, we persisted in our efforts to address the Palestinian people ’s
protection needs. We welcome the adoption of resolution ES -10/20 by the
General Assembly on 13 June 2018, as a contribution to defusing tensions,
deterring violence against civilians and advancing consideration of measures to
ensure the safety, well-being and protection of the Palestinian civilian
population, beginning with a request that the Secretary -General submit a report
containing proposals on means towards this end, including recommendations
regarding an international protection mechanism.
“While our efforts and international support have been constant, what
remains absent is the political will to implement the relevant Security Council
and General Assembly resolutions central to achieving a peaceful settlement.
The continued failure of the Security Council on this issue has been a direct
result of both Israeli intransigence and disrespect and the paralysis caused by
the veto power of one permanent member. Insuffici ent pressure has been exerted
on the Israeli Government to cease its violations and destruction of the two -
State solution, and the prospect of a peaceful future for the Palestinian and
Israeli peoples will continue to remain an illusion as long as the occu pying
Power feels shielded from accountability in this regard.
“Among recent steps in the right direction, including efforts undertaken in
the General Assembly and the Security Council, was the decision of the Human
Rights Council, on 18 May 2018, to establish an independent, international
commission of inquiry, with a mandate to investigate all cases of death and
injury since 30 March and to ensure accountability for the violations of
international law that took place in the context of the large -scale civilian protests
in Gaza.
“This investigation must reinforce serious, collective efforts at the United
Nations during this period to bring the monumental injustice faced by the
Palestinian people to an end. As reaffirmed in General Assembly resolution
72/14, the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the question
of Palestine until it is justly resolved in all aspects, and it must act accordingly.
The Security Council, in particular, has the au thority and legal tools to remedy
this situation and it must act immediately to uphold its duties under the Charter
and to implement its resolutions towards realization of a just, peaceful solution.
“It must be signaled to the occupying Power that its de fiance will no longer
be tolerated and that it must halt all violations. This is critical for creating an
environment conducive to the credible dialogue and negotiations needed to
bring about an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967; to finally achieve
the independence of the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital;
and to establish lasting peace, security and coexistence between the Palestinian
and Israeli peoples on the basis of the two -State solution and in accordance with
the relevant United Nations resolutions, including resolution 72/14.”
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II. Observations
6. International efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine continued during the reporting per iod. The Middle East Quartet envoys met
on two occasions and consulted throughout the year. On 31 January 2018, Norway
and the European Union convened an extraordinary ministerial meeting of the Ad Hoc
Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the Internat ional Assistance to
Palestinians, at which members reiterated support for the two -State solution in line
with relevant United Nations resolutions. At its meetings, the League of Arab States
also reiterated its support for a peaceful resolutio n of the Question of Palestine.
7. On 6 December 2017, the United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of
Israel, while calling on all parties to maintain the status quo at Jerusalem ’s holy sites
and stating that final status issues remain up to the parties. On 21 December, the
General Assembly held a special session on the status of Jerusalem and adopted
resolution ES-10/19, affirming that “any decisions and actions which purport to have
altered the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of
Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance
with relevant resolutions of the Security Council ”. The United States opened its
Embassy to Israel in Jerusalem on 14 May 2018. T his move, followed on 16 and
21 May by similar actions by Guatemala and Paraguay, was objected to by the
Palestinian Authority and members of the international community, including several
other States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States.
8. The Palestinian leadership has since ceased its engagement with the United
States, and has called for the establishment of a new international mechanism to
oversee the peace process, stating that it will continue to pursue State recognition and
full membership in international organizations. On 20 February 2018, the President
of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, addressed the Security Council and
called for an international peace conference, to be held by mid -2018, that would form
a multilateral mechanism to assist the two parties in the negotiations to resolve all
permanent status issues. During the reporting period, the State of Palestine acceded
to a number of international treaties, conventions, including the Convention on the
Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical
Weapons and on their Destruction, and organizations, including the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization.
9. With regard to Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), I delivered four reports
to the Security Council on the implementation of the resolution, in which I noted with
concern the lack of implementation of particular prov isions. I remain committed to
working with all concerned parties to find a peaceful, negotiated solution to the
conflict based on the two -State solution. I have reiterated the well -known position of
the United Nations that Jerusalem is one of the key final status issues that must be
resolved, based on relevant United Nations resolutions and previous agreements,
taking into account the legitimate concerns of both sides, to realize the national
aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis.
10. On 12 October 2017, Palestinian factions signed an agreement, facilitated by
Egypt, to allow the return of the Palestinian Government to Gaza, which could lead
to reconciliation. The Gaza crossings were nominally handed over to the Palestinian
Authority on 1 November, and p ublic-sector employees recruited by the Palestinian
Authority prior to 2007 registered in preparation for the establishment of a unified
work force. Obstacles arose in subsequent talks, however, including over questions
related to the full empowerment of the Palestinian Government in Gaza, the
integration of public sector employees and the collection of revenue in Gaza. The
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process was also seriously challenged on 13 March 2018, when the convoy of
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah came und er attack by the
detonation of a roadside bomb in Gaza, which, lightly injured six people. I strongly
condemned this attack and commended Prime Minister Hamdallah for remaining
committed to the peace process. I welcome the continued engagement of Egypt in this
regard and call on Palestinian factions to move forward with implementing the
intra-Palestinian agreement of 12 October 2017 and advancing genuine Palestinian
unity on the basis of democracy and the principles set out by the Palestine Liberation
Organization and the members of the Quartet. I reiterate that Palestinian unity is a
key step in reaching the larger objective of a Palestinian State and lasting peace.
11. During the reporting period, the situation on the ground was characterized by
the most significant violence in Gaza since the hostilities of 2014. The situation
deteriorated following the start of the “Great March of Return” protests on 30 March
2018, with tens of thousands of Palestinians protesting at or near the perimeter fence
between Israel and the Gaza Strip. During the reporting period, 194 Palestinians,
including 29 children, were killed in Gaza, 59 on 14 May alone, and an additional 13
Palestinians died of wounds sustained that day, the peak of the protests. Hamas and
Islamic Jihad have publicly acknowledged that a number of their members were
among those killed in the protests and other incidents. According to the Gaza Ministry
of Public Health, during the protests, more than 3,700 Palestinians were wounded by
live ammunition resulting in life-altering injuries. One Israeli soldier was killed by
sniper fire from Gaza, the first such Israeli fatality since 2014, and five Israeli soldiers
were injured near the perimeter fence.
12. Among the thousands of peaceful demonstrators, hundreds reportedly attempted
to breach the fence, burned tires, threw rocks and fire bombs at Israeli forces or their
posts, launched incendiary kites and balloons and laid improvised explosive devices,
at least two of which exploded at or near the fence. Accordi ng to the Israeli
authorities, incendiary kites and balloons caused large fires that burned and damaged
thousands of acres of agricultural fields and nature reserves. On three occasions,
Palestinian protesters attacked the Kerem Shalom crossing and severel y damaged the
infrastructure on the Palestinian side, temporarily hampering the delivery of urgently
needed humanitarian assistance.
13. This period also constituted the most serious escalation in Gaza since the war in
2014. On 29 May alone, reportedly in response to the deaths in Gaza, nearly 200
rockets and mortars rounds were fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. The
majority of the projectiles were intercepted by Israel ’s Iron Dome defence system,
while one mortar reportedly landed in the grounds of a kindergarten in the Eshkol
Regional Council, causing no injury. Three Israeli soldiers and two civilians were
reportedly injured in other incidents. The Israeli Defense Forces responded by striking
targets it attributed to both Hamas and the Islamic Jih ad, who had claimed joint
responsibility for the attacks.
14. On 14 and15 July 2018, another military escalation ensued between Palestinian
militants and the Israeli Defense Forces. Two Palestinian teenagers were killed in an
airstrike in Gaza city and 25 were injured by Israeli strikes. Three Israelis were also
wounded from a rocket that landed on a residential home in the Israeli town of Sderot.
15. My Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has been in
communication with both sides and with Egypt throughout the crisis. In a press
conference in Gaza on 15 July, he warned that Gaza was on the brink of what could
be a devastating war. I repeat my unequivocal condemnation of all the actions that
have cost so many lives and urge all sides to urgently step back from the brink of
another devastating conflict.
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16. Following the demonstrations in Gaza, the Security Council held three
extraordinary sessions; the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held an extraordinary
summit in Istanbul on 18 May; and the League of Arab States Foreign Ministers met
in Cairo on 17 May. On 18 May, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution S -28/1,
in which it decided “to urgently dispatch an independent, international commission
of inquiry, to be appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council, to
investigate all alleged violations and abuses of international humanitarian law and
international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip, in the context of the military
assaults on the large-scale civilian protests that began on 30 March 2018”.
17. On 22 May 2018, pursuant to article s 13 (a) and 14 of the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court, the State of Palestine asked the Prosecutor of the Court
to investigate, in accordance with the temporal jurisdiction of the Court, past, ongoing
and future crimes within the court's jurisdiction, committed in all parts of the territory
of the State of Palestine. Following the referral, in a statement on 22 May, the
Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, noted that since 16 January 2015, the situation in
Palestine had been subject to a preliminar y examination in order to ascertain whether
the criteria for opening an investigation had been met. She also noted that the
preliminary examination had seen important progress and that the investigation would
continue to follow its normal course, strictly guided by the requirements of the Rome
Statute.
18. On 13 June 2018, at the tenth emergency special session of the General
Assembly, resumed at the request of Algeria (as Chair of the Arab Group) and Turkey
(as Chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperat ion), the Assembly adopted
resolution ES-10/20, entitled "Protection of the Palestinian Civilian Population ”, by
a vote of 120 in favour, 8 against and 45 abstentions. The resolution was adopted after
a failed attempt to adopt a similar resolution in the S ecurity Council put forward by
Kuwait on 1 June 2018. In resolution ES-10/20, the Assembly requested the
Secretary-General to examine the situation and to submit a written report within 60
days containing his proposals on ways and means of ensuring the saf ety, protection
and well-being of the Palestinian civilian population under Israeli occupation,
including recommendations regarding an international protection mechanism.
I submitted my report on the protection of the Palestinian civilian population to the
General-Assembly on 14 August. (A/ES-10/794)
19. I reiterate that Israel has a responsibility to exercise maximum restraint in the
use of live fire and not to use lethal force, except as a last resort, against immi nent
threat of death or serious injury. It must protect its citizens, but it must do so with due
respect for international humanitarian law.
20. The actions by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other militant groups in
Gaza put at risk not only the lives of Israelis and Palestinians, but also the efforts to
ensure a liveable future for the people of Gaza. The indiscriminate firing of rockets
at civilian populations may constitute a violation of international humanitarian law.
Such activities must cease; escalation only costs more precious lives.
21. While Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) called upon both parties “to
refrain from provocative actions, incitement, and inflammatory rhetoric ”, such
actions and statements continued during the reporting period. I urge leaders on all
sides to stop the incitement and to stand, consistently and unequivocally, against acts
of terror and violence in all its forms.
22. On 30 April 2018, during his opening spe ech at the Palestinian National
Council, the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, made statements
that included the unacceptable suggestion that the social behaviour of Jews was the
cause of the Holocaust. Those statements were widely condemned by the international
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community, and Mr. Abbas subsequently apologized. At the height of the Gaza
protests, a senior Hamas official called on protestors to “take down the border and
tear out their [Israelis] hearts”, one of several public calls by Hamas leaders inciting
protestors to violence, including on social media Meanwhile, Fatah ’s official social
media pages continued to glorify the perpetrators of past terror attacks.
23. Israeli officials also made provocative statements, with one Member of Kne sset
saying that Palestinian teenager Ahed Tamimi, who was tried and imprisoned for
slapping a soldier, should have “gotten a bullet, at least in the kneecap”. Others called
for the killing of civilians in Gaza who launch incendiary kites, annexing the
settlements and openly rejecting Palestinian statehood.
24. Stabbings and shootings by Palestinians targeting Israelis and clashes between
Palestinians and Internal Security Forces, also continued to claim lives. Aside from
the demonstrations in Gaza, 87 Pale stinians were killed throughout the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, four were perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of attacks in the
West Bank and more than 3,000 Palestinians were injured during the reporting period.
Five Israeli civilians and six securit y forces personnel were killed, and more than 70
Israelis, civilians and security forces personnel were injured.
25. I remain concerned about the general state of human rights and freedoms in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. Throughout the reporting pe riod the Israeli Defense
Forces continued to conduct search and arrest operations, while the Palestinian
Authority continued arrests of suspected Hamas affiliates in the West Bank. At the
end of May 2018, 440 Palestinians were being held by Israeli authori ties under
administrative detention. I reiterate my earlier calls to end the practice of
administrative detention and either to charge all detainees, or to release them
immediately.
26. As at the end of June 2018, 446 Palestinians were being held in admini strative
detention, including 4 children. All children should be treated with due consideration
for their age, and they should only be detained in situations justified under
international humanitarian law or applicable human rights norms.
27. The shrinking space for civil society organizations and human rights defenders
remains a cause for concern. There have been incidents where the Palestinian
Authority and Hamas have taken actions that have resulted in limits on freedom of
expression and, in some cases, arbitrary arrests and the violent suppression of
protests. Israel has imposed new restrictions and requirements that could have an
impact on Israeli human rights organizations, including some that carry out advocacy
work or provide direct humanitarian or legal assistance to Palestinians in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Israeli authorities have also detained or restricted
the movement of Palestinians for exercising their right to freedom of expression. In
its resolution 2334 (2016), the Security Council called on Israel to take steps “to cease
all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East
Jerusalem”. No such steps have been taken during the reporting period. Inste ad,
settlement activities have continued. During the reporting period, Israeli authorities
advanced or approved plans and announced tenders for over 6,000 housing units in
settlements in Area C of the occupied West Bank.
28. On 30 May 2018, Israel decided to advance, approve and tender some 3,500
housing units in the occupied West Bank, the largest number of advancements granted
at one time since June 2017. One third of those units are in settlements in outlying
locations deep in the West Bank. On 1 August , the Israeli Civil Administration
confirmed its intention to expand the municipal boundaries of the Amichai settlement
to include the outpost of Adei Ad. If implemented, this would result in the first outpost
legalization, under Israeli law, since 2014. On 14 August, Israeli authorities
announced they would publish a tender for 603 units in the Ramat Shlomo settlement
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in East Jerusalem, the first such announcement since 2016. In Area C, a tender for an
additional 511 housing units was published, and constr uction based on previously
approved plans continued. I reiterate the long -standing position of the United Nations
that all settlement activities are illegal under international law and an obstacle to
peace. Settlements create yet more obstacles to advancin g a negotiated two-State
solution. I reiterate that all settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, constitutes a flagrant violation under international law, as
stated in resolution 2334 (2016), and must cease immediately and completely.
29. In January 2018, the Knesset passed an amendment to the “Basic Law:
Jerusalem, Capital of Israel.” This change would make it more difficult for Israel to
transfer territories that are currently within the Israeli-defined Jerusalem municipality
boundaries to a future Palestinian State by requiring a super -majority of 80 votes in
the Knesset. The amendment also lowers the threshold required by the Knesset to
make changes to Jerusalem’s municipal boundaries to a simple majority. On 7 March,
the Knesset also approved an amendment to the “Entry to Israel Law”, allowing the
revocation of permanent residency status of Palestinians in East Jerusalem involved
in terrorist activities, treason or espionage, as defined in Israeli law.
30. Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures continued across the
occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. During the reporting period Israeli
authorities demolished or seized 326 structures , citing the absence of building
permits, which are extremely difficult to obtain in Area C and East Jerusalem. Over
350 people, including 185 children, were displaced and the livelihoods of over 7,160
people were affected.
31. Throughout the reporting period, the United Nations continued warning about
the heightened risk of demolition and displacement of several Bedouin communities.
On 1 August 2018, Israel’s High Court of Justice indicated it did not find sufficient
reason to prevent the demolition of th e Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar. It
instructed the State to present an alternative relocation site, on which the parties have
not agreed. Demolition is on hold while the Court considers the case. I reiterate that
demolitions and forcible evictions, carried out when there is no military need,
contravene international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
32. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and
reflecting an increase in the number of incidents, 203 viole nt incidents involving
Israeli settlers and resulting in Palestinian casualties or property damage were
documented during the reporting period, resulting in 3 Palestinians killed and 92
injured, as well as damage to property.
33. Palestinians continued to advance their State -building programme, albeit
limited to the territory under the control of the Palestinian Authority, which excludes
Area C, East Jerusalem and Gaza. The United Nations continued its assistance to the
Palestinian people throughout the reporting period (see A/73/84–E/2018/72). In
December 2017, the 2018–2020 Humanitarian Response Plan for the occupied
Palestinian territory was finalized, including, for the first time, a three-year planninghorizon.
The plan requires $539.7 million for 2018 to address urgent humanitarian
needs throughout the occupied Palestinian territory, but to date it is only funded by
23 per cent.
34. On 2 July 2018, the Knesset passed a new l aw reducing the clearance revenues
Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority by an amount equal to the sums
paid by the Authority, “directly or indirectly”, to certain Palestinian prisoners and
their families, as well as to the families of Pal estinians killed or injured in attacks or
alleged attacks against Israelis. According to the law, the withheld funds will be
frozen and can only be released to the Authority if the Israeli Minister of Defense
certifies that no such payments were made in a particular year. Implementation of this
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law is expected to have a significant negative impact on the fiscal sustainability of
the Authority. On 17 July, the Knesset passed an amendment transferring jurisdiction
over certain petitions related to decisions b y Israeli authorities in the West Bank from
the High Court of Justice to the Administrative Affairs Court in Jerusalem.
35. On 30 April 2018, the Palestinian National Council convened in Ramallah for
the first time in 22 years, re-electing President Abbas as Chairman. The Popular Front
for the Liberation of Palestine and Hamas boycotted the meeting. In its final
statement, the Council reiterated its commitment to a peaceful solution based on
longstanding parameters and United Nations resolutions. The statement further
mandated the Executive Committee “to suspend the recognition of Israel until it
recognizes the State of Palestine on the borders of 4 June 1967 and repeals the
decision to annex East Jerusalem and stop the settlements ”, It also endorsed the move
to join various international treaties and to seek international protection for the
Palestinian people.
36. Electricity outages of up to 20 hours a day continued to undermine the provision
of basic services in Gaza, including a health system on the verge of collapse. Given
the mass casualties and injuries in the wake of the “Great March of Return”
demonstrations, alongside a chronic shortage of medicines and the limited capacities
of health facilities, this situation is particularly difficult for the resi dents of Gaza. The
majority of Palestinians in Gaza receive water for only a few hours every three to four
days, with significant quantities of raw sewage discharged into the Mediterranean Sea
on a daily basis. The United Nations is providing nearly 950,00 0 litres of emergency
fuel per month for critical health, water and waste management infrastructure,
constituting a temporary lifeline to the residents of Gaza.
37. The United Nations has actively tried to promote short, medium and long -term
interventions to improve the economy and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in
Gaza. These need for these services was the basis for discussions at the meetings of
the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee in Cairo, Washington, D.C. and Brussels, on 8, 13 and
20 March 2018, respectively. The Committee worked to develop a series of priority
engagements aimed at improving the electricity, water and health situations in Gaza.
38. I commend Egypt’s decision to open the Rafah crossing for over 80 days during
the reporting period, including the extended opening during the month of Ramadan,
making it the longest uninterrupted opening of the Rafah crossing since October 2014.
I hope for more regular movement through the crossing in future.
39. While playing a key role in ensuring tha t the Kerem Shalom crossing was kept
open almost continuously despite tensions, the Government of Israel imposed a series
of severe restrictions on the movement of goods on 9 and 16 July 2018 (imposed on
10 July and 17 July), in response to the launching o f incendiary kites and balloons
from Gaza towards Israel. On 24 July, the Israeli Ministry of Defense partially lifted
the restrictions and allowed additional fuel, food and medicine to pass through the
crossing, before reimposing full restrictions on 2 Au gust. The crossing was fully
reopened on 15 August. While recognizing Israel ’s security concerns, the full lifting
of all closures within the framework of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) is
critical for the further development of the Strip. I also reiterate my call on the de facto
authorities to provide full information on the two Israeli soldiers and two civilians
who are being held in Gaza and to ensure their immediate release, as required under
international humanitarian law.
40. The reconstruction process in Gaza continued during the reporting period, and
nearly 13,500 of the 17,800 houses totally destroyed during the 2014 hostilities have
now been rebuilt. The temporary Gaza Reconstruction Mech anism continues to play
an important role in this regard. However, despite significant improvement since the
beginning of 2018 in the number of Israeli approvals for materials to enter Gaza, there
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was no significant increase in imports and the number of ne w submissions to the
Mechanism has also declined. This is largely due to the drop in purchasing power and
international assistance for reconstruction.
41. The precarious financial situation of UNRWA remains of serious concern. On
15 March 2018, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Jordan and Sweden
co-chaired an extraordinary ministerial conference to provide sufficient, predictable
and sustained funding to UNRWA, reaffirming support for its mandate and for
overcoming the Agency’s unprecedented shortfall of $446 million. Despite recent
crucial contributions, the shortfall remains at $217 million. I have warned that failing
to address its funding shortfall will not only have serious humanitarian and
developmental consequences, but also implications fo r regional stability. I call on all
Member States to further support UNRWA in this regard.
42. The recent escalation of violence in Gaza is a painful reminder of the devastating
consequences of prolonged conflict. In response to requests by Security Counci l
members for specific actions to help prevent renewed conflict, my Special
Coordinator has outlined a strategy for Gaza that includes: (a) support for the
Egyptian- brokered Palestinian reconciliation process and the return of the Palestinian
Authority to Gaza; (b) advancement of urgent interventions to bolster water, energy
and health networks in Gaza, alongside employment -generation schemes;
(c) enhancement of the capacity of the United Nations to support and to fast track
project implementation; (d) and strengthening of coordination between the United
Nations, the Palestinian Authority, Israel and Egypt. This approach was welcomed by
the Palestinian Authority, members of the Security Council and donor countries
engaged in activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
43. I remain deeply concerned by the state of our collective efforts to advance a
lasting political resolution to the conflict, which is now critical, and I urge key
regional and international partners to re -engage and to remain steadfast in the pursuit
of a two-State solution. The Middle East Quartet remains the best mechanism for
achieving this goal. The 2016 report of the Quartet, which remains relevant today,
clearly outlines what is needed to advance a sustainable and just peace.
44. I express my deep appreciation to my Special Coordinator, Nickolay Mladenov,
for his outstanding service in what remains a challenging context. I am also most
grateful to UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl for his unwavering
commitment and the remarkable work carried out by his staff on behalf of Palestine
refugees. I pay tribute, too, to all staff who work under difficult circumstances in the
service of the United Nations.
45. I will continue to ensure that the United Nations works towards end ing the
Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and establishing an independent, democratic,
contiguous and viable Palestinian State living side by side with Israel in peace,
security and mutual recognition, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States, with in
the framework of a comprehensive regional settlement consistent with Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003), 1860 (2009)
and 2334 (2016) and in accordance with the Quartet road map, the Arab Peace
Initiative, the principle of land for peace and international law.
United Nations A/74/333–S/2019/685
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
26 August 2019
Original: English
19-14442 (E) 050919
*1914442*
General Assembly
Seventy-fourth session
Items 35 and 36 of the provisional agenda *
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Security Council
Seventy-fourth year
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with the request of the General
Assembly in paragraph 26 of its resolution 73/19. The report, which covers the period
from September 2018 to 15 August 2019, con tains replies received from the parties
concerned to the note verbale sent by the Secretary -General pursuant to the request
contained in resolution 73/19, as well as the observations of the Secretary-General on
the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on international efforts to move
the peace process forward, with a view to achieving a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine.
* A/74/150.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 73/19.
2. On 10 July 2019, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 26 of resolution
73/19, I addressed the following letter to the President of the Security Council:
“I have the honour of referring to resolution 73/19, which the General
Assembly adopted on 30 November 2018, at its seventy-third session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 26 of the resolution requests the Secretary-General to continue
his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security
Council, including with regard to the reporting required pursuant to resolution
2334 (2016), towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to the General
Assembly at its seventy-fourth session a report on these effo rts and on
developments on this matter.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 20 July 2019.
“Recalling the Secretariat’s obligation to observe the page limit of its
reports, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 52/214, I would like to
encourage the Security Council to limit its submission to 1,500 words. ”
3. As at 15 August 2019, no response to that request had been received.
4. In a note verbale dated 21 May 2019, I sought the positions of States Members
of the United Nations, in particular the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan,
Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the State of Palestine, regarding
any steps taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at
22 August 2019, replies had been received from Iraq, Israel, the Philippines, the
Russian Federation and the Permanent Observer Miss ion of the State of Palestine.
5. The note verbale dated 8 July 2019 from the Permanent Observer Mission of the
State of Palestine to the United Nations reads as follows:
“The Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations
presents his compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and, in
reference to note DPPA/DPO/MED/357 on General Assembly resolution 73/19
of 30 November 2018, ‘Peaceful settlement of the question of Pal estine’, has
the honour to convey the State of Palestine ’s views on the efforts to implement
its provisions.
“For decades, the General Assembly has affirmed its stance on the question
of Palestine by adoption of an annual resolution entitled ‘Peaceful settlement of
the question of Palestine’, most recently adopted by the Assembly as resolution
73/19. The resolution’s provisions and the principles reaffirmed therein reflect
the long-standing international consensus on the fundamental pillars and
requirements for achieving a just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine
in all its dimensions. Regrettably, the failure to uphold these principles and
follow through on those provisions – most starkly reflected in the profound
disrespect of the resolution and grave violations that continue to be perpetrated
by Israel, the occupying Power – have prevented implementation of this
resolution towards realization of a peaceful, permanent solution.
“At its seventy-third session, the Assembly again overwhelmingly
supported this resolution and reiterated the calls for: ending the Israeli
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occupation that began in 1967; ensuring the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, including to self-determination and independence; and responsible
international action to peacefully resolve the Israeli -Palestinian conflict, in line
with international law, the relevant resolutions and the permanent responsibility
of the United Nations towards the question of Palestine, which remains
unfulfilled since the Assembly’s adoption of resolution 181 (II) in 1947 and the
decision to partition Mandate Palestine.
“States continued to express deep regret that the Palestine question
remains unresolved. Many characterized it as a stain on the global conscience
and a litmus test for the viability of the rules -based order. Most deemed the
failure to justly resolve it as undermining the international system’s credibility,
particularly that of the Security Council. States broadly condemned Isr ael’s
non-compliance with General Assembly and Security Council resolutions and
its ongoing violations, including, in particular, human rights violations against
the Palestinian people, settlement colonization policies and practices, measures
of collective punishment and de facto annexation attempts in breach of the
Charter prohibition on the acquisition of territory by force.
“The majority stressed that the conflict remains a primary source of
regional and global instability and called for intensification of efforts to advance
a just solution in line with international law, United Nations resolutions, the
Madrid principles, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet road map, as
repeatedly called for by the Assembly and the Security Council, most recently
in resolution 2334 (2016). Calls were made for urgent efforts to salvage and
actualize the two-State solution of Palestine and Israel, living side by side in
peace and security within recognized bord ers based on the pre-1967 borders,
and to ensure a just solution for the Palestine refugee question based on
resolution 194 (III), with a near-unanimous call for support to the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA) to ensure continuity of needed assistance to over 5.4 million refugees
pending a just solution.
“While the State of Palestine is grateful for the principled positions and
support extended by the great majority in the General Assembly, unfortunatel y,
such reaffirmations are insufficient in a situation where the law continues to be
grossly breached and an entire people continue to be deprived of their
inalienable rights. After the passage of over 71 years since the 1948 Nakba that
continues to be suffered by the Palestinian people and 52 years of Israel ’s illegal
foreign occupation of the remainder of Palestine, including East Jerusalem,
since 1967, more than words of principle, condemnation and calls for
compliance are needed.
“Implementation and tangible follow-up action are vital. Absent serious,
practical efforts to implement resolution 73/19 and all other relevant United
Nations resolutions, this conflict will continue to worsen and mutate, the
Palestinian people will continue suffering the grave consequences of this
historic injustice and future generations of Palestinians and Israelis, and the
region itself, will continue to be harmed as peace and security cannot be truly
realized for as long as the Palestine question remains unresolved, as the passage
of decades has shown.
“Despite the situation’s steep deterioration and further setbacks since the
adoption of resolution 73/19, the Palestinian leadership remains committed to
the path of peace and international law as the guarantor of justice. At every
juncture, it has reaffirmed its commitment to non -violence and pursuit of
political, diplomatic, legal and popular means for attainment of Palestinia n
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rights and a sustainable solution that would ensure peaceful coexistence
between the State of Palestine and Israel, and has striven to uphold all relevant
United Nations resolutions and cooperated with international and regional
efforts to this end, including with all credible peace initiatives across nearly
three decades, in line with the long-standing parameters and international
consensus on a just solution, as reflected in resolution 73/19.
“It is regrettable that the current United States administration, in alignment
with Israel, the occupying Power, has pursued ‘peace efforts’ that disregard
those parameters, are completely detached from the global consensus, and
undermine the rule of law, the authority of the General Assembly and the
Security Council and fundamental principles of human rights and justice. It is
for these reasons, and particularly following the United States decision in regard
to Jerusalem on 6 December 2017 and transfer of its embass y to the City, in
explicit contravention of United Nations resolutions, the rights, presence and
legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people in the City and the international
consensus, that the Palestinian leadership has deemed it unacceptable to eng age
with these efforts.
“Such actions, preceded and accompanied by incessant and escalating
Israeli violations in Occupied Palestine, including East Jerusalem, have
hardened the political deadlock, further harmed peace prospects and
exacerbated despair among Palestinians, diminishing belief that a solution can
ever be found. The Palestinian leadership remains insistent that a comprehensive
and just solution to the question of Palestine cannot be achieved without a just
solution to the question of Jerusalem and without East Jerusalem as the capital
of Palestine.
“Despite such negative developments, the Palestinian people and
Government continue to seek a political horizon that can lead them to freedom
and a just solution and continue to look to the interna tional community to fulfil
its responsibilities in this regard. Palestine continues to actively engage and
advocate at the multilateral and bilateral levels towards facilitating that political
horizon. The call on the international community has been const ant and
consistent: to act to ensure compliance with international law and United
Nations resolutions, including through concrete measures of accountability, to
compel Israel to respect its legal obligations, including under the Charter and as
an occupying Power in respect of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Such steps are
deemed vital to de-escalate tensions, reverse negative trends on the ground,
including the destructive colonization of Palestine, and ultimately bring an end
to the occupation, secure Palestinian rights, and achieve peace.
“While the global consensus is that there is no alternative to the two -State
solution on the 1967 lines, there is equal consensus that its viability may soon
be nullified by the situation on the ground imposed by the occup ying Power.
Salvaging the two-State solution requires full, immediate cessation and reversal
of illegal Israeli settlement activities. Yet, the Israeli Government persists, in
rhetoric and actions, with its contempt for international law and the internatio nal
community, actively destroying that solution and undermining all efforts by
regional and international partners to create the conditions and political horizon
for its achievement. In the recent period, this has included explicit threats,
including by the Prime Minister and other right-wing Israeli officials, to annex
parts or all of the West Bank and more aggressive colonization measures. This
has been particularly intense in Occupied East Jerusalem, where home
demolitions, settlement activities and oth er pressures on the City’s Palestinian
inhabitants have dramatically increased and where extremist officials and
settlers continue to provoke and incite, including in regard to the holy sites, and
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particularly Haram al-Sharif, undermining the historic stat us quo and
aggravating religious sensitivities and risking a triggering of a dangerous
religious conflagration.
“Blatantly ignoring the Assembly and Council, Israel ’s settlement
activities and land grab have continued unabated, including, inter alia,
settlement and Wall construction; transfer to Occupied Palestine of thousands
more Israeli settlers; forced displacement of thousands more Palestinians,
including Bedouin families, and particularly in the areas of Occupied East
Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley, including in the so-called ‘E-1’ area;
confiscation of large land parcels; exploitation of natural resources; and
demolition of hundreds more Palestinian homes and properties to facilitate
Israel’s colonization and annexation schemes.
“In the absence of accountability and with the full support of the current
United States administration, Israel ’s impunity has become even more flagrant.
Despite international demands to cease its illegal behaviour, it continues to
entrench its illegal foreign occupation and to oppress the Palestinian people,
forcibly denying and violently violating their rights, including via military
campaigns resulting in the wilful and wanton killing and injury of civilians,
including children, and the detention and imprisonment of thousa nds of
civilians, amounting to war crimes. It also persists with its illegal blockade of
2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, isolating and virtually imprisoning
them and imposing on them immeasurable suffering, indignity and insecurity
under humanitarian conditions deemed by most to be dire, if not inhuman and
unliveable. Moreover, before the eyes of the world, it is feverishly attempting
to superimpose ‘Greater Israel’ on all of historic Palestine. Such unlawful,
unilateral actions are prejudging the outcome of negotiations, destroying the
two-State solution and imposing a one -State reality of apartheid that precludes
the possibility of peaceful coexistence and with far -reaching consequences.
“Yet, despite this dismal reality, the Palestinian leader ship remains
adherent to a peaceful path and ready to engage in credible peace efforts based
on the rule of law and United Nations resolutions, as it has done throughout the
decades of the Middle East peace process at every stage, including by engaging
in good faith in negotiations, as it has done, beginning at the Madrid Peace
Conference in 1991, to the Oslo Process that launched in 1993, to every
negotiation process thereafter. For decades, Palestine’s position has mirrored
the global consensus on two States. This began with the Palestine National
Council’s acceptance of the solution in the 1988 Declaration of Independence,
a major compromise agreeing to establish the Palestinian State on only 22 per
cent of our historic homeland, for the sake of realiz ing Palestinian rights and
establishing lasting peace and security. This compromise remains the primary
testament of our peace commitment and, with the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative,
represents the boldest contribution to solving the conflict and should be
recognized as such and not belittled or demeaned, as Israel continues to do.
“The State of Palestine continues to call for a multilateral political process
to achieve the two-State solution based on the long -standing terms of reference
and parameters, including via an international peace conference. We have
appealed to the Security Council and Quartet members – the Russian Federation
and the United States, along with the European Union and the United Nations
as a whole – to uphold their obligations and exert serious efforts to this end, in
cooperation with concerned regional partners and the League of Arab States and
with the vital support of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and all peace -loving nations. On our part, we
have consistently sought reaffirmation of the Arab Peace Initiative through
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successive Arab Summits and cooperated with Quartet members, collectively
and individually, and urged other States to make their contributions in support
of peacemaking efforts, as reflected in the meetings held by President Abbas
and other high-level Palestinian officials throughout 2018–2019.
“This commitment to a peaceful settlement is further bolstered by our
constant pledges to resolve the conflict in line with the Charter, international
law and the relevant United Nations resolutions, as confirmed, inter alia, in the
28 September 2011 application by the State of Palestine for admission to United
Nations membership; in Palestine’s accession to numerous international treaties
and conventions; in our bilateral and multilateral relations with the international
community, including numerous diplomatic and cooperation agreements
concluded with States that have recognized Palestine; in Palestine ’s official
communications and interventions at the United Nations; and in relevant
provisions of declarations by the League of Arab States, NAM, OIC, and the
Group of 77 and China.
“The Palestinian Government and national institutions continue to take
measures to mitigate the occupation’s devastating consequences, even in the
midst of the severe financial crisis and instability caused by Israel ’s illegal
seizure of Palestinian tax revenues. In response to deteriorating humanitarian,
socioeconomic and security conditions, we continue to exert efforts to alleviate
our people’s suffering, bolster resilience, promote reconciliation and restore
hope that a better future is within reach. Such hope is vital for pushing against
the radicalism and extremism plaguing the region, especially amon g youth. The
programmes of United Nations agencies, with UNRWA at the forefront, along
with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations
Children’s Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the Office of the
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal
Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation
Organization and the Palestinian Authority, the United Nations Entity for
Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN -Women) and other
organizations, have been instrumental in supporting Palestinian efforts to this
end, including in line with the Palestinian National Development Plan and the
United Nations Development Assistance Framework, as has been the assistance
and solidarity extended to Palestine by concerned States from every corner of
the globe. Our work with the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination
of the International Assistance to Palestinians is also relevant in this regard.
“We have also repeatedly called for action to uphold the international
obligation to protect civilians, an obligation not only abdicated by Israel, the
occupying Power, but being intentionally and systematically violated by it. The
Palestinian people are in need of protection, as per intern ational humanitarian
and human rights law and the many relevant resolutions aimed at ensuring the
safety and well-being of civilians in situations of armed conflict. The Palestinian
civilian population being held captive under Israel ’s foreign occupation and
blockade should not be denied such protection. Moreover, protection measures
and de-escalation clearly contribute to peace efforts and do not detract from
them.
“The State of Palestine is firm in the conviction that peace cannot be
achieved without restoring the primacy of international law to the efforts to
resolve the conflict. A solution must be based on international law and the
relevant United Nations resolutions; only on that basis can negotiations on the
final status issues – Jerusalem, Palestine refugees, settlements, borders, security,
prisoners and water – arrive at a just, peaceful solution. As affirmed in the
Secretary-General’s agenda, peaceful resolution of conflicts requires a human
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rights, justice and development perspective, and not just a security perspective,
and the root causes of the conflict must be fully and properly addressed.
“We have never sought to impose a solution, as Israel and its supporters
do; rather, we have transparently sought application of the law to bring an end
to the conflict and achieve our rights. In every encounter and in every appeal,
this is all we have asked for; nothing beyond what we are entitled to as a people,
as per international law, and nothing beyond that legislated in United Nations
resolutions and affirmed in the July 2004 International Court of Justice advisory
opinion. Insinuations that we seek anything beyond what is rightfully ours, and
even as we have made monumental compromises, are offensive and ignore the
history of our principled engagement in every international and regional
initiative and cycle of negotiations, despite being the aggrieved party. Should
the two-State solution collapse and cease to be a viable means of establishing a
just solution, this will have been the result of Israel ’s policies and actions, and
not those of the State of Palestine.
“What is urgently needed is political will to implement the relevant
Security Council and General Assembly resolutions central to the achievement
of a peaceful settlement. Despite all good -faith intentions, including as reflected
in the adoption of resolution 73/19, the international community continues to
fail to fulfil its legal, political and moral obligations in the face of Israel ’s total
disrespect for the law.
“The Security Council’s continued failure on this issue is a result of both
Israeli disrespect of the law and the paralysis caused by a permanent member ’s
use of the veto. But this cannot be accepted as the norm. The prospect of a
peaceful future for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples will remain elusive for as
long as the occupying Power is shielded from accountability, even as it breaches
the law, including through the perpetration of war crimes, destroys the two -State
solution, and thwarts peace efforts. It is time for accountability measures,
including by the Security Council and the General Assembly, in line with the
permanent responsibility of the United Nations towards the question of Palestine
until it is justly resolved in all aspects, and concrete action by States to uphold
third-party obligations, in line with article 1 common to the Geneva
Conventions, Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) and other relevant
provisions of international law and United Nations resolutions.
“It is high time to firmly convey to Israel, the occupying Power, that its
defiance will no longer be tolerated and that it must halt all violations or bear
the consequences. This is critical for creating an environment conducive to the
credible dialogue and negotiations needed to bring about an end to the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967; to finally achieve the independence of the State
of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital; and to establish lasting peace,
security and coexistence between the Palestinian and Israeli peoples on the basis
of the two-State solution and in accordance with the relevant United Nations
resolutions, including resolution 73/19.”
6. The note verbale dated 8 August 2019 from the Permanent Representative of
Israel to the United Nations reads as follows:
“The Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations presents its
compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and has the honour
to refer to his note concerning resolution 73/19, adopted by the General
Assembly on 30 November 2018 under the agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“The State of Israel has demonstrated its aspiration and commitment to
achieving peace via negotiation. Historic peace was indeed achieved between
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Israel and Egypt and between Israel and Jordan. Israel continues to seek peace
with all the Arab and Muslim world and to promote c oexistence and fruitful
cooperation with all its neighbours.
“Today, Israel hopes to renew direct bilateral negotiations, without
preconditions, with its Palestinian neighbours and to find a mutually agreed
upon and lasting solution.
“The Palestinians’ refusal to compromise is reflected in their rejection of
the numerous peace offers made to them by Israel, despite the fact that Israel
already has peace treaties with two of its neighbours and evolving relations with
other Arab States. The Palestinian rejections were not merely political and were
often accompanied by terrorism and violence against Israeli civilians. The
violence reached new heights in 2018–2019, with an astonishing number of
rockets launched from Gaza – in two incidents numbering hundreds a day –
aimed at the Israeli civilian population, causing property damage and loss of
life. Incendiary and explosive balloons and kites are launched with the sole
purpose of causing fires and destruction to Israel ’s civilian infrastructure,
agriculture, nature and people.
“The Palestinian leadership gave de facto endorsement to these acts when,
at the United Nations, it pushed for the rejection of a United Nations resolution
condemning the use of rockets against the civilian population.
“This violence is a result not only of the extremism spreading throughout
the region but also of the constant incitement to violence and the glorification
of terror by the Palestinian leadership. It stands in stark contrast to this very
resolution, endorsed and promoted by the Palestinians, that specifically calls
upon the parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from provocative
actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric. The incitement starts from the
top; Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has publicly endorsed the
payment of salaries to convicted terrorists and their families. Reflecting the
Palestinian Authority’s official condonation of terror, public spaces are
regularly named after mass murderers. Indeed, the report of the Secretary -
General on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016) mentioned that
officials from Fatah and the Palestinian Authority continued to glorify
perpetrators of attacks against Israelis, including on social media accounts, by
regularly referring to them as ‘heroes’ or a ‘source of pride’, and welcoming
attacks when they occurred.
“Palestinian children are indoctrinated against Israel from grade 1.
Textbooks published by the Palestinian Authority are built a round the same three
principles that appeared in previous textbooks: delegitimization of Israel ’s
existence, demonization of Israel and Jews, and indoctrination to war and
violence instead of education for peace. Peace and coexistence are not
mentioned; violence is advocated and praised.
“The constant atmosphere of hate and the inflammatory rhetoric used by
both the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah and the Hamas terrorist regime in
Gaza have led to horrible attacks against Israelis. The examples are,
unfortunately, numerous, such as the case of 19 -year-old Ori Ansbacher, who,
on 19 February 2019, was viciously attacked in a forest next to her home, where
she used to go to find solitude. Her Palestinian attacker, Arafat Irfaiya, spotted
her and stabbed her numerous times. Then, ignoring her cries, he dragged her,
bleeding and in pain, 150 metres. He tied her up, stripped her, and then raped
her. When he was done, he left her alone to die. After he was arrested, her
Palestinian attacker explained his acts: ‘I left my house to kill Jews’.
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“Ori was not the only victim of Palestinian incitement. In October 2018,
Kim Levengrond-Yehezkel (28 years old), a mother of an 18 -month-old baby
and aspiring lawyer-to-be, and Ziv Hajbi (35 years old), a father of three, were
murdered at their workplace in Barkan Industrial Park. The industrial park
prides itself on being a place where Palestinians and Israelis work side by side.
The Palestinian murderer was a former employee there, which didn ’t stop him
from shooting Kim at close range. The family of the murderer, who was killed
in a gunfight with the Israeli police during his apprehension, was and still is
being rewarded by the Palestinian Authority for his ‘heroic actions’.
“A clear and unequivocal message must be delivered to the Palestinian
leadership: stop encouraging terrorism, stop hate speech and stop educating
children to hate. Above all, stop offering cash rewards and publicly honouring
those who commit acts of terrorism. Such glorification of violence against
innocent people and adulation of those who commit these horrific acts is utterly
incompatible with the commitment to coexistence and peaceful relations with
Israel that must be at the foundation of a future Palestinian State.
“The Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be resolved only through direct
bilateral negotiations without preconditions. Attempts to impose solutions or to
dictate parameters and timetables will only drive peace farther away. Thus,
Israel utterly rejects Security Council resoluti on 2334 (2016). The resolution is
unreservedly hostile to Israel and will only make peace harder, not easier, to
achieve.
“It is imperative to reiterate Israel ’s right to exist as the nation State of the
Jewish people, in peace and with secure borders, and our steadfast opposition to
any attempt to undermine Israel’s legitimacy. The Palestinian refusal to
recognize Israel as a Jewish State – based, inter alia, on the continued denial of
any historical connection between the Jewish people and its land – remains one
of the main obstacles to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. ”
II. Observations
7. International efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine continued during the reporting period. The envoys of the Middle East
Quartet consulted one another informally throughout the year. On 27 September 2018
and 30 April 2019, Norway convened biannual meetings of the Ad Hoc Liaison
Committee for the Coordinatio n of the International Assistance to Palestinians. At
both meetings, members reiterated support for the two -State solution, in line with
relevant United Nations resolutions, and called for urgent and enhanced efforts to
support the Palestinian economy and improve the humanitarian situation.
8. The United States has repeatedly stated that it is continuing its efforts aimed at
a comprehensive peace plan. In August 2018, the United States suspended more than
$200 million in economic support funds for the West Bank and Gaza in fiscal year
2017 and a further $25 million for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network. In October
2018, it closed the Washington office of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO),
citing the organization’s failure to take steps towards me aningful negotiations with
Israel and concerns about Palestinian attempts to prompt an investigation of Israel by
the International Criminal Court. The PLO Central Council convened in August 2018
and ratified the continued severance of political relations with the United States until
that country revisits its decisions regarding Jerusalem, Palestine refugees and
settlements. On 25 and 26 June 2019, the United States organized an economic
workshop in Bahrain under its Peace to Prosperity programme. Humanitar ian and
economic support is important for the Palestinian people and critical for creating an
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environment conducive to viable negotiations. Such measures should be
complemented by a comprehensive peace agreement that addresses all final status
issues.
9. On 28 and 29 October 2018, the PLO Central Council reaffirmed the decisions
that it had taken to suspend recognition of the State of Israel until that country
recognizes the State of Palestine with regard to the borders of 4 June 1967 with East
Jerusalem as its capital, to end security coordination in all its forms and to disengage
economically from Israel. On 25 July 2019, following the demolition of Palestinian
homes in Areas A, B and C of the West Bank, on the East Jerusalem side of the barrier,
the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, stated that the Palestinian
leadership had decided to suspend compliance with agreements signed with Israel and
to start putting in place mechanisms to form a committee to implement this, in
accordance with the resolutions of the PLO Central Council. Mr. Abbas is reported to
have signed 11 instruments of accession to international agreements on 15 November
2018.
10. Four reports to the Security Council on the implementation of resolution
2334 (2016) were delivered during the reporting period. They expressed my concern
regarding the continued lack of implementation of the provisions of the resolution,
including those regarding settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
violence against civilians; provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric;
negative trends imperilling the two -State solution; Member States’ distinctions, in
their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories
occupied since 1967; and collective efforts to launch credible negotiations. I have
stated that efforts must be refocused on ultimately returning to meaningful
negotiations to end the occupation and bring a just, lastin g and comprehensive
resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is only by realizing the vision of two
States living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition, with Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel and Palestine and all final status i ssues resolved permanently
through negotiations, that the legitimate aspirations of both peoples will be achieved.
I remain committed to working with all concerned parties to achieve this goal.
11. The extremely dire economic and humanitarian situation in Gaza remained a
major concern during the reporting period. The security situation also remained
fragile. Following the start of the “Great March of Return” protests on 30 March 2018,
demonstrations continued along the perimeter fence. During protests throu ghout the
reporting period, 76 Palestinians were killed or died of wounds sustained previously,
including 20 children and 1 woman. Some 2,853 persons were injured by live
ammunition, including 37 women. At least one Israeli soldier was killed and nine
were injured. In successive rounds of hostilities, Hamas and other Palestinian
militants fired some 1,500 rockets, Grad missiles and mortars from Gaza towards
Israel. In response, the Israel Defense Forces fired some 1,200 missiles and tank shells
at targets inside Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces also destroyed three tunnels leading
from Gaza into Israel. A total of 44 Palestinians were killed by fire from the Israel
Defense Forces, including 7 children and 3 women, and 181 were injured, including
30 women. A total of 4 Israeli civilians were killed and 200 were injured as a result
of the exchanges, according to the Israel Defense Forces. In the same period, hundreds
of fires were started in Israel by incendiary devices, balloons and kites launched from
Gaza.
12. On 11 November 2018, in an exchange of fire following the discovery of an
undercover Israel Defense Forces unit in Gaza, seven members of the military wing
of Hamas and an Israel Defense Forces officer were killed. Militants in Gaza
immediately launched 18 rockets and mortars. In the following 24 hours, some 450
projectiles were indiscriminately fired towards Israeli cities and towns, more than in
the entire period since the conflict of 2014. One Palestinian civilian was killed by a
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Hamas rocket in the Israeli city of Ashqelon. An Israel Defense Forces soldier was
also seriously wounded by a missile strike that hit a military bus. The Israel Defense
Forces responded by striking 160 targets identified as militant sites. Seven
Palestinians were killed, at least four of whom were reported to have been members
of armed groups.
13. In May 2019, the most serious escalation since the hostilities of 2014 took place
in Gaza. On 3 May, thousands of Palestinians participated in the weekly
demonstrations at the Gaza perimeter fence. Incendiary balloons were launched, and
stones and pipe bombs were thrown at Israeli soldiers, who responded with live fire,
rubber bullets and tear gas, killing 2 Palestinians and injuring 49. A sniper reportedly
from Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired across the fence, injuring two Israeli soldiers. In
response to the sniper attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched several tank shells,
and the Israeli Air Force targeted military sites in Gaza, killing two Palestinian
militants and injuring two civilians. From 3 to 5 May, 650 rockets were fired from
Gaza. While some 240 projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome system, several
houses, two kindergartens, a school and a hospital in Israel were hit directly. A total
of 4 Israeli civilians were killed and more than 200 were injured, according to the
Israel Defense Forces. The Israel Defense Forces reported that, during the same
period, it had hit more than 300 Palestinian militant targets in Gaza, including a senior
Hamas official, who had been targeted and killed by an air strike. According to
sources in Gaza, 25 Palestinians were killed and more than 150 were injured. As a
result of efforts made by the United Nations and Egypt, a cessation of hostilities was
established on 6 May 2019.
14. Since the escalation of tensions in Gaza, the United Nations has engaged in
unprecedented efforts, together with the Government of Egypt and other international
partners, to prevent another outbreak of hostilities. That included efforts to improve
living conditions and the delivery of services, as well as to facilitate increased efforts
to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs and support the return of the legitimate
Palestinian Government to Gaza and intra -Palestinian reconciliation, a crucial
element in any political effort to resolve the wider conflict. The Russian Federation
has also continued its efforts to facilitate Palestinian reconciliation, including by
hosting a meeting to that end in Moscow from 11 to 13 February 2019.
15. As the situation in Gaza was at its most volatile during the reporting period,
there was also a rise in violent incidents in the West Bank, which led to the deaths of
both Israelis and Palestinians. A total of 7 Israelis, including 3 civilian men and 1
woman, and 38 Palestinians, including 1 woman, were killed in various incidents,
including terrorist attacks, clashes and military operations.
16. The rise in the number of incidents was apparent in October and December
2018. On 12 October 2018, a Palestinian woman was killed south o f Nablus by Israeli
assailants throwing stones at her car. On 4 December, in the Tulkarm refugee camp,
a 22-year-old Palestinian man with a psychosocial disability was shot and killed by
the Israeli security forces in circumstances that would seem to indic ate that he posed
no threat to security personnel or others. On 9 December, in a drive -by shooting near
the West Bank settlement of Ofra, seven Israelis were injured, including four children
and a pregnant woman, whose baby was delivered prematurely and su bsequently died.
Hamas praised the attack and identified one of the perpetrators, who was later killed
in an Israeli security forces operation north of Ramallah, as one of their own. I
strongly condemn this attack and reiterate that there is no justificati on for terrorism.
In the operations to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack, dozens of Israel Defense
Forces troops entered Ramallah, where they raided the offices of the Palestinian News
and Information Agency and seized surveillance video. Two Palest inians were
reportedly injured by live fire during ensuing clashes, and more than 150 were injured
in related incidents in the West Bank in subsequent days.
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17. On 13 December 2018, in another drive -by shooting, this one near the Givat
Assaf settlement, two Israeli soldiers were killed, and another was severely wounded
together with an Israeli woman. The alleged perpetrator was arrested by the Israeli
security forces on 8 January 2019 in a village north of Ramallah. In a statement issued
on the day of the attack, the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu,
announced a series of measures in response to the wave of attacks, including revoking
the permits of family members and demolishing the houses of the perpetrators of the
attacks, increasing the number of checkpoints and administrative detentions and
intensifying efforts to capture assailants still at large. He also announced that some
2,000 houses built on Palestinian private land in settlements would be legalized
retroactively and that steps had been taken to advance the construction of 82 new
housing units in Ofra and in two industrial zones in the settlements of Avnei Hefetz
and Beitar Illit.
18. The situation at the holy sites in East Jerusalem was tense during the reporting
period. Tensions erupted at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount on 16 February 2019,
when Israeli police installed a metal fence and a lock at the top of the stairs leading
to the Bab al-Rahmah (Gate of Mercy) two days after prayers were held there for the
first time since 2003, when an Israeli court had banned the Islamic World Heritage
Committee from obtaining access to it owing to claims that the site was being used
for illicit activities. Between 17 and 21 February, Israeli police and Palestinian
worshippers clashed repeatedly when worshippers tried to remove the metal fence to
gain access and conduct prayers in the Bab al -Rahmah area. Tensions between
Palestinian worshippers and the Israeli police have continued since that time, in
particular as a result of the overlap of the ce lebration in Israel of Jerusalem Day,
2 June, with one of the final days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, as well as
that of the Jewish observance of Tisha B ’Av with the start of the Muslim festival of
Eid al-Adha (10 August). Israeli authorities allowed Jewish visitors to obtain access
to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount on both occasions under Israeli police
protection, amid tensions and clashes between the Israeli police and Muslim
worshippers. I urge all parties to work towards a de -escalation of tensions. I urge
Israel and Jordan to work together to uphold the status quo at the holy sites, noting
the special and historic role of Jordan as custodian of the Muslim and Christian holy
sites in Jerusalem.
19. On 17 February 2019, the Government of Israel began implementing the law
entitled “The Freezing of Funds Paid by the Palestinian Authority in Connection with
Terrorism from Revenues Transferred by the Government of Israel ”, passed by the
Knesset in July 2018. The law requires the Government of Israel to freeze from the
clearance revenues that it collects on behalf of and transfers to the Palestinian
Authority an amount equal to the sums paid by the Palestinian Authority directly or
indirectly to Palestinians, or to the families of Palestinians, convic ted by Israeli courts
of involvement in alleged terrorist activities or other security -related offences, as
defined in Israeli law, or who were killed while carrying out such activities. On
21 February, the Palestinian Authority informed the Government of Israel of its
rejection of the unilateral decision and emphasized the official Palestinian Authority
position that, under the Protocol on Economic Relations between the Government of
the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, no amount may be
deducted without the consent of both parties. On 28 February, the Prime Minister of
the State of Palestine, Rami Hamdallah, conveyed to key donors and international
partners that the Palestinian Authority would not accept any transfers from Israel o f
funds that were less than the full amount owed to it. As at March 2019, Israel had
begun deducting 12 monthly instalments, totalling $140 million, equivalent to some
6 per cent of the clearance revenues from its transfers to the Palestinian Authority. I
am deeply concerned about developments relating to the clearance revenues of the
Palestinian Authority, in particular the political, economic and security implications
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for both Palestinians and Israelis, which undermine the Oslo framework and the
chance of achieving a two-State solution. At $2.3 billion, clearance revenues account
for more than 65 per cent of the total annual revenue of the Palestinian Authority.
Both sides need to engage constructively with the goal of restoring the revenue
transfers in full, in line with the Paris Protocol. They must do their utmost to prevent
a further deterioration and to recommit themselves, with the support of the
international community, to the basic tenets enshrined in long -standing bilateral
agreements. I call upon all parties to refrain from unilateral steps that undermine the
prospects for a two-State solution.
20. Although the Security Council, in its resolution 2334 (2016), called upon both
parties to refrain from provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric,
such actions and statements continued during the reporting period. I urge leaders on
all sides to stop the incitement and to condemn, consistently and unequivocally, acts
of terror and violence in all their forms.
21. Hamas continued to use inciteful and inflammatory rhetoric: its officials praised
the stabbing and shooting attacks that killed Israeli civilians as heroic, and they
mourned the killers. Fatah, including on its official socia l media accounts, also
glorified the perpetrators of such attacks. In addition, senior Palestinian religious
leaders made inflammatory speeches alleging Israeli intentions to destroy the Aqsa
Mosque or change the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem. On 17 March 2019,
both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad praised the attack near the Ari ’el settlement,
which Hamas called a heroic operation, while Fatah praised the perpetrator as a heroic
martyr. On 15 May, a senior Hamas official addressed a rally in Gaza, warning Israelis
that the day of their slaughter, extermination and annihilation was near and calling
upon them to leave and search for a place for themselves in Europe, hell or the sea.
The official Hamas television channel also repeatedly continue d to glorify
perpetrators of terror attacks against Israelis, and it broadcast songs with graphic
lyrics encouraging viewers to blow up Jews.
22. Israeli officials have also made provocative and highly problematic statements
encouraging violence and undermining the two-State solution. In the wake of violent
incidents in the West Bank in December 2018, politicians called for the deportation
of the families of attackers. Separately, there have been calls for targeted
assassinations of Hamas and Palestinian I slamic Jihad officials, as well as for a shoot -
to-kill policy in Gaza. One politician has gone as far as to call for Mr. Abbas to be
assassinated. Others have continued to reject Palestinians ’ right to statehood and to
openly support widespread settlement expansion and the annexation of all or part of
the West Bank. An outgoing member of the Knesset confronted families of Palestinian
prisoners, threatening to eliminate them and bury them with pigs. Another politician
called upon Mr. Netanyahu to allow Pales tinian prisoners on a hunger strike to die,
while many boasted about the damage that Israel was causing through strikes on Gaza
in response to rocket attacks.
23. I remain concerned about the general state of human rights and freedoms in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. Throughout the reporting period, the Israel Defense
Forces continued to conduct search and arrest operations, while the Palestinian
Authority continued its arrests of suspected Hamas affiliates in the West Bank. Hamas
also arrested and used violence against protestors in the Gaza Strip. At the end of July
2019, 454 Palestinians were being held by Israeli authorities under administrative
detention, including 2 women. I reiterate my call to end the practice of administrative
detention and to either charge all detainees or immediately release them. As at 31 July,
Israel held 210 Palestinian children in Israeli prisons. All children should be treated
with due consideration for their age, and they should be detained only in situations
justified under international humanitarian law or applicable human rights norms.
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24. In its resolution 2334 (2016), the Security Council reiterated its demand that
Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal
obligations in that regard. During the reporting period, Israeli authorities advanced,
approved or tendered more than 12,000 housing units in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, a sharp increase since the most recent reporting
period. I reiterate that all settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, has no legal effect and constitutes a flagrant violation under
international law, as stated in resolution 2334 (2016), and must cease immediately
and completely.
25. The situation in Hebron grew more tense during the reporting period. In October
2018, the Government of Israel approved the allocation of $6 million for advancing
the construction of 31 housing units in Hebron, which would be the first new
construction there in 16 years. On 28 January 2019, Mr. Netanya hu announced that
Israel would not extend beyond 31 January 2019 the mandate of the Temporary
International Presence in Hebron, which had been established pursuant to the
provisions of the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip of 1995 (Oslo II Accords) between Israel and PLO. The situation of the
Palestinian population, protective presence actors and human rights defenders in the
H2 zone of Hebron following the withdrawal of the Temporary International Presence
in Hebron is worrying. In addition, United Nations staff and the diplomatic
community have frequently been harassed and intimidated by Israeli settlers since the
departure of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron. Humanitarian actors
and human rights defenders must be allowed to carry out their activities freely and
safely and to ensure that any attack is thoroughly, impartially and independently
investigated and the perpetrators held accountable. The United Nations continues to
engage with relevant Member States and the parties on the ground to ensure the
protection, safety and well-being of civilians in Hebron and in the rest of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory.
26. In Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), all States are called upon to
distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and
the territories occupied since 1967. On 28 November 2018, the parliament of Chile
approved a resolution in which the Government was called upon to examine all of its
agreements with Israel to ascertain that they apply solely to the territory of the State
of Israel and not to the territories occupied since 1967. Ireland advanced in the upper
house of parliament the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill
2018, which, if passed into law, would, inter alia, prohibit trade with and economic
support for the settlements.
27. Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures by Israeli authorities
continued across the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Citing the absence of Israel -
issued building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain, Israeli
authorities demolished or seized 536 structures, 344 in Area C and 192 in East
Jerusalem, between 1 September 2018 and 15 August 2019. According to the Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, this resulted in the displacement of 597
Palestinians, including 287 children, and affected the livelihoods of some 48,700
persons.
28. In Khan al-Ahmar/Abu al-Helu, a Bedouin community of 181 people, Israeli
authorities requisitioned land, levelled access routes and temporarily declared the
area a closed military zone, in advance of the expected demolition of its structures.
On 5 September 2018, the High Court of Justice denied several petitions by residents
to prevent the demolition. On 21 October 2018, the Israeli authorities announced the
delay of the demolition to allow for negotiations with the community to relocate it
with its consent.
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29. On 11 June 2019, the High Court of Israel dismissed a petition by the Palestinian
residents of Wadi al-Hummus, near the Sur Bahir neighbourhood of East Jerusalem,
giving them until 18 July 2019 to demolish nine buildings, citing the violation of a
military order banning construction in the area owing to its proximity to the separation
barrier. The structures were demolished by the Israeli authorities on 22 July, resulting
in the displacement of 24 Palestinians, including 14 children. The forced evic tion of
Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem and the risk of high numbers of
further evictions to facilitate the expansion of future settlements highlight the
growing problem of Palestinians in East Jerusalem facing displacement. The policy
of Israel of destroying Palestinian property is not compatible with its obligations
under international humanitarian law. Among other issues, the destruction of private
property in occupied territory is permissible only when rendered absolutely necessary
for military operations, which is not applicable. Furthermore, it results in forced
evictions and contributes to the risk of forcible transfer facing many Palestinians in
the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Such policies must be reversed, and Israel
should abide by its obligations under international law.
30. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least
300 violent incidents involving Israeli settlers and resulting in Palestinian casualties
or property damage were documente d during the reporting period, resulting in 3
Palestinians killed, including 1 woman, and 113 injured, including 6 women. In the
same period, 4 Israelis, including 1 woman, were killed, and 34, including 8 women,
were injured as a result of stone throwing, the use of live ammunition and stabbing
attacks.
31. UNRWA continued to face financial challenges during the reporting period. The
Agency’s unprecedented funding shortfall, which stood at $446 million in January
2018, had been fully covered by December 2 018, following a number of significant
new contributions from an expanded donor base. On 25 June 2019, the Agency held
its annual pledging conference, in which I once again participated, after which it
announced that its remaining funding shortfall for 201 9 stood at $151 million. I
welcome the generous support of donors in assisting UNRWA during this challenging
period. I call upon all Member States to continue to support this important
humanitarian agency, which is not only a lifeline to millions of Palest ine refugees but
an important stabilizing entity in a vulnerable region.
32. In Gaza, the international community has taken a number of steps to improve
the lives of 2 million people who live under the control of Hamas and suffer from
Israeli closures. In this context, the United Nations has enhanced its project
implementation capacity by establishing a project management unit to work with all
relevant stakeholders to support the implementation of projects, including the Ad Hoc
Liaison Committee package of urgent economic and humanitarian interventions.
Thanks to the generous funding from Qatar, the United Nations has been able to
import urgently needed fuel to operate the Gaza power plant. The daily electricity
supply has increased to more than 11 hours, t he highest in more than two years. There
have also been significant improvements to the humanitarian situation, as well as
increased availability of drinkable water and sewage treatment. However, finding
sustainable solutions to the electricity crisis in G aza remains critical. Critical job
creation schemes have been initiated and have created more than 10,000 new jobs
during the reporting period. Urgent interventions of this nature have been critical to
preventing further violent escalations and must be fol lowed by more sustainable
efforts in support of the infrastructure and economic situation of Gaza.
33. On 4 December 2018, the United Nations concluded a comprehensive review of
the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism along with the Palestinian Authority and Is rael.
It resulted in several important changes that were implemented as of 1 January 2019.
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They will allow the Mechanism to better respond to Gaza ’s changing needs and
increase its functionality, transparency and predictability.
34. The humanitarian, economic and political crisis in Gaza continues and,
notwithstanding the sustained efforts of Egypt, no progress has been made towards
implementing the intra-Palestinian agreement of October 2017. The goal remains that
Gaza and the West Bank be reunited under a single, democratic, national Government.
Fatah and Hamas must engage in earnest with Egypt in order to ensure the return of
legitimate government to Gaza. I reiterate that Palestinian unity is a key step towards
reaching the larger objective of a Palesti nian State and lasting peace. Gaza is, and
must remain, an integral part of a future Palestinian State, as part of a two -State
solution.
35. I remain seriously concerned about the lack of political progress to achieve an
end to the occupation and the reali zation of a negotiated two-State resolution of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, previous
agreements and international law. I reiterate that the report of the Middle East Quartet
of 2016 and Security Council resolutions have outlined what is needed to advance a
sustainable and just peace. I urge key regional and international partners to remain
steadfast in the pursuit of a two -State solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, for
which there is no alternative.
36. I would like to express my deep appreciation to my Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, for his outstanding service in what
remains a challenging context. I am also grateful to the Commissioner -General of
UNRWA, Pierre Krähenbühl, for his commitment, and for the remarkable work on
behalf of Palestinian refugees carried out by the staff of the Agency. I pay tribute, too,
to all United Nations staff who work under difficult circumstances in the service of
the Organization.
37. I will continue to ensure that the United Nations works towards ending the
Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and establishing an independent, democratic,
contiguous and viable Palestinian State living side by side with Israel in peace,
security and mutual recognition, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States, within
the framework of a comprehensive regional settlement, consistent with Security
Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003), 1860 (2009)
and 2334 (2016) and in accordance with the Quartet road map, the Arab Peace
Initiative, the principle of land for peace and international law.
United Nations A/75/195–S/2020/834
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
25 August 2020
Original: English
20-11062 (E) 020920
*2011062*
General Assembly Security Council
Seventy-fifth session Seventy-fifth year
Agenda items 36 and 37 of the provisional agenda*
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with the request of the General
Assembly in paragraph 15 of its resolution 74/11. The report, which covers the period
from September 2019 to August 2020, contai ns replies received from the parties
concerned to the note verbale sent by the Secretary -General pursuant to the request
contained in resolution 74/11, as well as the observations of the Secretary -General on
the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on international efforts to move
the peace process forward, with a view to achieving a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine.
* A/75/150.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 74/11.
2. On 2 July 2020, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 15 of resolution
74/11, I addressed the following letter to the President of the Security Council:
“I have the honour to refer to resolution 74/11, which the General
Assembly adopted on 3 December 2019, at its sevent y-fourth session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 15 of the resolution requests the Secretary -General, including
through his Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal
Representative to the Palestine Liber ation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation
with the Security Council, including with regard to the reporting required
pursuant to resolution 2334 (2016), towards the attainment of a peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region
and to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy -fifth session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 20 July 2020.”
3. As at 15 August 2020, no response to that request had been received.
4. In a note verbale dated 22 May 2020, I sought the positions of States Members
of the United Nations, in particular the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan,
Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the State of Palestine, rega rding
any steps taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at
15 August 2020, replies had been received from Israel, Namibia, the Philippines,
Qatar and the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine.
5. The note verbale dated 29 May 2020 from the Permanent Observer Mission of
the State of Palestine to the United Nations reads as follows:
“For decades, the General Assembly has affirmed its authoritative stance
on the question of Palestine by adoption of its annual re solution ‘Peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine’, most recently resolution 74/11. The
provisions and principles reaffirmed therein reflect the fundamental parameters
for achieving a just solution. Overwhelming support for the resolution confirms
the long-standing international consensus in this regard.
“At its seventy-fourth session, the Assembly’s debate was again
characterized by calls for ending the Israeli occupation that began in 1967;
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including to self -
determination and independence; and responsible international action to justly
resolve the Palestine question in all aspects, in accordance with international
law, the relevant resolutions and the permanent responsibility of the United
Nations, which remains unfulfilled since the adoption of resolution 181 (II)
(1947) and the decision to partition Mandate Palestine, the consequen ces of
which persist to this day.
“The international community reaffirmed its resolve to end the Israeli -
Palestinian conflict through actualization of the two -State solution of Palestine
and Israel, living side by side in peace and security within recogni zed borders
based on the pre-1967 borders, based on international law, United Nations
resolutions, the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace Initiative, and a just
solution for the Palestine refugee question based on resolution 194 (III).
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Moreover, near-unanimous support was reaffirmed for the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the
imperative to ensure continuity of its vital assistance to over 5.6 mi llion
Palestine refugees in the Agency’s fields of operation in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria
and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, pending
achievement of a just solution.
“Palestine is grateful for such principled positions by the gl obal majority.
Yet, the passage of time and compounding of the conflict show starkly that
statements and resolutions alone cannot end this historic injustice and the grave
violations and hardships that the Palestinian people continue to endure, nor will
they prevent Israel, the occupying Power, from further advancing its illegal
colonial ambitions. Only concrete action to uphold international law, implement
those resolutions and hold Israel accountable for its violations can change this
dismal equation.
“After 53 years of Israel’s occupation and 72 years of the dispossession,
displacement and oppression of Palestinians in an ongoing Nakba since 1948,
collective, practical efforts are urgently needed to implement resolution 74/11
and all relevant resolutions. Otherwise, the occupying Power will continue
flouting the law, violating human rights and solidifying its illegal occupation,
eroding the two-State solution and entrenching a one-State reality of apartheid,
with grave consequences for the prospects for a peaceful settlement.
“Since the adoption of resolution 74/11, Israeli violations have only
escalated, as have provocative declarations by Israeli officials of plans to
commit more crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, including threats to annex parts or all of the West Bank, beginning
with the illegal settlements and the Jordan Valley, in flagrant breach of the
Charter prohibition on the acquisition of territory by force. Whereas the
international community calls for the complete, immediate cessation and
reversal of settlement activities, Israel instead aggressively pursues such illegal
actions. This includes plans for the construction of thousa nds more settlement
units, particularly in areas in and around Occupied East Jerusalem and
Bethlehem, including in the sensitive so -called ‘E-1’ area; construction of the
Wall; confiscation of large parcels of land and exploitation of natural resources;
demolition of hundreds more Palestinian homes and properties; and forced
displacement of thousands more Palestinians, further fragmenting the contiguity
of the Palestinian territory and destroying the viability of the two -State solution.
“Israel’s Prime Minister, right-wing Israeli officials and extremists are
escalating their annexation push. Calls for annexation of all or parts of the West
Bank have shockingly become commonplace, including as fodder in Israel’s
election campaigns in 2019–2020. Many politicians openly declare intent to
destroy the two-State solution and obstruct the Palestinian right to self -
determination. Such actions further confirm Israel’s rejection of the peace that
the Palestinian leadership remains committed to achieving, alongside th e rest of
the international community, and undermine efforts by regional and
international partners to foster the conditions and political horizon for its
achievement.
“These developments are not occurring in a vacuum. Israel’s hostile
rhetoric and annexation measures reveal how far it has been emboldened by the
lack of accountability for its crimes and a permissive political environment,
particularly under the current United States administration, which offers
unbridled support for Israel and its occupati on while acting punitively against
the Palestinian people and leadership.
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“The Israeli non-governmental organization Peace Now estimates that,
since President Donald Trump took office, Israel’s average annual settlement
construction rate has risen by 25 p er cent. His administration’s support has
extended to declaring that it does not consider settlements illegal under
international law; unilaterally declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on
6 December 2017 and transferring its embassy to the city; and ref using to
acknowledge Israel’s presence in Palestinian territory as an occupation,
contravening the law, United Nations resolutions and global consensus on the
two-State solution on the 1967 lines.
“Regrettably, these moves were followed, on 28 January 202 0, by
President Trump’s presentation of a ‘plan’ to resolve the Israeli -Palestinian
conflict that departs from the internationally endorsed terms of reference and
parameters for a just, comprehensive and lasting solution and dismisses the rule
of law and the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights. The United States
Ambassador to Israel is even now heading a joint United States -Israel
‘Committee’ to ‘map out’ areas of the Occupied West Bank slated for illegal
annexation. This plan thus attempts to legitimiz e Israel’s illegal occupation and
colonization of Palestinian land, deeming crimes such as the settlements, the
wall and the forced displacement of thousands of Palestinians as mere ‘realities’
that must be accepted; endorses Israel’s illegal annexation of Occupied East
Jerusalem; and validates further annexation schemes, effectively dismantling
the two-State solution and turning the rules-based order on its head.
“This plan has rightly been rejected by the international community. This
was reflected in statements issued by many capitals and in the 11 February 2020
meeting of the Security Council, which was addressed by President Mahmoud
Abbas, who reaffirmed Palestine’s commitment to the terms of reference and
parameters of a just solution, in line with th e relevant United Nations
resolutions, the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace Initiative. This position,
consistent with the provisions and principles enshrined in resolution 74/11, is
starkly contrasted by the combative positions and illegal practices of Israel, the
occupying Power, which continues violating resolution 74/11 and all relevant
resolutions, gravely breaching the Fourth Geneva Convention and d isparaging
the General Assembly, the Security Council and the entire international
community, ridiculing efforts to uphold the law vis -à-vis the conflict.
“Israel clearly perceives the Trump plan as a green light for its
annexationist agenda. Settlement plans in and around East Jerusalem previously
frozen due to international pressure have been boastfully relaunched, as the
Israeli government exploits the circumstances – whether international inaction
or distraction due to the grave challenges of the coron avirus disease
(COVID-19) pandemic – to move forward with these illegal schemes. Extremist
Israeli settlers have equally been emboldened, demanding full annexation of the
West Bank, seizing Palestinian land and escalating attacks against Palestinian
civilians.
“Against this backdrop, Israel continues its military operations and raids,
wilfully killing and injuring Palestinian civilians; detention and imprisonment
of thousands of civilians, including children; restrictions on movement and
other fundamental freedoms and rights, including to education, health care,
worship, development and water; imposition of a 13 -year blockade on Gaza,
isolating and collectively punishing the 2 million Palestinians under
humanitarian conditions deemed to be dire, if not inhu man and unliveable;
incitement and inflammatory rhetoric on Jerusalem and provocations against
Muslim and Christian holy sites, particularly targeting Haram al -Sharif and
violating the historic status quo.
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“Absent tangible steps by the international commu nity to hold Israel
accountable, such actions have further hardened the political deadlock,
undermined peace prospects and deepened despair among Palestinians,
diminishing belief that a just solution can be found and that the international
community will live up to its responsibilities to assist them in attaining their
inalienable rights, foremost their erga omnes right to self-determination.
“Despite this dismal reality, the Palestinian leadership remains committed
to the path of peace and international l aw as the guarantor of justice. This
includes a firm commitment to non-violence and the pursuit of peaceful,
political, diplomatic, legal and popular means to realize the Palestinian people’s
rights and a sustainable solution that would ensure peaceful coe xistence and
security. The Palestinian commitment to the two -State solution on the pre-1967
borders based on international law and all relevant United Nations resolutions
has been repeatedly reaffirmed, including at the highest levels by President
Abbas and the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
“For over 30 years, Palestine’s position has mirrored the global consensus
on the two-State solution. This began with the Palestine National Council’s
acceptance of the solution in the 19 88 Declaration of Independence, a major
compromise agreeing to establish the Palestinian State on only 22 per cent of
our historic homeland, for the sake of realizing Palestinian rights and
establishing lasting peace. This compromise remains the primary te stament of
our commitment to peace and, with the Arab Peace Initiative, the boldest
contribution to solving the conflict.
“This commitment is reinforced by our abiding pledge to respect the
Charter, international law and the relevant United Nations resolu tions, as
confirmed, inter alia, in the 28 September 2011 application by the State of
Palestine for admission to United Nations membership; in Palestine’s accession
to international treaties and conventions; in Palestine’s official communications
and interventions at the United Nations; in relevant provisions of declarations
by the League of Arab States, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Group of 77 and China; and
in the 2019 chairmanship of the State of P alestine of the Group of 77, which
reaffirmed its adherence to multilateralism and the core principles of
international development, peace and stability.
“Palestine has consistently striven to uphold United Nations resolutions
and urged the international community to fulfil its obligations and demand
compliance towards tangibly contributing to de -escalating tensions, protecting
civilian life, reversing negative trends on the ground and advancing peace
prospects. Despite significant setbacks and Israel’s pe rsistent bad faith,
Palestine’s leadership has cooperated with all credible international and regional
efforts for nearly three decades, beginning with the Madrid Peace Conference
in 1991, to the Oslo Process that began in 1993, to every negotiation proces s
thereafter, engaging in good faith and respecting the long -standing parameters
of a just solution, as reflected in resolution 74/11.
“For the sake of peace, Palestine’s leadership also engaged with the c urrent
United States administration from the start, affirming readiness to partake in
negotiations, until the December 2017 decision by President Trump on
Jerusalem and the subsequent transfer of the United States embassy to the city,
in violation of United Nations resolutions. The United States administration’s
so-called ‘peace to prosperity’ plan, which contradicts the global consensus and
the fundamental legal principles underpinning it, has further hampered efforts
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to create conditions conducive to meaningful negotiations and undermined the
United States role as a credible, impartial peace broker.
“The State of Palestine stresses that peace cannot be achieved without
restoring the primacy of international law to efforts to resolve the conflict,
including all final status issues – Jerusalem, Palestine refugees, settlements,
borders, security, prisoners and water. Unlawful imposition of facts on the
ground will never create peace. As affirmed in the Secretary -General’s agenda,
peaceful resolution of conflicts requires a human rights, justice and
development perspective, not just a security perspective, and the root causes of
the conflict must be fully, properly addressed.
“Palestine does not seek anything beyond what we are entitled to as a
people, as per international law, as legislated in United Nations resolutions and
affirmed in the July 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.
We will accept nothing less.
“It is for this reason that we, along with the vast majority of the
international community, rejected the United States plan as unacceptable as a
basis for peace and only prolonging the conflict and injustice. This message was
conveyed by President Abbas in his address to the Security Council and echoed
by nearly all Council members, who reaffirmed the global consensus on the
established terms of reference and parameters for a just solution. President
Abbas has reiterated the call for a multilateral process in the form of an
international peace conference to achieve a just solut ion, and we have
continually prioritized peace efforts in all engagements with regional and
international partners, bilaterally and multilaterally.
“In this regard, we have consistently engaged with the Security Council
members and Quartet members – the Russian Federation, the European Union,
the United States and the United Nations – individually and collectively,
appealing for respect of obligations and exertion of serious efforts, in
cooperation with the League of Arab States and with the vital support of OIC,
NAM and all peace-loving nations, with the latest communications with the
Quartet members conveyed in May 2020, yet to no avail. We have also fully
adhered to the Arab Peace Initiative and continue to call for its reciprocation
and implementation.
“Palestine also continues efforts to confront the occupation’s
humanitarian, socioeconomic and security consequences to prevent further
destabilization and preserve peace prospects. We seek to serve the needs of our
people, including in health care and ed ucation, alleviate hardships, ensure calm
and security, promote reconciliation and restore hope that the occupation will
end, that rights and dignity will be realized and that a better, peaceful future is
within reach. Such hope is critical for shoring up public support for peace efforts
and for countering the extremism plaguing the region, especially among youth.
“These efforts are being undertaken in cooperation with international
partners and with their solidarity and generous support to Palestine, its national
institutions and civil society, and with United Nations agencies that are
providing vital assistance to the Palestinian people, including the Palestine
refugees. UNRWA, along with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Development
Programme, the Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace
Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary -General to the Palestine
Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Au thority, the World Health
Organization, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the
Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) and other humanitarian organizations,
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along with the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights, has
been instrumental in assisting the Palestinian people in line with international
humanitarian law and the Palestinian National Development Plan and the United
Nations Development Assistance Framework. The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee
for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians also remains
highly relevant in this regard.
“At this time, such efforts have regrettably been complicated by the
outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the additional vulnerability and needs
it has imposed and by the occupation’s illegal practices undermining these
efforts. Moreover, while Palestine supports the Secretary -General’s responsible
call for a global ceasefire, Israel has regrettably ignored i t, exploiting this time
of pandemic to instead advance its illegal plans to annex more Palestinian land.
“Palestine also continues to underscore the obligation to ensure the
protection of civilians, an obligation being grossly and systematically violated
by Israel. The Palestinian civilian population under its occupation and blockade
is in need of protection, as per the Fourth Geneva Convention and international
human rights law and resolutions concerning the safety and well -being of
civilians in all situations of armed conflict. Protection measures contribute to
peace efforts; they do not detract from them.
“Yet, beyond alleviating the human suffering and insecurity caused by this
situation, action must be taken to bring an end to this travesty of justice . Despite
all good-faith intentions, the international community is failing to fulfil its legal,
political and moral obligations in the face of Israel’s total disrespect of the law.
It is high time to mobilize the political will to implement the United Nat ions
resolutions central to achievement of a peace settlement and to enact measures
to compel Israel’s compliance.
“While Israel’s disrespect for the law and contempt for the Security
Council’s authority are central to this failure, so is the paralysis ca used by use
of the veto by one permanent member. The prospect of a peaceful future for the
Palestinian and Israeli peoples will remain elusive as long as the occupying
Power is shielded from accountability, even as it breaches the law and destroys
the two-State solution.
“It is time for accountability measures, including by the Security Council
and the General Assembly, and concrete action by States to uphold third -party
obligations, in line with article 1 common to the Geneva Conventions, Security
Council resolution 2334 (2016) and all other relevant provisions of international
law and United Nations resolutions. This is also vital for restoring the credibility
of the United Nations and the authority o f the international rules-based order,
which is under threat.
“The 12 February publication of a database of businesses engaged in
Israeli settlements by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights (OHCHR), as mandated by the Human Rights Council, was a
recent step in the right direction. It is also hoped that accountability efforts being
pursued by the State of Palestine at the International Criminal Court will soon
lead to an official investigation towards bringing perpetrators to justice,
deterring further war crimes and paving the path for a just solution.
“It must be clearly signalled to Israel that its continued defiance will not
be tolerated and that it must halt all violations or bear the consequences. This is
critical for fostering an environment conducive to the credible dialogue and
efforts needed to bring an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967; to
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help the Palestinian people finally realize freedom and the independence of the
State of Palestine, with East Jeru salem as its capital; and to establish lasting
peace, security and coexistence between the Palestinian and Israeli peoples on
the basis of the two-State solution and in accordance with the relevant United
Nations resolutions, including resolution 74/11.”
6. The note verbale dated 29 July 2020 from the Permanent Representative of
Israel to the United Nations reads as follows:
“Even before Israel declared its independence, its people sought to live in
peace beside their Arab neighbours. This vision of a shared future was reflected
in the Jewish people’s embracement of multiple endeavours, such as the Balfour
Declaration (1917), the Royal Commission of Inquiry to Palestine (1936) and
the Palestine Plan of Partition (1947). Since declaring independence, Israel has
maintained a pragmatic and constructive posture, paving the way for the signing
of historical peace agreements with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.
“Unfortunately, the Israeli approach, which led to the normalization of
relations with two neighbours, has been met with repeated refusal by the
Palestinians, accompanied by surges of violence and terrorism against Israeli
civilians, many times with the implicit support of the Palestinian leadership.
This aforementioned Palestinian support for violence is well documented and
includes the financing of terrorist activities, the use of violent rhetoric by leaders
and the indoctrination to hatred in its education system.
“Since the adoption of resolution 74/11 in December last year, two major
events have transpired, affecting the global and regional landscape – the
outbreak of COVID-19 and the unveiling of President Trump’s peace initiative.
These events, though distinct in nature and impact, have perfectly exemplified
the tragic situation highlighted in the above paragraph, in which Israel faces
outright Palestinian ‘rejectionism’.
“Following the outbreak of COVID-19, Israel tightened and strengthened
its humanitarian and medical cooperation with the Palestinian Authority and
relevant United Nations agencies in order to mitigate the effects of the
COVID-19 outbreak. This unique cooperation was welcomed by the
international community, the Security Council and rel evant United Nations
officials. However, the Palestinian Authority has chosen not only to minimize
this achievement, but also to politicize the issue in a bid to delegitimize and
demonize Israel.
“President Trump’s peace initiative, presented on 28 Januar y 2020,
presented another historic opportunity to revitalize Israeli -Palestinian
negotiations. The plan was repeatedly referred to, by both American and allied
countries, as a valuable starting point and guideline for peace talks, and was
embraced as such by Israel. Unsurprisingly, the Palestinian Authority chose to
reject it and has since embarked on an international campaign to counter any
deliberations or follow-ups regarding the initiative. This latest rejection by the
Palestinian Authority to begin negotiations highlights its unwillingness to break
the deadlock on the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
“The ongoing attempts by the Palestinian Authority to internationalize the
conflict by calling on international institutions for recognition and promoting
one-sided resolutions, such as resolution 74/11, is yet another attempt to avoid
direct negotiations while maintaining legitimacy. Security Council resolution
2334 (2016), which Israel rejects, is another example. The resolution is
unreservedly hostile towards Israel and will only make peace harder to achieve.
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“The Palestinian Authority’s refusal to negotiate is accompanied by its
refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state – based, inter alia, on its continued
denial of any historical connection between the Jewish people and its land,
which remains one of the main obstacles to peace.
“Israel continues to extend its hand in peace and believes that the co nflict
will be resolved only through direct bilateral negotiations without
preconditions. Attempts to impose solutions or to dictate parameters and
timetables will only drive peace farther away.
“If the international community wishes to support a solution to the Israel-
Palestinian conflict, it must reject the Palestinian Authority’s attempts to avoid
negotiations by internationalizing the conflict and encourage the Authority to
come to the negotiating table. It must also echo Israel’s right to exist in pea ce
as the nation State of the Jewish people and oppose any attempt to undermine
Israel’s legitimacy.”
II. Developments
7. International efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine continued during the reporting period. The envoys of the Middle East
Quartet (the Russian Federation, the United States of America, the European Union
and the United Nations) consulted one another informally throughout the year and,
on 26 March and 22 May, held conference calls to discu ss the prospect of Israeli-
Palestinian peace. The United Nations reaffirmed its commitment to achieving a
negotiated two-State solution, in line with relevant United Nations resolutions,
international law and bilateral agreements, and reiterated its call t o all stakeholders
to refrain from any unilateral action that harms the prospects of meaningful
negotiations and peace. Discussions are ongoing, notwithstanding substantial
differences among Quartet members regarding the way forward.
8. On 28 January, the United States released its proposal entitled “Peace to
prosperity: a vision to improve the lives of the Palestinian and Israeli people”. Senior
Israeli officials welcomed the proposal, saying that they would be willing to use it as
the basis for direct negotiations. The Palestinian Government has rejected the
proposal. The League of Arab States and OIC also released statements rejecting the
proposal, saying that it did not meet the minimum rights and aspirations of the
Palestinian people. The High Represent ative of the European Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy said that the proposal departed from “internationally
agreed parameters”. Some Member States expressed their hope that the release of the
vision would be an opportunity to bring the partie s back to the negotiating table, in
the interest of advancing a two-State solution.
9. Throughout the reporting period, Israeli officials continued to make statements
regarding the potential annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank. On
10 September 2019, the Prime Minister of Israel declared his intention, if re -elected,
to “apply Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea” as a
first step towards applying Israeli sovereignty over “settlements in Judea and
Samaria, as well as additional areas with significance for [the country’s] security,
heritage and future”. Following the release by the United States of its vision, senior
Israeli officials vowed to unilaterally annex large portions of the West Bank, including
all Israeli settlements and the Jordan Valley. On 17 May 2020, a new emergency
national unity Government was sworn into office in Israel following a year of political
uncertainty that included three general elections. The new coalition Government was
formed on the basis of an agreement signed on 20 April, which stipulates that, from
1 July, and following consultation with the Alternate Prime Minister, the Prime
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Minister of Israel can present “the agreement to be reached with the United States on
the application of sovereignty” over parts of the occupied West Bank for approval in
the Government or Knesset. The agreement also calls for the promotion of peace
agreements with the country’s neighbours and regional cooperation. On 13 August,
Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States issued a joint statement
announcing “the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab
Emirates” and stating that “Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty over areas
outlined in the [United States] President’s visio n for peace”.
10. On 19 May, in response to the stated intentions of the Government of Israel to
annex parts of the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority announced that it
considered itself absolved “of all the agreements and understandings with th e
American and Israeli Governments and of all the obligations based on these
understandings and agreements, including the security ones” and called upon Israel
to assume its obligations as the occupying Power. In the statement, the President of
the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, also reaffirmed the Palestinian “commitment
to a solution to the Palestinian -Israeli conflict based on the two -State solution … on
the condition that negotiations will be held to achieve that under international
auspices (the Quartet plus) and through an international peace conference based on
international legitimacy”. He reaffirmed the Palestinian leadership’s willingness to
“achieve a just and comprehensive peace”, on basis of the Arab Peace Initiative and
United Nations resolutions, including Security Council resolution 2334 (2016). On
20 May, the Palestinian Prime Minister instructed Cabinet members to immediately
commence implementation of the Palestinian leadership’s an nouncement, while
making assurances that the Palestinian Authority would not allow security to
deteriorate. On the same day, Palestinian officials formally notified Israeli
counterparts of the termination of security coordination. On 3 June, the Palestinia n
Authority announced that it would refuse to receive the clearance revenues that Israel
collects on its behalf under the Protocol on Economic Relations between the
Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, as part
of the decision to disengage from bilateral agreements. The Palestinian leadership has
repeatedly stated its willingness to resume negotiations on the basis of international
resolutions, calling for the convening of an international peace conference.
11. In the period from 27 February to 17 March, the Russian Federation hosted a
series of bilateral discussions with representatives of various Palestinian factions. On
2 July, leaders from Fatah and Hamas held a rare joint video press conference in an
effort to set aside their differences and commit themselves to a unified Palestinian
front against annexation. Palestinian factions welcomed the move, hoping that it
would pave the way to advancing reconciliation. However, intra -Palestinian divisions
remain entrenched.
12. Against the backdrop of continued Israeli closures and the absence of a political
horizon, the security situation in Gaza remained volatile. However, there was a
significant decline in violence and the number of casualties compared with the two
preceding years, due largely to the end of the weekly protests and clashes along the
perimeter fence in late December and the overall maintenance of a fragile calm
between Israel and Hamas as a result of mediation efforts led by the United Nations
and Egypt. Overall, 49 Palestinians, including 13 children and 3 women, were killed
by Israeli security forces as a result of air strikes and during demonstrations, clashes,
security operations and other incidents, and 2,304 Palestinians were injured, including
some 434 by live ammunition. A total of 37 Israeli civilians were injured in attacks,
clashes and other incidents. In addition, one Israeli woman died on 17 September as
a result of wounds that she sustained when a rocket hit her house in the town of
Ashqelon on 12 November 2018.
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13. On 1 November 2019, 10 rockets were launched from Gaza towards Israel, 1 of
which hit a house in Sderot, causing damage but no injuries. In response, the Israel
Defense Forces targeted what they identified as various Hamas military site s across
Gaza. One Palestinian militant was killed and two others were injured.
14. Over a 48-hour period of escalation, from 12 to 14 November, following the
targeted killing by Israel of a commander of Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza,
Palestinian Islamic Jihad launched more than 500 rockets towards Israel. According
to the Israel Defense Forces, the interception rate by the Iron Dome system was 90 per
cent, while some rockets landed in Israeli towns and cities, causing property damage.
Shelters across large parts of the country were activated, schools and businesses
remained closed for at least a day, and 78 Israelis were treated for injuries or shock.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces conducted a number of strikes against what
they identified as Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other militant targets in Gaza, killing
33 Palestinians, including 3 women and 8 children, and injuring 109 others, including
51 children and 11 women. Approximately 25 of those killed were identified by the
Israel Defense Forces as Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants. Eight members of a
family, including five children, were killed in a single Israeli strike in Dayr al -Balah.
Another family member succumbed to his wounds a few days later. In addition, one
Palestinian was reportedly killed by a rocket launched by Palestinian Islamic Jihad
that had fallen short inside Gaza. Following an intense mediation effort, calm in Gaza
was restored.
15. The situation escalated briefly again on 26 November, when two rockets were
fired by Palestinian militants towards Israel. According to the Israel Defense Forces,
one rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome system and the other landed in an open
area in southern Israel. In response, the Israel Defense Forces struck a number of what
they identified as militant targets in Gaza. No injuries were reported.
16. On 23 February 2020, two Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants attempted to place
an explosive device along the fence. One was killed by the Israel Defense Forces,
who retrieved his body using a bulldozer inside Gaza and withheld it in an incident
that caused outrage and a serious escalation. In the following two days, Palestinian
Islamic Jihad launched over 100 rockets and mortar shells towards Israel, including
one that landed in a playground. Israel responded by firing at what it identified as
Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip. Overall, 18 Palestinians and 16
Israelis were injured in the exchanges before mediation efforts succeeded in restoring
calm on 24 February.
17. On 27 March and 6 May, Palestinian militants launched one and two rockets,
respectively, which landed in open areas of Israel. In response, the Israel Defense
Forces fired nine tank shells, reportedly targeting an alleged military observation post
in Gaza. Israeli drones furthermore fired three missiles reportedly targeting Hamas
military sites in Gaza. No injuries were reported.
18. Over several days in mid-August, Palestinian militants launched incendiary
balloons and rockets from Gaza, which caused fires and m aterial damage in southern
Israel. In response, the Israel Defense Forces targeted what they identified as Hamas
military targets in the Gaza Strip. No injuries were reported. However, damages were
reported to UNRWA schools in Bayt Hanun and near Gaza City. In response to the
incendiary balloons, Israel also shut the Gaza fishing zone and closed down the
Kerem Shalom crossing, including for fuel, prompting the halt of the Gaza power
station and bringing electricity supply down to three to four hours per day.
19. During the reporting period, in the occupied West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, 22 Palestinians were shot and killed, including 1 woman, and 3,802
Palestinians were injured, including 801 children, by Israeli security forces during
demonstrations, clashes, security operations and other incidents. In addition, a woman
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was killed during a search-and-arrest operation in Janin city in still unclear
circumstances. Some 60 Israelis, including 16 members of the Israeli security forces,
were also injured, according to Israeli sources.
20. In East Jerusalem, the situation remained relatively tense, with violent incidents,
protests, operations by Israeli security forces, arrests by Israeli police of Palestinian
officials and clashes between them and Palestinia n residents, in particular in the
Isawiyah neighbourhood and in the Old City. On 6 February, a Palestinian shot and
wounded an Israeli soldier at the Lion’s Gate in the Old City, and on 22 February,
another Palestinian reportedly carried out a stabbing att ack in the same place. Both
were killed by Israeli security forces. On 30 May, Israeli security forces shot and
killed an unarmed autistic 31-year-old Palestinian man in the Old City. Senior Israeli
officials expressed regret over the incident, and an inte rnal investigation into the
killing was opened. During the reporting period, the Palestinian Authority Minister
of Jerusalem Affairs and the Palestinian Authority Governor of Jerusalem were
detained several times and interrogated over allegations of violat ing an Israeli law
prohibiting Palestinian Authority activities in Jerusalem without coordination.
21. On 12 May, the Israeli authorities approved the seizure of municipal planning
authority at the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs from the Palestinia n
Municipality in Hebron. The Israeli authorities justified the decision as necessary in
order to make the site accessible to those with disabilities, while stating that the
project “will not change prayer arrangements or the status quo”. The Palestinian
leadership, the Hebron Municipality, the Waqf and the Islamic authorities, among
others, have condemned this move, arguing that it violates the 1997 Protocol
concerning the Redeployment in Hebron.
22. Throughout the reporting period, the Israel Defense Forc es continued to conduct
search and arrest operations and to detain Palestinians, including children. The
Palestinian Authority continued its arrests of suspected Hamas affiliates in the West
Bank, and the de facto authorities in Gaza summoned and, in some cases, detained
Fatah affiliates in Gaza. At the end of June 2020, at least 357 Palestinians, including
2 children and 1 woman, were being held by Israeli authorities under administrative
detention. OHCHR has raised serious concerns over the legality of th e detentions, fair
trial standards and the risk of ill-treatment in and outside detention.
23. In a statement released on 20 December 2019, the Prosecutor of the International
Criminal Court announced that the Court’s preliminary examination into the Situa tion
in Palestine “has concluded with the determination that all the statutory criteria under
the Rome Statute for the opening of an investigation have been met”. She expressed
her view that, among other things, “war crimes have been or are being committed in
the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip”. She also stated her
position that the Court’s jurisdiction applies to the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
She nonetheless sought a ruling from the Pre -Trial Chamber on the territorial scope
of the Court’s jurisdiction in the situation in hand. The Court adjourned in July
without a decision on this point.
24. During the reporting period, Israeli authorities advanced or approved some
8,000 housing units in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, marking a
decrease compared with some 12,000 units during the previous reporting period.
Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian -owned structures also continued across the
occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. As at 15 August, citing th e absence
of Israeli-issued building permits, which remain almost impossible for Palestinians to
obtain, Israeli authorities demolished or seized 593 structures, resulting in the
displacement of 687 people, including 347 children and 177 women, and leaving
about 18,860 others affected. A further 73 structures were demolished by their
owners, leaving 238 people displaced, including 122 children and 55 women.
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Demolitions and seizures continued despite the COVID -19 outbreak and some
indications from Israeli authorities of a temporary freeze on the demolition of
inhabited buildings in the light of the pandemic. During the Muslim holy month of
Ramadan, 42 structures were demolished, which is a significant increase compared
with previous years (13 in 2019; one in 2018; none in 2017). Israeli authorities also
demolished structures and homes built by settlers in unauthorized settlement outposts.
25. On 12 November 2019, the Court of Justice of the European Union issued a
ruling determining that “foodstuffs originatin g in the territories occupied by the State
of Israel must bear the indication of their territory of origin, accompanied, where
those foodstuffs come from an Israeli settlement within that territory, by the indication
of that provenance”, in order for the indication of origin to be correct and not
misleading for the consumer. On 12 February 2020, OHCHR issued a report on the
database of all businesses involved in activities related to settlements in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory (A/HRC/43/71), as requested by the Human Rights Council in
its resolution 31/36, adopted on 24 March 2016. As noted in paragraph 19 of the
report, the work done by OHCHR to produce the database “does not purport to
constitute a judicial or quasi-judicial process of any kind or to provide any legal
characterization of the listed activities or business enterprises’ involvement in them”.
Proceedings are ongoing in the Federal Co urt of Canada related to the labelling of
products originating in Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.
26. During the reporting period, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs recorded 80 violent incidents involving Israeli settl ers, resulting in 139
Palestinians injured, including 14 women, and property damage. In the same period,
according to Israeli sources, 44 Israelis, including 10 women, were injured as a result
of stone throwing, the use of live ammunition and stabbing atta cks. A high number of
incidents were also recorded in relation to the olive and wheat harvesting season,
including the physical assault and harassment of Palestinian farmers by Israeli
settlers, as well as damage to thousands of olive trees and saplings an d dozens of
dunams of agricultural land.
27. In Gaza, the United Nations and its partners continued to implement the package
of urgent humanitarian and economic interventions endorsed by the Ad Hoc Liaison
Committee in September 2018. With these efforts, t he energy supply to households in
Gaza has significantly increased, and some improvements were felt in the economy.
Qatar funded the supply of fuel for the Gaza power plant, and the daily availability
of electricity more than doubled during the reporting p eriod, leading in turn to an
increased supply of desalinated water and a significant reduction in the amounts of
untreated wastewater pumped into the sea.
28. During the reporting period, Palestinians faced immense socioeconomic impacts
from the COVID-19 pandemic, as did Israelis. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have
lost their jobs, small and medium-sized enterprises are unable to operate, and violence
against women and children has increased. Several expert analyses, including from
the World Bank, estimate that the Palestinian economy will contract by approximately
10 per cent in 2020, depending on the severity of the pandemic and the length of the
necessary shutdowns.
29. The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the already dire humanitarian,
economic and political situation in Gaza. Recent job losses come on top of an already
high unemployment rate in Gaza of 45 per cent at the end of 2019. The fragile and
underfunded health-care system in Gaza is particularly worrying in the context of the
spread of COVID-19 in the region. Furthermore, Gaza is one of the most densely
populated areas in the world, which makes it a particularly high -risk case for the
COVID-19 pandemic. The United Nations is working to increase its support for the
health-care system in Gaza, including in the context of the COVID -19 response.
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III. Observations
30. During the reporting period, I delivered four reports to the Security Council on
the implementation of Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) (S/PV.8625,
S/2019/938, S/2020/263 and S/2020/555), in which I expressed my concern regarding
the continued lack of implementation of the provisions of the resolution. In my
reports, I took note of international effo rts and reiterated the commitment of the
United Nations to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict and end
the occupation, in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and
bilateral agreements, and to realizing the vision of two States – Israel and Palestine –
living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders on the basis of the
pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.
31. I welcome the suspension of the implementation of th e plans of Israel to annex
parts of the occupied West Bank in the context of the announcement by Israel, the
United Arab Emirates and the United States on 13 August regarding the normalization
of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. This agreement will
hopefully create an opportunity for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re -engage in
meaningful negotiations that will end the occupation and realize a two -State solution,
in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, international law an d bilateral
agreements. I have consistently called upon Israel to abandon its annexation plans.
Annexation would constitute a most serious violation of international law, including
the Charter of the United Nations. It would be devastating to the two -State solution
and threaten efforts to advance regional peace and broader efforts to maintain
international peace and security. Concern and opposition to annexation are
widespread and shared throughout the region and the international community.
32. The implementation of the announcement of 19 May by the Palestinian
leadership could alter local dynamics and trigger instability across the Occupied
Palestinian Territory and beyond. Particularly worrying is the decision to stop
accepting clearance revenues that Isr ael collects on behalf of the Palestinian
Authority. Combined with the fiscal impact of the COVID -19 pandemic, the lack of
clearance revenues has caused an overall reduction in Palestinian Authority revenues
of approximately 80 per cent. Given the economic uncertainty caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic and the reduced donor support, this decision contributes only
to the hardship of the Palestinian people and threatens the viability of Palestinian
institutions. The parties must quickly find a way out of the pre sent fiscal emergency.
Moreover, it is critical that humanitarian and other assistance not be delayed or
stopped as a result of such policies. In the longer term, however, modernizing the
outdated framework governing the Israeli and Palestinian economic an d
administrative relationships would be warranted.
33. Discussions on holding Palestinian general elections should continue. If held,
these would be the first since 2006, renewing the legitimacy of national institutions.
The international community should support this process, with a view to
strengthening national unity rather than division. It is critical that the important
Egyptian-led intra-Palestinian reconciliation efforts also continue. The United
Nations stands firm in its support of the efforts by Egypt in this regard, and I call
upon all Palestinian factions to make serious efforts to ensure the reunification of
Gaza and the occupied West Bank under a single, democratic, national Government.
Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a future Pale stinian State as part of a two -
State solution.
34. Reports of violent incidents throughout the occupied West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, remain of concern. I unequivocally condemn all attacks on Palestinian and
Israeli civilians and call upon all sides to refrain from violence and to clearly and
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unequivocally condemn attacks when they occur. All perpetrators must be held
accountable for their crimes.
35. The dispute over the construction work planned by the Israeli authorities at the
Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron risks fuelling tensions in a highly
sensitive part of the occupied West Bank. Any changes to the delicate balance at holy
sites not agreed to by all stakeholders threaten stability and should not be taken
unilaterally. I urge both parties to resolve this issue through dialogue and in a
coordinated and respectful manner.
36. I reiterate the call for the status quo at the holy sites to be upheld in line with
the special and historical role of Jordan as custodian of the Muslim an d Christian holy
sites in Jerusalem.
37. As stated in my reports to the Security Council on the implementation of
resolution 2334 (2016), I continue to urge leaders on all sides to stop incitement and
to condemn, consistently and unequivocally, acts of terror and violence in all their
forms.
38. The general state of human rights and freedoms in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory remains of concern. I reiterate my earlier calls to end the practice of
administrative detention and either to charge all detainees or to release them
immediately. All children should be treated with due consideration for their age, and
they should be detained only in situations justified under applicable rules of
international humanitarian law and international or applicable human rights law.
39. I remain deeply troubled by the continued settlement activities in the occupied
West Bank, including East Jerusalem. I reiterate that Israeli settlements in the
occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have no legal validity and constitute
a flagrant violation under international law. The establishment and expansion of
settlements fuel resentment, hopelessness and disillusionment among Palestinians,
are key drivers of human rights violations and significantly heighten Israeli-
Palestinian tensions. They entrench the military occupation of Israel and undermine
the prospect of achieving a viable two -State solution by systematically eroding the
possibility of establishing a contiguous, independent and sovereign Palestinian State.
I urge the Government of Israel to stop the advancement of all settlement plans
immediately.
40. Continued settler-related violence in the occupied West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, is of deep concern. I urge Israel, as the occupying Power, to ensure the
safety and security of the Palestinian population and to investigate and hold the
perpetrators of attacks accountable.
41. Despite the efforts of the United Nations and its partners to implement urgent
humanitarian and economic interventions in Gaza, the situation remains dire, and the
health system in Gaza remains on the brink of collapse. Despite some positive steps
by Israel in the reporting period, it is not possible to genuinely and sustainably
improve the socioeconomic situation without significantly easing restrictions on the
movement and access of goods and people to and from Gaza. It is critical for the
Palestinian Authority to increase the support to the health system in Gaza, in
particular in relation to COVID-19 response. The ultimate goal remains the lifting of
all restrictions in line with Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) and the
reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under a single, dem ocratic, national
Government. At the same time, it is crucial to ensure sustained calm in order to
gradually introduce longer-term projects that will support the development of Gaza.
I reiterate my call upon Hamas to provide full information regarding the Israeli
nationals who are being held in Gaza. I also remain deeply concerned at the continued
Israeli practice of holding the bodies of killed Palestinians and call upon Israel to
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return withheld bodies to their families, in line with international humanit arian law
and human rights law.
42. The increased violence in Gaza and southern Israel precipitated by the launching
of incendiary balloons by Palestinian militants is of concern. The indiscriminate
launching of rockets and mortars towards Israeli civilian population centres is
prohibited by international humanitarian law and must cease immediately. Israeli
security forces have the responsibility to exercise maximum restraint and to use
intentional lethal force only when strictly unavoidable in order to pro tect life.
43. The impact on women of the ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis in Gaza
is of particular concern. The participation of women in the labour force in Gaza is
among the lowest in the world, and some 70 per cent of women are unemployed.
These poor employment prospects result in female -headed households facing greater
poverty and food insecurity. In turn, poverty and a lack of economic opportunities are
key factors driving violence against women in Gaza, while the humanitarian crisis
has resulted in a large number of health issues for women. The United Nations
continues to assist Palestinian women and girls across a broad range of areas, but
much more needs to be done to address their needs and vulnerabilities.
44. The United Nations response to COVID-19 in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory has been swift and effective and has directly supported the Palestinian
Government’s own efforts. The humanitarian country team’s inter -agency response
plan and the United Nations country team’s development system response plan, as
well as the Palestinian Government’s own response plans, urgently need donor
support. Israeli-Palestinian cooperation to respond and mitigate the impact of the
COVID-19 crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory during the first months of the
pandemic is commendable. It is critical that humanitarian and other assistance and
cooperation continue to address the current surge of infections.
45. The financial situation of UNRWA remained a serious concern during the
reporting period, with the lowest ever cash flow levels and a significant outstanding
funding shortfall. I applaud the leadership that Jordan and Sweden have shown in
mobilizing support for the Agency. I urge Member States to continue their support for
UNRWA, which is not only a lifeline for millions of Palestine refugees, but is also
critical for regional stability.
46. I would like to express my deep appreciation to my Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, for his outstanding service in w hat
remains a challenging context. I am also grateful to the outgoing Commissioner -
General of UNRWA, Pierre Krähenbühl, and his successor, Philippe Lazzarini, and
for the remarkable work on behalf of Palestinian refugees carried out by the staff of
the Agency. I pay tribute, too, to all United Nations staff who work under difficult
circumstances in the service of the Organization.
47. I will continue to ensure that the United Nations works towards a resolution of
the conflict that would end the Israeli occu pation that began in 1967 and establish an
independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestinian State living
side by side with Israel in peace, security and mutual recognition, with Jerusalem as
the capital of both States, within the frame work of a comprehensive regional
settlement, consistent with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 425
(1978), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003), 1850 (2008), 1860 (2009) and 2334 (2016) and in
accordance with the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for
peace, the Arab Peace Initiative, the Quartet ro ad map and international law.
United Nations A/76/299–S/2021/749
General Assembly
Security Council
Distr.: General
24 August 2021
Original: English
21-11714 (E) 010921
*2111714*
General Assembly Security Council
Seventy-sixth session Seventy-sixth year
Items 37 and 38 of the provisional agenda*
The situation in the Middle East
Question of Palestine
Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
Report of the Secretary-General
Summary
The present report is submitted in accordance with the request of the General
Assembly in paragraph 15 of its resolution 75/22. The report, which covers the period
from September 2020 to August 2021, contai ns replies received from the parties
concerned to the note verbale sent by the Secretary -General pursuant to the request
contained in resolution 75/22, as well as the observations of the Secretary -General on
the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on international efforts to move
the peace process forward, with a view to achieving a peaceful settlement of the
question of Palestine.
* A/76/150.
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I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 75/22.
2. On 2 July 2021, pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 15 of resolution
75/22, I addressed the following letter to the President of the Security Council:
“I have the honour of referring to resolution 75/22, which the General
Assembly adopted on 2 December 2020, at its se venty-fifth session, under the
agenda item ‘Question of Palestine’.
“Paragraph 15 of the resolution requests the Secretary -General, including
through his Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal
Representative to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian
Authority, to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation
with the Security Council, including with regard to the reporting required
pursuant to resolution 2334 (2016), towards the attainment of a peaceful
settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region
and to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy -sixth session a report on
these efforts and on developments on this matter.
“In order to fulfil my reporting responsibilities under this resolution, I
should be grateful if you would kindly convey to me the views of the Security
Council by 19 July 2021.”
3. As at 18 August 2021, no response to that requ est had been received.
4. In a note verbale dated 24 May 2021, I sought the positions of States Members
of the United Nations, in particular the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan,
Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the State of Palestine, regarding
any steps taken by them to implement the relevant provisions of the resolution. As at
18 August 2021, replies had been received from Argentina, Bahrain, Cuba, the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Ecuador and the Permanent Observer
Mission of the State of Palestine.
5. The note verbale dated 12 July 2021 from the Permanent Observer Mission of
the State of Palestine to the United Nations reads as follows:
“For decades, the General Assembly has affirmed its stance on the question
of Palestine by adoption of an annual resolution entitled ‘Peaceful settlement of
the question of Palestine’, most recently reaffirmed as resolution 75/22. The
resolution’s provisions and the principles enshrined therei n reflect the longstanding
international consensus on the fundamental pillars and requirements
for achieving a just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine in all its
dimensions. Regrettably, the failure to uphold these principles and implement
those provisions – most starkly reflected in the profound disrespect and grave
violations that continue to be perpetrated by Israel, the occupying Power – have
obstructed the intended contribution of this resolution towards a just and
peaceful solution.
“At its seventy-fifth session, the General Assembly again overwhelmingly
supported this resolution and reiterated the calls for ending the Israeli
occupation that began in 1967; ensuring the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, including to self-determination and independence; and responsible
international action to peacefully resolve the Israeli -Palestinian conflict, in line
with international law, the relevant resolutions and the permanent responsibility
of the United Nations towards the question of Palestine, which remains
unfulfilled since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) in 1947 and the decision to
partition Palestine and the Nakba that ensued in 1948, resulting in the forced
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dispossession of the majority of the Palestinian people and their expulsion from
their homeland, an injustice that the Palestinian people continue to suffer to this
day, denied their right to return and their most basic human rights, including to
live in freedom and dignity.
“The lack of respect for international law by Israel, the occupying Power,
and inaction by the international community, which has failed to uphold and
implement its relevant resolutions, have prolonged and compounded this
injustice, enabling Israel’s impunity and entrenchment of its illegal colonial
occupation, now in its fifty-fourth year. Many characterize this as a stain on the
global conscience and a litmus test for the viability of the rules -based order,
maintaining that the failure to justly re solve it has severely undermined the
international system’s credibility and authority, particularly that of the Security
Council.
“Regrettably, while States have long condemned Israel’s non -compliance
with United Nations resolutions and its ongoing violat ions in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, with many amounting to war
crimes, crimes against humanity and the crimes of apartheid and persecution, as
affirmed by numerous independent human rights and humanitarian
organizations, legal scholars and academics, and as also recognized by
numerous Governments and parliamentarians worldwide, little has been done
concretely to hold Israel accountable for its violations and to compel compliance
with its international legal obligations.
“But it is also evident that justly resolving the Palestine question remains
a priority for the international community, as reaffirmed by countless
delegations in General Assembly and Security Council debates and in the
resolutions and declarations endorsed by political and regional groups,
including, inter alia, the League of Arab States, the Non -Aligned Movement, the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union and the G -77 and
China, including in the period since adoption of resolution 75/22.
“The overwhelming majority of States underscore the urgency of ending
this injustice, which remains a primary source of regional and global instability,
and consistently call for: ending the Israeli occupatio n that began in 1967;
Palestinian self-determination; salvaging and actualizing the two -State solution
of Palestine and Israel living side by side in peace and security, in sovereignty
and independence, within recognized borders based on the pre -1967 borders;
and a just solution for the Palestine refugee question based on resolution 194
(III), with a near-unanimous call for support to the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in th e Near East to ensure continuity of
needed humanitarian and development assistance to over 5.7 million refugees
pending a just solution. Moreover, calls are continually made for the
intensification of international and regional efforts to promote that just solution
in line with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid
principles, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet road map, as repeatedly
called for by the General Assembly and the Security Council, most recently in
resolutions 75/22 and 2334 (2016) respectively.
“While the State of Palestine is grateful for such principled positions and
global support, unfortunately this has proven insufficient, as Israel, the
occupying Power, carries on in contempt and mockery of the international
community, disrespecting its will and trampling the law with its illegal
occupation and deliberate, systematic deprivation of the Palestinian people’s
inalienable rights, including those of Palestine refugees. After 73 years of Nakba
and over half a century of colonial military occupatio n and apartheid policies,
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it is clear that statements and condemnations are not enough to end this historic
injustice and the longest belligerent occupation in modern history. As Israel
intensifies its violations before the world’s eyes, it is high time to translate such
positions into immediate action aimed at upholding the Charter of the United
Nations, enforcing legal obligations and ensuring accountability for the
violations being perpetrated, including war crimes.
“Israel has proven beyond a doubt tha t it is not willing to end this illegal
occupation but is instead willing to use all illegal means to fortify and prolong
its control of our land and subjugation of our people indefinitely. Ending such
impunity and ending the occupation therefore require t he activation of all
available diplomatic, political, legal mechanisms to ensure justice under the law,
uphold human rights and thus ultimately realize a just peace. The absence of
accountability only serves the occupation, enabling impunity at the expense of
Palestinian rights, inflicting mass suffering, destroying peace prospects and
devastating generations more.
“Despite continued setbacks and the deterioration of conditions in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since the adop tion of
resolution 75/22, the State of Palestine remains committed to the path of peace
and international law as the guarantor of justice, in stark contradiction to the
occupying Power, which persists in it s contempt of the law. At the same time,
the Palestinian people and Government reiterate the appeal to all States to
uphold the law and implement the provisions and commitments affirmed in
United Nations resolutions, stressing shared responsibilities and t he imperative
of multilateral efforts to address this grave situation and realize a just solution.
“A glimpse of the Palestinian people’s reality in the reporting period
exposes the depth and gravity of this injustice. In just a matter of months, the
world has witnessed a glaring display of Israel’s impunity as the Israeli
Government, military and settlers have proceeded apace with: rabid settler
colonization and acts of de facto annexation; myriad measures aimed at mass
dispossession of Palestinian families in occupied East Jerusalem, including in
the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhoods, and elsewhere throughout
Occupied Palestine, forcibly displacing hundreds of Palestinians; provocations
and incursions against the city’s holy sites, including the Aqs a Mosque/Haram
al-Sharif, with repeated violations of the historic and legal status quo, as well
as assaults on Muslim and Christian worshippers; another violent military
aggression against the Gaza Strip, killing and injuring over 250 Palestinians,
including 66 children and 41 women; the wanton destruction of Palestinian
homes and properties, land expropriation and exploitation of natural resources;
arrest, detention and imprisonment of thousands of Palestinians, including
children; intensification of a ra cist, discriminatory apartheid regime; dangerous
incitement, extremism and terror against Palestinians; tightening of the 14 -year
Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, exacerbating dire socioeconomic conditions
and the humanitarian suffering of 2 million Pal estinians besieged there; and
countless other measures of collective punishment, all aimed at oppressing,
coercing and dispossessing our people and cementing the occupation.
“The escalation of these illegal, aggressive and destructive Israeli policies
and practices has inflicted vast harm on the Palestinian people, provoking
continual instability and decline of the situation on the ground on all fronts –
political, security, socioeconomic and humanitarian; aggravating religious
sensitivities, risking a religious conflagration; and further diminishing the
viability of the two-State solution based on the pre-1967 lines. Last year, the
international community warned Israel against annexation and demanded an end
to its illegal policies and practices, perhaps be lieving that Israel would abide in
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good faith. The reality has proven otherwise and reaffirmed that, without action
that imposes consequences for violations, Israel will continue undaunted with
its crimes against the Palestinian people.
“The international community must demand a halt to all illegal Israeli
policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and demand full respect for international law. The path to a just
solution is clear, as enshrined in resolution 75/22 and all other relevant United
Nations resolutions, including Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), which
charts a clear path to peace and must be implemented in full. Although the
Council regrettably remains paraly sed on this issue, States themselves must
uphold obligations to pursue accountability, reasserting the applicability of
international law in all circumstances and contributing towards end ing this
injustice.
“International action must include support for accountability mechanisms,
including legal action in courts such as the International Criminal Court and the
International Court of Justice, as their rulings and decisions are and will rem ain
a primary determination of international law. The decision taken by the Office
of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to initiate an investigation
on the situation in Palestine must be supported and undertaken forthwith as a
means of enforcing the law and ensuring justice. Diplomatic and political
support for the Court is urgent in the light of attacks aimed at undermining its
credibility and authority in an attempt to obstruct accountability. International
courts must be able to carry ou t their mandate and work without interference, to
end impunity in the face of serious international crimes.
“The State of Palestine also continues to call for a multilateral political
process to achieve a just and peaceful solution based on the internatio nally
endorsed terms of reference and parameters, in accordance with international
law and relevant United Nations resolutions. We have appealed to the Security
Council and the Quartet members – the Russian Federation and the United States
along with the European Union and the United Nations – to uphold their
obligations and exert serious efforts to this end, in cooperation with the League
of Arab States and concerned regional and other partners and with the vital
support of the Organization of Islamic Coop eration, the Non-Aligned Movement
and all peace-loving nations. We reiterate our call for the convening of an
international peace conference based on the international consensus.
“The international community must realize that the demographic
composition, character, status and identity of the Palestinian Territory occupied
since 1967, including East Jerusalem, is being aggressively altered and the
Palestinian people’s inalienable rights, including to self -determination and
independence, are being perpetually obstructed absent any accountability for
Israel’s crimes. This is not hearsay, but has been thoroughly documented,
including by United Nations agencies, bodies and mandate holders, including
the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian
territories occupied since 1967 and numerous international, Palestinian and
Israeli humanitarian and human rights organizations. Only accountability and
implementation of the law can remedy this wrongful situation and give genuine
meaning to the global efforts to promote justice and peace.
“The international community, including the Security Council, is not being
asked to resort to extraordinary lengths to hold Israel accountable, but to simply
muster the will to respect and follow through on e xisting frameworks and rules
of law and affirmed obligations and commitments to end this injustice.
Continued inaction has rewarded Israel, the occupying Power, with automatic
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impunity and an abundance of time to pursue evermore criminal policies at zero
cost to its international standing and relations, but with incalculable
repercussions for the Palestinian people and for the viability of peace prospects
and international law itself. Unless rectified, such gross violations and grave
breaches, including of the erga omnes right to self-determination and the
absolute prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force, will persist, to the
detriment of the Palestinian people, the Israeli people and a future of peace,
stability and security in the Middle East region and globally.
“The calls to compel Israel to respect its international law and the human
rights of the Palestinian people is reaching unprecedented levels, as
Governments and citizens worldwide can no longer ignore or tolerate the
abhorrent reality created by Israel’s 54-year colonial occupation and apartheid
regime. This was apparent in the wide support given again to resolution 75/22
in 2020 and in the global demonstrations held in solidarity with Palestine in
2021.
“It is past time for the international community to act on these long -
standing calls. We urge strengthened support for the General Assembly’s efforts
to contribute to justly resolving the Palestine question, including support for the
vital efforts of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights,
important mechanisms mandated by the Assembly to advance the achievement
of Palestinian rights, including self-determination, and a just solution based on
a two-State solution based on the pre-1967 borders, in accordance with
international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions. We appeal to all
States, intergovernmental organizations and civil soc iety for their support and
solidarity and fulfilment of their obligations and commitments to make 2021 a
year that ushers in a new era of justice, freedom, equality and peace.”
II. Developments
6. International efforts to promote the peaceful settlem ent of the question of
Palestine continued during the reporting period. The envoys of the Middle East
Quartet (the Russian Federation, the United States of America, the European Union
and the United Nations) consulted one another informally throughout the year and
held monthly conference calls to discuss the situation on the ground and prospects for
advancing Israeli-Palestinian peace. The United Nations reaffirmed its commitment
to ending the occupation and achieving a negotiated two -State solution, in line with
relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements,
within secure and recognized borders on the basis of the pre -1967 lines and with
Jerusalem as the capital of both States, and reiterated its call to all stakeholders to
refrain from any unilateral action that harms the prospects of meaningful negotiations
and peace. Discussions are ongoing among Quartet members regarding the way
forward.
7. On 25 September 2020, in his statement to the General Assembly, the President
of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, called for the convening of an international
conference in early 2021 to engage in a genuine peace process, based on international
law, United Nations resolutions and the relevant terms of reference, leading to an end
to the occupation and the achievement by the Palestinian people of their freedom and
independence within their State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, on the 1967
borders.
8. Agreements between Israel and Bahrain and between Israel and the United Arab
Emirates were formalized in a signing ceremony at the White House on 15 September.
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On 23 October, the leaders of the United States, Israel and the Sudan announced that
the Governments of Israel and the Sudan had agreed to end the state of belligerence
between their countries and normalize relations. On 22 December, the Governments
of Israel and Morocco agreed to establish full diplomatic, peaceful and friendly
relations in a signing ceremony in Rabat. On 22 July 2021, the Chairperson of the
African Union Commission received credentials from the Ambassador of Israel to
Burundi, Chad and Ethiopia as an observer of the African Union.
9. On 17 November, the Palestinian leadership announ ced its decision to resume
security and civilian coordination with Israel and accept the clearance revenues Israel
collects on its behalf, after Israel suspended its annexation plans as part of the
agreements it had signed with several Arab States.
10. From September to November, Fatah and Hamas held bilateral discussions in
Istanbul, Turkey, and, subsequently, in Cairo. On 15 January, President Abbas issued
a decree calling for legislative, presidential and Palestinian National Council
elections in 2021. On 9 February, Palestinian factions concluded additional talks in
Cairo, thereby resolving several long -standing differences. On 17 February, the
Palestinian Central Elections Commission concluded the registration of voters and
announced that over 90 per cent of eligible voters had been registered. On 30 April,
President Abbas said that he was indefinitely postponing the legislative, presidential
and Palestinian National Council elections scheduled for 2021 until the participation
of Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem was guaranteed by Israel. Preparations for
the Palestinian Legislative Council elections scheduled for 22 May were at an
advanced stage. Some 90 per cent of eligible voters (equal to more than 2.5 million
Palestinians) had registered to participate, some 50 per cent of whom were women
and more than 40 per cent of whom would have been first -time voters. Thirty-six
candidate lists, comprising a total of 1,389 candidates, had been cleared to participate
by the Central Elections Commission, and the campaign period was set to begin on
1 May.
11. The reporting period was marked by an increase in violence throughout the
Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel. Against the backdrop of tensions in
Jerusalem, violence erupted between Israel and Pales tinian armed groups based in the
Gaza Strip in May, leading to the worst escalation of armed hostilities since 2014.
Overall, 321 Palestinians, including 80 children and 44 women, were killed by Israeli
security forces as a result of air strikes and during demonstrations, clashes, security
operations and other incidents, and 14,823 Palestinians were injured, including some
1,079 by live ammunition. A total of 11 Israeli civilians, including two children and
six women, were killed in attacks, clashes and oth er incidents and 789 Israelis were
injured in the course of these events. In addition, three non -Israeli civilians and one
Israeli soldier were killed in Israel during the hostilities.
12. The Israeli authorities’ planned forced eviction of four extended P alestine
refugee families, approximately 75 people, from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah
neighbourhood heightened tensions between Palestinians and Israeli security forces,
resulting in increasingly tense protests beginning in April. In early April, video s went
viral on social media depicting violent attacks by Palestinians against ultra -Orthodox
Jews and attacks against Palestinians by extreme right -wing groups. Following the
start of Ramadan on 13 April, there was a marked increase in unrest after the Is raeli
authorities installed metal barriers outside Damascus Gate in the Old City of
Jerusalem, blocking access to a public area used by Palestinians. Following the
installation of the barriers, widespread protests and violent clashes between
Palestinians and Israeli security forces occurred in occupied East Jerusalem, in
particular in the vicinity of the Aqsa Mosque and Damascus Gate, as well as in Sheikh
Jarrah.
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13. The unrest increased further on 22 April, when Israeli civilians marched towards
Damascus Gate chanting “death to Arabs” and other anti -Arab slogans and clashed
with Palestinians, who were also chanting inflammatory rhetoric, before both groups
were dispersed by Israeli security forces. The removal by those forces of the barriers,
on 25 April, temporarily restored a relative calm to the area. Beginning on 28 April,
Palestinians held daily protests in the Sheikh Jarrah area, which, combined with a
continued heavy presence of Israeli security forces and provocation by Israeli
civilians, including settlers and Knesset members, triggered repeated clashes
throughout East Jerusalem.
14. On 10 May, Jerusalem Day, the situation escalated further when clashes erupted
in Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount as Palestinians threw stones from the compound
and Israeli security forces entered the Aqsa Mosque compound, launching stun
grenades, using tear gas and firing rubber-coated metal bullets. Subsequently, the
Israeli authorities took steps to reduce tensions, including by rerouting a scheduled
demonstration, organized by right-wing Israeli activists to mark Jerusalem Day, away
from the Muslim quarter of the Old City, postponing a Supreme Court hearing on the
Sheikh Jarrah evictions and barring Jewish visits to the holy sites. Nevertheless, the
violence and heavy security presence continued within the Old City.
15. On 14 May, the deadliest day in the occupied West Bank in over a decade, 10
Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces in demonstrations and clashes and
about 250 were injured by live bullets, rais ing concerns that Israeli security forces
had employed excessive use of force. A total of 8,217 Palestinians were injured, 4,703
of them from tear gas inhalation. Most of the fatalities resulted from the use by Israeli
security forces of live ammunition in the context of demonstrations or clashes or in
response to attacks or attempted attacks.
16. On 10 May, late in the afternoon, a spokesperson for the Izz al -Din al-Qassam
Brigades of Hamas published a statement giving Israel “an ultimatum until six in the
evening today to withdraw its forces from the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque and Sheikh
Jarrah neighbourhood and release all detainees from the recent events in Jerusalem”.
That evening, Palestinian armed groups indiscriminately fired 191 rockets and
mortars towards Israel, including some towards Jerusalem, to which th e Israel
Defense Forces responded with 60 missiles and shells, hitting Gaza. For the next
10 days, Israel continued intensive air strikes and shelling, reportedly targeting armed
groups and their infrastructure, while Palestinian armed groups in Gaza conti nued to
launch rockets and mortars on an unprecedented scale towards Israel, including from
highly populated civilian neighbourhoods. The inner compound yard of one United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
school was struck by two Israeli missiles despite the school having been designated
an emergency shelter for civilians during the hostilities. In the context of a subsequent
investigation aimed at finding a way to better secure the building, UNRWA discovered
a tunnel under the school and subsequently condemned the existence and potential
use by Palestinian armed groups of such tunnels underneath its schools in the
strongest possible terms. There is no indication of the existence of any entry or exit
points for the tunnel on the premises. Initial risk assessments of UNRWA premises by
the United Nations Mine Action Service confirmed the existence of unexploded
ordnance that could have led to further damage. Continuing assessments and activities
were initially halted by Hamas authorities. After UNRWA protested these steps,
highlighting the inviolability and neutrality of UNRWA premises and the need to
ensure the safe return of children to their schools, Hamas vacated the school. The
United Nations Mine Action Servic e continued to remove any remaining explosive
ordnance as quickly as possible.
17. Between 10 and 21 May, Palestinian armed groups fired over 4,000 rockets and
projectiles towards Israel, with over 600 falling in the Gaza Strip, reportedly
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accounting for some Palestinian casualties. According to Israeli sources, Israeli forces
carried out over 1,500 strikes from the air, land and sea across the Gaza Strip. Israeli
air strikes and shelling, directed at what Israel said were targets containing militant
installations, caused extensive damage to civilian property and infrastructure,
including public buildings, residential homes and commercial units, including four
high-rise towers, one of which hosted international media outlets. Damage was also
inflicted on humanitarian assets, medical facilities and roads. Rockets from Gaza
reached as far as the outskirts of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and its suburbs and Ben Gurion
Airport. The rockets struck multiple locations, causing damage to residential and
commercial property, as well as to schools and a crude oil pipeline.
18. During the escalation in Gaza, the Security Council held four extraordinary
sessions on 10, 12, 16 and 18 May, the General Assembly held an urgent meeting to
address the situation on 20 May, and the Human Rights Council held a special session
on 27 May.
19. Throughout the hostilities, the United Nations worked with all sides to restore
calm, de-escalate the situation and prevent any further loss of life. The escalation
continued until both sides announced a cessation of hostilities, which began at 2 a.m.
on 21 May.
20. The armed hostilities took a severe toll on the civilian population. Between
10 and 21 May, 259 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, including 66 children and
41 women (4 of whom were pregnant), with 248 of them, including 63 children, killed
in air strikes and by falling rockets. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, 1,948
Palestinians were injured. At least 129 of those killed were civilians. In some cases,
families, including women, childr en and infants, were killed in their homes by Israeli
air strikes. Over 40 people are estimated to have been killed in a series of air strikes
reportedly targeting tunnels under residential areas in Gaza City overnight on 15 May.
The fatalities included the head of internal medicine at Al-Shifa Hospital, the main
hospital in the Gaza Strip, and one of just a few neurologists in Gaza, as well as
members of their families, and nine members of a family – two women and seven
children – from the Al-Shati refugee camp.
21. In Israel, a 5-year-old boy was killed by a rocket in Sderot and a 16 -year-old
girl and her father were killed in Lod. Nine Israelis, including two children, four
women and one soldier, and three foreign nationals were killed, and hundreds of
Israelis were injured during the hostilities. Throughout the 11 days of hostilities,
hundreds of thousands of Israelis across much of the south and centre of the country
repeatedly had to run for shelter amid rocket barrages. In addition, incendiary
balloons and kites launched from Gaza sparked dozens of fires in southern Israel
during the period.
22. While the cessation of hostilities agreed between Israel and Hamas has largely
held, there have subsequently been 62 incidents in which Palestinian armed groups
have launched incendiary balloons towards Israel since the cessation of hostilities
came into effect, causing fires. In retaliation, the Israeli Defense Forces carried out
22 strikes and fired 49 missiles against what they said were Hamas targets in the G aza
Strip, injuring two women and damaging property. On 16 August, armed groups fired
at least one rocket from Gaza towards Israel. No injuries or damages were reported.
23. Beyond the human tragedy for both Palestinians and Israelis, and the physical
damage of 11 days of fighting, the economic impact of the hostilities in May further
exacerbated the existing humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and
severely weakened the economy of Gaza. On 6 July, the United Nations, the World
Bank and the European Union published the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment.
According to the Assessment, damages in Gaza are estimated at between $290 million
and $380 million, while economic losses may reach nearly $200 million. The social
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sector was hit hardest, significantly weakening the safety net of the most vulnerable.
The immediate and short-term recovery and reconstruction needs, over the first
24 months, are estimated at between $345 million and $485 million. Also on 6 July,
a technical meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the
International Assistance to Palestinians was held to align donor efforts to help address
both the aftermath of the May escalation and the significant fiscal crisis facing the
Palestinian Authority.
24. By 2021, 9,566 of 11,000 houses destroyed during the 2014 conflict in Gaza had
been rebuilt and the construction of another 639 houses was under way. Overall, it is
estimated that the May conflict resulted in damages to approximately 4,100 housing
units, 1,600 of which were destroyed and 2,500 of which were partially damaged.
Total damages are assessed at between $130 million and $160 million. Over 113,000
Palestinians were temporarily displaced in UNRWA schools or with host families
during the hostilities, heightening the risk of the spread of the coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) owing to overcrowding. Approximately 600 families (3,600 individuals)
have remained internally displaced for more than six years, since the 2014 conflict.
25. During the May conflict, damage was inflicted on 181 schools, including 41
UNRWA schools, in addition to 116 kindergartens and 16 health facilities. Electricity
supply across the Gaza Strip was further reduced from an average of 15 hours a day
to 5–6 hours per day owing to damage t o key electricity feeder lines, transformers
and networks, as well as to Israel barring entry for fuel delivered through the United
Nations for the Gaza power plant, causing disruptions to the provision of basic
services, including water, sanitation and he alth care. About 800,000 people
temporarily lacked regular access to safe piped water as a result of damage to
infrastructure and the reduced electricity supply. Israel reopened the Kerem Shalom
crossing on 17 May to facilitate the entry of a shipment from Jordan of medical aid
and of medical personnel. The crossing came under mortar fire from Gaza, however,
and was closed.
26. Following the ceasefire, Israel gradually lifted some restrictions on the import
and export of goods. On 28 June, fuel deliveries for the Gaza Power Plant again
resumed through the Kerem Shalom crossing under the existing United Nations
framework overseen by the United Nations Office for Project Services with support
from Qatar, returning electricity supply to its previous level, rou ghly 14 hours per
day, at the end of July. The entry of construction material is still restricted, preventing
urgent repairs to hundreds of sites, including schools, hospitals and water facilities.
In addition, Israel reinstated the designated fishing zone off the coast of Gaza, which,
as of 18 August, stands at 12 nautical miles.
27. In the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, clashes, attacks, search -
and-arrest operations and other incidents resulted in the death of 66 Palestinians,
including 14 children, and injuries to 13,011 Palestinians, including at least 696
children and 48 women. Two Israelis, including one woman, were killed and 109 were
injured in the course of these events.
28. Throughout the reporting period, protests and violent clashe s took place
throughout the occupied West Bank almost daily. During clashes in May, Israeli
security forces regularly used live ammunition against Palestinian protesters,
resulting in the killing of 24 Palestinians and injuries to 744 others. Israeli secur ity
forces also continued to conduct search-and-arrest operations and to detain
Palestinians, including children. The Palestinian Authority continued to arrest
individuals associated with Hamas and political parties other than Fatah, intensifying
such actions in April, prior to scheduled Palestinian elections, and again in May,
following the postponement of elections on 30 April. Hamas authorities in Gaza also
summoned and, in some cases, detained Fatah affiliates. Since September 2020, the
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Israel Prison Service has not responded to freedom-of-information requests by Israeli
non-governmental organizations for monthly statistics concerning Palestinians held
in Israeli detention. According to Palestinian sources, however, as of 5 August ,
540 Palestinians were being held by the Israeli authorities in administrative detention.
29. Increasingly, Israel restricted freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and
association, including by arresting and prosecuting through the military courts
Palestinian civil society actors, human rights defenders, students and political figures.
Of particular concern was the detention, including administrative detention, of
members of Palestinian civil society organizations on broad charges of membership
of “unlawful” or terrorist organizations, and other attempts to discredit the work of
civil society organizations and undercut their funding. OHCHR has raised serious
concerns about allegations of ill-treatment during the arrest, interrogation and
detention of Palestinians.
30. On 24 June, Nizar Banat, a prominent political activist and former parliamentary
candidate, died following his arrest and detention by the Palestinian Security Forces.
According to his family, he was severely beaten during his arrest. Following the
incident, Palestinians held demonstrations across the occupied West Bank. In
Ramallah, on 26 June and 5 July, the Palestinian Security Forces beat protesters with
batons and indiscriminately fired tear gas and stun grenades. On 26 June, the
Palestinian Security Forces also failed to stop violent acts by groups of persons not
in uniform reportedly acting in a coordinated manner with security personnel. Those
acts resulted in violence targeting journalists and human rights monitors, including
one United Nations staff member. Women present at the demonstrations reported
having been subjected to sexual harassment and gender-based threats on social media
afterwards. In the following weeks, several prominent activists, electoral candidates,
journalists, human rights defenders and lawyers were also arrested by Palestinian
forces. All were subsequently released.
31. During the reporting period, the Israeli authorities advanced or approved plans
for some 6,600 housing units in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem,
marking a decrease compared with some 8,000 units during the previous reporting
period. On 14 and 15 October, in one of the largest collective advancements in recent
years, the Israeli authorities approved plans for the construction of some 5,000
housing units in Area C, approximately 80 per cent of which are planned to be built
in settlements in outlying locations, deep inside the occupied West Bank, in areas
further impeding the contiguity of a future Palestinian State. As at 18 August, citing
the absence of Israeli-issued building permits, which remain almost impossible for
Palestinians to obtain, the Israeli authorities demolished or seized 908 structures,
displacing 1,084 people, including 608 children and 239 women, and otherwise
affecting about 9,500 others. During the reporting period, a total of 79 newly built
structures were demolished on the basis of Military Order 1797, which authorizes an
expedited process for the removal of structures. Structures can thus be demolished as
early as 96 hours after the delivery of a notice, thereby preventing most owners from
being heard before a judicial body. An additional 72 structures were demolished by
their owners, displacing 140 people, including 69 children and 35 women. The Israeli
authorities also demolished stru ctures and homes built by settlers in unauthorized
settlement outposts.
32. On 2 August, the High Court of Justice of Israel again adjourned an appeal
hearing requested by four Palestinian families that were under threat of eviction from
their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem. The hearing had
originally been scheduled for 10 May but was postponed amid heightened tensions in
East Jerusalem. In addition, several judicial proceedings related to the eviction of
Palestinian families in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan were under way.
Additional legal developments are expected towards the end of 2021.
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33. During the reporting period, 133 violent incidents involving Israeli settlers were
recorded, resulting in 485 Palestinians b eing injured, including 13 women and
304 children. Of the total, 136 injuries were attributed to Israeli settlers and the
remainder to subsequent clashes with the Israel Defense Forces. There were also
304 incidents by Israeli settlers which involved damag e to Palestinian property.
During the same period, there were 49 violent incidents by Palestinians against Israeli
settlers and other civilians in the occupied West Bank, resulting in the killing of two
Israelis and injuries to 69 Israelis.
34. On 5 February, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court
decided that the Court’s territorial jurisdiction in Situation in the State of Palestine
extends to the Occupied Palestinian Territory. On 3 March, the Prosecutor of the
International Criminal Court confirmed in a statement that her office had initiated an
investigation regarding the situation in the State of Palestine covering crimes within
the jurisdiction of the Court alleged to have been committed since 13 June 2014.
35. In its resolution S-30/1, the Human Rights Council decided to establish an
ongoing independent, international commission of inquiry to investigate in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Isra el all alleged
violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law
leading up to and since 13 April 2021, and to investigate also the underlying root
causes of recurrent tensions, instability and protraction of conflict, includi ng systematic
discrimination and repression based on national, ethnic, racial or religious identity.
36. The fiscal situation of the Palestinian Authority continued to be a source of
significant concern. The budget gap for the current budget year is expec ted to be of
more than $1 billion. On 11 July, the Government of Israel approved the freezing of
approximately $180 million in annual clearance revenues collected by Israel on behalf
of the Palestinian Authority in monthly instalments. The amount to be wit hheld is
equal to the amount that the Israeli authorities allege that the Palestinian Authority
paid during 2020 to security prisoners, detainees and the families of Palestinians
killed while carrying out attacks against Israelis.
37. The socioeconomic situation of Palestinians was further compounded by
COVID-19. The rising number of infections continues to pose grave risks in Gaza and
the occupied West Bank. The impact of COVID-19 on populations in these areas was
exacerbated by the overall political climate, which presented challenges to response
efforts, and by the imposed closures on Gaza.
38. During the reporting period, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the humanitarian partners of the United
Nations supported COVID-19-related diagnoses, case management, infection
prevention and control, communication on the risk posed by COVID -19, community
engagement and vaccine strategy development and roll -out. With support from WHO
and UNICEF through the global COVAX Facility, the Palestinian Authority was able
to deliver a first batch of some 60,000 vaccines to the West Bank and Gaza on
17 March. By 25 July, the Palestinian Ministry of Health had received 1,541,620
vaccines through the COVAX Facility (supported by WHO, UNICEF and the Gavi
Alliance) and bilateral arrangements, and had vaccinated 495,621 people in the West
Bank and Gaza by 2 August. Israel also vaccinated East Jerusalemites and
approximately 100,000 Palestinians holding permits to ent er Israel.
III. Observations
39. During the reporting period, I delivered four reports to the Security Council on
the implementation of Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), in which I expressed
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my concern regarding the continued lack of implementation of the provisions of the
resolution. In my reports, I took note of international efforts and reiterated the
commitment of the United Nations to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve
the conflict and end the occupation, in line with relevant United Nations resolutions,
international law and bilateral agreements, and to realizing the vision of two States –
Israel and Palestine – living side by side in peace within secured and recognized
borders on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.
40. The rapid escalation of violence in May, the violent attacks against Palestinian
and Israeli civilians and the incitement to violence spira lled quickly out of control
and into a devastating exchange between Israel and armed groups in Gaza on a scale
not seen in years. These events have only deepened the divisions between Israelis and
Palestinians and made progress towards peace an even greater challenge.
41. The indiscriminate launching of rockets, mortars and incendiary devices
towards Israeli civilian population centres, including from highly populated civilian
neighbourhoods, by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and others must cease. I recall
that international humanitarian law prohibits indiscriminate attacks and requires
parties to a conflict to distinguish between civilians and combatants, and between
civilian objects and military objectives. Although Israel took a number of precautions,
such as giving advance warning of attacks in some cases, air strikes in densely
populated areas resulted in a high level of civilian fatalities and injuries and in the
widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure. Such strikes raise concerns about
compliance by Israel with the principles of distinction and proportionality under
international humanitarian law. Israel must abide by its obligations under
international humanitarian law and take all feasible precautions to spare the civilian
population and civilian objects in the c onduct of military operations.
42. I am particularly appalled that children continue to be victims of violence. I
reiterate that children should not be the target of violence or be put in harm’s way.
They should be afforded special protection from any form of violence and be detained
only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time.
43. I am deeply concerned by the multiple instances in which officials exacerbated
the tensions and violence through unacceptable rhetoric or pro vocative actions. Some
such statements and actions contributed to the deadly escalation. As stated in my
reports to the Security Council on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016), I
continue to urge leaders on all sides to refrain from incitement and to condemn,
consistently and unequivocally, acts of terror and violence in all their forms.
44. I welcome the cessation of hostilities agreed on 21 May and recognize the
important efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the United States in support of ending the
violence. I also wish to thank my Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace
Process for his efforts. Nevertheless, the situation in Gaza remains deeply worrying,
including in respect of the severe emot ional trauma and suffering experienced by the
people of Gaza owing to years of prolonged Israeli closures and severe economic and
movement restrictions, the nature of Hamas rule and the ongoing threat of violence.
Although the agreement on the cessation of hostilities continues to hold, it is fragile
and the risk of a major escalation is ever present.
45. On 27 May, the Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
and United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the
Occupied Palestinian Territory launched an inter-agency flash appeal, having
identified a need for around $95 million for critical programming. As at 18 August,
some $45 million have been raised. I thank donors for their generous support and
encourage additional contributions so that pressing humanitarian needs can be
addressed. I also encourage support to be provided to meet the immediate and short -
term recovery and reconstruction needs, estimated at between $345 million and
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$485 million over 24 months. More support, including from Israel, is also needed for
the Palestinian response to COVID-19, to ensure that Palestinians throughout the
Occupied Palestinian Territory receive a fair and timely share of the vaccines.
46. Humanitarian and economic support alone, however, will not help to overcome
the challenges in Gaza. These challenges require political solutions and the will to
pursue them. It is vital that Hamas and other factions end their militant activities and
military build-up. Taking into consideration its legitimate security concerns, I urge
Israel to ease restrictions on the movement of goods and people to and from Gaza, in
line with Security Council resolution 1860 (2009), with the goal of ultimately lifting
them. Only by fully lifting the debilitating closures can we hope to sustainably resolve
the humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism remains
critical for facilitating reconstruction and supporting vital infrastructur e projects to
bolster water and energy networks in Gaza.
47. Reports of violent incidents throughout the occupied West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, remain of concern. I unequivocally condemn all attacks on Palestinian and
Israeli civilians and call upon all sides to refrain from violence and to clearly and
unequivocally condemn attacks when they occur. All perpetrators must be held
accountable for their crimes.
48. I reiterate the call for the status quo at the holy sites to be respected and upheld
in line with the special and historical role of Jordan as custodian of the Muslim and
Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
49. The postponement of the Palestinian election process has had significant
implications, both for the security situation on the ground and the future of the
Palestinian national project. I commend the tireless efforts of the Palestinian Central
Elections Commission, which, throughout the process, ensured that all the technical
aspects were effectively implemented. The holding of elections in the occupied West
Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza would be a crucial step towards Palestinian
unity, giving renewed legitimacy to national institutions, including a democratically
elected Parliament and Government. Moreover, setting a new and tim ely date for
elections would be important for reassuring the Palestinian people that their voices
will be heard. I reiterate that Palestinian unity is crucial for reaching the larger
objective of a Palestinian State and lasting peace.
50. The general state of human rights and freedoms in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory remains of concern. I reiterate my earlier calls to end the practice of
administrative detention and either to charge detainees, where there are grounds to do
so, or to release them immediately. All children should be treated with due
consideration for their age and be detained only in situations justified under the
applicable rules of international humanitarian law and international or applicable
human rights law. Freedom of expression, a ssociation and peaceful assembly must be
respected by Israel and any restriction must be imposed in accordance with the
relevant provisions of international human rights law. Accusations of terrorism must
be made in accordance with the framework defined in article 14 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including respect of fair trial guarantees.
51. I call upon the Palestinian Authority to ensure that allegations of
disproportionate use of force by the Palestinian Security Forces ar e investigated and
that all perpetrators are held to account. The Palestinian people must be able to
exercise their rights to freedom of expression, opinion and peaceful assembly.
Arbitrary and politically motivated arrests must cease.
52. I remain deeply troubled by the continued settlement activities in the occupied
West Bank, including East Jerusalem. I reiterate that the establishment by Israel of
settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
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has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law. I urge
the Government of Israel to stop the advancement of all settlement plans immediately.
53. Continued violence between Palestinians and Israeli settlers and other civilians
in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is of deep concern. I urge Israel,
as the occupying Power, to ensure the safety and security of the Palestinian
population. All incidents must be investigated and those responsible must be held
accountable.
54. The impact on women of the ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis in Gaza
is of particular concern. The proportion of women participating in the labour force in
Gaza, where about 70 per cent of women are unemployed, is among the lowest in the
world. These poor employment prospects result in female -headed households facing
greater poverty and food insecurity. In turn, poverty and a lack of economic
opportunities are key factors driving violence against women in Gaza, while the
humanitarian crisis has resulted in numerous health issues for women. According to
the Palestinian Ministry of Women’s Affairs, gender-based violence has soared by
300 per cent since the COVID-19 pandemic began; the proportion of women
participating in the labour force has shrunk to 16 per ce nt and only 14 per cent of
senior positions in the public sector are held by women. The United Nations continues
to assist Palestinian women and girls in a broad range of areas, but much more needs
to be done to address their needs and vulnerabilities.
55. I would like to reiterate that the fate of two Israeli civilians and the bodies of
two Israel Defense Force soldiers held by Hamas in Gaza remains an important
humanitarian concern. I call upon Hamas to provide the family members of those
civilians with any information it has on their fate, as required by international
humanitarian law. I also remain deeply concerned at the continued Israeli practice of
holding the bodies of Palestinians killed while carrying out or allegedly carrying out
attacks against Israelis and call upon Israel to return withheld bodies to their families.
56. I remain extremely concerned by the shortfall of $100 million in the UNRWA
programme budget. I welcome the resumption of funding from the United States last
April and call upon Member States to ensure that the agency has the liquidity to
conduct operations. UNRWA is vital to the region’s stability, especially in the
aftermath of a devastating conflict. I also welcome efforts by Jordan and Sweden to
organize an international confer ence on UNRWA in October. Investing in UNRWA
remains indispensable for achieving regional stability and peace in the Middle East.
57. I would like to express my deep appreciation to my Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, for his outstanding service in what
remains a challenging context. I am also grateful to the Commissioner -General of
UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, and to UNRWA staff for the remarkable work carried
out on behalf of Palestine refugees. I pay tribute too to all United Nations staff who
work under difficult circumstances in the service of the Organization.
58. I will continue to ensure that the United Nations works towards a resolution of
the conflict that would end the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and establish an
independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestinian State living
side by side with Israel in peace, security and mutual recognition, with Jerusalem as
the capital of both States, in line with United Nations resolutions, i nternational law
and previous agreements.
Part II (A) 6 - Question of Palestine